Derek McInnes | Post Match Media Conference | Quotes

“I said before the game that this match came before we usually take a game on. It is only five days into pre-season. We would usually take a game six or seven days in during this period and it would usually be behind closed doors. We took the game on as it helped St Johnstone’s preparations as well, keeping Tommy’s boys sharp for next week.  Likewise, it is a game where we can start to build up for where we want to be in two weeks time.

“I thought it was competitive enough without anyone over stepping (the mark). I think all the players who played today will be the better for having taken part and having that type of game. You cannot get that type of fitness through your training.

“I was pleased with a lot of things.

“You could see that some of the players have work to do to get to where we want them to be in terms of sharpness. The pitch was a bit dry and the pace of the game was not as how we wanted it but I thought the majority of the performance was good. We scored a couple of good goals and then the young boys gave us a bit of energy towards the end. Bruce Anderson scored a terrific goal.

“So I was quite pleased with the days work.

“Out of respect to Shaun Maloney and Hull City I don’t want to say too much. Hopefully there might be an announcement next week. I am confident but we have been here before. Until someone actually signs and all the paperwork is complete I don’t like saying anything.

“He is the type of player in terms of level of ability we want and a player who can handle the demands of our club and that is important. That is the type of player we want bring in. We might not always bring in like for like for the players we have lost but if you can’t bring in something similar you still want to bring in a certain level of player to the club. I feel we have brought that with young Ryan Christie, with Greg Tansey who handles the ball well and with Greg Stewart who is always a player who catches the eye with his assists and his goals. If we can get one or two others then that will help us as well.

“We probably have another three or four signings to make.

“We would like to bring in another centre forward. We would like a wide player – you could see today we were playing with no real width because young Scott Wright was injured. We would have liked to have started him today but he has been feeling his hamstring a little bit so we did not take a risk.

“We have work to do and we have targets we have been looking at. We are working hard to try and bring them in. Whether we can get them in before the European deadline remains to be seen. It is more important we get the right ones in regardless of the deadline.

“Again (with Stevie May) I don’t want to speak too much about it. My high regard for him is well known but he is Preston’s player. He is someone we have had conversations about with Preston but he is there player and it is there call. Obviously they have a manager to appoint.

“At this stage Berkay Dabanli was taken in on the recommendation of a couple of agents we know. We brought him in. He has trained with us all week and he will come with us to our training camp in St Andrews for a few days. So we will see.

“Kevin McNaughton is good friends with Joe Lewis from their Cardiff days. He was speaking to Joe on Monday and said he did not have a club so we invited him in so he could train. We brought the training group down for the game. We need to have enough bodies so we thought we would reward his work with a bit of game time. If we can help him get another club then great. He is someone who is well thought of by everyone at the club but he has just been training and there is nothing more in it. it is not a position we are looking to fill.

“I watched the game on Thursday night (Široki Brijeg v Ordabasy). I thought looking at the game prior to it, from the bits of footage we had watched, there was a general feeling amongst the staff that Ordabasy were maybe slight favourites going into the game. But I thought on the night that the Bosnians were excellent and the quality of some of their play was really good. They are in the driving seat but the tie is not over.

“Regardless both teams look very comfortable sides. We have the second leg to watch and then we will know who we are playing and we can prepare for that. What is more important for us is making sure we are ready. Over the last few years we have had a three week period to get fit like this season but we have always gone into the first round. Although those first rounds ties are never easy, they are normally a bit easier than the second round games. Both potential opponents are very good and we need to make sure we are ready. We have to added difficulty of new players trying to build an understanding. So my biggest concern is getting the fitness and the sharpness but also building an understanding between the players to help us get through this tie.”

“Regardless both teams look very comfortable sides. We have the second leg to watch and then we will know who we are playing and we can prepare for that. What is more important for us is making sure we are ready. Over the last few years we have had a three week period to get fit like this season but we have always gone into the first round. Although those first rounds ties are never easy, they are normally a bit easier than the second round games. Both potential opponents are very good and we need to make sure we are ready. We have to added difficulty of new players trying to build an understanding. So my biggest concern is getting the fitness and the sharpness but also building an understanding between the players to help us get through this tie.”