Another season looms, three good summer signings, no Huns and a real chance of European Football.
Anyway thought I'd bore you all with some stats about opening day fixtures:
Aberdeen v Celtic / Celtic v Aberdeen Opening Day Matches
We have played Celtic on the opening day 6 times, can we take any omens from these games.
13 Aug 1932 Celtic 3 - 0 Aberdeen Div 1 (Old) 15,000
1932-33 season saw the Dons finish a creditable 6th (out of 20) and briefly topped the table after 10 wins out of 11 in Sept and Oct.
They also lost out in the Scottish Cup to 2nd Div Hibs.
10 Aug 1935 Aberdeen 3 - 1 Celtic Div 1 (Old) 28,000
1935-36 saw the Dons finish 3rd, scoring 95 goals in the process, while losing just 3 games.
Knocked out the cup in a QF at Ibrox 1-0.
12 Aug 1939 Aberdeen 3 - 1 Celtic Div 1 (Old) 35,000
Omens not great from this season, what with the league being suspended a month later due to the out break of WW2.
10 Aug 1996 Aberdeen 2 - 2 Celtic Premier Division 18,595
Fairly average season, finished 6th, out the league cup to Dundee in the QF and out the Scottish to Hibs in the 3rd while getting pumped out the uefa cup by Ebbe's Brondby
01 Aug 1999 Aberdeen 0 - 5 Celtic SPL 16,080
Season continued much as started. Finished bottom, lost 83 goals and saved from play off due to Brockville being a death trap.
But strangely featured two cup finals, a QF win over Rangers after extra time at Pittodrie in the League Cup and a semi win at Hampden vs Hibs, almost makes you feel nostalgic.
15 Aug 2009 Aberdeen 1 - 3 Celtic SPL 16,803
Another season to forget, McGhee's first. Destroyed by Sigma, finished 9th, out the league cup to Dundee, out the Scottish to Raith.
Only bright spot were the debuts of Fyvie and Pawlett. Next
Well best to concentrate on the games from the 30s rather than more recent matches I think.
Recent opening day form
2011: St Johnstone (H) 0-0 10,001
2010: Hamilton (H) 4-0 12,005
2009: Celtic (H) 1-3 16,803
2008: ICT (H) 0-2 12,659
2007: United (A) 0-1 12,496
2006: Hibs (A) 1-1 15,046
2005: United (A) 1-1 12,404
2004: Huns (H) 0-0 19,028
2003: Hearts (A) 0-2 14,260
2002: Hibs (A) 2-1 13,340
Played 10
Won 2
Drawn 4
Lost 4
So nae great reading there.
Anyway
In/Oot: In
Prematcher: Horseshoe for breakfast then probably Turnstiles for one or two while the minks are raising their flag
Match: Unrestricted view so way down the front somewhere, with nae view
Postmatcher: Who knows, a win could see me head over to the Official Home of the Glasgow Aberdeen....whatever they are called, the rock, more likely toon somewhere.
Prediction: Tims telling us how great it is without the huns and trying to be our best friends - fuck off.