New Season, New Attitude, Same missed chances.

Aberdeen came into the new season with most of the fans feeling some optimism that we would see an improved side with the players Craig and Archie have brought in over the summer.
One new signing that was not fit for the game was Chris Clark.

We played well and were creating chances but I was always nervous that we would end up regretting our missed chances as has happened so often in the past.
We could have been 3 or 4 up at half time and if corners meant goals we would have been way ahead. St Johnstone changed it up a bit in the 2nd half and came at us a bit more, but in truth the Aberdeen defence looked comfortable.

The major turning point in the match was the red card to Ryan Jack for a late challenge on Murray Davidson, some people saying it was a bad challenge others saying it was a free kick and a yellow card at most. I will look forward to seeing it on the highlights.
(Having seen the highlights and listened to the players and managers thoughts it looks like it was a red card, the studs were a little high but I think it was just  a young player trying hard to win the ball)

Craig Brown has spoken about wanting to bring in a flair player and after seeing some of the missed chances I can see what he means. Hopefully said striker will be in place before our trip to St Mirren next weekend.

So not the flying start we had last season (but look how that turned out) but we need to remember that it is a marathon and not a race.

So in all I am disappointed with the 0-0 draw and the missed chances but pleased with the build up play and attitude of the team.

I would also like to mention Ricky Foster who got a hard time in one of the pre season games for going on loan to Rangers last season, he played well and had a few chances, he looked like (as someone on twitter said) a man on a mission.
Ricky was also voted man of the match Keep up the good work Captain Foster.
I was also impressed with Josh Magennis, our new signing’s impressed also. I don’t think we had a bad player in the team today.

Stand Free

>Aberdeen hit East Fife for Six

>I had to cringe today when I saw a quote from Craig Brown saying Aberdeen would not lose to a lower league team in the cup while he was manager.
Not that I don’t have faith in Craig Brown but we have heard this so often in the past and then we get beat.

Normally this type of game is the type of game that  Aberdeen struggle in and sneak a 1-0 win and have the fans biting their nails for 90 minutes.

Brown stuck to his word and  we came out fighting for every ball. All credit to East Fife they battled also and had a few chances. But a Chris Maguire first half hat-trick with Scott Vernon also getting in on the action,  killed the game off before half time.
East Fife still tried to play football after the break when many teams would have had eleven  men on the goal line.

I was very pleased to see Bebo (Maguire) getting a had trick. He is showing the form we have seen from him while playing for the Scottish u21 team.
Just goes to show what happens when you have a manager that knows what he is doing running the show.

Aberdeen did not look troubled, any chances East Fife created was dealt with by Jamie Langfield and the Aberdeen defence.

I know that it is only East Fife who play in the 2ND Division but this was more about building on the confidence that we have been slowly getting back in recent weeks.
Vernon and Maguire especially will be biting at the bit for the next game so they can add to the goal tallies for the season.

Special Mention for Ryan Jack also who as Red TV said on another day would have won the MOTM
but that accolade went to Chris Maguire for his three goals.
Scott Vernon also had a good shift and was close to getting a hat-trick for himself but just could not find that 3rd goal.

I was also delighted for Josh Magennis who scored his first competitive goal for the club with the last kick of the ball. Josh has done well in recent weeks and could have had a few but for lack of confidence. Hopefully this will boost that confidence and he will become a regular on the score sheet.

Roll on Tuesday when we find out who we will face in the next round of the Cup.

I would also like to congratulate our Aberdeenshire Neighbours Peterhead for getting a great result away from home against SPL side St Mirren with a 0-0 draw to take the tie to a replay.

Stand Free