-matthEw-

I recently purchased a season ticket for Melbourne Victory. Glutton for punishment me. Although, in all honesty, most A-League games I've seen have been far more entertaining than your standard SPL game, even if the quality is lower.

Currently 2-1 down to the Heart in the big derby.

They put Tim Cahill on the cover of FIFAs in Australia, making it a bargain at double the price of our UK versions.

Just over 3000 home tickets remaining for the Aberdeen game today, by my calculations on the online ticket thing.

I just did a very rough calculation from each section on the interactive map, there's about 6,000 spare from the home end from what I can see.

Still, there will be plenty of pay at the gaters, perhaps up to 3,000. I know a few folk planning on PatG, and hopefully the decent weather convinces those that were sitting on the fence. Not sure what the County crowd will be, but hopefully they come out in reasonable numbers. Anything above 16,000 has got to be considered a success really.

Can't wait now. COYR!

Getting tickets for Falls Festival in Oz. Looks fucking ace. That's New Year sorted already.

There is. There's 2 ace videos on YouTube which show little hidden things in company logos.

EDIT - Actually "ace" is maybe pushing it a bit. Still. Kinda cool.

The FedEx arrow is ace-ic!

I'd also noticed the Amazon smile. One other thing I thought I'd picked up on with that logo is that the arrow goes from the A to the Z... to subliminally show off the fact they stock a shitload of stuff? Maybe.

Well the obvious solution there is to support a big team on the side, but I suppose not everyone is willing to split loyalties. I support Aberdeen because I'm from there, and I personally believe that everyone should support their local side (unless they've got a choice, like in Glasgow or Manchester) but I realise that not everyone does.

Here in Australia a lot of people in Perth support one of the two local Aussie Rules Football teams - West Coast Eagles, who are among the best five in the league, or Fremantle Dockers, who are pants and float in the midtable all year every year. But it's seen as normal to support a team not based in Perth. A lot of friends are fans of Carlton and Essendon (based in Melbourne) for no real reason other than "that's who they chose". It's really weird to me as a soccer fan since not supporting a local team seems a bit daft. I support Aberdeen, but I also follow Chelsea and Sunderland and like to see them do well (and get quite annoyed when they don't, as is healthy), and I would always say that Aberdeen is the team I support.

EDIT: this didn't make as much sense as I thought it did. tl;dr: Support your local team, and following other sides on the side is fine by me.

Nothing wrong with choosing to barrack for Essendon.

That is weird though. I know that in Melbourne folk would never support a WA or Sydney team... but I guess that's cos they've got plenty of successful sides getting an absolute shitload of coverage right on their doorstep.

AFL rules.

Barton yesterday was crazy and he is a very lucky man QPR didn't get relegated. Some of his tweets last night after MOTD were crazy though. Hope it all blows up in his face in the most entertaining way possible... Shearer is an utterly shite pundit though, he called that right.

If you liked that you guys will love this utter pish from Walter Smith:

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/gutless-greedy-gullible.17182292

Holy shite, that has brought the rage out in me like nothing else. I understand every fan has their club's self-interest at heart, but how can he be so utterly consumed by it to spout the garbage above.

Absolutely disgraceful comments and highlights the Old Firm mentality and exactly what we're up against. After reading that it fucking sickens me to think he was Scotland manager.

I agree with many of the good things already mentioned in the thread so far. Got to add Brig O' Balgownie to the thread. One of the most beautiful areas of the city. Really feels like a step back in time.

One of my favourite walks in Aberdeen is going down High Street > The Chanory > through Seaton Park and wind up at this place. Stunning.

Out of everyone in football, I hate Lennon the most.

Totally, i know that challenge was pretty bad but, fuck me, is that Fyvie boy made of glass. He'll need to toughen up a whole fuckload if he's every going to play in a more competative league that the SPL.

Fyvie's only long-term injury was torn cruciates I think. Not really an issue of toughening up with that one. Also, this is the tackle that had him stretchered off yesterday:

A full force lunge at speed connecting with you like that is going to cause anyone damage.

I've seen Fyvie take some pretty hefty challenges and just get on with it. Any knock he does get he recovers fairly quickly. He can also 'get stuck in' as well as most in the SPL. Toughening up ain't his problem, its inconsistency (although, played a few great games recently).

Pawlett (made of glass) and Megginson (lightweight) on the other hand, do need to toughen up I feel. Both have potential to be great though.

I'd definitely be in for a regular Monday game.

Have we got a game this Wednesday?

I'd go ahead with it regardless anyway. Goals is small enough that 4 a side isn't a complete waste of time. 10 would obviously be better (especially considering I'm desperately unfit) and the extra money it will cost is a bit of a shitter too.

Not looking good from my end. All 'no's so far.

I've also just sent an email round to a few folk. None of have got back to me so far, but if I do hear anything I'll come straight to this thread.

Is it just the 2 we're missing?

Woohoo! Is anyone needing a lift there and back? I'll be coming from the Hilton area so happy to pick up.

I'm in for the 1st of Feb.

Would it be worth delaying this til Wednesday then? I know Adam can't manage this Wednesday, but it'd give us an extra couple of days to recruit more bodies.

Me!

I could probably bring along a couple of mates if the numbers are short.

I have absolutely no problem with Mancini making a card gesture. None.

Almost agreed. I don't see why on earth this seems one of the great taboos in British football. It's no worse (but certainly not any better) than Rooney pointing out to the ref that Kompany went in two footed. Or any player screaming in the ref's face for a card. Or running 70 yards to get involved.

Players hounding the ref and trying to get other players sent off IS a problem in the game, and something I hate seeing, but it's absolutely bizarre how an imaginary card-wave gets treated over here. When Mancini first did it (I haven't seen this 2nd one) the two commentators were saying "that is truly dreadful, I'm sure Mancini will be hugely sorry for this and deliver an apology in his post-match interview". And it was the first question posed to him in the interview and he just shrugged it off. Ridiculous.

8.30 is fine by me also.

Born and raised in the city. I've done my fair share of travelling and Aberdeen is up there amongst my favourite cities. I'm planning on moving to Melbourne semi-permanently by the end of this year, but as with last time I left, it'll be gut-wrenching to leave this place behind. I always plan to end up back in Aberdeen when I'm older and its sad to think things may not transpire that way.

If anything is going ahead next week, I'd definitely be up for it.

I also would like to play. Any evening, anywhere is fine by me.