IF GOALS in football can ludicrously be equated to money to tie in with a metaphor that every bloody newspaper is crowbarring into their stories just now, then Aberdeen's strikers have been through the credit crunch, are in the middle of a global financial meltdown and are heading for a worldwide recession.
Or something like that.
When Dons forward Lee Miller surprisingly signed a new contract at Pittodrie while his teammates fled to the Championship, the Aberdeen support were, seemingly justifiably, delighted.
However Miller has scored just one SPL goal this season, and that was from the penalty spot as the Reds slumped to a 2-1 home defeat to Hibs in their last game despite a better performance from the team.
Despite the improved showing, and some good build-up play leading to a number of crosses into the box, the Dons' shot-shy strikeforce of Miller and Darren Mackie were unable to convert any chances.
Yet Miller believes that the ball will start hitting the back of the net soon.
He said: "It's frustrating as every striker wants to score. It's a bit of everything, the service and the finishing must be just right.
"If everything clicks on the day, it's marvellous and, hopefully, that will happen soon.
"Falkirk would be a great place to start doing the business and help get back to the top end of the league."
Despite most of manager Jimmy Calderwood's attention focusing on defensive blunders this season, he must be alarmed that he Dons have found the net only seven times in eight league games - particularly while former striker Steve Lovell has three goals in three starts for new club and today's opponents Falkirk.
Calderwood said: "You are always worried when your strikers are not scoring goals.
"Between them they should be getting around 30 goals a season. We are not getting the rub of the green but you need to make it happen."