Frazzie

I take your point, Broony, but we've introduced a centre-half who's already scored three goals, and Forbes has chipped in with a couple aswell. For the last six months, we only had Clarkson to score goals and that was a huge problem. Hughes, Klimpl, Malcolm, McGarry, Fitzpatrick, Smith, etc didn't even get near double figures between the lot of them, but with O'Brien and Slane bursting into the box and Forbes hitting rockets from all over the place, we'll be much better placed to be spreading the goals around the team, which is a good thing.

According to his quote in the other thread, he signed a four year deal two years ago, meaning it should be the end of next season before it runs out.

It may well be a fair and honest assesment, but it's not a story, so the weegie meedja had to make something up. Like they did with the chanting on saturday. Like they do on a daily basis. And they wonder why everyone hates them...

The fans who sang about McGhee being a paedophile - is that the only song they sung? I think you'll find they backed the team considerably more than anyone else in the away end at Pittodrie, but then it's not a 'best fan' competition....is it?

100% Correct.

I agree with most of your post, but on the above point we had used all three subs by that stage. Quite unfortunate as I think if we'd got fresh legs on for Forbes it could have been the difference between one point and three.

" as they made their feelings quite clear on the man they used to idolise. " There's the part the mainstream media refuse to understand. McGhee was a detrimental influence on the football club throughout his second season and everyone who bothered to look could see it. His nice little soundbytes for his mates in the press box made sure that nobody did.

That's part of the reason why I've singled out a left back, a striker and a goalie. I reckon Ruddy, Hammell and the Polish guy will be away. The only other concerns are our youngsters and Giles Coke at this moment in time, but again I think Gannon has enough about him to get these guys signed up, and I also think Gannon will be a factor in persuading them to stay. I'm quietly confident.

GOALKEEPERS Then: Graeme Smith, Artur Kryziak Now: John Ruddy, Michael Fraser I'd have to say we're slightly weaker now. It's impossible to pass comment on Kryziak, but, for me, Buzz is the pick of the bunch and it's fair to assume the Polish guy is better than Fraser. While Ruddy had an impressive debut, he has looked a bit dubious in the SPL so far for me. DEFENDERS Then: Paul Quinn, Stephen Craigan, Mark Reynolds, Stevie Hammell, Brian McLean, Steven Saunders Now: Yass Moutaouakil, Stephen Craigan, Mark Reynolds, Shaun Hutchison, Stevie Hammell, Steven Saunders So the question is really between Quinn and McLean or Moutaouaki and Hutchison. Very difficult. Hutchison is unproven but has looked at least as good as McLean, and while the French guy has impressive credentials, it's impossible to say he'll definitely be better than Coach. A tie on this one I would say. MIDFIELDERS Then: Stephen Hughes, Maros Klimpl, Bob Malcolm, Mark Fitzpatrick, Keith Lasley, Steven McGarry, Jim O'Brien, Darren Smith Now: Giles Coke, Ross Forbes, Steven Jennings, Chris Humphrey, Paul Slane, Tom Hately, Mark Fitzpatrick, Keith Lasley, Steven McGarry, Jim O'Brien, Darren Smith I'd say we're much stronger now. Not only in numbers, but I genuinely wouldn't give Hughes, Klimpl or Malcolm a game in our team now. Slane, Forbes, Coke and O'Brien is a great midfield, and having guys like Lasley and Fitzpatrick in reserve is almost an embarrasment of riches. FORWARDS Then: David Clarkson, John Sutton, Jamie Murphy, Cillian Sheridan Now: John Sutton, Bob McHugh, Jamie Murphy, Lukas Jutkiewicz I'd say we're slightly weaker, but given that we're only playing one up front these days, I don't think it's a disaster. The Polish guy looked murder on saturday, but it's early days. Murphy hasn't done anywhere near enough to convince me but I'm excited by McHugh. Sutton has been excellent so far this season but it's too early to tell for 3/4 of the strikers. Overall, I'd have to call it a draw, but I'm much happier now as signs of progress are there and I'm already looking forward to the next transfer window. If Gannon is as thorough as I think he might be, he will already have a goalie, left back and striker identified.

To be fair, the teams who aren't SPL sides aren't exactly mugs. They're the pick of the first division really, so we knew before the draw was made that it wasn't going to be an easy tie. A First divison team at home is about as good as we could've hoped for, although personally I'd have preferred Dunfermline.

We can't have a Giles and an Adrian in the same team. We just can't.

Not the best draw overall, realistically hoping Dundee and Kilmarnock can get through. Other than that, it looks like we'll be up against someone decent in the next round.

Brilliant news. Also, kudos to the 'fishal site for getting in first again.

I've not seen it anywhere. Just thought I'd annoy the other 42 sad c***s who are sitting watching this thread with me!

I'm over the moon with that. A great trip for us, and a few big teams could be knocked out aswell. Brilliant.

Wooooft! Great draw all-round for us!

I'll happily take whatever small praise I can get, given the pelters I've become used to on here!

Can someone pick MelvinBragg up from the floor please?

Seeded teams highlighted?

Ross County away would be my preferred draw. I didn't make it up for the friendly a few years ago so would be a new midden to tick off the list.

So you took the paedo chanting from the 'Well fans as being a real accusation? If you did, you're off yer nut.

You may be right, but remember there was a time when young, single women were getting sent away from their families in disgrace for falling pregnant. I don't think society will ever accept paedophiles, far from it, but I think that the stories in the papers will gradually become so commonplace that the column inches get smaller and smaller until it is viewed as just another bad crime. Anyway, that's a total tangent as far as this debate goes. I wouldn't expect anyone to jump into a rowdy crowd of football fans to try to shut them up, but I was enraged at a post (which I think has been since editted) which strongly implied the identities of some of the individuals involved. For me, this is out of order, as the poster obviously knows these people which suggests that the people also know him. That being the case, I doubt a rammy would have sparked up if two guys who know each other have a difference of opinion. I was also strongly unhappy that the person who decided to expose people for their chanting was hiding behind an anonymous username himself. Anyway, I do think this debate is starting to go around in circles so we'll just need to agree to disagree, but a quick overview of the support at Pittodrie, coupled with the figures provided in the poll on here, strongly suggest that it is no small minority of 'Well fans who deem it to be acceptable to use 'paedo' as a stick to beat someone with. I would also add that, if the same poll is conducted in a year or two, it will be an even closer count.

Aye, I really hope nobody mentions that on a public website that loads of journos have access to....

Remember the days when it was pish that the club never told the fans anything? Now it's pish that we can't indulge in a wee rumour or two without the club coming on and giving us actual information to ruin it! Firfuxake 'Flow!

Touche! I think what it really boils down to is what people view as acceptable football behaviour. Football used to be an atmosphere for working class men to let out the stress of their working week, dishing out vile abuse (including racist, bigotted, etc) to anyone on the pitch, in the dugouts or on the terracing. Nowadays, football 'the brand' has moved away from that, £20+ tickets and tightening laws are pushing it towards being a middle-class, family friendly, soulless product where nobody can say boo to a goose and we must all be happy clappy at all times. Some people hold the ideal that the former is where we should remain, and look back on that era with misty eyes and rose-tinted specs. Other people are equally delighted with the corporate product and diluted passion we see before us today. Myself, I'd like football to be somewhere in the middle and I think that's what it comes down to, ultimately.