Goggles & Flippers

I'd be surprised if Kipre and his agent weren't informed what the release amount would be so if a club exceeds or matches then it's down to him if he thinks its the right career move. We can advertise ourselves as a platform to better and bigger things if we don't let people move when our asking price is met. As for Miller, you see so many players go back to where they have played before in all leagues. I can imagine Hibs would fit like a glove but with their budget he could be a impact sub. With us, you'd think he may envisage more time on the pitch. Regardless I think he has something to offer but I don't think its where we should be directing precious resources.

Just watching St. Brenda's comments on Sportscene "Motherwell will play a very different type of game to the one we will" ....... Let me get my Seville calculator out as it has a pikey translator function ....... it changes to "Motherwell are durty, durty bastards, protect them from my players such as Brown and Sinclair who are consummate professionals".

Main for his tenacity and composure when many a striker would have gone to shit when 1 on 1. Agree about Grimshaw, I sincerely hope he is going to be looked again my many fans who wrote him off (similar to Dunne). Campbell continues to impress and testament to our academy. Only player I feel a bit sorry for is Cadden, a change in our style and formation means he has less scope to breenge forward as he has. It was that part of his game that made many think he'd be off last summer and attracted plenty of interest. Playing in the wingback role has limited this and perhaps taken him off the radar of many, I don't think it has helped in his development as a player but it has helped the club and results.

Safe to say there weren't many bonus' paid last season though ....... probably evens out

Yeah, I'm not looking about overheads, I was counting on what is tangible extra revenue over a poor year which is 10th finish, no cup runs, no player sales. First Post updated to show figures based on articles and advice. As you point out, a lot of that revenue is directed to bonus' and to pre-existing loans, all which can be addressed rather than deferred as we have in the past. I've calculated we've made an extra £4m this year as the extra OF game goes to address the shortfall in season 2016/17. Also the extra SPFL money is only over 10th to 7th. With player bonus' and new contracts I think it's safe to say these items all combined take in the extra £653,000 I calculated over the £4m.

Good plan, following your suggestion, as someone willing to find fault in everything specialist, we can leave the talking shite to you on here.

Reality Check - This is a fans forum, therefore wild speculation and hyperbole is its raison d'être. First post updated Betfred Cup: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/betfred-cup-prize-money-how-11195403 SPFL: https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/record-prize-money-for-spfl-clubs/ Scottish Cup TV: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4867096/SFA-set-slash-lucrative-Scottish-Cup-cash-windfalls.html

You'd have to speak with Flow, he's the one who shared it

I'm able to multi-task, enjoying the result and revelling in how we've kept the wolf from the door. It's well documented that the 6,500 OF fans contribute approx 200-250k more for their visit than a standard game. That's why we spat the dummy in 2016 when the fixtures were released.

Because up to two of those who signed extended deals may be off in the summer or January. As for Cadden as an out and out midfielder, you know like when we had his most success with us ...... Close enough to recognise he's young and to pigeon hole him at this stage in his career is maybe unfair. Many a player have moved around a formation to great success and I'd like to see our coaching team at least dabble. If it doesn't work out then fair enough.

I'd say we're going to need a centre back as cover. Alternatively, I'd suggest with his pace that Dunne could slot into a wingback roles, I don't think it's beyond him. That leaves Kipre, Dunne and Aldred as the core three at the back. With Tait and Dunne flanking and Carson behind, that's a formidable line to break through.

With a double cup final season this must be on course to be our best financial and astute performance for quite a while. I'm going to take a stab at where we've achieved and where I have gaps or omissions then maybe others can fill in the blanks. We were already scheduled to have 4 home OF games prior to the split as we only had 2 last season (and in theory have 3 normally). This was done to rebalance. Extra Home OF Game: £150k Total: £0.15m Transfers: Marvin Johnson $350 (reported) Oxford to Middlesborough sell on % Ben Heneghan $400k Sheffield Wednesday Louis Moult £500k Preston Trevor Carson £10k Total: £1.24m Cup Runs: League Cup Quarter Final vs Aberdeen, Fir Park, Att: 6,430 (5k x £20 + 1.4k x £5 = £107k - £35k costs = £72k / 2 teams = £36k - 20% VAT = £28.8k round up to £35k for hospitality) £35,000 League Cup Semi Final vs Rangers, Hampden, Att: 44,506 (44.6k+39.8k=70k x £25 av. ticket price = £2.1075m = 66% of that divided by 4 teams = £351.2k - 20% VAT = £281.5k +18.5k Catering, Hospitality & Programs) £300,000 League Cup Final vs Celtic, Hampden, Att: 49,483 £415,000 (49.5k x £30 av. ticket price = £1.485m = 66% of that divided by 2 teams = £495k - 20% VAT = £396k +9k Catering, Hospitality & Programs) £415,000 Scottish Cup Quarter Final vs Hearts, Fir Park, Att: 7,564 £40,000 (6k x £20 + 1.5k x £5 = £125k - £35k costs = £90k / 2 teams = £45k - 20% VAT = £36k round up to £40k for hospitality) £40,000 Scottish Cup Semi Final vs Aberdeen, Hampden, Att: 18,470 (18k+52k=70k x £25 av. ticket price = £1.75m = 66% of that divided by 4 teams = £291.5k - 20% VAT = £233.5k +6.5k Catering, Hospitality & Programs) £250,000 Scottish Cup Final vs Old Firm, Hampden, Att: 50,000 (52k x £30 av. ticket price = £1.56m = 66% of that divided by 2 teams = £520k - 20% VAT = £416k +9k Catering, Hospitality & Programs) £450,000 Total: £1.45m Prize Money: League Position (optimistically lets go for 7th) £1.36m (included UEFA money and other extra's) League Cup Runner Up £115,000 Scottish Cup Winner/Runner Up £30,000/£60,000 Total: £1.5m TV Revenues: League Cup Quarter Final vs Aberdeen, Fir Park, BT £21,500 League Cup Semi Final vs Rangers, Hampden, BT £21,500 League Cup Final vs Celtic, Hampden, BT £32,500 Scottish Cup Quarter Final vs Hearts, Fir Park, BBC £82,500* Scottish Cup Semi Final vs Aberdeen, Hampden, BBC/Sky £82,500* Scottish Cup Final vs Old Firm, Hampden, BBC/Sky £82,500* Total: £0.323m (*Daily Mail article suggests reduction in fees for Scottish Cup Ties but can't find official confirmation) TOTAL ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR SEASON 2017-18: £4.653m

We now have a solid defence when you consider: Tait, Kipre, Hartley & Dunne (If we can get Aldred all the better, his parent club may need to cut their cloth). In front Cadden (who I suspect will attract less attention than last summer) and Campbell. McHugh I'm sure wants to find form and consistency as much as anyone. Up front Main is a find and Bowman as a workhorse. Would be nice to supplement with another out and out striker, not meaning to undermine Tanner. For me those on shakey pegs, or not featured that much, out of favour or just want away for personal reasons include Bigi, Frear, Rose and Newell, Petra & Ciftci, (the last two offering not that much at all). I hope we can blood a couple of U20's, Campbell has been a revelation this season. This summer I suspect we may need: Two keepers as Carson will attract attention and Griffiths will be pied Defence just needs Aldred and/or a distinct left back (that may be a luxury) Midfield needs a playmaker and an understudy to McHugh plus one other cover Up front we could do with a proven striker that Bowman could challenge to be Main's foil I'd expect 5 pieces of business over the summer.

Virgin Lips was a common put down used by many in my time cutting about a school playground

Surely its the 2018-19 Tinkering

The only obvious answer would be Campbell as that seems to be his game too and to switch Bigi to a more advanced midfield position. As for Bigi, wasn't he sold as a defensive midfielder who would get the ball and move forward playing slide-rule passes. I get that his time here has been a mixture of injury, not getting into an on-form side and various other reasons but he has been the biggest disappointment in terms of what I hoped for in the summer. But that is tempered with Main and Campbell, weren't on my radar in July (Jan) and have been fantastic for us. How has playing Tait on one wing and Cadden on the other worked for us this season? Genuine question. I think Bowman does offer more running and vigour than Ciftci and I would start him before, but my post was based on what I think Robinson will field.

I think this is how we'll line up, but Bowman, Rose and Grimshaw may all be in for a nod over. Grimshaw is a prime example of being drafted in at the 11th hour. The reason I think he'll go for Frear is he offers an out ball and he has the speed and ability to use the pitch to punish. I only opted for Ciftci up front as I think Robinson hopes he offers something and doesn't think he is daunted by the occasion. All of the above is based on fitness naturally which I'm not party to. -------------- Carson ------------- ---- Kipre - Aldred - Dunne ---- Tait ----------- Bigi -------- Frear ------ Cadden --- Campbell ----- --------- Main ---- Ciftci ---------

I'm all for people having a go and saying something you post is pish but at least back it up with a counter argument and engage in a debate rather than just pouring scorn.

I defer to your superior footballing knowledge ..... UEFA Class 1 coaching badge in the post?

This close season will be involve less time scouring the classifieds but we now have a decent team that now only need complimenting here and there. I do think 2 of the starting 11 below will be poached in the summer but is our best case scenario. I'd like to see if Kipre can play right back and Dunne move out to wide left. Kipre's mazy runs and speed and Dunne's speed offer a lot in those positions. Cadden has stalled this year and could benefit from trying to adapt his game to take advantage of our tactics. I'd drop McHugh to the bench to bring someone else in to see if they can do his role any better. It may turn out he is better than many give him credit for. Of course if Kipre goes or Aldred can't be secured then it opens up a host of alternatives. But I believe we have something below that can go on and do damage in this league. ------------------ Carson ------------------ - Kipre -- Hartley -- Aldred -- Dunne - -- Tait - Cadden - Campbell - XXXX -- ------------ Main --- XXXX -------------- Bench: Keeper Bowman (he's earned it) McHugh Rose Frear Tanner

Many of you are being unfair to Ryan Bowman, OK he has a striker title but his workload no doubt created more than a few windows for the true star in our team to slot a number away. For as many of you who harp on about player loyalty and questioning if it's cool to boo Jamie Murphy this weekend, many need to look back at your posts in late October and early November. The same goes for Andy Rose, many too keen to stick the boot in unfairly

Tenuous link but Lee Erwin assaulter Bilel Moshni is back in Scotland sporting the tangerine of Dundee Utd. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43494518

Do Aberdeen have an "end"?

That shirt though ....

Journalist must have forgot to ask, "So what did you think of Celtic's derisory offer to your current club? How did that make you feel?"