MelvinBragg

This is obviously the answer but I could see us being tempted if we sell Hutchinson before Hateley finds a club. Ramsden being used more at centre back would leave us without cover at right back. Of course, the answer there is that in the absence of Kerr, we play Murray or Cummins at centre back... So no, would be my answer. Must confess, while I wasn't his biggest fan, thought he'd have found a club by now. Maybe he's had offers, but not at the kind of clubs he envisaged...

I think I remember saying to Frazzle when he signed in January that my one regret was that we were already out of the cup because McFadden seems to have a sense of occasion. In the post administration season, in the cup run it seemed like he was playing like a man possessed. Which is why I have high hopes for the cup this season.I think he might fancy q a winners medal before his career is over. Don't let me down, James...

Only if he's turned into a winger down there...

West Brom

Didn't realise so many on here had seen so many of their games. Aye, they finished high up their league but so did we. They have Brazilian players? Is there a reason why they're playing for Krasnodar and not in Spain or Germany? Will it be easy? No. Am I ready to write us off? No.. And to think people on here used to slate McCall for talking down our chances ahead of big games...

Nae bother.. Don't bother planning to go to Russia. Save yer money for the next round.. Seriously though, don't see any reason why we can't progress. Will they be that much better than Celtic who we beat twice last season? Aye, hellish journey for our lads but also for theirs. And apparently their record in cup competitions is poor. Too much doom and gloom on here..

Europe, don't give a monkeys. Finishing high up the league? Very enjoyable. But looking at this squad (if we add a winger) compared to the one McCall inherited and took to a cup final, I'm really hoping for a cup this season. Lots of guys in the squad with experience of big games. McManus and McFadden, real winning mentality which hopefully rubs off on the rest of the squad..

Seems like he was an option if McManus didn't sign...

Now he's signing, can we maybe now look foe another winger? Not keen on the idea of 352 being our only formation that brings width. This summer the quality of our signings has been good, just seems too slanted on a defensive approach. One striker and one winger signed, having lost four or five attacking players...

Admin staff missing? I can type and wear a skirt, could've been sorted days ago...

Just to change the subject, anyone heard any names for the other two signings that McCall wants to make on top of McFadden and McManus? Obviously Amier is potentially one and I heard McCall talking up Adam Campbell. Any other names doing the rounds?

Aye, but it'd be pretty dull if he was updating every few hours with the phrase "negotiations are ongoing". What can he really say as I'd imagine that said negotiations are supposed to be confidential? Like everyone, the longer it drags on the more I get a feeling it won't happen. But if that's the case, we move on to other targets. The reason I'm happy for us to let it drag on is the fact that McFadden is head and shoulders above pretty much everyone else in the SPL. We'd be lucky to have him, so I suspect the club are more willing to come and go with his agents to see if a deal can be reached...

Don't try and baffle this forum with logic...

You know me, I'll come up with something. As will you in the absence of Yerdaza...

Oh aye, I'm only too aware how lucky we've been. Doesn't stop the (occasional) moan at a particular game or player that frustrates. Not talking about some of the serial offenders on here...

So you wouldn't want to finish second if Europe wasn't the reward? The whole point of finishing second is to finish second. Europe is, and should always be seen as, a bonus. If we don't do well there, is it really a catastrophe or a crime...?

Proof, if any were required, that we supporters have had it pretty good for a good few years. Kind of puts in perspective the moaning that we supporters (myself included) do on a regular basis. Even in the last six seasons of pretty much uninterrupted relative success, how many players (and managers) have been declared "not good enough" by some of our support (again, I include myself). Frankly, we should be enjoying looking back at some of the cracking teams we've seen in claret and amber, because there's no guarantee it'll last forever..

This...

There's a joke about Ratteling the goals in there somewhere...

I'm happy with the signings we've made but as others have pointed out, it's important not to get carried away. Aberdeen in recent seasons have signed some "name" players, and probably had high hopes. We've done well in previous seasons by getting the right combination of players and the right spirit, let's hope we don't lose that. Cautious optimism is the way to go...

I still reckon if we sign McManus then we'll look to sell Hutchinson. Whether the club tries to hold off until after the European games before selling is another question. So if it all pans out looking at GK Nielsen Hollis DF Kerr Reid Ramsden McManus Cummins Hammell Angol Murray MF Lasley Lawson Vigurs Carswell McFadden FW Sutton McHugh Erwin Moore Plus another two players (I'd imagine two forward thinking players). I could live with that...

I think Frazzle has a point regarding the fact that neither McManus nor McFadden will be in great demand. I think people have to take into account the number of players we've removed from the wage bill, including some who were rumoured to be among the higher earners at the club. I'd wager that Kerr and Nielsen aren't on what Hateley and Randolph were on. Money has been saved. And the fee for Ojamaa may mean the budget hasn't shrunk as much as anticipated..

If we sign McManus, we will sell Hutchinson...

Aside from the fact that's a bench heavy on defence that looks ridiculously good. Just have a funny feeling we'll miss out on McManus...

I suspect McFadden is torn slightly. He knows, in terms of natural ability, he could be playing at a higher level but his lack of pace undermines him somewhat on that score. Were he to go a bigger club, he'd get a better financial deal, but would he be seen like McCourt as an option from the bench with 20 minutes to go (having said that Maloney was a first team player in the EPL last season)? Even at Celtic, would he be benched for Champions League games in favour of more athletic players like Forrest? But, fact is, although we offer a meagre wage in comparison, we offer guaranteed first team football and a shot of getting back into the Scotland team. It all comes down to what he prioritises. Can't blame him for being cautious before making his decision...