So there I was, up the town, being slightly distracted by what's going on around me as I'm trying to find out by how many goals Aberdeen are leading Raith Rovers. Checking the Sky Sports Score Center for the Aberdeen score on my phone, it was hard getting a signal, and the score took forever to appear. I believe I was halfway down the frozen food section of my local superstore when I finally got a connection. Raith 1, Aberdeen 0, it said. "Fuck" I said. Rather loudly.
Within three minutes of the final whistle having gone at Stark's Park and the score still seemingly at 1-0 to Raith, I had an article written in my head, the title of which compared manager Mark McGhee to one of those things you find at the top of women's legs and the rest of the squad to an assortment of items you'd find in books about reproductive gynaecology. But I calmed down when someone told me via Twitter that Gary McDonald had equalized for Aberdeen in the 95th minute. So I calmed down, came home and wrote this article instead.
On the positive side, we're still in the Cup. Plus, since we're still in the Cup, this result doesn't qualify as a Cupset and as we've not had a Cupset today it means that it's going to come tomorrow when Dunfermline take on Celtic. The other positive was our travelling support, with some three thousand-odd making the trip south. Considering there where only five-thousand at the St Mirren-Rangers game today, it was certainly something to be proud of.
On the downside, the inconsistency continues. Against Raith Rovers we had the lion's share of possesion, we had marginally more shots on targets and had more corners. But like our defeats against Motherwell and Falkirk, Aberdeen conceded a goal against the run of play (a defensive error, Jerel Ifil's header not clearing the danger) and lacked the imagination or the firepower to do anything about it - all that possession doesn't mean anything unless you can put the ball in the back of the net.
I don't care what anyone says and neither do I care, nor accept, whatever excuses McGhee will invent for this disgraceful performance. The facts: Raith Rovers are a First Division side (and not even a good one at that), Aberdeen are an SPL side (though not a good one), so a victory, even 1-0 would not have been an unreasonable expection. But for a team that's made a name for itself in recent years as one that slips up against lower league opposition, the result was possibly not too unexpected given recent results.
We said in yesterdays preview that things have got to change. They certainly do, and quickly, because you have to wonder how long the Aberdeen support will remain behind McGhee and the team, as frustration builds after each game.
There's nothing wrong with our defence. We've got a good goalkeeper. With Diamond back in the middle of the park, we have organisation. And there's nothing wrong with conceding a goal - as long as you score one more than the opposition, you're going to win the league; to quote Tony D'Amato in "Any Given Sunday", that's football guys, that's all it is.
Aberdeen need a consistent goalscorer. Lee Miller was through at Pittodrie, his attitude and disciplinary record hinting at an unhappy player. He never looked like the player that scored 12 goals last season or 13 the season before that. Mackie, though hard working is having a terrible time of it lately. The Steven MacLean we need to see is the Steven MacLean from season 2002/03 when he scored 20 goals for Sheffield Wednesday, and not the Plymouth Steven MacLean who had a largely forgettable season. He's not an on-form striker which is bad news for the Dons who desperately needs the goals and the wins to make sure we even make the league split in April. Our midfield desperately needs a shake-up. After a reasonably good season last year, Kerr and McDonald seemed to have taken a dramatic drop in form and confidence, with poor passing and a total lack of imagination and confidence when in possession.
Yes, Aberdeen are still in the Cup - for now. With games against Hibs, Celtic, Falkirk and Hearts to come in the next few weeks, the Dons need a boost to take them through those tricky fixtures, games the outcome of which may well end McGhee's hopes of European football next season.
Let's hope that comes next Wednesday in the replay.
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