rocket_scientist

I'm not aware of any complaints from shareholders. The last AGM I attended was 10 years ago and I only went to 2 or 3 after the original Capitol debacle. I knew at the time it was an emotional investment rather than a financial one and I had the money there at the time. I don't think any of us could have predicted how badly things could have gone for AFC in the last 20+ years, the standard and mismanagement of Scottish football also being a contributing factor. But the DNA thing is simply another vehicle to rob fans of their money, of exploiting their "loyalty" to the club. It's so see through it's disgusting. We can count the amount of times that demand has exceeded supply for tickets over the last 20 years on one hand. That's the real tragedy. The product is losing its appeal. The missing thousands are growing, and soon to include my postman and his kids (he's probably not even 40 yet). One of my best mates has had a ST for years and goes with three of his kids. He told me last week that he regrets renewing this year and only did so cos one of his daughters is mad keen. He's not renewing next year as the daughter will be old enough to go with her mates. Like any business, it's not healthy to lose customers. That it's been done by the greed of one man pursuing his single agenda is an affront to our history. Dick Donald would be turning in his grave. Di Stefano would have retracted his sentiments. The irony is that the plan was to modernise Pittodrie. That was doable in the late 80's. The main contractor hijacked that plan. He got his nose in the trough, got paid for his work and proposed relocation when the paint was barely dry. So what was the point of paying him and wasting all that money? He's been a crocodile. He's sat and waited and waited and waited. In the meantime he neglected the maintenance of our only worthwhile asset on the balance sheet.

For a start, I object to the myth that Aberdeen men are moaning cunts. I can assure you that moaning and embracing negatives are a Scottish psyche problem and most definitely not a North East exclusive. Nobody has a problem with the most deserving fans getting the tickets when demand exceeds supply. How could they? The problem is the relationship between the club and its fans. When a couple of thousand of us invested in the original shares issue, we were told we were guaranteed tickets at times like these and they specifically said shareholders first, ST holders second. That didn't last 20 years but I personally didn't mind. My giving a fuck about watching journeymen professional footballers in a red shirt is on a deep waning trend and it doesn't bother me. But this DNA thing is another lie, another method by which our chairman is taking the piss out of the fans. I'm amazed that otherwise sensible folk have forked out for it. My bridges were burned a long time ago.

HaRVey Weinstein AYe GOes for the having a wank scenario.

Can't imagine any more Honda puns. Would have to be really sleekit to get one in. Your turn to be sleeker and celica. How ContRiVed was that?

All that stats jazz doesn't tell the full story. Shame for Japan but Belgium have got some great footballers and Martinez has got them in great shape.

Great article. A friend of mine introduced me to Ivor Cummins. Find him on YouTube and in podcasts. Widowmaker CAC is brilliant. Here's the bottom line. Cardiovascular disease makes profits. Processed foods are huge contributors to disease. Mending broken hearts is good for business, the pharmas and the operations draining our taxes. Going after the root causes would be sensible but it threatens the agenda. We have been lied to for decades. In the age of the internet however, we only have ourselves to blame. Or at least that would be the case if google and cunts like them weren't feeding from the same trough.

I would've thought that it's his civic duty to do so.

Belgium 2 down to Japan may be a sign. Compromise the spirit of the competition at your peril. They never wanted to win v. England neither.

My postie has had a ST for years. Buys them for his kids too. He told me today that he doesn't have enough points to get a Burnley ticket and is getting sick fed up with the direction AFC are going. AberDNA has been a brazen attempt to screw the fans. Just like Arsenal and most of the EPL clubs, the chairmen don't give a fuck for anything other than making money. That's great if this all translates to success on the pitch in a shiny new stadium. It would be tragic and utterly predictable if in the process, the heart and soul of the club gets lost.

I hope Brazil don't win the cup. Cos of Neymar. Much as I love the class of Coutinho and the genius of Willian, Neymar makes it impossible for me to want him to succeed.

Brilliant first 20 minutes. Meh hee co are good!

On paper Brazil v. Mexico could be a cracker. Not that the game is played on paper. I wish I'd gone 3 or 4-0 instead of the 2-1 I did in the predictor. Too much quality not to explode and this is the business end. Just need the manager to have told Neymar to stop trying to do it all himself.

The vilification of Putin and Russia is working I see. On the contrary, Russia and Denmark have been impressive for their sheer athleticism and wills to win. As much as I think Croatia have a much bigger chance to go further and obviously underperformed last night, I felt sorry for the Danes. Russia got through on the same lottery (that is penalties) so yesterday produced a nice balance. The Spanish and the Croats are blessed with more artistry and skill but the Russians and Danes had greater work ethics and stoicism. That's a 50/50 right there.

The problem with England doing well in this World Cup would be the reaction to it from Englishmen. Their campaign hasn't really started so who knows how well they'll do? They beat Tunisia in the last minute, horsed Panama in the first half and lost the game that neither team wanted to win and already they think of themselves as world beaters.

I was born in Aberdeen. My brother and sister were born in Aberdeen but almost 6,000 miles from where I was born. I wouldn't recommend visiting Aberdeen in Hong Kong although it has probably changed in the last few decades.

Ten goals scored in yesterday's two matches. Five of them from 3 x PSG footballers.

There have been some great goals but whilst it's too early for me to say it's been a great tournament, it's certainly got the potential to be. It being pretty wide open makes it exciting. There were lots of dull group matches but I guess there always are but now we are into the business end, the first knock out games were excellent for us neutrals, not so good for the two most-heralded players on the planet and their nations. I hope Croatia and Belgium play to the potential that the sum of their parts can do. It would be great if Iniesta and Diego Costa turn it on, the former being arguably one of the greatest in history, the latter just to show that cunt Conte what an egomaniacal fool he is. And if Neymar can even show a fraction of the price tag put on him, Brazil can justify their favourites tag. Uruguay and France showed great desire and quality and will be good to watch in the quarters. Most of all, I've become a massive Columbia fan, albeit for one match only. Shaping up to be an excellent and very interesting WC.

I don't "tweet" much at all (maybe once a month on average), I "follow" zero people (it used to be one but banksy went awol) but the search function isn't an issue. Having been told about it, I typed in Lim... and after three letters only "Limmy Gary Lineker" came up as a selectable option. Twitter is useful for me for one reason only, understanding what's going through the minds of clients and competitors. It's also useful for anthropological reinforcing as it confirms how vacuous most people are, including the rich and famous.

Check out the Limmy Lineker tweets.

^ this post makes my heart sing BB. Unlike you, I couldn't name a single Columbian player in this WC and I've not watched them closely enough, if at all so far. What I do know is that England have beaten two teams who were hardly expected to qualify, one of them only just. I also know that expectations in England were not great... until they banged in a few in the first half against the mighty Panama before a 1-1 draw in the second half. Then all hell broke loose, their dormant natures having been ignited by a false reality. Let's face it, England aren't that good. I would love it if Columbia knocked them out.

It was an appalling display by both second teams. Zero quality on offer. Boring as fuck. Still not tempted to cash out despite 1.85. Got 0-0 at 5/1 after 5 minutes.

5 minutes in and this has got 0-0 written all over it. Edit: 20 minutes in and not as convinced as I was that it will be 0-0. Shite game though.

You make a good case Rico. I watch less than half the MOTD's but you're right, Shearer is a catchphrase contestant type and doesn't exactly enlighten us very often. The examples of the two lassies was a good comparison. They've been very impressive and yes, have obviously done their homework and are treating the role with the professionalism which it deserves. It's the smugness and jingoism that does my head in but I'm sure the BBC bosses have got them to tone it down after yesterday. They were on their best behaviour during that very boring session this afternoon.

I personally have no gripe with Lineker and Shearer etc. compere-ing the shows. Ex footballers at the highest level who have good things to impart most of the time. Gary Neville's a knob and Lee Dixon is someone I wouldn't want a pint with but they've all got something to add most of the time. When it comes to international games and the WC in particular, it's fascinating and yet sad and hilarious how they lose their collective cool and their rampant jingoism runs riot but I wouldn't want it any other way. I heard Gordon Strachan on the radio the other day and he's great value (as a pundit but fuck no as a manager) so I wish the TV panels would include him more. The English are just... so English at times like these. Was it Theresa May who recently asked for England flags everywhere? Some fucking idiot anyway.

Do you have ANYTHING interesting to contribute ever or do you just exist to provoke and wind up those who are more intelligent and articulate than you could ever aspire to? And if the latter, please at least do it by trying to keep up with the conversation. Your selective quoting is both ignorant and lacking in integrity.