JIMMY CALDERWOOD may be once again sporting the depth of tan that gives dermatologists nightmares but, as his son Scott recently revealed, the Aberdeen boss did not enjoy his summer holiday nearly as much as his snaps suggest. The reason can probably be summed up in four words: Queen of the South.
Defeat against the First Division side in the Scottish Cup semi final denied the Dons the chance of a first trophy in 13 years against an exhausted Rangers side they defeated on the night Celtic clinched the SPL title.
It also meant missing out on
a Uefa Cup place and the opportunity to build on the Pittodrie club's best run in European competition since Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge 22 years ago.
So the sight of the Dumfries side being paired with Danish unknowns Nordsjalland in Friday's draw must have intensified the suffering for a team who thrashed that country's champions, FC Copenhagen, as well as drawing with Bayern Munich in the competition last season.
Calderwood though has left all his dark thoughts behind at his holiday home on Majorca as his natural ebullience has reasserted itself at the prospect of achieving those twin aims with a largely reconstructed squad.
Derek Soutar, Michael Hart, Chris Clark, Barry Nicholson, Richie Byrne, Steve Lovell, Jackie McNamara, Karim Touzani, Alan Maybury, Sone Aluko and Josh Walker have all departed for a variety of reasons since January.
Five were through Calderwood's choice, two were only ever going to be loan signings but Hart, Clark, Nicholson and Maybury were down to financial circumstances, something the Aberdeen manager has learned to live with.
At least relative success on the field has allowed him to pay transfer fees for some replacements and offer more attractive packages to lure freedom of contract signings in other cases.
Charlie Mulgrew's arrival from Wolves, Irish teenager Sammy Stewart and Tommy Wright, the Darlington striker expected to complete his move north tomorrow, fall into the first category.
French goalkeeper Bertrand Bossu, Mark Kerr, brought in from Dundee United, and fellow midfielder Gary McDonald who was at Oldham Athletic are in the latter, with more promised before the transfer window closes.
Then there's the impact Jamie Smith and Darren Mackie are capable of after a season virtually written off by persistent injuries.
So it's no wonder someone who has made a habit of creating successful sides in adversity should be viewing the glass as half-full again before a league opener with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Calderwood said: "I think we now have the depth of squad to handle things if certain players get injured which maybe wasn't the case in the past.
"There's a versatility about the players we have which means they can fit into a number of positions and cope with flexible tactics.
"Of course there are certain players that you would like to have kept but the financial reality means people of the quality of Russell Anderson, Barry Nicholson and Kevin McNaughton are going to move.
"You wish that them and the likes of Markus Heikkinen, Michael Hart and Chris Clark were still here because that would be some team but you have to live with the reality of the situation.
"That's reflected in the fact we only have a handful of players left from just a couple of years ago. I knew I was ruthless but I didn't know I was that bad.
"It's an amazing transformation but when I look back it was the same at Dunfermline and I like to think Jimmy Nicholl and me did quite well there as well.
"This is a new challenge but it's an exciting one as we just need to put a bit more of a ruthless streak into some of them and we will be more successful."
However, the intention is not only to be more ruthless but more physical in the season ahead with a group of players who return from an intense training camp in the Netherlands today knowing they can certainly match any team in the SPL for fitness.
Calderwood puts a lot of emphasis on pace but believes that the addition of Mulgrew, the Scotland under-21 left back, and former England under-19 striker Wright adds something just as important in the modern game.
He said: "Football is more athletic and physical nowadays and if you have more height, strength and quality of delivery to exploit set pieces, which is also growing in importance, you will do well.
"I think adding someone like Mulgrew helps as he is a powerful defender, left-sided – which is a big bonus – and is great at crossing a ball from open play or hitting free kicks and corners.
"You look around the world and see how hard it is for clubs even at the very top level to get a top-quality natural left back. Lee Miller was great for us last season but getting Tommy Wright means we have cover, which we haven't had so far. So we can start the season with confidence."
That's hardly surprising as Pittodrie's longest serving manager since Sir Alex Ferguson has achieved four successive top-six finishes at a club who spent too long worrying about relegation.
Who knows, extending that to five while winning a trophy might finally see him appreciated by the less-than-admiring Aberdeen support but I'm sure the man himself would just look forward to a more enjoyable holiday next summer.
FORMBOOK FINE FETTLE OR FAIRLY BRITTLE? Not a great deal of summer transfer action but Celtic ended last season on a high and seem settled. Losing Nakamura for a bit is a blow, but they'll manage. They've got Thomas Gravesen. No, that's not right.
MYSTIC KEVIf Scott McDonald and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink weigh in with the goals like they did last season, Celtic can make it four titles in a row. Even if they don't, they may still make it four in a row. Entitled to feel confident, and they are.
IF THEY WERE A TV SHOW Grand Designs (on another championship).
TITLE ODDS 4/5 fav
IN Pat McCourt, pictured (Derry City, £150,000); Georgios Samaras (Manchester City, £1.2m)
OUT Michael McGovern (Dundee United, free); Diarmuid O'Carroll (Morecambe, free); Adam Virgo (Brighton, free); Steven Pressley (free); John Kennedy (Norwich, loan).
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FORMBOOK
FINE FETTLE OR FAIRLY BRITTLE? Well, they got thumped by Peterhead and that friendly with Go Ahead Eagles didn't go ahead. Apart from that they're fine and dandy. Players have piled out of Pittodrie but new faces have been brought on board.
MYSTIC KEV Strikers scoring goals would be handy (not enough of that last season). Aberdeen should avoid Queen of the South in cup competitions if they know what's good for them. With a decent start to their league campaign, the Dons can be decent.
IF THEY WERE A TV SHOW A Place in the Sun (for Jimmy Calderwood), Songs of Praise (for JC) and The Beechgrove Garden (because that's where it is – Aberdeen).
BOGEYMEN Aberdeen didn't do very well against Motherwell last season. They lost three times against the club managed by former Pittodrie hero Mark McGhee.
TITLE ODDS 150/1
IN Gary McDonald (Oldham, free); Sammy Stewart (Glenavon, £15,000); Mark Kerr (Dundee United, free); Charlie Mulgrew (Wolves, £50,000); Tommy Wright (Darlington, £75,000 pending medical).
OUT Jackie McNamara (Falkirk, free transfer); Derek Soutar (free); Barry Nicholson (Preston, free); Karim Touzani (Sparta Rotterdam, free); Steve Lovell (Falkirk, free); Dave Bus (Go-Ahead Eagles, free); Richie Byrne (free); Jonathan Smith (free); Dan Smith (free); Martin Skinner (Peterhead, free); Neil McVitie (Peterhead, free); Davie Ross (Peterhead, free); Greg Kelly (free).
The full article contains 1285 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
