I think someone should put the case for Pele to return so here goes.
Pele left the club at the TOP of the first division in 2001. On Saturday at Love Street eight of of the thirteen who played were signed at one time by Pele. Think about that this is 2007, nearly six years on the bulk of the team were signed by this man.
John Roberston and Craig Brewster carried it on, did well, and got jobs on the back of these players.
Robertson failed at Hearts and Livingston and fled at the first sign of cutbacks at Ross County as Smithy's ludicrous spending on wages came home to roost. Craig hardly won a game at Dundee United.
Many will say Pele also failed at Pittodrie and I partly agree with that. The job he took on was massive . He inherited an overpaid squad of bad professionals. He had to cut the wage bill and overturn the playing staff. He had to buy at the cheap end of the market. Sheerin, Hart, Heikenen and Tosh all contributed. He gave youngsters like Diamond, Foster and Considine their debuts.
At the end of his only full season they finished 11th but the injury list was horrendous. McNaughton, Anderson and Diamond were all out for the last few months of the season and he ended up having to play guys he had already freed!. He made a bad signing in McQuilken but to his immense credit he accepted it and moved him on quickly unlike his successor and Ritchie Byrne.
Unfortunately he was sacked and despite a poll in the Aberdeen evening paper which showed about 90 per cent thought it was wrong. He did not get the chance to complete the job. Who knows what would have happened when all the players were fit at the start of the following season. Jimmy Calderwood got the benefit and also money to spend.
He has slowly rehabillitated himself firstly at Forres where he built a decent side and now at Peterhead where he seems to building a decent team.
I for one think he has one big job left in him and would welcome him back, Anyone else?
I think someone should put the case for Pele to return so here goes.
Pele left the club at the TOP of the first division in 2001. On Saturday at Love Street eight of of the thirteen who played were signed at one time by Pele. Think about that this is 2007, nearly six years on the bulk of the team were signed by this man.
John Roberston and Craig Brewster carried it on, did well, and got jobs on the back of these players.
Robertson failed at Hearts and Livingston and fled at the first sign of cutbacks at Ross County as Smithy's ludicrous spending on wages came home to roost. Craig hardly won a game at Dundee United.
Many will say Pele also failed at Pittodrie and I partly agree with that. The job he took on was massive . He inherited an overpaid squad of bad professionals. He had to cut the wage bill and overturn the playing staff. He had to buy at the cheap end of the market. Sheerin, Hart, Heikenen and Tosh all contributed. He gave youngsters like Diamond, Foster and Considine their debuts.
At the end of his only full season they finished 11th but the injury list was horrendous. McNaughton, Anderson and Diamond were all out for the last few months of the season and he ended up having to play guys he had already freed!. He made a bad signing in McQuilken but to his immense credit he accepted it and moved him on quickly unlike his successor and Ritchie Byrne.
Unfortunately he was sacked and despite a poll in the Aberdeen evening paper which showed about 90 per cent thought it was wrong. He did not get the chance to complete the job. Who knows what would have happened when all the players were fit at the start of the following season. Jimmy Calderwood got the benefit and also money to spend.
He has slowly rehabillitated himself firstly at Forres where he built a decent side and now at Peterhead where he seems to building a decent team.
I for one think he has one big job left in him and would welcome him back, Anyone else?