BrahimHemdani

As the numbers are stuck on 11, even with one or two people saying they may be able to come along depending on arrangements on the day, it is clear that we are not going to reach the 20 required for the private room. Therefore I have no choice other than to release the private room and I will see if the restaurant can accommodate a table for 11/12 in the main dining area. If not I will make alternative arrangements in another restaurant. I am minded to give Ally the choice of coming along for dinner with us or taking a rain check; either way it's somewhat embarrassing. I would just like to add that I find this outcome very disappointing to say the least. The two alternative dates have been known for 5 months when everyone was very enthusiastic and whilst I appreciate that the actual date was not confirmed until two weeks ago, that was a full month ahead of the match/dinner. Regardless, the diehards will do our best to entertain the newbies, Boabie and Pete & Son.

Are you still coming, Gribz?

Miller is our player of the season, second top goalscorer (top in the league and most assists) plus he's a real example of a proper professional so unless PC had a better alternative it really was a no brainer especially with the EL qualifiers in June. If we find someone better in the transfer window so be it but until then Miller deserves his contract and his place in the team. What about Miller and Hardie up front?

Well I tried to explain that where the ball "accidentally" hits an unnaturally raised hand or arm, then it becomes "deliberate" hand ball because the hand or arm is deliberately raised. That's not what happened on Sunday, so it wasn't a penalty; but if you want to keep thinking it was then nothing anyone else says, least of all me, is going to change your mind. So I think we'll have to agree to disagree on this one; but if you want to buy me a large brandy after the dinner I'll explain it again.

Training gear, it's cold out there.

It took Kranjcar nearly six months to get up to full speed but we saw vs PT at home and ICT away what we'd only seen in glimpses up to that point. I don't expect the real deal right away but if he can achieve full physical fitness over the next couple of months then we might see the benefit in September /October. However, he won't be match fit for the EL Qualifiers and that's a big concern because right now we don't have anyone else who has the key to unlock defences. That kind of player doesn't come cheap in terms of wages even without a fee, supposing you could find one; so whether or not we look is a big shout. I'd be a lot more confident of Kranjcar making a comeback than Rossiter.

There are still some people who indicated they would be likely to attend who have not confirmed one way or another; you know who you are, please advise asap. In addition a couple of folk indicated that they might bring a friend if there was space available; well there is space available so feel free. A handful of friends might just save the day.

Let me know as soon as you can, BF; we'll be doing something even if we don't get enough for the original plan.

Yes indeed. I am pleased to confirm that ColinStein or rather Mrs ColinStein has paid for 3 tickets, well slightly overpaid for 3 tickets, but thanks for the donation to the kitty So that's ticket nos, 9, 10 & 11 sold

That's the plan rbr but there's at least 11 now

I think it's only fair that those who attend do just that :cheers:

Details sent by PM, thanks.

A number of people who previously indicated their intention to attend have not paid or indicated one way or the other. Can those people now oblige by making their intentions clear. If all those who indicated that they would attend but have not so far indicated otherwise, now confirm, it might still be possible to save the event. Thank you.

I can confirm that Pete & Son have paid, bringing the total sold to 8. However, I see no point in prolonging the agony. If there is no more interest in the next 48 hours I will be compelled, however reluctantly, to cancel.

We have one, Kranjcar, if he can come back.

As I explained earlier, having your arms in an unnatural position means that in effect the handball would be deliberate because you deliberately have your hands in that position. Now we could spend all week debating what constitutes an unnatural position but I doubt that would be very productive. However, I'll give you two examples of what FIFA mean. A winger is about to cross the ball, the defender inside the box has his hands outstretched, the winger crosses the ball which strikes the outstretched arm of the defender. It's a penalty. A defender jumps up to head the ball with his hand high in the air and "accidentally" touches a cross. It's a penalty because the act of having your arm in the air when you are trying to head the ball is unnatural. The Celtic defender was trying to get up from the ground, his hands and arms were where they were because of that motion, ergo not unnatural. No penalty.

Only if, in the opinion of the referee, it's deliberate.

According to PC our tactics were to press high and in midfield, was something lost in the translation or did the softer pre-match talk lull the players into a false sense of security? Fact is Brown totally bossed the midfield and I commented to various people he would come out with this kind of thing.

It was a clear penalty. When you watch the replay from the side Tavernier took the player's ankle not the ball.

The rule has always been in relation to "deliberate" handball. Sometimes there is an issue as to what constitutes deliberate. Some referees argue that if a player has his hands up (in an unnatural position) and the ball then strikes the players hand or arm , that is deliberate, others disagree. In this case I don't think the player knew much if anything about it. The fact that it may have prevented Miller getting a chance to shoot is irrelevant. If the referee judges it's deliberate, it's a penalty and vice versa. We can debate it at the dinner......

At this time, we only have 6 paid plus Pete & Son whose remittance is winging its way through the international banking system; so a total of 8. I have just had news that another regular is unable to attend which I think takes out a party of 3/4. When this was mooted last December there seemed to be a lot of interest and almost universal agreement to have it at the end of the season. Unlike two years ago when we we were in the play offs, there were only 2 alternative dates. So it is extremely disappointing to say the least that we are struggling badly for numbers. The minimum for the private room is 20 and I am not going to be embarrassed with a guest speaker and an audience of 10 or 12. So if we don't get to 20 by the end of the week I will have no alternative but to cancel. In order not to disappoint Pete in particular who has organised his trip to coincide with the event, I will organise a table in the restaurant or elsewhere so we can still have a get together and a meal.

Yep, Coop, can't wait....... You haven't paid your dinner ticket as yet.........

I'm not sure you can blame Fods because I think he went back to give Tavs an angle to pass back if he made the tackle. If he had come forward then Tavs might have hit the ball past him; if he had made the tackle of course. That said we were caught 2 on 2 and that should not have happened. Bottom line clear, penalty no argument. Once again if that had NOT been given for us, say with a chance to go 1-1; Collum would have had to go on an extended holiday.

Am I allowed to say that's nonsense. It was never a deliberate handball in a month of Sunday's. The ball bounced up and hit him on the hand as he was trying to get up. If that had been given against us, Collum would have been getting called for all the soandso soansos. Blaming the ref for what happened today is an extreme case of clutching at straws. Having seen the replays we were extremely lucky that we did not go in at half time down to nine men.

Yes that's what it looked like then someone decided otherwise?