Ex-Dons

[57vintage]

57, who would you have replaced in Fergie's best team for the same position in Turnbull's?

Ooooft, what a question.

Turnbull played 4-3-3 as default, which makes it doubly difficult.

On shirt numbers, McLeish was a better centre half than Tommy McMillan, but Tommy's partnership with Martin Buchan was intuitive and solid.

At 10 in the ECWC final team, Eric Black was a better player than Willoughby, who was played a bit further back (and at right back for a spell under Bonthrone).

Buchan and Willie Miller - unable to separate the two, likewise Harper and Dingus on their best days.

Leighton was probably a better 'keeper than Clark, but Bobby was a very good 'keeper who communicated well, and could kick the ball further than Jim.

[Donanddusted]

Black was always a favourite of mine. McGhee's underbite used to give me the fear!

[Shetland Don]

[QUOTE=57vintage;40259438]Et voila...

It had to be safe and canny as the FPs, according to the then chairman Duncan Davidson, numbered many from previous generations, less comfortable with profanity. The FPs' Association is now run and administered by the Heritage Trust. https://afcheritage.org/main.cfm


There’s no doubt that the 75th anniversary of Aberdeen’s birth coincided with its greatest triumphs in conquering Europe whilst leaving all others trailing in our wake at home. To have been alive and capable of witnessing our every triumph then was a privilege and it’s difficult not to feel sorry for those too young to have enjoyed these pinnacles of success. I was in my mid-20s during this period and was able to appreciate it all, having, in common with tens of thousands of others, suffered far more lows than highs in the previous two decades.

But, I often muse, was this the best Dons’ side I witnessed? Perhaps looking back to my early days as a Dons fan my memories are rose-tinted, but the side that ran Celtic close for the First Division title in 1970-71 is up there with the mid-80s squad in my mind.

I recall, back in the late 1960s when IT was in its infancy, there was great excitement when someone developed a computer programme which allowed a virtual scrap to take place between the then undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion (and the man who once met The Washington Whips) Muhammad Ali and 1950s slugger Rocky Marciano, who retired from the ring unbeaten. As I recall, Marciano won the computer-generated bout. What wouldn’t I give to have something similar done in a 70-71 Dons v 83-84 Reds context.

Imagine the tussles between Jim Forrest’s pace and Doug Rougvie’s determination to let nobody past him on the wing, using every fair means (of course, of course) at his disposal? How would Tam McMillan and Martin Buchan have dealt with Eric Black’s ability in the air and Mark McGhee’s perseverance, sometimes baffling close control, and eye for the chance? Would Stuart Kennedy have been able to get forward to support his strikers with such blinding pace if he knew that he’d Bumper to deal with? I’d pay over the odds to watch the midfield battle alone, with Simmie and The Brush each playing their own version of the enforcer role and fellow ex-Dens Parkers Strachan and Steve Murray battling for technical supremacy.

I’d guess that the technical area would require more than a single fourth official to keep Messrs Turnbull and Ferguson in order, although the late Jimmy Bonthrone would probably have laughed at the antics of both passionate winners and I’ve no doubt that a tactical discussion over a beer after the dust had settled would be fascinating listening.

The beauty of it is that we’ll never know, but that does not stop the debates which are the very lifeblood of the game. Put in the context of the FPs’ Association, it doesn’t really matter because EVERYONE who ever had the privilege of pulling on the iconic red or black and gold is appreciated for the contribution they’ve made to our shared passion, even though the shouts from the terracing maybe weren’t always appreciative at the time.[/QUOTE

Good, well-written piece.

[Mason89]

Ooooft, what a question.

Turnbull played 4-3-3 as default, which makes it doubly difficult.

On shirt numbers, McLeish was a better centre half than Tommy McMillan, but Tommy's partnership with Martin Buchan was intuitive and solid.

At 10 in the ECWC final team, Eric Black was a better player than Willoughby, who was played a bit further back (and at right back for a spell under Bonthrone).

Buchan and Willie Miller - unable to separate the two, likewise Harper and Dingus on their best days.

Leighton was probably a better 'keeper than Clark, but Bobby was a very good 'keeper who communicated well, and could kick the ball further than Jim.

I’ve mentioned it before but when Drew Busby (178 games 0 medals) used to get pished, you couldn’t shut him up about that Aberdeen team. Buchan was the classiest defender he ever played against, Boel the hardest, Varga the best player he played against & Bumper could skin defenders inside & out.

He also rated Willie Johnston though, so there were a few arguments too

[InversneckieDob]

Buchan was a great player.
I'd say he was a better football player than Willie, but Willie was a better defender.

[Shetland Don]

“McGhee's underbite used to give me the fear!” 😪

[sonofrgmsdad]

I also worked with Lee Dixon's niece.

I'm sure this board has rules.😁

[TheDeeDon]

Black was always a favourite of mine. McGhee's underbite used to give me the fear!

I'm 49 and when a kid in the 80s, Black was always the most popular choice of player to be when playing games of fitba with ma pals.

Unfortunately, I was never allowed to be him as I was deemed shyte (which I was, bad eyesight never helped my cause).
I was usually allocated a fringe player name, as they were always classed as shyte.

I'm quite sure now when kids up here are playing fitba with their pals nowadays around these parts, it is all Messi, Kane, Mbappe, Duk, etc.

[Donanddusted]

I'm quite sure now when kids up here are playing fitba with their pals nowadays around these parts, it is all Messi, Kane, Mbappe, Duk, etc.

[Shetland Don]

I'm 49 and when a kid in the 80s, Black was always the most popular choice of player to be when playing games of fitba with ma pals.

Unfortunately, I was never allowed to be him as I was deemed shyte (which I was, bad eyesight never helped my cause).
I was usually allocated a fringe player name, as they were always classed as shyte.

I'm quite sure now when kids up here are playing fitba with their pals nowadays around these parts, it is all Messi, Kane, Mbappe, Duk, etc.

I admire your candour - you were probably better than you thought and many of the others were poorer than they thought!

PS - Mbappe, DUUUK etc😓😓

[donsdaft]

I'd a thing about heading light shades when pished while shouting "Eric Black"

If you could jump high enough and head them downwards then they usually came off.

I was pretty good at it.......a long long time ago.

[Shetland Don]

Could you “hang in the air” - please kids don’t try this at home without sky hooks!? Black was a redoubtable talent, but I recall a fallout with Fergie as he wanted to try France (Metz) I think!? Don’t f*** with my mate DD or he’ll head your lights out!

[Shetland Don]

Can you illuminate upon why that unusual practice started?

[Donanddusted]

Can you illuminate upon why that unusual practice started?

It was one of his lighter moments that put others in the shade.

[Shetland Don]

It was one of his lighter moments that put others in the shade.

😪😪 In all fairness, I’m sure DD’s parting promise was never to allow their doors to be darkened again. It’s how Eric Black started out but he allegedly had a lot of girlfriends before he eventually married aged 61.