P&J: Brown prepares for a major Dons overhaul

[Kowalski]

Brown prepares for a major Dons overhaul

we will probably need at least six new players, says manager after hampden defeat

 

By Michael Gannon

 

Published: 18/04/2011

 

Aberdeen manager Craig Brown has promised there will be a major overhaul of the Dons squad to provide a team worthy of the club’s supporters.

 

Brown is already looking to next season after his side slumped to a 4-0 defeat by Celtic in yesterday’s Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden.

 

The majority of the Dons players are out of contract at the end of the season and Brown is preparing for a clearout. He will make contract offers to the players he wants to keep but he will not be left waiting for answers as he intends to press ahead with the changes.

 

Brown said: “I want to rebuild Aberdeen. I looked out at Hampden and there were 10,000 supporters who were still behind us at 4-0 down.

 

“There is not another club in Scotland who get that backing and I will be doing everything I can to give them a team they deserve.

 

“There is major rebuild needed in the summer and we will probably need at least six new players. That is no disrespect to the current players. We have six of them out injured and Richard Foster to return from Rangers.

 

“If they are all fit and available they will make a difference but a lot will then depend on the players who are out of contract.”

 

Brown wants to offer deals to some, such as goalkeeper Jamie Langfield, attacker Sone Aluko and midfielder Rob Milsom, while forward Chris Maguire and defender Zander Diamond are expected to depart.

 

The new contracts will be on the table for a limited time only as Brown is not prepared to wait indefinitely for answers. His salary budget for next season is not expected to be reduced dramatically and he is confident he has enough funds to construct a side which can compete in the upper half of the SPL.

 

He said: “If they all go it will free up money to bring in quality replacements. We are not working on transfer budget, we are working on salary budget. If we lose some players there will be money to attract good players because Aberdeen still offer attractive wages.

 

“We need to know who is going to be here first. We will not wait forever. We will talk to them next week and will set a deadline to get back to us. If they do not we will assume they are going. If they come back again the offer might not be there.”

 

Aberdeen face five unappetising SPL encounters in the meantime but Brown wants a positive conclusion to the season.

 

With £80,000 per place on offer as prize money, he has financial incentives as well.

 

He said: “I want to end this season in style. We can still catch teams above us and I want to finish seventh. We will experiment.”

 

Dons attacker Scott Vernon’s season is over. Vernon will see a specialist tomorrow before undergoing groin surgery later in the week. The player has been troubled by the problem recently.

[baggy89]

Sounds good, but how much are we betting most of our pre season games will involve mainly not good enough trialists.

[manc_don]

Sounds good, but how much are we betting most of our pre season games will involve mainly not good enough trialists.

 

The right noises, let's hope he's given the funding and time to do it.

[tsr]

Time isn't really a factor, he's got the whole summer and rest of this season to find targets. Its as you say, money, he needs lots of it.

[stubo72]

Sorry to be such a pessimist, but we have heard this at the end of almost every season for about 20 years!

 

Will believe it when I see it!

[BobbyBiscuit]

Sorry to be such a pessimist, but we have heard this at the end of almost every season for about 20 years!

 

Will believe it when I see it!

 

Exactly my thinking too; 6 new players will be reduced because one new signing can play in two different positions and having Fyvie and Folly back will be like having new signings etc.

[tsr]

Exactly my thinking too; 6 new players will be reduced because one new signing can play in two different positions and having Fyvie and Folly back will be like having new signings etc.

 

And we probably have Foster back...so that's like 3 new signings to the board and there's bound to be 3 youngsters ready for promotion so we'll spend the rest of the budget on the new jackie mcnamara.

[McMaster]

More likely to be the old Jackie McNamara

[manc_don]

Time isn't really a factor, he's got the whole summer and rest of this season to find targets. Its as you say, money, he needs lots of it.

 

It was more being messed about by players/agents/the club.

[kelt]

1998: Clear out all the Pittodrie dead wood before you get the chop; ALEX MILLER HAS ONLY THREE PLAYERS WORTH KEEPING.

 

1999: Frustrated Skovdahl prepares to cut dead wood from Aberdeen

 

2004: Aberdeen set for clearout ...said Aberdeen manager Steve Paterson. "But, on a tight budget, we must clear out some of the current stock before moving in replacements."

 

2005: Calderwood pledges Dons clear-out :  Manager Jimmy Calderwood has run out of patience with his Aberdeen side and is aiming for a major personnel overhaul.

"I will definitely make significant changes, both in January and during the summer," Calderwood told the P&J.

 

2010: McGhee: Clear-out key to success

 

2011: Manager Craig Brown pledges change at Aberdeen

 

 

 

Any questions?

[BobbyBiscuit]

1998: Clear out all the Pittodrie dead wood before you get the chop; ALEX MILLER HAS ONLY THREE PLAYERS WORTH KEEPING.

 

1999: Frustrated Skovdahl prepares to cut dead wood from Aberdeen

 

2004: Aberdeen set for clearout ...said Aberdeen manager Steve Paterson. "But, on a tight budget, we must clear out some of the current stock before moving in replacements."

 

2005: Calderwood pledges Dons clear-out :  Manager Jimmy Calderwood has run out of patience with his Aberdeen side and is aiming for a major personnel overhaul.

"I will definitely make significant changes, both in January and during the summer," Calderwood told the P&J.

 

2010: McGhee: Clear-out key to success

 

2011: Manager Craig Brown pledges change at Aberdeen

 

 

 

Any questions?

 

Yeah, who were the only 3 players worth keeping at Alex Miller's time?

[kelt]

Nae idea, but surely one of them was the marvelous Nigel Pepper.

 

 

[tsr]

Leighton/Jess/Winters?

 

Milne out 

[tsr]

Brown like all those before him are fucked whilst Milne remains. The guy is a jinx of epic proportions when it comes to AFC, everything he touches goes fucking wrong.

[BobbyBiscuit]

They’ve let fans Don for the last time By SCOTT DAVIE

 

Published: Today

Add a comment (2)

CRAIG BROWN has vowed to wield the axe on Aberdeen's duds.

Sunday's Scottish Cup hammering against Celtic was the fourth successive semi-final where the Dons have conceded four goals.

 

That means it will be at least 12 years between appearances in a final and 17 years without a trophy which veteran Brown insists is simply not good enough.

 

The 70-year-old manager knows he doesn't have time to waste on players who have let the club down too often in the past.

 

Zander Diamond, Chris Maguire, Jamie Langfield, Rob Milsom, Sone Aluko, David McNamee and Mark Howard are out of contract next month.

 

Nikola Vujadinovic, Steven Smith and Nick Blackman are all due to return to their clubs after loan spells.

 

Brown has already made offers to keep Maguire, Aluko and Milsom but has made it clear those deals will be off the table if they're not signed soon.

 

He said: "I must build a team quickly if we want to keep the fans with us.

 

"The backing they gave us at Hampden, even at 4-0 down, was simply incredible.

 

"They deserve a team they can be proud of, not one that embarrasses them in the big games.

 

"They should be going to semis expecting a victory instead of hoping for one.

 

"It would be harsh to lump this defeat in with some of the ones which have gone before.

 

"The heads never went down and every player gave what he could.

 

"But it is clear that even the best from some of them won't be enough to give our fans what they want and deserve. Playing in semi-finals is the ultimate test for players and we need ones who can cope with that challenge.

 

"It's a huge rebuilding job but I will get it done and quickly. Managers ask fans to be patient and give them time to build a team but that's only an excuse.

 

"I know I haven't a lot of time to get the job done.

 

"I don't want to hang about because the battle to get replacements for anyone who wants to move on will be fierce.

 

"I will also face the most unpleasant job a manager has, that of telling players they are no longer wanted.

 

"We will be setting deadlines and if these are not met it will be assumed that they are not remaining here.

 

"We can't afford to hang about waiting for anyone."

 

Maguire and Aluko would command compensation fees from any club that signs them but the rest of those out of contract can leave for free.

 

Diamond looks certain to join Hearts, with Brown already linked with moves for Kilmarnock goalkeeper Cammy Bell and Motherwell midfielder Steve Jennings.

 

On the plus side, long-term injury victims Darren Mackie, Yoann Folly and Fraser Fyvie should all be fit for pre-season training.

 

Top scorer Scott Vernon will have a hernia operation this week in a bid to be 100 per cent for next term.

 

[Superstar Tradesman]

It's because he isn't involved with the club enough that we're sinking into the mire.

 

It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to have a multi-millionaire at the helm of the club if he isn't willing to pump money into it.  Who else is going to invest if he isn't willing to?

 

The debt would have been paid off long ago if it wasn't in Milne's interest to keep us right up to our necks in it.

[capitalsharpie]

It's because he isn't involved with the club enough that we're sinking into the mire.

 

It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to have a multi-millionaire at the helm of the club if he isn't willing to pump money into it.  Who else is going to invest if he isn't willing to?

 

The debt would have been paid off long ago if it wasn't in Milne's interest to keep us right up to our necks in it.

 

Despite this being a vote forMilne staying at AFC, it is however a damning enditement on his running of AFC's finances. He's pathetic.

 

The above article with Broon is probably the most negative I have heard him be to this point in time with AFC's playing staff.

[mini59dons]

The above article with Broon is probably the most negative I have heard him be to this point in time with AFC's playing staff.

 

I guess its because he CAN be negative now! He's most likely been positive to keep the players heads up for games that were important. Now we are not going down or anywhere near Hampden again this season he can tell it like it is! Season over so no need to bullshit the players into thinking they are any good!

 

Lets just hope he can pull some players out of the bag and get us moving in the right direction again next season!

[manc_don]

I guess its because he CAN be negative now! He's most likely been positive to keep the players heads up for games that were important. Now we are not going down or anywhere near Hampden again this season he can tell it like it is! Season over so no need to bullshit the players into thinking they are any good!

 

Lets just hope he can pull some players out of the bag and get us moving in the right direction again next season!

 

That's certainly how I take it, well, hope its that way. It will be interesting to see who he plays in the next few weeks. We all know that the board need to put their fingers in their pockets, but they won't. I really hope its not another summer of frustration. I do have faith in Brown though, so hopefully there'll be some pleasant surprises.

[baggy89]

That's certainly how I take it, well, hope its that way. It will be interesting to see who he plays in the next few weeks. We all know that the board need to put their fingers in their pockets, but they won't. I really hope its not another summer of frustration. I do have faith in Brown though, so hopefully there'll be some pleasant surprises.

 

Sure I read somewhere that Brown said he will experiment before the season finishes? which I took to mean those deemed not good enough or who are fucking off elsewhere will be dropped for some of the young lads?

[BobbyBiscuit]

WILLIE MILLER is bracing himself for another chaotic transfer summer at Pittodrie.

It's the latest squad overhaul as his beloved Aberdeen take stock of yet another depressing failure to reach just a final, let alone win a trophy.

 

Indeed, a second successive bottom-six finish too.

 

But the Dons director of football defiantly insists that chasing silverware isn't a pipedream for a club that hasn't tasted true glory for 16 years.

 

Legend Miller badly wants them restored as a force by the time they make the planned switch to their new £30million home at Loirston Loch in 2013.

 

There was fresh torment for the Dons' greatest ever captain at Hampden on Sunday as he watched Celtic ruthlessly exploit Andrew Considine's red card to ease into the Scottish Cup final with a 4-0 triumph.

 

Manager Craig Brown's already told him who he wants to keep, with Jamie Langfield, Hearts-target Zander Diamond, Chris Maguire, Derek Young, Robert Milsom, Sone Aluko, David McNamee and Mark Howard all out of contract.

 

Loanees Steve Smith, Nick Blackman and Nikola Vujadinovic are also expected to return to their clubs.

 

Miller said: "Sunday was hugely disappointing for everyone. Once more we had a fantastic support in Glasgow and we all appreciated that. Their presence in such big numbers was another reminder to the players of what it could be like if we ended our long wait for a cup.

 

"We're all working hard in terms of trying to improve things for next season.

 

"Craig has a budget that won't change. Most clubs are cutting theirs, but we're not and I'm very satisfied about that.

 

"The reality is that it's a wage budget only. Look at every other SPL club apart from maybe Celtic and Hearts, you can see that reality elsewhere.

 

"In managing to hold our budget it's a positive message.

 

"The board have been really supportive and I'd like to give them my thanks doing that.

 

"The directors and two major shareholders have a huge challenge, planning for the new training facilities and stadium in the next couple of years.

 

"They also have to somehow provide a decent budget for the manager.

 

"That's such a big undertaking - but I know they are fully committed and we should all be grateful for that.

 

"Craig has told me the players he wants to stay and now we have to see how things pan out before we attempt to bring others in.

 

"He and Archie have been making full use of their contacts while both Craig Robertson and I have been doing a lot of groundwork on possible new faces.

 

"I certainly want to give Craig and Archie as much backing as I can.

 

"We're in contact with agents all the time and have an extensive list of potential targets.

 

"Ideally, we want a competitive squad of 23, 24, that is affordable.

 

"We're also constantly striving to reward the many youngsters coming through our development programme with long-term deals.

 

"It's never easy to be successful. But we're always targeting that and I'd love to see us move into the new stadium with a team recognised as being genuine challengers.

 

"Last summer there was a lot of transfer activity in and out of the club and it will likely be the same again.

 

 

 

"Craig's anxious to move things on quickly. It would be nice to have a quiet summer - but I don't foresee that happening in the immediate future."

 

He was forced to sack fellow Gothenburg idol Mark McGhee in December after a run of 11 defeats in 15 matches, including a worst-ever 9-0 to Celtic. In came 70-year-old Brown.

 

Miller added: "There have been one or two disappointing performances. But generally it's been a mixture of grit, organisation, belief and latterly some very good football as well.

 

"The crowds haven't been great this season - but there are definitely signs that we're better organised and a better team since the change. People keep forgetting that reaching two semi-finals is a reasonable achievement, although the consistent manner in which we don't deliver in the semis is very concerning. But we have to take the positives.

 

"Chris Maguire became the youngest international we've produced since Eoin Jess, when I was manager and Craig was in charge of Scotland.

 

"There's also been the emergence of Ryan Jack and others.

 

"I'm not trying to hide the fact that overall it's been a very disappointing season.

 

"But we still need to be optimistic about other aspects.

 

"We've hugely missed the long-term injured boys Fraser Fyvie, Darren Mackie and Yoann Folly while being without our captain Paul Hartley for the last five weeks has been another hammer blow. Their return for next season will make such a big difference."

 

 

 

Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3538499/Dough-for-it.html#ixzz1K9RVAAAZ

[BobbyBiscuit]

Exactly my thinking too; 6 new players will be reduced because one new signing can play in two different positions and having Fyvie and Folly back will be like having new signings etc.

 

....

 

"As I have said repeatedly we have got four new players for Archie and for me. Fraser Fyvie is a new player for us, Darren Mackie is a new player for us, Yoann Folly is half a new player for us and of course we are getting Richard Foster back also."

 

Brutal, absolutely brutal. "half a new player"... wonder which half that is.

[Stewart]

....

 

Brutal, absolutely brutal. "half a new player"... wonder which half that is.

 

At least it was expected.

 

Must be a rule at Pittodrie along with the give a throw to the opposition kick off.

[BobbyBiscuit]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/13189960.stm

 

more of the same from Brown. 3 out, 3 in over the summer and again saying we've basically got 4 new players in the injured players and Foster.

 

if we're only signing 3 players then we are fucked for next season.  Totally fucked.

[manc_don]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/13189960.stm

 

more of the same from Brown. 3 out, 3 in over the summer and again saying we've basically got 4 new players in the injured players and Foster.

 

if we're only signing 3 players then we are fucked for next season.  Totally fucked.

 

If the club think this is acceptable they seriously need to take a running jump. I don't care what financial situation we're in, it is time they put up the cash for their failures. The fans deserve better. Sort it out AFC!