Zander Diamond: I'll get message through to Aberdeen team-mates

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Zander Diamond: I'll get message through to Aberdeen team-mates
Sep 20 2008 By Ian Orr
BOSS Jimmy Calderwood has blamed Aberdeen's early-season slip-upson poor communication but Zander Diamond doesn't buy into that.
The defender insists he makes his feelings perfectly clear andreckons former Dons team-mate Michael Hart, now at Preston, wouldback that up.
Diamond said: "I 'm a good communicator. I don't mind falling outwith players, if somebody needs to be told something then so be it.
"I remember Michael Hart and I literally going head to head againstDundee United at Tannadice a few years ago. He stuck the head on meand I put the head back on him.
"He still maintains he was right but I know I was. However, I don'tcare if people want to say things againstme during a game as longas we end up winning.
"Seriously, there was no bad blood afterwards. We were friendsagain once the final whistle sounded but when you are on the parkyou are out there to win."
Dundee United again provide the opposition for Aberdeen today butthis time it's at Pittodrie and the Dons are desperate to clock uptheir first home win of the season.
Diamond added: "There is always an edge when Dundee United comehere or we go to Tannadice. They want to get their first win and wewant our first win at home so it has the makings of a good game.
"There have been a few battles between the teams over the past fewyears on the pitch, on the touchline and even in the crowd therecan be a bit of aggro.
"It's a great game to play in and for us, outside of the Old Firmmatches, it's the biggest of the season. I'm surprised DundeeUnited have struggled so far this season, given the players theyhave.
"I don't think they have played badly but they just don't seem tohave had the breaks.
"For us, every game at home is a must-win fixture. The fans willsee it that way, the media will paint it like that and the playerscertainly want to win every game."
After missing all of the pre-season through injury then damaging athigh in the match at Motherwell on August 16, Diamond has had tosit and suffer through the Reds' stuttering start.
He said: "I'm not the best spectator in the world and find itfrustrating being on the sidelines when there's nothing I can do tochange what's happening on the park.
"Against Hamilton, after the way we played in the first 20 minutes,it looked as though we would give them a good going over. Westopped playing after that and they got a lift from their goal,making it uncomfortable for us.
"We just didn't seem to get going and didn't show enough in thesecond half to get one point, never mind three. After that thecrowd started getting on our backs when things weren't going ourway.
"When you get booed on the park it doesn't help anybody. You try toput it in the background but you can still hear it. We know theexpectation level, particularly going into the games againstInverness and Hamilton this season.
"But there's no right to win any game in this league which isgetting closer and more difficult every season.
"We raised the bar with our performances in the past and areexpected to beat some teams 2-0 or 3-0.
"That doesn't happen too often because every team has their ownagenda and their own fans to please.
"Teams come to Pittodrie and sit in, which is something we have todeal with.
"If the fans don't like it there's nothing we can do except rollour sleeves up and get on with our jobs.
"You would have to ask each player individually if the negativityhas an impact but I would say it certainly can.
"It's all about character and I try to get on with my job. The 11players on the park are the ones who can sort it out.
"Last season our home form was excellent, particularly in Europewhen we were playing in front of full houses. That shows we canhandle expectations.
"It's just a case of getting the monkey off our back with the firstwin at Pittodrie and hopefully that will come this weekend."
'He stuck the head on me and I put the head back on him'