absent friend

Having enjoyed watching football in Milan, many top players come to mind but the biggest footballing impact (his ability in comparison to those around him) was Zolten Varga, played for Aberdeen in the early 70's when banned by his own country. I remember him beating Rangers, all on his own, in the Semi final of the cup at Hampden. He shielded the ball, keeping it on the half way line as he went to the centre spot and back towards the wing. Big John Greig was not a happy bunny and did not appreciate the skills and sent the ball and Varga up in the air. Varga rode the challenge and took the resultant free kick and sat it on the centre halfs head, in the penalty box, with an enormous curve on the ball, unusual in those days. It was a simple job for big Willie Young to nod it home for the biggest 1-0 steal ever!! An amazing player, at that time. .

In the last six games only the OF have performed better than us. However, on our tail is Killie and Falkirk!!!! Hamilton and St Mirren taking up the bottom two slots. Now this would appear that we have to take our result from two teams performing as well as we are, at the moment, so it will be a big effort OR a big slice of luck OR maybe both!!

Fraser, in my and the BBC last night's, opinion, should have come out and attempted to punch the ball before it was headed. Maybe pedantic but I do feel he was at fault. Lionel, as you correctly state needs a bollicking - even during the game he was getting this from both Butch and Malpas for lack of concentration. Even a Lionel supporter like me can see he is not the finished article by a long way and is inconsistent. However he is exciting and has a lot to give, so let's hope we are all singing his praises this time next week, Butch must know what he is doing. .

Harry, I think any player that gets a one year contract will be content, this year. I don't think anybody will get any longer due to the precarious financial position the SPL footballing world is in. (Will Setanta and their money, be with us next year? Will corporate hospitality fade away? Will we stay up?)

It was interesting to read the Aberdeen managers Q & A in the Evening Express on Tuesday or Wednesday this week, very candid, hands financially tied, players can just go, etc. His opinion is that there will be loads of top class players looking for a club come the summer. Can't afford to be kept on by their current club, a la Aberdeen, and therefore offloaded. They will then realise that they have to take a lower wage to be resigned by someone and he is seening this as his big hope for getting suitable replacements for his assumed large loss of players. He has not started resigning talks due to the above and feels other clubs will follow suit. Maybe we will also be able to 'cherry pick' suitable players come the summer and our position will be better than anticipated, at this time. .

Rig, I did! I am big enough to state that I got it 100% wrong and the proof has been great for ICT. I though he could be an unsettling influence in the dressing room. I don't think that effort over the last few weeks, on his CV, will do him any harm in the future. Not just calmed down on the park but matured off the field as well, it seems. .

None of the so called 'hard men' were ever as athletic as the likes of Ferdinand. Keen may have been closest but they could never match todays top players with the emphasis on fitness, diet and tactics. The ongoing medical checks on todays top players is a far cry from the beer swilling antics of days long gone. The refs also play a part at keeping the 'hard men' in check now, especially in Scotland. I realise that Ian Black is enjoying a better time in the SPL re cards from the refs BUT the refs are equally aware of his better behaviour. It must be a discussion topic when refs meet to recount the problem they have with certain players and this must therefore put the other refs on their guard for any small problems that then arises, when they are in charge and this then can lead to over reaction. I am sure that Ian was a victim of this for a long time, conversely I think he gets away with a bit more now due to his reformed behaviour. Rossco is maybe seen by opposition as a hard man but we all know he is just a big pussycat and like any cat he can take exception to someone but that is another story. He has had his fair share of cards but I do not see him as being 'hard'! Barton, now, he is just a thug!

God help us.....Terry Butcher is obviously the worst manager ever to grace the Tulloch. He was quoted in last weeks papers as wanting at least three Tokely's in his team. Seems like him and those before him can't see what some others can. It says if we were the manager. If i was manager, I wouldn't play him, that is a position I would very much be looking to invest in during the summer. But thats why I'm not a manager and just voicing my opinion on this. Alex, a lone voice amongst all that managerial talent - well, not really, it just seems that way at times! What does our current managerial team know about defending? It is not as if they have any history in this department! I think you and I should let this new breed of armchair manager have their say and accept their deep knowledge of players abilities. Personally, I don't think they can recognise a good team player when they see one!! .

This selection is indeed good news for us! The last thing we need is players taking their eye off the ball, so to speak or getting injured. We or they, have a task to do, win by any means, total commitment required. Scotland B cap would be a memento for their grand children to be excited about, but for us and them, it is survival this year, I'm afraid. Not so exciting in the scrap book but will make a difference in their bank balance next year. The players must already be feeling the effects of this season - failure is so much more of a drain than being part of winning - the last thing they need is an extra game. Lets hope they keep the energy levels up so that we can all celebrate at the Falkirk game. .

Accepted, our league position gives cause for concern BUT it is Brewster's legacy that caused this. Since the change of manager we are one of the top performing teams, on points gathered. I realise that past performance does not guarantee wins in the run in but I would rather have our recent history behind us than any other bottom six team, at this time.

Whats Charles going to be doing? I'm sure Charles scored many's a time - not for the Caley but in the Caley!

It would be interesting if someone could sticky yesterdays article from the Record about Rossco, by Butcher, onto this thread. I cannot do that - too stupid! It was an amazing frank statement about a dedicated pro, by his manager and must leave Rossco in a great position for salary negotations at seasons end.

I agree with your sentiment - the spies within! How else can you have posters on here, post Saturday, wanting Rossco, man of the match, axed from our team. Surely a cunning ruse by fans of our fellow struggling teams to undermine confidence of even our best players. The campaign to undermine the confidence of DZ from within ('he will make a mistake') also comes into this category but maybe less cunning. Be like Dad, keep Mum, unless you have a positive point to offer on this thread.

Could not agree more! How often on Saturday Alex, did our left back collect the ball, run it out of defence and start shouting for players to go onto the wing to give him options. If they are not on the wing for him, they are not on the wing to cross the ball and therein is the problem. Scoring goals through the middle is difficult - defence facing the ball, favourites, the forwards having to gather and turn, difficult. Ball crossed from byeline, forwards facing goal and the defenders now have to collect and turn, roles reversed. We appear to be relaying on our two backs to get up the field and cross the ball and it goes without saying that they will cross it from nearer the centre line than the bye line, to return to their positions and this therefore leaves the defenders in prime position to clear it. We need a 'beat your man' winger - now if I remember correctly we had one of those.

I agree , Rosco works hard & gives his all ?????????? Did you watch him on Saturday? I watched him during the entire match and he had a hard day at the office! The question is - did you watch Sone Aluka? Pure class! On his Saturday form he would have had any right back on toast! Saturday does not make Rossco any better or worse than he was but it was a delight to watch a talent like Aluka gracing the park. I did however feel that due to this talent our central defenders should have offered more cover to Rossco.

"The new ground at Loirston is an interesting one. Location wise it is rubbish unless they build a platform at Cove (maybe as part of Crossrail) or have regular buses up to the ground. If they don't fans have a nice 30 minute walk up Wellington Road to get there" Rig, I realise you are a young buck in comparison to me but..whilst it is 30 minutes up Wellington Road and I stress the UP, it is another 30 minutes to get to Wellington Road from the Station. Slight exaggeration but a very big hike and the distance back will feel twice as long for the Aberdeen fans after their cup matches! .

To be fair, it does not take a player an awful lot to shine a bit above the rest of our team, at the moment. Imrie had his shining moment and unfortunately now feels he is a big fish in the small pond, being ICT. He is waiting for big things to happen in the window but ... he has energy, he is willing to run, is he a team player?? Legend in his own lunchtime comes to mind. Dougie has to be led back into the fold and I do feel there is a good footballing future awaiting him, both with ICT and if he moves on but he has to finish his trade. I feel he has good teachers in the current management team and their experience and enthusiasm could offer him a super road to being a better player. He has to dig in now for the next few games and prove he is a team player, as some supporters feel he is now off the boil and is playing for Dougie and not the team. He could be the difference between us watching the dog fight or being part of it!

I think we all realise we are in a dog fight to survive and we have to use our current players to stay up. Reflecting on the game on Saturday, I feel that we need a player that will run off their marker, in midfield, to accept the ball from our defence and then endeavour to make something happen, with it. I know this sounds easy but on Saturday it would appear that Ian was marked out of the game and therefore I felt Imrie, who had a lot of freedom, could have taken over the role. He, the headless chicken one, did at times run into space but he did not seem to be able to STOP and pass it, even back the way. Ferguson/Bett/Rodwell Clyne(ask your dad) all accepted the ball and did the simple thing, it took the pressure off the defence and therefore allowed a degree of regrouping to take place. We, however, due to pressure, lost all shape and leadership. There must be so many 'old heads' on the park that can be nominated to take this pressure and I would play Rossco in this role - but not when Sone Aluko is on the park! He has the confidence, under pressure, to hold the ball and his distribution is good. The alternative is for our defence to have a target area, when under pressure, to aim at. Alex McLeish, under pressure, always punted the ball up beyond the dug outs over the half way line. This gave his forwards an area to run to, backed up the opposition defence and allowed his team to reshape, at the expense of a throw in if the forwards missed it. We punted the ball up the field to the opposition and guess what? It was straight back into the teeth of the defence once again. On Saturday I did not see a plan for us, Ian Black was marked and we had no plan B. We were not a team on the park but played as individuals, this must stop now as we need all the strength from the team spirit we can muster. An aggressive stance and stare because a pass did not reach you, is indicitive of something being wrong in a team, and Dougie Imrie was very guilty of that. Butch has to sort that out and has to sort it now! .

I just think it is disappointing that our manager and assistant manager have not played at a level, like you, that would allow them your insight into this situation! Talk about making facts fit!! What a load of rubbish! .

Don' know what happened there. I will look into it. If you had used any of the three names given on the posting that should have done the trick. You are sure it was the Bon Accord and not the Caley as their wee doorman is difficult( I had to think of a word there!) If it was the Bon Accord I really am disappointed. By the time I came off the golf course, twoish, my party was well into the spirit of things, surrounded by the locals and holding their own!! .

If this is another fishing trip, I've taken the bait again. Why pick on Lional when Grant MADE the mistake for the header that caused the goal, Esson was also maybe incorrectly positioned to save the goal and all you can do is slate the best defender we had on the field, for future mistakes, with the use of your crystal ball. Our central two were both shakie on Saturday and Rossco had a handful with Aluko. Lional kept our left side well covered. Would Hastings have done better than Lional last Saturday? Consult your ball and let us know! .

Nonsense!! Maybe you don't appreciate how many lives were touched by this accident, here in Aberdeen. The pebble in the pond syndrome. Whilst the biggest effect(loss) is in the centre where the pebble hits, the ripples go out to so many more. My 11am appointment, the day following the accident, was cancelled, by a very tearful mother of the client, on the accident day, who informed me that her son had been unable to get on to the fateful chopper!! The tears were relief!! As I stated in an earlier post, just check out the Ultras tomorrow to see the depth of feeling here. Maybe it has passed by Inverness but Aberdeen is still hurting. . Hold on just a minute there, I am well aware of the perils of the sea and the worry that families go through during times like these. I just think that having a minute silence for victims of an accident which has very little to do with the teams involved is taking things a little too far, people die in accidents in teams' catchment areas every week, why not a minute silence before every match to remember victims of all accidents everywhere? I'm sorry we differ on something so tragic but that's life. It would not do if we all agreed all the time. I have no doubts had this been a party of school children coming home from a trip, a silence would still have been held. If it were 22 seperate road accidents? I take your point. Anyway the tribute was fitting, the silence unbroken and I do think the Ultras display was excellent. .

Lionel?? If you were at the match on Saturday you either had a bad seat or were in the pie 'Q' or the 'PQ' and missed the guys involvement in the game. Our right side was a problem and that was not Rossco's fault, it was the fault of that bloody Sone Aluko! He is a superb player, thank God the rest of the Dons team are not as good as he is! Our problem(s) - Grant has lost his nerve, the poor soul can't do right for doing wrong, he chooses the wrong options and life is like that at times. Give him a rest for a game or two and he will roar back to take us out of the doda for the last few games. We need a BIG player in the midfield as a target man, who can then distribute the ball and Rossco fits the bill. Lots of strength, stamina and composure. He will do till we sign a 'target' man in the close season. Duff and Proctor to slot in behind him. Dougie does run but that is not what we need, we are a team and team members when they are second guessed incorrectly, do not stand with their hands on hips, glaring at the player that expected him to make a move.(As Dougie did) Talking of moving (and Dougie) and back to Lional, the number of times he went up the field and not one player ran off their man on to the wing to help him. Dougie you know that was you rooted to the spot again. Why run when not required and stay put when running off your man offers options? Sum up - Team play required - midfield needs some more steel - Grantie needs a rest - front line, no idea! (that is both me and them.) Could have snatched a point on Saturday but we were second best. .

Alex, the Ultras demo is for the Chopper accident victims, during the silence, using visuals. The Calderwood one is being arranged by some guy from Glasgow, McRae I think and is being done on the web as he has no official supporters connection. It may be that some Ultras join in but I don't think they are too keen on the idea. I damp squib, I think. If we win 6-0 maybe he will get strung up - by Willie Miller!