So we have reached yet again the end of another season, and to look back on it you would have to say it has been a very disappointing campaign for one that started out well and looked so promising. However we did not even reach a semi-final this year and were put out in the early stages of the league cup from there on our season went downhill as fans and supporters gradually began to realise there was nothing left of great importance to play for, lets take a look then shall we.
McGinn signed for us on the 4th July 2012 and let's be honest we thought who is this guy, he had been sitting on the bench constantly for Celtic and when his contract expired Craig Brown snapped him up as a winger. Nobody thought that he would make such a big impact to the club, not even bought as an out-and-out goalscorer, McGinn managed 21 goals in all competitions and has been one of the best signings at Pittodrie for years.
The opening day of the season came against Celtic, Aberdeen looked to be playing well and deserved to take at least a point out of the match. The match looked to be finishing a stale mate as Celtic were struggling to break down the Aberdeen defence. However that changed when Langfield slipped up and allowed Common's weak free kick to squirm through his hands, leaving the team distraught. That wouldn't be the last time the Dons left Celtic park upset and angry.
Things picked up from there though and albeit there were 6 draws Aberdeen went on an 12 game unbeaten run (including the cup victories over Morton and Dunfermline). The team looked to be going in the right direction.
Although, we did struggle in the league cup all season as we only managed to beat Morton 0-2 after extra time, the next round saw us beat Dunfermline by a last minute goal that came from Scott Vernon who got 1 of his six goals this season. The quarter finals ere no more convincing and despite grabbing another last gasp equaliser we failed to beat St Mirren on penalties. Focus then turned to the Scottish cup.
Matches in the league were becoming a bit wayward and the Dons seemed to be creating a pattern of losing one match and then winning the next, far from consistent and once again you could say that has been the downfall of Aberdeen this season and certainly over the last few seasons as well.
The draw for the Scottish cup saw us get a home tie against Motherwell and we managed to fight back in the dying seconds to earn a replay. That replay was arguably one of the best nights of the season for Aberdeen. Craig Brown got his tactics spot on and the team put in a terrific performance ripping the Motherwell back line to shreds. The 1-2 scoreline did not do the fantastic Dons team justice.
The last two games before the winter break looked to have set Aberdeen up nicely a fantastic Afternoon at Dens Park saw Aberdeen beat Dundee 1-3 and McGinn got a hat-trick. The next was the 2-2 draw at Pittodrie with Dundee Utd, where once again McGinn fired home except this time from a superb free kick.
What ever happened during the winter break we will never know as this was the turning point in Aberdeen's season and it went down hill from here on in. The first game back saw us lose 3-0 at Inverness and that really put the players heads down and it seemed like they never came back up. Six games then came and went and Aberdeen still hadn't won in 2013 and were slipping down the table however always still in reach of a top six place.
During this time the next round of the Scottish cup took place and this time Aberdeen found themselves at Easter Road for the fifth round of the cup. A massive Aberdeen support came in their thousands to back and support the team, however the Dons could not repay the favour as they were beaten 1-0 by Hibernian. By no it seemed as if the season was over as we were out of both cups and Europe looked out of the question.
Then the drought was over as we beat Dundee on the 15th February. However four more games went without a win and one of those was the 4-3 defeat by Celtic a real sickener to take as we had been 1-3 up with 20 minutes to play.
Aberdeen were now trying to fight for a top six place and it came down to the last game before the split. Craig Brown announced his decision to retire and this would be his last game in charge for the Dons.
Again a big Aberdeen support travelled to get behind their team. But once again on a big occasion the fans were left saddened and disappointed. The 1-0 defeat by Dundee Utd condemned Aberdeen to bottom six football and Craig Brown bowed out of his managerial career with a defeat.
It was then revealed that Derek McInnes would be the new man to take over the reigns at Pittodrie. So far McInnes has proved he is up to the task with 4 draws and a win he is still unbeaten. He has started to create his own team and has already made a clear out at Pittodrie getting rid of 11 players in total. He got McGinn to sign a 2 year extension to his contract which has gone down well with the fans.
All in all a nothing season is as how this one could be described but hopefully with a change of manager things will be better next season. McInnes certainly has the drive and determination to succeed.
Here's to a brilliant 2013/14 season and let's hope McInnes can provide us with the success that we crave. Also our thanks go to Craig Brown who served Aberdeen well and steered us away from relegation when he first came in!
COYR!!
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