mizer Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/brown-demands-winning-mentality-from-his-players-aberdeen-v-st-mirren-1.1090661 CRAIG BROWN, the Aberdeen manager, has admitted he doesn’t have a ready answer to a problem that has dogged the club for more seasons than their weary fans can remember: inconsistency. On their day, Brown believes, his team can match any in Scotland, and he is looking for a more complete performance in tonight’s Scottish Cup replay than that which he witnessed in a dreary draw with St Mirren at Paisley on Saturday. Perhaps just as worryingly for Brown and Archie Knox, his lieutenant, the variations he refers to can come within games when they can hit the heights then slump to something less than mediocre. “There have been patches of games when we have been rather good,” he said yesterday, “but also, like the spell at St Mirren, when we have been very poor. The players have shown they are very fit and have a lot of desire, which has been shown in the late goals we’ve scored, but we are trying to instil a winning mentality. “We were relieved to get a second chance as we didn’t deserve anything from the tie and we were lucky to get the last gasp equaliser. “We have to take that opportunity by making sure that we do the business this time against St Mirren as we know nine times out of 10 we would beat them.” Brown’s other significant concern is that his strikers are failing to find the net with the regularity they did when he first took over at the club late last year. If not so much lately, Chris Maguire and Scott Vernon’s partnership has been productive overall this season, but Nick Blackman, brought in on loan from Blackburn Rovers, has struggled to convince the manager he is worthy of starting. Vernon, who has scored 15 for the season, is convinced he can rediscover his form in front of goal tonight. “I have scored a few cup goals this season,” said the former Colchester United and Blackpool front man, “and while I am happy with that I will be even happier if a I can play my part in getting us through this tie. “I have been struggling of late in terms of getting chances but, hopefully, I get a few opportunities starting with the St Mirren cup tie.” Brown may acknowledge luck played its part for Aberdeen on Saturday, but in fact St Mirren have made a habit of conceding late goals this season. Jim Goodwin, the midfielder, claimed the latest was the most painful to take. However he also hoped his team-mates would be fuelled by a sense of injustice heading into the replay at a venue at which St Mirren have not won since 1987. “The big positive for us was the way we cut Aberdeen open in the second half time and time again,” said the former Republic of Ireland international. “To have created the number and quality of chances we had and not have taken them makes things even more frustrating, but it also mean we have the quality to go up the road and do a job at Aberdeen. “I have to say that if we do manage to create a similar level of chances then we will finish them on Wednesday. “It felt like a defeat in the dressing room after the game on Saturday and we have to use the whole injustice of it all as a real motivation tool." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebus30 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Brown has said what we are all thinking. It's refreshing to hear a manager admit the weak spots in the team and hold his hands up saying he doesn't have an immediate answer. I just hope that the players can pull themselves together for tonight and get us through to the next round of the cup. They need to concentrate and play for the shirt for the FULL 90 minutes and not just when they feel like it. COYR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manc_don Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Amen to that. Just hope he identifies the folk we know who are culpable for this inconsistency. Lord knows Blackman isn't the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme_S Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I'm all for bullish talk and positive thinking, but this: “We have to take that opportunity by making sure that we do the business this time against St Mirren as we know nine times out of 10 we would beat them.” will probably feature in Lennon's team talk tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reekie_Red Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Tomorrow's headline: "Lennon: My cup heroes didn't need motivation; Brown did that all for me" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsr Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Brown has said what we are all thinking. It's refreshing to hear a manager admit the weak spots in the team and hold his hands up saying he doesn't have an immediate answer. I just hope that the players can pull themselves together for tonight and get us through to the next round of the cup. They need to concentrate and play for the shirt for the FULL 90 minutes and not just when they feel like it. COYR What's refreshing about it? Its the same statement McGhee came out with quite regularly. After a positive start Brown effet has tailed off i'd say and we're now at a point where he has to actually find the solution, think most of us feel that involves 8 new players! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewsome Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 Question is how does he get that mentality across for games against the Old Firm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manc_don Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Question is how does he get that mentality across for games against the Old Firm? I don't think its a problem at home to rangers, its a problem when we play them at snake mountain or play Celtic. The Celtic problem needs addressing asap, especially with this semi final coming up. The summer will be the true test, I'm intrigued to see who we are able to keep and who he brings in. Hopefully players with a bit of professionalism and a winning mentality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyBiscuit Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 I don't think its a problem at home to rangers, its a problem when we play them at snake mountain or play Celtic. The Celtic problem needs addressing asap, especially with this semi final coming up. The summer will be the true test, I'm intrigued to see who we are able to keep and who he brings in. Hopefully players with a bit of professionalism and a winning mentality. Its been said a thousand times, but time to get rid of the perennial losers in the squad - Langfield and Diamond in particular; their psyche has been steeped in failure and there's never a way back from that in football, generally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well Red Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Getting the Clangers replacement right's crucial. We've had umpteen attempts at getting someone in "to compete for the jersey" - and fkd them all up. We badly need someone in the defence - whether keeper or centre-back - with the balls to get grip of the back 4 /5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
️ Come on you Reds! ️
️ Come on you Reds! ️
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