Dunty

To the tune of the Man Utd "20 times" chant

83 83 in Ullevi

83 83 I say

83 83 in Ullevi

Playing football the Fergie way

"To enhance the atmosphere we're going to wave some flags next to the tunnel."

What's worse, is I thought at least it was something for some kids to do, get on the pitch before a game. "Over 16s only".

http://bit.ly/2NpzM7d

On top of that. The guys from "the display team" say it was them that suggested it to the club, and rather than ask them to do it they've ignored them, announced the idea, and advertised for their own flag bearers!

Decent back-up, especially if Gleeson not fit for next week, but hopefully that's all he is. If he's playing due to a loan agreement with Rotherham and keeping Lewis Ferguson and Dean Campbell out of the team, then it does us no good.

Full-back and a striker still needed.

Wouldn't surprise me re-Dom Ball. He was actually holidaying with one of the players, think it was Scott Wright. Both took their Mrs' to Dubai. Not that relevant I suppose, but at least shows he made good pals up here.

Decent back-up. But McInnes said he expects to sign two more players so if Ball is just on loan hopefully he's not counted as one of the two.

Nowak still on trial?

Still hopeful Greg Stewart might come back too, this time on a permanent deal. He wouldn't be too bad an option up front either.

Not saying it’s realistic, and definitely not going to happen any time soon, and I get the argument that it would struggle to make money seven days a week - but for the sake of discussion – how much would it cost to build a train line out to Kingsford, or at least nearby.

Going by this, they are building 16 miles of new track between Aberdeen and Inverurie, enabling infrastructure for two new stations, relocating a third one and extending platforms at two stations.

https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/news/local/work-on-major-upgrade-of-north-east-railway-line-making-good-progress/

The cost for all that comes in at £330m, up from the initial estimate of £240m. The Scottish government are paying most of it as part of a £5bn rail upgrade programme.

If they started the track on the existing line at Bucksburn and extended it to Kingswells, so around 3-4 miles of track and a station, what would the cost of that likely be?

If that’s your argument, do you see Shalk as our number one striker? I don’t. Would have no issue with us targeting Moult for example, or the boy hibs just signed, but is this guy any better or much different than Adam Rooney? He’s a waste and I’d rather develop youth than Schalk, unless Schalk is a replacement for Rooney.

I didn't mention Schalk in my post. I was replying to the point the poster made saying we don't need another striker. I don't think Schalk is good enough for Aberdeen and think we should have loftier ambitions, but would still like to see us sign a striker.

I take it the Tony Watt deal is dead?

Honestly, why do we need 4 forwards? I’d go with May Rooney and Cosgrove, and back up after that should be our youngsters. Priorities financially should be defenders and wide and central mids, the only exception if we are buying/signing a main #1 forward.

Two of those forwards can't score.

We absolutely should be looking for another striker.

Noticed Burnley don't return from pre-season until a week after Aberdeen.

They only have three games lined up before the first leg - one three days before it. Aberdeen have five, including West Brom.

Aberdeen are used to coming back this early, and by this point you imagine they have the schedule down to a fine art. Very good chance we can catch Burnley cold at Pittodrie, and give us something to defend down there.

Just been informed there will be no supporters club orders for the away leg. Guess that is myself and my boy stuffed as not going to have enough loyalty points as don't get to too many home games given location

Many have suspected for a while that Aberdeen are trying to phase out supporters clubs. Unsurprised by this.

Maybe I'm getting old but I just like to watch my team in peace and quiet nowadays!!!  I'm all up for creating an atmosphere with something like a safe standing section but our disability isn't getting any easier to deal with older I get so keeping the spams and jerking down to a minimum is always appreciated and I think if folk are in danger of bumping into me with above idea one's leg and hand especially might be tempted to bash a few people in face for no reason!!!

Okay, so you're saying you wouldn't use that end. Likewise at some point we'll all get that old (hopefully) that a boisterous standing section is beyond us and we'll need a seat. But, can't see why anyone would be against the idea of one in the ground whether they would use it or not.

I see the Daily Record is quoted as saying we the fans have voted for a whole stand to be safe standing at our new stadium.  I've not been consulted by the club so don't know if I've missed something but personally if this was going to become a reality it wouldn't be something I'd welcome sorry but couldn't think of anything worse.

Sorry if I've picked you up wrong, but you couldn't think of anything worse than a full stand behind the goal that was standing?

What would be so bad about that?

Why would someone open pubs in Westhill. Not going to survive on football trade twice a month. Especially when most folk will be forced to drive to new stadium so not going to be drinking.

There's pubs already in Westhill, which opened long before talk of a football stadium. There's plans to build thousands of more houses. Ideal place to build more amenities. Having a football crowd will be a bonus.

Kenny Miller is a guest on BBC sportsound today. Worth tuning in to see what he's saying about the Aberdeen speculation.

The only thing I will miss is I like sitting in the RDU, looking down on the pitch from up high and being able to look out at the city of Aberdeen. Pretty unique really considering not many other stadiums have a two-tiered stand at one end but not at the other so you can see the city (Motherwell, but view ain't the same).

Will lose that at Kingsford because no upper deck planned.

Other than that, I genuinely don't think there's much that can't be recreated at Kingsford. You'll find pubs in westhill, in future years they'll build around the stadium, we'll win games and create new memories.

As for the soulless comment another poster made. Well, it's an empty field, what are you expecting when you drive past? Drive past Pittodrie on a non-match day and what do you see? Apart from the people going in and out of the stadium it's a pretty quiet place with little happening. Maybe the odd golfer, the odd car or some seagulls.

Summary of what Barry Fry had to say:

 

“Aberdeen want Jack and Chris, but I’m not sure they will be able to afford them,” Fry stated. “There are other clubs after them both as well.

Their owner was also on twitter confirming Aberdeen had made enquiries.

Forrester was appointed club captain at 23, then was stripped of it and replaced by Baldwin, who was also only 23 when appointed.

Were allocated 357 tickets, and appears we've sold 302.

Quite right - all the tickets were restricted view yet Celtic were still charging through the nose for them. Should have boycotted altogether.

 

I remember seating being introduced and it always reduced the capacity.

 

That was seating being added to old style terracing. Rail seating is replacing a seat with another seat = same capacity.

If Aberdeen "toughened up" all that would happen is we would be punished more by the referees.

Our passing was what really let us down in the second half.

I'd rather Hibs lose tomorrow and win against hunnery. Them ending up with no European football would be a good GIRFUY to King and those hordes of pricks.

Hibs would need to win by five goals to go above Rangers if they lose tomorrow.

Edit: Actually, if they lose tomorrow the goal difference will widen even further.

Dunty, was it not contingent on reducing the headline capacity slightly too, which they didn't want to do? Something like 1.5 seats per standing space? That rings a bell, but it could have been based on Bayern's ground, I canna mine

Celtic's is 1:1. Can't see any regulation in the UK allowing standing sections to increase capacity.

As for the overall capacity, was posted on AFC chat that from looking closely at the current plans, it showed around 19,300 seats. The executive boxes (holds 308) and capacity of wheelchair and helpers sections pushed it to closer to 20,000. But, with seats inevitably left empty for segregation, a sell-out will always be between 19,000-19,500.

However, there's many pushing for a Pittodrie redevelopment with a reduced capacity, so strawberries and grapes.

Two reasons were given by George Yule for safe standing not currently being in the stadium application.

Firstly, the design isn't yet complete. They don't know where it'll be going or what the capacity of the section will be.

But secondly, and more importantly, the club can't just announce they will have standing in the stadium because they have to apply for a licence (Pittodrie is currently licenced as an all-seater stadium). I'm not sure what the situation is now, but at the time the application was launched, Celtic's standing section was still on a trial basis. The government, Glasgow city council, police and the SPFL were allowing Celtic to have it for a year with a review to come at the end of the season. I'm presuming it's now the case that the trial is over and other clubs are free to install it, but they still need to apply for a licence to their local council.

I will be very surprised if, when it comes to submitting the final plans for phase two, that safe standing is not included. My fear isn't that it won't be included, my fear is the section won't be big enough.

 

 

 

That's not what I'm saying at all.

 

I'm saying that the facilities are not crap.

 

 

 

I'm also saying that Pittodrie is the home of Aberdeen Football Club.

Not some namby pamby shite built in a soulless suburb.

 

Clubs move home all the time.

You'll need to explain what's "namby pamby" about a stadium yet to built, but has plans that if they come to fruition would likely be a better stadium than Pittodrie.

 

Edit: For god sake min, you don't seriously believe that they have ANY intention of allowing a standing area do you?

Yes, seeing that they have been very consistent in saying it will have a standing section.

Your objections appear to be based on what you believe rather than any evidence.

You could be correct, I have serious doubts though. I have no doubt that all those games will sell out in the first few seasons but in 10 years time, once the new thing has been wiped away, we'll not sell out Hibs and Hertz.

 

There are numerous examples of us selling out games against the hun in the last 2 decades at a Pittodrie that - as pointed out - hasn't changed, so it's a pretty invalid argument. It's a Tuesday night, and performances were poor this season. Had it been a Saturday at 3pm and we'd between them twice already this season there would have been a sell out. The atmosphere when Madison scored his free kick was pretty decent in recent times. It's a direct correlation between crowd size and excitement. The enclosed stands will definitely amplify it, I've certainly nae issue with the proposed design.

I think a big part of the struggle to sell out this season is the atmosphere. You no longer say "Pittodrie will be rocking tonight" and really believe it will be. Will be a few "stand frees", some "come on you reds" at corners, and lots of booing. In the past you always wanted to be there over watching on TV because you can never recreate that big match atmosphere at home. Nowadays, it's often a saving of £26 and you haven't really lost out on anything.

If they get the new stadium right, standing section and all those in there creating a racket, then for big games the place will come into its own, and rather than people be put off you'll find many more inclined to go.

Places to go for a pish have to be improved.

Bloody hell, no wonder fitba is fucked.

 

Best place to go for a pish was through the fence at the back of the South Stand.

The Main Stand bogs are inside so therefore of a posher standard. (play the posh pish polka)

 

Nae good enough for the youngsters?

 

Shame .

Do you not get the irony in saying the crap facilities doesn't put you off, while saying you won't go to a brand new stadium because it'll be slightly more hassle to get there?

Do I have to look back through the thread to find the quote where you stated that you don't attend Pittodrie because of the hassle involved in the commute from Garlogie? I'm not quite sure what makes you think that the opposite won't be true? But you're really just backing up my point, I'm suggesting that the displacement of existing loyal fans must be replaced with a similar number of new fans. You clearly think that will be no problem, I don't. Basic foot-fall figures would suggest that out-of-sight-out-of-mind is more likely to occur in Westhill than in a city centre. Westhill as an attraction in itself holds absolutely zero. My wife isn't going to spend three hours in Costco or the magnificent Greggs and surrounding shops while I head to the fitba. It's basic logic really. My opinion is that in ten years time we will have a lower core support than we do now.

 

The point about McGhee, Paterson etc is about understanding the dynamics of Scottish fitba. Our crowds were significantly down in those years because the fitba was pish. Building a new stadium, with our level of support, is not suddenly going to turn us into league challengers. As long as the hun continue their slow but steadyish rise, then the dons will become more of a bit-part in the game and crowds will dwindle again. Indeed, if the scouse tink manages a return to the helicopter Sundays then the interest gained over the last few years will quickly diminish. We can afford that at Pittodrie, it's proven over a century that crowds can wain without permanent decline because it's still there and still visible. I don't believe that same robustness will exist at Westhill, unless something drastically changes on the way the city is designed and the stadium becomes enveloped in new building, developed in a completely new way (i.e. nae another Kingswells). I think that the opposite will occur in that the core support will be closer to that of Kilmarnock than Hearts or Hibs in ten years time (again, ignoring the undoubted initial large crowds, they will be a blip).

But then you have a situation like tonight, good weather and a massive game (quoting Cosgrove who says massive about a dozen times in his interview) with Rangers, and the club is struggling to sell out. Hibs and Hearts I'm sure would have both sold out.

Now, possibly one of the reasons is McInnes revent approach to these games. But, another aspect will be the stadium and the complete lack of atmosphere. They improve that at Kingsford and they encourage more people along.