Northern Goal

This week, Sean Wallace and Andy Skinner join Ryan Cryle from Spain and Italy, respectively. Sean is embedded with Aberdeen in Alicante and delves into the big themes of the pre-season camp – what the Dons are working on in the sun, who’s there, who has impressed most, what his impression of summer signings like Anthony Stewart have been up close, and what the situation is with Ylber Ramadani and Bojan Miovski as they join up with their new team-mates. Plus, Sean gives a Jack MacKenzie injury update and also reveals what Jim Goodwin has told him at La Finca Resort about targets Connor Ronan and Jamie McGrath. Andy, similarly, gives us the inside story from Ross County’s camp in Verona, including what he’s made of all of the new faces brought in over recent days.

This week, we assess Aberdeen’s manic week in the transfer market. The Dons have made four signings – Jayden Richardson, Liam Scales, Anthony Stewart and, most notably, striker Bojan Miovski. We discuss what the experts have told us about them over the last few days, and whether Jim Goodwin’s business so far has shown us how the Dons will line up next term. Who will be next? (It won’t be Liam Boyce or Robby McCrorie...) We also preview Aberdeen’s weekend trip to Buckie Thistle, chat about the incomings at Ross County, Inverness and Peterhead, and look ahead to Cove Rangers veteran Stuart McKenzie’s testimonial against Dunfermline on Saturday.

This week, reaction to the £8m deal between Liverpool and Aberdeen for Calvin Ramsay – with the initial £4.5m fee set to break the Dons’ club record and previous high for a Scottish teen. Then Sean Wallace – after speaking to his ex-chairman in Norway - gives the inside track on how Reds-linked Tobias Lauritsen became a striker, overcoming adversity to get back to his nation’s top-flight in the process, and what his attributes are. There’s also further discussion on Macedonian target Bojan Miovski, what it all means for returning US forward Christian Ramirez and whether we’ll see Dean Campbell back in an Aberdeen kit. Plus, Ross County and Inverness contract extension, and shades of Paul Hartley in Jim McIntyre’s arrival to take manager’s role at Cove Rangers.

In this week’s episode of Northern Goal, the panel analyse Scotland’s 2-0 win over Armenia, which got their Nations League campaign off to a winning start. There’s also the big news of Paul Hartley’s departure to discuss at Cove Rangers, following his departure to English League Two side Hartlepool United at the end of last week. We also look at potential comings and goings at Aberdeen, with speculation about Calvin Ramsay’s future continuing and the Dons finally making their first signing of the summer in the form of Ylber Ramadani.

The panel sift through the debris of Scotland’s hugely disappointing night against Ukraine, in this week’s episode, which ended their hopes of making the 2022 World Cup. Where did it go wrong and are some players at the end of the road for the national side? We also look in-depth at a significant period of change for women’s football at Aberdeen and discuss what stories have caught our eye from our SPFL clubs.

This week, how did it all get away from Caley Thistle in their play-off final defeat to Premiership survivors St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, and following Austin Samuels’ all-action first-half display? The play-off system might be unfair, but Inverness now know – if they want to go up – they need to finish top of the Championship (which they maybe should have done), don’t they? We also discuss the Premier Sports Cup draw for all of our sides, with Aberdeen’s group-mates Raith Rovers providing a stark reminder to the Dons to take their rivals seriously if they are to blitz group A.

This week, off the back of Paul Third’s Reds Rebuild series for the Press and Journal/Evening Express, we discuss what Aberdeen and boss Jim Goodwin need in every area of the park this summer – numbers and skillsets. Plus, Dundee United fans’ disruption mars final Ross County game of the season. How big a loss is the departed Blair Spittal to the Staggies, and are we resigned to Regan Charles-Cook, Harry Paton and Alex Iacovitti leaving, too? Could Roy MacGregor push the boat out to get Joseph Hungbo back next term? Then - Inverness showed true grit to somehow overcome Arbroath in their Premiership play-off semi-final, but will they have a) recovered enough, and/or b) have the bodies for their shoot-out with St Johnstone.

On this week’s Northern Goal, the panel discuss Aberdeen’s 1-0 defeat at St Johnstone, which saw the Dons play without a senior striker after Christian Ramirez jetted off on holiday a week early. Following another soft goal against the Reds, can we see the Declan Gallagher and David Bates centre-back setup working next term? Sean Wallace also discusses the Luke Turner contract situation and how Jim Goodwin justified his decision to let the youngster goal. Plus, how did Ross County let Europe pass them by, and the Inverness v Arbroath play-off is on a knife-edge ahead of Friday’s second leg.

This week, with Aberdeen secure in the knowledge relegation won’t be happening, we ask: Is it time to throw Dante Polvara into the team and see what the January signing from the US can do? There’s also praise for developing Dons talents Connor Barron, Vicente Besuijen and Jack MacKenzie following the 1-0 win over Dundee, which didn’t do much to dampen questions over where Christian Ramirez’s future may lie. Plus, despite their awards snub, Ross County had a good week drawing at Hearts - and now a win over Motherwell this weekend could clinch Europe - while full-time success story Shane Sutherland’s ability was on full display as Caley Thistle took play-off pole position against Partick Thistle.

On this week’s Northern Goal, troubling times at Aberdeen as loss to Livi reconfirms bluntness in attack, inability to keep goals out and psychological fragility. No doubt Jim Goodwin's rebuild is needed, but – like Terry Butcher at Hibs – is he learning he should have waited? And is the mood music of the last week telling us Christian Ramirez and Calvin Ramsay are going? Meanwhile, Andy Skinner tells us why he thinks Ross County’s Malky Mackay and Regan Charles-Cook should be named Manager and Player of the Year, as Inverness look set to start the likes of Scott Allardice v Hamilton. Jamie Durent then talks Cove’s League One title win – much-deserved celebrations, Harry Milne’s exit for Partick Thistle, and what’s next in terms of their squad, contract model and infrastructure.