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.

Defence - 1

Midfield - 3

Strikers - 2

 

Poor show so far.

 

Defence 3

Midfield  3

Strikers  3

 

Poor show indeed

 

Mulgrew    3

MacDonald  2

Young        1

Maguire      1

Mackie      1

Miller        1

 

Aye, 3 strikers with one goal each at this stage is pretty rank.

Defenders - 3

 

Midfielders - 3

 

Strikers - 4

 

The strikers are really showing up those lazy bastards in the back line now 

 

 

Any chance of getting this stickied so I don't have to keep finding it ? 

 

After 4/10/08

Defence 3

Midfield  3

Strikers  4

 

 

 

Mulgrew     3

MacDonald  2

Young        1

Maguire      1

Mackie       1

Miller         2*       (* 2 pen)

 

 

Is it not 2 pens for Miller?

yep.  Ta.

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/893028

Dons address paucity of goals

miller sees falkirk as good place to start netting the dividends

 

By Michael Gannon

 

Published: 18/10/2008

 

If goals are the currency in football, then Aberdeen’s misfiring strikers are in the midst of their very own credit crunch.

 

Lee Miller and strike partner Darren Mackie have scored just one SPL goal each this season as the Dons have found the net a paltry seven times in eight league games.

 

Manager Jimmy Calderwood has fretted over his defence’s blunders but has plenty to worry about at the other end as well as his players look to haul themselves off the foot of the table.

 

Miller, who opened his SPL account from the penalty spot in the 2-1 defeat by Hibs a fortnight ago, accepts that the forwards are feeling the pinch ahead of today’s trip to Falkirk.

 

He said: “Darren and I haven't been hitting the back of the net. It's frustrating as every striker wants to score.

 

“It's a bit of everything, the service and the finishing must be just right. If everything clicks on the day, it's marvellous and, hopefully, that will happen soon.

 

“There is pressure on me having gone so many games without getting a goal – which is annoying because I set myself high standards.

 

“It has been a stop-start season without many chances in front of goal but we will see what happens.

 

“Falkirk would be a great place to start doing the business and help get back to the top end of the league.â€

After 4/10/08

Defence 3

Midfield  3

Strikers  5

 

 

 

Mulgrew    3

MacDonald  2

Young        1

Maguire      1

Mackie      1

Miller        3*      (* 2 pen)

Fuck me Miller scored again 

 

 

I heard he goes down easy.........

Rubbish fact...

 

The last 9 goals scored by Aberdeen players have had names starting with the letter M.

 

 

Rubbish fact...

 

The last 9 goals scored by Aberdeen players have had names starting with the letter M.

 

 

 

Thanks.

You going to update this ajja?

The last 9 goals scored by Aberdeen players have had names starting with the letter M.

 

This got to 10, then Aluko ruined it. 

This got to 10, then Aluko ruined it. 

 

Racist 

After 4/10/08

Defence 3

Midfield  3

Strikers  7

 

 

 

Mulgrew    3

MacDonald  2

Young        1

Maguire      1

Mackie      2

Miller        3*      (* 2 pen)

Aluko        1

 

Assuming Aluko is a striker ?

31% of the season gone if you assume we only play one tie in the cup. Strikers should be on 10 goals now if they want to hit 30 by the end of the season. It can all turn around on a Mackie hatrick at Tannadice but I'm not rushing to the bookies 

31% of the season gone if you assume we only play one tie in the cup. Strikers should be on 10 goals now if they want to hit 30 by the end of the season. It can all turn around on a Mackie hatrick at Tannadice but I'm not rushing to the bookies 

 

out of interest anyone any idea how other strike forces in the SPL are doing (scum excepted)

The goal scoring rate this season is shocking and barely a goal per game for most sides.  At a guess Motherwell and hibs are probably the only two where the strikers have chipped in with a respectable number of goals.

 

Can't remember such a low scoring league in a while.  Is it as much to do with the total lack of creativity in the middle and out wide in the SPL as it is to do with shit strikers?

The worst thing from my point of view is that we have failed to score more than one goal in most of our games, only the 3-2 loss to celtic and the 4-2 loss to kille are the exceptions. No entertainment value.

Yet Pat Nevin reckons our lack of goals will stop us making 4th never mind 3rd.

 

I reckon 2nd is now a real possibility - we'll see some real good stuff over the next months as confidence grows and rangers implode (unfortunately not literally)

 

Although, I think our slow start will end up meaning we finish 3rd.

 

Not sure we should spend money in the winter break transfer wondow - ye never get quality or value for money.

 

Was the EPL not the lowest scoring league a few seasons ago?

 

Agree that we will finish third, but don't think Rangers will implode. They have too many good players (particularly in midfield) and not enough games to put any real pressure on. Because of the points the 'bottom ten' will take off each other, the OF will be a long way ahead, IMO.

 

After 8/11/08

Defence 3

Midfield  3

Strikers  8

 

 

 

Mulgrew     3

MacDonald  2

Young        1

Maguire      1

Mackie       3

Miller         3*       (* 2 pen)

Aluko         1

 

 

 

 

Is Mackie due for a contract renewal at the end of this season?

After 11/11/08

Defence 4

Midfield  3

Strikers  9

 

 

 

Considine    1

Mulgrew    3

MacDonald  2

Young        1

Maguire      1

Mackie      3

Miller        3*      (* 2 pen)

Aluko        2

 

Still debate whether Aluko is a striker ?

After 11/11/08

Defence 4

Midfield  3

Strikers  9

 

 

 

Considine    1

Mulgrew     3

MacDonald  2

Young        1

Maguire      1

Mackie       3

Miller         3*       (* 2 pen)

Aluko         2

 

Still debate whether Aluko is a striker ?

 

He's a forward. 

Is he fuck.

Certainly played as a striker, or in the hole behind the strikers for pretty much all of the game last night