baggy89

I can kind of see where MiniJC is coming from. You have to admire Barton's ability, his desire to get stuck in and his SOBER moral compass. However his ability to self destruct quite so spectacularly, on the whole precipitated by a couple of shandys, is a disgrace and utterly un-befitting of an overpaid footballer, the likes of which he himself pours scorn on. I hope for his sake that he can sort out his demons and has not completely wasted his talents as a footballer, or for pissing off the obvious up themselves knob-heads of the modern game.

If Carlsberg set questions with so many correct answers to choose from... Worst Aberdeen Player of the Decade: Thornley Worst homegrown player: Ross O'Donoghue? Scott Muirhead?? Scott Morrison??? Jon Stewart? David Donald?? Worst signing:Did we not pay £50k for Byrne? Although we also paid money for McQuilken and Lee Hinds. Tommy Wright has to be up there. Worst goalkeeper:Bossu Worst defender: Dan Smith Worst midfielder: Jamie Winter Worst forward: Stephen Craig Worst manager: Pele. Although (just for MiniJC) statistically it's McGhee. Pick your worst starting XI from the decade: -----------Bossu------------- -McQuilken-Lilley-Bus-D.Smith- --Thornley-Winter-Muirhead--- ---Kristjansson-Craig-Blaha---- Worst Game of the Decade: Loads of obvious ones, but ones that I was present at... There was one New Years game against Kilmarnock under Pele that we were absolutely woeful in I think we won but a worse game of football I have never witnessed. I think the highlight may have been Shearer trying to lay the nut on the ref. Biggest single disappointment of the decade: The whole thing.

Kevin Drinkell = Super Agent Good luck with Dundee next season, Charlie. An indication of the wide regard that Mr Mulgrew is held in within the World game. Three years ago we were punting a fullback (with 6 months on his contract) to the Championship for £100k now we have a fullback whose only other option, other than us, is waiting for a Bosman to Dundee in the summer. I assume the conversations went something like this; Drinkell: "Aberdeen are only offering you half a bag of magic buttons and a fun-size Snickers for next season Chaz" Chaz: "I'd forgive the Aberdeen for their derogatory offer if you can get me a half a bag of magic beans and a half of those Mars two little ones, elsewhere" Drinkell "Well that's the thing Chaz everyone knows your a big fanny that hits about 1 in 100 set pieces well, but give me ten minutes I'll get something that will really noise up them sheep shaggers." ring ring Melville: "Hello" Drinkell: "Wanna sign Mulgrew" Melville: "Aye, but I da think he'll wanna sign for us..." Drinkell: "but if he did???" Melville: "Well obviously we'd be interested" (whispered: if he wisnae so pish) click Drinkell: "Right Chaz I've a story, for the daily hun, that can't fail..."

Oh old on... What's this I have on my line? Looks like I've caught myself a Fisherman .

I'm sure as it is the God of Football Management Mark McGhee that has identified him he will be at least 100 times better than "Jimmy's Dross" and will also make a major impact on the loser mentality, the bulk of our current squad, has. I'd goa as far to say he will single handedly win us a cup. I'm sure this won't pay £20k is posturing in the hope of getting him for £10K once the pre-contract is signed.

I think that's true. Most Scottish football fans seem to have this for some reason. I suggested Calderwood for the Cheltenham gig on a forum I post on, I didn't think it was realistic just posted it because I doubted if anyone would know who he was. A poster called "bigdavejambo" commented the only thing Calderwood would improve is the profits of the local tanning salons. Which is something I had come to expect form the more moronic elements of our support and didn't expect it of supporters of other SPL teams. Then again moronic would probably describe Hearts entire support .

Succinctly put.

Well it's taken them over 30 years to get it to this stage, I look forward to it opening just in time for all the flying cars to take advantage of it.

Eggzactly! All I'm reading is excuses. As I said in another thread, transitional how? Because we lost Severin, J.Smith and Mair? The people rolling that one out are the same people who, claimed Severin only played against Hearts and forget that Jamie Smith was always injured and if Mair was still here he would be being included with Duff, Young, and Mackie as Jimmy's dross. If it's the change in manager well... with so many out of contract players why not have made the change at the end of this season, it would have cost a vast amount less. As for injuries name me a recent season when we haven't been unlucky with injuries. Red cards I'm afraid the buck stops with McGhee as far as indiscipline goes. As for McGhee... I was chatting to a Tim mate who stated he did not want Mowbray because he felt in getting the Celtic job he was being rewarded for getting West Brom relegated. I suppose the same could be said here, McGhee was rewarded for finishing below us and failing to achieve anything anywhere before. Only this time he hasn't been lucky enough to get a Honeymoon period from inheriting a team playing below their potential. Everywhere McGhee has been, pretty much, he has inherited a decent team and done well, the problems have started when he has been asked to rebuild to maintain or improve a side. Unfortunately that is exactly what he has been asked to do here from the off and with a limited budget. Can he do it? I hope so, but I'm not going to get carried away in this blind optimisitc belief that he can, just because he says things we like to hear in the papers. The proof will be there for all to see in the next 8 months.

Taking nothing away from Aluko's ability, I think it shows the absolute dearth of left sided players we've had at Pittodrie this decade. The majority of posters are playing McNaughton (like several managers) out of position at left back because lets face it Andy Dow, Jamie McAllister, Scott Morrison were fucking crap Ricky Foster isn't a left back, and my choice of Mulgrew is fairly questionable defensively. Further up on the left, what are the choices? Scott Muirhead? Did Ben Thornley "play" on the left? There are plenty who played out of position at LM but I'm struggling to think of anyone better than Aluko. Jamie Smith maybe?

Best Aberdeen Player of the Decade: Jess Best homegrown player: Anderson Best signing: Jimmy Calderwood Best goalkeeper: Peter Kjaer Best defender: Russell Anderson Best midfielder: Roberto Bisconti Best forward: Arlid Stavrum Best manager: Calderwood Pick an XI from the decade: -------------------Kjaer------------------- McNaughton-Anderson-Diamond- Mulgrew Nicholson- --Bisconti---Heikinnen-Aluko ----------------------Jess-------------- ---------Stavrum----------------------- Game of the Decade: Aberdeen 2 v Bayern Munich 2 Biggest single disappointment of the decade: Pele Best opposition player of the decade: Larsson

Doont panic, reslutz lick theez r 2 be xpctd afta tha mes Calderbafoncloun lefd us in!!! It uz a trazishonal seesun onwurdz n upwurdz

Agreed!

I agree with the bit in bold. But... Punching above our weight in what sense? In the sense that Jimmy had a poor squad of players motivated to play above their abilities? or a Poor squad of players organised to get results? or a bit of both? As for the whether we deserved our European place last season, I paraphrase Mr Wenger "We compete over 38 games in a season". As for Calderwood managing Dundee Utd, I'd be surprised if it happened, but if it did it would not sit comfortably with me. While Levein's teams have nearly always beaten Jimmy's in one off games they cannot compete over a season. At United he would be inheriting a tidy group of young(ish) players capable of improving as a unit, something Calderwood proved he was capable of here. There is no argueing withthe fact that in SPL terms Calderwood is one of the most successful Scottish managers of recent times. It might not be pretty, it may come with embarassing losses at times but it is successful (in non-OF SPL terms).

Maybe that's the trick, we need to find a mercenary like Stavrum who (I would say) considered himself permanently in the shop window. Then again I remember the abuse Stavrum used to get for being lazy and constantly offside.

At the minute we're not scoring. While Mackie may not be a very good player, he has in the past proved himself to be good for a goal every two games, approximately (regardless of the sitters he misses). If he can get his confidence back and with the specialist coaching McGhee should be able to provide, I see no reason why he cannot achieve that again. At the end of the day we have no money so the management should be making the best of the resources at their disposal.

Your probably right Bobby, I was having a bit of a rant and probably more than slightly weighted it to try and stir up a bit of debate. Like you say the below-par performances could be due to any number of factors, but in the last year (and I'm talking about Chelsea here) we've seen the power senior players can have if they do not get on with a new manager. I'm not suggesting that this is a factor with us just that it might be. We've seen what McGhee has said in the papers about opposition teams this season, did he say something derogatory about our players last season? Is there a grudge being held? It is difficult to judge at this point in the season, I'm not calling for McGhee's head. As you say I haven't touched on players abilities and ages nor have I touched on how many games the "dross that needs to be moved on" played in a team that finished fourth. McGhee has to be given time and by that I mean till the end of his contract at least. I want to believe that he can turn us into a "force". You asked "where do you see us in 5 years time?" Maybe a more pertinent question would have been "Where do you see us in a years time?" In the last few years we have not been very successful in retaining senior players whose contract are due for renewal, add into that my perceived unhappiness of a few others. Where will be if we finish bottom 6 this season and then have to attract players to replace (worse case scenario) Kerr, McDonald, Miller, Mulgrew, Langfield, Diamond and Aluko? Especially players who will help bring on the youngsters. As far as I can see the SPL decreases in quality slightly year on year, the trick seems to be to keep a squad assembled for as long as possible and have a decent motivational man manager. The evidence so far does not point to McGhee being that man, however if he can build his own squad, who knows? Fuck I'm depressing today. Not enough work to do obviously .

I hate to join the conspiracy theorists but these injuries for Zander are conveniently coming one after the other, and I'm beginning to get the feeling there is more too it. Especially when you add in the lack of form from almost all our senior players. I keep reading about this season being a transitional season, but I'm not sure I agree. I read that the squad is weaker, I'm not sure I agree with that either. Everything in McGhee's record in management suggests that his first season is the best, well if this is the best we're fucked. Just for comparison differences in squads: Squad 08/09 (that played) Squad 09/10(that have played so far) Jeffery DeVischer Jonathan Crawford Jared Hodgkiss Frazer Fyvie Jamie Smith Davide Grassi Lee Mair Jerel Ifil Scott Severin Mitchell Megginson Javan Vidal Maurice Ross (Wtf was I talking about) Sammy Stewart Bertie Bossu Obviously we have Nelson for Bertie and Sammy is still on the books, although like Megginson this season only made one sub appearance. Jerel is a straight swap for (last seasons) Severin, Fyvie must have already played as many as Jamie Smith did last term. Davide Grassi is straight swap for Lee Mair, Crawford for Hodgkiss, Pawlett has already played as many games this season as his and DeVischers totals for last. and Javan didn't come till January. We have used one less player this term so far than we did the whole of last season, obviously this doesn't take into account the awful run of injuries and suspensions we've had. It was said many times that McGhee was going to be a sideways step and so far everything points to this. I fail to see how getting rid of Mackie, Duff and Young but retaining the rest is going to solve anything. Performances would suggest that senior players are not comfortable/happy under McGhee and that is surely not going to help progress the young ones. Anyway off on a tangent there and hopefully we're just a couple weeks late for our usual December January surge. Otherwise I can't wait for our bottom six winners trophy parade down Union Street in May .

Never really put any thought into it Dave, devolved immigration laws isn't something that comes up in everyday life, for me anyway. It was a mythical review in Scottish football anyway. Pretty sure lower leagues in England there is not "the played in whatever percentage of internationals rule". There always seems to be a couple floating about who've never played for their country in League 1, 2 and the connie.

You have slightly misunderstood me, I think, by cherry picked youth talent from the cream of Europe what I meant was all the youth of the like of Man U, Arsenal, etc. As I understand it that it is the Belgians relaxed Work permit policy that allows them to bring the players from Africa and South America and get them playing in the EU along with many of their own EU players being sent there on loan. Wasn't aware that the immigration law wasn't devolved but why are we, in the SPL, subject to the strictest rules (like the EPL) but lower leagues in England and Scotland are not?

The one potential advantage of the OF falling to the same level as the rest of us, that I can see, is that it may prompt a much needed overhaul of the Scottish game in general. This may be fantasy time but surely at some point somewhere there has to be a lightbulb come on in a "powerbrokers" head that says "You know what? Chasing the riches in England is futile if we haven't honestly got the resources to create an exciting package". There does seem to be a renewed emphasis on youth production in Scottish football hopefully that can be maintained but it will need the OF to stop being so fucking greedy. It is modern culture to want things NOW, whether that be reflected in average household debt, the internet or success on the football field. We are a small nation and need to stop fucking each other over in pursuit of this. While I didn't agree with Keith Wyness' plans for Scottish football, he did have a point and it is a point that I can see most Scottish clubs moving too. Interestingly in Ajja's post about us moving down rankings in European football he mentioned it was Belgium who were to replace us. Correct me if I'm wrong but do a lot of the top European Leagues have "feeder" teams in Belgium? Could this be the explanation for the resurgence of the game in this country? Perhaps within my mythical review of Scottish football the Scottish Executive could look into the laws governing work permits and the like. Surely to have cherry picked youth talent sent from the cream of Europe playing alongside our own youth will improve them as players and increase their exposure to scouts from the big leagues.

Booooo! Can I have my survey back then?

This is what I'm talking about when I say now is sad time to be supporting a club with little or no money to spend. The lure of the "Greatest" leagues in the world the television coverage of "minority" sports means that your average person can think of a lot of other activities to partake other than go to the football. Although the support and club histories cannot be compared, in the last 11 years Cheltenham have been to three "cup finals" (FA Trophy, and two League 2 play-off Finals) all of which they have won. With Cheltenham taking circa 20000 fans to each. This has done nothing to increase average attendances for league games, however. I'm not sure what the answer is, Aberdeen fans can look inwards and blame the general malaise down Pittodire Street and point to the mediocrity that Jimmy accepted. As a supporter of another shite team in another shite backwater league I can asure you the malaise is not just in Aberdeen but probably in everyboard room in the country. The only "success" I see in the English lower leagues is from clubs spending outwith their means. I'm not so sure Jimmy maybe wasn't just a realist, then again realism is not a word that sits comforatbly with football fans.

Whisper when you say this but I seem to remember the likes of Darren Mackie, Stephen Payne, John Stewart, Scott Muirhead, Scott Morrison and Ryan Esson. Being talked up by Aberdeen fans as players with potential. Wasn't it Scott Michie who broke all kinds of scoring records at youth and reserve level and big things were expected when he broke through (I may be thinking of someone else here). Kev McNaughton hardly helped service the debt with his big transfer and before that we had Phil McGuire, the Young brothers. I really hope, like you say, this lot do achieve their potential but Aberdeen's recent history is littered with players not reaching their potential and/or Aberdeen not receiving the full "potential" transfer fee's for these players.