Scottish entrepreneur Craig Whyte has today confirmed his interest in buying David Murray’s shares in Glasgow Rangers Football Club.
He has not approached the clubs board as of yet, but has described the process in “early stages”.
A further statement on the proceedings will be made in due course………
Scotland 3 - Faroe Islands 0
With at least 7 newcomers to the senior Scotland side it was a do or die game for the Tartan Army.
Scotland manager Craig Levein had to do a lot of shuffling after a number of injury calls left him with a bare squad, but this helped to bring in many newcomers including U-21 stars Wilson and Bannan. Garry Kenneth and Stephen Crainey returned to the squad with Scotland looking the most settled side.
Holding possession and making openings in Faroe’s defence, in the 8th minute the home side were almost on the end of a surprise. The visitors then won a free kick 25 yards out, Jann Ingi Peterson stepped up and bounced his shot off the bar.
Scotland responded to this by advancing into the Faroe’s side, Shaun Maloney gave a succession of crosses and passes from the left of the field and gave Scotland a roaring chance in the opening period when he found Commons at the back post, however the wingers header across back at goal didn’t meet any dark blue jerseys.
In the 24th minute, Darren Fletcher had his shot cleared, which gave Scotland a corner kick and it was from there Scotland took the lead with Charlie Adam swinging the ball for Wilson to score his first International goal: 1-0
Within 7 minutes Scotland doubled their lead, again from a corner kick from the right of the field, Adam’s cross was blocked but he managed to pick the ball and played it low for Commons to flick the ball into the near post: 2-0
Bannan started to dominate in the game after starting quiet. He nearly got himself onto the score sheet with a low drive that h it the post. In the 44th minute Bannan turned provider, crossing the ball from the right coming off Wilson and falling at the feet of Mackie who fired a shot at close range: 3-0
In the 2nd half Scotland continued to outclass their opponents, but without the cutting edge of the first half. Crainey gave a powerful free kick and Mackie shot wide from 20 yards. The Faroe’s committed to defending and kept clear chances to a minimum.
The home side were holding possession, but a raft of subs took away their flow. In the 58th minute, Bannan almost scored to mark a fine performance whe he managed to head a cross from Commons. Maloney almost gave Scotland a 4th goal, but shot wide of an open goal 5 minutes later.
As the match began to draw to a close the visitors did give their awe with a chance on goal in the 85th minute, Cammy Bell, who replaced Craig Gordon, got down to save.
With no further goals, but with the home side finishing how they started, they could reflect on a job well done. Levein will have to do a lot of thinking after his side’s win. A strong performance from Scotland against a weak Faroe Islands.
Here’s hoping Levein can keep this going for Scotland to become the International side they once were.
Pamela-Anne Carpenter.
18/11/2010
Another defeat for McGhee’s men.
Again another night of hell for us Dandie’s. As Aberdeen lose once again at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle. It may not have been as heavy as the 9-0 defeat to Celtic at the weekend but it was McGhee’s warning that if we lose he would go. Or so we thought.
Lost another match, was without Paul Hartley after his red card, Darren Mackie stretchered off (could be out rest of season), and Ryan Jack had to leave the field after a heafty tackle. This could mean more disaster for The Dons as they face Rangers on Saturday.
The Game:
1st Half: ICT pushed very hard in the first half, with many missed chances. Unfortunately a blatant handball (unlike Hartleys handball) was missed by the referee and officials (aye). This proved costly for Aberdeen when Robertson was forced to bring the ICT player down, resulting in a free kick, Robertson was given a yellow card and the free kick was taken only for the referee to point to the spot after Mackie’s alleged nudging. The Aberdeen players and fans preceeded to make themselves heard in protests at this, and where did it lead? Mackie and Diamond being booked…. Rooney (no not Wayne) stepped up to give ICT the lead.
Just after the 40th minute Mackie was stretchered off the field with a season threatening injury, replaced by Velicka.
After the first half stats showed Aberdeen was on top form that night you would think that would spur the boys on for a win…. Em NO!.
2nd Half: Early corner in the 2nd half for Aberdeen failed to bring The Dons level. Ryan Jack soon suffered a heavy tackle inside the box, to which the referee awarded A CORNER, should have been a penalty. Aberdeen claimed their equaliser in the 50thminute when Vernon released Velicka, The striker, who is on loan, beat the offside trap to claim his first goal for Aberdeen. The Dons defended well in the second half, Jack didn’t recover from his tackle injury and was taken off in the 57th minute to be replace by Ifil. Another forced Aberdeen corner proved to be another controversial moment in the match when it was cleared, to be kicked back into the box and a handball by a defender, the referee took a long look at this and turned away. Not long onto the pitch and Ifil collected a yellow card, to which he conceded a free kick to ICT to which Diamond was able to clear. Aberdeen was then to have a lucky escape when the ball went over the net and started to try their hardest with two missed chances on the ICT goal.
Two more missed chances for Aberdeen got the fans frustrated. But Justas Aberdeen were looking the more likely team in the match ICT regained the lead with a goal by Munro after Aberdeen failed to clear the lines. With three minutes left in the game, Derek Young tried to equalise for Aberdeen but failed to convert it. With the closing seconds looking another chance was greatly missed by Aberdeen.
Clydesdale Bank Premier League
Full Time Score: Aberdeen 1 – Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2
Venue: Pittodrie Stadium
Attendance: 5917
Kick off: 19:45
Goals:
Aberdeen – Velicka 49
ICT - Rooney 34 Munro 81
Saturday 6th November 2010.
The worst day to be an Aberdeen supporter.
9 fucking 0. SACK MCGHEE is what I have heard some Aberdeen fans saying after today’s humiliating record breaking defeat.
I have to say that I myself have defended McGhee in his disastrous turn at Aberdeen Football Club, but now, I am starting to see that he is wearing out. The fans are losing respect for him and he cannot see it. In the clubs interest it would be better for McGhee to resign, and let a manager who WILL be respected by fans and in general people in Aberdeen.
The boys are relying too much on Paul Hartley, unfortunately they need to remember there are 11 men on that pitch, not 1. We all reply on the players as well as the manager. After seeing the news on the event I am shock and appalled that many fans want McGhee to stay, yes it is not the manager on the pitch, but it’s the players respect for the manager which makes them play to WIN, no respect then you lose. So in hindsight, are the players getting tired of McGhee? Can only seem they are especially after selling Lee Miller to Middlesborugh. Miller may have been a big headed twat, also my favourite player, but he was a goal scorer. A partnership of him and Paul Hartley would have been every fans dream this season, but no McGhee & the board sold our BEST player.
In the 2009/10 season, I went to the Aberdeen v St Johnstone match, and was happy with the way the boys were playing. Just unhappy at the lack of chances we had on St Johnstones goal. We went from 1 – nil up to 1 – 2 down by the end of the first half, a lot of dodgy defending on that day, BUT on the 06/11/10 THAT was a team that was in a shambles, never mind the defending, the whole team needed to be kicked up the arse, some of us fans were 100% happy we didn’t go to the match at Celtic Park, I sure as hell was glad.
Paul Hartley’s sending off for a “deliberate” hand ball was a bad decision like. The refs have gone from hating Celtic to picking on other teams. I think Celtic shouldn’t have done what they done, and to the refs, our McGhee DEFENDED you. How could you turn on a man’s team that done that. We were playing well until that fateful red card. Then we crumbled, this proves my theory of the players relying on Hartley. McGhee needs to tell his men that it’s an 11 man squad. But until he does that we will continue to suffer in the league. Currently sitting 11th in the SPL this SHOULD spur our boys onto perform better, but until that day is done, I don’t think the boys will regain any more respect from the fans, especially their long time fans.
5 goals in the first half from Celtic dealt our fate that day, let’s hope McGhee can save the clubs pride, reputation and RESPECT with a win when we play ICT at Pittodrie on Tuesday night.
Sports News So Far
Football - Striker Gary Hooper is confirmed to be having a medical examination at Celtic Park, the 22 year old who has come from Scunthorpe United, will be new manager Neil Lennon’s sixth signing.
Rangers have reportedly made a bid for Rapid Vienna’s Croatian striker Nikica Jelavic.
England goalkeeper David James’ talks with Celtic have been postponed, talks were due to take place today (Monday).
Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee has done a double signing spree, Scott Vernon and Yoann Folly are McGhee’s fourth and fifth signing in a troubled spending spree for Aberdeen.
Golf - Germany’s Bernhard Langer won the Seniors Open Championship at Carnoustie. This was the former Ryder Cup captains first Senior win. He held a three shot lead over this years Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin going into the final round but dropped two shots on the last day to claim a one shot victory over Pavin. This has been Langer’s first major win since his 1993 win at the US Masters in Augusta.
New Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen celebrated his Open win with a tractor, instead of the usual winnings being splashed on a Porche or Ferrari, the South African opted to buy a custom built tractor.
Tour de France - The World Cup & Wimbledon?? Is there anythign Spain can’t win this year? Looks not as Spaniard Alberto Contador won the cycling event for the third time. He beat Luxembourgs Andy Schleck by 39 seconds.
Formula 1 - Ferrari: Guilty or Not Guilty
At the German GP Ferrari were accused of giving ‘team orders’ for Felipe Massa to let Fernando Alonso pass him and win the GP.
And this isnt the FIRST time Ferrari have broken the rules in F1.
Massa was leading the race until the final lap when Ferrari asked one of their engineers to forward a message to Massa to let Alonso past.
Ferrari were fined $100,000 (£65,000) for this and could face being thrown out of the championships. The case which has been forwarded to the FIA will be discussed in due course and Ferrari will know their fate.
So wil this costly mistake be the end of the Ferrari team? I think so as the FIA will NOT tolerate any kind of cheating in any of their motorsport events. And to be honest, Ferrari have it coming to them.
Thats enough sport for now mainly as my arms are getting sore and about to watch STV North News for more sports stories.
Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins sadly passed away today at the age of 61.
The former snooker champion had a long battle with Throat Cancer. Reports suggested he was found in a flat in his hometown of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The two-time champion had been suffering from the deadly disease for almost a decade.
He was shaggy haired, always smoking a cigarette and looking rough, he was credited for popularising the game of snooker just as it was being broadcast on colour TV.
Alex Higgins burst into the snooker world at the age of 22, winning the championship in 1972, this was his first attepmt at the championship. 10 years later in 1982 he repeated this. he manged four other finals in his career.
Plagued in recent years by his health, thus shocking fans with his gaunt/frail appearance.
Date: Saturday 27 February 2010
Venue: Pittodrie Stadium
Kick Off: 12:00
Attendance: 8316
Comp: Clydesdale Bank Premier Lge
Referee: W Collum
Red Cards: Kingston 52 (Hearts)
Yellow Cards:
Goals:Aberdeen
HeartsJonsson 64
Report:
Aberdeen has stumbled to their 8th home defeat in the 2009/10 season. Unable to produce against 10 men Hearts has left Aberdeen fans wondering.
In the first half Aberdeen held the advantage, but they had failed to threaten in the final third of the match. The match exploded into life when in the 52nd minute, Kingston was shown a straight red card for an over the top challenge on Fraser Fyvie. The Hearts man had been on the pitch for about eight minutes, this should have handed the advantage to the home side, however Johnson netted twelve minutes later when Aberdeen failed to clear their lines and even after a lot of effort from the Dons they never looked like levelling the match.
Aberdeen kicked off the match and almost straight away Mackie had the ball in the back of the net, many Dons fans thought this was Aberdeen back, only for the goal to be disallowed due to Mackie being offside. In the 8th minute of the match Mackie and MacLean combined well, this lead to them getting Aberdeen’s first corner kick of the match. Balough did well to claim the ball from the corner and punted it forward for Jonsson to fly up the field only for the Hearts player to be flagged offside.
Hearts’ effort went high and wide in the 14th minute, only for Aberdeen’s Kerr to be cautioned two minutes later for a challenge on Hearts’ Eliot which the Dons man clearly won the ball, even after Eliot acknowledging the challenge referee Collum wasn’t moving from his decision. A shot from Paul Marshall missed the net in the 17th minute. Balough cleared the ball from the Hearts net only to fall in the path of MacLean, to which Jonsson was booked for challenging the striker. The Dons were awarded a free kick only for Charlie Mulgrew to fire the shot wide of the posts.
In the 27th minute MacLean was penalised when he was looked to have controlled the ball inside the Hearts box as neither side could find the spark to ignite the match. Aberdeen were enjoying the best of the play the game was error strewn at this stage. Good pressure from the Dons in the 34th minute ended with Foster having shot the ball into the side netting of the Hearts goal. MacDonald was the next player to end up in the book with referee Collum with persistent fouling. This had been one of the tamest encounters between the clubs in years yet three players were already in the book. Just on half time Kingston entered the field of play, he had little time to get involved at this stage, but would make his mark after the break.
Fyvie was taken out of the play early in the second half, a throw in was awarded to Hearts much to the anger of home fans. Hearts were guilty of time wasting in the early stages, but the game erupted in the 52nd minute when Kingston put in a horrific challenge on Fyvie. The referee agreed and the Hearts man was shown a straight red card. With Zaliukas already off receiving treatment Hearts were down to nine men for a period of the match. Balogh saved a shot from Mackie in the 55th minute as the crowd got behind the team.
Substitute Mulrooney was the next player to be booked on the hour mark then Aluko replaced Marshall. A Mulgrew free kick was handled by Eliot and the second set play was saved by Balogh as Aberdeen increased the pressure on Hearts. However it was Hearts who grabbed an unlikely lead in the 64th minute when Aberdeen failed to clear their lines and Jonsson had space to execute an overhead kick beyond the despairing Langfield. Aberdeen tried to hit back, but a corner failed to threaten then a Derek Young delivery went out of play as the fans became frustrated.
A cross from Aluko was scooped out for a corner by Stevenson in the 79th minute, but it all ended tamely with a snatched shot from Mulgrew. A Paton shot then went well wide a minute later as Hearts comfortably held their advantage. Lee Wallace then picked up a knock and required lengthy treatment. With all substitutes used Hearts were down to nine men for a short spell once again. Diamond was booked for complaining about a decision as the Dons continued to huff and puff, but they never looked like pulling a goal back.
With four minutes of injury time to be played Mackie won a free kick 30 yards out. Mulgrew swung the ball in to the box, but Balogh saved from a McDonald header as Aberdeen tried their hardest to level before the final whistle. There were muted claims for a spot kick a minute later, but it would have been harsh and they settled for a corner. That came to nothing and the only final incident of note was another caution for keeper Balogh who was booked for time wasting. That is now eight games without a win and the Dons need to start collecting points sooner rather than later.
Some words and sentences acquired from Aberdeen FC Official website: http://www.afc.co.uk
