El Sackico, the New Squirm, the Derby of Doom - call it what you like but Saturday’s Easter Road showdown between Hibs and Aberdeen looks like a fight that will end with only one manager left standing.
Jim Goodwin has effectively been handed a final written warning by Pittodrie chief Dave Cormack after his dismal Dons’ Darvel cup exit. And Lee Johnson’s jacket is dangling off a similarly shoogly peg after his Leith team yet again failed to stop Hearts pumping at the weekend. It’s a must-not lose contest for the bosses - and a must-see spectacle for the Hotline rubberneckers. Neil Renton, Edinburgh, said: “It’s a pity they can’t televise the Hibs and Aberdeen game this Saturday. With both managers Lee Johnson and Jim Goodwin feeling the pressure all eyes are going to be on El Sackico!”
Stephen Johnstone, Ardentinny, added: “This is the last chance saloon for Goodwin and Johnson as this weekend’s battle between both managers will look like a fight at the OK Corral. The first to blink will be the one shot and their reputation and career left in tatters. I can’t see a Good-win for Aberdeen any time soon.”
Alfie Mullin, London, said: “The shock of the season, Aberdeen getting knocked out of the cup by Darvel, is not unexpected. Aberdeen regularly get knocked out of cups by lower league opposition. Still, I expect that Jim Goodwin will be getting his High Noon soon. Opposition fans will be singing his lament, 'Do not forsake me oh my Darvel’."
Record Sport’s Keith Jackson suggested in his column that perhaps the Dons may not find themselves so deep in the sticky stuff had Cormack not been so quick to dispense with Derek McInnes. And Andrew Lamb, Fraserburgh, could only agree, saying: “Excellent column regarding Aberdeen chair Dave Cormack in today's Record. McInnes was the right man for Aberdeen. If only he'd been given the cash afforded to Cormack’s two duds Glass and Goodwin.”
Lewis Fotheringham, Mount Ellen added: “I always said that the Aberdeen fans who wanted rid of McInnes should have been careful what they wished for. The way it’s going, they'll do a Hibs under Terry Butcher by tumbling down the league table and flirting with relegation. Glass was sacked after losing to a Scottish Premiership team in the cup, so how Goodwin has managed to survive this humiliation is beyond me."
Lewis Doyle, Ireland, called to say: "How on earth did Aberdeen find themselves in the position they are? Aberdeen used to be the second best team in Scotland after Celtic now they are behind Hearts, Rangers and Hibernian. Why on earth did Goodwin get the job? He has never coached at a club the size of the Dons. The appointment by the current chairman has proved that his plan for the future is in tatters. It will be interesting to see who would take this job now.”
Frustrated Red Alan Leslie, Aberdeen, said: “Same old story with Aberdeen, they just won’t spend the money for decent players or managers, everything done on the cheap. They could have had a world-class team if they’d built on their 1983 success but no, they sold the lot bar two, typical! I’ve had enough! I’m a Cove Rangers supporter from now on!”
Things could get worse for Hibs too with talisman Kevin Nisbet nearing a £2.4million move to Millwall. Frank McFerran, Carrickfergus, said: “Hibs must be skint to accept a fee like that for Nesbit. Millwall are stealing the player. It’s a ridiculous fee for a current Scottish investment player with an eye for goal."
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