CtS Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 My thoughts on recent matters: Looking back over JCs tenure there is no doubt that he brought back some form of respectability to the club, and for that he has my gratitude. From the dark days of Skovdahl and Paterson we’ve seen some fantastic sights: European football (great performances against Bayern Munich, Dnipro, Copenhagen and Lokomotiv Moscow) and wins against the Old Firm at Pittodrie and Celtic Park. There are regrets too, namely the horrific cup record: missing out on finals against lower league opposition, humiliation at the hands of Dundee United, the continued Ibrox hoodoo, the foot-in-mouth PR skills, lack of silverware and of course the mind numbingly turgid football at times. After humiliations to QOTS and Queens Park in previous seasons, the defeat to Dunfermline in the cup earlier this season (in my view) was grounds for instant dismissal, however it wasn’t the right time while the opportunity for Europe remained. After reflection, I’m convinced that now is right time for him to have gone. 5 years is more than a fair period of time for him to have made an impact on the team and it is clear we are stagnating. ‘Steadying the ship’ & ‘bringing back respectability’ – these are the things that I think JC will be remembered (and hopefully credited for). He’s built a platform upon which we must now build and progress, but he was never the man to take us there. As a club I think we have to look at what we want to achieve next and plan accordingly. What do we want as a club? A cup? European football every season? To challenge the Old Firm? Yes to all of the above, but simply changing the manager and giving him the same limited resources won’t get us anywhere near that. What is needed is a step change in thinking at the club, from top to bottom. From reports so far, I believe that the decision to award a new contract to JC and his team has cost us in the region of £1M. If true, I would seriously question the judgement of whoever approved that contract, and I’d certainly question the ability of that person to identify and attract the right calibre of manager to help us reach that next level. I’m very underwhelmed by some of the names that have been suggested so far. I also agree about being very wary of sentimentality when appointing a new manager. It may appease the fans initially (which may be the right thing that is needed now), but once the honeymoon period is over it makes for a very difficult relationship when (yes, when) things don’t go well. This moment is a great opportunity for all at AFC, but I think we are more vulnerable than ever. The next manager has to be very careful not to undo the work that JC has done, yet must make enough of an impact to meet the fans expectations….Because now I will be expecting silverware, I will be expecting European football on a regular basis and I will be expecting an end to the bland, unattractive, feckless football. The bar has been set, its now time for the board to pick the right man for the job. Good luck, you have my full support whoever you are*. *Apart from Jim Jeffries, who I have already said can get to fuck. Excellent post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kowalski Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Some interesting comments on the Motherwell boards, a few folk saying they'd love Calderwood to take over if McGhee goes: http://www.steelmenonline.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=2784&st=20 Also: It is a tad ironic that one of the reasons Calderwood parted ways with Aberdeen was a lack of silverware and more specifically losing to lower league clubs in the Scottish Cup. Sound familiar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDU_64 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Mr Mcghee the seat is all yours. Whilst im not going to get into the "Who was best manager since fergie" debate i do have the following to say. Today is a happy day for stoney, some of you think i didnt have much time for Calderwood, truth is in the past 2 and a bit years you would be correct, but today is a little bit of a sad day too. In Jimmys first year with us he inherited some great young players, backed up with signing experianced players (seve, barry nic and lovell) to bring them on, the perfect mix. Its fair to say after the season before i was fairly excited by the season that was to follow and i wasnt dissapointed. First season in the job is always getting the team to the way you like it and building up a good team we even had an outside chance of Europe- Passed with flying colours couldnt be happier with him. 2nd Season - wasnt the greatest but we were still playing decent football, never left a game early we were unlucky that hearts and hibs were flying that season and had money to spend. Plus we had an excellent team, a natural leader (in anderson) an international standard midfield (seve at the time was playing his best stuff, nicolson after taking a year to settle in was playing well, and we all knew what jamie smith could do on his day) 3rd Season - Started off the season like a house on fire, we were flying in the league playing some of the best football i had seen us play, couldnt be happier with calderwood he was doing a fantastic job - we looked a nap to finish 2nd that season, i remember it quite well that we had rangers at pittodrie to go 6 points clear of them, it was like something changed over night and we were scared to get beat in that game, for some reason we changed the whole way we played in that season to accomodate rangers, i have no idea why to this day but we ended up getting beat of a very shite rangers team and i started to think that calderwood didnt have a clue what he was doing. A few weeks later we were playing worse and worse and we got humped badly from hibs (first game i have ever left early at the time) kept hearing calderwood talk more and more about other teams instead of having faith in his own players, we had a great team at that time and i felt that if we had a better manager we could have finished 2nd that season. 4th Season was the beggining of the end if you take the euro trips out of that season it was awful we took a massive step backwards in my opinion i cant remember wanting to stay till the end of many games, the last straw for me was the QOTS game think he should have walked after that game, quite dissapointed its taken him so long to jack it in, would have still had some respect for him if he walked last season, altho there isnt a massive differance in the home attendances the away support is well down on what it was and also the supporters are a lot less vocal. Whilst i give Calderwood the credit he deserves for making us hard to beat and very solid i feel in his past two years that we became a team scared to get beat and hence never really had a great run of consistant wins. Too many stupid draws against lesser teams, if he left us at the start of the 07/08 season i honestly think we would have had some success in the cups by now, we put hearts and united in their place and they have crept back on us - i think this season was a wasted season. Im not sure about mcghee he's done a good job with motherwell on a third of our budget and also has worked well with the young players they have, which is what we are going to have to relay on, i dont think the next manager is going to get the backing that calderwood has, and i think a reverse effect of this season on any new manager, i think the JIG will make it very difficult for us to have the chance to rebuild. Whoever comes in he's going to need the same two years that calderwood had to get the show on the road. I dont believe our fans have the patience for this. Good luck Mark - You are going to need. COYR Why would he need two years to get the show on ther road? You can't compare the new manager with Calderwoods tenure as there are significant differences. Calderwood came to us at a time where we were reguarly flirting with relegation and our club was in a poor state. The new manager will have the best part of the summer to assess the squad and stamp his own playing ideas and style on the players. Yes, there will be minor tinkering involved but surely this is a completely different scenario from Calderwoods first couple of years? As for the JIG - complete fabrication. Something that the JMG mob created in order to counter anyone who dared to disagree with them. No doubt this JMG/JIG horseshit will continue for years to come, and the same old arguments will continually come up, in order to counter any differing opinions. As for the fans having patience?! Pot, kettle, black. For those who have continually called for JC's head after a defeat (you included, Stoney), take a look at yourselves before telling me that I won't have the patience for a new manager. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoney Posted May 25, 2009 Author Share Posted May 25, 2009 why because we have a squad full of shite players thats why. Look at our defence for a start - thats going to take a season to get 4 defenders in (might keep diamond) but thats a job in itself - then dont even get me started on our strike "force" whoever comes in has a massive job on to get us back to the way we were playing 2 years ago. Lets be honest this current team have won what 4 league games in 2009 - thats awful by any standards - thats dundee united form. Calderwood came in when all our young players were coming of age and was given almost a million to bring new players in in his first two seasons. Money which for the best part was not well spent. Patience was giving him 3 years to do his job, which he got, do a search on here or on chat for me calling for his head before jan 2007 - you wont find one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDU_64 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 why because we have a squad full of shite players thats why. Look at our defence for a start - thats going to take a season to get 4 defenders in (might keep diamond) but thats a job in itself - then dont even get me started on our strike "force" whoever comes in has a massive job on to get us back to the way we were playing 2 years ago. Lets be honest this current team have won what 4 league games in 2009 - thats awful by any standards - thats dundee united form. Calderwood came in when all our young players were coming of age and was given almost a million to bring new players in in his first two seasons. Money which for the best part was not well spent. Patience was giving him 3 years to do his job, which he got, do a search on here or on chat for me calling for his head before jan 2007 - you wont find one. In my view, we have the spine of a good team, which needs minor tinkering. I don't think we need 4 defenders coming in, we need a good right back (Vidal played excellent yesterday) and a partner for Diamond. Considine can act as back-up. Yes, there are questions over Mulgrews defending at times but I believe he will steadily improve. Our current team is the fourth best in the league. However, with Severin and Smith definitely going, we need to strengthen. McDonald and Kerr are solid in the middle, Aluko on one wing and on the evidence of yesterday, Pawlett is ready for more involvement with the first team. We have a strikeforce of Miller and Maguire, yet any strengthening in this area, requires Wright and/or Mackie leaving. Paton took his goal well at Ibrox and is one for the future. Goalkeeping wise - Langfield, in my opinion, is the best goalkeeper in the league outwith the OF. I am not getting into an argument with you, over the way JC has spent money, his achievements etc etc. Just don't spout bile about this non-existent JIG group and how they might not give the new manager patience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoney Posted May 25, 2009 Author Share Posted May 25, 2009 I said at the start of this season Jamie Smith should be dropped in favour of Pawlett and Mackie should be binned for Paton, hopefully next season we will see this change, Defence is a major problem, we need an old head at the back someone with experiance to bring on diamond and considine, like whyte did with anderson and maguire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mileenddon Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 like whyte did with anderson and maguire. I think it's fair to say that Maguire is a shit for brains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilbobaggins Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Vive la change. The new man will get my approval but realistically he ain't going to finish higher than 4th unless the boards throw money at him. I guess the first things to address are getting youth players thorough and style of play. I'd imagine there will be a a bit of a buzz about the place as well (unless it's Jim Jefferies) and If the new man adresses these points and wins a cup then I'll be happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonoftherock Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I was only joking...kinda. It's nothing against McGhee personally. It's the fact that I don't rate him as any better than Calderwood yet those who have been so vocally JMG this season think he is the messiah, and his record certainly doesn't prove that (knocked out the cups to first division teams on more than one occasion). I will support him if he comes in, naturally, and will be delighted if he does well - but like Al he is definitely not my preferred choice. I don't want anyone from within the SPL, we need somebody fresh. I also don't necessarily agree with appointing "legends" just because they were great players for us, it inevitably sours a relationship. See C Brewster and Dundee United as an example. If McGhee was to come in, and did badly, it would be interesting to see if he got a hard time from the same fans who gave Jimmy a hard time, or if not being a fat orange hun will make any difference. Outstanding post. I could not agree more with passage in bold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TENEMENTFUNSTER Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 You guys really have the siege mentality thing going over here dont you! Not really. But when you are inclined to post such absolute fucking nonsense as in your first post in this thread, then you are going to attract fairly critical responses. JIG? Now then, seeing as the guy is away, can we all please dispense with this mythical fucking pish and move on? No? Thought not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoney Posted May 25, 2009 Author Share Posted May 25, 2009 -1 For being a moaning cunt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentorred Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I will give 100% backing to whomever it may be, but feel the need to state as I have done on numerous occassions that Dingus is not my prefered choice I will also back the new man no matter who it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TENEMENTFUNSTER Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 -1 For being a moaning cunt Sorry to pish on your chips son but as Bilbo said, unless the new manager WHOEVER the fuck he is gets money flung at him, 3/4th is as good as it gets. McGhee won't get that money, hopefully because he'll be at Parkhead. But can someone please point to what it is about McGhee's, frankly, mediocre club management record that suggests he is a shoe in for the job? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoney Posted May 25, 2009 Author Share Posted May 25, 2009 Stolen from fatshaft 1991-94 Reading: Got them promoted, then were sitting in second place in 1994 when he left for.... 94-95 - Leicester: Where they were adrift at the botom of the prem, he got them second bottom but time ran out and they went down, was still manager next season, but was approached by.... 95-98 Wolves: Took over a poor team, and in his second season nearly took them down. However in his third had them in the automatic spots till right at the death where they just slipped into third, and consequently the play-offs, where they lost in the semis. Failure to get promotion prompted the CHairmen to sell the big money signings in his fourth season, and Wolves struggled to 9th, but did reach the FA cup semis. He was fired midway through the next season. 2000-03 Millwall: Won the Division Two title at the first attempt, and followed that up next season with a play off spot in the championship where again he lost to a last minute semi final goal. His third season saw Millwall finish 9th, but in his fourth he again suffered as a Chairman sold off his best players, and he resigned in Oct 03. Where have Millwall been since he left?? 03-06 Brighton: Succeeding Steve Coppell at the reigns of a newly relegated team, he took them back up via the play offs at the first time of asking, and followed that up with a 20th place finish, the highest they'd been in 14 years. They were relegated again in his third season and lasted only a handful of games before being sacked early in season 4. 06-?? Motherwell: Took them into Europe first time of asking, then lost a lot of players to transfers and injury in seaon two, yet still nearly crept in front of AFC for the top 6. Looks not bad to me like! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kowalski Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 yet still nearly crept in front of AFC for the top 6. Clutching at straws. I'll back him if he becomes the new manager, but would prefer somebody else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilbobaggins Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Stolen from fatshaft 1991-94 Reading: Got them promoted, then were sitting in second place in 1994 when he left for.... 94-95 - Leicester: Where they were adrift at the botom of the prem, he got them second bottom but time ran out and they went down, was still manager next season, but was approached by.... 95-98 Wolves: Took over a poor team, and in his second season nearly took them down. However in his third had them in the automatic spots till right at the death where they just slipped into third, and consequently the play-offs, where they lost in the semis. Failure to get promotion prompted the CHairmen to sell the big money signings in his fourth season, and Wolves struggled to 9th, but did reach the FA cup semis. He was fired midway through the next season. 2000-03 Millwall: Won the Division Two title at the first attempt, and followed that up next season with a play off spot in the championship where again he lost to a last minute semi final goal. His third season saw Millwall finish 9th, but in his fourth he again suffered as a Chairman sold off his best players, and he resigned in Oct 03. Where have Millwall been since he left?? 03-06 Brighton: Succeeding Steve Coppell at the reigns of a newly relegated team, he took them back up via the play offs at the first time of asking, and followed that up with a 20th place finish, the highest they'd been in 14 years. They were relegated again in his third season and lasted only a handful of games before being sacked early in season 4. 06-?? Motherwell: Took them into Europe first time of asking, then lost a lot of players to transfers and injury in seaon two, yet still nearly crept in front of AFC for the top 6. Looks not bad to me like! You do realise that there is only one higher league place available to the new manager. Yeah? If you think the OF can be beaten by McGhee, nae cash and lashings of goodwill then marriage isn't the only institution you should be looking into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyBiscuit Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 lots of "ifs buts and maybes" in there Stoney. I'm sure if you asked supporters of all those clubs they wouldn't have such an idyllic viewpoint of things. And "nae bad" probably isn't the standard we're looking for, is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TENEMENTFUNSTER Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Sacked/left when the good players leave and the money dries up. Where have I heard that criticism being levelled before? If he gets the job, of course he'll get my 100% support. His managerial record isn't BAD, I just wondered why folk thought it was so GOOD. Just don't think there are very balanced views amongst sections of the Aberdeen support who, to put it bluntly, are getting right on my fucking tits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kowalski Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 lots of "ifs buts and maybes" in there Stoney. I'm sure if you asked supporters of all those clubs they wouldn't have such an idyllic viewpoint of things. And "nae bad" probably isn't the standard we're looking for, is it? Quite a few Motherwell fans don't seem to be disappointed if he leaves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentorred Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Stolen from fatshaft 1991-94 Reading: Got them promoted, then were sitting in second place in 1994 when he left for.... 94-95 - Leicester: Where they were adrift at the botom of the prem, he got them second bottom but time ran out and they went down, was still manager next season, but was approached by.... 95-98 Wolves: Took over a poor team, and in his second season nearly took them down. However in his third had them in the automatic spots till right at the death where they just slipped into third, and consequently the play-offs, where they lost in the semis. Failure to get promotion prompted the CHairmen to sell the big money signings in his fourth season, and Wolves struggled to 9th, but did reach the FA cup semis. He was fired midway through the next season. 2000-03 Millwall: Won the Division Two title at the first attempt, and followed that up next season with a play off spot in the championship where again he lost to a last minute semi final goal. His third season saw Millwall finish 9th, but in his fourth he again suffered as a Chairman sold off his best players, and he resigned in Oct 03. Where have Millwall been since he left?? 03-06 Brighton: Succeeding Steve Coppell at the reigns of a newly relegated team, he took them back up via the play offs at the first time of asking, and followed that up with a 20th place finish, the highest they'd been in 14 years. They were relegated again in his third season and lasted only a handful of games before being sacked early in season 4. 06-?? Motherwell: Took them into Europe first time of asking, then lost a lot of players to transfers and injury in seaon two, yet still nearly crept in front of AFC for the top 6. Looks not bad to me like! I still believe that last season the Motherwell players were fired up by the emotion of losing Phil O'Donnell as this season they did not seem to have the same fight and desire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TENEMENTFUNSTER Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Quite a few Motherwell fans don't seem to be disappointed if he leaves. Shared a train wi some Motherwell lads recently who were offering to pay his fare to Pittodrie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrownyBrown Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Stolen from fatshaft 1991-94 Reading: Got them promoted, then were sitting in second place in 1994 when he left for.... 94-95 - Leicester: Where they were adrift at the botom of the prem, he got them second bottom but time ran out and they went down, was still manager next season, but was approached by.... 95-98 Wolves: Took over a poor team, and in his second season nearly took them down. However in his third had them in the automatic spots till right at the death where they just slipped into third, and consequently the play-offs, where they lost in the semis. Failure to get promotion prompted the CHairmen to sell the big money signings in his fourth season, and Wolves struggled to 9th, but did reach the FA cup semis. He was fired midway through the next season. 2000-03 Millwall: Won the Division Two title at the first attempt, and followed that up next season with a play off spot in the championship where again he lost to a last minute semi final goal. His third season saw Millwall finish 9th, but in his fourth he again suffered as a Chairman sold off his best players, and he resigned in Oct 03. Where have Millwall been since he left?? 03-06 Brighton: Succeeding Steve Coppell at the reigns of a newly relegated team, he took them back up via the play offs at the first time of asking, and followed that up with a 20th place finish, the highest they'd been in 14 years. They were relegated again in his third season and lasted only a handful of games before being sacked early in season 4. 06-?? Motherwell: Took them into Europe first time of asking, then lost a lot of players to transfers and injury in seaon two, yet still nearly crept in front of AFC for the top 6. Looks not bad to me like! Glittering. Thats the kind of winning mentality this club needs though FFS he has a semi final record comparable to that of Calderwood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoney Posted May 25, 2009 Author Share Posted May 25, 2009 For the record i dont think he is the man for the job - i was just replying to my fans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrownyBrown Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 For the record i dont think he is the man for the job - i was just replying to my fans I wasn't questioning you. I just quoted you for ease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TENEMENTFUNSTER Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 nearly crept in front of AFC for the top 6 Possibly the quote that sums the JMG squad in it's entirety. On a par for the "Clutching At Straws Title" with the Hearts role of honour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
️ Come on you Reds! ️
️ Come on you Reds! ️
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