Aberdeen

If money was no object and you could sign one player for your club, who would it be and why?
Ruud van Nistelrooy because of his phenomenal goals ratio for Manchester United in the past two seasons. What club wouldn't want him?

Worst ground to play at and why?
Caledonian Stadium in Inverness because I have a painful memory of injuring my knee there two years ago

What was your club's best performance last season?
A 1-1 draw with Celtic at Pittodrie just before the winter break

And the worst?
The 7-0 hammering by Celtic at Parkhead in November

What was your most memorable moment last season?
Making my Scotland debut in Iceland, when we won 2-0 in the Euro 2004 qualifier

And the funniest?
Being on the pitch for only 30 seconds against Iceland on my debut

Who gave the best individual performance against you last season?
John Hartson in that 7-0 defeat. He scored four goals that day

Which is the best set of away fans you have encountered?
You can't separate Celtic and Rangers

What is your favourite movie to watch on the bus?
Dumb and Dumber

If you could opt for any musician, who would you choose to write and perform a new club song?
Snoop Doggy Dogg

One thing you would change about the game?
I would like to see a resurgence in Scottish football finances

Hardest part of being a pro?
Pre-season training

One tip for aspiring footballers?
I'd just advise them to go out and enjoy the game

One word to describe your mood on the eve of the new season?
Excited

Describe manager Steve Paterson in three words: Off the drink

3 key questions that will decide this season

1 Can Steve Paterson's success in the lower divisions be replicated in the Premierleague?
When the former Inverness manager arrived, he insisted there would be no quick fix, especially with limited transfer funds again at his disposal. His strength is man-management — the ability to bring the best out of his team — and he has inherited some good young players, but the squad remains threadbare. Paterson must at least establish Aberdeen as a top-six club this term. His private life will also be under scrutiny following his admission of a drink problem last season. An introverted character, in a stressful position, this is a campaign that could make or break him

2 Can Aberdeen discover their scoring touch?
Only Partick Thistle and Dundee United scored fewer Premierleague goals last season. Scott Booth will add guile and inventiveness to the forward line, but the 31-year-old has never been a prolific finisher and a forceful centre-forward is required to make the most of the deliveries from out wide. Duncan Shearer, Paterson's assistant and a former Pittodrie striker himself, will work closely with the attackers, and Darren Mackie and Scott Michie are promising youngsters, but a team that can't score will always be hindered

3 Can a viable team be built around their young players?
During the darker days of Ebbe Skovdahl's reign, Aberdeen supporters sought succour from the fact that at least a number of good, potentially great, young players were breaking into the first team. Now, potential is no longer a viable currency for the players who will represent the core of Steve Paterson's squad. The likes of Philip McGuire, Kevin McNaughton and Russell Anderson are still young but will be expected to provide leadership and influence. The key, though, could be Paul Sheerin. At 28, he is at the peak of his game and scored eight goals from midfield after joining from Ayr in January

New arrival

Pittodrie supporters can still recall Scott Booth's bristling talent when he burst into the Aberdeen first team alongside Eoin Jess in the 1990s. Booth moved to Borussia Dortmund on a Bosman transfer in 1997, before heading to Holland with spells at Utrecht, Vitesse Arnhem and Twente Enschede. Having returned home, he is likely to shoulder the responsibility of providing the creative spark in Paterson's side, as well as helping to bring on the young strikers in the squad

Strongest XI

Preece
Anderson
Deloumeaux
McGuire
Tosh
McNaughton
Hart
Sheerin
McQuilken
Booth
Hinds

The squad

David Preece G
Michael Hart M
Jamie McQuilken D
Eric Deloumeaux D
Russell Anderson D
Phil McGuire D
Leigh Hinds F
Steve Tosh M
Scott Booth F
Paul Sheerin M
Darren Mackie F
Chris Clark M
Kevin Rutkiewicz D
Fergus Tiernan M
Kevin McNaughton D
Richard Foster M
Michael Bird F
Stephen Payne D
Scott Muirhead F
Ryan Esson G
Scott Morrison D
Duncan Jones D
Kevin Souter M
Stephen Tarditi F
David Hutton G
Manager: Steve Paterson

Celebrity fan

Richard Gordon, sports presenter
I'm more optimistic than under dear old Ebbe. There's too many question marks in too many positions to be chasing a Uefa Cup place. Fifth or sixth would be a good job, but we still need a goalscorer

Where are they now?

Toni Kombouare: He spent four years at Paris Saint-Germain as reserve team coach, and is now manager of Strasbourg