Magnum

What planet are FIFA on, when they will not accept that the wearing of a poppy on Armistice Day, is NOT a political statement ! Regardless of your feelings on war, whether it is glorious or futile, the wearing of the Poppy is simply a mark of respect for those that have lost their lives in armed conflict for the last 100 years or so. I feel it would a 2 fingers up to the FIFA decision, if all the supporters, on both sides, were to wear a poppy, purely as a mark of respect ! Let's turn Wembley into a sea of red poppies, next Friday ?

Thanks to those that replied with offers of tickets. Got one now ? Thanks

Is this ticket still available, or anybody else still got a spare one ? Needing one for mate who decided, very late, to go. Can collect at Hampden/Glasgow today, or out there Match Day.

After receiving the email today, I phoned and said, very politely, that their assumption appeared to be that everybody was staying in Bratislava, as there was no Hotel/Pub pickup in Trnava and, although there was a pickup at the Stadium, they have said that they would encourage everybody to pickup in Bratislava, to prevent long queues at the Stadium. My point was that not everyone was staying in Bratislava, so could not pick up there. The girl, very quickly, said that the pickup arrangements were not her decision, and I got the distinct impression that she did not agree with them ! She then passed the phone to Siohban (wrong spelling I know), who said that their info from various TA associations, were that almost everybody would be staying at Bratislava. I told her that was not the case and she tried to justify the arrangements by saying that only 4 people collected tickets at the stadium in Malta !!! I wasn't looking for an argument, just saying that their was a fair amount of people staying in Brno and Trnava, so they should maybe expect queues at the Stadium pick up. I know they try their best, but I got the impression that they were totally underestimating the amount of people who may appear at the pickup at the stadium.

Does anybody have any seats left/cancellations on their bus from St Julians to the Stadium ? If so, looking for 5 seats. Thanks

I'll tell you what's criminal - JD Sports at Union Square in Aberdeen, still selling the old home and away jerseys at £52 !!! Absolute disgrace !!

Disregard, I'm talking rubbish. Ireland are 4 points ahead already, so another 3 points would put them a point ahead of us. I'll go back to sleep !!!!! Mind you, beat Poland and we'll get a play off spot !

By my reckoning, and somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, assuming that we're guaranteed 3 points against Gibraltar, if we beat Poland, we will get the play off spot, at the very worst ! If Germany beat Ireland, then Ireland beat Poland, we will get 2nd spot and automatic qualification. Poland, Ireland and us will all be on 17 points, however we would go ahead of both Poland and Ireland on the head to head rule, and Ireland would get the play off spot, again on the head to head rule over Poland. So, the bottom line is, we just have to beat Poland !!!!!!!!!!!

Absolutely ! The man is the perfect professional. He sets a great example on and off the pitch. Yes, his form has dropped, because of his illness, but, although he'll never be the same player again, he has the mental strength to pull others around him. The fact that he's playing alongside Morrison at WBA, should also be an advantage. An absolute must start for me (even if he doesn't play the whole 90 minutes).

It's never over until the fat lady sings - and I can't hear her singing yet !!!!!

I just don't understand why anybody could possibly belief he justifies a place !! Apart from 3 goals against the mighty power of Gibraltar, he has scored 1 other goal in the other 21 Internationals. I don't believe there is any other country in the World that would not have dropped a 'striker' with that rate of goal return, by now. In fact, calling him a striker is a real contradiction. Look at Robbie Keane for Ireland. I believe it's something like 67 goals in 140 odd Internationals. Just under 1 every second game. Now, he can be called a striker, but, sadly Fletcher can't, and I think most Sunderland Supporters would also agree with that. Please don't spew out all this justification about his 'link up play', as several others could do just as good a job of that, as he does. By definition, a striker is there to score goals. He's, lazy, appears arrogant, only has one foot, and has had more than enough chances. We really have to try someone else in that role - they couldn't possibly be any worse !

For risk of seeming like a stuck record, Steven Fletcher has done it again ! - Make a chance look difficult, by going for it with his left foot and making a mess of it, when it was a simple chance on his right. He did exactly the same away to Germany and home to Ireland. The chance from that great ball from Robertson was right on the plate for any half decent striker, and we would and should have been one up, and a totally different game then ! The way he slid actually looked, to me, if he did not believe he was going to get it, and was making a token effort (which kind of describes his general goalscoring ability - or lack of). Until such time as we have a quality striker, we are going to struggle to win these sort of games. I'm not saying Griffiths is a great player, personally I think he's a neep, but I bet he would have scored there, or at least got a connection on it.

For risk of seeming like a stuck record, Steven Fletcher has done it again ! - Make a chance look difficult, by going for it with his left foot and making a mess of it, when it was a simple chance on his right. He did exactly the same away to Germany and home to Ireland. The chance from that great ball from Robertson was right on the plate for any half decent striker, and we would and should have been one up, and a totally different game then ! The way he slid actually looked, to me, if he did not believe he was going to get it, and was making a token effort (which kind of describes his general goalscoring ability - or lack of). Until such time as we have a quality striker, we are going to struggle to win these sort of games. I'm not saying Griffiths is a great player, but I bet he would have scored there, or at least got a connection on it. Having said all that, it's not dead yet. Obviously depends on other results, but could still realistically achieve third spot, even if we lose to Germany. But let's lose the doom and gloom, get behind the team on Monday, any you just never know !!

If we win in Georgia, I really think that the momentum, and feel good factor, will carry into the Germany game and we will get a result (even if it's a draw) against them. On the other hand, if we don't win in Georgia, Germany becomes a must win. The nerves will then set in and we'll struggle badly. So, it's easy - just win in Georgia !!!!

Totally agree with that. Some people have short memories. He has pulled off some great saves (often one on one situations), to keep us in games. That might be in the past, he is suspect at crosses, and he shouldn't now be our number one or two choices, but please give him some respect for what he did for us when he was on the top of his game, and served us well !

He's still good enough for a place in our squad, if not the starting line up, without doubt !!!

Would agree with a lot of that, however I just don't see what anybody sees in Goodwillie. Although I thought he was slightly better on Thursday, than he has been, he just lacks any touch, control, pace, or goalscoring instinct. It is clear that we just didn't have a cutting edge against two very strong and accomplished central defenders and we really do need a quality striker, with a presence and pace to turn the possession that we often have, into goals. I think Rooney is an intelligent footballer but just doesn't have the strength or pace to compete against the better teams. Of course, if he did have that strength and pace, coupled with his good anticipation sense, he wouldn't be playing here. That, I'm afraid, is the reality of the situation. With regard to Logan, I totally agree with the above. Whilst he defended the mistakes he made very well and put in some well timed tackles, his offensive play was atrocious ! You can see that he obviously doesn't have the pace, or confidence, to go past defenders. He takes up good positions on the touchline but when he gets the ball. he just controls it and passes it backwards, or puts in lame totally ineffective crosses. On the couple of occasions, on Thursday that he tried to go past the defender, he stood on the ball, or miscontrolled it, ending up putting it out for a goalkick. Maybe he is the best we have in that position but he's simply not good enough, against better teams and players. Very unfair to criticise Ward for the goal. I was behind that goal and he made a great save from the initial shot. However, overall, I thought it wasn't really a bad performance against a team who are better than anything Aberdeen will play this season, possibly also including Celtic !. Forget where they come from, their team was littered with quality players, on big money, from other nations, and we simply can't compete with that level financially. You only get what you pay for, and we (Scottish Football, with the exception of Celtic) are just unable to compete financially with that.

I must admit, I didn't watch that much of Hearts last season, and am an Aberdeen Supporter. However, watching Hearts on Sportscene last night, I was really struck by what I saw from Sam Nicholson. This boy really looks to be the real deal and one of the best young players I've seen for a long long time. Just tremendous flair and looks the sort of player that can open up the best of defences. I'm sure others on here will have a greater knowledge of him, but surely has the potential to go far !!

'Hold up/Link up play better than Goodies ? Debateable' - you've got to be having a laugh ! Goodwillie produces virtually nothing, every game. There is no link up. He gets the ball at his feet and, if he doesn't lose the ball with his bad touch, he just turns into the face of the defender and loses the ball. He plays like a stupid wee immature laddie (Ah, but then again, that's exactly what he is !) May would be streets ahead of Goodwillie, absolutely no doubt about that !

Is it on the telly. on any channel ?

Only just picked up this news that he has signed a deal with Brighton - Did he play for them today, at Pittodrie, in Jamie Langfield's Testimonial ?

Very very sad news, which I heard tonight. I played cricket with Steve and he was a genuinely nice guy. We had arranged to have a couple of rounds in golf in the Algarve, at the time of the Gibraltar trip, so will be sadly missed, but remembered when we stand on that first tee !! RIP

That just about sums it up for me. Shinnie is a positive. Rooney is an intelligent footballer, but just lacks pace to make him a top player. McGinn is a good player and would look better if the players around him were better. Mclean is slower than he looks !!! (he was on the pitch was he !!). The normally reliable Hayes had a bit of a nightmare, and the more he tried, the worse he got, and kept slipping all over the place. Logan is the only overlapping full back that never goes passed the last defender. He kept, playing safe, and coming back inside, or tried speculative crosses, with no direction at all. I doubt whether he could have crossed the road tonight. Surely, they can only get better next week, against a team that won't sit in like the opposition tonight, and will afford them more room to attack better. They can, can't they ????????????????????? Really need a bit of forward momentum, at pace, from the midfield area, as opposed to the slow and laboured performance tonight.

I totally agree that the standard is far below mens, but the thing that I think best about the whole competition is the lack of diving and playacting. The men could certainly take a leaf out of their book in that respect !

Thanks, will have a look at that.