Aberdeen fans have vented their anger on social media after the Dons’ place in the Premiership’s bottom six was confirmed.
With Hibs’ defeat at Tynecastle leaving the door open to the Reds to make an eleventh hour surge into the top half, Jim Goodwin’s side fell to a 1-0 home defeat to Ross County – with the Staggies moving up into top six in their stead.
The Reds had good chances to net in the game, with Lewis Ferguson, Vicente Besuijen and Christian Ramirez all having opportunities.
However, County – who had been denied a clear penalty when Connor Barron took down Regan Charles-Cook – scored from the spot in the final 10 minutes to win it, with Joseph Hungbo confidently side-footing home from the spot after Jonny Hayes was harshly judged to have handled in the area.
Many fans questioned Aberdeen’s performance in an all-or-nothing clash which was undoubtedly their biggest league game this season:
Raging. No desire or urgency.
— Cameron Grant🏴 (@CameronGrant15) April 9, 2022
the players looked disinterested big problems at pittodrie dont write of a relegation play off spot
— richard brown (@brownr693) April 9, 2022
So disappointing and frustrating, yet again. This season in microcosm. Dominant, but wasteful, too slow, dispassionate. Embarrassing return given our relative resources. Big changes required this summer. Somewhat unlucky, given County threatened little, but we didn't do enough. https://t.co/sdstMkuQRd
— Ramadadiukovski 🇦🇱🇲🇰🇨🇻✊🏿✊🏻🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️💉😷🏴🇵🇸🇨🇺 (@FitbaDadi) April 9, 2022
No fight in that team at all. Thought we were playing a pre season friendly the day. Big changes needed. Hopefully Goodwin man to turn it round
— fuller79 (@fuller792) April 9, 2022
Facebook user Neil Henderson said: “Exactly where we deserve to be. Massive job for Goodwin in the summer, because if anything we’ve actually looked worse since he took over!”
Chas Mcken wrote: “We have 90 mins to make the season barely acceptable and come up with that???? Good luck JG”
Absolutely shocking. So much for another “must win match”
— Mike (@mmikey3) April 9, 2022
‘We didn’t deserve top six’
Kevryn Black, writing on Facebook, was one of many fans who thought Aberdeen getting into the top six wasn’t deserved based on performances this season, saying: “Bottled it as like every other game this season! Players can’t handle a wee bit of pressure. We didn’t deserve top 6, would have been robbery if we’d snuck it!”
Norman Theobald concurred: “Oh well bottom 6 it is then, but to be honest we didn’t deserve top 6, been such a horrendous season, not helped by Cormack getting his pal Glass the job in the first place. Goodwin can only work with the players he’s been left with, and if there not willing to fight & be up for a big game today fight for the jersey, then see you later simply not good enough. Goodwin got a job on his hands now for next season, a total clear out needed in the team.”
Jim Boyle, meanwhile, was one of the furious supporters who singled out individual players for their displays, commenting: “Unbelievable. As shameful, embarrassing and unacceptable a performance as I have seen from Aberdeen. Young Barron apart would happily not see another one of these jokers in an Aberdeen shirt ever again. Handed a get out of jail card twice and bottled it. Ojo, Ramirez, McLennan, Hayes not fit to wear the shirt and Vinny the great pretender. All huff and puff but no end product. Total reboot needed.”
Phil Moar on Twitter said the result had only compounded a week filled with stories about players leaving the club, including club legend Andy Considine’s impending departure at the end of his contract this summer:
About as depressing a week as you could ever imagine being a Dons supporter. Shambolic.
— Phil Moar (@Filmoar) April 9, 2022
Rebuilding before the end of the season the correct approach?
This user thinks Goodwin beginning the rebuilding job at the club before the split affected the performance in Saturday’s top six showdown, and questioned whether it was the correct approach:
Not much to add here except you made a big mistake dismantling the squad in the middle of the most important games of the season. It had to happen but releasing players every day this week has not helped
— Kev (@oorscottish) April 9, 2022
@comeonyereds agreed:
We don’t deserve top 6 anyway but maybe if Goodwin hadn’t started his clear out with 6 games left to play we’d have had a better chance. Getting Brown off the books before the end of the season was also a massive mistake.
— AliShe (@comeonyereds) April 9, 2022
Jonathan Main, in this response to @funkybeatts1903, also said he thinks moves to alter the squad with the season still active is risky:
I'm questioning the way it's being handled as if we've nothing still to play for. 6 points clear of Saint J. We need to get wins.
— Jonathan Main (@jonnymain2011) April 10, 2022
However, this account thinks Goodwin should continue with his work reshaping the player pool, even with the post-split still to play and the relegation play-off spot still a possibility:
Keeping ripping up those contracts Jim.
People are surprised we can’t score goals. One recognised striker all season and JET. This mess starts from the structure at the top.
— EssexDons (@DonsEssex) April 9, 2022
Five game for players to ‘justify’ their stays – keep club clear of danger
Ricky May, on Facebook, is still willing to give the players a chance to earn their stay at the club, and said: “5 games for the players to justify their inclusion next season.”
These fans, meanwhile, agree the next five games are crucial – as they agree with some of the users above that Aberdeen could still get drawn into a battle to avoid the relegation play-off spot with the likes of 11th-placed St Johnstone:
That was terrible – penalty decision was shocking as well but we deserve to be where we are. We need to rip up a few contracts-5 big games left and I'm not convinced these players have the fight to keep us up. Asked all season what does everyone see in Ferguson – he's woeful.
— Andy McVey (@andyfmcvey) April 9, 2022
The league doesn't lie. That team is a bottom 6 team.Abject season that could get worse.
— Greig Ingram (@IngramGreig) April 9, 2022
More worryingly we are 2 defeats away from a play-off. No fight from the team.
— Chris Laing (@claing87) April 9, 2022
