Dons’ wrong turn over Wright

Aberdeen’s move for striker hits snag as darlington increase asking price for player

 

By Paul Third

 

Published: 15/07/2008

 

Aberdeen’s move for Darlington forward Tommy Wright is on the verge of collapse as discussions between the two clubs have broken down.

 

The Dons believed they had agreed a £75,000 fee with the Quakers for the 23-year-old but the English League 2 side has increased its valuation of the player.

 

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood has threatened to pull out of the deal if Darlington do not reduce their demands for the former England youth international.

 

He said: “I spoke to Willie Miller who told me a fee had been accepted but the club has moved the goalposts.

 

“We are still talking to Darlington but if they don’t come closer to our valuation of the player then the deal will be off.â€

 

Calderwood has been tracking Wright, the Quakers’ leading scorer last season with 15 goals, for months. But he is prepared to move on to another target if the issue is not resolved quickly.

 

The Dons manager is keen to get new faces on board before Aberdeen depart for Holland a week tomorrow for their training camp. He said: “We thought we had done our bit and were on the verge of getting a result. But sometimes an agent, the player or a club changes what has been agreed. In this case it is the club.

 

“This happens all the time with clubs in England which is why I don’t like talking about deals when they are not completed.

 

“The hopes of the supporters have been built up as they have read we are after a player but, as is so often the case, negotiations are never straightforward.â€

 

Darlington manager Dave Penney said: “We have received offers for a couple of players but none of the offers has been accepted.â€

 

While Calderwood hopes for a resolution in his bid for the player, he has turned his attention to his current squad which will take on Dundee at Dens Park in the second pre-season friendly.

 

Michael Paton and Sam Stewart will join Neil Cooper’s squad for a friendly with Nairn, while the rest of the first-team squad players are at Dens.

 

Calderwood said: “Dundee will give us a very hard game which is why we chose them as opposition.

 

“They are a Premier League club in all but name and if there was a 16-team SPL I have no doubt they would be in there.

 

“They will be joint favourites for promotion this season along with St Johnstone and I am sure Alex Rae will have his players motivated. We had expected to be in Ireland this week but when it fell through I was delighted to be able to get a game against a team of Dundee’s quality.

 

“We have a game at Peter-head on Friday which will be another good test for us. I am looking for two good performances this week.â€

He'll fucking kill you

He'll fucking kill you

Tommy Wright will fucking kill you

You're deid

 

wtf?

ROFL

 

He'll fucking kill you

He'll fucking kill you

Tommy Wright will fucking kill you

You're deid

 

wtf?

ROFL

 

When I read it, these guys sprang immediately to mind:

 

where the fuck is the broom cupboard photo.

I have a good mind to email Pittodrie and complain about this.

All we have is this shitty photo:

 

http://www.afc.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/37/1f/0,,10284~3743543,00.jpg[/img]

 

looks a tiny bit like beckham 

looks a tiny bit like beckham 

you had a lager-shandy tam?

I was gonna let this one pass. But ... Mizer, why do you currently posess a pair of pants that either belong to TopCorner or Jaegerdeen? Is there some sort of horny ménage à trois going on here that you'd like to share amongst us?

 

It could be Edinburghdons or Brunstanesheeps as well, everyone was naked right next to my bed

you had a lager-shandy tam?

 

The Beckham thing had crossed my mind too but I didn't want a slagging.

It could be Edinburghdons or Brunstanesheeps as well, everyone was naked right next to my bed

 

You dont half manage to make things sound worse do you!

 

(Dont think they are mine!)

Tommy vows not to alter his game

Tough guy Tommy Wright on his disciplinary record

 

By Charlie Allan 

 

Published: 12/08/2008

 

NEW DON Tommy Wright won’t be changing his style to please Scotland’s card happy refs.

 

The Englishman’s whole-hearted approach has earned him four red and 31 yellow cards already in his career.

 

Wright has been warned there could be more trouble to come from officials in the SPL, who have a habit of flashing cards then asking questions later.

 

But the Leicester-born hitman says that won’t affect how he goes about his business with the Dons.

 

Wright said: “My disciplinary record could be a lot better.

 

“In my defence, I felt I was a bit of a target for the referees in England last season.

 

“I was booked 11 times but I felt hard done by because I was only looking after myself in the games.

 

“I only give as good as I get from defenders.

 

“If someone wants to give me a bit of stick, they get it back.

 

“The Aberdeen manager has warned me that the refs up here are very strict.

 

“I can assure them I don’t plan to go out and do anything to upset people.

 

“Things have happened in the past, when I was a bit younger, that I do regret.

 

“I’ve learned from that but will still be going into every tackle as if my life depends on it.

 

“The day I start pulling out of challenges is the day I would be best packing in football.â€

 

Wright admitted the thought of how his father – Andy – would react if he did change his style is another reason why he will be battering into every SPL defender he faces.

 

“My dad would probably rip my head off if I held back in any way†he said.

 

“My dad has always pushed me on at my football and will be at every Aberdeen game. He says I should give my all, no matter how good or bad I play.

 

“If he saw me giving anything less than 100% he would give me pelters.â€

 

The former England youth international knows the Dons fans are crying out for a new cult hero to worship.

 

Lee Richardson and Dean Windass are among the previous English imports to have become big hits with the Red Army and Wright wants a bit of that.

 

“The manager spoke to me about how I could become a real fans’ favourite if I do well,†he said.

 

“I like to think I’m like a lot of the lads on the terraces, a fan who has been fortunate to get the chance to live his dream.

 

“It’s up to me to show the Dons fans from here on that I’m worthy of being remembered as a cult hero.

 

“If I get my share of goals and show I’m willing to get wired in I’m sure I will soon have the fans on my side.â€

 

Wright hopes to take another massive stride towards achieving that by boosting his match fitness in today’s Reserve League clash with Inverness Caley Thistle at Brechin. It’s a low-key start for the 23-year-old, whose last match for Darlington was a promotion play-off semi-final clash with Rochdale in May.

 

But Wright is determined it will be his first – and last – reserve match for Aberdeen.

 

He said: “If I do well today I will be looking to play at Motherwell on Saturday for the first team.

 

“I’ve not come here to play reserve team football.

 

“There is something wrong with anyone who is happy to settle for that.â€

 

Wright was frustrated to have to sit in the stand and watch as the Dons drew a blank while going down 2-0 to Inverness Caley Thistle in their SPL opener.

 

He is desperate for the chance to score his first goal for the Dons.

 

Wright said: “I set myself a target of 20 goals last season at Darlington.

 

“I got 10 before Christmas, so was annoyed to only get 15 in the end.

 

“I’m not so keen to set a specific target this time because I’ve been out injured and haven’t played in Scotland yet.

 

“But once I’m in the team and have scored the first one I might choose to review that.â€

 

He certainly makes all the right noises.  Hopefully he can add a lot of steel up front.

He has also put up a big sign saying referees better watch me.

 

My thoughts exactly! Ah well, at least we know he's willing to get stuck in.

We've needed someone like him for a long time. Hope he's nae over the top.

He has also put up a big sign saying referees better watch me.

 

That's a strange thing to do.  Where is this sign, and what is it that referees should watch out for you doing?