manc_don

I think i've put a pacier cross in fives. Embarrassing to say the least.

http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/783923 Wright’s ready for Well test Seve backs new striker against Steelmen By Andrew Moir Published: 15/08/2008 CASE FOR THE DEFENCE: Seve is happy to continue his new role at the back for Aberdeen. More Pictures ABERDEEN captain Scott Severin reckons Tommy Wright will lift the Pittodrie gloom by shooting down Motherwell tomorrow. The new Dons striker is now vying for a starting slot at Fir Park after making his debut for the Reds reserves earlier this week. Severin is convinced Wright’s arrival will provide the perfect tonic for his shell-shocked troops after the opening day defeat to Inverness Caley Thistle. “Tommy has looked very sharp in training,†said Severin. “He’s a strong lad and we’ll be looking for him to hold the ball up against Motherwell if he’s given a chance. “Tommy also has goals in him and he’ll provide us with another option in attack which is always welcome. “We have been depending on Lee Miller a bit too much in recent times so it’s nice to have an alternative. “Tommy is the type of player who can change games and his arrival has given everyone a big lift.†Skipper Severin controversially started the Caley clash in defence and is prepared for an extended spell at the back. But after the Highlanders found the net twice at Pittodrie Jimmy Calderwood could tinker with his back four tomorrow. He added: “I’m happy enough to play in defence if that’s what the manager thinks is best for the team. “I played the majority of the pre-season games alongside Andrew Considine at the back. “The manager decided to continue with us for the Inverness Caley game. “I thought we did reasonably well although we could have done a bit better for the first goal. “If we get another opportunity against Motherwell then we have to make the most of it but the manager might opt to make changes.†Severin is still smarting even now after Aberdeen’s opening performance fell flat. Caley’s first victory over the Dons at the 18th attempt stunned those in the red corner but Seve is determined to bounce back off the ropes against the Steelmen. He said: “Even now we’re all still disappointed at losing the opening game to Inverness Caley. “We started the match very well before we conceded possession too cheaply and they punished us when they scored their first goal. “It was difficult to create chances against them as they defended strongly. But we should have the players capable of rising to that challenge. “Our last 12 or 13 matches against Inverness were never the prettiest of games. They were happy to sit in and hit us on the break and their tactics worked well. “At the second goal we were caught out up the park. It’s going to be difficult against Motherwell as they lost their opening match against Hearts. “You don’t want to end up with no points on the board after the first two matches of the season. “We’re going to have work really hard at Fir Park and pick ourselves up for the match. They showed they are a quality team by qualifying for Europe so we know what to expect.â€

Been going round on MAD for a few weeks now, but I don't believe it for a second. He'd want to prove himself down there first.

Zander was just rash, and still is to a degree but luckily he's turning that corner!

I try to forget he plays for us

But who else would get played there?

If we play with four at the back, they will tear us apart down our right side, but 3-5-2 should work (he hopes!)

I'd say the odds are firmly against us. Motherwell played well last week, and well, by all accounts we didn't play, but as we've said, here's to optimism eh!

Well at least he'd have half the supports backing after that Wouldn't surprise me though I must say! I pray to fuck they don't make it a wasted journey on Saturday.

I do but thats irrelevant. Its going to be my first game of the season and cheer us on. Hopefully Wright will come good.

Tommy: I’m Well ready for Fir Park Hitman Wright ready for Dons debut By Andrew Moir Published: 13/08/2008 READY: Tommy Wright in action against Caley yesterday. More Pictures TOMMY Wright today claimed he’s ready to take on Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday. The new Don even picked up a booking in his first Reds outing as the reserves lost 2-1 to Inverness Caley Thistle at Glebe Park. But he’s still hoping to have done enough to impress boss Jimmy Calderwood who travelled to Brechin to watch his new charge. “I’m delighted to have played 80 minutes because the original plan was just to play the first half,†said Wright. “Now I’m hoping to take things forward and would love to get a chance against Motherwell. “As far as I’m concerned I’m fit and available for the first team. “I did tire towards the end but I just have to work hard to get back to full fitness as that was my first appearance in three months.†Englishman Wright, 23, is clearly a combative striker who loves the physical side to the game. And he was even handed his first caution in Scotland for a late challenge on Caley’s Lionel Djebi-Zadi. But he’s not worried about his first run-in with the officials and won’t hold back if he gets a crack at Motherwell. He added: “I’m not concerned about picking up a booking in my first appearance for Aberdeen. “Sometimes you can react when things aren’t going for you and that’s what I did. “But I’ll just get on with it and continue to play my own game.†Wright would love to have marked his first Aberdeen appearance with a goal. But for now he’s concentrating all his efforts on getting back to full fitness ahead of the SPL clash at Fir Park on Saturday. “It would have been nice to have scored for the reserves or to have had two or three chances,†said Wright. “I’m not too worried about that as that can happen in matches. “But I just need more games to get back to peak fitness before working on other things. “I’m not sure how many minutes I’ll get for the first team if any this weekend. “So if I have to play more reserve matches to improve my fitness then that’s what I’ll do. “I’m lacking match fitness and sharpness more than anything right now. “You think you are fit but it’s only when it comes to playing games you realise you’re not quite there. “That can only come with games, but I’d still love to be involved against Motherwell.†Certainly sounds like he likes to get stuck in, hopefully that rubs off onto the rest of the team!

Sad but true. We'll just have to wait and see

My thoughts exactly! Ah well, at least we know he's willing to get stuck in.

I'd disagree with that completely. There are plenty, you just don't have the contacts. I hope to hell he pulls something out of the bag because we're going to be struggling otherwise.

"salt of the earth" folk never do...

I'm sure that wouldn't stop him, might use it as lube or something...

According to Smith there is not need to Panic just yet http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/781125 At least he knows we were shite and doesn't blame the fans.

My thoughts exactly! Must have been Crighton that wrote that. The only one that ever writes something that criticises JC.

www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk Defeat casts doubt on manager’s signings Published: 11/08/2008 JIMMY Calderwood's chickens have come home to roost. Feathers will doubtless have flown in the home dressing-room but only so much blame can be attached to the players for their lack of pluck. The team the manager has assembled is the product of his transfer dealings, and its opening performance did nothing to assuage pre-season concerns. It is not so much the quality of the players brought in, although it was noticeable the extent to which Aberdeen's midfield instantly improved when Scott Severin was pushed into it after an inauspicious hour of McDonald and Kerr. It is questionable whether this will turn out to be a better pairing than the captain and Touzani would have been. The problem is chiefly with the type of player recruited. Adding two such defensive options to the midfield mix would be acceptable if chances were being fashioned elsewhere, either with a third central midfielder behind one attacker or from both flanks. But in this 4-4-2, with the Dons' only fearsome winger gone back to Birmingham without being replaced, it rendered the midfield completely devoid of creativity. Aberdeen's wide men, perhaps scared away from the touchlines by the assistants’ garish outfits, posed no threat to Caley Thistle's full backs, with Jeffrey de Visscher looking no pacier even after a full pre-season and Jamie Smith apparently exhausted after 15 minutes. Neither says much for the value of Calderwood's summer programme which, five years in, has yet to deliver a win in either of the first two competitive matches of any campaign. Yet despite acknowledging the superiority of Caley Thistle's more numerous midfield, Calderwood resolutely refused, through three substitutions, to counter it with a fifth man and allowed his team to be passed off the pitch. Inverness were sharper, fitter and the more inventive team. In Andy Barrowman they had an impressive figurehead in attack who was aggressive and has the ability to navigate his way around the box without the aid of a map. He would have provided an excellent foil for Lee Miller but, coming from Ross County, is not the sort of player in whom Calderwood trusts. Instead, Aberdeen's own number 10 is still here, punting the ball over from directly beneath the crossbar.

Quite a shocking attendance yesterday for our season opener. Would have thought we have got more than 12K for a game against the sneck. Back on topic though, we should not be losing to the likes of ICT at HOME. On their patch is fair enough because its a difficult place to go, but at Pittodrie, not acceptable. JC, get it sorted and fast.

As GD said, Aluko and Nicholson would walk into our team, they did last season! I agree wholeheartedly with whats been said with regards to the laziness in finding replacements. We all know they are out there, and we've always known the Jimmy goes for who he knows which is what frustrates the hell out of me. I'm not worried, just yet anyway, but definitely concerned! I just wish Jimmy would see what we can see and most of the world can see.

The warning signs were definitely there, and having not been to a single pre season game I guess I just put it all down to mad pre-season syndrome. I hope to fuck they get their act together, but its not time to panic, but it didn't sound pretty at all. We seem to do ok even though we don't win our first game. Just makes the season more interesting.....

To think I was actually looking forward to the new season...I'm in two minds whether or not to go to Motherwell next week, though I do think it will be a different team performance with Zander and Wright coming in. I hope so anyway, but we'll see. Not pressing the panic button just yet but I'm not impressed with today. Even Billy Dodds was saying we shouldn't be losing to Caley at home...Says it all really.

Nacho novo is a cunt. That is all I have to say on this matter.

Just didn't work out for Lovell, shame that, but oh well, I agree though, I think he'll turn out to be decent for us. Welcome aboard and I wish him/us, every success