rocket_scientist

I think United next week will be the toughest out of them all. Levein has them organised and they know how to win ugly.

 

If we did manage to beat them, and the OF done their jobs, then i think the players would realise that 3rd is back on the cards and hopefully give Motherwell a royal pumping the next week.

 

Then again, we are Aberdeen 

Thats the exact difference between them this season and us. Rangers have hardly been inspiring, even to their own bigoted support surely, but winning is what its about.

By choosing not to go yesterday, I guess I've renounced my right to offer comment on our latest performance, but the inability to win, consistent inability all year, both in terms of results and of performances, leaves me with absolutely no hope of beating both DU and MW.

Never seen Pittodrie that empty on a Saturday, cant blame people for not turning up due to our recent form. 3 of our 9 on the train up didnt even bother going to the game.

You weren't at the Hamilton game then, 2,000 less that day. Had the weather been that cold yesterday (as the cup game), it may well have been even lower than 6,441.

It's a measure of the quality and tolerance of the AFC support that we got that many. I didn't bother.

Haven't been on this site for a while, pay it a little visit and i get some wanker telling me what i can and can't think.   

Great retort, exquisite in simplicity and effect.

The poster you referred to as a wanker might think twice before using personal abuse in a debate.

If we lose he'll be slated for not being there.

 

If we win he'll be slated for not being needed.

True, but this is more an indication of the (non) relationship he has with the fans.

It's not about whether the fans are being "fair" to our poor unfortunate manager, a man with some essential skills shortages, and clearly out of his depth.

It's more to do with the fact that there is now a significant number of Aberdeen fans that have no faith in him. I'm amazed it took them 4 years, frankly.

Say what you like. Seeing Aberdeen play that many games in Europe this season was great for a young lad like myself.

 

I'm too young to remember when Aberdeen were ever pushing to win the league or go anywhere productive in Europe, so to me this season has been great. I don't like the manager, and I don't think alot of the players are as good as the Euro results would imply, however it's truelly been a great season and time to be an Aberdeen fan (well, untill someone mentions Queen of the South that is).

1 win in 8 games = good? Great season?

It's me that's out of touch. I am delighted to hand over the baton to you younger loons. Fuck this...

Amazing SC record in 1970 and by all accounts, a really nice bloke too. CTM RIP.

To celebrate my 100th post on DT, I thought I would just speak some shite, if you would afford me your tolerance.

The past of Aberdeen Football Club is irrelevant. Much as I enjoyed it, it's history.

The present? Well there's nothing happening this friday afternoon so that's irrelevant too.

The future, now that's what's important. Or is it?

With the players we've got, and the manager we have, and the Director of Football above him, I can't see much hope for the immediate future.

Hope is important, particularly in the marketing sense of this business, selling tickets in advance of the show.

But in keeping with my natural optimistic nature, and being a glass half full kind of scientist, I think it's all going tits up.

Thanks for Copenhagen & Bayern, a couple of home games (Hibs, Falkirk) and the epic two games v. Celtic QF. Other than that, it's been shite.

So, thats it. Nothing more to say. Don't even care any more. Thanks AFC plc. I think I'll play golf for 6 months now. Bye.

When Dungfermline signed the two of them, I know it was for £650 a week each more than what we had offered them on reduced contracts.

At the time I thought, why the hell would DAFC pay an extra £70k than what those two were worth? No wonder they had/have financial difficulties.

Oh yeah, and it was the orange beaut that signed them.

Top tune R_S though 

It would have been a better song if the words had been Tenement Funster. Less serious and political... man!

I don't know people seem to lose sleep over Calderwood's comments in the paper.  If they bother you so much, don't read them.

I would suggest Aberdeen Journals are somewhat responsible for a lot of the shite that appears.

Thanks for the advice K. I never thought of that.

I reckon Diamond WILL get criucified for this. It is of the utmost importance to the SFA that despite the admission that brines WAS wrong, all referees must be above the laws and rules of the game and are answearble to no one.

Unfortunately methinks you are right.

However, the AFC board includes a practising lawyer. Assuming he has expertise and competence in his field, where the Director of football and manager clearly have none in theirs, then he ought to be able to come to the rescue.

The one "defence" that kills a civil action case of Libel (known as Slander in Engerlund) stone dead, is "veritas" i.e. what was said that offends is true.

Zander was right to get upset, as Brines openly admits, so by engaging a defence along the lines of veritas will mitigate the demeanour.

I suspect Zander's comments have included utterances somewhat broader than "the referee got it wrong" however, thus leaving himself open to punishment.

Ridiculous state of affairs. Ridiculous decision. Ridiculous referee.

I'll guess that I am. And no it isn't.

The only reason I knew the words were Alternative Ulster was because I read it in Sounds... or was it NME, no, it was Melody Maker.

Eh?

I just worked out where you name comes from, TF. You thought it was the Stiff Little Fingers song? Are you old enough to mind that one?

I can not believe that I actually supported the fat orange pretend manager earlier in this thread, and wish to restore some balance. It did not sit comfortably, although I do stand by the fact that some fans are too critical too early. So what though really? It's up to them to grow some balls.

Reverting to type, the P & J today included the following, under the headline CALDERWOOD CAN MIX IT WITH MIXU.

It started with "Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood believes his Hibs counterpart Mixu Pitalineon has taken his aggressive playing style with him into management, and is ready for him. Former Aberdeen forward Pitalineon has already upset several in the SPL managerial fraternity in his short time in charge..." e.g. Walter Smith & Craig Levein.

JC was then quoted saying that "He has ruffled a few feathers" and "Mixu was a very good centre forward in his day and his team reflects his playing style. They are a bit more direct than earlier in the season and you can understand that because it was the way he liked to play as a player. They get the ball forward and have good players supporting from midfiled".

Now, two things immediately come to mind after reading this guff.

1) If Hibs are a reflection of their manager's preferred style of play when he was a professional footballer, by watching AFC over the last 4 years, what style of play did JC prefer when he (allegedly) played professional football?

And before the defenders of the fat bastard wade in to discredit this opinion with the facts that he was indeed a professional footballer himself, and to point out that the inclusion of the word "allegedly" illustrates prejudice and ignorance on my part, can I just point out that I never seen him play, and unlikely as it may be that he did not ever play the game, there have been more incredulous mistruths spun in the press. JFK, 9/11, WMD in Iraq to name but three. And I have flown to and from Birmingham Airport a number of times, and not once did a taxi driver or airport or hotel staff ever start recounting stories to me about JC's prowess on the pitch ?

Watching the constant tinkering with formations and personnel, it appears to me that he doesn't know what he's doing, far less adopting a style of play in keeping with "the way he liked to play the game".

The Newcastle fans that shouted "You don't know what you're doing" at big fat (corrupt) Sam may also have stumbled across a manager who fraudulently claimed to have been a footballer once. You and I may have seen the pictures, but did you see him play in the flesh? And how do you know these obese managers of today are the same persons as these old footballers? Identity fraud and Identity theft is not necessarily a brand new phenomenon.

2) If Mixu has "ruffled a few feathers", then this suggests that there is a fraternity within football that has feathers that can be ruffled.

A fraternity that JC obviously feels part of, as he acknowledeges its very existence. Innovators, people with genuine vision, do not belong to fraternities. Ergo, JC is not an innovator, nor a man with any vision whatsoever.

I have made three points in this small rant, and by the law of averages, one of these will be grossly absurd, but two out of three aint bad?

To summarise, could I just ask Aberdeen Journals to please stop quoting that useless cunt any more? I have seen enough of his insides to last a lifetime.

I don't know, because we've not seen them play enough minutes to determine one way or the other. Yes, early impressions are not good, but this is the first thing that's come out of the fat orange mouth that I actually understand, and agree with. I don't know about here but the other sites contain opinions that are just over the top in the criticism, of players who have hardly played for AFC.

We'll never sign him. He'd shit himself at the medical.

Thought he was coming on to a game, finally, in last dozen+ games. Set up both goals really well v. tic in the cup, with his feet, but was proving to be a good target in the air mainly, but no-one around him had the intelligence to run off him.

Easy to think his form improved as his contract was expiring though. Nae convinced.

Calderwood is excited by a new dawn at Pittodrie?

Only thing that excites that fat pig is food, beer and holidays.

He's nae such a bad cunt after all then...

AFC Player of the season - Zander, by default

AFC Goal of the season - Mackie, Parkhead

Bounce of the season - Parkhead  "We forgot that you were there"

Game of the season - Parkhead

Just to explain, as I don't think anyone else has voted this goal and game the best, winning the replay should have been the most important, the most meaningful goal of the season i.e. giving European football for 2008/09 and a chance of a trophy for a change. There is no doubt that Smith's goals v. Copenhagen were superior in terms of skill and execution, and probably would be goals of the season, but Mackie's was my favourite because it was just so important, against the run of play, and a stunning result. It was also my first win at either Ibrox or parkhead for 20 years. The atmosphere at Pittodrie for the Bayern game was fantastic, like turning the clock back 25 years, but we never expected to get through the two legs, so the enjoyment was tempered by realism that we were never going to win the UEFA cup. Celtic on the other hand, are not as good as they, or the wos media over the last 3 years, would have us think they are, as we proved that night in the ultimate smash and grab.

AFC Cunt Award  - Perm any 1 from 3 - SM, WM, JC

And in other catagories

SPL Cunt of the season - Who cares, but NOT an AFC nominee

SPL Shitest player of the season - Who cares, but NOT an AFC player

Best grub award - Never eat that shite

Best away boozer - Only went in a couple of away pubs this year, and wasn't in Europe

FFS r-s, what's with the thought provoking reasoned responses? 1

 

You ain't from round here boy is you?  2

 

Ban this clown! 3

1. Sorry. I'm capable of ignorant wild rants, as you will no doubt see in due course

2. Daken far you are. Born Foresterhill, came back to NE few year ago, nivver leaving the best part o the world ever again

3. Bans and me attract. Might be sooner than you think...

Stand affa Free. Spik Free too.

I think somebody needs to clarify the meaning of "mediocrity".  This season has been extremely inconsistent but to describe it as mediocre compared to the last 7 or 8 years is just nonsense IMHO.

 

If we reach the last 32 of the UEFA cup, and two domestic semi finals for next 3 or 4 years, and that's mediocre, then I'll accept that.  I personally think this is where we should be each season, as we've not had it like this for a while.

 

Small steps and all that.

Good call, Kowalski. It might have been helpful to get the definitions in perspective first. In my experience, this season has been the best, of all the time Stewarty has been in charge, in terms of highs, thrills and spills. It has been a memorable season, and one that should go on to the very last day, assuming we can get past QoS.

Winning the semi is no foregone conclusion, as we have no devine right to win it, and we have had numerous performances this year which if we did that again, we might well trip up once more. However, the home games against Hibs, Falkirk, Copenhagen, Bayern and Celtic (1-1) have been tremendous, for the sheer hunger and desire the players showed. Of the handful of away games I've been to this season, I was lucky enough to have been at our best result, the win in the replay a couple of weeks ago, so there are six performances right there which have been absolutely fantastic, and well above mediocre.

However, there seems to have been no in between. We've been really good for half a dozen games, and no better than mediocre for the rest, and sometimes downright awful. Ending up in the bottom six, which is now no longer in our hands, is a real possibility. As an example of our crazy season, the Hamilton game was possibly the smallest attendance I've ever been in at Pittodrie. I've been in plenty of 7, 8 and 9,000 crowds, but can't remember being in less than 6,500 before. The only highlight for me that day, shivering in minus forty eight, was the (first team) debut of Josh Walker. For a young teenager to take control of all the free kicks, make intelligent cut balls inside, and work like fuck all afternoon was a breath of fresh air, when Seve and Barry were having a mare. So even when we didn't look any better than the first division opposition, there was a slight glimmer of positivity to take from the game. To have crowds this low has got to be a warning sign. The only positive I took from it, seems to have been snuffed out because of a managerial dispute, at Rugby Park. Crazy i tell ye.

We still are competing for third place.

 

And we could (and indeed should) "win" a place in the UEFA Cup via the cup final.  Doesn't matter about the how and why, but the rules are the rules - similarly we snuck into the knockout stage of UEFA with getting the bare minimum points, but history (and the bank balance) will show that we did it and only the cynical of mind could make any effort to take that away.

 

Them folks that pick and choose the games that they attend will no doubt be shocked at the poor fare they may see, but those of us who have been there all season suffering the ups and downs will tell you that this has been the most exciting season for years, regardless of league form.  I can understand people having other things they'd rather do when Saturday comes, but if that's their choice to do otherwise then their opinions on the fortunes of the team they "support" cannot command any credence or respect can they?

I'm hearing you peter heid. How we get UEFA cup fitba next year is irrelevant. It is a great tonic for the bank balance. I bought shares in the original issue, and I fully expect when I get the Annual Report for AFC plc to see the year to 30.6.08 to be a tremendously profitable one, and surely a couple of million in the black.

Its not just this season that you and I have suffered ups and downs. I have been "suffering" more than 500 AFC games (but less than 1,000 - probably 750 ish) over a very long time, and this year I have only missed three games at Pittodrie . I promised myself in the Ullevi that I would support this team through thick and thin, and I do and I will, so your suggestion that my opinion is not credible is laughable. Once you've done the home and away mileage I have, over a sustained period, you might understand how reading shite like that makes your blood boil. If I hadn't spent 15 years of my life overseas, I would have been approaching 1,500 games. How many times do I need to go to become a credible supporter, in your eyes, to be able to have an opinion? How many you fucking done, mate?

On an incidental matter, re part-time supporters, like the many of my age that used to go but who don't anymore, why is what they say invalid? Personally, i would listen to anyone with an interest in our club, and would encourage as much debate as possible. For at least the third time, if you read the original post, and my response to that, I don't think there's too much wrong in what I expressed. If you're fucking delighted with mediocrity, knock yersel oot min, but don't question my integrity for having the temerity to have a different opinion from you. I'm still there, thick and thin, and whilst this year has definitely been the most exciting yet under the fat orange twat, it's still papering over some extensive cracks.

We are mediocre because the fans demand perfection and won't turn up if we have anything less. How can we reach any sort of heights when we average a crowd of 11k? The fans have to back the club as much as the board do and its no surprise that Milne wont overextend himself if the Aberdeen public refuse to do the same. A winning mentality outside the Old Firm is to achieve 3rd place. Thats our limit as it stands due to the finances that the club have. We arent going to win the league, we aren't going to win the Uefa cup and we aren't going to win the Champions cup. How far does 'ambition' go? This is NOT the 80's anymore and AFC exist in a completely different climate now, a climate that dictates that money is the be all and end all of football. We dont have money, we don't have a fanbase therefore we don't have success.

 

I'll take a season like this over motherwell or hibs seasons because its been a memorable season as a supporter. If you want glory and silverware every year then its time you looked south to Glasgow and started follow following because you wont get that sort of success here, its just not realistic.

Thanks for your advice. After almost 4 decades of going to Pittodrie, I'm afraid that this is not feasible.

We are mediocre because we are mediocre. Not because of the fans. Thats ridiculous. I hear you that our average crowd is diabolical, and thats because many people of my generation have got fed up watching mediocrity, and mostly, a lack of fight and belief, and a lack of any real ambition coming from the top.

At many games in the last few seasons, I have noted with pride how many youngsters there are coming to Pittodrie, and this bodes well for the future. I brought my own son the right way too, and he is a mad keen Aberdeen fan. I just wish he gets something substantial to get excited about, not just a European campaign with nothing at the end of it, and little chance in the middle of it. Unfortunately, my eldest girl was at the Rangers Dec. 06 game when the players failed to turn up and after she said "But dad, it's only just started" (2-0 down midway through first half) so I knew it was going to be a mammoth task to get her or her sisters to come back. So yes, it is fantastic that there are so many young loons supporting AFC. It's the lost generation we need to be considering.

My father and uncle aren't going more than once a year nowadays, such is their apathy, and yes, there are too many older fans with expectations greater than the ability of the club to deliver. But lets get this argument sorted once and for all. My expectations are to compete for 3rd place every year, and a sniff at a cup now and again. As the original post says, missing the top 6 and not winning anything is a disgrace, an inexcusable state of affairs.

TF, love yer optimism and positivity. Believe it or not, negativity comes to me with great difficulty, but realism has a hoose in ma heid.

I had a major problem with the appointment of Calderwood, as I had with Alec Miller getting the job. I thought Ebbe and Pele were going to be good appointments so shows you how wrong my opinions were.

But almost 4 years on, I am still waiting to see the basic qualities in our manager that I would expect to see. I see much wrong - the internal grudges/discipline, criticising players, never his fault, tactical tombola's and never a settled formation let alone personnel, and most importantly, results, and yes they have been mitigating factors. It's been hard for JC as he's had no support or direction from up high, and this is where I feel the real reason why we're no better than mediocre lies. I just think that if he did have a big budget, he'd waste it either by not recruiting right, or not coaching and motivating right. He has a track record of nothing, although I accept its not entirely his own making.

I suspect we will not agree on Calderwood, Tenement. Thats fine. I really hope I'm wrong (again) and you're right on this one. I agree with the original post 100% however.

A couple of you have hit on the real reason we are off the pace for top 6, and MILES behind the rest of Europe, and yes, it is the continued lack of investment in the football. As I said, I don't think this is the time or place to launch into attacks against the manager right now, but in response to the ORIGINAL POST, I think it is totally unacceptable.

You mention long term view. This thread is not about the long term, it's about this season, but if you want to go there, here's my view. Yes we learned from the Liverpool games, but the difference between then and now may have been 27 years in time, but light years in comparison. We had a young ambitous manager, one who turned out to be pretty fucking good as it happens. We don't have any passion and certainly not the same ambition as a club these days.

Pisching with the cock you've got, i accept. The cocks that Milne has served us - all four of them - aren't very good cocks, in fact they're all fucking losers. Thats what gets my goat. You boys are speaking like its OK. Read the original post. Thats all I'm agreeing with. I loved the Celtic replay. It was the first time I'd seen AFC win at either Ibrox or Ticland for over 20 years. The Bayern and Copenhagen games were phenomenal atmospheres, reminders of what we used to have regularly. But overall, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, this season is shit. How can it be otherwise, sitting so low in the SPL table. It may be a cup-winning season, but I wouldn't put alot of money on it. If Calderwood suddenly develops ambition and belief, then we can expect our players to fight the corner, but if you employ losers, you get what you deserve - losing, and I'm fucking sick fed up with AFC being mediocre at best.