Zander on his team mates

ZANDER DIAMOND fears there are players at Aberdeen who daren't tackle in case they miss out on a move. But the defender has called on his side - who have gone 11 games without a win - to start pulling together.

 

Diamond wants total commitment to the cause today when St Mirren come calling but reckons there could be stars nearing the end of their contract who are pulling out of challenges in case they get crocked.

 

The 24-year-old said: "We have not been pulling together as a team and don't seem to get a grip of a game at times.

 

"There could be a number of things to explain that, it might be about individuals or an uncertainty about the club.

 

"It's a case of having players we know will be here. There are others on loan and another group who are out of contract in the summer.

 

"You don't know if players who maybe won't be here next season will go through with a tackle because it might jeopardise their move.

 

"There are inconsistency levels - you can play a couple of good games but then the standard drops again because not everybody is here as a whole.

 

"If we had everybody signed up and raring to go for the next three years for example then we would be rattling into everything.

 

"It's not just certain ones, it's how every player takes it and deals with it and the speculation about where some could be playing next season can have an effect. You would need to ask everyone but I just feel we haven't pulled together enough at times.

 

"How individuals deal with criticism can also be a factor, do they roll their sleeves up and respond or just go under? "It took going a goal down at St Johnstone and the loss of two to Dundee United to get us going in those matches.

 

"We suddenly thought we were either going under or we were going to battle back and credit to the boys for doing the latter against United.

 

"You can't give teams in this league a head start so we have to show that spirit right from the start of games from now on. There's no point saying this will be a turning point, we have to prove it during matches."

 

Diamond knows losing can become a habit because, during the dark days under blundering boss Steve Paterson, players were content to accept their fate.

 

He added: "I was here under Paterson and we were eventually happy just to get anything from games because we had lost so many of them.

 

"You did get used to losing but I want to stop this rot as quickly as I can as we have been battered from pillar to post.

 

"The players who do want success and do feel for the club will come out the other side strongly to get us out of this. I don't like losing at five-a-side never mind being beaten on a Saturday.

 

"I am sure there are boys in that dressing room who feel the same way but there's no point looking back."

How he's not captain is beyond me.

Best interview coming out of AFC this season imo. First indication I've seen that a player genuinely gives a fuck about the club instead of purely personal gain.

All very well summing it up but he's been shite too.

All very well summing it up but he's been shite too.

Scored a couple of vital goal's and to be fair was out for a long time, will take a bit to get fully match fit. One of the draw backs of no reserve league.

 

Scored a couple of vital goal's and to be fair was out for a long time, will take a bit to get fully match fit. One of the draw backs of no reserve league.

He has been shite at the old stopping of the goals whatever the reason.

Bit rich considering he didn't tackle anyone in the Queen of the South game because he didn't want to get booked.

Double standards.

I liked the bit where if they were all on new 3yr deals they'd be ripping into everything. OR as is more likely they'd do bugger all as their cushy numbers were even easier. If they don't try when due for renewal, why would they try when their pay is guaranteed for 3 yrs?

Wasn't sure if he was having a dig at the club for not resigning the shite we currently tolerate. Hopefully just giving those that think they'll get better offers a kick on the ass.

Also I'd love to know who these diddy's think will be queuing up to offer them deals.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11781_6066034,00.html

Bottom part of the article on Aluko.

Meanwhile, Charlie Mulgrew has hit back at Zander Diamond's suggestions that the players out of contract in the summer are not fighting for the cause.

 

Diamond intimated that, with some players likely to leave Pittodrie this summer, they were not giving their all, something Mulgrew disputes.

 

"We are all giving 100 per cent," said Mulgrew. "I know all the boys and we are in this together.

 

"Steven Maclean, Jim Paterson, Mark Kerr and Stuart Duff - we are all pushing and working hard to do well for the club.

 

"I don't think anyone is going to pull out of a challenge. That is not the type of thing these boys do. We are all pulling in the right direction.

 

"Everyone is playing for their future. If they are staying here or moving away, it doesn't matter. There is no dressing room split."

I have not seen any other reports of Diamond saying this, anyone got a source for it?

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11781_6066034,00.html

 

Bottom part of the article on Aluko.

 

I have not seen any other reports of Diamond saying this, anyone got a source for it?

http://www.donstalk.co.uk/messageboard/index.php?topic=11869.0

Totally missed that!