I'd have to check but Hearts came to Tannadice near the end of the season and beat us 3-0, that was seen as a nail in our coffin.

But we chucked away points in the run in to Clydebank and Hibs I think, that had we won them, we'd have been champions as Hearts faltered.

Last edited by David_Blunkett (26/3/2026 2:54 pm)

David_Blunkett wrote:

I'd have to check but Hearts came to Tannadice near the end of the season and beat us 3-0, that was seen as a nail in our coffin.

But we chucked away points in the run in to Clydebank and Hibs I think, that had we won them, we'd have been champions as Hearts faltered.

To be fair that Hearts team were magnificent that day.  The best opposition team I have seen at Tannadice and I pretty much saw all the European teams from the early 80s onwards.

We were a quality side then, especially at Tannadice and we got ripped a new one that day.

Their fans were much probably worse then though and that is saying something, so when Albert Kidd did for them a few weeks later I loved watching the tears tumble down the terraces in the TC Keay end

Last edited by Finn Seemann (26/3/2026 3:14 pm)

It's a long time ago, but I didn't think physicality was a huge issue with Aberdeen.  Checking the results that seems to support my memory.  We took as many points off Aberdeen as they took off us that season although they did knock us out of the League Cup.  Interestingly we never managed a win against Hearts all season and I agree that was down to physicality.  The two losses to St Mirren and draws with them and Clydebank were the real reason we came up short.

Smith in goal and Levein were also immense that season. They were strong across the midfield with Mackay, Berry, Black and Jardine all having good seasons and Clark, Robertson and Colquhoun were as potent upfront as pretty much any team outside the Old Firm.  Bizarrely they didn't really improve the next season even with the same team.

I don't want them to win the league this season either!

Last edited by Finn Seemann (27/3/2026 10:49 am)

Found it. 18 month unbeaten at home.



 

Last edited by Tek (27/3/2026 2:40 pm)

This is an option that may well get me some heat but here goes...

We get Jim McLean laying out all our tactics, formation, explaining everyone's roles, what to expect from the opposition, where they were dangerous, where we would win the game, then he leaves the dressing room.

If Fergie comes in, gives a 3-5 minute motivational speech, rouses the troops, we'd have won as much as Aberdeen, we often got things so very right, brilliant results, performances, but also fell short when it was easier not to. A big part of that might've been belief and a feeling of we'd achieved something by just being there.

Fergie having been at Rangers, feeling he was treated poorly, gave him a determination and a sense of grievance he used to inspire himself and his team.

This is not a dig at Wee Jum, but more of a what if, nobody can deny that our trophy haul should be far more impressive, we experienced some great highs, bitter lows and also some horrible decisions, 1980 League Cup and 1987 and 1991 cup finals, where key decisions went against us.
 

David_Blunkett wrote:

This is an option that may well get me some heat but here goes...

We get Jim McLean laying out all our tactics, formation, explaining everyone's roles, what to expect from the opposition, where they were dangerous, where we would win the game, then he leaves the dressing room.

If Fergie comes in, gives a 3-5 minute motivational speech, rouses the troops, we'd have won as much as Aberdeen, we often got things so very right, brilliant results, performances, but also fell short when it was easier not to. A big part of that might've been belief and a feeling of we'd achieved something by just being there.

Fergie having been at Rangers, feeling he was treated poorly, gave him a determination and a sense of grievance he used to inspire himself and his team.

This is not a dig at Wee Jum, but more of a what if, nobody can deny that our trophy haul should be far more impressive, we experienced some great highs, bitter lows and also some horrible decisions, 1980 League Cup and 1987 and 1991 cup finals, where key decisions went against us.
 

 
2008 league cup final too, not to mention the cheating Italian bastards.

David_Blunkett wrote:

This is an option that may well get me some heat but here goes...

We get Jim McLean laying out all our tactics, formation, explaining everyone's roles, what to expect from the opposition, where they were dangerous, where we would win the game, then he leaves the dressing room.

If Fergie comes in, gives a 3-5 minute motivational speech, rouses the troops, we'd have won as much as Aberdeen, we often got things so very right, brilliant results, performances, but also fell short when it was easier not to. A big part of that might've been belief and a feeling of we'd achieved something by just being there.

Fergie having been at Rangers, feeling he was treated poorly, gave him a determination and a sense of grievance he used to inspire himself and his team.

This is not a dig at Wee Jum, but more of a what if, nobody can deny that our trophy haul should be far more impressive, we experienced some great highs, bitter lows and also some horrible decisions, 1980 League Cup and 1987 and 1991 cup finals, where key decisions went against us.
 

I think that’s a fair assessment. Being a Glaswegian Arab, my personal recollection is particularly bitter. I attended every final (including 81 replay) from 79 - 91, but wasn’t present at either League cup wins at Dens.

McLean was undoubtedly a master tactician but he lacked belief. He referred to us as a “corner shop” team. That explained a lot. Fergie was a winner, his teams went to Glasgow expecting to win. If there was a contentious decision, he would tell his players to confront the referee. His reaction after Aberdeen’s win over Rangers in the 1982 final spoke volumes about him. Winning wasn’t enough, they had to be outclassed

Whether his motivation stemmed from the Rangers director asking Fergie if he got married in the chapel or not, it’s hard to say. What is not in doubt is that he had huge self belief and was an out and out winner. He cannibalised the St Mirren team (Stark, McDougal, Scanlon and Weir) then got hold of two nut jobs from Rutherglen and Bridgeton, Millar and Archibald. Both had a burning desire for recognition.

I’ve listened to McInnes in recent weeks and his comments are revealing: he referred to the Old Firm bigger budgets, he stressed how well Hearts have played so far. He’s already sounding defeatist. Winners don’t talk about anybody else, they concentrate on themselves. You need to see yourselves as winner; visualise the process; smell it; feel it; hear it.

My feeling standing alone at the Rangers end after the defeat to St Mirren in 1987 is as real now as it ever was. Having watched the original 79/80 League cup final, then the 81 SC final plus replay, then 82 League cup final and the 85 SC final, all I think was “you can even beat fucking St Mirren….what’s the point. You don’t believe you can do it”

Harsh words, but, my personal experience


 

Last edited by Macbonzo (28/3/2026 10:59 am)