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Totally agree re Armstrong. The frequency with which he gets the ball in tight spaces and not only retains it, but finds a way to play a progressive pass is something to see. Not to say that he’s been perfect in every match, but he’s a Rolls Royce of a player.

Aiden calls me a fanny on an Arab Strap live album Top that.

Haha. I passed that point as I stepped onto the train to Dundee with a bag of cans. First was a battle, second a chore third was a pleasure

History will be made on Thursday December 11th when Aberdeen take on Ligue 1 outfit RC Strasbourg Alsace. It will be the first time in Aberdeen's illustrious 58 year history in European competition that we will have played a team from France. RC Strasbourg finished seventh in Ligue 1 last season. They used to be great, then they were pish, then they were good again. A bit like us. I fancy a 2-1 home win under the lights at Pittodrie. It'll be one of those memorable European nights that the old stadium has seen over the decades.

I think they paid a bit over 2 mill for him but 1.5 is the agreed fee we have with them should we wish to make the transfer permanent.

It may surprise you after our chat on the St Mirren thread but overall I agree with this, the technology isn't there yet and especially for leagues that are having to go down the back of the couch for shrapnel to just be able to afford the most basic system. That's not to say I don't think they help themselves with the way they operate it but I don't think VAR can ever be a 'good' thing until technology gets to a stage where the referee is literally an AI able to make 100% accurate decisions in milli-seconds. Whether not having a human refereeing team on the pitch at all is desireable however is another debate

I dunno, if (IF) he can continue his current form long term, then £1.5m for a 24 year old (he's 23, but will be 24 next season) is not bad value. Two good seasons at us and there's every chance you recoup that outlay. Sunderland saw enough to offer him a five-year deal two years ago.

A classic example of the type of music I thought was shite back in the day, that I now realise isn't half bad now I am in my sixties

joan Armatrading - Me myself I

Old warrior dozes off, misses AGM. A boardroom coup to seize power on behalf of the Sooth Stand Socialist Collective will therefore be delayed for another 12 months and, concomitantly, the timescale of the intended free matchday issue of the People’s Skirlie, the unilateral ban on VAR within a hunner km of Pittodrie, and the installation of a mass shower system over the away support section - fed by the Pittodrie urinals - will be affected negatively. Our mission, however, will not be denied, diluted, or thwarted. No faith have we in prince or peer.

Up next is a bunch of Alsacians They come from a frog eating nation Theyll say 'zut alors' When we knock in number 4 As we rise once again to the occasion

Tiffany - I Think We're Alone Now The pop banger to end all pop bangers.

Heart - Alone The power ballad to end all power ballads.

Top forty countdown, finger poised over record/pause button hoping to fuck that the person doing the countdown wouldn't talk over the end pf the tracks you were recording

Ken fit you mean about him His brother is the keyboard player in the orchestra. I wouldn't single out any individual musician as I thought they were all immense to be fair

I've seen him three times. Once, him and his brother played the piano (the same one) for a song, and his brother was nearly as good as him. The only downside to seeing him these days is usually the venues are of the large corporate pish variety. He's fantastic though, despite being a little bit of a weirdo. Wouldn't be surprised if something came out in a decade or two.

You are so correct about seeing familiar faces at gigs in Aberdeen, Rico. There was a couple of old skool punks at the Skids on Saturday night, complete with Mohicans. You'll have seen them about town plenty over the years. The youngsters were going up and asking for selfies with them. I'm sure a Jam tribute act brought out the Weller clones, striving to keeping it real. Fair play to them, but some of the dodgiest barnets around, when you go to a Jam tribute, or even a Weller gig.

I happened upon a Jam tribute on Friday in toon, who were fairly decent. The age and gender profile was stark! I did notice a couple of young girls with their dad in the corner - good work. Most of the gigs I go to are similar, regardless of whether the bands are twenty years younger than me or not. It's mainly Aberdeen gigs I go to, and you recognise the faces. The Jam tribute were a five piece band, which is unusual these days. I remember watching Arab Strap a few years back and they mentioned that it wasn't economical to bring the rhythm section along with them, so it was just the front two and the machines. It must be very hard for a new band to stay afloat on those terms. I suspect it would put a slant towards the middle class end of the spectrum, where the band were largely backed (or accommodated) by parents. That may or may not have an effect on the quality of songs and lyrics. I think the industry more generally has changed. I often chuck on the TOTP reruns on BBC4 on a Friday night, and for some weird reason they always start with 1998. You could see the deterioration at that point, from even the earlier part of the decade. There have always been manufactured bands, but it was the sheer volume of them by that point. The cheap, formulaic, pish churned out over and over. The shitey girl and boy bands, in the exact same format doing the exact same dance moves, singing the exact same songs (or someone else's). The capital that runs the industry had found a way to break the back of it and make money with far less going out the door, complete control over the "artist" and a way to generate controversy by ogling over who they were or weren't dating (rather than if they'd thrown a telly out of their hotel room). Just a mirror, or perhaps a precursor, to the way that the rest of society has functioned for fifty years. Enshittification I believe the kids are calling it these days. I suspect some good music will come out the other end once it all blows over.

There's always 2027 when we aim for our third cup win in a row.

Article about Strasbourg in the P&J. Went bust about the same time as Oldco and started again as an amateur team, in the French fourth division, keeping their 20k + attendances. Now owned by the same folk that own Chelsea, which their fans aren't best pleased about and do some protest thing at every home game. Difficult game for us, regardless of their form, but sounds like they have a few issues going on, which may help their cause.

I was in Berlin the other week, right next door to the Uber Arena. Kraftwerk were playing the night I had to leave. Raging

I think the huns will be looking into your methods, achieved the impossible. Bravo TLG.

The Aberdeen end at Dens park is having a fair old bounce. Brilliant to see.

HI everyone At Donstalk, I found out I was a member here too, who knew, not me!?

Has anyone gained from the budget? I work in oil and was hoping for a bit of good news, but sadly nothing. I reckon I'll be out of a job soon. Can see Aberdeen really suffering in the coming years. I don't remember seeing the industry this quiet in my years working in it and have seen a few slumps.