weeyin

I see Ross Maciver has signed a one year deal with Partick Thistle after his loan there last season.

I assume it's just an "on this date" kind of tweet, as the second leg was 31st May. I liked Lasley's comment about that game.

I thought he did fine, although he needed an experienced head to play beside him and talk him through the games. I get pretty bored pretty quickly, though, with the transfer chat about bringing players back. Part of the fun of being a 'Well fan is "discovering" a new talent like a Kipré or a Moult. With few very rare exceptions signing ex-players smacks of a lack of vision and ambition.

His agent probably just started that rumour in the hopes Aberdeen would sign him.

There's a lot more competition in midfield than there is at right back. I've got nothing against including a few youngsters when there are expanded squads, but I'd be surprised to Paterson anywhere near a starting slot. I wouldn't be surprised to see Turnbull play, though.

O'Donnell is one of Clarke's projects from his Killie days. Unless he's injured, I expect he'll be a starter.

Not just his agent. I remember shortly after his transfer, Craigan making some pretty scathing comments in one of his TV spots about how Johnson downed tools to try and force a move that the club wasn't even preventing.

I'm more interested to see if the supposed vote to ban them in the Premiership actually happens. That would be a huge step forward. I don't worry as much about what the wee teams like Annan and Killie do. We'll be back at Hampden soon though, I hope.

Looking forward to the comments about how dreadful we look in these games after 2 weeks of preseason training

The apathy that got us to 3rd not so long ago? Professional sportsmen of any sport want to win. They won't stay pro very long otherwise, but they live, eat and breathe winning. Even off the pitch and after they retire. It's a difficult balance for a budget constrained club like ours. One year is too short. Two years is often the longest players will commit to. Three years is great if the player is good - if they are a dud then we have tied up a wage for two years too long. And with a squad of 24, that is quite a big percentage of wage. Can you imagine the complaining on here if the guys we released this summer were all coming back for another 2 seasons?

A quick look at the regs says that Training Compensation is due "each time a player is transferred until the end of the calendar year of his 23rd birthday" So if that is accurate, the compo requirement ended in December 2020. I heard GA say recruitment was well under way, so good to see us get some early business completed.

For me, even the most stringent crowd restrictions would be better than watching a stream from an empty stadium.

We were pretty big earners in the 2019/20 season thanks to finishing 3rd. That's the counterargument the club will have to any questions about needing to spend more on players.

Queens Park, Edinburgh City and Morton no doubt.

10 clubs in 8 year suggests there is something fundamentally absent from his game. Whether it's something he brings (or doesn't bring) to the dressing room, whether it's lack of ability to sustain form or whether it's something else entirely, I think it's unlikely all those clubs got it wrong. If he lasts longer than 1 season at his next club I'd be very surprised.

Still naw. 14 different clubs in 16 years suggests he's not exactly making a positive impression with his employers. Unless, of course, the teams are so overawed by his talent they don't feel worthy and move him on to avoid embarrassing themselves.

He'll be someone for Moult to talk to in the treatment room.

Would be a result if we get rid of 2 plastic pitches in one season.

Tackling and kicking the ball away. The two main things I look for in a defender.

I like Dunne, as long as he's not trying any Hollywood passes. He's a defence first type of full back that I prefer. I also enjoy watching him give opponents a 10 yard start and then strolling up beside them with a "not this time, mate".

Because GA liked what he saw when Dunne was able to train fully again?

I thought that when we beat them in the next game. They looked exactly like a team about to be relegated.

More likely Carson isn't coming back.

The official statement reads "We not only remain in positive discussions with some of our players but also with a number of clubs in relation to one or two players we had on loan, with a view to doing something." which implies that some of those out of contract might be in discussions to renew.

For a new gaffer, it's probably quite useful to have all these contracts and loans expire and have plenty of scope to start building the type of team he wants. Kelly and Roberts would certainly be welcome back - as, of course would Cole.