Maguire Leaves Aberdeen

Last updated : 29 June 2011 By Stand Free Ed

This morning, Aberdeen FC chief executive Duncan Fraser has confirmed that following a period of negotiation agreement has been reached with Derby County over compensation for striker Chris Maguire.

The amount is thought to be between £350-400k going by UEFA transfer rules regarding transfer of players under 23.

Fraser told official website RedWeb: "We are very pleased to have reached a satisfactory outcome which fully recognises the investment that this Club makes in developing young players.

"On behalf of AFC, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Chris for his contribution here over the years and to wish him all the very best for the future."

Here at Aberdeen Mad, we reckon that Chris Maguire is known for three things:

1. Scoring a goal from the halfway line during a Scotland Under-21 Euro qualifier at Easter Road.

2. Nobody ever gets his name right - fans forums, newspapers and even television have misspelt his name, usually "McGuire", sometimes "McQuire" and even, on more than one occasion in local and national newspapers, "Phil McGuire". His name has not been knowingly misspelt on the radio.

3. He wrote anti-Rangers messages on a low-rent social network, earning him the Aberdeen support's respect and the nickname "Bebo".

Chris has done much more than that of course - he scored on his debut for Aberdeen against Kilmarnock, has steadily improved year-on-year for the Dons to the extent that last season he was one of our best players.

He was certainly one of only two players in Red who was confident, direct and skilful enough to make the fans genuinely excited when he got hold of the ball, and this was backed up by the stats - 12 goals and 9 assists means that Maguire was directly or indirectly involved in around half of Aberdeen's goals in season 2010/11.

Although the fans have become more... er... 'critical' in recent months, as it became clear that he wanted to leave Pittodrie, there have been some long-term question marks about Bebo.

The most obvious is that he is not the most clinical finisher or an instinctive penalty-box striker, which has led to a succession of Aberdeen managers playing him either wide on the right or behind the main striker.

While his workrate and attitude cannot legitimately be faulted, he is not the fastest and his crossing isn't brilliant, so when he's played as a bona fide winger it makes him look a poorer player than he is.

However, there is no doubt that he is improving all the time and the fact that he has been drafted into the Scotland squad this year shows how highly he is regarded. Plus most fair-minded Aberdeen fans are very disappointed that he has decided to leave and express doubts that the club will be able to replace him with the meagre money they have to spend.

There is certainly no doubt that, in today's market, for under £400k compensation Derby are getting a bargain.

Aberdeen Mad wishes Chris all the best in his future career.