BobbyBiscuit

A mate of mine today said that Nicholson might be staying now... something that was in the P&J today? Can't see it posted anywhere else so not sure how true it is.

Quality. Best thing is that you get the feeling he's been dying to say that for public consumption for some time. Good work fella.

Did we not finish 12th (also known as "last") in 99-00?

I could say that for most matches i've been to in the last ten years!

We were unbeaten against them, at Pittodrie. Well fair enough, that's your opinion, but I'll say it again that I think overall we did ok. The team should be applauded for a few cracking performances, and I don't want to take that away from them whatsoever. However, people are creaming themselves (not necessarily yourself, TF) over the Euro run and wanted DVD's of it and such like... that to me is wrong.

The one thing i should add that I had wanted to put into the article but had ran out of space was this: In the book "Red Mist: Roy Keane and the Football Civil War" (i'd urge any football fan to read this, by the way), the author says that in the entire Republic of Ireland, only two people expect Eire to win the World Cup of 2002. One is his ten year old son. The other? Roy Keane. The Irish captain has simple logic. At what point, at which game, is he supposed to lead his team out and tell them "THIS IS THE ONE WE'RE GOING TO LOSE, LADS". " (obviously before Keano fucked off back home). And it's that simple. The almost moronic "one game at a time" mantra has a place here, because let's face it, Calderwood never tells the boys this is the one we're going to lose. And we can beat every team in our league, something Motherwell's Mark McGhee alluded to this year when he took the step of telling the Scottish Press his side were out the running of the championship in February. The press never knew they were in it. But McGhee was right.

Ok, it should be noted, this piece was written directly in response to someone (an Aberdeen fan, coincedentally) who wanted the OF out of our league: If you were to ask my father, the problem with people these days is that they look for the easy way out. They give up on things before they've started, they lack belief in themselves and they lack spirit. These words come to mind when I see Scottish Football fans wishing to banish the Old Firm to the history books. For sins committed in previous lives, I too support Aberdeen. Being barely old enough to remember Willie Miller hold aloft the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1983, my favourite memories of Aberdeen are seeing Paul Mason fire the Dons in front against Rangers at Hampden to lift the league cup and of being wracked with tension seconds before Theo Snelders saved Anton Rogan's penalty kick at the same stadium. My mind flickers through scenes of Hans Gillhaus ripping through the Celtic defence to put us three up at Celtic Park, of Brian Grant chipping Andy Goram to seal a two nil victory at Ibrox and more recently of Russell Anderson diving through flying boots to head us in front of Rangers at Pittodrie. Every one of them is a special moment and every one of them stands out for the simple reason it is against the Old Firm. It is of course safe to say that there has never been an Aberdeen goal scored that I haven't enjoyed, but the prospect of beating the Old Firm pumps the adrenalin through the body like no other victory. The amount of satisfaction derived from it is enormous. Those occasions are less frequent than the halcyon days of the 80's and early 90's, but they do still happen (Rangers have only won once at Pittodrie in the last 8 meetings). What would our league and our own specific teams become if these occasions were to be taken away? No matter what the romanticists would have you believe, the SPL without the Old Firm would not generate the revenue it does at present. Television deals would dwindle and advertising revenue would be miniscule in comparison. This would make it harder to attract players from other leagues and it then becomes harder for our teams to compete to an acceptable standard in European competition. Average attendances throughout the league would fall, adding to the financial woes. The product on the park at the moment is of a poor standard and that would get worse with the loss of revenue. In every league in the world, there are big fishes. Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV have ruled the roost in Holland so much that only one other team has won the league since 1965. A similar story unravels every season in Spain, England, Italy and Germany. Although there may be more winners they are playing in bigger leagues and the numbers of big fishes rise comparatively. Unfortunately, it's the nature of the game. With the amount of money in the game these days, the gap between the big fish and the tiddlers may well get bigger. However, our very own psyche does us down more often than not. We have lost the league before the season starts because we tell ourselves that. I am not for one second saying Aberdeen, Motherwell or Hibs would win the SPL, but they have to aim to win it. If you aim for third, third will be the best you ever get. Aim for the top and you push yourself to the limit. Hearts finished second two seasons ago, it can be done. It won't be done if we tell ourselves it can't be done. Perhaps the gulf in class seems worse for Aberdeen fans, and to an extent Dundee United fans because they had success in living memory. But that success should be used as a catalyst, for teams to play with belief and spirit and for it to seep into the stands. Don't give up; league victory will be all the sweeter when we're looking down on Rangers and Celtic.

Absolutely right. But the problems within that come to the fore. A string of mediocre results become brilliant results, good results become excellent results. Mediocre players become great players, good players become legends. Some fans shake their heads and remember when this club played real football (not that long ago). Some fans remember the garbage and are thankful for the small mercies. Other fans have never had anything to remember at all. That's really when mediocre becomes good. And it's not what this club needs. The club, and in particular the first XI right now, need a couple of big players, a couple of big signings. easier said than done, unfortunately.

You actually read all that?

Yeah, exactly, results, not opinions or formations. And results were arrevage (so said the Grauniad ) and performances were "**^%$^^%^* **&^**" said Stoney.

but that's only "successful" to a select few, that's my point, and you seem to be missing it by miles. Aberdeen did well to get through the group, but that's all. I can not, and will not, get excited about a series of draws mixed with a couple of pumpings. The win against Copenhagen was great, but the rest still remains.

surely results are the final outcome, hence the reason they're called "results"?

That's where you're wrong. History books will record the results, not the opinions of those fans who deem those results successful or otherwise.

And we beat that same Hibs team 4-0 a matter of a couple of months later. Swings and roundabouts.

Cos we couldn't get the fucking ball for a start!

Well he didn't when he first went to the huns. TruFaKt.

More accurately, he said it was the reason JC didn't like him.

Supposedly Derek Adams when he was with us. (although he played a few games, he said this was the reason he was let go.)

In all seriousness, it is. He doesn't drink, and Walter Smith sees this as not bonding with his team mates... therefore, he doesn't get picked. Remind you of anyone at all...?

Apparently he doesn't like Aberdeen's style of play and that's why he wasn't keen when we first approached him. Also, he still lives with Mummy and Daddy, so maybe moving ALL THE WAY to Aberdeen might be a bit much for him...

But you did anyway?

No way windass was a legend. Cult hero if ever there was one.

Just because it may be the case for the rest of the league (but that isn't the case exclusively by the way), doesn't mean people should accept it or that people shouldn't have genuine gripes about it. That attitude will never help us improve. I don't have high hopes for this season coming, neither do I think we'll have a stinker. Until we see who else is brought in I don't think we can say either way. This is the thing with Calderwood. How many times during his reign have we been at the depths of despair with him - even his most ardent supporters must agree to some extent - and yet he always does something to turn it round? The QotS nightmare still hurts but then the form after the split (and getting into the top six itself) lifted people somewhat. And what has been the cause of this in most cases? Him picking the correct players in the correct position, playing to our strengths and going for victory. I am in no way a big fan of his, but I certainly don't want to lose him as manager of Aberdeen. He's done enough to make me contented, something we hadn't had for a long time before he came in, but, there has to be a word of warning too. Another result like Queen's Park, the United semi final or Queen of the South, and the knives could be out for him more than they ever have in the past. The key to it is what he does in the transfer market. AFC and the supporters are in dire need of a "hero", they need a signing or two that will inject enthusiasm and provoke genuine optimism for the season ahead. Come on ye Reds!

I think in one season Stavrum scored 15 or so goals for us, but 8 were pens. So 7 from open play was a bit gash. See also Billy Dodds.

How many were penalties?