pete 2,499 Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 (edited) Aberdeen v Rangers Match Preview On Sunday Rangers head to Aberdeen, to take on one of our biggest rivals for the league title or at least for the second place. The atmosphere of an Aberdeen v Rangers is described as toxic. Some supporters say that playing Aberdeen has actually become more toxic than an Old Firm match. To try and find out why I went back into the History of Aberdeen FC. They originate from the amalgamation of three football teams in 1903. Aberdeen FC, Victoria United and Orion. Due to financial reasons they actually dropped out of senior football in 1917 only to re-emerge in 1919. Funny they seem to have kept these 2 years as part of their history. Their supporters are proud in calling themselves The Reds but in fact it was not until 1939 that they started wearing red, their colours until then were actually Gold and Black vertical stripes. They changed to red to match the colours of Aberdeen city council. Apart from a period just after the war and then in the eighties where they won 3 league titles under Alex Ferguson, they have always really been the also rans of Scottish football, only winning the league on 4 occasions One funny thing is their first League title was was won under a manager called Halliday and that was in season 54-55. Maybe an omen for Andy to take over the captaincy and drive us on to title number 55. There is nothing in their early history that would suggest there was any toxic or unfriendly atmosphere at an Aberdeen v Rangers match, that seems to have developed in the eighties. One incident that could have fuelled the bad relationship was when Willie Johnston stamped on John McMaster's neck at Ibrox in a Scottish League Cup tie. that still lives long in the memory of many Aberdeen fans. Another reason could be the tactic of Sir Alex Ferguson who would try to work people up by convincing them that the whole of the West of Scotland were against them, including the old Firm and the media. It certainly worked as he lifted 3 league titles and they became the only Scottish club to win 2 European trophy's. That success certainly upgraded the rivalry between Aberdeen and the Old Firm. The appointment of Graham Souness as the Rangers manager to bring Rangers to the top of Scottish football, almost coincided with the departure of Alex Ferguson to Manchester United. With Rangers gaining success after success winning 9 league titles in a row and Aberdeen virtually returning to their also ran status, this probably created a lot of resentment and jealousy turning into the hatred of our club. One other fact worth mentioning that brought bad blood to the game was the carreer-threatening injury suffered by Ian Durrant after a horrible tackle from Neil Simpson. Ian Durrant was out of the game for 3 years but could never get near to reaching the potential he had before his injury. Even to this day the Aberdeen supporters still sing the name of Neil Simpson when Rangers are in town. It has been well noted that Rangers and Aberdeen have both had mediocre starts to the season with both teams only mustering up 9 points from the opening 6 games. Only in the League cup have Rangers really shown the real form that we produced last season to win the Championship. Part of the reason could be the breaking in of 11 new players and key players in Joey Barton and Nico Kranjcar both missing a full pre season training. The Joey Barton affair has been well documented and he is a certainty to miss the next few games. Andy Halliday has retuned to playing the deeper defending midfield role and the Rangers midfield certainly looks quicker and more mobile when he plays in that position. Another part of our problem has been amateur defending but with Clint Hill and Danny Wilson coming in for the last 2 games they look to have steadied the ship in that department although being honest they also have not been put under much pressure. Aberdeen will certainly pose a bigger threat with Adam Rooney almost certain to start up front our defenders will certainly have their hands full to hold him at bay. Bringing Philippe Sendros or Rob Kiernan back are the other options. I fully expect Lee Wallace to return to left back with Lee Hodson returning to the Bench James Tavernier will take up his usual place at right-back. Scoring more goals than your opponent is the name of the game and there-in lies another part of our mediocre start. We can keep possession of the ball but most of the time we are so pedestrian that defending against us has been pretty easy up until now. In the last league game Ross County didn't even really try to attack us and were trying for a draw with time-wasting tactics from the first minute. I doubt if Aberdeen will play as negative as that so hopefully we will get a more open game. If and when we do get chances though we have to start taking them as we have had chances to win all our games, except against Celtic, but we have to learn to be more lethal in that field. I expect the team to be: Foderingham Tavernier Senderos Wilson Wallace Forrester Halliday Holt Waghorn Garner McKay Edited September 23, 2016 by pete 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,416 Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 Any updates on the injuries to Holt & Windass yet? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete 2,499 Posted September 23, 2016 Author Share Posted September 23, 2016 Preview up now. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackSocksRedTops 3,480 Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 (edited) Aberdeen v Rangers Match Preview On Sunday Rangers head to Aberdeen, to take on one of our biggest rivals for the league title or at least for the second place. The atmosphere of an Aberdeen v Rangers is described as toxic. Some supporters say that playing Aberdeen has actually become more toxic than an Old Firm match. To try and find out why I went back into the History of Aberdeen FC. They originate from the amalgamation of three football teams in 1903. Aberdeen FC, Victoria United and Orion. Due to financial reasons they actually dropped out of senior football in 1917 only to re-emerge in 1919. Funny they seem to have kept these 2 years as part of their history. Their supporters are proud in calling themselves The Reds but in fact it was not until 1939 that they started wearing red, their colours until then were actually Gold and Black vertical stripes. They changed to red to match the colours of Aberdeen city council. Apart from a period just after the war and then in the eighties where they won 3 league titles under Alex Ferguson, they have always really been the also rans of Scottish football, only winning the league on 4 occasions One funny thing is their first League title was was won under a manager called Halliday and that was in season 54-55. Maybe an omen for Andy to take over the captaincy and drive us on to title number 55. There is nothing in their early history that would suggest there was any toxic or unfriendly atmosphere at an Aberdeen v Rangers match, that seems to have developed in the eighties. One incident that could have fuelled the bad relationship was when Willie Johnston stamped on John McMaster's neck at Ibrox in a Scottish League Cup tie. that still lives long in the memory of many Aberdeen fans. Another reason could be the tactic of Sir Alex Ferguson who would try to work people up by convincing them that the whole of the West of Scotland were against them, including the old Firm and the media. It certainly worked as he lifted 3 league titles and they became the only Scottish club to win 2 European trophy's. That success certainly upgraded the rivalry between Aberdeen and the Old Firm. The appointment of Graham Souness as the Rangers manager to bring Rangers to the top of Scottish football, almost coincided with the departure of Alex Ferguson to Manchester United. With Rangers gaining success after success winning 9 league titles in a row and Aberdeen virtually returning to their also ran status, this probably created a lot of resentment and jealousy turning into the hatred of our club. One other fact worth mentioning that brought bad blood to the game was the carreer-threatening injury suffered by Ian Durrant after a horrible tackle from Ian Simpson. Ian Durrant was out of the game for 3 years but could never get near to reaching the potential he had before his injury. Even to this day the Aberdeen supporters still sing the name of Ian Simpson when Rangers are in town. It has been well noted that Rangers and Aberdeen have both had mediocre starts to the season with both teams only mustering up 9 points from the opening 6 games. Only in the League cup have Rangers really shown the real form that we produced last season to win the Championship. Part of the reason could be the breaking in of 11 new players and key players in Joey Barton and Nico Kranjcar both missing a full pre season training. The Joey Barton affair has been well documented and he is a certainty to miss the next few games. Andy Halliday has retuned to playing the deeper defending midfield role and the Rangers midfield certainly looks quicker and more mobile when he plays in that position. Another part of our problem has been amateur defending but with Clint Hill and Danny Wilson coming in for the last 2 games they look to have steadied the ship in that department although being honest they also have not been put under much pressure. Aberdeen will certainly pose a bigger threat with Adam Rooney almost certain to start up front our defenders will certainly have their hands full to hold him at bay. Bringing Philippe Sendros or Rob Kiernan back are the other options. I fully expect Lee Wallace to return to left back with Lee Hodson returning to the Bench James Tavernier will take up his usual place at right-back. Scoring more goals than your opponent is the name of the game and there-in lies another part of our mediocre start. We can keep possession of the ball but most of the time we are so pedestrian that defending against us has been pretty easy up until now. In the last league game Ross County didn't even really try to attack us and were trying for a draw with time-wasting tactics from the first minute. I doubt if Aberdeen will play as negative as that so hopefully we will get a more open game. If and when we do get chances though we have to start taking them as we have had chances to win all our games, except against Celtic, but we have to learn to be more lethal in that field. I expect the team to be: Foderingham Tavernier Senderos Wilson Wallace Forrester Halliday Holt Waghorn Garner McKay My team would be: Foderingham Tavernier Hill Wilson Hodson Halliday Holt Windass O'Halloran Waghorn Garner Edited September 23, 2016 by BlackSocksRedTops 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooponthewing 1,139 Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 Enjoyed the piece of history re the sheep and their selective memory:shifty: Good read and I would agree with the line up except swap Forrester for Windass if fit to start. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott7 5,172 Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 I don't suppose many remember the 54/55 title winners. Beautifully balanced team which proved that you don't need a bunch of star guys who can't play together and don't make the effort. The current Aberdeen might have more cohesion than Rangers at this stage of the season ant they play such a basic system it's hard to get it wrong. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,416 Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 MW: Lee Wallace will be back and all our centre halves are fit. Jordan Rossiter won't be available. I hope Josh Windass will be though 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,151 Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 Windass didn't train today so it's unlikely he'll make it. Despite his poor form I'd expect Wallace to return and Forrester to play centrally instead of Kranjcar. That allows us to play McKay and O'Halloran to stretch Aberdeen on the wings (and on the counter). 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,151 Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 PS: Nice, informative preview, Pete! Rousseau, can you please publish today or tomorrow if you get a chance? I'm about to leave for home and may not get a chance before the game... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,416 Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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