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Disagree. I saw him in the Union Square Nando's along with Hayes and Rooney setting fire to an ICT scarf.

I'd place Meekings as one of the best defenders we have ever had. He's brilliant.

No need for anything to begin tearing us up from the inside. Shinnie has done what's best for him. I would. Captain us until the end of the season.. Go out on good terms with the club. Why change anything beyond the obvious.

Option a)

I still don't see how on earth it benefits the club to be playing our best player what is, by our standards, a substantial salary to do nothing for half a season when he is still contracted to the club and willing and able to play to the best of his ability.

Out of all the out of contract players (who as of yet haven't sign PCAs anywhere else), who are the ones you'd be looking to keep and who would you prefer to get rid of. On top of that, without making this a "Who Should We Sign" thread, what types of players would you like to see brought to the club? Out of all those out of contract, I'd like to see the following retained (even if there's a good chance they won't sign new deals) - Billy Mckay Marley Watkins David Raven Danny Devine Nick Ross Josh Meekings I'd like to retain this lot for obvious reasons really - they're good players! Despite not playing much this season, Danny Devine has always been someone who can be relied upon to come into centre-back and put in a good shift. I also think we really need to sign Nick Ross up as well. He's been on excellent form lately. Release - Lewis Horner Liam Polworth Horner has barely played since signing and in the U20 matches I've seen, looks no better than some of the youth players coming through. Liam Polworth was someone who I thought had a lot of potential, but he's never really forced his way into the team or come good. Probably best for everyone if he was released. What do we need? I'd like to see at least two strikers brought in, especially if Mckay goes (Ferguson will have probably coming into the team by then). Preferably a kinda nippy, hard worker type and I'd like to see someone a bit taller come in as well, at least as an option off the bench. Should Devine and/or Meekings go, I'd like to see a 6"3 defender come in, again to give us another option. One that can play as a full back either side would be perfect as well! Should Watkins go, a winger with real pace would be something else I'd like to see, but should Ross stay and with Sutherland coming through, it might not be overly needed.

Polworth has always looked good when played and has done nothing wrong at all. I'd offer him a contract

Agreed but we get compensation if he signs for another club so no real rush albeit I would love to see him resigned Asap for at least 2 years

I would play Doran instead of Williams. Didn't think he deserved to be dropped for Hamilton game and always plays well against County.

I'm not surprised that Calum Ferguson scored again today - he's probably still 'smarting' from finding out that while he was away, Alistair Sutherland made his first-team debut and he now owes Ali £20!

News tonight of Dons taking on a loanee, defender 'till end of season. No cash coming our way I'm afraid. To be expected adter all it is Aberdeen we are talking about here.

Thanks for the updates WE were hiding them from Aberdire

^ this a serious post?

I'm not up to speed with the development league players either, but it sounds like an inexperienced squad.

just for reference .........

I agree with the two lists that you have mentioned, but i think we have to say that Mckay, like Shinnie looks to be off come the summer. What i do believe though, and maybe I'm in a daydream at the moment, is that we'll see some of the best football from the pair in the coming months. Mckay has the potential to make it in the English championship and the only way to attract that sort of attention for a decent club before the end of the season is goals, and lots of them. Was hoping Shinnie would hold out for a move down south but im sure as captain he'd want to leave the club on good terms and push for our most succesful finish ever. The rest I believe there is potential we can hang on to them. Meekings is still very young at 22 and knowing him myself, believe if Caley offer him a year extension he would stay. Celtic or a championship club would be the move he'd like to take but come the end of this season it seems very unlikely that offer will be on the table. He enjoys working with Warren but will not commit long term. Watkins and Raven are sure starters when fit. Unless Raven leaves at the end of the season, i can see him ending his career here but Watkins could impress some clubs if we dont wrap up his signature soon. This time last year i wasn't sure about Nick's future but he has really impressed in the last couple games and deserves to be a part of our squad. It would be nice to keep Devine - but he is replaceable. I've not seen enough of Horner to comment really, which suggests he can go, though Polworth has had chances in the first team and has given glimpses of his potential. Maybe wouldn't be the biggest loss to the squad but I would like him to stick around for another year or 2. I can see a few faces arriving in summer, unlikely we'll make a signing before Monday which will mean Tansey returning will be our only signing of note in 18 months. Striker yet again will be top priority, someone like Mckay who can fit into yogi's system, I dont believe Calum is ready to be first team just yet but will be good to see him get some premiership experience before May. The rest really does depend on who's leaving. Tremarco can fill in for Shinnie but is Baptie good full back cover? More depth is needed and players with SP(F)L experience is valuable, even just to have around the training ground to mentor talents coming through

Game against Hearts today Team: Hoban,C.Brown,Howarth,Horner,J.Brown, Polworth,Maclennan,Wilson,Ferguson, Sutherland,Baptie Subs: Blackett,Rennie,Hull

I think we have to accept that transfer fees within Scotland are a thing of the past. Players and clubs prefer to wait for contracts to run down so that players are free to go wherever they like (without interference from club) and "buying" clubs only have to dangle salaries in front of players instead of salaries + transfer fees. Financially, we are near the bottom of the Premiership pile and therefore have very little pulling power to keep good players here once they feel the urge to move on. This is not the fault of the Board who run a very tight ship, it is the reality of modern football. The tactic has been to get players on reasonably long contracts (2-3 years), which has worked inasmuch as we have a settled team and are not constantly re-inventing ourselves like County (for example). Towards the end of those contracts, players need to decide whether they are at the pinnacle of their career - in which case, they'll take another contract with us, or can earn a better wage elsewhere, in which case they will move on (for free). The success of the last few seasons suggest that this model works. the down-side is that we will continue to lose players who have developed here for nothing. C'est la vie until we can get 20,000 fans through the gates. Good luck to Graeme Shinnie - I hope he gets the international caps that he has deserved. I expect him to retain the captaincy and play even better for a while. Depending on the league table towrds the end, we might need to think about resting him if his performances start to tail off (as for any player) - it has to be distracting to know that you'll be elsewhere as soon as the season ends.

well stated Mr Bannerman. I believe Shinnie will give his all for the rest of the time he is with us, so enjoy

Unlike the Board of Directors, you are obviously fortunate enough to know how a club with a £3 million turnover and a bedrock 3000 fanbase can hold on to such players by outbidding competitors who at least double or triple both these numbers. What do you want to do first? Email the Chairman with this magical secret, or tell your fellow posters on here?

Interesting you should mention the Hamilton game. Entrance was only 10p as a tribute to the service departing manager Alex Neil and his assistant Frankie McAvoy had given to the club. The vice-chairman was quoted by the BBC as saying "We look forward to welcoming all our loyal supporters, and perhaps some new ones, to send Frankie, and Alex, off with the acclaim they deserve." Clearly they didn't want 2 great servants of their club to leave but they understood the guys wanted to develop their careers. Rather than being branded as traitors they were lauded for the service given over the years. I don't suppose any of us want Shinnie to leave, but can we not simply respect his wish to move on and thank him for his superb contribution to our club?

Might unsettle one or two in their own dressing room as well.

Seem to have 3 threads picking up on the Shinnie situation. Think I'll stick to the one called "Graeme Shinnie". He may not have committed his future to the club but he is still in contract till the end of the season and I would expect him to give his all for his current employers and team mates - team mates who in some cases will also be his friends off the park. In addition, unless he maintains his level of performance and continues to impress his future employers, he may find himself warming the bench at the start of next season. If Yogi thinks his current level of performance warrants his inclusion in the side then he should continue to pick him and we should continue to support him as part of the team. The captaincy is a different matter though. I think there are others in the side who could take on the captaincy at least as effectively as Shinnie and it should be with someone who has committed to be at the club for at least another season. Giving the captaincy to someone else also makes it easier to drop Shinnie should his performance level drop off. He should play if his performance justifies it but he should not be considered an automatic pick.

I'd like to think that we won't lose sight of trying to get other players signed up. Meekings has apparently been keen to sign a new deal with us and has said so twice in the last few weeks (or has been reported as saying so). Let's get contracts on the go for the rest of these guys as soon as possible.

Shinnie a bench warmer at Aberdeen Okay it's not a massive step up in terms of playing standard but he'll be making more money and close to family and friends. That might be more important to him than going down South like his brother. I am surprised that no one else seems to have made a move for the guy and hugely disappointed that he's gone to a rival club in the same league but it's absurd to claim that he'll not be playing. He's arguably the best left back in the league. There's no way he'll be left on the bench at Pittodrie.

With his imminent change of lifestyle the move to Aberdeen would make sense to him and his family. Closer to his own mum and dad and not a million miles from Inverness. Having said all that I cannot wish him well when joining our rivals and as has been said major lack of ambition and a slap in the face to ICT and the fans announcing this when we are in a battle with Aberdeen for league placings. Anyway I hope he likes '80's music and shoulder pads because he will be going back 30 years to be in the same era as their fans seem to live.