RedMatchday Issue 14 | Christmas Special

For the Aberdeen v Hamilton Accies game on the 27th, the RedMatchday team have put together a special festive programme. The 84 packed pages include interviews with Shay Logan, Kenny McLean, Joe Lewis and Ryan Jack, contributions from all our regular columnists plus Q&As with Graham Hunter and Neil Fachie.

Priced at only £3.00 RedMatchday can be purchased from in and around the ground, at the club shop now and online at www.curtis-sport.com/Aberdeenfc-programmes

Shay Logan

Last season, we asked Danny Ward to give us an insight into the dressing room. Twelve months on, we looked around to see who could do the same this year to tell us about their colleagues. There really was only one candidate… Shay Logan!

This is his take on the Pittodrie dressing room, in squad number order…

“They are all good guys. There is not one person in that dressing room that I don’t get on with or is a bad lad. And I would tell you if there was! You have a lot of different characters, guys who speak more than others, guys from different backgrounds, but we all get on well. There’s not one person who I would not want to room with.

“I see more of the players than I do my family, which highlights how much time we spend together and how important it is to have a good dressing room. The changing room is a good place to be and it is a good place to come and work during the week”.

Ryan Jack

Ahead of the winter shutdown, we spoke to the Aberdeen captain about the year that has almost past, the season so far and his hopes for 2017.

“We know playing for Aberdeen every game is a must win game. There is always that expectation and that demand. The players know that. And rightly so. That is why we are here.

“Players and staff, we expect more from ourselves every week, we expect to be challenging at the top of the table, to be competing for cup finals, playing in Europe.

“But we have to remember where we’ve come from, how quickly we’ve done it and just what the resources are here compared with other clubs. I think the core of players we’ve had through it all, like Andy Considine, Niall McGinn, Mark Reynolds and plenty of others, deserve some credit for seeing it through and bringing the club back up to where it is now.

“We want to use the lesson of that day as the spur to get back to Hampden again and to pick up a trophy this time, to use that as the spur to move forward. We are desperate to put things right on that front.

“We have a very good group of players in that dressing room and a strong squad. It is important that everyone sticks together. I believe we have the players who have the ability and the character to answer up and react to the challenges we face in 2017.”

Kenny McLean

“I think I am finding a level of consistency. I have played most of the games in the middle of the park. That has helped me find some consistency. At times, I have played various positions, it is not a problem at all to me, but it maybe had an impact on my form. At the start of the season, I didn’t think my form was great but that was down to me alone. I think I have picked up a bit recently and things are going well.

“Long may it continue. If I am playing well, hopefully it is helping the team to do well.

“I’ve got a good partnership with Ryan. We have known each other for a long time, we know how we play. We’ve played beside each other for a long run of games now.

“This calendar year we have only lost a few games at home in all competitions, and a couple of them were at the end of last season when things were done and dusted a bit from our side. They were a couple of sloppy results, so it is really only Celtic that we have lost to. The home form has been great and it is something we will look to continue in 2017.”

Joe Lewis

“I spoke to the manager at the start of the season and he gave me a very clear direction on what type of goalkeeper he wants and how he wants his goalkeepers to play. Hopefully I have done what he has asked and warranted my selection.

“In that conversation, the manager said he wanted me to be positive and on the front foot. Physically, he wanted me to come and take things in the air and I think I have done quite well. He wanted me to breed confidence in the defence and hopefully I have made an impact there.”

Gavin Levey

As we are in reflective mood in this week’s redmatchday with the winter shutdown approaching, we spoke to the head of Academy coaching, Gavin Levey, who gave us an update on how things are going within the youth academy:

“It has been a busy first half to the season and everyone within the Academy is working very hard to enhance the environment so the kids can excel. This year, we have put in place a number of new initiatives to aid the development of our players.

“Another big change this season for the AFC Youth Academy has been the introduction of much smaller squads.

“There is a lot of talk about change in Scotland. I think change is going to come in the next couple of years. Across this region, if we want to have the best players, we need to have small squads and concentrate all our time working with the very best players we can.”

One of the major highlights so far this season has been the performances of the U17s. Scott Anderson and Barry Robson work with a very talented squad who currently sit top of their league heading into the winter break. Their success has a knock-on effect through the Academy as Gavin explains.

“For our U15s it is slightly different. The U17s is the only squad that is bigger than normal because of guys who play both 17s and 20s, and the amount of talent we currently have at that level. The 15s are now trying to fight to be part of a successful 17s squad. So when they get an opportunity, they are desperate to take it. Again, that can only be a positive.

“The goals the 17s are scoring and the way they are playing at the moment and the way they are moving the ball around is of a very high standard. The individual technique and movement of the players is exceptional and their style is very good for the younger players to look up to.”

Richard Gordon

With 2017 drawing to a close and the halfway stage of the Premiership upon us, this seems a good time to reflect on the first half of the campaign, and to highlight the individuals who have made their mark.
So, in what has become the favoured formation for most clubs, a 4-3-2-1, here is my team of the season so far.

There are some decent keepers around in Scotland right now, but our very own JOE LEWIS is clearly the best in the business. A commanding figure who quickly settled into his new surroundings, Joe has already pulled off a number of stops worthy of the ‘Save of the Season’ accolade. A brilliant signing by the manager and undoubtedly my number one

Neil Fachie

Towards the end of 2012 I was offered the chance to do the Half Time draw at Pittodrie. It was a great honour, but my memory of it is that, I was with my girlfriend, now wife, Lora. Lora had her Guide Dog Libby with her. When Angus the Bull came running out, Libby was a bit confused by the 6ft fluffy bull who smelled and sounded like a human and barked at him a few times. They eventually made their peace and Angus went home unharmed.

Graham Hunter

When I was at World Cup 2010, Del Bosque and I were making idle chit chat at Ellis Park in Jo'burg the day before the quarter-final against Paraguay.

“I know where you were on 11 May 1983…do you?” I asked him. He didn't. “Sitting in the stand in Gothenburg while my team beat yours!” I told him. I recount most of the game, emphasis on the winner, and he challenges me to name the Madrid side that night. I'm through seven correct names before Cesc and Piqué appear in the corridor about 20 meters away. “Come here lads!” he roars. Come and talk to someone who KNOWS about football!”

Del Bosque subsequently gave the thumbs up to me being allowed in the World Cup winning dressing room immediately after the final. A coup. All thanks to the Dandies.

John Mellis

I think the fact I’ve been asked to write for this particular programme again can only be down to chance, and Red Ed’s poor memory. It is the festive season after all. I suspect he can’t even remember where he was last night, let alone who he asked to write what a year ago. On the subject of his whereabouts last night, Police Scotland are more than able to fill in the blanks, but that’s another matter entirely, so moving on….

Last year, Red Ed, (frayed at the edges from the stress and pressure of the football and festive seasons) asked me to write a column of predictions for 2016. I suspect he thought those would be football based, but I strayed a little over the edges of that. And not very successfully. But then, if you predicted a Trump Presidency, Brexit, Leicester winning the Premier League in England or Ed Balls dancing to Gangnam Style on Strictly, you’re a special kind of seer.

This week's £1000 winner!