Summer Transfer chat

[Lencarl]

The Sun

Hearts and Aberdeen lead the chase for Birmingham City attacker Greg Stewart, according to reports.

The Birmingham City striker was on loan at the Dons last season and they are looking to bring the striker back north.

 

That will be the player McInnes will bring in before The Rangers game then.

[BigAl]

That basically means: "he's for sale". £5M would be a large amount of money for a dons player. He's got it all though (or the potential to have it all). Wait until after the hun game. Spend a wedge on a decent striker.

 

Whilst I agree Rico, the issue will be the second we have that sort of money, the price of any player that could be within our range i.e Marquiss or fitever his name is, is going to sky rocket.

We will also require to spend some on a half decent centre back to replace him. Even if Reynolds wasn't out for up to six month, he wouldn't be the answer imho

[BigAl]

The Sun

That will be the player McInnes will bring in before The Rangers game then.

 

Can't say I''m overly enamoured with that, if that is the sum total of our ambition 

[Ten Caat]

The Sun

That will be the player McInnes will bring in before The Rangers game then.

 

Let's hope Fartz win the race for his signature then. Overweight, overpaid, overrated and over-the-hill. Was decent for Dundee 3 seasons ago but really don't think he will ever recapture that form.

[ayrshire_don74]

Think it is perfectly valid to be critical of the scouting and player recruitment. The last few seasons havent been overwhelmingly successful. Mcinnes has admitted that himself, he also stated they need to cast the net further afield.

 

I think we are being priced out of the English Leagues particularly where transfer fees are involved. That being said I think signs are positive given what he has delivered so far, glaring gaps aside.

[rocket_scientist]

The Sun

That will be the player McInnes will bring in before The Rangers game then.

 

If I was McInnes I would sue the Sun for libel.

 

We have had a close look at him. For a whole season. We couldn't possibly be retarded enough to want to sign the useless cunt.

[RicoS321]

If I was McInnes I would sue the Sun for libel.

 

We have had a close look at him. For a whole season. We couldn't possibly be retarded enough to want to sign the useless cunt.

 

If GMS or McGinn (or Forrester) get injured he isn't a shite replacement. Reasonably high level of back up as he was last season. He's better than Ross probably. Wright has the potential to be better, but only the potential at the moment. He's nae Nicky Maynard, basically, and is a low risk signing. We need to spend the majority of our budget on a striker so I don't think we can afford to splash out on a guaranteed first 11 wide player as well. I wouldn't give a shite if Hearts outbid us of course.

[rocket_scientist]

A good manager doesn't sign "reasonable" back up players. An ambitious manager signs only players that he likes. The goal is to have a squad full of good players. Every winning manager knows this.

 

But there are very few managers who win of course. The vast majority are looking to hold on to a wage thus thinking in terms of "reasonable" back-ups. It's when the fans let him off with it when we're really fucked.

[RicoS321]

A good manager doesn't sign "reasonable" back up players. An ambitious manager signs only players that he likes. The goal is to have a squad full of good players. Every winning manager knows this.

 

But there are very few managers who win of course. The vast majority are looking to hold on to a wage thus thinking in terms of "reasonable" back-ups. It's when the fans let him off with it when we're really fucked.

 

I said "reasonably high level". In other words, better than average SPL, which I think Stewart is (hence why a top 6 team is trying to sign him, probably with a view of going into their first 11). I suspect McInnes likes him to, and knows him. Your logic doesn't really hold water too, the ambition of a manager doesn't effect his budget. Within that budget you've got to allocate funds to positions. He'll have an idea of the limits he has for a striker and whatever is left over for a wide player. He'll look at the salary offer and think, "can I get a player better than Stewart for the money?". The answer might be yes, but then he'll look at the associated risk of getting someone he knows over someone he doesn't. No manager will sign a worse player than they can afford to; ambition doesn't come into it. Whether they can get the best out of that player is a whole different matter.

[Ten Caat]

Right now we have 3 wingers and only 2 strikers. Of the wingers only McGinn is at present classed as a first choice for our starting 11, although GMS has started the season brightly and may well also become a regular starter.

 

Stewart was honking for the vast majority of last season and I don't think looked particularly interested at times. If we were to sign him he would use up a large chunk of DM's budget (was on a reported 6k/week at Birmingham) that we really should be using to get a 3rd striker in first.

 

If he were to sign I just can't see him being anything other than a sub more often than not, covering GMS mainly. If we really do need another winger then surely there is a young talent at a Scottish Championship club who might cost £50-100k but only around £1000/week in wages and who could have a decent sell on value in 2 or 3 years time. Stewart is just pouring cash down the drain for very little return...

[tlg1903]

There's defo a player in Stewart but could be he needs to be the main man.  I also didn't think he looked particularly fit.....  I would be pretty underwhelmed if we signed him. 

 

The striker we have been linked with that excited me most was Coulibally, knows where the back of the net is and has that wild card element that we lack. 

 

One thing I will add.  I think Cosgrove is being prematurely written off.  I can understand why no-one seems to think he can chip in with a lot of goals but he's young and hasn't had much game time at previous clubs.  In short given his age and previous first team experience at clubs we have little knowledge off I don't think we have seen enough of him to comment.  I'll tell you what though he took his goal against WBA really well.  Great header from just in front of the penalty spot into the bottom right hand corner.  He made it look easy but from the distance he was at he had to get it in one of the corners to beat the keeper.  It could, of course, have been a fluke but it looked like a strikers goal to me. 

[rocket_scientist]

I said "reasonably high level". In other words, better than average SPL, which I think Stewart is (hence why a top 6 team is trying to sign him, probably with a view of going into their first 11). I suspect McInnes likes him to, and knows him. Your logic doesn't really hold water too, the ambition of a manager doesn't effect his budget. Within that budget you've got to allocate funds to positions. He'll have an idea of the limits he has for a striker and whatever is left over for a wide player. He'll look at the salary offer and think, "can I get a player better than Stewart for the money?". The answer might be yes, but then he'll look at the associated risk of getting someone he knows over someone he doesn't. No manager will sign a worse player than they can afford to; ambition doesn't come into it. Whether they can get the best out of that player is a whole different matter.

 

I remember a manager who was also working on a strict AFC budget. He didn't fancy much in the market, certainly not older fat pig lazy cunts like Greg Stewart, a perennial journeyman destined to win fuck all his whole career so he went for youth and got into their minds and got them inspired and motivated to work their bollocks off.

 

If you can't buy winners, you have no option but to create your own.

[rocket_scientist]

One thing I will add.  I think Cosgrove is being prematurely written off.

 

Totally agree. I like his strength and he links up intelligently.

 

However, in the future time that he has to fully develop, my biggest concern are his feet. That shot he had on Thursday was weak. I don't think he's got a decent shot in him. He may well prove to be good for getting in about the defence and upsetting them but his goals may be restricted to tap-ins and headers. I can't imagine his strike rate will get anywhere close top two thirds of Rooney's and he himself had limitations. Just don't see a striker killer instinct in Cosgrove but he's certainly shown enough that we are right to play him and give him a chance.

[LA-Don]

We don’t need Stewart. GMS McGinn wright Ross, even Shinnie and forrester can and have played wide, forrester McGinn Ferguson Ross and May can play the #10 behind the main striker. Don’t know what Stewart brings. I’d only take another wide player is it was a star man who walks into the starting 11.....and has pace. Stewart would be a total waste of money and won’t be particularly cheap. I hope he’s not the striker brought in before the rangers game, he’s not a striker, plus imagine us lumping high balls up to him, will be worse than may.

[RicoS321]

I remember a manager who was also working on a strict AFC budget. He didn't fancy much in the market, certainly not older fat pig lazy cunts like Greg Stewart, a perennial journeyman destined to win fuck all his whole career so he went for youth and got into their minds and got them inspired and motivated to work their bollocks off.

 

If you can't buy winners, you have no option but to create your own.

 

Ferguson had some shite squad filler too though. Ian Robertson, Paul Wright etc. I'd put Stewart in at a Porteus level in today's game (above average SPL).

 

I think that we already have those youngsters in Wright and Ross, but I don't see the problem with adding Stewart as another option in case they don't cut it. If he's on the type of money TenCaat is suggesting, then obviously that's an entirely different case. I doubt it though, he'll just be a cheap squad filler who might return a few goals here and there. I think it's pragmatism rather than anything else, we could easily end up with another Maynard or Parker type if McInnes goes to market again. He adds a bit of depth where it's needed. I'm more concerned about Forrester and Gleeson if I'm honest, so I'm okay with an above average known quantity.

 

Agree about Cosgrove's shot on Thursday. It was like it travelled in slow motion off his boot. Compare that to Vokes at the other end, which shows what a big lad should be doing when striking a ball. Even Stockley could belt a shot. Concerningly, that type of technique probably doesn't improve with age. Haven't seen him shooting enough to accurately comment (doesn't normally stop me) though.

 

 

[LA-Don]

Ferguson had some shite squad filler too though. Ian Robertson, Paul Wright etc. I'd put Stewart in at a Porteus level in today's game (above average SPL).

 

I think that we already have those youngsters in Wright and Ross, but I don't see the problem with adding Stewart as another option in case they don't cut it. If he's on the type of money TenCaat is suggesting, then obviously that's an entirely different case. I doubt it though, he'll just be a cheap squad filler who might return a few goals here and there. I think it's pragmatism rather than anything else, we could easily end up with another Maynard or Parker type if McInnes goes to market again. He adds a bit of depth where it's needed. I'm more concerned about Forrester and Gleeson if I'm honest, so I'm okay with an above average known quantity.

 

Agree about Cosgrove's shot on Thursday. It was like it travelled in slow motion off his boot. Compare that to Vokes at the other end, which shows what a big lad should be doing when striking a ball. Even Stockley could belt a shot. Concerningly, that type of technique probably doesn't improve with age. Haven't seen him shooting enough to accurately comment (doesn't normally stop me) though.

 

I thought Paul Wright was a solid player!

[RicoS321]

We don’t need Stewart. GMS McGinn wright Ross, even Shinnie and forrester can and have played wide, forrester McGinn Ferguson Ross and May can play the #10 behind the main striker. Don’t know what Stewart brings. I’d only take another wide player is it was a star man who walks into the starting 11.....and has pace. Stewart would be a total waste of money and won’t be particularly cheap. I hope he’s not the striker brought in before the rangers game, he’s not a striker, plus imagine us lumping high balls up to him, will be worse than may.

 

You're sort of answering your own question there. You mention shoe-horning various players into the wide and number 10 roles (Shinnie?, Ferguson?, May? - neither of those should be anywhere near those positions). Stewart provides depth of cover so that we don't ever have to play those guys out of position. He's not a striker and won't be being bought in place of one either. If we don't get a striker in it's because we can't get one who's better than what we've got. If we bought a wide player who walked into the starting eleven then it would definitely be at the expense of a striker. It it was me, I'd give Stewart a miss and wait and see if McKenna leaves. If we get some funds then splash out on a striker and a good wide player. I certainly don't think we need Stewart before the window slams shut, or even the huns game.

 

I suspect it's all agent chat anyway.

[RicoS321]

I thought Paul Wright was a solid player!

 

Aye, probably harsh! Although Stewart scored 10 or so for Dundee a couple of times, with 10-15 assists in those two SPL seasons. He was in for SPL player of the year at one point, and would be good enough to play for any team below Hibs. I'd say that is comparable to Paul Wright at the time, regardless of whether Wright was a better player or not.

[rocket_scientist]

Whatever promise GS once had, it's long gone. Whether or not it's poor management, who knows but Stevie May was more than promising once upon a time, another one who at AFC under McInnes fails to get anywhere close to the performance levels at their previous clubs.

[Ten Caat]

Although at least May has the excuse of having suffered a career threatening injury. £400k was probably a punt too far but his pedigree no doubt swung things. Stewart would be looking for wages around £4-5k/week plus a hefty signing on fee. Just too much of a gamble for a guy likely only to be a regular impact sub.

[RicoS321]

Stewart would be looking for wages around £4-5k/week plus a hefty signing on fee. Just too much of a gamble for a guy likely only to be a regular impact sub.

 

He'd be deluded if he thinks he can get that. He'll get £2-2.5K if he's very lucky. Hearts won't be offering him £4-5K per week that's for sure, and nobody else would want him. Birmingham will also probably pay to get him off their books, so I doubt he'd be getting a signing on fee. He's not in demand by anyone bigger than us, ergo we dictate the offer. Birmingham will pay him part of the difference for the remaining year of his contract in order to ditch him.

[Ten Caat]

St Boo were first in line to sign him. now they would know his wages at B/ham as the £6k/week was widely made public when he signed. So they wouldn't have been offering their standard £1500/week to their squad fillers. He would probably have been made their highest paid player which you would guess would be north of £2.5k/week......and he turned them down. At that point neither ourselves nor Hearts were in the picture so he wouldn't have turned them down on the basis of knowing a better offer was on the table.

Of course he could sit on his (fat) arse and continue to hoover up his £6k/week for doing sweet FA. I can't imagine Birmingham would be offering a payoff more than half of what his contract would be worth if he did indeed sit it out so any club signing him would need to be paying him a minimum £3k/week. And even then he will want a signing on fee to cover his costs in relocation etc. Just not worth it IMHO

[KennyFuckinPowers]

So confirmation from our manager that Swansea have held discussions about McKenna's availability, nothing more, or at least not an official bid, although I have a very strong feeling that after the Burnley game, there will be. Pleased to see McInnes finishing that statement up with the remark that McKenna has the potential to be better than Mawson, who they just sold for 18-20 Million, so any forthcoming bid would have to be very serious I feel, and I am not talking a couple of million 

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45037951

[LA-Don]

So confirmation from our manager that Swansea have held discussions about McKenna's availability, nothing more, or at least not an official bid, although I have a very strong feeling that after the Burnley game, there will be. Pleased to see McInnes finishing that statement up with the remark that McKenna has the potential to be better than Mawson, who they just sold for 18-20 Million, so any forthcoming bid would have to be very serious I feel, and I am not talking a couple of million 

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45037951

 

I think taking that 15 million would be fair. In all seriousness, 5-10 million IF given to DM for signings would be massive for a club like us, even though I'd hate to lose McKenna and feel he's worth more. In Hoban it looks like we have a replacement. If we choose to sell, we better demand the right fee, much like I hope Hibs and Hearts don't sell McGinn or Lafferty on the cheap.

[Ten Caat]

Guy on the Hat reckons we have signed a striker this evening to be announced tomorrow pre match. We are down in Lancashire.......hmmmm