A day of the week

Season over. Thank goodness:

9th Position

Played 38

Home
Won 6
Drawn 4
Lost 10
For 20
Against 31

Away
Won 4
Drawn 7
Lost 7
For 16
Against 21

Goal Difference -16

Points 41

Atrocious! Lets just leave it at that. At least we signed off with a win and should have a whole new squad next season (providing Mr McGhee gets it right over the summer months). Failing that, we're in for more of the same next season.

Whether or not I renew my season ticket will be very much dictated by the following months. Some serious changes are required, I just hope the necessary funds are made available.

Nothing like a quiet final week of the season, winding down slowly to a relaxing summer away from the terraces. Not at Aberdeen Football Club though, oh no. We don't do things by half measures. To say this week has been rather bizarre would be a massive understatement. Now that i've had time to catch my breath and the dust has settled, lets have a wee recap.

Ok, the first major 'incident' of the week would be the choice of many of the first team 'stars' to go out on a drunken rammy 4 days before arguably our biggest match of the season. Several questions need to be asked and answered. Firstly, why couldn't they wait till after the final game. Secondly, why would Gary McDonald have his stag do in Aberdeen, on a Tuesday, but more importantly why would he go to the Priory? Beggars belief. And thirdly (and most importantly) did the club know about this 'session'? No wonder we can't string a couple of wins together.

Not only this, but one of our better performers this season, Mark Kerr, getting a fractured eye socked and arrested for assault, thus missing said vital match on the weekend. Read the good news here.

So, the dust has settled on that little episode and it's off to todders on a sunny Sunday afternoon to hopefully sign off with a win for the season. A crowd of about 15,000 was inside Pittodrie and got right behind the team from the off (despite the incident earlier in the week). My main worry was the sight of Dick Foster at centre back (although 'fozzy' is completely inept in any position). We created a host of chances in the early exchanges, but went ahead through a very bizarre incident. Ma-Kalamaty blasted the ball off a retreating Lee Miller and it rolled harmlessly into the back of the net. No-one knew whether to laugh or celebrate, but welcome it most certainly was. It calmed the nerves however, with news also filtering through that the currant buns were ahead through that vile excuse for a human being, laugherty.

The post was hit, more half chances were squandered but right on the stroke of half time up stepped Mulgrew to curl home a fantastic free kick into the bottom corner. Game over surely? Don't be silly.... right from the restart, a Hibs goal. Riordan, and fozzy well and truly skinned. 2-1. Half time. Over at Tannadice, 2-0 Rangers. Europe was still on the cards.

Into the second half. More chances wasted. We looked VERY nervous. Hibs are reduced to 10 men when Pawlett skips round Murray only to be hauled down in his stride. A Lee Miller free kick is goal-bound until a wicked deflection takes it wide. We get a penalty, which Aluko misses (but to be fair the keeper makes a great save). It's tense stuff, and to be fair to Hibs, they are up for the game. We hang on though and it's a return to European football next season. Praise the lord. Match reaction is here.


That's not the end of the story for the day however, not by a long shot. There had been rumors of an announcement from the club on the Monday. Things seemed to gather pace after the game however that the management team had left with immediate effect. This was finally confirmed by the club later in the evening. Their statement as follows. To say it was a bit of a shock is an understatement. Was he pushed? Did he jump? I think it's fair to say it was a bit of both. So who is next for the poison chalice? Willie Miller, Mark McGhee, Lee Richardson, John Hughes? Just some of the names being banded about.

One thing is for sure, they had better get him in quickly, and get the right man, or there will be egg on faces all round (not in a Kirk Broadfoot way though). Until next season.

ONE LEE MILLER, THERE'S ONLY ONE LEE MILLER, ONE LEEEEE MILLLLLERRRRRRR, THERE'S ONLY ONE LEE MILLER! Yes, Big Lee does it yet again! Kilmarnock away. The last time there we got royally humped in the CIS cup, with the mighty Bertie Bassett (sorry Bossu) in between the sticks. Surely time for revenge?

Again, a radio job for me. A round trip to Kilmarnock on a Tuesday night really didn't grab me by the cockles. Still, I had a few informants at the game to keep me up to speed. Now, a nice bright start will do nicely, keep it tight.... oh dear, 1-0 to Killie 10 minutes in.

SHITE!!! Ah well, that's us done, we'll never come back from that were my immortal words. What's that you say? 1-1 Lee Miller. Surely not! See, I always knew we'd come back from 1-0 down. What did I tell you?

Into the second half and another magnificent goal (which turned out to be the winner) from a man on a red hot run of form. He can do no wrong right now. Let's hope he keeps up this goal scoring record against the old firm in the forthcoming matches.

2-1 Aberdeen. Final score. Match reaction and highlights are available here. Backs to the wall for the last 20 minutes or so, with a few chances for Kilmarnock to equalise but a great away win in the end. And more importantly, up into the European places with everything to play for in the remainder of the season.

In saying this, holding on to Lee Miller is vital in order that this becomes a reality. Unless someone comes in with a 'silly money' bid, we really must keep hold of our top scorer and best player. The club need to show a level of ambition and show we are not there to sell a player as soon as the first offer comes in (Russell Anderson anyone?). Especially to Rangers, which would be a bad move for Miller. He wants European football, and if we continue playing in this manner, it is a certainty for next season. Keeping this squad together and adding to it, rather than losing some of our best assets, should be the priority. To be fair to Willie Miller and Jimmy Calderwood, they have come out and said he is going nowhere and even Big Lee himself has said he's settled and enjoying his football. But then it is football.... who knows what will happen in the next couple of weeks. Watch this space.

Up next, Celtic. At Pittodrie. About time we beat them up here. Can't wait!

Ahhhh, the festive period. A time of sex, drugs and rock and roll (wait, did I get that right?). Anyway, none of those were forthcoming for me, unless you count Guitar Hero on the PS3 as RnR?

So between the hangovers and illnesses of the festive period i've neglected to keep up to date with my Dons thoughts and gripes. 3 games to catch up on, and for once it's MOSTLY positive (note I said mostly). I'll keep it short and to the point.

Now.... the first game to catch up on wasssssss.......... let me think. It was so long ago. Hmmmm. Inverness away, just before Christmas. To cut a long story short, we hammered them 3-0. Goals from Miller, McDonald and Mackie (all mightily impressive I may add). I listened to it on the radio as I had a stinking hangover.

Next up, Hearts, on the 27th. Pretty much a sell-out at Todders. And for once, we didn't blow it! Excellent atmosphere, a match we were never in danger of losing and an absolutely terrific winner from 'Handsome Lee'. Player of the season by a country mile for me so far. And I must add, I hate Hearts, bunch of cheating scum. Berra, die!

That brings us up to the most recent game. Hamilton away. I must profess I didn't even contemplate going. And switched off the radio as soon as we lost the first goal. I have no idea how the game panned out apart from the score... a 2-0 defeat. Terrible stuff. I don't really want to know how it went (all I heard about was a flu outbreak and a narrowed pitch), but if you are so inclined, the match reaction can be found here.

Next up it's a cup weekend. Alloa away. After this latest disaster lets hope we pick ourselves up and push on the cup. It's been LONG overdue.

Half season review. B-. Stop losing stupid games. Arghhh. No wonder my hair is falling out.

Soooooooooo, the Dandy Dons eh! Thank god for the international break. That was a wonderful change of scenery from watching the Dons..... wait, did I just say that? It was almost as bad as watching our lumbering, ineffective players.

Thankfully, my supposed ticket for the Scotland game didn't materialise. Although in hindsight, it would at least have prevented a monster hangover.

But anyway, I digress.... back to more important matters. Falkirk away, at Brockville.... oh no wait, i'm WELL out of date there. Suffice to say I didn't go to the game. An all important win was accomplished though. A Lee Miller header from a wonderful Considine cross (yes, I did just say that).

However, judging by the highlights, we were pretty rank, and only the abysmal finishing of former messr Lovell saved our blushes and helped us rise up to the heady heights of 10th place.

Falkirk 0 - 1 Aberdeen.

Blunderwood had these comments to make:

"It's a massive result for us at a very difficult venue. Today we got the rub of the green that we've not been getting.

"In all fairness to John (Hughes)'s team it's probably a draw but we've got the victory.

"We know we should've won games we've lost in the last couple of weeks. Hopefully we can take confidence from it take it to Tynecastle next week.

"It's been a long time since we've had a victory on a Saturday. At last we'll have a good weekend. It's been five or six weeks.

"The last two weeks we've been bottom. It hurts. We're off that and hopefully it's the last time we see that."

Yes, we got the win Jimmy (and we'll probably need a few more ugly wins to move us up the table), but the simple fact remains that the product on offer is nowhere near value for money. Hopefully with a few more wins the players can start to express themselves on the pitch and add some flair. However, I think that may be wishful thinking. Time will tell.

Next up is the jam tarts at Tynecastle. I'd bought a ticket to go, but now have nowhere to stay... so a trip to see my parents will ensue instead. I'll be glued to Sky Sports News to see the results come filtering through though (or alternatively I could get a life and go and do something FAR more worthwhile).