There's a special match at half-time on Saturday, a Dons team versus a Paul Lawrie select (managed by Craig Brown).

 

Dons’ Euro success tops Fergie’s glory run at United

simpson believes Reds’ cup-winners’ cup win is sir alex’s greatest success

 

By Paul Third

 

Published: 10/07/2008

 

Gothenburg great Neil Simpson is delighted his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson is bringing the European champions Manchester United to Pittodrie on Saturday.

 

But he insists the achievement of the Dons side in 1983 still betters that of the Red Devils European exploits.

 

United's presence at Pittodrie on Saturday against Jimmy Calderwood's team to commemorate the Dons' Cup-Winners’ Cup success of 25 years ago will be their first match since beating Chelsea on penalties in May to win the Champions League and Simpson, while delighted for his former manager, believes the success Fergie enjoyed at Pittodrie surpasses that of Old Trafford.

 

Simpson said: “What my old manager has achieved is incredible. Two Champions League wins and, with a fair bit of luck, some others could have been won, too. He is a quality manager who inspires his players, even if he has mellowed a bit now.

 

“A few years ago there was talk of him retiring but I just don't see it. He would be such a big loss to the game. I think 70 will be when he calls it a day.

 

“When you look at his record he is the best manager there has been in the United Kingdom. However, Aber-deen is a provincial club and for us to win a European trophy is better than what United have done.â€

 

While Ferguson is bringing his club north to honour his former players, Simpson is one of several members of the class of 1983 working behind the scenes with the players of 2008. The role is something he is proud of and he insists great strides are being made in the youth development set-up at the club.

 

He said: “It's nice to be playing a role now even if it's scary to be working with players who were not even born when I was in Gothenburg. There are a lot of people working hard in the background at the club to get the best players we can.â€

 

Another former player now on the coaching staff is Jim Leighton. Scotland's most capped goalkeeper will make his first appearance since his horrific broken jaw in his final game for the Dons in the Scottish Cup final of 2000 at half-time on Saturday when he lines up alongside his former team-mates against a Paul Lawrie select.

 

The Dons team, managed by Willie Miller, Eric Black, Stewart Kennedy and Neale Cooper, consists of Leighton, Brian Mitchell, Brian Irvine, former goalkeeper Bryan Gunn in a defensive role, John McMaster, Simpson, Robert Connor, Ian Angus, John Hewitt and Peter Weir. Fraser Fyvie, 15, will also feature for the Dons following his selection from the youth team by Simpson.

 

The Lawrie select includes Eoin Jess, Duncan Shearer and Michael Watt, and will be managed by former Scotland manager Craig Brown.

 

Leighton said: “Since I stopped playing I haven't taken part in any game. I don't take part in any of the games in training as I feel I am stopping somebody else from playing. I don't like losing goals for fun. My enjoyment is in seeing the young goalkeepers coming through now. Saturday will be a one time only, never to be repeated.

 

“It will be nice to be together for the last time. The enormity of our achievement is shown by the fact a club the size of Manchester United is coming to Pittodrie to help us celebrate.

 

“When you look at United today and the team I played for, the club has grown beyond all recognition. It will be great for the supporters to see some of the greatest players in the world here against their team.â€

Just a thought,

 

this game is a sell out,

 

will any of the money from this be getting reinvested in the squad?

 

 

is this the squad they are taking up??

 

dam it, i wnated to see Tevez in action. brilliant player.

 

Being rested after the Copa America last summer, and playing a full season last year.

Is the young Scottish lad David Gray still at United?

 

He'll probably head to Babylon on Saturday night.

Also was wanting him to play aswell, he is fantastic.

 

he's hardly had any rest though. Played all last summer and the previous one, and has been playing WC Qualifiers this summer already. No surprise he's not there.

 

Thought Danny Welbeck would have been a certain starter, maybe injured though. Also half expected Manucho to be playing, but maybe some problem with work permits etc.

He'll probably head to Babylon on Saturday night.

 

Was waiting for some sort of remark like that!  

 

Is he mean't be to be any good... I don't hear him talked about much and certainly haven't heard his name mentioned within any of the Scotland U21/19s squads?

Also half expected Manucho to be playing, but maybe some problem with work permits etc.

 

Broken metatarsal. 

 

He'll probably head to Babylon on Saturday night.

 

My Oh My

Being rested after the Copa America last summer, and playing a full season last year.

 

no evra, vandersar, heargreaves either.

I'm gutted I can't go, seeing vidic would be awesome. Him and Ferdinand could teach our defenders how to defend. Hell, Shame Edwin wasn't there to teach clangers how to kick.

no evra, vandersar, heargreaves either.

 

Evra and VDS both played in in Euro 2008 so are being given an extended layoff.

 

As for Hargreaves, I'm not sure, but I know he was carrying a couple of knocks toward the end of last year.

Evra and VDS both played in in Euro 2008 so are being given an extended layoff.

 

As for Hargreaves, I'm not sure, but I know he was carrying a couple of knocks toward the end of last year.

I don't think he was fully fit in most matches he palyed, i think next season will be a good one for him.

 

Atleast there are a few really awesome players in the team to face us, i know a few who were like "it'll just be the reserves no point going"

I don't think he was fully fit in most matches he palyed, i think next season will be a good one for him.

 

Atleast there are a few really awesome players in the team to face us, i know a few who were like "it'll just be the reserves no point going"

 

Anyway, onto more pressing matters...

 

How's the traffic next to your house, is it the same as 'Uptown'?  I heard that you 'Can't Go Back' along one of the roads in your area.  Driving that road 'Over and Over' would turn me into a Zombie, Man'

 

Anyway, onto more pressing matters...

 

How's the traffic next to your house, is it the same as 'Uptown'?  I heard that you 'Can't Go Back' along one of the roads in your area.  Driving that road 'Over and Over' would turn me into a Zombie, Man'

 

 

He won't get that, and we know why!

He won't get that, and we know why!

All the traffic is movin on up nicely now that most people have finished work.

He won't get that, and we know why!

 

Just a thought,

 

this game is a sell out,

 

will any of the money from this be getting reinvested in the squad?

 

 

 

I don't think the money is going to the first team.  Some of it is defiantly going to the youth development side of things.

Is it? Even though it's a testimonial?

Is it? Even though it's a testimonial?

 

Yep.

I'm gutted I can't go, seeing vidic would be awesome. Him and Ferdinand could teach our defenders how to defend. Hell, Shame Edwin wasn't there to teach clangers how to kick/save/catch/punch/parry/command his area etc etc and so on and so forth

 

Better   

Yep.

 

Unusual.

Unusual.

It isn't, the money usually only goes to the player whos testimonial it is but in this case it's to mark a special time result in the history of the whole team,.

It isn't, the money usually only goes to the player whos testimonial it is but in this case it's to mark a special time result in the history of the whole team,.

 

I'm well aware of how it normally works. I was under the impression this was done to honour the team as very few of them actually had a testimonial and that the money raised from the whole testimonial calendar of events was for them. I certainly saw this suggested at some point a while ago, though that may have been incorrect, as I know Simmy is a man in the know.

I'm well aware of how it normally works. I was under the impression this was done to honour the team as very few of them actually had a testimonial and that the money raised from the whole testimonial calendar of events was for them. I certainly saw this suggested at some point a while ago, though that may have been incorrect, as I know Simmy is a man in the know.

Yeah i see what you mean and thought it would have worked that way aswell, would have made more sense like and would have been a good thing to do by the club.

 

I alos know that simmy is in the know.

BBC news keeping their up their usual high standards of research

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7501848.stm

 

Manchester United have named top stars like Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Les Ferdinand in their squad to face Aberdeen on Saturday.

 

 

 

 

 

I see that Carlos Queiroz has left Man U and has taken the Portugal job!

Who is defying it? 

 

Do you have to take every spelling mistake literally?.