Aberdeen sack Derek McInnes

[Don Shula]

 

Did he pick the team the next game when he started Frank Ross?

 

Of course he did as he had already committed to stay by then. But he didn't bring on either Wright or Harvie that night, reverting to type when he brought on Arnason for Ross at HT. He then never picked Ross to start again in the remaining games before going on loan.

 

I have no idea if he picked the team that day but nobody can argue it was a weird team selection and subs for what is usually an ultra conservative manager especially for a game against the ugly sisters

[Don Shula]

It's worth remembering that Celtic and Rangers both raise their game against us. It's not that black and white.

 

There's no doubt some truth in this as Brenda after the Pittodrie game and Murty after the first Ibrox game both pretty much said it was the best they had played all season as did Lennon after the Hibs game on Saturday.

 

So what are we going to do about it? It's not acceptable to use this as a reason for our shit performances, what about us trying to raise our game as well?

[Don Shula]

Fucking CRINGE

 

Not sure why you say that. McInnes has spent the last 5 years avoiding playing youngsters other than the odd one here or there as many on here criticise him for. McKenna is the only one who he has consistently picked and even then he only got his chance because the rest of our central defenders are not up to it and were ragdolled by Moult/Bowman in the cup game. For him to then play 3 in the same match against sevco was pretty unusual, not done before nor since

[S2RDS]

It's worth remembering that Celtic and Rangers both raise their game against us. It's not that black and white.

 

We have been accused of doing this in years gone by against Celtic and Ranges/Sevco, so why not now? When it matters we dont seem to have any gumption.

[maryhilldon]

Not sure why you say that. McInnes has spent the last 5 years avoiding playing youngsters other than the odd one here or there as many on here criticise him for. McKenna is the only one who he has consistently picked and even then he only got his chance because the rest of our central defenders are not up to it and were ragdolled by Moult/Bowman in the cup game. For him to then play 3 in the same match against sevco was pretty unusual, not done before nor since

Nobody could argue with anything you're saying, except Millerman of course.

[Parklife]

Strange that he decided to play 3 youngsters against the huns at Pittodrie when he thought he might be moving on, but hasn't given Ross or Harvie a look in ever since.

Harvie and Ross trying to start a bouncie in the home dressing room post-match has probably fucked their chance for them.

[craegDAMH]

 

Of course he did as he had already committed to stay by then. But he didn't bring on either Wright or Harvie that night, reverting to type when he brought on Arnason for Ross at HT. He then never picked Ross to start again in the remaining games before going on loan.

 

I have no idea if he picked the team that day but nobody can argue it was a weird team selection and subs for what is usually an ultra conservative manager especially for a game against the ugly sisters

 

He didn't bring on Wright or Harvie against Dundee because we were getting overrun in midfield. Ross went off because he had a knock if I recall correctly.

 

He brought on Ross against Sevco because he was our only wide attacking option on the bench and Wright was having a shocker.

 

He brought on Harvie because we were struggling for width down the left, against 10 men, with Considine knackered and Ross cutting inside.

 

Of course he picked the team that day, if he didn't why would he be in the dugout?

[mcdougall(4)]

 

. McInnes has spent the last 5 years avoiding playing youngsters

 

Has he avoided playing them or have they just not been good enough to get in the team.

 

People are acting like it's been simpson, cooper, black, hewitt et al not getting games rather than the shite we've been producing

[S2RDS]

 

Has he avoided playing them or have they just not been good enough to get in the team.

 

 

There is a bit of both here. However when you see the senior game time Maynard is getting with zero return value, then you have to wonder why some of these young loons not getting their turn. We all know for a fact that no young loon would get that same amount of time to show if they can make it or not.

 

On the subject of young loons, i was reading the match report from the 4-1 win against Celtic and one sentence read "Two minutes later it could have been three but Mullen reacted well to keep out Ethan Ross’s cross-cum-shot"

 

Manky bastards.

[The Hulk]

OK, let's try and dispel this "fails to play youth" notion once and for all.

 

Not including Peter Pawlett or Ryan Jack, who were both already established in the first team before McInnes arrived, here are the appearance figures for young players for the seasons 2013-14, 14-15, 15-16 & 16-17 (so not including this season). So bear in mind that these are the "best" young players we have had at the club during this time and then compare them against the players in front of them in the first team.

 

Joe Shaughnessy 39

Clark Robertson 11

Cammy Smith 60

Nicky Low 29

Declan McManus 3

Craig Storie 13

Craig Murray 6

Lawrence Shankland 17

Kieran Gibbons 2

Frank Ross 8

Scott Wright 15

Michael Rose 1

Scott McKenna 4

Danny Harvie 2

Connor McLeman 1

Joe Nuttall 2

Dean Campbell 1

 

That's 200-odd appearances in four seasons, probably half as subs, but loosely equivalent to one and a half first-team players playing regularly for four seasons.

 

Players in bold are still at the club so can be readily compared to those in front of them. In my view, Frank Ross has the ability to become a first team regular. Scott McKenna has already proved it, Scott Wright might make it; haven't seen enough of the others to judge. But above physical ability you need attitude and mindset. Are these guys mentally able to cope with the demands of top-flight football. The professional game is littered with stories like "I was better than him when we were at school"; normally when we're in the pub necking our tenth pint. I wonder why eh?

 

Even Ryan Christie - I was speaking recently with an ex-pro very familiar with his teenage development in Inverness. He had ability but a questionable mindset. Something changed at age 18 and onwards and upwards he went. Fine margins. Only Derek McInnes and the coaching staff, who deal with these guys every day, can tell if these guys are ready, and with such good players ahead of them, few of us are qualified to question this.

[S2RDS]

OK, let's try and dispel this "fails to play youth" notion once and for all.

 

Not including Peter Pawlett or Ryan Jack, who were both already established in the first team before McInnes arrived, here are the appearance figures for young players for the seasons 2013-14, 14-15, 15-16 & 16-17 (so not including this season). So bear in mind that these are the "best" young players we have had at the club during this time and then compare them against the players in front of them in the first team.

 

Joe Shaughnessy 39

Clark Robertson 11

Cammy Smith 60

Nicky Low 29

Declan McManus 3

Craig Storie 13

Craig Murray 6

Lawrence Shankland 17

Kieran Gibbons 2

Frank Ross 8

Scott Wright 15

Michael Rose 1

Scott McKenna 4

Danny Harvie 2

Connor McLeman 1

Joe Nuttall 2

Dean Campbell 1

 

That's 200-odd appearances in four seasons, probably half as subs, but loosely equivalent to one and a half first-team players playing regularly for four seasons.

 

Players in bold are still at the club so can be readily compared to those in front of them. In my view, Frank Ross has the ability to become a first team regular. Scott McKenna has already proved it, Scott Wright might make it; haven't seen enough of the others to judge. But above physical ability you need attitude and mindset. Are these guys mentally able to cope with the demands of top-flight football. The professional game is littered with stories like "I was better than him when we were at school"; normally when we're in the pub necking our tenth pint. I wonder why eh?

 

Even Ryan Christie - I was speaking recently with an ex-pro very familiar with his teenage development in Inverness. He had ability but a questionable mindset. Something changed at age 18 and onwards and upwards he went. Fine margins. Only Derek McInnes and the coaching staff, who deal with these guys every day, can tell if these guys are ready, and with such good players ahead of them, few of us are qualified to question this.

 

If there is truth in this then we need to look at our whole youth development system and those in charge of it. I agree, player mentality is key to a youngsters success and if that isn’t developing along with their ability then we need to address this.

 

Personally, I’m of the opinion that Derek doesn’t like to take risks and therefore plays the more senior players who have experience. McKenna is an exception, but it has been rightly said, he only got his chance after the Motherwell debacle. If in fact he had played a bad game in his debut, or even his 2nd or 3rd game, he would be benched. Senior players do not get this same treatment and if they did , then the likes AOC and Considine would have spent spells on the bench this season.

 

We as football fans can only look in and make an assumption based on what we see. With the development team top of the league, we really should have youngsters wo are capable of making their debuts over the likes of Maynard. I would hedge my bets on the likes of Anderson bagging goals with the same game time that he has had. I don’t think anyone is saying lets drop half the team and replace it with loons, but I don’t think there are enough opportunities for these young lads at a senior level. Even in games where we are cruising or in pointless end-of-season games, they are not getting enough chances in my opinon.

[Don Shula]

 

He didn't bring on Wright or Harvie against Dundee because we were getting overrun in midfield. Ross went off because he had a knock if I recall correctly.

 

He brought on Ross against Sevco because he was our only wide attacking option on the bench and Wright was having a shocker.

 

He brought on Harvie because we were struggling for width down the left, against 10 men, with Considine knackered and Ross cutting inside.

 

Of course he picked the team that day, if he didn't why would he be in the dugout?

 

Harvie is an interesting example. We all know that LB is an issue for us so why wouldn't you play Harvie more to give him some game experience that can only make him a better player. Why not start him in some of the games against the bottom six to see if he is the solution or not?

[Guest]

 

If there is truth in this then we need to look at our whole youth development system and those in charge of it. I agree, player mentality is key to a youngsters success and if that isn’t developing along with their ability then we need to address this.

 

Personally, I’m of the opinion that Derek doesn’t like to take risks and therefore plays the more senior players who have experience. McKenna is an exception, but it has been rightly said, he only got his chance after the Motherwell debacle. If in fact he had played a bad game in his debut, or even his 2nd or 3rd game, he would be benched. Senior players do not get this same treatment and if they did , then the likes AOC and Considine would have spent spells on the bench this season.

 

We as football fans can only look in and make an assumption based on what we see. With the development team top of the league, we really should have youngsters wo are capable of making their debuts over the likes of Maynard. I would hedge my bets on the likes of Anderson bagging goals with the same game time that he has had. I don’t think anyone is saying lets drop half the team and replace it with loons, but I don’t think there are enough opportunities for these young lads at a senior level. Even in games where we are cruising or in pointless end-of-season games, they are not getting enough chances in my opinon.

Totally agree.

Personally would have been content to write off this season if introducing youth into team was the plan.

If our youth players are not up to the task as opposed to DM not wanting to take risks then we have a major, major problem.

 

However even Jambo Craig, whom I hate with a passion, manages to still introduce plenty of youngsters without getting humped on the pitch.

[mcdougall(4)]

 

There is a bit of both here. However when you see the senior game time Maynard is getting with zero return value, then you have to wonder why some of these young loons not getting their turn. We all know for a fact that no young loon would get that same amount of time to show if they can make it or not.

 

 

 

The question I would ask, and frankly I don't know the answer, what are the players doing to get better, to improve themselves, to make the decisions tough for the manager.

 

This anecdote about Gary Neville, sums up the different mentality of some footballers, who had the better career?

 

 

Lee Sharpe tells a story that once, heading for his car after training, he heard the repetitive thud of a ball hitting a wall. It was Neville, practising his long throw. Sharpe mocked his commitment. “As hard as he could, over and over again,” Sharpe recalls. “Practising long throws: Gary Neville’s idea of fun.”

 

The other question I have is not anything the club can immediately address, which is is the current set up (u20s football) preparing players to become professionals?

I doubt it is, if you look at the landscape of Scottish football as a whole.

[Andy_123]

Looking at that list, i'm not sure there's many on there that you would honestly say you'd have wanted as a first team starter at any point (McKenna this season. Possibly Shaughessy, if we'd ever played him at CB instead of trying to turn him into the next Considine).

[NEM]

It's worth remembering that Celtic and Rangers both raise their game against us. It's not that black and white.

 

 

That'd be a fair point if we didn't counter that by lowering ours

[V for Vendetta]

OK, let's try and dispel this "fails to play youth" notion once and for all.

 

Not including Peter Pawlett or Ryan Jack, who were both already established in the first team before McInnes arrived, here are the appearance figures for young players for the seasons 2013-14, 14-15, 15-16 & 16-17 (so not including this season). So bear in mind that these are the "best" young players we have had at the club during this time and then compare them against the players in front of them in the first team.

 

Joe Shaughnessy 39

Clark Robertson 11

Cammy Smith 60

Nicky Low 29

Declan McManus 3

Craig Storie 13

Craig Murray 6

Lawrence Shankland 17

Kieran Gibbons 2

Frank Ross 8

Scott Wright 15

Michael Rose 1

Scott McKenna 4

Danny Harvie 2

Connor McLeman 1

Joe Nuttall 2

Dean Campbell 1

 

That's 200-odd appearances in four seasons, probably half as subs, but loosely equivalent to one and a half first-team players playing regularly for four seasons.

 

Players in bold are still at the club so can be readily compared to those in front of them. In my view, Frank Ross has the ability to become a first team regular. Scott McKenna has already proved it, Scott Wright might make it; haven't seen enough of the others to judge. But above physical ability you need attitude and mindset. Are these guys mentally able to cope with the demands of top-flight football. The professional game is littered with stories like "I was better than him when we were at school"; normally when we're in the pub necking our tenth pint. I wonder why eh?

 

Even Ryan Christie - I was speaking recently with an ex-pro very familiar with his teenage development in Inverness. He had ability but a questionable mindset. Something changed at age 18 and onwards and upwards he went. Fine margins. Only Derek McInnes and the coaching staff, who deal with these guys every day, can tell if these guys are ready, and with such good players ahead of them, few of us are qualified to question this.

At first glance those appearance figures look quite good but it's quite a misleading stat to use.

 

We don't know how many of those have been last 5-10 min sub appearances?

 

And even just counting all of those as appearances many of those young players have played less than 10 games over 2 or 3 seasons.

 

That's hardly any game time really. Hardly getting a good chance in my opinion.

[strachanmcgheegoal]

A quicker measure than that. How many, on hearing the words and substitute for Aberdeen, Daniel Harvie at the Huns game were genuinely surprised? How many opportunities have we had to applaud an aggressive (in terms of tactics) ambitious (in terms of age) substitute on the 60 minute mark since?

[1903Fitba]

Maybe because from what I have heard from him the guys a fucking cunt

Aye. The guy that rarely visits Aberdeen and has probably never met him.

 

 

You talk pish

[1903Fitba]

Do i?

 

Look him up on Twitter

 

Hes vile

Look me up on twitter and youll probably think the same.

[ebbe]

Indeed.

 

If McInnes had managed that, we'd be 4 points clear at the top of the league.

With another game v the hun to make that gap 7.

 

Brings into sharp focus how utterly woeful and contemptible DMs record v the cheeks actually is.

It's fucking unacceptable.

Bang on, again.

[Parklife]

How many youngsters a year turn into first team regulars at other clubs? Ones who do as well as we do?

Even Rangers and Celtic bring through more.

 

Off the top of my head Rangers have McCrorie and Bates as almost first picks this season. While Celtic have Ajer, Tierney and McGregor breaking in to the team over the last couple years. With Miller and Aitchison also getting game time.

[DelMonte]

Even Rangers and Celtic bring through more.

 

Off the top of my head Rangers have McCrorie and Bates as almost first picks this season. While Celtic have Ajer, Tierney and McGregor breaking in to the team over the last couple years. With Miller and Aitchison also getting game time.

Scraping the barrel with Miller and Aitchison and they bought Ajer.

[Parklife]

Scraping the barrel with Miller and Aitchison and they bought Ajer.

I meant Ralston, rather than Aitchison. However, they at least give very young players like Aitchison game time. Which will incentivise them to work hard and improve.

 

They bought Ajer as a 17 year old and he's now a first pick CB at 19. This is about giving young players a chance, whether they start their career at AFC or are signed from somewhere else at 17/18/19.

[BWG]

Celtic have ruined far more careers than they've launched.

[King Street Loon]

When did Ralston last play mate?

He's been injured.

[pocrawred]

If McInnes brings in tony watt he will be culpable for running AFC down and if offered another job he would be away.... I wonder if milne will allow him time off at the end of the season to get interviewed by whichever possible employer!!

[pocrawred]

U wot

U wot u wot u wot? The sun says tw is training wi Aberdeen and saying mcinnes spoke to his agent in 2014.....

[pocrawred]

Yeah I got that bit..

Shall I say it slowly? mcinnes was allowed to find out what was on offer at Sunderland and later the same at the hunfuckpigs.

[pocrawred]

Yeah I got that bit..

Shall I say it slowly? mcinnes was allowed to find out what was on offer at Sunderland and later the same at the hunfuckpigs.