Kmcalpin

Barring any more serious injuries our season will start proper at the end of the month. By that time McHugh will hopefully be back to stiffen the midfield, Moult will be fully fit and Belic will be fit enough to start on the left side of midfield. An ok point today which I would have taken before kick off but disappointing not to beat 10 men. A bit disappointing too that although we set ourselves up defensively we still managed to lose a goal, almost more. It'll be interesting to get the views of those who were there - safe journey home. At the risk if upsetting some folks it sounds as though County were their usual physical self - even Mark McGhee anticipated that.

A pretty defensive looking line up. If County can keep Cadden quiet that might just cut off any ammunition to the front pair, unless we adopt long ball tactics. Apart from Cadden no pace whatsoever in midfield. Still its all to play for.

MacMillan played at both full back and sweeper. In my view he was best playing in central defence as his big downfall was lack of pace.

I know. While you may have exaggerated the details the principle was correct though. A club will rarely make big time cash simply by bringing on good youth players. It has to put them on long deals, not 6 years of course.

So do I but we'd have to pay a pretty high salary to do that. A fair whack of United's youth budget went on salaries.

Interesting that Mark McGhee says that we were trying to sell Johnson since last Christmas, but only on our terms, which were eventually met. Marvin apparently "stamped his feet at the wrong time".

Its a big blow that McHugh isn't fit. I agree with your defence and perhaps midfield, but maybe drop Ainsworth for Belic if he's fit. Maybe Cadden and Chalmers will not play 90 minutes given their midweek outing. Ainsworth can't play on the left and if he's on the right he may well duplicate Cadden's role to some extent. We don't know how fit Belic is but we badly need to up our work rate off the ball and that seems to be one of Belic's strongpoints. I doubt if Moult will play anywhere near 90 minutes. Bowman of course is also an option up front.

A sign of the times I'm afraid with the globalisation of football and kids and their parents wanting to run before they can walk. Very few youngsters like this ever make at the top level - the statistics are frightening.

Good idea Andy.

Yes I was but I would draw a distinction Andy between those still playing and those who have retired or passed away. I think there's a heck of a difference between Lee Erwin and say Pat Delaney.

I'm with you Allan. They've moved on and are history so far as MFC is concerned. My only interest is if there is some clause relating to add on payments to the benefit of our club.

I don't know about that. George was my boyhood hero - not the greatest in the world but a real trier who could run.

I think thats correct. Is it not also true that a significant part of a young player's valuation is dependent on his salary? I think this is where Dundee United and Hibs really benefit as they put their brightest prospects on pretty high wages.

Walter Carlyle indeed? Its years since I've heard his name mentioned. I seem to recall he was so uncoordinated that he didn't know what he was going to do next....neither did we or the opposition!

Seconded.

Mark McGhee made reference to this a few days ago when he said that he'd like to sign players from lower league Scots clubs but prices were too prohibitive. Look around the SPFL - we're by no means the only club to look south of the border. An interesting comment too about Belic by MM. He said he works very hard off the ball. This is a quality we lack both defensively and offensively. When the opposition have the ball we don't tend to close down, harry and pressurise. Likewise when one of our players has the ball there's often a lack of options as no-one is moving.

Just noticed that Mark McGhee is talking about using Bowman to play in a 4-3-3 formation, so that might explain the extra striker.

Overall I'm not too displeased with the night's business. I don't feel in the least guilty that we didn't take Johnson's agent's advice and accept Oxford's first bid. Not impressed at all by his or his agent's behaviour. In any event he's now yesterday's man. I'm also puzzled by the number of complaints about the fee being undisclosed. This is not at all uncommon and could be down to several reasons and so I'm a bit disappointed that some posters are having a go at the club over this. There's no evidence to substantiate this. Yes it could be down to MFC but it could also be down to Oxford or indeed both clubs. It could also be down to the player's agent. Furthermore it could be down to accounting and legalities because of the complexity of the deal "with deals becoming increasingly complicated with extra clauses and incentives, and agents becoming more influential, undisclosed fees look set to continue" (Guardian 2013). Transfer fees are now generally paid over several years so thats yet another complication. Anyhow, I'd be disappointed if we didn't receive at least £500K for him, but we'll never know. As regards the newcomers we don't know much about either. Belic seems able to play on the wing up front or in the middle so quite where he fits in remains to be seen. I know nothing about Bowman although at 6-2 tall he should be an all rounder with strength and pace according the Official website. Strange that we're going for another striker and it'll be interesting just how he fits in. Interesting too that we've been after him all summer.

Usually, but not always, a fee is undisclosed at the request of the buying club. Common practice on the continent. Many folk on here don't like undisclosed fees.

Folk on here won't be too enamoured with the club he went to I reckon.

Presumably then the Oxford bid is the one to which Johnson's agent was referring. That would make sense as its now reported that discussions between the club and Johnson's agent have been ongoing for 2/3 weeks.

Wholeheartedly agree. Ideally now, I'd like us to get shot of Johnson, but only for a decent fee; bring in a replacement and then sign an attacking central midfielder. Maybe also loan out a couple of youngsters to toughen them up and ease our wage bill slightly. Thats my hopes anyway.

The club has handled this unsatisfactory situation very well. For years fans have been berating it for letting players leave on the cheap and now that its holding out for a decent price, there are still dissenting voices or should I say keyboards. Tomorrow will be interesting and as others have written why bang in a transfer request now if there are no vultures hovering waiting to pounce? Johnson will have to be careful not to earn himself a bad reputation or to be more precise careful not to let his agent earn him a bad name.

Scott Allan - and who'd want to sign him? Johnson's agent's retort is incredible.

Time to get back on thread folks.