BEST OF THE REST ISN’T ENOUGH
McInnes says even third place does not satisfy some Dons fans
Fans need to see a bit more at the minute... I get the frustration
THERE is no magic elixir available at the Fountain of Youth Stadium for the longest-serving manager in the Scottish Premiership.
No instant way for Derek McInnes to harmoniously reconnect with a section of fans becoming increasingly agitated as the seventh anniversary of his appointment edges closer.
Never before in his tenure has McInnes faced such public dissatisfaction. Chants against him heard in Saturday’s bleak Scottish Cup stalemate against Kilmarnock were jeered by others more loyal in the Pittodrie seats.
But these outbursts are threatening to become a pattern, having first been aired in Paisley last month.
McInnes is no stranger to managing pressure. Aberdeen are not a simple club to lead. Even so, this feels like uncharted territory for a man who once dragged the Dons from the bottom six and reestablished them as a competitive force. Scrutiny is increasing week on week, game by game.
The reasons for the current malaise are obvious. It is now five matches and 454 minutes without a goal. A total of 639 minutes without one from open play. If they fail to score against Hamilton tonight, it will be the first time in Aberdeen’s 117-year history that six successive blanks have been recorded. A joke doing the rounds on social media has removed the ball from the net on the club’s badge.
McInnes doesn’t hide from those failings — admitting to anger and embarrassment at the weekend. He understands the ire among supporters but retains belief that a spark will return and Aberdeen can yet rally to finish the season strongly. Third place in the Premiership and a return to Hampden in the Scottish Cup are the twin aims.
Victory over Accies would lift Aberdeen into the right position for the first of those goals, at least until Motherwell meet St Johnstone tomorrow night.
But as for ultimately satisfying all those in the Red Army who have turned mutinous in recent times? McInnes admits that may not be possible. And, to some extent, he would argue he is a victim of his own success.
McInnes led Aberdeen to four successive second-placed finishes — including two above Rangers — before dropping to fourth spot behind the Old Firm and Steve Clarke’s Kilmarnock last term.
With the Ibrox club having finally harnessed its resources under Steven Gerrard’s management, breaking up the Glasgow duopoly has become the longest of long shots.
Being best of the rest now stands as a far more realistic league target, although McInnes feels not everyone in the north-east may see it that way.
Asked if it was hard to match expectations every year, he said: ‘It is, but that’s the game. I believe we should be judged similar to Hibernian and Hearts.
‘Hibs and Hearts would love to be in our position at the minute in terms of points, having a chance to go third tomorrow.
‘We have always been a good wee bit ahead of these clubs over the last wee while, because of how we have worked as a club. Not just how I work, or my players work. As a club, we have worked hard to do things properly.
‘That has allowed us the chance to be where we have been the last wee while.
‘That would be good enough — third — I think for a lot of Hearts and Hibs fans at the minute.
‘Finishing third for us might still not be seen as good enough from some of ours. But that’s just down to previous years.
‘I need to say I can also understand the frustration. I’m frustrated watching the team at the moment, I’m frustrated with not scoring more goals... I totally understand.
‘I take heart and encouragement that there is still a good level of support out there for the team, desperate for us to do well.
‘If we can get moving and winning again, that support will come with us and be important for the last few months of the season.’
No amount of credit in the bank can insulate against the kind of start Aberdeen have made to 2020. A change in attacking form is urgently needed.
Indeed, the next eight days could strongly influence the tone of the rest of the campaign.
Hamilton could be step one towards recovery. Or it could deepen the gloom and amplify the voices wanting Pittodrie chairman Dave Cormack to exact managerial change.
‘Winning tomorrow helps,’ said McInnes. ‘Going third would help the perception (of the season) but I also think it would put a bit of confidence into the team and some of the players.
‘I also think it maybe gives a bit more encouragement to some of the supporters. The supporters are desperate for something to hang on to at the moment, for better performances.
‘There are plenty behind the team but we understand that only lasts for so long. We need to get back to winning games.
‘Hopefully we can win against Hamilton, which will help going into the Celtic game (at home on Sunday). Another positive performance will help going into the Scottish Cup replay (against Kilmarnock next Wednesday).’
McInnes believes there should be faith in his methods, but have those changed in a bid to stir Aberdeeen into life? Is it a case of delivering some tough love to a squad lacking confidence and unable to click?
‘We just approach it the way that we’ve always done,’ countered the 48-year-old.
‘Whether you’re winning games or not, nothing’s changed for us. We’ve had seven years here of doing what we believe is right.
‘We’re just into February and we don’t have a lot of room for error. But we can still finish third and have a good cup run.
‘That’s what I’m working towards, that’s my motivation, that’s what I’m desperate to go and do again this season.
‘Even when we’re doing really
well, you’re never going to please everybody. that’s the way it is for managers. But supporters need to see a bit more at the minute and i get the frustration.
‘there will still be some fans, who for, if we finish third and have a brilliant cup run, it might not be enough. You’re never going to keep everybody happy, i get that.
‘But if we finish third and have a strong cup run, i think we can still be satisfied — given the way the old Firm are at the minute.
‘there is a lot of work to do to prove we can do that, but i believe we’ll do it.
‘i really do believe that how we have worked over the last wee while, shouldn’t be dismissed. it shouldn’t be.
‘We work well as a staff. We work closely with our players. Hopefully, we can get that confidence back in the team and that connection with the supporters again — get that belief back in from the support towards the team.
‘Hopefully we can go and finish the season strongly. i still believe it’s worth working towards.’
Sam Cosgrove has carried the goals burden this term, scoring 21 times. He contributed a penalty to see off Dumbarton in a Scottish Cup tie on January 18 but has been unable to lift aberdeen from their subsequent slump.
‘i think sometimes for strikers it can be like that,’ said mcinnes. ‘there are better strikers than Sam who have gone through that period where they can’t do anything but score.
‘they might not play well but still score. Sometimes, when a player goes home after a game and he’s scored, he’s bursting for the next game.
‘Sometimes you’ve got to trust your strikers. Sometimes when you see players lacking confidence, you need to take them out of the firing line.
‘We’ve got a 21-goal striker in the building and you’re always reluctant to take that type of firepower out of the team.
‘We work hard with our players to keep giving them that confidence. the players have got to show that themselves.’