The Cups. As much as it was to see victory of the ‘little man’, it was equally alarming that the traditional powers were in obvious bad shape – Celtic did not reach the semi-finals of either cup and Rangers was eliminated in League Cup semi-final by Hibernian. Aberdeen, though, excelled – and it was equally telling that no team was able to have truly great season – if the champions and the runners-up failed to win a cup, Aberdeen failed in the championship. But enough musing. Aberdeen and Heart of Midlothian met at the Scottish F.A. Cup. Rather easily Aberdeen destroyed the current candidates for the title – 3-0.
The Hearts lost twice this season in the last moment – bad luck, surely. And surely enthusiasm was not enough to prevail over objectively better sides.
For Fergie indeed – he made Aberdeen strong and successful and he was leaving. This was the second trophy for the season, for the other cup was already won half-a-year ago.
As it was, the League Cup had very different schedule and finished in the previous year. Early in the season, really – in October 1985. Hibernian and Aberdeen reached the final and Aberdeen did not leave any doubt who was stronger – comfortable 3-0 victory. Really, it was the expected outcome.
Nice try for Hibernian and perhaps they had some hopes after eliminating Glasgow Rangers in the semi-finals, but objectively they were no match to Aberdeen.
Aberdeen with a double this season – perhaps they were the best Scottish squad at the moment. The trouble was that they had no way keeping their stars – Gordon Strachan was already sold, for instance. Wonderful as they were, Aberdeen could at best keep the same level – getting stronger was impossible, they were sellers, not buyers. So, success was boiled down to Alex Ferguson – he was capable of motivating the team and keeping it in good condition. But he was leaving… so it was more a matter of reviewing his spell than looking to the future: a title and lost final in 1979-80, 2nd in the championship of 1980-81, 2nd in the championship and cup winners in 1981-82, cup winners in 1982-83, champions and cup winners in 1983-84, champions in 1984-85, and lastly winners of both cups in 1985-86. Plus the Cup Winners Cup, of course. The best period in Aberdeen’s history and perhaps it was possible even to extend it a bit, if the core players were preserved a little longer and their motivation maintained high. Possible, Because of the state of Scottish football – Aberdeen, even without Ferguson, was more than likely to have better squad than most clubs. But future would be of little concern at the moment of victory.