The board has finally done the right thing

By Chris Crighton

 

Published: 12/11/2010

 

AS BAD weeks in the office go, Mark McGhee has just redefined the concept. A club record loss followed by a heartbreakingly undeserved late home defeat, played out against a backdrop of malice from a section of the media against who he rails so defiantly, and not even the proverbial vote of confidence from the board to put his mind at rest.

 

That the club went to the length of releasing a statement on Wednesday to say no decision had been made on McGhee's future was unacceptable – he was the manager of their team and, if no decision had been made to remove him, there was no reason to say anything.

 

That the board has now finally done the right thing and come out in support of McGhee should draw a line and gives Aberdeen as a club the opportunity to regroup and move forward with everyone pulling in the same direction.

 

McGhee's work at Pittodrie has been undermined from the off but not for the reason normally ascribed by those from further south who have nothing to say in regard of Aberdeen except cliches.

 

 

Foolish

His task was not made impossible by the legacy of the club's trophy-laden history – McGhee himself frequently, refreshingly, made reference to this as inspiration rather than intimidation – but because he arrived at a club riven with in-fighting after the acrimonious end to his predecessor's employment.

 

It was foolish, futile and thoroughly unhelpful that at every turn he was compared to a man who bore no further relevance to the club.

 

It is to be hoped, now the board has nailed its colours to McGhee's mast, all such pointless squabbling will be set aside and the manager will be indulged to do his job as he sees fit, with the complete support of all.

 

Yes, he has made mistakes. Like us all, he will doubtless make others. But they will be made in the pursuit of making Aberdeen better, for McGhee's determination to right the ship, unlike that of many of the people on who he has been forced to rely in his 16 months in charge, is genuine.

 

It should not be forgotten, among all the lows, McGhee has also brought some vitally important players into the fray, from the revolutionary Paul Hartley to the series of exciting youngsters who would otherwise still be waiting for their senior debuts, and is exactly the sort of character the club needs at the helm in these times of turbulence.

 

 

Flak

McGhee's abrasive nature has, admittedly, served to erode the goodwill of those who held their doubts but is precisely what will now be needed by a club which has habitually failed dismally to stand up for itself.

 

It is a slightly unfortunate consequence that this will, in the short term, see McGhee used as a flak jacket to divert fire which ought properly to be drawn elsewhere within the building but his bullish and considered self-assurance will ensure the bricks sure to be hurled at Pittodrie by those with a vested interest in creating bad news cause no harm to the club.

 

The Red Army has a fine tradition of rallying together in adversity and now the siren sounds to convene once more.

 

This is, officially, McGhee's Aberdeen. If you are not with us, you are against us.

 

Chris Crighton is editor of Dons fanzine The Red Final

We maybe have a higher wage bill - but who are our high earners - like i said the numbers dont add up, hartley cant be on that much?

 

Why don't the numbers add up?

Cause we got rid of over 20 players and took only 9 in. Thats why

Fine. The board are sticking with McGhee. I always thought this would be the case because of money to sack/rehire. They need to get some money on the table as they can't have it both ways. Even if they stick half of the reported £400k into a transfer budget or even release funds for two full backs to prove their convictions then I'll be much happier. Unless they do it's the most hollow backing ever.

If im honest i cant help but think that MM has said to the board something along the lines off "give me till say xmas and if nothing has improved than i will walk".  Its the most logical explanation for situation.  All the inside chat was he would go if we lost to ICT and this has been his form of plea bargain.  If this is this case (and i assure you this nothing but speculation on my part but it fits nicely) then it would raise my opinion of MM for at least he was not giving up.  With regards to Crightons article its very much saying the decision has been made lets just get on with it for the time being. He has a point.  How long MM has is uncertain but one thing i will say is that if we can get any kind of defence organised we are capable of taking points from anyone in the spl.  We all know this is a gamble by the board but ultimately if it pays off, and MM has a decent record as a manager elsewhere so thats not impossible, maybe a  gothenburger will not lose his club legend status and that would be no bad thing. 

Why don't the numbers add up?

 

 

He doesn't even know the numbers don't add up because he doesn't know what the numbers are.

 

If you replace the youth players in his list with new U19s and add in our new players we come to the following players not being replaced;

 

P Marshall

D Grassi

S Duff

M Ross

C Mulgrew

 

Oh look, three full backs. They'd come in handy. I also don't think it's too much of a strech to think that the wages of these 5 have been taken up by signing Hartley and offset by the apparent high wage of Ifil.

 

 

 

 

 

He doesn't even know the numbers don't add up because he doesn't know what the numbers are.

 

If you replace the youth players in his list with new U19s and add in our new players we come to the following players not being replaced;

 

P Marshall

D Grassi

S Duff

M Ross

C Mulgrew

 

Oh look, three full backs. They'd come in handy. I also don't think it's too much of a strech to think that the wages of these 5 have been taken up by signing Hartley and offset by the apparent high wage of Ifil.

 

Maybes listed as full backs but Mulgrew and Grassi couldnt defend worth a shit.

 

Ifil was here last season so thats not a valid excuse.

 

And you arnt telling me that millers wage didnt cover at least two maybes three of the players he took in.

 

All will be revealed when the accounts finally come out.

Let's skip the wait for something you won't understand anyway.

 

I'll give you my assumption of the annual reports. Player budget 2009 - 2010 was down due to the Setanta issue. Player budget in 2010-2011 was similar to that of 2011-2012 however there was no added revenue after poor results in 2009-2010.

 

In relative terms we still pay top 4 salaries. The manager has total control over playing budget.

 

Are you suggesting we start to live outwith our means?

 

 

If you are going to class something as "Red Revolution" than surely you would fund that opperation.

 

Lets just for a laugh say that millers transfter fee was given to fund the "Revolution" still doest explain why our squad keeps getting smaller and smaller

Maybes listed as full backs but Mulgrew and Grassi couldnt defend worth a shit.

 

Ifil was here last season so thats not a valid excuse.

 

And you arnt telling me that millers wage didnt cover at least two maybes three of the players he took in.

 

All will be revealed when the accounts finally come out.

 

Ifil certainly plays like he's an invalid.

 

I'd take poor full backs over none at all too btw.

 

Anyway, I've concluded I'm the div here for trying to argue having no full backs at the club at the start of the season is a bad thing and solely the responsibility of the manager.

By the way, you can't have Maclean who replaced Miller on the same list.

 

I'm sure Paterson was also a 6 month loan to reaplce someone else on that list.

 

3 players difference in terms of actual numbers then, budget, who knows? Improved deals for Pawlett and Fyvie could easily have knocked it to fuck.

 

Any way you dice it McGhee has been piss poor.

 

Aye - Never mind though hes here for a wee while yet - at least hes game for the fight, unlike some.

Aye - Never mind though hes here for a wee while yet - at least hes game for the fight, unlike some.

 

Ma cat is game for the fight wi the Rottweiler next door, he'll still get eaten though.

Bet he'll still give it a bloody good shottie though.

 

MON THE CATS

Bet he'll still give it a bloody good shottie though.

 

MON THE CATS

 

Actually, he won't, unlike McGhee he has more fucking sense.

Up for the fight unless there is a good Highland game on.

Big Jager Knew

Maybes listed as full backs but Mulgrew and Grassi couldnt defend worth a shit.

 

 

Ok I'll bite as well Stoney.

Whilst i'll grant you they weren't exactly world class, a poor/average full back is better than no full back as Funster states.

If you require proof, then think about how many 9-0 defeats they played in.

I don't care how you dress it up, our defence with either or both of them in it was nothing like as fucking bad as it is this season

Ok I'll bite as well Stoney.

Whilst i'll grant you they weren't exactly world class, a poor/average full back is better than no full back as Funster states.

If you require proof, then think about how many 9-0 defeats they played in.

I don't care how you dress it up, our defence with either or both of them in it was nothing like as fucking bad as it is this season

 

 

fucking hell min......thought i'd turned off the webcam

It's your hauns that would've been a blur in that case . . .

It's your hauns that would've been a blur in that case . . .

 

 

It's your hauns that would've been a blur in that case . . .

 

I don't type that fast....oh wait a minute.

I've got you

 

He doesn't even know the numbers don't add up because he doesn't know what the numbers are.

 

If you replace the youth players in his list with new U19s and add in our new players we come to the following players not being replaced;

 

P Marshall

D Grassi

S Duff

M Ross

C Mulgrew

 

Oh look, three full backs. They'd come in handy. I also don't think it's too much of a strech to think that the wages of these 5 have been taken up by signing Hartley and offset by the apparent high wage of Ifil.

 

And of those Mo Ross was here October to December 31st, Marshall January to May and I thought it was fairly common knowledge that Grassi was on less than fuck all and Duff fuck all. Wouldn't stretch the imagination too far to suggest those wages being swallowed up by signing on fees and wages in this seasons squad.

Actually, he won't, unlike McGhee he has more fucking sense.

 

And even if he did I doubt he'd hold a press conference claiming he only lost because of an in grown duclaw and a bad case of worms.

 

 

Al, the only thing that has changed is that a decision has been made. That in itself is what has created a minor ground swell of opinion that fans now just have to get behind the team and try to encourage results on the pitch to change. For those who hold that position I can see no problem, it's their choice to make, it really just comes down to how you view things. I'm not sure it means they are saying the past is acceptable, only in the past.

 

McGhee's form still remains diabolical and the prospect of improvement remains slim but for some they need to hope for better, for others they will stay in that angry place until the easy decision is taken, to remove McGhee.

 

For those people who are holding that position on here, what are your views on what should be done beyond McGhee's removal ? It's easy to type angrily about what a terrible performance it has been and how bad our current predicament is but is there any constructive debate about the options to go forward ? It used to be the strength of Donstalk, constructive discussion, yet so few seem to engage now.

 

Excellent post Ajja.

 

I can't remember which thread, however I posted a few days ago that McGhee should walk/go. This was made in a post where I quoted another post I'd made only 2 weeks previously saying why I thought McGhee should be given more time. I'm one of those who has calmed down since the result last Saturday/ McG's subsequent post-match comments which were final straw at the time for me.

 

On reflection, and calming doon!, I think McGhee staying meantime is the correct decision. It was clear he wasn't going to walk, and it would apparently cost circa £400,000 to sack him, Leitch and Meldrum.

Whether he gets some of the £400K to spend in the Jan window I would suspect would depend on what happens between now and then.

 

And, aye, before anyone else says it, bloody women changing their mind!!