INCREDIBLE SULKS

 

12:00 - 29 February 2008

 

Aberdeen players are refusing to speak to you ... by imposing a ban on interviews with the Evening Express, writes Charlie Allan.

 

In an amazing hissy fit, skipper Scott Severin and his team-mates have decided not to talk to us, despite the fact we are the newspaper on which most fans depend for news of the club.

 

The players have accused the Evening Express of being "generally negative" about the Dons.

 

A request to speak to Barry Nicholson after their 1-1 draw with Motherwell was rejected.

 

The players also refused to speak to us to preview tomorrow's SPL clash with Rangers at Ibrox. But they did interviews with Glasgow-based papers.

 

I went to Pittodrie and asked for a face-to-face meeting with Severin to discuss the players' issues with our coverage.

 

The club skipper refused my request for a chat and instead sent Dons media officer Dave Macdermid to speak on his behalf.

 

Macdermid confirmed the players have imposed the ban because of what was described as "the general negativity" of our coverage in recent weeks.

 

Macdermid claimed Severin told him the ban would be lifted after tomorrow's SPL clash with Rangers "once the players had made their point."

 

"They feel the local paper should be more supportive," he added.

 

Macdermid added the "negativity" included critical comments from columnists and fans.

 

He said the players were particularly upset by last Monday's back page story, confirming manager Jimmy Calderwood plans to move out at least 10 players in the summer.

 

Calderwood did not name any of the players, so we printed a list of those believed to be most under threat.

 

Severin and the squad then held a meeting, after which they informed the club they would no longer speak to us.

 

The Evening Express makes no apology for asking hard questions of a team that has won just two of their last 11 SPL games.

 

We also hit out at the players for their poor display in the 4-1 CIS League Cup semi-final thrashing by Dundee United.

 

But we have heaped praise on them for their efforts in the UEFA Cup this season. We ran front and back page tributes and published pull-outs celebrating their achievements.

 

Calderwood admitted he thinks the players have made a mistake by refusing to do interviews with the Evening Express.

 

Calderwood said: "I think the players are wrong because I don't think it helps anyone. But Seve told me that is what they wanted to do, so it's their choice.

 

"They were annoyed by last Monday's article in particular. It was a bit naughty putting names to what I said, but you have to expect that. I didn't name anyone but had to speak to Lee Mair and it clearly annoyed the players."

 

Despite the stance by the players, we will continue to bring you the best news about the Dons.

 

Anything in the paper today?

Anything in the paper today?

Think it was just the EE they weren't speaking to and P&J escaped their boycott.  Mainly aimed at Charlie Allan.  Will see at lunchtime if still silent.

Back page says "Wille: Time to end players protest"

 

.....WHY?!

As much as I believe Charlie Allan is as much a writer as I am a deep sea wood welder, part of me thinks that the guy is merely writing in the belief that he is the voice of the fans.

 

If you were to go onto the likes of the hat and read the posts of a few high number posters there then you would think JC is the worst thing ever to happen to the club.

 

 

 

Most clubs have their "own" paper

 

Celtic news

 

Hun times

 

Daily rangers

 

etc.

 

We must be the only Major club with an "Anti-paper" caled the Evening Depress.

 

AFC, you couldna make it up!

 

Does anyone remember the old AFC paper? Think it was called Pittodrie News or something, cant remember the name... got a heap of the still up the loft!

Is Fat Charlie not a fucking Tim? Love the way he pretends to be "one of us" in his column.

 

The boy should have been admitted to Cornhill a long time ago, anyone that writes one viewpoint one day and the completely opposite the next under the pseudonym "Stewart McKimmie" clearly has bipolar disorder issues.

And on this subject, just got my copy of programme from the Bayern game. £4 a programme... was that a one off or is that the standard price now?

 

As much as I believe Charlie Allan is as much a writer as I am a deep sea wood welder, part of me thinks that the guy is merely writing in the belief that he is the voice of the fans.

 

If you were to go onto the likes of the hat and read the posts of a few high number posters there then you would think JC is the worst thing ever to happen to the club.

 

 

 

 

 

Well its nae the majority of fans.

And on this subject, just got my copy of programme from the Bayern game. £4 a programme... was that a one off or is that the standard price now?

 

 

It was a one-off, and definately well worth it imo

The EE/Allan seem to be missing the point completely and if Willie Miller is telling the players to speak to the paper then he obviously is too.

 

The club needs fans to start turning up again, especially the stay-away fans.  But the paper just seems to print negative shite about it all the time and is always having a pop at the fans who do turn up.

 

I'm in the position that I don't have access to the EE but I do catch the odd headline or click on a link from time to time.  But off the top of my head I can recall storys like "shop the flare thrower", "disgrace fans" and other such sensational bollocks that does more harm than good.

 

How's that going to entice fans back when all they read is someone having a pop?

 

Well its nae the majority of fans.

 

i agree with ye

As much as I believe Charlie Allan is as much a writer as I am a deep sea wood welder, part of me thinks that the guy is merely writing in the belief that he is the voice of the fans.

 

If you were to go onto the likes of the hat and read the posts of a few high number posters there then you would think JC is the worst thing ever to happen to the club.

 

 

 

But Charlie Allan NEVER slates JC hence why JC is still gving him interviews.  Players spat the dummy at stories that were slating the players, which is hardly surprising since we haven't won since January 2nd (Hamilton) and shipped 26 in 8 games since then.

But Charlie Allan NEVER slates JC hence why JC is still gving him interviews.  Players spat the dummy at stories that were slating the players, which is hardly surprising since we haven't won since January 2nd (Hamilton) and shipped 26 in 8 games since then.

 

Wrong.

 

The story wasn't slating players, it was making up names of players who were being shown the door in the summer.

 

Would you not be pissed off if you turned up at work and there was an email flying around that you were getting the dunt when in fact your boss had never discussed your position with the person who sent out the email?

Wrong.

 

The story wasn't slating players, it was making up names of players who were being shown the door in the summer.

 

Would you not be pissed off if you turned up at work and there was an email flying around that you were getting the dunt when in fact your boss had never discussed your position with the person who sent out the email?

Not in my paper.

 

Nor online where just part of the story from Friday appears....

 

http://www.thisisaberdeen.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=148766&command=displayContent&sourceNode=148590&contentPK=20022358&folderPk=85404&pNodeId=148360

 

 

The players haveaccused the Evening Express of being "generally negative" about the Dons.

 

Macdermid added the "negativity" included critical comments from columnists and fans.

I'm in the position that I don't have access to the EE but I do catch the odd headline or click on a link from time to time.  But off the top of my head I can recall storys like "shop the flare thrower", "disgrace fans" and other such sensational bollocks that does more harm than good.

 

I won't forgive Charlie Allan for that shite. I mean it.

 

He tried to make whoever was responsible a hate figure. I'm just so glad fans saw through the shite, and it was funny one minute seeing the paper plastering their pages with condemnation, and the next day not mentioning a thing about it because of the backlash.

 

EE get to fuck

Not in my paper.

 

Nor online where just part of the story from Friday appears....

 

http://www.thisisaberdeen.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=148766&command=displayContent&sourceNode=148590&contentPK=20022358&folderPk=85404&pNodeId=148360

 

I might have believed you if you'd not used the link where the EE was having a wee greet about the situation. 

 

See, even the EE admits it here:

 

He said the players were particularly upset by last Monday's back page story, confirming manager Jimmy Calderwood plans to move out at least 10 players in the summer.

 

Calderwood did not name any of the players, so we printed a list of those believed to be most under threat.

I might have believed you if you'd not used the link where the EE was having a wee greet about the situation. 

 

See, even the EE admits it here:

 

 

Aye, they basically admitted that they made the list of the players up.

Aye, they basically admitted that they made the list of the players up.

The "list" as printed in the paper:

 

Dutch trio Karim Touzani, Dave Bus and Jeffrey de Visscher are likely to be under threat.

 

Steve Lovell will lead the mass exodus in the close season along with Dan Smith while Stuart Duff, Lee Mair and the experienced Jackie McNamara could also go.

 

Calderwood would love to keep loan stars Josh Walker and Sone Aluko but the teen pair will return to England this summer.

Not too much to get upset about there is there?

 

Touzani and Bus not going to feature much with Bus only on contract til summer anyway.

 

Lovell we all know is going and Jimmy has bascially said he aint getting a new contract offer.

 

Trying to offload Dan Smith in last 3 transfer windows.

 

Mair and Macnamara maybe but both not really good enough to take us forward on what we have seen, with the latter likely to go into coaching.

 

Walker and Aluko JC has said will both be going in summer anyway.

 

 

Edit: Should really say that not talking to EE can only be a good thing and should be extended to JC aswell but this way is petty.

The "list" as printed in the paper:

Not too much to get upset about there is there?

 

Touzani and Bus not going to feature much with Bus only on contract til summer anyway.

 

Lovell we all know is going and Jimmy has bascially said he aint getting a new contract offer.

 

Trying to offload Dan Smith in last 3 transfer windows.

 

Mair and Macnamara maybe but both not really good enough to take us forward on what we have seen, with the latter likely to go into coaching.

 

Walker and Aluko JC has said will both be going in summer anyway.

 

 

Edit: Should really say that not talking to EE can only be a good thing and should be extended to JC aswell but this way is petty.

 

From your list: Discounting the ones who are returning to their clubs/definately offski, I would keep JDV and Touzani.

 

 

 

 

theres a small paragraph on the back page that has a small headline saying

 

"dons in the huff day 5"

theres a small paragraph on the back page that has a small headline saying

 

"dons in the huff day 5"

 

Good.

 

 

Hopefully it will breed some form of siege mentality at the club.

 

Well its nae the majority of fans.

 

are you sure of this.

Good.

 

 

Hopefully it will breed some form of siege mentality at the club.

 

doubt it considering JC and WM have already said they want this to stop.

 

WM was quoted saying he wont allow it to go on for too long

Not too much to get upset about there is there?

 

It could be for the players though, perhaps some of them want to stay.

are you sure of this.

 

I hope he is 

 

Could be that some folk are confusing a extremely vocal minority for the majority of Dons fans.