Drew Peacock

I'm just cranking up Sufjan Stevens - Illinois.

Magnifique.

Got that last week - must admit i'm impressed!

I've got the Super Furry Animals Songbook on this afternoon - forgot how many good songs are on there.

I'll reserve judgement on Duff.

 

Derek Young's signing didn't exactly fill us with enthusiasm but he's not set a foot wrong since he joined.  In fact I was a bit disappointed he was benched for Saturday.

I disagree.  I think he did well to start with, but of late he has been awful. 

My problem is he's keeping De Visscher out of the side without looking doing anything to justify his starting berth - IMO he would be a far better option on the right hand side.

In particular, against Motherwell at home he was bloody awful and cost us both goals...

Sounds like a similar set up to the Neil McFarlane / Danny Griffin deals from a couple of seasons back.

If that is the case, then i have no problem with that. 

I was half expecting him to be signed up on a three year deal...

Not exactly ringing endorsements for Duff on a United messageboard, other than the fact he tries hard:

http://ftd.ibforums.com/index.php?showtopic=16908

Examples:

A player who can play shite in several posistions is no more useful than one who plays badly in just the one.

a sort-of a cross between Ray Wilkins and Rodney Trotter.

We get rid of one waste of space, and replace him with another.

Whilst i'm not surprised, the report on North Tonight saying was signing for St. Mirren got my hopes up, so i'm even more disappointed than i would have been had i not seen that last night. 

The lord giveth, and the lord taketh away...

Sorry to spoil everyones day, but Stuart Duff is joining us today...

http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149212&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232924&home=yes&more_nodeId1=149229&contentPK=19578482

Jesus wept.

You don't get pictures in a dictionary.

Of course we are underachieveing. With the squad we have we should easily be 3rd (at worse??) yet the league form has been average at best. The Copenhagen game gave us a glimpse of what we are capable of - no reason why we don't reach the league cup final as we haven't faced any good teams (we should beat anyone and give Celtic/Rangers a challenge) and we should beat Falkirk in the replay. Calderwood is a motivator and not a tactician but there are only so many times you can use the same speeches, yell at the players etc. and he struggles to inspire, motivate and coach the current group. We are inconsistent/poor because he's a very average coach. A fresh approach could take us further in a time when we could easily be the third force in Scottish football and be competing with the old firm. Most games are a struggle and a slog when we do have the players to be doing much better and playing much better quality football.

Over on AFC Chat you would be lauded as a visionary.

Lee Miller supposedly adds something to the team which is the reason why he can get a run of ten games without scoring and not be dropped, whereas Lovell has one or two dry games and is binned.  He's not even that dissimilar to Miller, Miller does have a much better first touch, but Lovell's movement and sharpness mark him out as the better centre-forward. 

Sorry BTR, but i pretty much disagree with all of that. 

Miller and Lovell are different types of players completely.  Miller is good with his back to goal, holding the ball up, bringing other people into play, and is more of a "target man" than Lovell.

Lovell is more of an out and out striker who thrives when the ball is played through the channels, so he can get in behind defences.  As much as i like him, i've not seen anywhere near the movement or sharpness that he had when he was at Dundee.

Miller in my opinion, is a far better player.  Lovell may be the better center forward in terms of goals to starts, but as we've seen this season Miller is beginning to add goals to his game - add that with all the rest of his attributes and he's by far and away our most dangerous asset in an attacking sense, as has been alluded to by the coaches of the teams we've faced this season in the UEFA cup.

http://www.thisisaberdeen.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=202847&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232188&home=yes&more_nodeId1=148325&contentPK=19567622

I sincerely hope you sign a new deal Lee Miller!!!

The BBC gossip column just lifts info from the papers - Think they're just reading between the lines of this from this morning:

http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149212&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232924&home=yes&more_nodeId1=149229&contentPK=19564969

CALDERWOOD'S CONSISTENT DEMAND OF STRIKER LOVELL

 

08:50 - 16 January 2008

 

Steve Lovell has been told he must prove his consistency if he is to earn a new contract with Aberdeen.

 

With goalkeeper Derek Soutar moving on in thesummer, Lovell is the only player left at Pittodrie who has not been offered a deal.

 

The Englishman believes he does not deserve a new contract due to his poorseason at Aberdeen and his manager Jimmy Calderwood is in full agreement.

 

Former Dundee forward Lovell has scored three goals in the last five games for the Dons, but Calderwood is looking for more before he is convinced he should offer the player a new deal.

 

Calderwood said: "I read his comments about not feeling he has earned a new contract here and he is absolutely right. He is a favourite with the supporters, but there is a lot more to the game than just scoring goals.

 

"Darren Mackie is a fine example. Stevie is a better scorer, but Darren gives you other things. His work-rate is good, he chases lost causes and turns them into possession and he doesn't give the opposition a minute's peace.

 

"A Lovell on form would be a massive asset, but I need to see him doing the business in a three-month run, not in short bursts."

 

Calderwood insists he has not ruled out offering the player terms, but says Lovell must prove his fitness.

He said: "He had his best pre-season with us in the summer, but niggling injuries have meant he has not had a good run in the team.

 

"Derek Soutar is the type of lad who tells you exactly what is on his mind, but Stevie is a different animal. He is a deep individual and it is not easy to gauge how he feels at times.

 

"The big thing for Stevie is keeping himself fit as when he is on form, with the power and pace he has, he is a smashing player."

 

One player whose short-term future has been secured is Birmingham City winger Sone Aluko. The England youth international's loan deal has been extended until the end of the season.

I hope he does prove his worth over the coming months - way better option than Dobie IMO.

It looks like Hart, Nicholson and Clark are going to be here till the summer, and Aluko on top of that as well.

Clark's likely to be off today....

http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149212&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232924&home=yes&more_nodeId1=149229&contentPK=19564955

It's not like the evening express to come up with sensasionalist pish...

Talk about a non-story.

Hibs are favourite to land him.

They've had two bids rejected so far.

On rankin, i'm not particularly convinced he's any good.

However, there was word of Rangers letting Alan Gow out on loan - i'd have him here in a heartbeat.  10 times better than Rankin, that's for sure.

i hope we've got Stuart Duff on board by then...

Dobie? A bit more promising. But giving him credit for his Scotland international status? My uncle's dog got a cap for Scotland thanks to Bertie Vogts ... and that dog has its hind legs on wheels!

At least it's got hind legs. 

The irony of lee Wilkie being capped when he has no knees is something that wasn't lost on me.

No - concessions are OAPs, students and U18s.

Maybe i was thinking way back in the past when i was just a loon. 

Or when i was a scumbag student.

ach well...

"Rangers could turn to Aberdeen's Derek Soutar as back-up to goalkeeper Allan McGregor. (The Herald)"

That's good is it not?  He's wanting to leave at the end of the season, and he's shite anyway.

I'm just trying to put a positive spin on things.

 

Unfortunatly I think this is another case of Calderwood bringing in a player that he's heard of as opposed to a player that can actually the right job for us.

Unfortunately, i think you're right.

On another positive side of things, there is no mention of Stewart Duff in all of that....

Miller is hardly 'Brewsteresque' when it comes to that job.

I think Millers' been pretty damn good at it this season, and i would have thought that him and Dobie certainly wouldn't be playing in the same starting eleven...

I wish Aberdeen would be linked with a player who actually likes to play a bit. A midfielder who can pick a pass and who has a bit of guile. All through recent history we have had them - Strachan, Bell, Bett, Jess to name a few.

So not really that recent then....

All fairly positive other than the fact i'm completely unconvinced about Dobie's credentials.  Also, calling Scott Dobie a scotland international is pushing it a little.

No harm in taking Bus on a short loan deal til the end of the season though.

Good stuff - well done to all concerned. 

Can someone remind me if season ticket holders are classed as consessions or not?  Sure i remember something along those lines happening in the past?

Can you copy and paste them please loon?  Can't access at work!

Fools seldom differ eh drew?

I prefer "great minds think alike..."