-matthEw-

I will definitely be available for my Aberdeen-music debut on Friday! If you're struggling for numbers John I could drag a couple of people along, but either way, count me in!

Westburn Park is good. They have 3 or 4 outdoor courts that seem in better condition than the other Council run ones (well, Stewart Park anyway). There is also heaps of state of the art indoor courts that look cool, but I have never played on them.

Inception - 2/10. Really awful. Thought provoking? Any thought at all that was provoked by it completely unravelled the dumb plot. I'd argue it would be more enjoyable if you were in it for mind-numbing, repetitive action type thrills. It was a great cast, that unfortunately all failed to deliver even mediocre performances. The special effects of the folding architecture was awesome and that is almost all the good I can think to say of the film. Also... I actually quite liked the end. If it did keep Spinning then it goes someway to excusing the fact that no character is developed in the slightest and that the whole plot is entirely flimsy - still a cheap ploy that can't redeem the film

Is there anything happening on Fridays at all now? I can't really tell in this confusion, but if there is I'd happily join in, if I'm allowed. Damn working Monday nights. I'm shit btw.

I've probably said it before, but this one really bugs me - fussy eaters. This also extends to people who refuse to try new foodstuff, or people that insist Chicken Tikka Masala is 'too spicy', or the folk who ask for a plain Big Mac.

Bouncers. I know its a hard job and it must be a pain working those hours with drunks, and the vast majority are a credit to their profession, but the new double-act that bounce at Exodus are a pair of horrendous cunts. I've heard more than a few horror stories about those two recently. The new bouncers there could even, in time, rival the ones from the infamous Exodus Bouncers thread.

Shame, I thought he was a great singer.

?( People who have Asians as pets?

Huge pile of shit.

Great drama at the end of the USA game, glad I switched over once it was clear England were going to snatch it. Meanwhile, in Group D, for a very brief few minutes or so it looked like Australia were going to do it. Germany stalling on 1 goal and Schwarzer's spill put an end to that. Bit weird that Ghana go through having only scored 2 penalties considering how shoddy their defence is - every team should've tore them a new one. I'm happy that the Socceroos avoided last place I guess. Germany v England will be a cracker, although I feel England will win. I think its subsequently became clear that Germany's opening result was as much to do with us being poor than Germany being absolutely electric. They are good, but England will be a huge test for them. English defence looked solid today, Fabio should keep faith in Upson, as I've always done ( ), as I thought he was great today. One of Uruguay/South Korea/Ghana/USA will be competing in a World Cup semi-final. Very much looking forward to the rest of the tournament.

I went to school with a few of the younger ones. All nice enough guys on the face of it, although there is plenty of horror stories going round that would make anyone a bit wary. I've got a great McAllister story that involves gate-crashing a McAllister family BBQ and re-enacting scenes from Snow White under orders from the Aberdeen Assassin himself. Weird night.

Capello has said Upson will start on Wednesday. Obviously he rates Upson higher than Dawson, as he initially left Dawson behind, but I'd be worried if I was English. Upson has been, from what I've seen, shite for the last 2 seasons. And I just can't picture a a partnership of him and Terry being any other than disastrous, especially considering Johnson will be doing his best to get in the way of whoever plays on the right and offering no help to the centre backs. Even by the usual standards of the UK media, Capello's fall from hero to villain has been remarkable. You just get the feeling they smell blood now and have it in for him.

That may be the case. And fair enough if the consensus here is that he moves his arm towards the ball, then penalty. But I've watched countless replays and see only the beginning of movement away from the ball, fractions of a second before it hits them. But we all see these things differently. I've yet to hear one pundit or mate say he's moved towards the ball though. To me, his arm has prevented a goal. Not the use of his arm. And that's not a foul. You can see his muscles in his arm ripple in that 'conclusive' slow-mo - suggesting his arm is limp by his side. If he was wanting to use his arm, surely he'd be prepared for it and stiffen his arm. The idea that players should have to stand with their hands behind their back at almost all times is laughable to me. And once again, FIFA state that arm adjacent to the torso is A-OK. Anyway, I'm just dejected and arguing about semantics. What is clear is how completely unfamiliar people generally are with the literal rules of the game when they don't appear to follow common sense.

I'm not wanting to argue but the rules say its either a penalty AND a red (denying a clear goalscoring opportunity) or nothing. But I honestly cannot see how anyone can say that wasn't 100% accidental. It's blasted at him from 8 or 9 yards. FIFA even legislate for hands by the side by classifying that as a natural position for your hands to be in. You can think its a penalty if you want, but unless you think its a penalty because he's moved his arm deliberately towards the ball (and 99.9% of people don't seem to think that, I certainly don't), then you* think that with absolutely no basis according to the laws of the game. For what its worth, I think its one of the most stupid rules, and I have for ages. In such a situation of accidental handball preventing a goal, it should be a penalty but no red card, even a yellow would be harsh. But, until the rules change we have to play by them > No penalty, no red card, play on. *that's a general you, not specifically YOU. I realise you think he moves his arm significantly towards the ball.

At least a couple of the ITV guys have recognised the rule absolutely hinges on it being deliberate.

I'm intrigued as to what rule, any rule, deems that a penalty. Or a red. Have a read. http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/generic/81/42/36/lawsofthegame_2010_11_e.pdf Only a hand-ball if deliberate. If you believe its deliberate then you're a mentalist. I mean this in the least offensive way Del, but that's just ignorance of the rules. Don't feel bad, even all the BBC professional pundits are ignorant of the handball laws. Sorry, but Referees are given further advice telling them to look out for arms in unnatural positions as a hint to whether it was deliberate. It also specifically says that adjacent to torso is natural. Its the natural standing position for any player. The rules may well go against common sense, which to me would mean unintentional hand balls are punishable by free-kick or penalty but no sending off or caution. However, the rules are there to be followed and they are unquestionably clear. Fair enough the referee, in the split-second he gets to see it and make a decision, can judge it as deliberate. But in retrospect, I don't see how anyone can judge it as deliberate, and therefore a penalty. Poor form.

Gutted about Australia. I seem to be in the sole minority in thinking it shouldn't have been a penalty, but what do I know, I'm only basing my opinion on Fifa's Laws of the Game. Referee's can get things wrong, but Hansen et al, - get to fuck - no excuse for your complete lack of knowledge on the handball rule. Robbed.

I'll come along next Monday, providing I'm not suffering too much from RockNess. It's my only Monday night off ever though, so hopefully if this becomes a proper thing it can move away from a Monday.

Me me! New album released that very day as well. I'm sure I'll have, somehow, found a way to know the words before then though. This to complete the recent trilogy. This is the optimistic one following the lustic longings of Hombre Lobo and the bleak as fuck End Times. TRACK LISTING 01 in gratitude for this magnificent day 02 i'm a hummingbird 03 the morning 04 baby loves me 05 spectacular girl 06 what i have to offer 07 this is where it gets good 08 after the earthquake 09 oh so lovely 10 the man 11 looking up 12 that's not her way 13 i like the way this is going 14 mystery of life Just how happy are some of those titles!?

I only recently got the new remasters (although I'd be living off the Dr.Ebbett's mixes before then) so I have been Beatling with a renewed vigour lately. It Won't Be Long You're Going To Lose That Girl Run For Your Life Got To Get You Into My Life Baby You're A Rich Man My top 5 for yesterday was: Only A Northern Song I've Got A Feeling Come Together Taxman Hey Bulldog

Don't know if this has been posted, but skip forward to 56 minutes. (Or watch it all, including part 1, as its an excellent documentary anyway) BBC iPlayer - Welcome to Lagos: Episode 2 But seems "Dundee United" is a slang term for a fool in Lagos, Nigeria. :laughing:

Nahh. The play-off idea was decided before a ball was kicked that season, with league expansion having been decided months previously. This was before it was in anyway thought likely we'd finish bottom of the pack so this can't be said to have drafted to favour Aberdeen. It was always decided there would be no straight relegation that year. As for Falkirk, the rules were pretty rigid then, and ridiculous. I can't recall the exact nature of it, but weren't they told countless times to have Brockville done up to meet a certain date, or provide alternative solutions by that certain date? The ground-sharing idea missed that deadline and was thrown out the window for that. You could argue that was due to wanting to ensure Aberdeen's position in the league, but I think the argument that its because the SFA are a bunch of beaurocratic dicks who avoid extra work at all costs is a more convincing one. Also, even if the groudshare had went ahead, it would NOT have meant automatic relegation. And we had sweeped 3 1st division teams aside in the cups that year (changed days now) so we may well have been favourites for that complicated mini-league the beaks had devised, but that is all academic. Aberdeen were not granted any favours that season as far as I'm concerned, just fortune prevailed.

RIP

Nah, Aberdeen. Most of my Granny's sisters and mates from Strichen moved to Aberdeen donkeys ago as well, so don't know too many people out that way these days.

M: Strichen MM: Fraserburgh MF: Strichen MGM: Strichen MGM: Strichen F: Colac, Australia FM: Melbourne, Australia FF: Yarawonga, Australia FGM: Wexford, Ireland FGF: Eniscorthy Ireland