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€

 

 

But where's Leighton?  Anything to do with him and Fergie not speaking?

 

 

But where's Leighton?  Anything to do with him and Fergie not speaking?

 

Leighton joined the group after about 30seconds.

surprised Doug Rougvie wasn't there. anyone know why he wasn't?

 

Shame Leighton isn't in that pic.

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

 

It was horrendous wasn't it! Everytime the commentators mentioned his name, he lost the ball. Thought Miller and JdV played well and it wasn't the worst friendly i've seen us play. It was good to see the Aberdeen fans applaud the united players off as well. I just wish I could have seen Scholes and Giggs, true legends of the game and could teach our lot a thing or 10 on how to be professionals. JC was in the paper today saying Mackie's goal should have stood.

Personally, and I know that many will disagree with me, I don't really agree with cheering for the opposition team. They have just beaten my team, so I couldn't really give a damn about them.

 

As far as Fosters passing went, it was awful. But overall I thought he played reasonably well, a lot of energy, good tackling and movement. I also though JDV looked a lot better than I have seen him in the past. Considine is still shite. And it will be very good to have Jamie Smith back. Also thought the new keeper looked good, a lot more commanding than Langfield. The way he was organising the wall at the free kick reminded me of Theo.

 

Personally, and I know that many will disagree with me, I don't really agree with cheering for the opposition team. They have just beaten my team, so I couldn't really give a damn about them.

 

Usually I'd agree with this, but because I do like United and obviously appreciate all Fergie did for our club I thought it was a nice touch. Though only because there were actually big stars playing (i.e I would have disagreed with them applauding their youth team off). I just hope our team got some valuable experiences from playing against them.

 

Legends.

 

Nothing else need be said.

 

But where's Leighton?

 

Ask, and they will deliver.

 

Reckon we could keep him for next season?

 

F*ck it, here's the link to a load of photos from the game - http://www.redcafe.net/f6/pics-vs-aberdeen-210676/

 

Match thread - http://www.redcafe.net/f11/aberdeen-v-manchester-united-204876/ (someone bizarrely says that Severin is fast as f*ck  )

 

Seagull talk - http://www.redcafe.net/f6/seagulls-210677/ 

 

That suits him, being at Pittodrie. Maybe he should stay.

 

As for applauding opposition teams, maybe not the likes of rangers, Celtic and Hearts, but when the European Champions come all the way up to Aberdeen to play a friendly, then a round of applause for their achievement is called for. Unless you don't like them, of course.

As for applauding opposition teams, maybe not the likes of rangers, Celtic and Hearts, but when the European Champions come all the way up to Aberdeen to play a friendly, then a round of applause for their achievement is called for. Unless you don't like them, of course.

 

Spot on. 

 

It was a friendly, against a team who were invited here to play us to celebrate the 25th anniversary of this club's greatest achievement.  Regardless of who came here, it's worth showing some of the respect they've given us.

 

Throw in the fact that they are European champions, boast some of the most talented/respected players you're ever likely to see in Giggs/Scholes, and are led by the man who's happened to take both sides to the top of the European game, as well as giving EVERY fan the greatest periods of both club's histories.

 

Regardless of what you think, that's worth showing a little bit of respect too.  And if your way of showing respect is to give a round of applause, by all means, clap until your heart's content.

what a fucking caffufle yesterday had 5 mates up for the game, sitting in aitchies ale house and we were accompanied by three riot vans full of coppers mates myself and my mate who posts on here there interrogated as to why we were drinking together, then they were dragged out of the bar and filmed, what a dampner on the day 3 riot vans for 7 guys having a pint while theres stabbings and drug dealers on almost every street corner in torry, guys were saying that it was unpresidented policing even by english standards.

 

got them tickets for the RDU and they couldnt speak highly enough of miller and said miller wouldnt be out of place playing for them, didnt see the game myself so will have to take their word for that one. also that for a friendly it was a very good atmosphere and tehy really enjoyed the game.

it was unpresidented policing even by english standards.

 

 

Was Bush not there then?

 

And it isn't unprecedented policing at all.

so you would be happy enough if you were having a couple of pints with your mates to be dragged out of a bar, questioned and filmed for doing fuck all? i doubt it!

so you would be happy enough if you were having a couple of pints with your mates to be dragged out of a bar, questioned and filmed for doing fuck all? i doubt it!

 

Where did I say I would be?

 

I simply said it was far from unprecedented.

well i for one in my 15 years supporting the dons / man united / scotland all over the world have never seen such policing, let alone at a friendly game, for 7 people no less. Absolute disgrace if you ask me, and 5 visitors to our city made to feel like criminals. Not very good now is it!

 

got them tickets for the RDU and they couldnt speak highly enough of miller and said miller wouldnt be out of place playing for them, didnt see the game myself so will have to take their word for that one. also that for a friendly it was a very good atmosphere and tehy really enjoyed the game.

 

Was it pints of vodka they were drinking?

so you would be happy enough if you were having a couple of pints with your mates to be dragged out of a bar, questioned and filmed for doing fuck all? i doubt it!

 

It's always the ones that do f*ck all that get in trouble. 

well i for one in my 15 years supporting the dons / man united / scotland all over the world have never seen such policing, let alone at a friendly game, for 7 people no less. Absolute disgrace if you ask me, and 5 visitors to our city made to feel like criminals. Not very good now is it!

 

Are you jmo in disguise?

 

It hasn't happened to me therefore it hasn't happened, ever?

 

It happens stoney, shite, but it happens.

Wear less Stone Island gear then and you're less likely to be "targeted".

If they were hanging out with you stoney there is a high probability that they were criminals or indeed still are. 

 

Cant really argue with that 

I dunno like have you met heppy before? 

 

Anyways i tend to try to avoid the police rather then go looking for them 

:lolabove: