DON STILL ON NIGERIA UNDER-20 World Cup DUTY IN EGYPT

No early return by Aluko to face Killie

 

By Michael Gannon

 

Published: 02/10/2009

 

Sone Aluko:waiting game

More Pictures

 

Aberdeen’s Nigerian international attacker Sone Aluko will not be making a dramatic return to Scotland from the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt to face Kilmarnock tomorrow.

 

The prospect of an early return has been ruled out after the Flying Eagles’ 5-0 victory against Tahiti in Cairo last night kept alive their hopes of reaching the last 16 as one of the four best third-placed sides. Aluko was in the Nigeria starting line-up and was replaced after 67 minutes.

 

Nigeria were in jeopardy of an early exit after losing their opening group matches against Spain and Venezuela but now face a nervous 48-hour wait on the outcome of the final round of matches.

 

Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee was already resigned to losing Aluko for the Rugby Park encounter, although his presence would have been a tonic to a squad already bereft of defenders Zander Diamond, Jerel Ifil and Davide Grassi as well as forward Tommy Wright.

 

The Dons defence may require emergency surgery as the Reds look to extend their run of five consecutive clean sheets in the SPL, but McGhee is more concerned with improving his side in attack.

 

Aberdeen are just two games away from matching the SPL record of seven shutouts in a row, achieved by Celtic in 2001 but, in contrast, Aberdeen have scored just once in their last four SPL matches – against St Mirren – and the manager wants his side to be more of a goal threat.

 

He said: “I would like to see us scoring more and that has been more a focus in training this week. The clean sheet record is an irrelevance to me.

 

“I do not care if we keep a clean sheet at Kilmarnock as long as we get all three points. I do not mind if it is 1-0 or 4-2, the most important thing is we score more goals than they do. The clean sheet record is not something I am thinking about, it would be a pleasing postscript but nothing more.â€

 

The shutout run has helped Dons goalkeeper Jamie Langfield earn a call for the Scotland squad which heads to Japan next week.

 

McGhee wants maximum points to take into the international break but he will not underestimate Kilmarnock, who have made a solid, if unspectacular, start to the SPL season.

 

Killie forward Kevin Kyle is the main danger but the Dons manager insisted he is more concerned of what his side can do to trouble the hosts.

 

He said: “Killie have a simple but effective style. They are very direct up to Kevin Kyle. I am not thinking about how we play against Kevin Kyle, though. I am thinking about how we can cause problems in their penalty area.

 

“We have a fortnight’s break after this game, so it is a big one for us. Three points and we have a positive two weeks and by the end of them we could have Zander and Jerel back fit and we would be in a decent position in the league.â€

 

Nice to read we're not lining up to suit their play and I completely agree with his sentiments towards the clean sheets, goals scored is what we need! We really need three points here, although Killie did look decent and dangerous against the Huns, which is why I think it will be a draw, but here's hoping to me being wrong

Heading off to Killie @ 11:00 and am taking my son their for the first time! He's only 5 and has been singing "Stand Free" since 0700 this morning! 

Heading off to Killie @ 11:00 and am taking my son their for the first time! He's only 5 and has been singing "Stand Free" since 0700 this morning! 

 

Hopefully its a good day for him

McGhee gives Dons a tall order

Aberdeen manager plans to nullify Kyle’s aerial threat

 

By Paul Third

 

Published: 03/10/2009

 

Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee insists his weakened defence can nullify the threat of Kilmarnock’s target man Kevin Kyle today.

 

Dons central defenders Jerel Ifil and Zander Diamond will miss the game at Rugby Park, leaving Andy Considine as the only recognised central defender in the team this afternoon.

 

Despite the lack of aerial presence at the back, McGhee is confident his players can ensure Kyle’s impact on the game is minimal.

 

When asked how his side will handle Kyle, the Dons manager said: “We will try to keep Kilmarnock up the park, away from the goal. We’ll try to keep a high line, keep the ball and force them, if possible, to keep the ball wide and away from Kyle.

 

“We want to force them to play up the line and force him to run out there. If he does get into the areas he wants to then the goalkeeper will have to compete with him and punch everything if he has to. I want one more goal than them.â€

 

The defensive problems of pre-season have been addressed in emphatic fashion with no goals conceded in the last five SPL matches but the Dons manager knows his team must now turn its attention to scoring at the other end.

 

With just one goal in the last four league games, McGhee knows there is massive room for improvement.

 

He said: “I think it’s the whole play. We haven’t had a consistent pattern of play to develop a way of getting service to the strikers. The build-up, the quality of the service, the quality of the finishing; everything has still got to get to a level of what is required to get two or three goals a game.

 

“Chris Maguire has to do more but potentially he is as good a finisher as anyone and with his quickness and ability he should be playing more than he has been.

 

“He still has to be doing things we want him to do and doing it our way. He has his own ideas on how he thinks he can be effective for the team. I think I know how he can be more effective and once he starts doing it my way I think you’ll see him coming through.â€

 

That bit interests me, sounds like MM knows Maguire has an ego and is trying to drum it out of him. Fingers crossed he manages to do so, because there is little doubting Maguire's finishing when he hits a great shot. Just doesn't do it anywhere near enough.

Where's the 'just in' thoughts Al?!

Where's the 'just in' thoughts Al?!

 

PISH!

That bit interests me, sounds like MM knows Maguire has an ego and is trying to drum it out of him. Fingers crossed he manages to do so, because there is little doubting Maguire's finishing when he hits a great shot. Just doesn't do it anywhere near enough.

 

It seems pretty obvious McGhee ain't a fan of Maguire as he hardly ever starts a match, and is below Miller, Paton and Mackie in the pecking order.  Fine by me, as I ain't convinced by Maguire at all.

PISH!

 

Haha

It seems pretty obvious McGhee ain't a fan of Maguire as he hardly ever starts a match, and is below Miller, Paton and Mackie in the pecking order.  Fine by me, as I ain't convinced by Maguire at all.

 

Runs like a girl.

Plenty of changes by the sound of its, which is hoped for by me. The lack of goals is very worrying.

Where's the 'just in' thoughts Al?!

 

Took small detour via local licensed premises for few lemon sherbets but here goes.

First half though we completely bossed the game without creating too many chances. Having said that  Gary Mac " goal " disallowed and point blank save by Brown on to the crossbar, were the highlights of first half that we bossed.

Second half the longer it went on, the more you started to think we'd regret the failure to turn possession into goals in first half. Once the Killie scored thought no way back for us, but once again Mulgrew delivers. Would like to make special of Foster at centre back, apart from from one major slip at the end [where Clangers saved him ] he did fuck all wrong.

Heard Murder MacLeod gave MOTM to Connor Salmon, if true, only proves that Murdo is one bitter fuck against all that is ABERDEEN FOOTBALL CLUB 

Took small detour via local licensed premises for few lemon sherbets but here goes.

First half though we completely bossed the game without creating too many chances. Having said that  Gary Mac " goal " disallowed and point blank save by Brown on to the crossbar, were the highlights of first half that we bossed.

Second half the longer it went on, the more you started to think we'd regret the failure to turn possession into goals in first half. Once the Killie scored thought no way back for us, but once again Mulgrew delivers. Would like to make special of Foster at centre back, apart from from one major slip at the end [where Clangers saved him ] he did fuck all wrong.

Heard Murder MacLeod gave MOTM to Connor Salmon, if true, only proves that Murdo is one bitter fuck against all that is ABERDEEN FOOTBALL CLUB 

 

No wonder, I met his daughter last night (I've known her for a few years) and gave her pelters.

No wonder, I met his daughter last night (I've known her for a few years) and gave her pelters.

 

Might have to edit this in the cold light of day, but right now I reckon you should have potted a brown

Might have to edit this in the cold light of day, but right now I reckon you should have potted a brown

 

Both you and I wouldn't Al, believe me.

 

And her boyfriend would have been fucking raging too.

 

That would just have added to the "LOL" factor though...

Both you and I wouldn't Al, believe me.

 

And her boyfriend would have been fucking raging too.

 

That would just have added to the "LOL" factor though...

 

+1 amigo

And her boyfriend would have been fucking raging too.

 

Aye, but I think Big Al was suggesting you potted the brown with her, not him.

Aye, but I think Big Al was suggesting you potted the brown with her, not him.

 

Yeah, we picked up on that, Kow...

Thought Mulgrews dead balls were pish until brown fumbled, Al, think i saw you walking down the road, white dons top on, balding head?

Specs?

Al, think i saw you walking down the road, white dons top on, balding head?

 

In order Aye, Aye, Fuck off

Specs?

 

Feck sake mini, you now calling me a speccy balding bastard

 

 

Sounds like me lad.......

Should have given me a shout

Feck sake mini, you now calling me a speccy balding bastard

 

 

Sounds like me lad.......

Should have given me a shout

 

And you're not really that big Al when we're on the subject 

You look abit like Andy Jacobs then, wasn't sure if it was you, with your mate and a child who had on the third top?

Everyone knows you are a curly haired ginger midget.

 

That'll be everyone apart from Mini.

And you're not really that big Al when we're on the subject 

 

So you lied.......was it to spare my feelings