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RedMatchday Magazine | issue 02

27 July 2017

RedMatchday 02 | Preview |

Striker Adam Rooney tonight continues his quest to become Aberdeen’s all-time European goalscorer:

“That record is a nice target to aim for and it would be good to have a chance of beating that this term.

“I have had a good run in the European games here. I scored one goal for Birmingham before I came up here and with the nine I have scored for Aberdeen, I’m now in double fixtures for European goals.

“It is good to score goals at any level but obviously it is a bit special to do it in Europe. It is also nice to get goals early on in the season to get yourself off the mark and up and running. It would be great if I could add to my tally tonight and help the team to a good first leg result.

“One of the things we have learned from playing European football is that it is going to be a tough game regardless of who you get, aside from the Riga game the first year, that was an easy tie looking back at it. Otherwise, they have all been tough matches.

“Going into the games you never know what you’ll get. You do your homework on the teams and watch clips of how they play, so we are always prepared as best we can be, but there is still an element of the unknown.
“It is a different style of football. It is great for the players but also the fans to have big games so early in the season whilst other teams are maybe only playing pre-season friendlies. It is massive for the club and all the lads. European football and nights like this are a big incentive for players coming here. When they join, they all ask the lads about our previous European games. The want to know about Groningen away, Rijeka away, and how good some of those night were and how we remember them. We want to have more nights like that, just as we did last Thursday.”

“The manager has options up front. He has myself, Nicky, Jayden, Miles and then Gary-Mackay Steven, Ryan Christie and Greg Stewart who can play just off the front as well. There’s plenty of options and I’m sure during the season you will see different formations being used depending upon who we are playing to try and get the best from the team and to try and get us results.

“It will be exciting to see partnerships and formations develop as the season goes along. I think people are always a bit apprehensive when big players leave a club but I think the fans should be looking forward to the new campaign. The recruitment side of things over the summer has been very good, including boys signing new deals.”

Shay Logan:

“Last year we went out at this stage, the third qualifying round. It was very frustrating and I think it was a frustration that stayed with us all season, particularly the way the game went over in Maribor. We missed a penalty in the first half and then the referee had a poor game in the second half. Everything went against us that day. Nothing went for us, absolutely nothing, so you tend to brood on that a bit.

“Having been in the competition for three straight years before this one, we know what we need to do. We know we are capable of winning these games, but you need to put in a performance in both legs. If you do not, then you will pay the price.  We had a bad 20 minutes over in Kairat and ultimately that cost us a few years back. We also know that in each round, you need to step it up and put in a better performance because you are always playing against better teams each round.

“We know these two games will be hard, but we want to come through.

Graeme Shinnie:

“The best way for new players to settle into the team is by playing, so Greg Stewart and Gary Mackay- Steven getting their goals was ideal and to get them as early as that in such important circumstances is perfect. That will help them get up and running.

“As everyone knows, there have been big changes this summer to the squad. The past few seasons I have been here, there has not been a lot of players leaving and new boys coming in like there has been this summer. I think the strength of the squad is now just as good if not better but it is naturally going to take time to get to know each other and to gel. I actually think the guys who have come in have settled into the team very well, but that’s because this is a good dressing room to come in to. It is a strong squad so it is now just about getting to know each other’s games and to properly gel. I’m very excited by the potential here.”

Plus: Gary Mackay-Steven, Tony Docherty, Greg Stewart and Derek McInnes and all our regular columnists.

This season marks 50 years since the Dons were first involved in European football back in 1967 – there's plenty more about that again in Thursday night's special programme.

Still available for only £3.00 – offering you our readers great value for money.

RedMatchday Issue 02 is available from sellers in and around the ground. There will be copies available to buy in the club shop plus you can buy all the AFC programmes online here: www.curtis-sport.com
 

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