Illgresi

Take over as manager in December?

Burrows trying to stealth turn us into Motherwell? Traditionally it's a bit of a departure, but objectively it's a very good looking top.

To quote the inimitable Sean lock, "that's a challenging w**k".

That's the way I understood it. Strangely enough, it looks like we'd be better off missing the 4th pot teams (Lugano excepted), and getting a 3rd pot team.

Looks like a shit, lower league target man!

It was an admittedly glib reply to Thenorthernlight's argument based on the premise that we're definitely getting £4M for Pirie some time down the road when a) There is absolutely no evidence we have even negotiated a sell on percentage. b) There is absolutely no guarantee that the boy will even get a sniff of the first team at Leeds, let alone some day be sold for £20M. Far better we keep our young players and they are successful with us, then move for a big transfer fee.

I'd rather have the £20M.

All that would do is show the next generation of young players coming through that the grass is greener. Much better imo, that they see miserable failure from players leaving far too young, but see great success for players who actually stick around and then move on as established first team players.

I'm not spiteful at all, but here's hoping his career goes the way of Fraser Fyvie and Jack Grimmer.

I'm pretty sure the europa League winners get straight into the group stage mate.

That Celtic abomination deserve an absolute kicking on 12th August imo.

Hopefully Scotrail and Stagecoach/Megabus show a bit of common sense and stick a late shift on.

You mean you don't wear a full strip when you're on holiday in the south of Spain?

https://youtu.be/Wlygs7et4zg New away(?) kit. I like it. Cult classic imo.

I used to think he was bang average when I saw him play against Aberdeen (I guess that was only twice). Was surprised at the uplift in his career, given I don't watch English football. But fair play to the lad, I absolutely agree...he looks like a top class player these days. Hopefully his Liverpool teammate fulfils his potential, and we'll have two exceptional full backs.

Sokler signed. https://www.afc.co.uk/2023/06/16/dons-bolster-attacking-options-with-sokler-signature/

The idea of McKenna winding Morelos up during training is too good.

We get a squad of 25 for Europe, and a spare 5 players to cover for injuries seems about right to me. Most important is the quality of depth we have though. I'd like to see us have a "2nd XI" good enough to beat your average league diddies like Hearts, and save the best players for playing the Old Firm, Rangers, and the Euro games. So have a settled core, and rotate the flair players. I think people underestimate how big a squad is necessary to compete on all fronts. That's if we intend to actually try and compete in Europe, rather than just get our "Good Sport" badge, and bumble off home content with our little jaunt and financial boost.

I think we'll need a squad of 30 at least to cope with all the extra games. Absolutely makes sense to bring in an understudy to Miovski. Potentially then have a similar striker ready to go when we sell Miovski for £15M next summer!

It's the Hoppe that kills you.

Dinnae

Totally agree, but tried to be realistic. I still have hopes for MacKenzie though, I thought he looked like a great prospect when he first came through. Absolutely struggled since coming back from injury though. Needs to step it up next season.

Assuming celtic win the cup, we're going to need a much bigger squad, with enough players to comfortably rotate and still maintain a high enough standard in the league against diddies like Hearts. I'd prefer to see a young lad like Ritchie go on a meaningful loan again, so would be happy of Lewis stays on. Overall I'd like to see the squad (assuming we stick with 3 CBs) like: GK: Roos, +1 (Lewis) RWB: McCrorie (or first choice replacement, Ramsay back on loan?), Devlin, Richardson CB: Macdonald, +3 senior CBs (Scales?, Idzes?, Pollock?), +1 backup (big Joe?), +2 laddies (Milne, new deal for Hancock?) LWB: +1 First choice, MacKenzie, Hayes CM: Shinnie?, Ramadani, Barron, +1 senior (Clarkson?), +1 backup, +1 laddie (Lobban ready?) AM: +1 First choice (Chakvetadze?), Besuijen, Duncan, Roberts ST: Miovski, Duk, +1 senior (Van Veen?), Bavidge, +1 Backup (Watkins extension?) That would give us a squad of 30* including the sprinkling of laddies; minimum we'll need. *31 if you include Morris, which I'm not.

In case anyone's interested, I'm off to Skye tomorrow. West ridge of Sgurr nan Gillean, and Am Basteir on Monday. Clach Glas traverse (done it before, but wow, absolutely will do again) on Tue. A night in Coruisk hut, and then doing the Dubhs on Wed. Chances are I won't be back in time to watch the Pittodrie shit show.