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€

If anyone is interested, I think the game is on Bet 365.

If anyone is interested, I think the game is on Bet 365.

 

Aye the stream from that site is pretty decent. Will be using it more often for live stuff

It's 0-1 to the European Champions, Carrick penalty on 45 mins.

Aye the stream from that site is pretty decent. Will be using it more often for live stuff

 

My stream has been terrible. Better in the second half mind, but the screen keeps freezing. Not a bad game though. Good save from Bossu.

2-0 Rooney.

 

Stream has been ok, though a little jumpy. But thats more my net connection than anything!

2-0 Rooney.

 

Stream has been ok, though a little jumpy. But thats more my net connection than anything!

 

Fucking ugly scouse cunt.

I know its only a friendly but how did the new players get on ?

Kerr looked pretty good in the first half.

 

McDonald took a pretty heavy hit midway through the first half.

 

Stewart only played the last 10 minutes.

 

Bossu made 2 bloody impressive saves.

my stream got slower and slower till eventually it was about 10mins behind the commentary

 

not that I feel i missed out. Pre -season friendlies are so bad.

There was about as much atmosphere there as with the friendly with rapid bucharest a few seasons back (and only 7000 turned up for that)

Bit agrieved man u didnt at least lie down for the last minute and let us get a goal.

Recall a pre season friendly they had with Wrexham in which they let the welshies score 2 goals in the last minute to claim a draw.

 

 

Kerr looked pretty good in the first half.

 

McDonald took a pretty heavy hit midway through the first half.

 

Stewart only played the last 10 minutes.

 

Bossu made 2 bloody impressive saves.

 

cheers

I thought Shrek dived for the penalty.  Mackie had the ball in the net in the first half but it was apparently offside.

 

Bossu is massive, a real giant!

 

Duncan Shearer is also massive these days, but in a different direction!

 

Jess looks like he could still do a job for us!

Jess looks like he could still do a job for us!

 

Worth a look? 

Didn't think much of the European champions to be honest, Aberdeen actually played quite well.

 

Way too many Aberdeen 'fans' there to see Manchester United. A standing ovation for Rooney but harldy a clap for the Aberdeen players? It was bizzare.

Didn't think much of the European champions to be honest, Aberdeen actually played quite well.

 

Way too many Aberdeen 'fans' there to see Manchester United. A standing ovation for Rooney but harldy a clap for the Aberdeen players? It was bizzare.

 

They see oor players every week, but Rooney doesn't often come to Pittodrie.

Utter waste of £20. I'd have liked to have come away from there saying how great it was to see such obviously talented players at Pittodrie, but United barely broke out of walking pace, and didn't even need to to comfortably win. Wish i'd gone to the pub and watched it instead.

 

4 weeks to go? Thank christ.

They see oor players every week, but Rooney doesn't often come to Pittodrie.

 

 

I don't think most the people in Pittodrie today do see them every week to be honest.

They see oor players every week, but Rooney doesn't often come to Pittodrie.

 

Neither does Jamie Smith!

Sir Alex comments on Redweb:

 

"It was a great day, very emotional in a lot of ways. You drive up to the stadium and see a lot of faces you haven't seen for years, and then to meet up with the players from 25 years ago, great players, terrific lads, it was very nice, I really enjoyed it.

 

"The game itself was quite open, not especially physical. Both teams created a couple of chances, and we've both come through it without any injuries, improved the players' fitness, so it's been very valuable.

 

"Wayne Rooney did well for us, played well on the shoulder of the defenders, made the first goal, then scored the second, so he was a handful for Aberdeen.

 

"But I thought Aberdeen played some nice football. They weren't afraid to play which is important.

 

"The big centre-forward, Miller, he was a handful in the first half for us, he gave Vidic a hard time which isn't easy.

 

"For Aberdeen, it's a long term thing. They're trying to introduce their own players which is nice to see, but it takes time."

What he said about Miller and Vidic is very true and good, i like to see a player that gets in his markers face, Vidic had a few woirds with lee and the ref, also take in to consideration, Vidic is a monster, an absolute beast.

Out of interest, does anyone know whether the Aberdeen goal should have stood or not?

 

I thought it was onside and was suprised it was given off, but with no replays I can't be sure.

Out of interest, does anyone know whether the Aberdeen goal should have stood or not?

 

I thought it was onside and was suprised it was given off, but with no replays I can't be sure.

 

I saw the brief highlights on Sky Sports News earlier, and he did look a little bit offside. The cock presenting the news said that the game was to mark the 25th Anniversary of our European Cup win over Real Madrid, but I'm pretty sure SV Hamburg won the European Cup that year.

 

"But I thought Aberdeen played some nice football. They weren't afraid to play which is important.

 

"The big centre-forward, Miller, he was a handful in the first half for us, he gave Vidic a hard time which isn't easy.

 

"For Aberdeen, it's a long term thing. They're trying to introduce their own players which is nice to see, but it takes time."

 

What a nice thing to say.

I watched the game on MUTV and their commentators thought our goal should have stood.  Any angle they showed it at though was inconclusive.  Fair play to MUTV as well, 90% of the build up was about our 1983 side which was good to see and they were very complimentary about our team and our supporters.

Was Ferguson ever going to say anything other than good stuff about Aberdeen ? Considering he was here to mark the 25th celebrations he is not exactly going to be honest about us is he ?

meant to say as well - i know it was only a friendly, but fuck me, Foster's passing is nothing short of disgraceful.

I saw the brief highlights on Sky Sports News earlier, and he did look a little bit offside. The cock presenting the news said that the game was to mark the 25th Anniversary of our European Cup win over Real Madrid, but I'm pretty sure SV Hamburg won the European Cup that year

 

The cup was won on the European stage