Jimmy: Lay off the local heroes

Calderwood tells boo boys to lay off Duff and Mair

 

By Charlie Allan

 

Published: 24/04/2008

 

JIMMY CALDERWOOD today called on the Red Army to stop picking on their local heroes.

 

The Aberdeen manager reckons criticism from supporters has hindered local pair Lee Mair and Stuart Duff as they attempt to get themselves established at Pittodrie.

 

The Aberdonian duo thought their dreams had come true when they joined their local club this season.

 

But there has only been despair for the Dons-daft duo, who have struggled to hold down a regular first team spots and found themselves the targets of some vicious abuse from sections of the Aberdeen support.

 

Both will take comfort from news that Jimmy Calderwood is convinced they can yet become major players.

 

Calderwood however, wants the Red Army to play their part in helping the former Dundee United duo make their mark.

 

“If the Dons fans gave Lee and Stuart a bit more backing it would really help to push them along,†said Calderwood.

 

“I don’t know what it is in Aberdeen with the local lads getting so much stick. I’ve never seen the likes of it in my life.

 

“You would think people here would be happy to see some of their own coming through. That’s what happens in other parts of the country but here the local lads seem to get picked on.

 

“Darren Mackie’s had it and Richard Foster’s also had spells when he was targeted.

 

“ I’ve been told that sort of stuff has hindered local lads at Pittodrie for years.

 

“Lee and Stuart have suffered more than most. Stuart doesn’t seem to have been given much of a chance, even though he is a good player.

 

“Like everyone else, you need to have confidence to make your mark at a new club and that’s when fans can help. I can assure our supporters Lee and Stuart are as passionate as they are about Aberdeen.

 

“They are living their dream when they pull on that red shirt so it must hurt a lot when they find themselves targets for abuse.â€

 

Duff, signed from United in January on a free transfer, made a bad blunder in his debut against Hearts which did not help.

 

His pass-back was intercepted by Christian Nade, who scored the only goal.

 

Calderwood said: “That’s the only thing Stuart has really done wrong.

 

“The sad thing is, the Hearts player would never have been in the position to score if he hadn’t been lazy wandering out from an offside position.

 

“Stuart had been playing well, so it’s cruel the fans have given him pelters.

 

“Stuart, to his credit, has continued to get stuck in at training and has been playing well for the reserves.

 

“He has shown a great attitude.â€

 

Duff’s contract is due to expire in the summer, so he was grateful to get a start in last weekend’s 1-0 SPL defeat by Celtic.

 

He played as an attacking midfielder and was encouraged to get forward to support striker Lee Miller.

 

Calderwood said: “The performance at Celtic Park hasn’t done Stuart’s chances of getting a new contract any harm.

 

“Given that he is under pressure to get a new deal, I had to be fair on Stuart and play him in his best position.

 

“He got forward well and into great positions.â€

 

Mair’s hopes of becoming a regular have been hampered by injuries, but Calderwood is sure he will show why the Dons were so happy to snap him up.

 

Calderwood said: “Lee still has a year to go in his contract, so will definitely be here next season.

 

“He is a good defender and has the sort of experience we have missed badly for most of the season.

 

“If Lee had stayed fit he would have been involved because he is strong, aggressive and brave when it comes to defending at set pieces.â€

 

 

Yes they may be Aberdeen fans Jimmy, but if was to put on a red jersey and play for the dons I would get abuse too as I would be rank rotten. They are just not good enough.

Anderson got loads of abuse at first - he was played at right back and was pish for a while, hence the verbals. I see Foster, Considine, and maybe even Maguire in the same light. Give them time and experience and they might be decent. However, Duff and Mair are different - they are total pish!

Would Duff and Mair have been released by United if their manager had thought they'd be a threat of any kind? Have you met any United fans who have said they wish they'd stayed? Says it all really.

The difference between us and Dunfermline, Jimmy, is we don't put up with shite "just because they're local loons". We'll happily sign our worst enemies if we knew they were going to enhance our squad. Fact of the matter is Mair and Duff degrade our squad, rather than enhance it in any way.

Jess was a fairly local lad, and he took abuse at times, as did Scott Booth.

 

Theo ten Caat and Bobby Connor both took abuse at times, and neither of them were local lads. Do you see where I'm going with this...?

Theo ten Caat and Bobby Connor both took abuse at times, and neither of them were local lads. Do you see where I'm going with this...?

 

Locally?

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eh?

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 have made three points in this small rant,

 

That's a small rant? Put a health warning at the start of your big rants, please...

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

Huge rant, but quite amusing.

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.

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.

 

Top tune R_S though 

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.

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.

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

 

Evidently.

Top tune R_S though 

 

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

Jimmy Calderwood has warned there will be more job losses at Aberdeen if the players don't deliver over the final weeks of the season. The Dons boss has begun a massive rebuilding task with 16 players set to leave next month. But with third place in the SPL still a possibility, he will add to his workload to target new talent if performances don't match his expectations. Insisting that a win over Hibs tomorrow could keep his side in contention for a UEFA Cup place, Calderwood said: "Players are judged in every game because it's an ongoing process.

 

"There are a couple of guys whose futures still have to be decided so there is a lot at stake in the rest of the campaign.

 

"We also have to think about what we do with the players who are leaving but as long as we still have something to play for, I'll field our strongest team.

 

Jimmy threatening to axe more players........I can bet he is thinking of the players he was sticking up for yesterday 

Jimmy threatening to axe more players........I can bet he is thinking of the players he was sticking up for yesterday 

 

Or, perhaps, you are being very disingenuous with his comments, there is at least one player who is deciding whether to stay or not.

Duff wil definately be in the starting line up since he impressed the pants off of tango man last week.

Duff wil definately be in the starting line up since he impressed the pants off of tango man last week.

 

Imagine that, playing well and keeping your place. 

Duff will be the new club captain at this rate.

Duff will be the new club captain at this rate.

 

Don't think a change in captaincy is something most fans would disagree with but I'd still be a bit displeased if Duff was still here next season.

 

I suspect I'll no be happy.

Or, perhaps, you are being very disingenuous with his comments, there is at least one player who is deciding whether to stay or not.

 

Still think he would move on Mair if he could.

Still think he would move on Mair if he could.

 

I'll take him, that grass won't cut itself and the motor needs washing . . . .