http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/768290

ABERDEEN’S front men are ready to match the 30-goal target set for them by manager Jimmy Calderwood.

 

That’s the verdict of reserve team coach Sandy Clark after spending the last month sharpening up their front-men for the big SPL kick-off.

 

Calderwood wants his four main strikers to deliver at least 30 goals between them to bolster Aberdeen’s chances of qualifying for Europe.

 

That’s something that has happened only twice in the last 10 seasons. But Clark is convinced Lee Miller, Darren Mackie, Chris Maguire and new man Tommy Wright have it in them to give Calderwood what he wants.

 

“It’s a very reasonable target,†said Sandy, who was a top-class striker himself with Hearts, Rangers and West Ham.

 

“All four are capable of delivering their fair share and will get their chance over the course of the campaign.

 

“It is very rare nowadays for one strike pairing to get the luxury of playing together all season.

 

“Injuries and suspensions mean you tend to find the combinations change quite a lot.

 

“But a target of 30 goals means they will need to get about seven or eight each.

 

“It’s not really a lot when you look at it that way, so we will all be disappointed if they stay fit and can’t deliver that total.

 

“Lee was our top scorer last season and I’m sure he will score more than his fair share again.

 

“Darren is fit again and eager to make up for lost time after only getting four last time.

 

“Darren always seems to score the important ones though, and I am certain he will continue that.

 

“Wee Chris is going to be a lot more involved as well and I’m excited by the thought of what he could achieve in the new season.

 

“Tommy will do his bit as well.

 

“I was sent to watch him play and was impressed by his aggression and sheer will to get in about defenders and win the ball.

 

“If we get the ball wide so that it can be delivered into the area the way Tommy likes it, I am certain he will score a good number of goals.â€

 

In the days when Sandy was a player, most Scottish clubs had one striker who was expected to deliver the bulk of that 30-goal target on his own – but he accepts times have changed.

 

“Football has become more squad orientated, so you don’t see many teams sticking with the same strikers all of the time,†he said.

 

“In one of the seasons I played for Hearts, we only used 14 players the whole season.

 

“When you are playing every week it stands to reason that you will have more chance of scoring goals.

 

“But strikers now find their playing time restricted because their club may choose to go with one up or make some other tactical change.

 

“I played with Ally McCoist at Rangers and John Robertson at Hearts, who were among the greatest of what you would class as old fashioned poachers.

 

“They did very little in games at times, but would then pop up with the goals that mattered.

 

“Few clubs can afford the luxury of players like those now.

 

“The strikers have become the first line of defence, so they have to be a lot more mobile and be willing to track back a lot more than some of the great names from the past did.â€

 

Sandy spent extra hours in Holland supervising special shooting drills at their training ground in Delden.

 

He was delighted with the way the players improved the quality of their shooting and movement over the course of 10 days.

 

“They are looking sharp and are now ready to go,†he said.

 

“Strikers are only as good as the delivery they get and that is something we worked on a lot.

 

“Most of our drills involve moving the ball about at pace and firing into the area early for the strikers.

 

“We also incorporate a bit of competition to add a bit more bite to the training.

 

“They take part in various shooting competitions and you would be amazed at how competitive they get at times.

 

“The quality of finishing was exceptional at times. But the strikers now have to prove they can do the same when the real action starts.â€

 

I too agree its a very reasonable target and you could say a higher target should be set as if you dont aim high mediocrity can set in.

The fact the Jutes or ICT wanted him doesn't have any implication on the fact that, more often than not, he's fucking garbage for us. That's all I care about, not whether the Jutes or ICT think he's good enough for them or not. Just because he's not been as shit as the list you have posted (and to be honest, had some of them played for as long as he has, they may well have also scored 52 goals in that period, too) doesn't mean we should all be content with him.

 

I'm not saying Mackie is the answer nor am I saying he's who I want pulling on the striker's jersey on a Saturday at AFC.

 

But he's worked hard enough at keeping that position of his and managed to do so for a lot longer than any of the other charlatans that have turned up with a pair of football boots and the audacity to call themself a striker.

 

If he was keeping someone out of a starting spot then yes, I'd be asking questions.  But the plain fact of the matter is; not one manager in his time at Pittodrie has managed to unearth another player to slot in before him.

 

Lee Miller might just have managed that last season (perhaps because Darren was injured) but we need 2 strikers on the park and if there's nobody at the club good enough to push for a place and the coaching staff can't get anyone else in then Mackie may well be the 10-year-stop-gap answer.

I'm not saying Mackie is the answer nor am I saying he's who I want pulling on the striker's jersey on a Saturday at AFC.

 

But he's worked hard enough at keeping that position of his and managed to do so for a lot longer than any of the other charlatans that have turned up with a pair of football boots and the audacity to call themself a striker.

 

If he was keeping someone out of a starting spot then yes, I'd be asking questions.  But the plain fact of the matter is; not one manager in his time at Pittodrie has managed to unearth another player to slot in before him.

 

Lee Miller might just have managed that last season (perhaps because Darren was injured) but we need 2 strikers on the park and if there's nobody at the club good enough to push for a place and the coaching staff can't get anyone else in then Mackie may well be the 10-year-stop-gap answer.

 

That's a massive indictment on the managers then.

That's a massive indictment on the managers then.

 

Well there's that and of course the fact we can only offer two shiny pennies and a Bazooka Joe for our transfers.  If anyone out there can name a player who has 10 years of SPL and European experience [in fact all see my earlier list] and will come to our club for free then I'm all ears.

 

We just don't have the cash and if we binned him for free (which no doubt people would moan about) then I doubt we'd get anyone better to replace him.

 

I doubt that boy with the peg leg we're about to sign will be one of them, but I'd gladly eat my bonnet if I'm wrong.

3 Matches down and 35 to go. Looking at it now, Maybe Clark is being over optimistic! The strikers aren't exactly setting the heather on fire and as things stand Mulgrew looks a good bet for top scorer.

http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/768290

“The strikers have become the first line of defence, so they have to be a lot more mobile and be willing to track back a lot more than some of the great names from the past did.â€

 

In my eyes, I'd rather our forwards defended from the front by banging the ball into the opposition net, rather than playing as a 5th and 6th midfielder.

Lets keep score and see how it pans out.

 

Currently:

 

Defence 1

Midfield 1

Strikers 0

 

Looking good to date 

 

Anyone worked out how many Miller, Lovell, Mackie and Maguire got between them last season ? Was it about 20 ?

Our Goal keepers are on equal scoring tally with our strikers after three games. Thats not a great start for them really.

Our Goal keepers are on equal scoring tally with our strikers after three games. Thats not a great start for them really.

Bit harsh on our keepers!!

Is the 30 goal target just for the SPL or all comps?

They'd be lucky if they get that many if you include training. 

Is the 30 goal target just for the SPL or all comps?

 

10 years? 

I got a feeling that Clark actually meant 30 goals in a computer game like Fifa or that other one 

I think he meant to say bag 30 gulls in light of AFC's new policy of wiping out the species single handedly 

Defence - 1

Midfield - 1

Strikers - 1

 

Off the mark now. 29 to go. Go strikers go 

Defence - 1

Midfield - 1

Strikers - 1

 

Off the mark now. 29 to go. Go strikers go 

 

Does the Co-op cup count in the 30? Im no too sure.....

Does the Co-op cup count in the 30? Im no too sure.....

 

He's just trying to help them reach their goal   

Does the Co-op cup count in the 30? Im no too sure.....

 

Why wouldn't it ? Its not like its a competition with rules. Its just a motivational statement sent out by the management to challenge his strikers. I'm backing them for 40  C'mon the front

Why wouldn't it ? Its not like its a competition with rules. Its just a motivational statement sent out by the management to challenge his strikers. I'm backing them for 40  C'mon the front

 

30 in the league, 10 in the cups? 

one goal in 4 games...

 

only another 116 games to go

Having done some very very shit research I came up with the following:

 

2006/07 our 6 strikers bagged 32 goals (Daal-2, Crawford-3, Lovell-9, Mackie-13, Maguire-1 and Miller-4)

2007/08 our 6 strikers bagged 27 goals (Aluko-3, Brewster-3, Lovell-3, Mackie-2, Maguire-4 and Miller-12)

 

I don't think European goals are counted in these stats.

 

Incidently, I think in 2007/08 our midfield got 17 goals with 8 players chipping in (Touzani, Clark, Foster, Nicholson, Severin, Smith, Young and JDV)

 

If these stats are correct then it would seem that 30 goals from your strike force brings you a fairly average season in terms of convincing victories and real progress. 40 goals would probably feel like a consistently good season. The difference between 2006/07 and 2007/08 looks like a second striker who can pitch in with around 8-10 goals. We missed that last season.

I'd say 40+ should be the strikers target. My 'logic' suggests -

 

One strikers should be getting 20+, our main striker (Miller or Wright)

Second striker should be 10+ (Miller or Wright)

2 additional strikers should be 5+ each (Macguire, Mackie)

 

Agreed none of our strikers has had a 20+ season in a while but this should still be the goal.

I'd say 40+ should be the strikers target. My 'logic' suggests -

 

One strikers should be getting 20+, our main striker (Miller or Wright)

Second striker should be 10+ (Miller or Wright)

2 additional strikers should be 5+ each (Macguire, Mackie)

 

Agreed none of our strikers has had a 20+ season in a while but this should still be the goal.

 

A tad optimistic seeing as the 2nd top scorer last season in the SPL only managed to score 15 goals.

Strikers go 2-1 up  Only 28 to go now and both Mackie and Maguire off the blocks.

 

Defence - 1

Midfield - 1

Strikers - 2

Defence - 1

Midfield - 1

Strikers - 2

 

Defence - 1

Midfield - 3

Strikers - 2

 

Poor show so far.