with Niall McGinn
THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION
All too often, football becomes obsessed with the glamour end of the game, the goals, the star player, the individual. It all looks great on the TV and in the media, but the star system is ultimately one that creates a dead end.
If there is one key ingredient to the success that Derek McInnes has thus far brought to Pittodrie over the course of the season, it’s that it’s the team that has become the star, the collective that matters above all else. Everything good about Aberdeen emanates from the fact that the team, the squad, the staff, the crowd, we are all in it together.
The nature of that change is most reflected in the change in attitude towards Niall McGinn. Last year, he was banging in the goals left, right and centre and reaping all the plaudits as a consequence. This term, though he remains our top scorer, there are fewer goals to his name as his role in the team has evolved into something else. And if you happen to think that’s a change for the worse, just take a look at the league table or have a think about what you’re doing on Sunday 16th March. If you’re still not convinced, have a listen to Niall himself.
“Maybe some people don’t think I am doing as well as last year but I still feel I am contributing to the team. The manager always compliments me on my work rate but other people maybe don’t always see that work. I am involved with the set pieces and setting up chances for others. As long as the manager is happy, that is all that matter. I have been playing every week so I must be doing something right.
“If you asked me whether I would prefer to score 20 goals or get to a cup final, I would definitely take the final over everything. The main thing is that I do well for the team and help them. Of course, in a personal sense, it has been less exciting in terms of goals, but I have still chipped in with a few and I think it has been a more enjoyable season teamwise. Last season was great for me personally but it was hard teamwise as we were not winning as many games as we would have liked.
“This season, my role in the team has changed massively. Last season, I was playing as an out and out striker and getting plenty of chances and scoring goals. This year has been a lot different. I have been playing out wide on the right or on the left. Although this season has been different for me personally I have been involved in set plays and making chances for others. At times it has been difficult and I would like to chip in with more goals, but I am still on a decent number considering I am playing out wide.
“The manager just likes me to get on the ball and for me to create opportunities. He sees me as an important player to help others get openings. If everyone does their job and does well during a game it results in the likes of myself, Peter and Jonny getting space and getting the chance to open teams up and create chances for the strikers. When all three of us are on the top of our games, we know we will be hard to stop.
“The main thing is that I am enjoying my football. I’m at a place now where I am enjoying my football and am part of a winning team, playing week in, week out. It is important we keep doing well as a team and individually it is important to keep doing well so you stay in the team. There are big games coming up that’s what you want to be involved in. You have to keep working hard every day in training to be involved in the games.
“We are in a good place at the moment, the boys are on a high. We have a great team spirit. A lot of credit must go to the manager and Tony Doc. Everything is so positive, training is very, very enjoyable. The good thing about this team is that we have got a good balance between experience and youth and we have some real talent. Everything is gelling together nicely”.
It’s been a long while since this club enjoyed a week as good as the first one in February when we booked a place in the League Cup Final and then put Celtic out of the Scottish Cup in front of their own fans at Parkhead. How do those seven days rank in Niall’s career?
“It was up there with one of my best weeks in my career. We are in a cup final and we are still in the Scottish Cup. Many people said it was a make or break week for our season so thankfully, we came through it strongly. My abiding memory of the St Johnstone game is probably the fans. Even coming off the team bus and getting met by supporters and seeing the number of them who were there at that time was special. The atmosphere throughout the whole day was incredible and it was an honour to be involved in.
“To go on and win 4-0 just made the day even more special. The fans deserve massive credit for helping us to the win and for the support they have given us throughout the season. Even in the earlier rounds of the competition, the fans played a big part especially in the away games at Falkirk and Motherwell. They have always travelled in their numbers. It goes to show that when the fans are behind us it certainly helps us on the field, and we really appreciate them.
“The win at Celtic Park was another good reward for the loyal fans who have been through all the tough times, especially in games at that venue in recent years as there have been a number of games where we have done well and been in with a chance of winning but have lost to late goals.
“I met a few of the Celtic guys after the game, I’m friendly with Anthony Stokes. They were obviously disappointed but they knew that we had played really well and they gave us a lot of respect for the way we had played. They felt we deserved the win and it is always nice when other players praise you.
“We know we have not got the job done yet in either cup competition, and there is still a lot of football to be played. For now, we must forget about the cup competitions and focus on the league again. That is our main priority for the time being. The cup games will take care of themselves and it gives us something to look forward to, but we must concentrate on the league now. We have to keep plugging away in the league and hopefully that will be good enough to get the points needed to get into that second spot at the end of the season.
We have two more league games before the Dumbarton game and we need to try and pick up as many points as possible. We have to concentrate fully on the league for the time being as we want to continue to do well on all fronts. There is a lot of football still to be played and it is a long old season. We have to take it each game as it comes and keep enjoying our football and hopefully we can keep picking up points”.
While McInnes and Docherty will give the credit for the turnaround in Aberdeen’s fortunes to their players, the likes of McGinn are quick to reflect the glory back in their direction.
“The manager has come in and grabbed the bull by the horns. He has created a great buzz about the place and has done really well with the players he has brought in. He has brought in the right players at the right time.
“All the manager’s signings have been brilliant. I remember in the summer when I was at home relaxing and hearing the news of who was joining us, I was very excited about the season ahead. Having played with the likes of Barry and Willo before, I knew how good they were. Even from playing against Willo last season at Dundee United, he was always a stand out player. I knew he would be a great player for us, the type you want in your side. He is not the type of player you want to be playing against. Barry has also been excellent for us. His experience in the dressing room has been crucial this season.
“Adam Rooney has hit the ground running. The manager did a great job bringing him in and it is great to have him on board. He is a good lad off the park as well, a down to earth type of guy. He has shown in the past that he can score goals in this league and thankfully for us, he has already started scoring. He has done very well and is a very important player for us. Jonny and myself have built up a good understanding with him already – obviously he played with Jonny in Inverness which has helped. We all get on well, I think that is the Irish in us! We spend time together off the park and I am sure that has helped him settle in, but he is a down to earth guy and gets on well with everyone.
“The mood here is great. Although we work very hard, the manager likes to join in and have little jokes here and there. His all round attitude towards the game is so positive. He is a very committed manager and that rubs off on the players. He has a winning mentality. His preparation is very thorough and he never looks too far ahead. I think that is a good thing to have in a manager.
“It is also the simple things. He is very organised, the team meetings are interesting. His whole philosophy of football is impressive. It has been very enjoyable working with him and I hope to be part of his plans for a while yet. I remember my agent saying a number of years ago that he was a very good manager and would go very far in the game. When I was at Celtic he tried to sign me a few times and take me on loan to St Johnstone. The move did not happen, but my agent was proved to be right. He is definitely going to be a top manager”.
As we enter the real business end of the season, it is inevitable that the focus will be more and more intense on the club. The Dons have been installed as favourites for the double by some in the media, a pressure we could do without.
“There is pressure on us, but it is not something that concerns me. When you play at a club like Aberdeen, there is pressure on you every time you play. Having been at Celtic I am used to that pressure. There is a mentality that you have to win every game. We are at the stage now where if people are saying we are favourites, then so be it. We know ourselves that we will take each game as it comes and not look too far ahead. We know we are good enough to go on and achieve things but we have to just focus on one game at a time, just as we have been doing all season. That’s what got us in this position, so why change now?”
