manc_don

Who wouldn't want free medical treatment

Don't get me wrong, I know we have a lot of work still to do on the team, but i'm still confident we'll get into the top 6 (not an achievement I know) but I don't fear for the season, I just don't know whether or not we'll be successful.

Hibs are truly awful, and its quite funny. I don't think we'll have to worry about them, Hearts i'm unsure about but the Arabs seem to be a bit of a bogey team for us. However, as BB said, they lost one of their best players to us...JC does, and always has had the knack of pulling results out of the bag, as much as he tries to confuse us all with crazy formation changes every 30 seconds.

I'm actually not surprised by this. He does seem like a bit of a dour person.

It's a touchy subject for some people But i'm inclined to agree with you, on a coaching level though, don't think I'd want him near the first team.

well I think its nice for a change not to see someone claiming that they are the answer to our goalscoring problems and deserve a place in the team. He knows his place.

Niculae has joined Dinamo Bucharest this morning. Shame that, would have liked him to stay at caley for one more season and us try and get him on a free. "he could have done a job for us" http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/inverness_ct/7515785.stm

He's certainly making all the right noises and comes across in the interview quite well. I don't think anyone bar aberdeenladette will be more pleased than us to see him succeed in the red of Aberdeen. Good luck to the lad!

Its hilarious, but do you expect anything less from him? It's his favourite word!

I'd agree with that. It really was a shame it didn't work out because he could have been a legend/cult hero at our club. Fingers crossed Tommy Wright will suit Calderwood's plans more. At least he looks like a fighter.

Whilst I agree with you, they do have a very good striker in warren Feeney and he'll score plenty of goals for them. Something i'm not confident about us just yet. But i'm hoping this will be address sooner rather than later. Who knows, maybe wright will be our solution.

It would stop becoming a treat if we qualified for it every year and got pumped out by shite Irish teams every year. fortunately that doesn't happen very often so... no

I nominate Mizer to do it He's into that sort of thing

I remember those games, we were fucked by injuries then too. that was the year we were supposed to sign Polish Piotr was it not?

o/t your avatar reminded me of something. A guy came into our office yesterday, I had to double check it wasn't JC because his tan was JUST as severe!

http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/750857 Scott is after dad Jimmy’s Dons job! Calderwoods get set for Dutch clash By Charlie Allan Published: 23/07/2008 CALD WAR: Jimmy and Scott Calderwood will go head-to-head tomorrow night. More Pictures THE Calderwoods will be a family at war when the Dons take on DZC 68 in Holland tomorrow. The friendly sees Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood go head-to-head with his son Scott, who was recently appointed as the coach of the lower league Dutch side. And Scott, 30, admitted he would love to beat the Dons – to prove he might be good enough to take his dad’s job someday! “I hate having to admit my father was the better player, so I want to make up for that by eventually proving I’m the better manager,†said Scott, who joined DZC after winning last season’s league championship with Rietvogels, who the Dons play next week on their Dutch tour. “It’s early days for me as a coach, but you have to set your sights as high as possible.†Scott was born in Birmingham, while his father was a player at St Andrews, but stayed in Holland when Jimmy returned to Scotland in 1999 to take over as manager of Dunfermline. Scott also played for Dutch sides Willem II and SV Babberich, and is confident he will eventually make his mark as a coach. He said: “I’m a lot younger than my father was when he started out, so I’m hoping that will increase my chances of doing better than he has. “It would be great if I could follow him all the way and even become the manager of Aberdeen some day. “I would certainly jump at the chance to work alongside him and Jimmy Nicholl, because I know I would learn a lot. “If my team do well against the Dons you never know what might happen.†Scott turned down the chance to join the Dons full-time as a player in 2005, which will add extra spice to tomorrow’s clash. “I spoke to Willie Miller, but we couldn’t agree on the length of contract,†he said. “Aberdeen were only able to offer a year, but I wanted a bit more security if I was to give up the good job I have in Holland as a salesman. “You have to put your family first in those sort of situations. “I was only 27, and my wife had just given birth, so I decided to stay in Holland. “I knew it was unlikely I would get an offer as good as that again as a player, so I set my sights on gaining my coaching qualifications, with the aim to get back into the game full-time that way. “A couple of professional clubs in Holland have already spoken to me about joining them, but I would rather wait until I have gained a bit more experience.†Dons boss Jimmy admitted the chance to pit his wits against his boy is going to be one of the most enjoyable aspects of their tour. “I’m really looking forward to it,†he said. “I’m sure he would love to put one over on his old man. “Scott even got his team to come back to training early so that they would be well prepared for our visit. “His side are only two divisions under the level of the team we face on the Sunday, so they will be no pushovers. Like most of the lower league sides in Holland, they will be fit and well organised. “It should be an interesting evening.†Jimmy is also looking forward to their clash with amateurs Rietvogels a week on Thursday. “They are a the club who gave me my first chance as a coach,†he said. “It’s likely to be the easiest of our games, but it will be a special night for me to meet up with a lot of old friends.†Aberdeen’s other three opponents on their Dutch tour – FC Zwolle, Vitesse Arnhem and Go Ahead Eagles – will provide bigger tests. Jimmy said: “We deliberately chose games that would provide different challenges for our players. “I’m happy with the programme of games, it’s the ideal way for us to prepare for the new season.†Calderwood is also pleased to be returning to Holland after taking the Dons to South Africa and Egypt for their previous two pre-season tours. “This is my eighth pre-season visit to Holland, which underlines how highly I rate the place,†he said. “I admitted I got it wrong by taking the lads to Egypt. The weather was a bit too hot at times and the quality of the training facilities was poor. “It will be different in Holland.†so the rumours were true then! I always thought it was just hearsay.

I don't think I expected him to sign so i'm not bothered by this news. Would have been nice to have had the RB position sorted though.

Positive as usual Mizer Celtic Rangers United Hearts Aberdeen Falkirk ----------------- Motherwell Hibs ICT St Mirren Hamilton Killie I think we'll manage top six, we seem to somehow manage it.

Just as well we won't have that problem this year then eh

I don't rate Mackie as a player at all, but he's a dandy and he always gives his all for the cause. He frustrates the hell out of me because he seems to miss the easiest chances by the barrow load. But then again he scored one of the most important goals in our recent history, but that was again only one of 50 or so goals he's scored for us which is pathetic given the period its over. I think basically he's good to have around the place

I'd agree with that apart from the Duff part. Duff has turned in some good performances in the middle of the park and I think he'll be a decent squad player for that position, NOT in defense!

Apparently we're after Warren Cummings (Bournemouth). According to MAD that is.

Was thinking the same! All sounds very good!

Thats a bit generous Anyway, taken from MAD, interesting viewpoint on Tommy from a Darlo fan. " 99.9% certain to join you then. I wouldn't worry abut the knee injury. He twisted it badly in the last game of the season and tried to carry on playing through it! - we were told it'd be touch and go for him to start the new season. So give it a couple of weeks and he'll be fine. At least you know you're not buying a soft sh-te. most of us are sorry to see him leave - although I think £75K is probably a fair deal all round. I am an occasional visitor to the pink palace so have a fair appreciation of SPL footy (please no Hearts jokes - I've already seen the other thread!) I see no reason why Tommy won't do well for you. He's nothing flash, but is strong, and will give opposition defenders something to worry about all game. It IS a step up in standard, but because of his work ethic he should be able to cope. I think the biggest test is not his footballing ability - but whether he can perform in front of much bigger crowds - but I also think he has the mental strength to do so. When he first joined us he a was a tad understrength - but off his own back, he toughened himself up for last season and earned his move to a top club. He's an honest pro and I can't see him having any problems settling in at a new club or city. Best of luck to you and Tommy for this season." Sounds promising enough.

I thought if it was in the EE it was gospal Didn't realise though that he wasn't quoted, all I knew was that i'd read about it somewhere.