rocket_scientist

Tenement, I remember Steve Coppell a couple of years ago objecting to all the press speculation about Reading's chances of getting into Europe. He said something along the lines of them being nowhere near good enough to compete for the trophy, so no point entering, althought he also said that he was trying hard to get them to a level where they could compete.

I found his view refreshing, and what you might expect from a sportsman with a winner mentality. The club accountants and fans might not agree, but as regards AFC, we took 4 points from a possible 15, which was probably as good as we might have expected. Of course we're nowhere near good enough to get even close to winning it, and last 32 was probably the maximum we might have achieved. It's a measure of how far behind the rest of Europe that we as a club have fallen.

This season has been a first for many younger Dons fans. Three or four times as many Dandies made the trip to Munchen than 25 years ago. The difference this time was no-one expected us to get through at Bayern's expense. We all knew it was never going to happen, despite a fantastic first leg.

1. Winning mentality, 2. Expectations - realistic or otherwise, 3. Ambition - these are the keys. I think it's a shame that some younger fans can rate this season as a success, principally because of adventures into Europe, adventures which did, and were bound to, end in failure. The board and management of Aberdeen do not necessarily have the ambition and desire that we fans have.

The business of football is a totally different world of course nowadays, but winning mentality is free, and we don't seem to have it. I always suspected that our chairman wasn't passionate about success for AFC plc on the park - this is not his overwhelming desire, it's not the most important thing in his life. It's also difficult to argue that our manager has a winning mentality, as winners tend to win something sometime, and JC's not won anything in his whole life, and is happy and doing remarkably well to be picking up a wage. If Miller and calderwood don't live and breath with realistic expectations for the club, and aren't fired by ambition and desire to be the best they can be, chances are the players aren't going to be burning with it either. Their form on the pitch this season would suggest they too aren't fuelled with the killer passion.

But if the fans accept the mediocrity that we've had to endure for well over 10 years now, then we really are in trouble. Whilst we still have the Scottish Cup to play for, to not only salvage this season, but make it one of the best in living memory for most of the young fans, then this is not the time to be negative or critical. I sincerely hope that JC proves me wrong, and finally does make it onto the winner's podium, but getting beat in a final is a horrible feeling, and I simply do not understand the acceptance of second best. Making a final and then losing is never a positive achievement in my book. When I went to Parkhead, I didn't necessarily expect to win, but I saw enough in the first game to believe we could do it, as we were tremendous that day, and Celtic were pretty poor. It's just i haven't seen enough consistency, both of fight and quality, to believe that we have got the right ingredients to go and win the cup this year, but I'm trying real hard to be positive.

The league table never lies, and what it tells me, is that we're really struggling to be top half, with Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Hibs, Dundee Utd, Motherwell and Falkirk all above us, at the start of April. That is a shocking indictment of how far we've slumped, and that's why I wanted to offer an alternative view. Mediocrity should never be acceptable, and as the original post title says, I think not making top 6 is inexcusable for Aberdeen FC.

Interesting reading, everyone. Sorry to take a negative view but AT THIS POINT in time, it can not possibly be seen as a good season.

In May, if we do get to the final, and we win the SC for the first time in 18 years, only then would I consider it good.

Right now, the top 6 is out of our hands, as we have had a pathetic league season.

In the UEFA cup, we played 8 and won 1. Great trips abroad yes, but we got humped in Greece, lucky not to be down after 5 minutes in Madrid, and comfortably beaten 2-0, and thrashed in Munich (Thanks, Clangers). We were not, and are not, competitive in Europe.

So at this point, the season is crap. As I say, there is still everything to play for, but being so far off the pace in our domestic league, is a true indicator of where we are, which unfortuntaely, is nowhere... yet.

Sorry to take away your clean sweep of posts, tenement. I'm sure it will be temporary. You are hereby challenged to come up with a fresh cliche.

You canna mak a silk purse oot a soo's lug.

The boys done good. Very disappointing. Sloppy goal to give away.

Canna mind, sorry. Was just so impressed with the goal keeping that day, best keeping display ever at Pittodrie that I've ever seen that my memory of the rest of it is lost. Mind Jess's goals at East End park, and his keepy uppy at Hampden and his goal at Ibrox in another 1-1 but canna mind the goals fae that game. Was def 94/95 I reckon, maybe 96 but 95 if I was betting on it.

Sorry. It was a 1-1 v. huns at Todders. Gatuso came on as a half time sub and was the best outfield player of the day imo, but tough pick between the two keepers for MOTM. Like today, a great 1-1 draw, but unlike today, a draw was a totally fair result back then. We deserved to go through today.

Well I couldn't have been more wrong about Boric the day!

But Soutar was superb. I've had to endure Clangers-enthusaists for over two years now. The telling points for me today end the argument forever. First, Soutar stuck two hands up to block shots directed at his coupon and the vicinity of his coupon. Second, and most crucially, keeping is mostly about reactions. Both Boric and Soutar demonstrated excellence in this regard. Reminded me of the 1-1 when Goram and Leighton mid 90's prevented a real 5-5.

You don't have to at all.

No, I don't HAVE to agree with a wank like him, but I do this time. I've never come across a journo or a "football man" before, that has the balls to say it like it is in respect of the fat orange prick and the cunts who employ him. In fact, I've been arguing the same points he made in this article for years, against mates and other Dandies who told me to "give him a chance" (JC) and "you can't talk about Miller like that".

Tonight was a classic from Coo Duh Cheenie. They say things come in threes. Clangers in Munchen and that German Werder Bremen wank being the other two. Professional my arse.

1) Langfield in the Allianz

1st goal - Tremendous free kick, straight at his heid. Puts one arm up. Misses everything.

2nd goal - Great free kick on to the heider, straight at his heid. Puts one arm up. Misses everything.

3rd goal - Snap shot straight at the left side of Clangers. If he hadn't even moved, it would have hit him and gone out, but he tries to get low and stop/smother/collect it, despite the pace of it. It was a straightforward left foot/shin/leg block - simple stuff.

2) German at Ibrox.

Too sick to even discuss. This was a goalkeeping Ibrox disaster. "Here's a couple of goals, huns". Werder let in 6 today!

3) Chelski

Magic result for Barnsley, but what a joke piece of ineptitude from Cudicini.

Soutar has the shirt just now. I'm happy with that, because in my opinion, Langfiled is like Byrne and Dempsey and Crawford. Crap.

We don't know if Soapy is going to be any good or not until he gets a chance.

But what are we paying Leighton for? He was the greatest keeper we ever had, but shove him off the payroll and into the real world to get a real job. With the money we'd save, it might pay for the difference between, for example, a Barry Nicholson and a really good midfielder.

You can't teach goalkeeping. You either have it or you don't. Clangers has never had it. Leighton always did.

Boric's turn for a nightmare the morn. He's been looking like one is coming...

Never liked McNee either, but have to agree with him on this article.