Source: Team_Talk
McGhee wants more of the same
Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee has challenged his players to show the desire to prove their 4-0 win over Hamilton was no fluke.[LNB] The Dons kicked off their Clydesdale Bank Premier League season in spectacular fashion last Saturday when Paul Hartley's penalty hat-trick put them top of the table.[LNB]McGhee had admitted on the eve of the game that he was unsure just how well his new-look team would perform, but he is not reading too much into 90 minutes of action.[LNB]Aberdeen face a tough test on Saturday when they travel to Perth to face St Johnstone, who, like Hamilton, finished above the Dons in the SPL last season.[LNB]"The players deserved to feel pleased with themselves," McGhee said. "The rest of us were pleased for them and with them.[LNB]"The supporters I've spoken to are encouraged but everyone is the same - we're looking for the same again and wondering if we're going to get the same.[LNB]"The easiest thing on the back of a good result is that players feel they are off the hook for the next game, that they will be forgiven for not doing the same against St Johnstone. That's the challenge for the players."[LNB]McGhee added: "If we have 10 results consecutively like that then we'll start believing that something is happening, but we have a long way to go.[LNB]"We have to prove we have the appetite to do it again, that it wasn't a fluke, that we didn't just get Hamilton on a bad day."[LNB]Nevertheless, the result offered McGhee much encouragement that he was on the right track with his summer recruitment programme.[LNB]The former Scotland international remains keen to add two more players to his pool, with former Charlton left-back Grant Basey still waiting on the club to find the funds to offer him a contract.[LNB]"The situation remains the same," McGhee said. "We need to get players out on loan to compensate and we're still actively trying to do it.[LNB]"I have tried to reassure him and his agent that our intentions are honourable.[LNB]"We're desperate to bring him here. I think he can potentially be a great player for Aberdeen."[LNB]Mitch Megginson will not be one of the players going out on loan after McGhee knocked back several approaches for the youngster, despite also retaining hope of a loan deal for 19-year-old Aston Villa forward Jim Collins.[LNB]"I'm still interested in Jim Collins," McGhee said. "I'd like to bring him here as another string to our bow.[LNB]"We need some imaginative negotiations though - like can we have him for free?"
