To listen to the Aberdeen manager at his news conference yesterday was to listen to a man determined to realise new goals at Pittodrie. Derek McInnes defied conventional wisdom by rejecting Sunderland's advances in favour of remaining with the Dons.

Personally, I find it refreshing that one of our top managers wants to stay and build on his already solid foundations in the North East. But what of the view that McInnes has already done everything humanly possible, that Aberdeen have already peaked, that the only way for the Dons is down?

Those expressing that opinion are really telling us what they hope happens rather than analysing what's already in place at Pittodrie.

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That's not to say McInnes doesn't have work to do this summer. Far from it. The loss of Jonny Hayes represents a blow, no question. I would go as far as to describe Hayes as irreplaceable, considering the budgets most Scottish teams are compelled to work with.

But let's not forget, Hayes is going to Celtic, who are already light years ahead of the chasing pack headed by Aberdeen. It would be a different matter were the little Irishman going to one of the Dons' direct competitors for second place. Plus the £1.2 million can and will be put to good use by McInnes on the squad building front. That is the life cycle of most clubs around the world.

The departure of Ryan Jack to a team likely to fight with Aberdeen for second place would normally sound more alarm bells in the Granite City. After all, this is the local Aberdeen boy, club captain, product of the youth system. However ask any Dons fan and they'll tell you Graeme Shinnie has been a far more compelling midfield figure these past few years. Jack, undeniably, will help Rangers as quite simply they are starting from ground zero in that central midfield position.

Niall McGinn, Ash Taylor, Peter Pawlett will also be leaving for pastures new. McGinn, while a fine player, was latterly overburdened by dual club-country commitments and rarely the match-winning force along the lines of Hayes. Taylor, highly error prone in his earlier Aberdeen days, settled into more of a rhythm last season. But it shouldn't be difficult for McInnes to bring in someone of a similar or even higher level. Pawlett, a player I have always rated, deserves his chance to try for regular first team football at MK Dons.

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There are holes to be filled though and Aberdeen have started promisingly with the signing of Greg Stewart on loan from Birmingham for a year. It's no accident that Dundee went downhill after the departure of the gifted Stewart and clinical Kane Hemmings.

I'm delighted that Stewart is back in Scottish football and he will be one of the Dons' main on pitch strategists with his lovely left foot. He might lack a bit of pace but Stewart has a superb football brain.

Others will follow out of necessity in the weeks leading up to Aberdeen's first Europa League qualifier against Ordabasy Shymkent or Siroki Brijeg.

But Aberdeen still have perhaps the best keeper in the Premiership in Joe Lewis, solid pros like Shay Logan and Andrew Considine, on the back of maybe his best ever season. Shinnie will remain a dominant and tenacious midfield force. Kenny McLean, coveted by Rangers with good reason, has matured greatly. Adam Rooney remains one of the most reliable finishers in Scottish football over recent campaigns.

Aberdeen still need more young players to come through and the importance of having plentiful options in reserve won't be lost on Derek McInnes.

In my estimation, McInnes has constructed the best Aberdeen squad since Alex Smith's team that came within a whisker of winning the title in 1991. His signings tend to be hits rather than misses.

End of the cycle? Maybe in terms of losing a few players. But I wouldn't go writing off Aberdeen just yet.