[article=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/danny-ward-can-success-aberdeen-5957768]JASON BROWN reckons loan keeper Danny Ward can be a big noise at Aberdeen – after revealing glove rival Jamie Langfield gave him the silent treatment at Pittodrie.
Former Reds shot-stopper Brown launched a blistering attack on
Langfield who faces new competition
for the No.1 jersey after the arrival of Liverpool youngster Ward.
The 22-year-old, who recently signed a long-term deal at Anfield, could well be given the top-team gloves as he looks to force his way into a Wales side on the brink of Euro 2016 qualification.
And Brown, capped three times himself for Chris Coleman’s side, has urged Scott Brown and Langfield to accept the challenge from the
Liverpool loanee.
Brown spent two years at
Aberdeen but said his relationship with Langfield, who will receive a testimonial next month after 10 years at the club, was strained after the Scot accused him of stabbing another former Pittodrie loan keeper, David Gonzalez, in the back.
The 33-year-old, now at Sutton United, said: “In my whole career I’ve always had a good relationship with the goalkeepers I’ve been working with but not Jamie.
“We never had a fall-out but we didn’t have a fall-in as such either. It was a weird one because we didn’t get on too great. In fact, we didn’t speak very much at all.
“We were on a lads night out and when I spoke to Jamie to ask if there was an issue between us he said it was because he was told I’d been going into the manager slagging off David Gonzalez. That wasn’t true. All I said was I felt I deserved a chance which is what Jamie would’ve said if he was fit and I was playing.
“I’d gone to Aberdeen to work hard and when David was there I felt we weren’t winning many games and conceding goals.
“I felt I was well within my rights to ask the manager if I could have a chance when everyone else was getting an opportunity.
“But Jamie felt it was an issue. After we spoke it appeared we had buried the hatchet but there must have been another issue because he didn’t talk to me in training.
“I let it distract me and I shouldn’t have. If I don’t get on with someone I still respect them and won’t speak about them behind their back. I just got on with it and cut myself off but there was an atmosphere and the rest of the players picked up on that.
“I won’t pretend to be your friend when we clearly don’t get on. Jim Leighton found the situation awkward with me and Jamie but what else could I do?
“ I see Jim has now gone . He’s been a fantastic servant to Aberdeen and Scottish football but they do say the best players don’t always make
the best coaches. Looking back on it I should maybe have dealt with it better but that’s part of life. I’ve had time to reflect on my time with Aberdeen and there are a lot of things I would have done differently.
“Players are always going in and out and competing for positions but life is too short to be negative.
“I had to battle for my place at Blackburn with Brad Friedel and Paul Robinson who were on a totally different level.
“I had to push and work hard to try to get in there but we had a tremendous relationship and still talk now. It’s the same with other goalkeepers like Steve Banks at
Gillingham and, at Wales, Danny Coyne and Paul Jones.
“We never took it personally if the other one was getting picked. I don’t know if Jamie has grown up since then but I’d like to think he has. Jamie wasn’t fit to play at that time, he was just coming back from his illness.
“It was terrible what he and his family had to go through. And as much as I was playing, there are more important things than football. When he returned to fitness I was glad, even if we were fighting for the same shirt.
“I had one or two issues with Craig Brown. There were a couple of times I felt there was an agenda. I didn’t say Jamie didn’t deserve to be in the team – just that I didn’t deserve to be out of it.
“Obviously there could be an issue for Danny when he goes there but I don’t know him. Jamie has been there a long time and nobody has really established themselves as No.1 there so with Danny going I wish him the best of luck.
“I didn’t know Scott Brown from my time in England and I haven’t heard much about him but from the games I watched last season he seemed to be doing quite well.
“But there was a bit of chopping and changing and maybe the manager feels he wants a first-team goalkeeper.”
Brown believes Derek McInnes could have pulled off a masterstroke with the signing of Ward.
He said: “Aberdeen are striving for the title and the manager obviously has to make some tough decisions. He will have to bring in who he feels are better players if they are going to take the club to the next level.
“I’d imagine that’s what he is doing by bringing in Danny and you can’t cry about it.”
And Brown also believes the move can help Ward challenge Wayne Hennessey for the Wales No.1 jersey.
He added: “Danny will want to go to France when Wales qualify and I believe that’s why he’ll have been keen on this move.
“His thinking will be to go out and play games. I know last season there was a fair bit of changing with the Aberdeen goalkeeping situation so I’d imagine Danny is going to play.”[/article]
