STAND FREE WHEREVER YOU MAY BE - And you thought Celtic beating Barca was something!

[Mr_Grieves]

Season preview 2025/26
Treble Treble?




Targets


League - Winner
Scottish Cup - Winner
Scottish League Cup - Winner
Europe - Champions league - Quarter Finals




Summer news
Another busy summer with Manager changes on the continent while Scotland.
Fulham buy the SPL
Celtic try to trade up with transfers. I don't think they've done well.






Manager Changes
Didier Dechamps - Tottenham, Neil Lennon sacked
Massimo Allegri - Roma, Original manager Delio Rossi Retired
Torben Joneletie - Lyon, Replaced Dechamps
Alan Shearer - Osasuna, Frank De Boer sacked after being amazing last year.
David Moyes - R Sociedad, Rudi Garcia sacked
Yaroslav Rakitski - Sporting, Replaced Alan Shearer
Rudi Garcia - Valencia, Slavan Bilic sacked
Steven Gerrard - Arsenal, Steve McLaren retired after winning the Premiership
Radja Nainggolan - Porto, Replaced Steven Gerrard
Jordan Rhodess - Alloa, Came in to save Alloa from Barry Smith






Transfers


Top June and July Transfers
No mega deals but the Premiership spends big.
View attachment 341740View attachment 341742




Top SPL Transfers
Hearts and St Johnstone make massive profits on sales while Celtic buy and sell.
View attachment 341743






First team 2025
Provisional
View attachment 341745


No changes to the starting 11 from our team last season. Happy to give this team another chance after almost knocking out Man City and only loosing twice in the league.


Three players I've promoted to the 1st team are


Wing back Luis Carrera who must prove this season he can step up and replace Alex Butler in the future
View attachment 341748


Midfielder Peter Sudimak who hasn't shown his true talent yet
View attachment 341749


Attacking Midfielder Gavin Coutts who i thought would have replace Elias by now but has not developed how i wanted at all. So Far!
View attachment 341751



​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

Pre Season




Friendly's
Totally messed up pre season preparations by trying to buy and sell


Dunfermline 0-5 Aberdeen

Vitesse 0-3 Aberdeen

Alloa 1-4 Aberdeen






Aberdeen Transfers
All players are youngsters who could have a part to play for the Dons or left to play there trade around the SPL.
View attachment 341800




In


Defense
View attachment 341801




Midfield
View attachment 341802View attachment 341803View attachment 341804View attachment 341805





Out


Craig Crawford - Rangers - £1.6m
View attachment 341806


Rangers were the only SPL team to bid.


Roy Strachan - Sheff Weds - £2.2m
View attachment 341807


Probably my best developed club regen. I Couldn't give him away to a SPL team so we left to sell him for money to England


Pierre Jacquet - FC Sochaux
View attachment 341808


No SPL team wanted him on loan so sent him back to France off my wage bill.




Only 1 more player went out on loan. Liam Cameron to Hearts




​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

Champions League Group Stage Draw
View attachment 341822




1st Seeds

We only just hold onto the status as top seeds over last seasons runner up's Benfica
View attachment 341823


Hard to see a easy draw here. Any of them will be a challenge




2nd Seeds

Athletico Madrid
View attachment 341824


No easy draws but the Spanish Champions were probably the worst of the lot.


3rd seeds on the other hand couldn't have more contrast if it tried. Dortmund, Inter, Man Utd would be a nightmare draw. Olymiakos would be a dream




3rd Seeds

Sporting Lisbon
View attachment 341825


Phew. Was convinced we were getting Man Utd there but Sporting as 3rd seeds should make qualification easy enough.


Would like to Avoid Zaragoza. Zilina or BATE would be great.




4th Seeds

Anderlecht
View attachment 341826


We just miss out on Zilina but Anderlecht don't worry me.




View attachment 341827
Aberdeen and Athletico set to fight for top spot


Aberdeen were served a interesting draw for this seasons European Cup. Without showing disrespect to Sporting but perennial knock out phase team Aberdeen and Spanish champions Athletico Madrid are set to go to war for the top spot in the group. "Im not so concerned about getting top spot this season. With the teams i expect to progress will see 16 top level teams going through and little difference between getting 1st and 2nd. Not to say we wont be going all out to beat Madrid home and away"



​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

August




Perfect start to the League
Dundee Utd make a much better start
Old firms transfer moves not paying off immediately


Fixtures




Aberdeen 4-2 Kilmarnock
Hugo 3
Elias


Kilmarnock put up quite the fight with our dominance only making a difference in the last 10 minutes.




Motherwell 0-2 Aberdeen
Essomba
Gauld


Still no Loeffen but were still winning games.




Aberdeen 4-1 Hibs
Elias
Sneddon
Durmaz
Soldan


Two of our 3 attackers starting were 16 years old, one even scoring as Loeffen gets close to a return




Dundee 0-4 Aberdeen
Loeffen 2
Pierce
Soldan


He's Back!!! Well for 3 minutes before suffering a groin strain putting him out for another month. If that wasn't enough Sneddon playing his 2nd game back strained his knee ligaments and will be out till October/November




St Johnstone 1-3 Aberdeen
Essomba
Glowacki
Elias


There was 15 minutes left & were down to 10 men but then we started playing scoring twice to make it look much more comfortable than it was.






League
View attachment 341842


New firm at the top of the table as the Old firm make a sloppy start




Player of the month
Liam Fotheringham
View attachment 341841


Scotlands star Center Back got his 50th cap this month just before his 22nd birthday and has made a wonderful start to the season at Aberdeen






Scotland


Friendly
Germany 3-1 Scotland
Edwards


This fixture was a gamble to try drag us back up the rankings but its not worked in the slightest.



​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

August Transfers
View attachment 341862





World Transfers
View attachment 341863




Scottish transfers
Hearts continue to spend some of there massive bounty they received in the summer.
View attachment 341864




Meanwhile at Donald Stadium


One sold One Loaned


Young defender Gerado Montenegro was sold to Rangers. Wanted ridiculous money to sign on at Aberdeen and was not looking like breaking into the team. Also leaving us just temporally is Sami Amri as loaned to Lille. A lot of big teams were interested in loaning him so he must be good so i put him on loan to Lille who were willing to offer him 1st team football. Might return to the 1st team next season.



​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

Scotland




Squad


More injury misery for Derek Sneddon who is joined on the sick list Scott Robertson & Craig Reid. Its not all bad news as half English forward Ross Robertson decides to play for us. Don't really need another striker but never mind


Ross Robertson
View attachment 341902




3 More injury's before the games kick off. Great!






World Cup Qualifier Match 7
Hungary 1-1 Scotland
Macari


Our terrible run goes on. The draw in Hungry leaves the Slovakia match a MUST WIN. On the plus side a new record for Martin McCulloch. Youngsters player in World Cup Qualifier history. Craig Sibbald won his 90th cap


Even more annoying is that Russia opened the door with a draw in Cyprus
View attachment 341903




World Cup Qualifier Match 8
Scotland 5-2 Slovakia
Macari 2
Fotheringham
Grant
O'G


I gambled on an attacking line up which gave us the goals we needed to win comfortably. Grant and Coutts reach 10 caps

View attachment 341904




Goal Difference means were assured of at least a Play-Off spot. We'll need a huge favor from Slovakia to set up a last game decider in Moscow.



​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

September



Lacking several star starters we get a win against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League
Mark Loeffen finally get back into the team
To try and find quality kids abroad we get a new feeder team. Spartak Moscow!


Fixtures




Aberdeen 4-0 Rangers
Lupson
Glowacki
McCulloch 2


The international break wasn't kind to us. Gauld, Grant & Hugo all came back injured and Loeffen isn't ready to return yet. We won non the less. Wasn't quite the Handmade massacre but our kids striker grabbed 2. Archer played his 250th game for Aberdeen.




Champions League Match 1
Aberdeen 1-0 Sporting
McCulloch


The Sporting game is one i expected to win but without severe star players i was just grateful to get the 3 points.

View attachment 341915




Livingston 1-5 Aberdeen
Elias
Archer 3
Durmaz


As Loeffen finally plays a game without injury but it was Archer who went hattrick hunting




Scottish League Cup 3rd Round
Elgin 0-6 Aberdeen
McCulloch 2
Coutts
Kakakubo
Lupson
O'G


Youth players did great against the mighty Elgin. Motherwell await in the Quarter Finals




Hearts 0-3 Aberdeen
Archer
Soldan
Loeffen


He's back again and this time he didn't get injured.






League
View attachment 341916


New Firm still twadlling along well in the top two. Aberdeen are 8/8 and now Loeffen is back to fix the goal difference




Player of the month
Michal Soldan
View attachment 341917


The old man of the team almost won the award last month but this time round there was no getting away from who was our star player this month.




​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

Scotland




Squad
Grant Hanley is back, Scott Robinson was but got injured again and Derek Sneddon and out 3rd choice keeper aren't fit enough yet.




World Cup Qualifier Match 9
Cyprus 0-5 Scotland
Clark
Robertson
Gauld
Macari
Edwards


We made a very slow start taking the lead right ton half time but our second half was a very different story.


Our win was irrelevant as Russia won handsomely in Slovakia to lock in top spot.
View attachment 342021View attachment 342022


Automatic qualification isn't out the window yet however but we almost certainly need to win in Russia to qualify automatically as the best placed 2nd team. Goal Difference should work in our favor over any side.





World Cup Qualifier Match 10
Russia 1-2 Scotland
M Fotheringham
Edwards


What a game! My favorite as Scotland Boss. We took a very early lead which we held till just after half time Russia got back in front. But never fear this is Scotland were talking about. With 20 minutes to go youngster Glenn Edwards put us ahead again and into pole position to be the best placed 2nd team. Danny Wilson won his 125th cap & Rangers Runaway Craig Crawford made his 75th Scotland appearance.


Or maybe not! I totally misunderstood the 2nd place qualification layout. Turns out the top team doesn't go automatically through but rather the bottom 2nd place team go out!

View attachment 342023View attachment 342024


So its play-offs for us.






Play Off Draw


Ukraine Vs Scotland
View attachment 342025


We were the 1st game out of the hat and the game comes with good and bad news. The good news Were at home for the 2nd leg the bad news we've lost every game we've played against Ukraine



​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

October


Still have a 100% record through the season
Just sneak past Motherwell in the cup
Brilliant win in Madrid to lead us to the top of the Group




Fixtures




Champions League Match 2
Ath Madrid 0-2 Aberdeen
Butler
McCulloch


What a stunning result. Athletico played right into our hands as we played on the counter grabbing the opener very early on then we went al lout defense and time waste and in the 90th minute sub Martin McCulloch continuing to make a name for himself.

View attachment 342189




Aberdeen 2-0 Ross County
Loeffen
Durmaz




Aberdeen 4-1 Dundee Utd
Loeffen 2
Pierce
Archer


Our New Firm rivals have been stutering recently. Elias makes his 350th appearance for Aberdeen




Champions League Match 3
Aberdeen 4-0 Anderlecht
Elias
Durmaz
O'G
Coutts

View attachment 342193




Celtic 0-1 Aberdeen
Loeffen


This was my 800th game in managment. Here's my stats through the first 799

View attachment 342190




Scottish League Cup Q/F
Aberdeen 5-1 Motherwell -- AET --
Hugo
Essomba
McCulloch 3


We needed a extra time wondershow from 16 year old McCulloch to put us into the Semi finals where we'll play St Johnstone who are having a great season.






League
View attachment 342191


Were now 11/11. Kilmarnock & St Johnstone are tied in 2nd with Hearts and Celtic starting to get a grip of themselfs. Rangers are struggling but not as much as Ross County




Player of the month
Brett Archer
View attachment 342192


The English winger had one of his best months at the club



​

 

[jashhouse]

Just read the whole thing from page 1, such a great story and im amazed of what you've achieved , leoffen looks unbelievable, keep it up

 

[Mr_Grieves]

Scotland


Squad


Reid, Robinson and Sneddon finally make there return. Only George Clark leaves the squad with injury




World Cup Play off 1st leg
Ukraine 0-1 Scotland
M Fotheringham


A tight 1st half was changed by Ukraine coming out fighting in the second half forcing me to change into a more counter attacking set up which eventually gave a chance to Fotheringham who took it and gave us the advantage for the 2nd leg. Avoid defeat and were in the World Cup

Captain Jack Grimmer won his 100th cap, Derek Sneddon his 90th and Stuart Lindsay his 80th

Other games look pretty sewn up compared to our match

View attachment 342195




World Cup Play off 2nd leg
Scotland 3-2 Ukraine
M Fotheringham
Sibbald
Macari


AGG - Scotland 4-2 Ukraine


Were going to the Argentine!
[video=youtube;opsudWaeNqk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opsudWaeNqk[/video]


We've made it! That late goal in Ukraine was valuable but seemed worthless at half time when we were 2-1 behind and heading out of the Cup before we ever got there for our 10th World Cup Finals appearance.

View attachment 342196


​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

November




Hibs rob us of our 100% record
Next time out we faulted massively in Lisbon
Rangers only 8th in the league!




Fixtures




Champions League match 4
Anderlecht 0-3 Aberdeen
Loeffen 3


The Loeffen juggernaut keeps us 5 points above the Athletico meaning we win in Lisbon then we'll top the group.

View attachment 342214




Kilmarnock 1-5 Aberdeen
Loeffen 3
Archer
David


We were 1-0 down very early on but Loeffen knocked out Killie before Archer and David supplied the final blows.




Aberdeen 2-0 Motherwell
Loeffen 2


Same old Loeffen! After a good month for injury's Lupson pulled his hamstring and is out for a month and Archer twisted his ankle ruling him out till 2026




Hibs 2-2 Aberdeen
Loeffen 2


The SPL has sunk to a new low to try and stop Aberdeen & Loeffen. Disallowed goals either side of half time to screw us out of our unbeaten record.




Champions League Match 5
Sporting Lisbon 2-1 Aberdeen
Sneddon


We May have thrown away the group in the last 15 minutes. Felt it when Sporting equalized that we were onto a looser and sure enough with 5 minutes left the winner went Sportings way. We've been rubbish since the International play offs. Delighted i can rest the 1st team in the cup next time out

View attachment 342215




Scottish Cup 4th Round
Airdrie 0-3 Aberdeen
McCulloch 3


Games like this make it so tempting to shove him in Loeffens place. We get Falkirk in the next round where there is no Rangers after our affiliated team Dunfermline knocked them out.






League
View attachment 342216


We have a 11 point lead over the very impressive Kilmarnock who are just ahead of Celtic in the league. Ross County stilll stuck on 3 points.




Player of the month
Martin McCulloch
View attachment 342218


10 goals in the two cup competitions already. Really kicking down the door to get his chance.



​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

World Cup 2026 Group Draw
View attachment 342232




Our dodgy form over the last 12 months see's us drop back to be a solid 2nd seed team after breaking into the top 10 we've dropped right back to 20 in the world






The Worst group for Scotland is
England
Scotland
Colombia
USA




While the Best group we could get is
Mexico
Scotland
Algeria
Iran


This summer i think it will all come down to the draw. We need 3rd and 4th seeds to be rubbish so we can take advantage of our squad not being as great as it once was.






1st Seeds




Mexico in Group A is the most desirable tie. Brazil and England are the ones to miss.






2nd seeds
View attachment 342233


YES YES YES!!!! Thank you Mr Draw maker. Mexico have an amazing strike force but i think we have a shot at winning the group since Mexico should be our toughest opposition.


From the African/South American seeds i would like Algeria or Peru although non of them make me sit up and worry






3rd seeds
View attachment 342234


Peru
View attachment 342236


Someone up there must really like me with this draw, Almost gone to perfection.


If we Get Saudi Arabia or Iran im going to Vegas NOW!






4th seeds
View attachment 342235


Serbia
View attachment 342237


Well it couldn't be perfect could it. Serbia are a bit like the current team 2 or 3 top class players then nothing too exciting after that.






This will be a very interesting group. Anyone except Peru i think could win the group and anything could happen making every game a cup final.



​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

December




A few domestic thrashings to make up for our drop in form in November
Destroy Athletico Madrid to secure top spot in the group.


Fixtures




Aberdeen 11-0 Dundee
Glowacki
Sneddon 2
Essomba 4
Elias
Loeffen 2
O'G


It really wasn't Dundee's day. They even managed to miss a penalty at the end. This was Alex Butler's 400th Game for Aberdeen




Champions League Match 6
Aberdeen 3-0 Athletico Madrid
Sneddon
Loeffen
Soldan


The Dundee Game must have really fired the boys up for tonights game. one of my proudest nights in charge of Aberdeen. Following on from Butler this was Keeper Daniel Monnards 400th Aberdeen appearance.


In the end Athletico made it but only on goal difference

View attachment 342256




Rangers 0-2 Aberdeen
Glowacki
Loeffen


We've had a busy week so im glad to get over my least favorite banana skin.




Aberdeen 3-1 St Johnstone
Loeffen 2
Essomba


We were not to hot here. Missed so many chances when the game was tied and conceding a early goal never impresses me.




Aberdeen 7-0 Livingston
Sneddon 2
Loeffen 2
Essomba
Gauld
Hugo


A nice thrashing of the bottom side to end our year.






League
View attachment 342257


Ross County get back to back wins to move above Livingston while Kilmarnock's heavy goal scoring keeps them ahead on Celtic going into 2026




Player of the month
Armand Essomba
View attachment 342258


Wow and this guy used to be behind David? Added a lot of goals to his game this season.



​

 

[Dave1875]

November




Hibs rob us of our 100% record

Hibs 2-2 Aberdeen
Loeffen 2


The SPL has sunk to a new low to try and stop Aberdeen & Loeffen. Disallowed goals either side of half time to screw us out of our unbeaten record.


​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

Revenge is sweet huh! Guess we'll need to put a few dozen past you next time!

 

[Dave1875]

Revenge is sweet huh! Guess we'll need to put a few dozen past you next time!

 

[Mr_Grieves]

Champions League Draw
View attachment 342270




Leverkusen & Marseilles are the 2 sides I'd like most. Man Utd & Real Madrid are the two i don't want one bit.




Man Utd Vs Aberdeen
View attachment 342271View attachment 342272




Full Draw
View attachment 342273


It Just had to happen didn't it We regularly play each other in pre season friendlys but in Champions League knockouts were 1 each with Man Utd knocking us out at the Semi finals in 2018 and we returned the favor at this stage in 2020 . Real Madrid V Bayern Munich is the tie of the round.



​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

January


Terrible defeat to Hearts at Donald Stadium-
Loose 3 of my 4 keepers in a week and my have found a new No1
Loeffen retains his spot in world Team of the year.
View attachment 342332



Fixtures


Ross County 1-4 Aberdeen
Carrera
McCulloch
O'G
Hugo


Back team shoots back up team scores!




Aberdeen 1-2 Hearts
Coutts


Our first defeat in 30 games. We were awful and deserved this result.




Dundee Utd 0-6 Aberdeen
Loeffen
Hugo 3
O'G
Coutts


I think that's how the boys apologies for the Hearts result




Aberdeen 4-0 Celtic
Hugo 3
Elias


Our easiest game against Celtic in the last few years. They really did mess up in the transfer window this summer




Aberdeen 2-0 Kilmarnock
Elias
Glowacki


Our 3 best players Loeffen, Soldan & Essomba all went of injured in the 1st half. Loeffen is the only significant injury and he is a doubt for the Man Utd game




Aberdeen 3-0 Hibs
Glowacki
Hugo 2


Chris Pierce makes appearance 450 for Aberdeen




Scottish League Cup Semi Final
Aberdeen 4-0 St Johnstone
Glowacki
Essomba
Elias
Hugo


Aberdeen comfortably reach the final and in the 4 games since Monnards injury Vucic has yet to conceded a goal. Could we have a new No1?




Kilmarnock wait in the final.
View attachment 342333






League
View attachment 342334


We lost our 1st game but were still 15 points clear of Celtic who get ahead of Kilmarnock for the 1st time this season. Ross County and Livingston tied at the bottom.






Player of the month
Hugo
View attachment 342335


Following Loeffen's injury Hugo came in to remind us there is more to the future than McCulloch



​

 

[Safc-mad-scotty]

Wigan have a player in the World team of the year :O Still going great mate, I fancy another Champions League win this season if you can make it past Manchester United! Keep up the good work