Fae the P&J http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149670&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149494&contentPK=19282175&pNodeId=149264

 

Alarm bells should have started ringing at Pittodrie and this time it's not the toaster setting them off.

 

Aberdeen can't seem to stop getting burned on the road and no amount of butter and jam could make this one palatable for their fans.

 

It might be said the farther they travel, the more they yearn for home. While they have racked up more miles than any Dons team in more than a decade, they have now lost five consecutive away fixtures for the first time since 1999.

 

More worryingly, none of them has been remotely close - 15 goals conceded and only one in response. The downturn from last season is incredible. Then, Aberdeen won more away league matches than they lost and conceded goals at a rate of fewer than one a game outside Pittodrie. With a solid defence and counter-attacking pace they were perfectly set up for the task.

 

Now, minus Russell Anderson and Darren Mackie, it appears they have neither these qualities and their best chance of avoiding defeat in away games is to have them called off.

 

Unsuccessful in that, the Dons settled for the next best thing and had it stopped as a contest inside 15 minutes. Give opponents a big enough start and they'll have no incentive to break your legs. A sound theory. Most, then, will be fit and well for Copenhagen - but the wait they face to see whether Jimmy Calderwood gives them the opportunity to atone will be as anxious as a weekend locked in the toilet at Kittybrewster Bowling Club.

 

The Dons are fortunate the final flush of their Uefa Cup group campaign is at home for, if they were forced to travel for the vital three points, their hopes would already be down the pan.

 

They will start as outsiders on Thursday night and those selected will need to step it up several notches.

 

It will make or break a stuttering season and that may be too much pressure for this team to handle.

 

 

A lot of venom in that report but then again the truth hurts.

 

Hopefully that report is laminated and plastered all over the changing rooms this week.

Now, minus Russell Anderson

 

We're definitely suffering his loss.

 

The UEFA cup is a bit of a distraction from the league at the moment.  If/when we eventually get knocked out (hopefully not until next year) it should enable us to focus on the league.  The squad doesn't seem big enough (or perhaps fit enough) for all the games at the moment.

 

Saturday was an awful performance but its still pretty close for 3rd spot between 4 teams.  I still think we can do it.

We're definitely suffering his loss.

 

The UEFA cup is a bit of a distraction from the league at the moment.  If/when we eventually get knocked out (hopefully not until next year) it should enable us to focus on the league.  The squad doesn't seem big enough (or perhaps fit enough) for all the games at the moment.

 

Saturday was an awful performance but its still pretty close for 3rd spot between 4 teams.  I still think we can do it.

 

We did surprisingly well in the 80's with a tiny squad, thats no excuse. And as for players not being fit enough for so many games, give me a break; what are the coaching staff playing at if a group of high-level (using that term loosley) professionals cannot handle more than a game a week in this day and age?

Think that will be the dude from The Red Final's column

Its strange that fitness levels are being questioned.

did we not pride ourselves last year on potentially being the fittest group of players in the league, backed up by the number of last five minutes goals we scored.

 

Whether it is this or Cadger missing from the back line, certainly something asin't right, and it is extremely worrying trend that seems to have set in this season.

 

One thing is for certain though, we need to get this sorted sooner rather than later otherwise nights ouit in places like Madrid ain't going to happen this time next year

Its strange that fitness levels are being questioned.

did we not pride ourselves last year on potentially being the fittest group of players in the league, backed up by the number of last five minutes goals we scored.

 

Whether it is this or Cadger missing from the back line, certainly something asin't right, and it is extremely worrying trend that seems to have set in this season.

 

One thing is for certain though, we need to get this sorted sooner rather than later otherwise nights ouit in places like Madrid ain't going to happen this time next year

Our fitness last 2 seasons looked brilliant and that carried us late on in games so often but this season so many players seem shattered after 60 or 70 minutes.  Something wrong there.

thought the same after the Loko game. the players looked wrecked.

 

 

Rotating the squad would be a lot more benificial when playing so many games.  There just seems to be names on that sheet each week whether they're fit or not and too many players on our books who are never going to get a game.

 

 

Maybe they all still have wee sore tummys after Egypt 

Now, minus Russell Anderson

 

Well spotted. 

Well spotted. 

 

Is Anderson offski? 

Is Anderson offski? 

 

I know someone who knows.

I know someone who knows.

 

The same person who knows if Nicholson is offski?  Mine is the same person

The same person who knows if Nicholson is offski? 

 

No.

No.

 

nothing like overstating the obvious.  Thinking a "what to address in the transfer window" thread might be in order.