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Forget the league: This is a great season for Dons
28th March 2008
FORGET THE LEAGUE: THIS IS A GREAT SEASON FOR DONS
Most people assumed the Dons had passed up their best opportunity to progress into the last four of the Scottish Cup when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink equalized for Celtic with virtually the last kick of the game against Aberdeen to force a replay. Few would have given Jimmy Calderwood?s men any chance of beating the cup holders on their own patch. Yet Darren Mackie?s solitary strike was enough to separate the sides and now only Queen of the South stands between Aberdeen and the final.
Aberdeen?s baffling inconsistency again saw them go from the highs of a midweek victory at Parkhead to the lows of a draw at home with St Mirren putting a huge dent in their chances of making the top six. Now the best route back to European football is through the Scottish Cup. If the Dons beat Queen of the South then they would only need Rangers to despatch of Partick Thistle at the second attempt and St Johnstone to guarantee a spot in the UEFA Cup.
The more confident Dons fans will be hoping that the Jags or the Saints can shock the Gers by reaching the final where Jimmy Calderwood would still require a victory before European football would once again be beckoning next season. However the most confident Dons fans will be hoping that Rangers make it to the final setting up a mouth-watering final with the Reds coming out on top with a famous victory over their bitter rivals. It would certainly be the final that the neutrals would want to watch.
If by the end of the season Jimmy Calderwood can say that he guided Aberdeen to a Scottish Cup triumph, a fantastic run in Europe, the semi-final of the CIS Cup but a bottom six finish in the league then overall you would have to accept that as a very successful season. Aberdeen does not have a big enough squad to sustain a challenge on all fronts. It was to be expected that the further the Dons progressed in the separate cup competitions the easier it becomes to drop points in the league.
Had Aberdeen been knocked out by Celtic in their Scottish Cup quarter-final at the first time of asking at Pittodrie then the Dons would have probably picked up all three points against St Mirren at the weekend. Instead after a midweek, energy-sapping replay a tired Dons side could only manage a draw with the Love Street club.
However if Aberdeen reach the Scottish Cup final on May 24 you wouldn?t be able to find a Dons fan that would trade the excitement generated by the cup competitions this season for a few extra places up the league table.
CRISTIANO RONALDO- THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD?
At the moment Manchester United?s immensely talented Cristiano Ronaldo is producing some absolutely scintillating performances. The Portuguese international got his 33rd goal in all competitions against Bolton on Wednesday, taking him past George Best?s season record of 32 goals in 1968.
However the winger is much more than a goalscorer; he is an all-round player as well. Along with the goals and the flicks and tricks he is fast, good in the air, a set-piece specialist and a battler. Most managers would give anything to have him in their side.
At the moment he would have to be considered the best player in the world. With Ronaldinho currently carrying an extra few pounds around the pitch from his party lifestyle, it is Cristiano who most defenders would least like to come up against.
GET SET FOR ANOTHER THRILLING F1 SEASON
After two exhilarating races in Australia and Malaysia, the Formula One season is back with a bang. With Lewis Hamilton driving to victory in Melbourne and Kimi Raikkonen taking first place in Malaysia it looks set to be another close race to become world champion. Up next is Bahrain on April 6 and Hamilton will be looking for another victory to try and get further ahead of Raikkonen in his pursuit of the drivers? world championship.
TALKING A GOOD GAME
?Aberdeen one, what?s left of Gretna nil.?
Queen of the South announcer reading out the half-time scores last week.
?I?ve always believed at this time of the season you get to see people like oranges ? you squeeze them and some of them tend to capitulate.?
Nobody understands Watford gaffer Aidy Boothroyd.
?I asked the Holy Spirit where he was going to kick. He said ?left? and I said ?thank you?. I went to the left side and I saved the ball, so today I was very blessed.?
Bristol City keepr Adrian Basso thanks divine intervention after saving a penalty against Watford.
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