Redmatchday | Issue 19

few remaining copies available online

It’s a special day at Pittodrie On Sunday as Russell Anderson has the opportunity to clock up his 400th game for the Dons. Similarly, Jamie Langfield is set for his 316th appearance, taking him past John McMaster and into 21st place in the all-time appearances list. So what better time to look at the list of the Top 100 Dons of all time? RedMatchday will have the list.

Russell Anderson |

… “The most pleasing thing about the season as a whole is the consistency we’ve shown right across the campaign, we’ve not really had any bad runs and when we have had a poor result, invariably we’ve bounced back quickly to put things right. That’s what puts us in a great position as we go into today’s game which, at the time of going to print, looks set to be the decider for second spot.

… “To have already clinched European football for next season is a big plus for the club, but there is another prize to be had this afternoon as we try to secure second place for the first time in 20 years. As I’ve said before, given Celtic’s resources, coming second in the SPFL is like winning our own league and so we will be going all out to get the win on Sunday and top the 70 point mark which would be another great achievement for the club.

… “The support we’ve had this year has been exceptional, not just in the biggest games but all over the country, all kinds of games, day and night. We all understand how much supporters have to sacrifice in time and money to follow us and believe me, it is very much appreciated by everyone in the changing room.

… “Thanks for your support throughout the last year.

Derek McInnes |

? “When I came into the club with Tony Docherty just over a year ago, the club had been going through a tough spell on the field for quite a while, having had four seasons out of the top six. I said then that a club like this has to do better, but that it wouldn’t happen overnight and that a lot of hard work would need to go into things if we were going to put things right here.

? “I knew we had a good collection of players and staff here when we kicked off the season last August, but not even I realised just what a capacity for work they have about them and it is that work ethic, allied to some real ability, that has enabled us to get ahead of schedule this season.

? “Realistically, we wanted to do well in one of the cups and ensure that we finished in the top half of the table, but we have been able to leave those ambitions behind and press on to new ones.

? “The biggest thanks go to you, the supporters. When I arrived here, I said that I wanted to see the city fall in love with its football team again. I think we’ve seen that happen and the way you have responded to us this season has been incredible. Those days at Tynecastle and Parkhead in particular will never be forgotten but nor will many other days, home and away, when you have helped get your team over the line. Just do it one more time on Sunday and then we can go and enjoy the summer break!

Ryan Jack |

? “On a personal level, in terms of my footballing development, I am getting there, but there is still a lot for me to learn. I don’t think you ever stop learning. There are always little things in training that the manager and Doc will tell me, tips on what they want me to do, what they want me to try. There is still plenty of room to improve my all round game”.

? “Like everyone in the team I have strict instructions and duties when the team are defending. I am the one who drops a bit deeper and if a team is playing one off the front, something many teams do now, it is my responsibility to keep an eye on them. I also have to make sure all the boys in front of me keep working hard. But every week, he tells me just to go out and play my own game and express myself. He tells me to get my full range of passing going. I feel this season I have played more consistently. Hopefully I can continue that form into next season as well.

? “Barry and Willo have been good to play with because they have so much experience to pass on. I have learnt a lot from them. Sometimes Barry will play out on the right but he will still come inside and get on the ball. Even although he has not been playing right in the centre, we still have that connection on the pitch so we know where we all are.

? “Willo is one of those players who is always there. He is always wanting on the ball. He will sometimes even try and come and take it off my feet if I have the ball! He just wants to get involved that much. You need players like that, players who are always looking to make things happen. He has added a lot to the team this season.

… Football is ever evolving and teams must change with it. Nowhere is that more true than at the younger age groups where the competition is even more intense than at first team level. After all, there’s a group of players at every age right through to the under 20s, all pushing for a starting place in Neil Cooper’s side, the final rung on the ladder towards earning some first team action.

… If you take a look at the team line-ups for the U20s in the back of our programme, you’ll see there’s been a substantial turnover in personnel in the last few months. That created a number of gaps in the U20s squad, a number of youngsters from the U17s required to step up and replace them. Whilst results have understandably suffered, it is a strategy which will hopefully not just benefit the U20s in the near future but also benefit the first team in the longer term.

… This season, Scott Wright, Richie Petrie, Michael Kelly and Michael Jones have all played a big part in the U20s campaign after coming on board as full time professionals in last July. More recently, U16 players Frank Ross, Arron Norris and Daniel Harvey, along with U17 players Lewis Dunbar, Sam Robertson, Jamie Henry and Kalvin Orsi have all been involved in the SPFL Youth League. Scott Anderson, coach of the U17s, told us about the high hopes everyone has at the club for this current crop of players.

Also in the programme are all the usual features, columnists and extensive history section.

RedMatchday magazine is on sale from in and around the ground on Saturday and is also available from the Pittodrie Club shop priced at £3.

If you cannot get to the game you can buy a copy online by clicking here