competitive matches
It would have been the ideal way to kick-off the Derek McInnes era at Pittodrie.
Sadly, it wasn’t to be. What we got instead was a sterile ninety minutes with little or no genuine quality on show from either side, a recurring theme it seems when the Dons and Hibernian go head-to-head.
Derek’s frustration was clear for all to hear in his post-match interview, but he, and we, all know better days lie ahead.
There were mitigating factors; it wasvery windy and the pitch wasn’t great, but the manager still had a right to expect better individual performances across the team. Perhaps, as he suggested, they were just over keen to impress their new boss.
I hope, for your sakes, they shake that off this afternoon and reach the kind of heights they are capable of against a Kilmarnock side which has hit the buffers of late, suffering a run of poor results which cost them what had looked like a near-certain place in the Top Six.
This year’s split has thrown up some exciting and intriguing encounters in the top half of the SPL, but with Dundee – despite their recent revival – still heavily odds-on to take the drop, the bottom half looks like nothing more than a fixture-filling exercise.
Each team can point to reasons why the matches are still important: Derek is learning about his new players; Hibs have a Cup Final to prepare for; Hearts are desperate to overtake their city rivals and .. ok, I’m struggling now. The one major incentive is a financial one with each league place attracting significantly more prize money, cash which will be beneficial in planning for next season, but that’s hardly going to have the fans flocking back to the grounds.
The one thing that might is meaningful, competitive matches, and that of course was one of the main thrusts from the SPL clubs, Aberdeen among them, canvassing for change and determined to push through their 12-12-18 league reconstruction proposals.
Having seen those blocked by St Mirren and Ross County, the ‘ten’ are now regrouping and licking their wounds, and unless there’s a seismic shift in attitudes we are going to have the same set-up next season.
Bizarrely, all this discussion has come in a season which, despite the dire warnings last summer, has, on the park at least, thrown up plenty positives; some fantastic stories, thrilling matches (not enough involving the Dons) and one of the higher goals-scored totals in SPL history.
One quick-fix solution to stimulate the bottom six would be to introduce a relegation play-off place. That could be done very easily for next season, but whether there is any will to do so after the bitter battles of late has to be very much in doubt.
I could have written plenty more about the reconstruction debate, but I too am losing the will to live regarding that subject. If you want to read my thoughts, you’ll find them in a column I wrote last week for the football website talkingbaws.com
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