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Excellent Article - Nail On The Head!

sheepiekev

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How Derek McInnes can win over the Aberdeen support

 

Written by Andrew Southwick.

THE last time I wrote for this column, I was comparing the managerial styles of Craig Brown and Derek Adams. Brown's conservative approach was being undermined by the brash confidence of his Dingwall counterpart who was steering Ross County up the table. The younger of the two had just led his side to a 3-2 win over champions elect Celtic, and Brown was preparing for his own date with the Parkhead side.

The article made the point that Adams was moving closer to the manager's job at Pittodrie, through Brown's inability to outshine the man working a minor miracle at a smaller club. The former Scotland boss had to produce a performance at Celtic Park to restore confidence in him.

He did. With 20 minutes to go Aberdeen were leading 3-1, and arguably should have had a penalty for their troubles too. That Aberdeen ultimately lost 4-3 after doing away with the habit of the season and not defending was neither here nor there. On day one of the season they had lost 1-0 without barely a shot on target. This time, they had rattled Neil Lennon's side in a thriller.

Of course, that performance will not make a jot of difference to Brown's Pittodrie career, for he had already announced he would retire at the earliest opportunity before the trip to Glasgow. He had sent his men out with an attacking mentality not to save his job, but to go out on a high.
It was 90 minutes that was fitting of this season under his tutelage. A good side capable of playing if given the chance, but with a bad start and a bad end, the good stuff they at times managed in between ultimately meant no prizes.
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With Brown on the way, it seemed inevitable that Adams would be the successor. A man the Dons board have had their eye on for the past two years, all bets were off with regards to him returning to the club he served twice as a player.

It has been a curious two weeks though. Adams was given ample opportunity to either nail his colours to the Ross County mast, or open the door to talks with the Dons board. He did neither - walking away from a BBC Scotland interview with Scott Davie when asked his position, and since then doing everything but put this issue to bed.

Perhaps he was playing the game intelligently. The Dons board made their approach, Ross County refused permission, and it appeared the issue is over. Adams can continue life in Dingwall as normal, without being accused of prostituting himself to another club. On the other hand, Aberdeen could have still made an 11th hour bid and if accepted, Adams may yet have been sitting down to discuss his future.
However, the Dons board did not hang about and wait, and Derek McInnes is now the new manager of Aberdeen. His imminent arrival has caused divisions in the Red Army. There is a scale of opinion ranging from the downright furious, to a shrugged shoulders section at least willing to give him a chance. Very few are ready to welcome him with open arms, though after the initial shock more and more are accepting the idea.
The lazy retort to that is to accuse the fans of living in the past, of expecting too much. Of being blinded by a hatred of their new man's Rangers connections.

It is that reaction from those outside of the Granite City that, ironically, answers the question of why the news of McInnes heading north hasn't been met with abundant enthusiasm.

Firstly, there is the obvious reason for the lukewarm reaction. McInnes will not be arriving at Pittodrie with a particularly impressive managerial record. He did well enough winning the First Division with St Johnstone, secured two solid if unspectacular eighth place finishes in the Scottish Premier League, and when he left for Bristol City he had the Saints in the top six.

Bristol City didn't go to plan though, with McInnes sacked after leading them to seven straight defeats during a tumultuous reign.

Put simply, the 41 year old has a CV arguably less impressive than all the previous managers Aberdeen have employed since Roy Aitken. At a push his SPL experience sets him above Steve Paterson and even Ebbe Skovdahl who visibly struggled to adapt to life in Scotland's top flight, but Jimmy Calderwood, Mark McGhee, and notably Craig Brown had more obvious plus points when they took the reigns.

What will continue to darken the start of this new era though, is the name of Derek Adams. And if Derek McInnes wants to win over the Pittodrie punters, he could do worse than mimic his namesake.

Adams not only is enhancing his reputation as a top coach after taking Ross County from the Second Division to, currently, the top six of the SPL. He is, quite simply, the perfect fit for Aberdeen.

The north-east often has a reputation of being parochial. It can be unfair, but it isn't without a bit of truth.

There is a wariness of outsiders. Aberdonians expect no favours from the rest of Scotland. The west coast bias is overplayed, but there are sections of the media and other supports who have no love at all for the city or its people.

Your average Aberdeen fan accepts the days of conquering Europe and dominating Scottish football are unlikely to resurface for quite some time, however they do expect something that has been lacking for a generation now. They want their club to stand up for them, and they want people to stand up for their club.

Alex Ferguson is seen as creating the tone for all his players to follow, the Aberdeen against the rest of Scotland mentality. In reality, he simply harnessed it and made his players understand it.
Too often since, managers have been too eager to build bridges, perhaps in order to get an easier ride from influential journalists. Irritatingly, it has sometimes been because they have had a hankering for a bigger job and didn't want to upset potential employers.

One of Calderwood's downfalls was his kids gloves attitude towards Rangers. Walking out of a defeat at Ibrox and revealing he told "Wee Barry" at half-time he would change the game, or defending "Big Boydy" and "Big Lee" because they're good lads. Even Robbie Neilson was defended for throwing punches at Chris Maguire at the end of a tasty clash with Hearts because his striker apparently could be a bit mouthy. That isn't what Dons fans want to hear.

Mark McGhee told the press at his unveiling he'd rather have been at Celtic. Craig Brown's insisted of talking up other clubs and letting even the most blatant wrongdoings against his side go without comment. These don't exactly fire up a support being consumed by apathy.

They want a man not afraid to make himself unpopular south of Stonehaven. A man who defends the club, defend his players, puts pressure on the referees, questions decisions, and faces the inevitable wrath without fear.

That approach would have the Red Army backing their man to the hilt, for if someone comes to Aberdeen and fights for them, the support will repay him big time. People like Willie Miller, Lee Richardson, Dean Windass, Steve Tosh, Niall McGinn. These guys didn't come to Aberdeen as Dons men, but they have all played like they are. Even a man hated in an opposition shirt like Paul Hartley could stroll in and win the support over by simply displaying the right attitude.

Adams, as an Aberdonian, a man who saw his dad exchange many a conversation with Alex Ferguson, who played for the club twice - he understands that. There is no doubt he would have come in, battened down the hatches, and prepared for war.

McInnes is seen, unfairly perhaps, as simply a young Calderwood. Pals with Ally McCoist, already on record as talking up the Ibrox club's hopes of skipping ahead of clubs above them to gain promotion, he doesn't come across as the leader the Dons fans crave.

However, the team are yet to kick a ball under him. He still has it all ahead of him.

If McInnes wants to be accepted by the support, he simply has to look at two of the men who were alongside him on the shortlist; Adams and Hartley. Copy their approach, march in and be ready to make fans forget all about any cosy relationships he has formed, and couple that with a winning team on the park, then he will find that he has won the lottery.

For if he gets Aberdeen playing, the fans will back him in a way no other support in Scotland would. Managers have won trophies at Hearts, Hibs and Dundee United in recent years and witnessed no-where near the following the Dons will see converge on stadiums around the country.
He will find life at Aberdeen different to anything he experienced at St Johnstone. If he got the Saints on a good run, he would have seen 5,000 for a home game. Do the same at Aberdeen, and they'll take 5,000 to an away game.

If he ends the long wait for silverware, he will be hailed a legend. That's the prize for any man brave enough to accept a unique challenge in Scottish football.
It isn't for weak minds or those without a thick skin. Despite the barbs, fans don't actually have unrealistic expectations. No man though has walked in with this many doubts since Alex Miller began what went on to be statistically the worst managerial appointment the Dons ever made.
Just over a week ago there was remarkable scenes in Paisley as Danny Lennon gave the St Mirren fans a League Cup triumph.
In the past six years Hibernian, Hearts, Dundee United and Kilmarnock have all joined them in lifting trophies.
McInnes might not have the CV of the last six managers to try and fail to bring success to Aberdeen. If he brings the north-east its pride back though, then he'll leave with a much higher accolade - the key to the city.
Twitter @A_Southwick

 

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sheepiekev Newbie

sheepiekev

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Another relevant article, fresh off the presses. Makes some very good points.

 

http://sport.stv.tv/football/219150-expectations-in-check-at-pittodrie-following-derek-mcinnes-arrival/

Pretty good article, although from a personal point of view, the drivel spouted about previous links McInnes has to Dundee Utd & Rangers are not the main reason I'm sceptical.

 

It's his previous record, perceived dull football and lack of goals that bother me a lot more than any previous clubs.

Enjoyed that.

 

Nice to see a media outlet putting the 'unrealistic expectations' pish to bed once and for all.

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Dynamo Veteran

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Great read that STV article and FAO Millertime

Jimmy Calderwood’s reign typified this point perfectly; supporters didn’t expect to hold their own against Copenhagen, Bayern Munich or Lokomotiv Moscow. They did, however, expect to do at least that against Queen of the South, Queen’s Park and Dunfermline.

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Guest

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Seems he reads this board then.

 

Andrew Southwick is Panda from ABmad. He's posted on here and also DT in the past.

 

if this is the same guy who has ran with the alias 'Panda' since the late 90's/early 00's (mailing list days) and who used to knock about with Cove Sheep, then he was a bit of a gluepot back in the day. That said, it's a reasonably good article. Maybe he's matured his level of intellect since then :whistling:

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we will know prett yquickly where his heart and soul lies....if its not 100% with Aberdeen he and Milne will be in for a torrid time.Dod Yule was conspicuous by his absence at the Mchun unveiling...toys out of the pram?

Were you expecting the whole board, including his predecessor as manager, to be present at the press conference?To be fair I couldn't pick out Yule in a crowd although barring those with inside information any theories about the inner workings of our board are just guesswork.

You seem to be having problems with the quote function Bri...I only typed the last line I'm being credited with...Yule has distanced himself from the appointment...for good reason

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Redstar Rookie

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we will know prett yquickly where his heart and soul lies....if its not 100% with Aberdeen he and Milne will be in for a torrid time.Dod Yule was conspicuous by his absence at the Mchun unveiling...toys out of the pram?Were you expecting the whole board, including his predecessor as manager, to be present at the press conference?To be fair I couldn't pick out Yule in a crowd although barring those with inside information any theories about the inner workings of our board are just guesswork.You seem to be having problems with the quote function Bri...I only typed the last line I'm being credited with...Yule has distanced himself from the appointment...for good reason

Apologies chief, I really wish they'd sort this quote nonsense.Where did Dod distance himself?

Didn't turn up...toys out of the pram because Adams was his choice...I think Dod didn't realise just how big a mess things were,the Broon situation hasn't helped.Yule is no fan of Broon that is clear,the promotion of Broon to the Board will not have sat well with him...as before I think Yule will distance himself/walk pretty soon...this is a Milne production with wee Craigy taking the role as the cabin boy sucking of anyone he needs to,to keep being employed...pretty sordid stuff chief

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