This Thursday we celebrated thanksgiving here in the USA.
I was up in the mountains of Western New York with no Internet and intermittent cell phone reception.
So I had a chance to get away from it all, no constant emails, Internet articles or message board posts about how deep a crisis our beloved Aberdeen Football Club is in at the moment.
I never heard the game but reading match reports and posts from fans who braved the weather to go to the game (I salute you all) nothing has changed since our 1st emergency meeting of the board after the 9-0 drubbing against Celtic.
There have been very few positives to take from any of our recent games, although Mark Mcghee will tell you otherwise.
I worry about our next game, we play Celtic once more, the only positive is we are at home, but Pittodrie has not exactly been a fortress recently.
I don't think we will lose another 9 goals but even though Celtic have not been at there best the last few games, 4 or 5 would be no surprise.
2 times in recent weeks the home team at Pittodrie have won, unfortunately those teams were the Scotland Football and Rugby national teams.
Maybe it is time for Aberdeen F.C to give up and we can all support the egg chasers instead.
So this week I give thanks to no Internet so I could not hear the Aberdeen game this week.
Stand Free
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Jamie Rapidly becoming an important player for Colorado
Former Aberdeen and Celtic midfielder Jamie Smith played a huge part in helping Colorado Rapids win their first ever MLS Cup since they were founded in 1995.
Jamie who was very influential in the first round two legged tie when the Rapids took Columbus Crew to penalties and beat the 2008 MLS champs.
He missed the conference final against San Jose Earthquakes due to injury and although he declared himself fit head coach Gary Smith waited till late on to confirm Smith would be in the starting 11.
Jamie Justified his selection when he crossed the ball in the 56th minute which Conor Casey eventually scrambled over the line while sitting down to cancel out David Ferreira's opener for FC Dallas.
Jamie played most of the 90 minutes before being subbed just before the start of Extra time.
The Rapids won the game thanks to a lucky break when the ball came off Dallas Defender George Johns Knee and ended up in the back of his own net.
I am sure most Aberdeen fans will want to congratulate Jamie and wish him more MLS success in the future.
(Except when he is playing Columbus Crew that is.)
Stand Free
Jamie who was very influential in the first round two legged tie when the Rapids took Columbus Crew to penalties and beat the 2008 MLS champs.
He missed the conference final against San Jose Earthquakes due to injury and although he declared himself fit head coach Gary Smith waited till late on to confirm Smith would be in the starting 11.
Jamie Justified his selection when he crossed the ball in the 56th minute which Conor Casey eventually scrambled over the line while sitting down to cancel out David Ferreira's opener for FC Dallas.
Jamie played most of the 90 minutes before being subbed just before the start of Extra time.
The Rapids won the game thanks to a lucky break when the ball came off Dallas Defender George Johns Knee and ended up in the back of his own net.
I am sure most Aberdeen fans will want to congratulate Jamie and wish him more MLS success in the future.
(Except when he is playing Columbus Crew that is.)
Stand Free
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Saint's V Sinners
Aberdeen were up against St Johnstone at home in a game that they really needed to win.
St Johnstone are low on confidence and on a losing streak, Aberdeen also on a losing streak but looked ready for the battle. I said last week I felt we showed enough in the second half v Rangers that we could beat St Johnstone. I predicted a tight 2-1 win.
I was going to blog after I saw the sending off incident but Mcghee's after match comments have really been eating at me.
It seems that 0-0 v St Johnstone at Pittodrie is a acceptable result in Mark Mcghee's eyes. He basically said if McArdle was not sent off we would have held out for the 0-0.
I will comment more on the sending off when I see the highlights.
I thought Zander did a bit better this week and was unlucky to score the own goal.
Our next game is away to Killie who I watched give Rangers a tough game this morning, I really cannot see us take anything from a ground where so many Aberdeen managers over the years have seen their Pittodrie career end.
Things could have been so much different if Sone Aluko had scored his sitter in the 1st half.
We need to take these chances.
So Mark Mcghee, McArdle did not lose us the game, the ref did not lose us the game, Mcghee and HIS players (remember he said last season "Don't judge me till I get my own players in") lost us the game.
Stewart Milne and the Aberdeen board have some tough decisions to make over the coming weeks.
Maybe Donald Trump will make a visit to the board room when he next visits his golf course and say, "Mark Mcghee, your fired"
Stand Free
Edit Sunday 21st November
Having seen the tackle by McArdle I have to say a red card was a bit harsh, It was a 2 footed tackle but there was no intention to get the man, he went for the ball. But the rules say a 2 footed tackle is a red card so it was a stupid tackle for McArdle to make, knowing there was a chance he could be sent off.
St Johnstone are low on confidence and on a losing streak, Aberdeen also on a losing streak but looked ready for the battle. I said last week I felt we showed enough in the second half v Rangers that we could beat St Johnstone. I predicted a tight 2-1 win.
I was going to blog after I saw the sending off incident but Mcghee's after match comments have really been eating at me.
It seems that 0-0 v St Johnstone at Pittodrie is a acceptable result in Mark Mcghee's eyes. He basically said if McArdle was not sent off we would have held out for the 0-0.
I will comment more on the sending off when I see the highlights.
I thought Zander did a bit better this week and was unlucky to score the own goal.
Our next game is away to Killie who I watched give Rangers a tough game this morning, I really cannot see us take anything from a ground where so many Aberdeen managers over the years have seen their Pittodrie career end.
Things could have been so much different if Sone Aluko had scored his sitter in the 1st half.
We need to take these chances.
So Mark Mcghee, McArdle did not lose us the game, the ref did not lose us the game, Mcghee and HIS players (remember he said last season "Don't judge me till I get my own players in") lost us the game.
Stewart Milne and the Aberdeen board have some tough decisions to make over the coming weeks.
Maybe Donald Trump will make a visit to the board room when he next visits his golf course and say, "Mark Mcghee, your fired"
Stand Free
Edit Sunday 21st November
Having seen the tackle by McArdle I have to say a red card was a bit harsh, It was a 2 footed tackle but there was no intention to get the man, he went for the ball. But the rules say a 2 footed tackle is a red card so it was a stupid tackle for McArdle to make, knowing there was a chance he could be sent off.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Game of two halves
Aberdeen went to Ibrox looking for their first win there since 1991, not many people gave them a chance to end that run.
When I saw the first 5 or 10 minutes of the game I knew we were in trouble. We were giving Rangers too much space and just letting them run at us. Basically the same tactics we employed at Parkhead seven days ago.
We hardly got a touch of the ball and when we did it was a big hoof up the park looking for our loan striker Scott Vernon.
It was no surprise to be 2-0 down at half time and it could have been worse but for some bad finishing from the Rangers forwards and a couple of great save from Aberdeen keeper Jamie Langfield, which included a penalty save just before half time which may have turned the game around.
If that gone in I think we may have crumbled, Jamie's save gave us a little bit of hope going in at half time.
I saw the Red TV interview with Jamie in midweek and he was clearly hurt after losing 9 goals last weekend. He looked determined not to lose a barrel load again this week.
In a week where the Aberdeen players have been told up to stand and fight for manager Mark Mcghee, Jamie did just that and for that he deserves the Don of the match.
I said on Facebook at half time Mcghee had to change things, I would rather lose 5-0 getting hit on the break trying to score goals than lose 5-0 or worse by just sitting back and letting Rangers run at us like we had in the first half.
Mcghee must have read my comment because Aberdeen pressured the Rangers players and tried to create some chances of their own.
We did not really trouble the Rangers goalkeeper but while we were up the other end fighting to win the ball it took the pressure off our defence.
Rangers did have some chances in the second half but more good saves from Langfield and bad finishing kept the score at 2-0.
So on the whole I was much happier with the performance in the second half but we still looked short of confidence.
Having been brought up in he Fergie era, I have always thought attack was the best form of defence, you never saw Aberdeen play the old firm in those days sitting back.
The change in that attitude is one of the reasons we have not won at Ibrox for 19 years.
With Saint Johnstone up next at Pittodrie on Saturday Aberdeen need to take something from the game today and continue to build from it.
Pressure the saints show some fight and we will get the win. We showed that in Perth at the beginning of the season.
Stand Free
When I saw the first 5 or 10 minutes of the game I knew we were in trouble. We were giving Rangers too much space and just letting them run at us. Basically the same tactics we employed at Parkhead seven days ago.
We hardly got a touch of the ball and when we did it was a big hoof up the park looking for our loan striker Scott Vernon.
It was no surprise to be 2-0 down at half time and it could have been worse but for some bad finishing from the Rangers forwards and a couple of great save from Aberdeen keeper Jamie Langfield, which included a penalty save just before half time which may have turned the game around.
If that gone in I think we may have crumbled, Jamie's save gave us a little bit of hope going in at half time.
I saw the Red TV interview with Jamie in midweek and he was clearly hurt after losing 9 goals last weekend. He looked determined not to lose a barrel load again this week.
In a week where the Aberdeen players have been told up to stand and fight for manager Mark Mcghee, Jamie did just that and for that he deserves the Don of the match.
I said on Facebook at half time Mcghee had to change things, I would rather lose 5-0 getting hit on the break trying to score goals than lose 5-0 or worse by just sitting back and letting Rangers run at us like we had in the first half.
Mcghee must have read my comment because Aberdeen pressured the Rangers players and tried to create some chances of their own.
We did not really trouble the Rangers goalkeeper but while we were up the other end fighting to win the ball it took the pressure off our defence.
Rangers did have some chances in the second half but more good saves from Langfield and bad finishing kept the score at 2-0.
So on the whole I was much happier with the performance in the second half but we still looked short of confidence.
Having been brought up in he Fergie era, I have always thought attack was the best form of defence, you never saw Aberdeen play the old firm in those days sitting back.
The change in that attitude is one of the reasons we have not won at Ibrox for 19 years.
With Saint Johnstone up next at Pittodrie on Saturday Aberdeen need to take something from the game today and continue to build from it.
Pressure the saints show some fight and we will get the win. We showed that in Perth at the beginning of the season.
Stand Free
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Blind Faith in Mr Magoo
After hours of meeting between the Aberdeen management team and the Aberdeen board of directors Mark Mcghee, Scott Leitch and Colin Meldrum have been given the green light to continue leading Aberdeen.
Whether they have been given a time limit remains unsure.
After the amount of time we waited for answers I was surprised there was not a STV live hour long special about the decision like we had with Lebron James here in the States.
If the board have faith in Mcghee then surely they must back him with cash when the January transfer window comes. We all know full backs are needed so that position must be priority.
My main concern is Mcghee does not seem to be able to motivate the players so he could make the best signings for years and still we could struggle.
I just worry for the future and I don't see what Mcghee has done since he came here that has convinced the board to think the next 6 month's are going to be any different.
I said it before and I will say it again, with Mcghee in charge we are heading towards Division 1.
You can argue he has not had a lot of money to spend, but the money he has spent he has spent badly. Not that he has bought bad players but the balance of the squad is terrible. Why buy so many strikers and central defenders when you need full backs.
Also it can be argued that Aberdeen's budget is more than Inverness Caley or St Mirren who have both beaten the Dons recently.
If we do go down then heads must roll, not just Mcghee's but Willie Miller and Stewart Milne also.
All we can do now is get behind the team and give them our support and hope the Stewart Milne and Co and made the correct decision.
Poor Dick Donald and Chris Anderson must be rolling in their graves.
Stand Free
Whether they have been given a time limit remains unsure.
After the amount of time we waited for answers I was surprised there was not a STV live hour long special about the decision like we had with Lebron James here in the States.
If the board have faith in Mcghee then surely they must back him with cash when the January transfer window comes. We all know full backs are needed so that position must be priority.
My main concern is Mcghee does not seem to be able to motivate the players so he could make the best signings for years and still we could struggle.
I just worry for the future and I don't see what Mcghee has done since he came here that has convinced the board to think the next 6 month's are going to be any different.
I said it before and I will say it again, with Mcghee in charge we are heading towards Division 1.
You can argue he has not had a lot of money to spend, but the money he has spent he has spent badly. Not that he has bought bad players but the balance of the squad is terrible. Why buy so many strikers and central defenders when you need full backs.
Also it can be argued that Aberdeen's budget is more than Inverness Caley or St Mirren who have both beaten the Dons recently.
If we do go down then heads must roll, not just Mcghee's but Willie Miller and Stewart Milne also.
All we can do now is get behind the team and give them our support and hope the Stewart Milne and Co and made the correct decision.
Poor Dick Donald and Chris Anderson must be rolling in their graves.
Stand Free
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Playing the waiting game
It is like waiting for a terminally ill person to pass on (Sorry to be so morbid) You know the end is coming and although you don't like the outcome it is kind of a relief when it happens.
That is what it feels like to be an Aberdeen fan today as we await the board to finish their meetings about the way forward.
I feel sorry for Mark Mcghee because during this time not one member of the board has come out and said Mark has their full backing. So like the fans he has been left in limbo.
There are various theories going round as to why the board are taking so long. One is that the board want him to go but Stewart Milne is concerned about the cost involved . Another is that the board have someone in mind and are waiting to get them in and the last theory I have read is that the board do not want the new man's 1st game to be away to Rangers.
Only the board can answer the question as to what's going on but I am sure we will never know the real answer for the delay.
With most of the results going against us today we are now 1 point ahead of bottom place Hamilton so a turn in fortunes is badly needed or we are going to be sucked into a relegation battle.
For now there is nothing we can do but wait.
Stand Free
That is what it feels like to be an Aberdeen fan today as we await the board to finish their meetings about the way forward.
I feel sorry for Mark Mcghee because during this time not one member of the board has come out and said Mark has their full backing. So like the fans he has been left in limbo.
There are various theories going round as to why the board are taking so long. One is that the board want him to go but Stewart Milne is concerned about the cost involved . Another is that the board have someone in mind and are waiting to get them in and the last theory I have read is that the board do not want the new man's 1st game to be away to Rangers.
Only the board can answer the question as to what's going on but I am sure we will never know the real answer for the delay.
With most of the results going against us today we are now 1 point ahead of bottom place Hamilton so a turn in fortunes is badly needed or we are going to be sucked into a relegation battle.
For now there is nothing we can do but wait.
Stand Free
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Dons Butchered at Home
I never heard the whole game as I was at work, but Aberdeen were not sounding like a team that needed to win at the start of the game.
Sounded like we were starting to get into the game when Caley got a very soft penalty.
It was good to see the team come out fighting in the 2nd half and Velicka got his first goal in a red shirt.
Once again poor defending cost us as Caley got a winner 9 minutes from the end.
The players at least tried but it was not good enough.
Although I never saw it I was disappointed to hear that Caley Manager (one of the names mentioned as a possible Successor to Mark Mcghee ) Terry Butcher was dancing about like a demented fool at the end of the game while his opposite number in the Aberdeen dugout was seeing his Aberdeen Career go down the toilet.
Mark Mcghee keeps telling us things will get better but I just can't see it. I understand what he is saying that on the budget we have ,we have to use youngsters when we get injuries because we do have a small squad, and we will have the occasional bad result. 4 Points out of 30 is more than an occasional bad result.
With such a low crowd at Pittodrie tonight the question must be asked, how long can the board let this go on for.
With rumors of a board meeting going on as I type it would not surprise me to be writing another blog tonight or tomorrow morning.
Stand Free
Sounded like we were starting to get into the game when Caley got a very soft penalty.
It was good to see the team come out fighting in the 2nd half and Velicka got his first goal in a red shirt.
Once again poor defending cost us as Caley got a winner 9 minutes from the end.
The players at least tried but it was not good enough.
Although I never saw it I was disappointed to hear that Caley Manager (one of the names mentioned as a possible Successor to Mark Mcghee ) Terry Butcher was dancing about like a demented fool at the end of the game while his opposite number in the Aberdeen dugout was seeing his Aberdeen Career go down the toilet.
Mark Mcghee keeps telling us things will get better but I just can't see it. I understand what he is saying that on the budget we have ,we have to use youngsters when we get injuries because we do have a small squad, and we will have the occasional bad result. 4 Points out of 30 is more than an occasional bad result.
With such a low crowd at Pittodrie tonight the question must be asked, how long can the board let this go on for.
With rumors of a board meeting going on as I type it would not surprise me to be writing another blog tonight or tomorrow morning.
Stand Free
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Mcghee to stay for now.
So it look's like Mark Mcghee will keep his job for at least 1 more game after today's board meeting at Pittodrie.
For my thought's on Mcghee and his managerial career at the Dons check out the article I wrote for Scotzine at http://www.scotzine.com/2010/11/the-end-is-nigh-for-mcghee/
Stand Free
For my thought's on Mcghee and his managerial career at the Dons check out the article I wrote for Scotzine at http://www.scotzine.com/2010/11/the-end-is-nigh-for-mcghee/
Stand Free
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Mcghee continues to smash the records at Aberdeen
The fact that I had predicted 7-1 in the Donstalk match predictor already meant I was not expecting much from this game , in fact I was expecting a hammering, it still hurt to see 9 goals fly past Jamie Langfield in the Aberdeen goal. Not since the days of Ebbe Skovdahl and Steve Paterson had Aberdeen witnessed defeats like this at Parkhead. This was actually worse than any of the previous results and is a new SPL record
I said after last weeks match at St Mirren we are at the lowest of the low's and some people told me it was not that bad, well if this is not the lowest point I am fearful of the future.
Aberdeen were never really in the game and came to try and stop Celtic playing. We had a couple of chances early on but when Hartley got sent off and we went 1-0 down the heads just dropped.
I think the ref called the game as he saw it today I had no complaint about the penalties or the sending off.
Langfield may have been a little lucky but I think there were defenders covering and thats why he never saw red.
Celtic deserved their victory but Aberdeen made it easy for them, that has to be blamed not only on the players but on the tactics that were used. The wrong tactics have been used too many times not only this season but last season also.
The big question is, where do Aberdeen go from here? They play the other half of the Old Firm next weekend with Caley in midweek. I really cannot see Mcghee go on from here and would not be surprised if there is a Pittodrie press conference on Monday if not sooner.
I have nothing against Mcghee, he was a great player for us in the 80's and I even find some of his comments on Red TV amusing, but he is clearly out of his depth.
Please do the honorable thing and walk now.
Stand Free
I said after last weeks match at St Mirren we are at the lowest of the low's and some people told me it was not that bad, well if this is not the lowest point I am fearful of the future.
Aberdeen were never really in the game and came to try and stop Celtic playing. We had a couple of chances early on but when Hartley got sent off and we went 1-0 down the heads just dropped.
I think the ref called the game as he saw it today I had no complaint about the penalties or the sending off.
Langfield may have been a little lucky but I think there were defenders covering and thats why he never saw red.
Celtic deserved their victory but Aberdeen made it easy for them, that has to be blamed not only on the players but on the tactics that were used. The wrong tactics have been used too many times not only this season but last season also.
The big question is, where do Aberdeen go from here? They play the other half of the Old Firm next weekend with Caley in midweek. I really cannot see Mcghee go on from here and would not be surprised if there is a Pittodrie press conference on Monday if not sooner.
I have nothing against Mcghee, he was a great player for us in the 80's and I even find some of his comments on Red TV amusing, but he is clearly out of his depth.
Please do the honorable thing and walk now.
Stand Free
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Let's hope there is no Muir of the same from Refs
In a week where referee's have been blasted in the press, stories of cover up's have broken, and a ref has been demoted for a few weeks, Parkhead is really not the best place for Aberdeen to be going this weekend.
Celtic fans are paranoid enough but they are even more so after what has come out in the aftermath of the game against Dundee United.
The problem is the ref's know this and now I feel they could be scared to give anything against Celtic or not give Celtic a decision.
Lennon is not helping things by coming out in the press and saying things like the ref has to be strong before the recent Old Firm match. That just puts more pressure on refs.
So let's hope Saturday's ref Alan Muir just calls the game as he see's it and forgets the 50,000 Celtic fans yelling at him.
Before anyone says I am just getting my excuses ready now, I really do not think we will get anything out of Saturday's game and expect to be well beaten, but our cause will not be helped if the ref is running scared of Celtic.
Stand Free
Celtic fans are paranoid enough but they are even more so after what has come out in the aftermath of the game against Dundee United.
The problem is the ref's know this and now I feel they could be scared to give anything against Celtic or not give Celtic a decision.
Lennon is not helping things by coming out in the press and saying things like the ref has to be strong before the recent Old Firm match. That just puts more pressure on refs.
So let's hope Saturday's ref Alan Muir just calls the game as he see's it and forgets the 50,000 Celtic fans yelling at him.
Before anyone says I am just getting my excuses ready now, I really do not think we will get anything out of Saturday's game and expect to be well beaten, but our cause will not be helped if the ref is running scared of Celtic.
Stand Free
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