TartanTeddy

True, you have to follow the college game a bit to know the prospects, and to be honest, even then you still have to rely on pundits and review programmes to have any sort of insight into the depth of the draft. Only been to one Wembley game and really enjoyed it - different feel from regular season games in the NFL, apparenty much closer to a Superbowl crowd with fans from pretty much every team. I went for the season ticket this year simply because it's value for money even for one game let alone three and Jets v Dolphins is a nice bit of interleague action. And, of course, you should get to see a few of the top ten picks in this years draft! Draft coverage is usually very good and you'll get some pretty decent analysis of the top picks, so will give you an indication of the background of players your likely to see at Wembley. TT

Totally calm - for those that know the game (and the college game) it's great fun to debate. TT

Excellent contribution to the thread! The draft dominates discussion of fans of EVERY team in the US, partly due to the length of the close season but mostly because it can transform a teams ability to succeed. it's actually pretty hard to understate it's importance, quite literally, only diddy fans woud think otherwise! No idea who you support - Patriots I think?? - but the joy of the NFL is that every team, at some point or another, is I guess what you would describe as a 'diddy team'. No exceptions!! (and if you areindeed a Pats fan, well they used to pretty much define diddy pre Bellichick/Brady). Any sustained position at the top end of the NFL, or indeed move to the top, has at it's core the ability to use the draft effectively - which is why it's so important. Failure to capitalise, consigns many teams to the bottom for many years, Bears post 85 are a great example of that - whic is why the main attraction of the Bears new GM was his ability at draft analysis with New Orleans. Understanding the draft is generally the key to success - one of the reasons the New England Patriots have sustained their success is that Bill Bellichick is regarded as one of the savviest on draft day - his draft day work is very well captured in the book, Patriot Reign. Real shame if you don't get it, as most fans of the game and clubs themselves see it as one of the most importnat/exciting days of the entire season - personally I can't wait to see how it unfolds TT

Jim White, wtf?? Anyway, should still be an exciting draft. I'm predicitng the Bears will get Vic Beasley - which would be a great - though picks four - six will have us sweating as it's not really clear whose likely to go after the first three which are pretty much a lock. Anyone fancy having a go at 1-10? For me: 1. TB Jameis Winston 2. TT Mariota 3. JJ Leonard Williams 4. OR Amari Cooper 5. WR Dante Fowler 6 NJ Kevin White 7. CB Vic Beasley 8. AF Randy Gregory 9. NG Brandon Schreff 10 StR Danny Shelton Obviously there could be a bit of trading picks, but top three stick, Oakland and the Jets go for the pick of the wide recievers, Bears go big on D. Big wild card is Shane Ray, who would certainly have gone top 10, and still might - but the cannabis test and his toe injury mean he is a potential bust, or could be the best deal on the board if he falls below top 15 TT

While Doncaster is the chief clown I think it would be fair to say that the clubs are just as bad - as a group of members they pretty much all seem hell bent on self destruction. Anne Budge, by making and taking a few blantantly obvious comments/suggestions/actions, is seen by many as a messiah, someone with the wisdom of Solomon, a visionary. But if you take a step back from the shambles that is Scottish foootball she hasn't done muc that any sensible person wouldn't see as pretty obvious. I'm not talking armageddon, I just think we are watching the domestic game slowly die through lack of action, blatant self interest, a failure to understand that at it's heart should lie competition, fairness (in rules, cost to fans, transparency) and above all entertainment. Over the last five to ten years I would say my interest in domestic football has declined to such an extent that it's simply a bit of a habit to go to a domestic game which if I wasn't twenty minutes from the ground, would have seen me chuck it completely. TT

Right, I've been inspired by this thread and a growing belly and going to give this running malarky a go. I've downloaded couch to 5K and did my first 'run' this morning which was fairly OK. I play a bit of badminton each week but carrying excess wait and I'm over 50 so it's going to be a wee bit of a struggle but think it will be worth it. Have set the Victoria Park parkrun at the end of the month as a target and looking at the Chicago half marathon in late September as a longer term goal. Would people recommend a running watch or other gizmo and if so, what would be best. I have a smart phone, Nokia windows one so would be best if it linked to that or to a Mac. Does treadmill running help or is it better to stick to the park/street - feel the treadmill is a bit easier as it means you can take breaks but doesn't always seem to translate well to running on the road. I can generally get up to treadmill running for twenty minutes but I've not been able to do that on the road with the same ease. Seem to run to fast on the road and be knackered in 5 minutes? Also, starting form scratch, what would be a good target for 5K in a few weeks, just to get an idea for the parkrun. And any other advice is more than welcome. TT

Went to see x+y which turned out to be surprisingly good. Nice performances from the two kids playing the lead role, and Sally Hawkins and Rafe Spall providing excellent support. Basically about a kid with Aspergers going to maths camp in Taiwan - which initially didn't seem like a great premise for a movie, but well worth a watch. TT

For reasons that I can't quite understand I quite like Moshni. I know I know I know. He's a bombscare coming out of defence but he has good height, gets to the high ball (doesn't need to lead with an elbow) and his tackling and defending of players one on one is good. Where he's a nightmare is with ball at feet in the box - but it adds a certain frission of excitement which I quite like (bit like the feeling you get in line for a roller coaster). Never really liked McCulloch since discovering he was a twat while over at the Kirin Cup - will be glad when we give him a nice send off and start to look at a younger alternative at the back. TT

Well the Cubs were the Cubs last night, massive expectation and then shut out by the Cards, runners stranded on third three or four times, star pitcher pulled after four innings and some absolutely rotten fielding. So, looks like another false dawn to add to the last hundred or so!! Still, two starlets who are being held back for two weeks to add a year on to their contracts have still to arrive, so might not fully give up this year until at least May 1st Sometimes makes me wish I'd picked the White Sox... TT

And the glee from most Rangers fans is it might be more than a one game suspension!! TT

Gazza showing the ref the yellow card and then getting booked was always one of my favourites - really defined refs having no sense of humour! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iYeifVvAV0 TT

Agree, bit early to predict, but right now I would go for Washington and the O's but need to sit down and watch a bit this season to get more of an informed pick. Ended up chucking watching it halfway through last season as the Cubs were so bad. This year the pieces are in place to challenge though I think we're probably a year or two away to really scare the Cards and Pirates. TT

Anyone on here follow the baseball? Been some good NFL chat so wondered if we have any followers of America's favourite pastime on here. For my sins, I'm a long time Cubs fan and try to get over for a few games most years. Not always been easy to watch - travelled over a couple of years back for seven games and saw them win one!! But with the new regime, a solid manager, ace pitcher and a very young and talented team this could be the beginning of something good!! Cards at Wrigley on BT Sports tonight, canny wait TT PS I have my money on a single digit number for the first post to mention glorified rounders, now c'mon TAMB don't disappoint

The revelation is set pieces where it looks like we might actually have been practising in training!! Movement and pace also seem to have come from nowhere - again, this might have had something to do with actual training and drills. Regards the previous incumbent. No one who knows anything about football could contradict your assessment of McCoist. In fact, if anything, I think you might actually be being quite kind to him!! However, I don't think the playoffs are a formality but I would say Rangers have found form and sound management at just the right time and I think the club can be confident going into them - but it's far from over. TT

McCall wasn't there in the bottom division. McCoist would have had them chasing long punts up the park. You can have them both at the end of the season for a new set of nets and a half bottle of kia ora. In fact for McGregor, well just take the nets! TT

Think you should be pleased to have kept it to a one goal difference - I had a crick in my neck in the first half from looking in the one direction for 45 minutes TT

Very enjoyable game. First 45 minutes bode well for the rest of the season. Playing from the back and moving the ball through the midfield is such a refreshing change from the route one of McCoist and McDowell, and far more effective too. Law and Wallace seem to have been reborn over the last three or four weeks - suddenly there's actual pace and the ability to beat a man. Liked that McCall was happy to stick Robbie Crawford on which shows he's not afraid to use the younger players. Kept the structure well but I think they relied too often on just punting the ball to Hearts and then sitting back, which wasn't quite so comfortable to watch. But McCulloch has to take full responsibility for putting the team in that position. If, and I think it's obviously still a big if, we go up then I'm optimistic McCall will be able to find a few players to take the current squad forward - assuming we get rid of the likes of McCulloch, Millar and Boyd first. But nice day out, and a further endorsement for summer football!! TT

Hadn't thought of it in that way but good point, it really does look like Miliband, Skeletor and their cronies are going to suffer most damage from this - and it puts a further wedge between the SNP and Labour in terms of any future coalition. Almost makes you think there was a meeting somewhere where Cameron has said he would prefer the SNP to win inScotland rather than Labour. TT

Would love the French Government to get involved perhaps asking why there is the inference that their representative in the UK is lying? TT

Was surprised at that (and obviously pleased). We're seeing a weekly improvement in the way the team is set out and the overall movement and pace has really improved. Passing out of defence rather than the punt and chance is also a vast improvement. But we still lack a killer instinct up front and there are still moments when the defence implodes - Moshni today being a good example. I think in another three or four weeks McCall will have a settled team and hopefully progression will have continued at the current pace but I think most Rangers fans would agree that it's far from certain that we can make it through the play-offs. The team coming through the third and fourth place playoff will have some momentum and I think that will be advantageous when it comes to the next two games - but equally I wouldn't particularly like us be in that game as it will likely be a tough match. So still hard to call how this will go and that's even before facing an SPL team!! Hibs need to get back on track after back to back defeats which I think Stubbs will be able to do. Playoffs still a bit away and it now looks like there is no danger of Hibs or rangers falling out of them, so it's all about getting the team in the right mindset for those games - and from our part trying to instil a bit of composure in Mr Moshni!! Will certainly be interesting TT

Christ, how long does it take you to change a flat?? TT

TartanJon put me on to this one. Said it was his favourite way to relax after a hard days toil. Two large stiff ones and he was ready for anything!! TT

You will be when you realise their owners gave a six figure sum to Better Together!! TT

Enjoyed the game today! Probably should have been four or five up by halftime but for some poor finishing. Got the goal then squandered a few easier to score than miss chances only for Moshni to do what Moshni does and gift a goal to the opposition. Thankfully McCall is building a team with far more dynamism and determination and three goals in the last ten minutes made sure the score more than reflected the superiority on the field! Some nice performances from a couple of the youth players and good to see Lee Wallace get back to being the player he was a few years ago. Good outing for Templeton too, and dare I say it but a strong performance by Lee McCulloch at the centre of the defence!! Results elsewhere couldn't have gone better!! TT

Well if anyone wanted to see a fantastic Scottish performance on the rugby field then they should have watched the Leinster v Glasgow game last night, which was live on BBC 2. An absolutely pulsating 34-34 with Glasgow netting a couple of bonus points to keep them clear at the top of the Pro 12. Some cracking performances and real guts to come back after falling behind late on TT