This piece is an extract from yesterday's The Dandies newsletter, which is emailed out at 6pm every Tuesday.
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“I was disappointed with the subs; they did not influence the game at all. I expected more from one or two today but that’s for me now to get on the training ground on Monday and Tuesday and sort it out. There were one or two disappointments which I will go into on Monday”. Those are the words of Aberdeen interim manager Neil Warnock while giving the club’s media team his account of Aberdeen’s victory against Bonnyrigg Rose in the Scottish Cup this past Saturday. How very refreshing and honest for once. As fans that’s all we can ask for, an honest assessment from the manager as he appraises the team in the immediate aftermath of a game. For too long this season we heard excuse after excuse after excuse, it became tiresome and predictable.
Aberdeen was not at their best on Saturday, but it was job done and a quarter-final tie against Kilmarnock now beckons. Bojan Miovski took his season tally to 22 goals with a brace, that’s now 40 goals overall in just 78 appearances for the Dons since joining the club in June 2022. I’ve said it time and time again, I have no idea where we would currently be if it were not for his goals this season. Neil Warnock also heaped praise on the North Macedonian in his post-match interview stating he believes he can make Bojan even better, that’s some statement of intent and if true the Scottish Premiership better brace itself as well as Lawrence Shankland!
There is plenty to look forward to as Aberdeen fans as Neil Warnock uses his time in charge to have a positive affect on the club. After his announcement last week, I openly admit I was very sceptical about his appointment, I believed it was nothing but a PR stunt for both the club and Neil but over the past week I have very much come round to him and his way of thinking and now believe he could move us in the right direction. I’m fully on board with him. I’m intrigued to see what he will do with those players who he believes have underperformed in recent times and if that will play a part when selecting his team for the important League game against Motherwell on Wednesday night.
I am of the opinion that we have carried too many passengers this season and a number of players need to up their performances and improve their matchday attitude. On Saturday Bonnyrigg Rose enjoyed 53 per cent of possession to our 47 per cent, they also managed more shots on target and won more corners. These statistics to some may not mean a jot but to give up that amount of possession to a lower league club, especially on home turf, is a worry and I hope Neil addresses this with the players before the game on Wednesday. I have no idea what has happened to Duk, he is the shadow of the player he was last season. On Saturday I was all for him getting a starting berth, I believed it was the perfect opportunity for him to regain some of the confidence that may have been lacking recently. Sadly, I don’t think his performance will do anything for his confidence going forward. I hope I am proved wrong, but he offers very little currently. It’s sad to see.
On a more positive note, I was delighted to see goalkeeper Ross Doohan given his chance against Bonnyrigg. He had little to do but when called upon the 26-year-old looked very assured and commanded his area with authority. I for one would like to see him retain his place between the sticks for the game against Motherwell as games like this will only help his development and offer Kelle Roos much needed competition. I can’t wait for 6.45pm this Wednesday evening when the team lines are released for the game against Motherwell, if Neil Warnock is true to his word, I expect there will be a number of changes with a few noses put out of joint – I’m all for it! Thanks for reading.
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