The only way for the Dons without McInnes is down
FAMILIARITY, as we have seen in the north-east of Scotland this season, most definitely breeds contempt. It is undoubtedly true that many of Aberdeen’s displays and results during the 2019/20 campaign have left much to be desired.
The Europa League capitulation to Rijeka, Ladbrokes Premiership losses to St Mirren, Hibernian and Motherwell, Betfred Cup penalty shoot-out defeat to Hearts and maulings at the hands of Rangers away and Celtic at home have all fallen some way short of the standards expected at Pittodrie and led to mounting discontent in the stands.
When Joe Lewis and his team mates were held to a
0-0 draw by Jim Goodwin’s struggling side in the league in Paisley in January it was too much for some; a group of fans snapped and called for manager Derek McInnes to be sacked.
Yet, since that game six weeks ago, Aberdeen have, as has always been the case when form has dipped during McInnes’s tenure, hauled themselves out of their slump. They now have a William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final to look forward to. A third-placed finish in the Premiership is within reach.
The meeting with Stephen Robinson’s team, who are now just a point above them in the table, at Fir Park this Friday night promises to be a cracker. Win and they will increase their chances of finishing the best of the rest come May greatly.
But even before the victories over Kilmarnock and St
Mirren away had secured their place in the last four of the cup and they had moved to within touching distance of Motherwell in the table, there was a sense that the unhappiness with the Aberdeen manager had to do with more than just performances on the park or their league placing.
The former St Johnstone and Bristol City coach will celebrate seven years in charge at Pittodrie on Wednesday week. His longevity in such a pressurised job is remarkable in the modern game.
However, the length of time he has spent in charge has led to a growing number of supporters questioning if maybe it is time for a change, asking if somebody else could do better, suggesting it could be time to look elsewhere.
They should be careful what they wish for.
The superior spending power of Celtic and Rangers mean it is unreasonable to expect Aberdeen to challenge for the Scottish title and unlikely they will triumph in either of the cup competitions.
McInnes has done everything that can reasonably be expected of him with the budget that he has available to him.
His team have enjoyed consistent league form, gone on lengthy and money-spinning cup runs and secured regular European qualification – and much more since being
Cormack would be taking over it was seen by some as being ominous for McInnes. The two men had developed a close working relationship, friendship even, over the years. Would the new head honcho want to bring in his own guy? Speculation has abounded in the Granite City since.
But the ex-Morton, Rangers, West Brom, Dundee United and Scotland midfielder is deserving of far greater loyalty and support for his accomplishments to date. If Cormack, the United Statesbased software tycoon who has heady ambitions and grand plans for his home town club, has any sense he will ignore the snipers.
Cormack is lucky to have McInnes. The Aberdeen manager is by no means perfect. He has had a tendency to over-think things in big games in the past. His record against Celtic leaves much to be desired.
But he is a good manmanager and motivator who has repeatedly brought the best out of hard-working but limited personnel. Could anybody else have done any better?
A “strategic partnership” with Atlanta United - which will allow Aberdeen to tap into the MLS franchise’s South American scouting network could give McInnes a higher calibre of player to work with going forward. It will be interesting to see how he and his side fare if it does.
The 48-year-old, who will take to the dugout for his ninth semi-final when Aberdeen play Celtic at Hampden next month, has been approached by Sunderland and Rangers in the past but has, due to a bad experience at Ashton Gate and misgivings about finances, thought better of moving.
If another more tempting job offer comes in Aberdeen will do very well to replace him.