Poor start to the season, again. 

 

Should we give the team more time to bed in or is it a case of the same old problems that have always been present with Calderwood now being magnified by the poor summer signings to replace the loss of our best players? And if things should change, what or who should it be?

 

Despite the underlying problems at Pittodrie running alot deeper I am beginning to think it is time JC's position was under serious consideration.

 

Manager

Pros: Proven track record.  League and cup results improved steadily since he arrived. Still early in the season with many changes from last season. Signings of Mulgrew and Aluko.  Who would do better?

 

Cons: Inept tactical decisions, poor signings, terrible quality of football, poor entertainment, inability to motivate team, constant stream of pish to the press. Who would do worse?

 

Players

Pros: Young team. Good mix of skill and endeavour.  Proven records at other SPL or Championship teams.  Have done well last few years.  Still early in the season and need time to gel.

 

Cons: Not enough effort.  Lack of basic skills. Failed repeatedly to show required level of ability. Time for others/youngsters to get a chance

 

Director of Football

Pros: He's Willie Miller. Signing of Aluko

 

Cons: What the fuck does he do? Merely a deflection shield for Milne. Fallen into the trap of blaming fans for all the the clubs ills

 

Stewart Milne

Pros: Gives club the financial security it needs.  Club finances improving year on year.  Plans for new stadium.  Provided more cash to the manager than most SPL chairman (see Hibs)

 

Cons: Created the massive debt in the first place. Lacks ambition. Presided over the least successful period in afc's history since the war.  Appointed Miller so he could disappear into the background. Impending disaster in 2011 when we have no new stadium and have millions worth of interest to pay off

 

The Fans

Pros: Backed the team through thick but mainly thin for 15yrs.  Pump thousands into afc.  Will come out in numbers when there is something to entice them in (uefa cup, cup semis)

 

Cons: Too quick to moan. Deserted in droves over the last 2 years despite relative success. Unrealistic exceptions (sic)

 

back on topic...

 

Jimmys major problem is his inability to build any rapport with the aberdeen fans which stems from his handling of the local press and his constant slagging of the fans and the players in the press. Its to late to fix that and he will be gone once the club go on a sustained bad run of form.Miller and Milne should be looking at the crowds this season because its looking worse than last season and the only option they have is to replace the manager (or give him money to buy some quality but that aint going to happen).

 

The bit in quotes is the way to go - more money on the playing staff - that is the solution.

 

I don't think we have a decent team at all - yes they could be more motivated than they are - would they sustain european position form - no - they aren't good enough.

The bit in quotes is the way to go - more money on the playing staff - that is the solution.

 

Yep, but we have a huge debt. 

Yep, but we have a huge debt. 

 

And Calderwood has just signed a 3-year contract so he aint going anywhere. 

Romanov is small fish compared to the arabs, and the proper russians investing in the EPL.

As for the supporters base argument, even if Man City fill eastlands, they aren't going to pay the wages of robinho each week, never mind the new recruits that will come in in january - so clearly these investors aren't worried about how many people actually turn up - but they will turn up en masse, as the product on show will be good.

 

It's your opinion that you don't want a faceless billionaire in, but I have a feeling AFC is going to the wall under Milne.

No stadium, no players worth talking about, soon, no support going to games.

 

He *has* to go - I'd at least like someone else to have a go at "rescuing" the club before we do go out of business.

And we can all apply the "we need to run a good financial ship to survive" charge - but if we don't have a team worth watching - we'll soon be playing in the highland league albeit with a "good" financial footing.

 

That's all very well but the arabs and russian oligarchs are attracted to the EPL because it is the EPL (see the SPL thread for a discussion about the hype and whether it is merited).

Owning a EPL team and splashing the cash is a big ego boost for these guys given the huge amount of press and free publicity they get, not just in the UK but around the world.

 

Buying a middle of the road SPL club just won't get you the same level of hype and publicity, hence much as we can only attract 2nd rate (at best) players we can only attract 2nd rate millionaires - Romanov, Di Stefano, Mileson etc.

 

There maybe someone out there with the cash and the interest to buy Aberdeen (although 10yrs of looking would suggest otherwise) but I would be amazed if any faceless, or otherwise, billionaire would come anywhere near Scotland, let alone Aberdeen

Donald Trump wants to.  Mind you, he's nae a millionaire is he?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He's a BILLIONAIRE.