Stand Free Ed

Happy birthday Donstalk! 

If it wasn't for Donstalk/DandyDons, I wouldn't've got a taste for writing about AFC (remember my 'Weekend Predictions' articles on DandyDons? No, naebody does...), I wouldn't've then wanted to take over Aberdeen Mad and make it the outrageous success that it is, and I would have a life. 

So, mixed feelings overall.

There's still a Euro trip next week.

It's known as the scattergun approach Reekie; oldest trick in the book for creating a news story when you don't have one at all.

All it involves is an impressive-looking headline and three unrelated sentences, all of which are quite vague and don't move any previous story on at all. Try and make one of these a quote.

Stick these sentences around a generic, non-specific photo and Bob's yer uncle until DNA tests prove otherwise.

Here's an example:

BOSS DEMANDS MORE

A football manager is looking to bring in a number of players to replace the ageing members of his squad.

The new club shop should be opened in three-to-four weeks, with Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond cutting the ribbon.

The club's recent signing said: "It looks like my injury has cleared up, and I am raring to start the next game if the manager picks me."

Can other supporter groups join the force?

Of course! Anyone and everyone is encouraged to join in... except huns.

We're also thinking Blue Lampie after the game, anyone and everyone is free to come along and get involved in the faintly farcical 'are you Stand Free Ed? I'm PGB' style conversations... 

ABERDEEN-MAD has joined forces with Donstalk and the Red Ultras supporters group - and we want you to join us for an end-of-season tear-up!

You don't have to be a member of the Red Ultras to join in, just keen to give the team your full vocal support for 90 minutes - and have some fun!

Well, there's only one game to go and it's all-or-nothing: win, and coupled with a highly plausible result at Tannadice, we will reach our target of European fitba.

And you know what that means - the possibility of some Euro jollies like we enjoyed (if you can remember them) two years ago!

The away support at Ibrox was fantastic as usual, so let's recreate that atmosphere and have our own cup final at Pittodrie this weekend.

The Dons have a great home record - having lost only one game at Pittodrie in over six months - but several of those recent results have been draws.

Therefore, we want the fans to do our bit to turn those draws into a now-crucial win.

We turned up in big numbers and made lots of noise in 2005 and 2007 when we similarly could reach Europe on the final game of the season - and each time we drove the lads on to comfortable 2-0 wins against both Hearts and Rangers.

It wasn't enough in '05, but a full house played its part in the club reaching Europe against the despicable Huns in '07.

Let's again put any disappointments behind us and join together on Section Y to urge the Dons into Europe - and have some fun in the process.

The Red Ultras say that Section Y is getting busier and busier - with several new faces turning up for the last two games - and they are again planning something special for Sunday's game.

So we would like to see all Aberdeen-Madders, Donstalkers, and any other like-minded Reds to head along to South Stand Section Y for that game and make some noise - that's all!

If any season ticket holder wants to change their tickets for this game the ticket office will do it with the minimum of fuss - it's that simple.

Together we can make a difference - Come On You Reds.

If you would like to help out with the Red Ultras' display, bring flags, streamers, confetti, balloons - anything and everything!

:ultras: :ultras: :ultras:

And don't forget - if you're a season ticket holder, you can buy a ticket for a friend for a crisp blue - £5! And if that friend is under 12, as well as probably going on some sort of list, you can take them along to the game for free!

So there's no excuse for Pittodrie nae being packed to the rafters! We're taking our team intae Europa...

The SPL is in the midst of its 'group stages', and if the Dons win their last two home games - tonight against Hearts and in 12 days time against Hibs - they are likely to get into Europe.

That means we can hopefully enjoy a few Euro jollies like we did two years ago!

Who wouldn't want to recreate the experiences a lot of us had in Dnipropetrovsk, Athens, Madrid and Munich next season?

The away support at Tannadice was fantastic, and it clearly helped drive the Dons on to a good second-half performance that secured a vital away point. So lets recreate that atmosphere at home.

The Dons have a great home record - having lost only one game at Pittodrie in over six months - but several of those recent results have been draws.

Therefore, we want the fans to do our bit to turn those draws into now-vital wins.

We turned up in big numbers - around 18,000 - for the last home game against Hearts in December, and made lots of noise. And what was the result? We drove our lads on and stunned the opposition into submission, getting a comfortable 1-0 win - the same again tonight is exactly what's needed.

Let's again put any disappointments behind us and join together on Section Y to urge the Dons into Europe - and have some fun in the process.

The Red Ultras said that the Celtic game was the busiest they've ever been since they moved to Section Y, and they are again planning a display for tonight's game.

So we would like to see all Aberdeen-Madders, Donstalkers, and any other like-minded Reds to head along to South Stand Section Y for that game and make some noise - that's all!

If any season ticket holder wants to change their tickets for this game the ticket office will do it with the minimum of fuss - it's that simple.

Together we can make a difference - Come On You Reds. 

If you would like to help out with the Red Ultras' display, head along to Section Y around 20 minutes before kick-off.

:ultras: :ultras: :ultras:

He had a mare.  I like Considine, I've stuck up for him a lot over the years because I think there is a good centre half in there somewhere but I can't defend him today (he couldn't defend anything today never mind himself).  Appalling decision for the first goal, he was sleeping for the second and was apparently running in treacle for the third. Maybe if he had a sustained run in the side it would help him, but then how could you blame JC for dropping him for the United match?

That's exactly what I said to my old man after the game yesterday. Exactly.

The only thing that could be said in Conso's defence is that Calderwood should have given him and Diamond a long run as first-choice centre-half pairing this season. Severin's a midfielder, always has been, so for Considine to see a player play out of position in his place every week is not good for his confidence.

Conso has also had to spend his AFC career moving from CH to LB to left side of a back three, and who knows how much better he'd be if he had been allowed to develop in one single position. But we'll never know, and he's made too many mistakes now to be allowed to continue.

Be part of a good old-fashioned day out on the terraces, as Donstalk joins forces with Aberdeen-Mad and the Red Ultras for the Celtic game.

Aberdeen-Mad, Donstalk and the Red Ultras supporters group have joined forces - and we want you to join us for an end-of-season tear-up!

You don't have to be a member of the Red Ultras to join in, just keen to give the team your full vocal support each 90 minutes - and have some fun!

As the SPL enters its 'group stages', the Dons have three home games to get into Europe so we can enjoy the Euro trips like two years ago.

Who wouldn't want to recreate the experiences a lot of us had in Dnipropetrovsk, Athens, Madrid and Munich next season?

Three home wins would surely see the Reds in Europe again - and with a result at Tannadice, third place is not out of the equation either.

The Dons have a great home record - having not lost at Pittodrie for six months - but several of those recent results have been draws.

Therefore, we want the fans to do our bit to turn those draws into wins.

With a big, noisy home support for the run-in, we can recreate the atmosphere of recent games such as Copenhagen, Bayern, Hearts at Christmas, the Celtic 4-2, and the 'last day' Rangers games which drove our lads on and stunned the opposition into submission.

Let's put any disappointments behind us and join together on Section Y to urge the Dons into Europe - and have some fun in the process.

To kick things off, the Red Ultras are planning a huge display for the Celtic game on May 2nd.

We would like to see all Aberdeen-Madders and Donstalkers head along to South Stand Section Y for that game and make some noise - that's all!

If any season ticket holder wants to change their tickets for this game the ticket office will do it with the minimum of fuss - it's that simple.

And why not meet up beforehand and afterwards and make a day of it - put some faces to names (and bury some hatchets!).

Together we can make a difference - Come On You Reds.

If you would like to help out with the Red Ultras' display, they will be in the Richard Donald Stand all day this Saturday painting materials so come along and lend a hand.

And if you would like more information on the Red Ultras, click this link: http://www.redultras.net

I know, if you think about it, we've not actually lost many games in the league under JC at all. Was it not something like 4 games until the Caley debacle? Or am I making it up. Its uninspiring this season though, as most have been uber bore draws.

But there are good bore draws, like vs Hibs and Well, and there are bad bore draws like against Killie and the Huns... 

Six months unbeaten in the league at home... 

I'm so confused. 

Hi! Just popped on to say I love the winter banner, particularly the 'view down Merkland Road' bit. Top work fellas! 

We're doing fine, thanks. 

Our forum bully feels that his view is the only view that counts, however to me it's pretty clear that there is a wide divergence still among the fans, indeed this forum and the other main Dons forum show that, with this one largely (but not wholly) for JC, and the other largely (but not wholly) against him.

 

So who, if any, of the three main men at Pittodrie do you want to see leave?

Ahem! 

Hi, just popped in to say that we used to be able to do this on Stand Free (with html tags) but it was removed about two years ago because it was a fucking nightmare.

Good luck though! 

Regularly but not on this occasion as this time shat in the tumble dryer!!

From what distance?

How good was the Shitting Into A Tumble Dryer at the Olympics last week? I thought that Ukrainian had it, but then the Chinese guy took it with his final flob. Great action, but the scoring was a bit suspect.

voting makes no difference

Well, it doesn't make no difference, but it makes only slightly more difference than wanking into a teacup.

If Mulgo is sitting top of the votes, they wouldn't just ignore him...they'd surely look at why he's been voted for.

Fans can vote for the Clydesdale Bank Young Player of the Month, so let's get the votes in for Charlie! 

This is not a 'joke' or in any way trying to undermine the award. In all seriousness Charlie has had a great start to his Dons career with three fine performances (he was the only decent player against ICT), a terrific winning goal against last season's 3rd place team Motherwell and an 'assist' (it was his cross - with his wrong foot) against the Huns.

So let's get Charlie his deserved honour.

http://www.cbfootball.co.uk/monthly.aspx

Aye fit ever happened to SPHell?

I...er, I mean the boy who ran it probably ran out of time and money to keep it going. 

Good one Ed, hope you dont mind me posting it up here 

Nae bithir min.  

Hemmin glasgow sheep - SPHell was on the go well before the Daily Mash. 

Stand Free Ed, I completely understand why you are boycotting, however, I disagree it should be over this incident. As Kowalski said, it was on the letters page. The P&J shouldn't censor what has been written, despite how untruthful. I'm sure they know how well behaved Aberdeen fans were, everyone does. Just deluded bitter and twisted huns think otherwise, and I couldn't care less. We have the moral high ground on all levels. In fact, you could say it allows everyone to laugh at how stupid they really are. I'm sure it was included to spark a debate/response which it has. The P&J doesn't berate fans like the EE does.

Okay, but letters pages censor letters all the time - in fact, every letter is censored as it is edited by the sub-editors for any number of reasons. Check the disclaimer on every newspaper/magazine's letters page - it will be something like: "The newspaper reserves the right to edit any letters published."

And you're right, it will have been included to spark a debate/response. As I said in an earlier post on this thread:

the decision to print the letter at all was either because a) the editorial team of the P&J agrees with its sentiments, or b) they want to wind up a storm ahead of the Aberdeen-Rangers game in order to give them plenty of juicy scandal to report on next week. Neither is appropriate for a local broadsheet in my opinion, and both show a dearth of journalistic integrity.

So yes, as you said, they included the letter to spark a response. My response was my comment article on Aberdeen-Mad.

Why should Aberdeen fans have to defend themselves after huns run riot in Manchester?

Well excuse me for wanting to stick up for Aberdeen fans.

fair enough ed, and I did realise that when I re read it.  I agree in general with the boycott but a letter from some donside hun spouting typical hun stuff didnae really get me that annoyed.

Well I've had enough of it, and it's not so much the figures involved in the boycott it's the sentiment.

ps hope you don't mind me advertising your tshirts on here

Nae bother min, I think they're going to sell out pretty quickly on Thursday. I just wish I'd had more cash up front to get more printed. 

seems a bit of a non-event to boycott the Aberdeen Journals over this.  Plenty of other and better reasons to boycott them.

But it's not just over this, as is clearly stated in the article:

That the Press & Journal printed this letter without checking to ensure that its contents were facts is the final straw. Aberdeen-Mad is now starting a campaign to boycott Aberdeen Journals.

 

Aberdeen-Mad is sick fed up of the lies and distortion Aberdeen Journals' publications print about Aberdeen fans (click here for previous fae the EE, and that's by no means an isolated incident).

 

We get enough of it from the central belt press, but to have to suffer it from our local papers beggars belief...(etc)