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Investment In The Squad


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Bit of a crossroads for us this summer. Rebuilding job with a few players offski.

 

Question - given that we have a very solid footing in the table now, a proven manager who has not only turned around our performances off the park, but completely overhauled it off the park too. Given that we are in a stable situation financially, is there an argument to suggest that we invest a bit of capital in the squad, particularly with the turnover surely having risen due to cup runs, and league placings?

I'm not talking silly money, but enough to allow a few signings and a reasonable wage.

 

If ever there was a time to invest (speculate to accumulate), it's now. We have a perfect opportunity to improve if we just hand McInnes the tools to do it. 42k a week and look what he's achieving. Imagine if we spend say, £800k on signings and increase that wages to £60-70k.

 

Let's not forget who we have as a Chairman and the potential for external investment (be that as part of a shares issue or whatever).

 

To do anything else - to tread water if you will - is as much accepting mediocrity as it has been in the past. We need to keep pushing/driving the club forward. Think how much we squandered on managers with a tenth of the ability of McInnes!

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To quote yourself "let's not forget who we have as a Chairman". Wiggy won't put his hand in his pocket and any money coming into the club will be put aside for the new training facilities and stadium. Every fan would love to see him do it but unlikely to happen.

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I'd like to think that some of the revenue from the European run and the 2 cup finals would be reinvested, whether that be a slight increase in the overall weekly wage budget and/or a transfer fee or two for players of the right age who can develop at the club and have a potential sell on in the future. We can't expect the manager to replace 16 players (3 or 4 of which were key first team players) purely with free transfers, loans and youth team players and maintain the same (or better) level

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To quote yourself "let's not forget who we have as a Chairman". Wiggy won't put his hand in his pocket and any money coming into the club will be put aside for the new training facilities and stadium. Every fan would love to see him do it but unlikely to happen.

 

So I'd go back to the age old question. What does he bring to the club that George Yule doesn't?

 

We need investment in AFC. Be that for the stadium (confirmed as something that will be looked at), but we also need it for the team. We were a hair's width off of getting a result on Saturday. What do we strive for - a funky new stadium that the suits at Pittodrie are crying out for as they have no space (one of the main reasons I'll have you know). Or do we want to be in the business of winning silverware? Imagine what a win would have done for our season ticket sales.

 

Not saying Milne is the answer - he's part of the jigsaw. But at present, we are keeping a few pieces of that back from McInnes and he's having to do the job, almost with one hand tied behind his back. If ever there was a guy to trust and give some money to spend, it's him.

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So I'd go back to the age old question. What does he bring to the club that George Yule doesn't?

 

We need investment in AFC. Be that for the stadium (confirmed as something that will be looked at), but we also need it for the team. We were a hair's width off of getting a result on Saturday. What do we strive for - a funky new stadium that the suits at Pittodrie are crying out for as they have no space (one of the main reasons I'll have you know). Or do we want to be in the business of winning silverware? Imagine what a win would have done for our season ticket sales.

 

Not saying Milne is the answer - he's part of the jigsaw. But at present, we are keeping a few pieces of that back from McInnes and he's having to do the job, almost with one hand tied behind his back. If ever there was a guy to trust and give some money to spend, it's him.

 

I agree that investing in the playing squad could win us trophies which in turn brings in more money in terms of prize money, more season tickets sold, potential, attendance rise, merchandise etc. Milne is very much of the opinion that a bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush.

 

Milne will be Chairman of the club for years to come which is a depressing thought as I think he out of ideas and historically he decision making skills on the footballing front have been far from the best.

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A proper scouting system would pay for itself(eventually).

Youth development ?

Proper skill development dept. which we seem to be missing. It can be taught. or at least enhanced somewhat.

As is evidenced by Taylor again on Saturday in first half he hoofed a ball right down & out for a goal kick. Seriously, if we can not train a player to pass properly there is something radically wrong with advancement techniques. Taking Taylor as a continued example we could turn a person with physique into a all round decent player.

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A proper scouting system would pay for itself(eventually).

Youth development ?

Proper skill development dept. which we seem to be missing. It can be taught. or at least enhanced somewhat.

As is evidenced by Taylor again on Saturday in first half he hoofed a ball right down & out for a goal kick. Seriously, if we can not train a player to pass properly there is something radically wrong with advancement techniques. Taking Taylor as a continued example we could turn a person with physique into a all round decent player.

 

Hopefully this would come with the training facilities. DM his hinted at it himself, for players to be their best and realise their potential they need to have the best facilities, staff and sports science around them

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So I'd go back to the age old question. What does he bring to the club that George Yule doesn't?

 

We need investment in AFC. Be that for the stadium (confirmed as something that will be looked at), but we also need it for the team. We were a hair's width off of getting a result on Saturday. What do we strive for - a funky new stadium that the suits at Pittodrie are crying out for as they have no space (one of the main reasons I'll have you know). Or do we want to be in the business of winning silverware? Imagine what a win would have done for our season ticket sales.

 

Not saying Milne is the answer - he's part of the jigsaw. But at present, we are keeping a few pieces of that back from McInnes and he's having to do the job, almost with one hand tied behind his back. If ever there was a guy to trust and give some money to spend, it's him.

The new stadium/training facilities are the highest priority for the club and to think otherwise is lunacy.

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I wrote this last night after a few beers...

 

Sorry this will probably turn into a bit of a ramble... or a minor rant but I think pertinent...

The club and the manager clearly needs our support to make days out like yesterday a regular occurrence. But we really really need to make a dent in Europe to progress as there's nothing more we can do domestically really to win more prize money... and with a weekly wage of just over £40k a week for our first team squad it's going to be really tough to compete. If you can afford to, go out and buy a season ticket this week, the new strip anything you can to keep our club's momentum going.
Brendan Rodgers set his team 7 targets this season. Maybe we as fans should set ourselves some targets too. Let's talk ourselves up more (don't get me wrong praise AND criticism where it's due) but to non fans let's enthuse about what we've achieved more... Take a mate (and their kids) to the football next season and pay for their ticket, let's get these attendance numbers up.
I've said on numerous occasions that the board need to back the manager now more than ever and so do we as fans. I don't even live in Scotland (sadly) anymore and I'm not going to be able to make many (if any) of the games next season but I'm going to buy a season ticket this week - who's with me ?
Simple maths here... And of course no guarantee that all the season ticket money goes to the gaffer. But for each 1000 adult season tickets sold we could add roughly 8 grand a week to the wage budget... I could bore you with my simple maths but I won't... That's at least a few decent additions to the squad. Or a £400k player... How many of the 20,000 Dons fan there on Saturday had season tickets ?

Either way as fans we probably need to do more to get other non fans motivated to engage with their home team... Too much of a pipe dream ?

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Aberdeen have a lot of followers who either don't go to the games or are only interested in going to the big games (44,000 fans to the LC final in 2014 and we would have sold the 9000 empty seats above the 7000 Caley fans had they been made available).

 

The only way I can see to increase revenue significantly (without getting to the Europa group stages which is still very much against the odds) is to have a scheme similar to what Hearts have where fans contribute a direct debit every month to the club. If all money raised was guaranteed to go to McInnes' playing budget it's something I'd be interested in contributing to provided the scheme was run properly. It would be an ideal way for those fair weather fans who can't attend many games for whatever reason to contribute to the club on a regular basis. If even a quarter of the fans who turned up for that LC final contributed between say £10 to £20 a month that would probably bring in around an additional £2m per year. That sort of money coming in on an annual basis would give the manager the chance to significantly strengthen the squad.

 

It's probably just another pipe dream but I can't see our season ticket sales jumping up massively they never do so it's a more realistic method of raising funds.

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Aberdeen have a lot of followers who either don't go to the games or are only interested in going to the big games (44,000 fans to the LC final in 2014 and we would have sold the 9000 empty seats above the 7000 Caley fans had they been made available).

 

The only way I can see to increase revenue significantly (without getting to the Europa group stages which is still very much against the odds) is to have a scheme similar to what Hearts have where fans contribute a direct debit every month to the club. If all money raised was guaranteed to go to McInnes' playing budget it's something I'd be interested in contributing to provided the scheme was run properly. It would be an ideal way for those fair weather fans who can't attend many games for whatever reason to contribute to the club on a regular basis. If even a quarter of the fans who turned up for that LC final contributed between say £10 to £20 a month that would probably bring in around an additional £2m per year. That sort of money coming in on an annual basis would give the manager the chance to significantly strengthen the squad.

 

It's probably just another pipe dream but I can't see our season ticket sales jumping up massively they never do so it's a more realistic method of raising funds.

I'd happily give that much p/month if it went to the wages/fee.

 

I was considering buying a season ticket but seems a bit shite for 5 home games a season.

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Aberdeen have a lot of followers who either don't go to the games or are only interested in going to the big games (44,000 fans to the LC final in 2014 and we would have sold the 9000 empty seats above the 7000 Caley fans had they been made available).

 

The only way I can see to increase revenue significantly (without getting to the Europa group stages which is still very much against the odds) is to have a scheme similar to what Hearts have where fans contribute a direct debit every month to the club. If all money raised was guaranteed to go to McInnes' playing budget it's something I'd be interested in contributing to provided the scheme was run properly. It would be an ideal way for those fair weather fans who can't attend many games for whatever reason to contribute to the club on a regular basis. If even a quarter of the fans who turned up for that LC final contributed between say £10 to £20 a month that would probably bring in around an additional £2m per year. That sort of money coming in on an annual basis would give the manager the chance to significantly strengthen the squad.

 

It's probably just another pipe dream but I can't see our season ticket sales jumping up massively they never do so it's a more realistic method of raising funds.

 

 

This has been arguably our best season in decades, 2nd and 2 cup finals yet we are down 5% on last years average attendances.

 

I'm sure that can be partly put down to the downturn in oil, I have only been to half the games I usually go to because changing jobs etc... If people cant afford 25 quid a game I doubt they'd be able to do 20 quid a month. Its not a bad idea but its one of those that would need a few thousand at least to sign up before its actually worth while.

 

Dont think it would matter how much Milne and co put in either or who we signed we'd still only get 12500 average in at the moment.

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A proper scouting system would pay for itself(eventually).

Youth development ?

Proper skill development dept. which we seem to be missing. It can be taught. or at least enhanced somewhat.

As is evidenced by Taylor again on Saturday in first half he hoofed a ball right down & out for a goal kick. Seriously, if we can not train a player to pass properly there is something radically wrong with advancement techniques. Taking Taylor as a continued example we could turn a person with physique into a all round decent player.

 

You can forgive that slightly in a cup final and put it down to adrenaline. Happens to plenty of other players at a much higher level.

 

The likes of Taylor make a living out of football because they are athletes that can play a little.

If they are athletes that have a decent level of skill they play in better leagues and earn more money.

 

Its the kids you have to teach when it comes to ball control and skill levels.

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This has been arguably our best season in decades, 2nd and 2 cup finals yet we are down 5% on last years average attendances.

 

I'm sure that can be partly put down to the downturn in oil, I have only been to half the games I usually go to because changing jobs etc... If people cant afford 25 quid a game I doubt they'd be able to do 20 quid a month. Its not a bad idea but its one of those that would need a few thousand at least to sign up before its actually worth while.

 

Dont think it would matter how much Milne and co put in either or who we signed we'd still only get 12500 average in at the moment.

 

Our average attendance will never increase significantly. We have gone through the litany of excuses in the past: we are shite, we don't score / are too defensive, the stadium is shit, it is too cold and finally o&g downturn.

I remember one night someone blamed a low attendance on the fact stereophonics were playing ffs.

Watching Aberdeen simply isn't a big enough part of enough people's lives. Even on here which you would think would be majorly composed of people attending 15+ games a season there are loads that don't go to anything like that for one reason or another.

I think the monthly dd fan scheme is definitely worth a try. Even if it raises £1mill a year it is definitely worth it

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I think we've seen throughout the past few seasons that the quality is there to improve the squad with out of contract players (Lewis, Logan, McGinn, Shinnie), and I've no doubt that if the wage budget was slightly higher, we'd end up with better players that would continue to improve the squad further.

 

The fact we still seem to be absolutely hopeless at getting in any transfer fees for our players before they leave probably doesn't help twist Milne's arm into making some more funds available either.

 

Would like to see us make an effort to sign Christie though. As has been said this next 2-3 seasons we are going to see a lot of changes to the playing squad after having a relatively settled squad for a few years, and he's exactly the kind of player we should be looking to build around

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Our average attendance will never increase significantly. We have gone through the litany of excuses in the past: we are shite, we don't score / are too defensive, the stadium is shit, it is too cold and finally o&g downturn.

I remember one night someone blamed a low attendance on the fact stereophonics were playing ffs.

Watching Aberdeen simply isn't a big enough part of enough people's lives. Even on here which you would think would be majorly composed of people attending 15+ games a season there are loads that don't go to anything like that for one reason or another.

 

 

It's a general problem with an obvious cause.

 

no one other than the usual won league for over 30 years & not likely to in foreseeable future.

 

Some games are getting less than 3k nowadays. 7 of the 12 teams average is south of 5K

 

It's not a pretty picture for our game

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