weekevie04

Griffiths has really come on to a game. He was always a good SPL striker, but certainly improved a lot against the harder and bigger sides. Well done and think Brendan has had a great influence on him and his career. A definite starter for his nation as well.

Fantastic stuff, Ersatz. Thanks for linking that up, I'd never have known about it.

Very sad news. Seen an interview with him on BBC Alba and he seemed in good spirits/positive, and agree very brave to go public with it.

Marvelous stuff from Celtic.

I'm guessing with this, but Spain beat Portugal 2-0 - so I think we had to equal their tally against Portugal (win by two goals) to go through e.g if Spain had won 1-0 against Portugal, tonight's result would have been enough tonight, but then again if they had beaten Portugal 6-0, we'd have had to beat Spain by the same.

Watched the whole tournament and thoroughly enjoyed it. Scotland were very fortunate to win tonight, but they dug in well and were excellent defensively. Fay and Dieke have looked very suspect in the previous two games, but tonight both played out of their skin. Fay had a couple of iffy moments - handling it outside the box, and one almost going in over her head - but she made up for it with 3/4 very good saves. I have no idea how Spain didn't win that. A mixture of fortune for us, and some absolute sitters missed by them plus the woodwork too. Well done the lassies though. And that win is the bogey off their back for the next tournament - if they qualify. The qualifying group looks alright for the WC with Scotland the 2nd seed and Switzerland top - who didn't qualify for the QFs of the Euros either. I like the unpredictability of it too. Not knowing if the defender will hook it clear, the keeper will pull off a great save or a terrible blunder, or they'll score an absolute peach when in the box. The lack of simulation and very little mouthing off at each other/the refs too has been refreshing viewing as well as very dedicated, hard-working players. Although a bit of a glory hunter and late to the party, I hope folk go to see them in the qualifiers in September and they go on and qualify for more tournaments.

Haha. It wasn't rowing then, it was just me. But it wasn't a kayak or a canoe, it was a small boat with an engine (that wasn't used). I probably should YouTube a bit first, but think sea kayaking would be too much. The Tay sounds good or even Crombie, Clatto. Cheers.

At times it feels like Scotland is always a few years behind England. Or we are so desperate to be like the rUK, we are always following them one vote behind. The Tories did well in the last election yet England went the other way and May lost seats. No doubt once May is given her painting of a spitfire and there's another election in the next few years. The thought of Corbyn will have driven the hardcore out and it'll be a Tory majority whilst Scotland will vote Labour.

Never mind wolves, what about the bears??

I had a Numbskull saying it's pish etc this week. After a bit of a debate, he pops up with "Yer saying about biology and wimmen being wee, but so is Xavi, yet he's miles better." It's been good and quite exciting too. I am enjoying how erratic and unexpected some of the games/teams/betting is eg lots of drama in the box. The same folk moaning about this will no doubt throw their cash at Sky and lap up the boring pish offered as Super Sunday next season eg WBA v Stoke followed by Everton v Newcastle and the group stages of the Champions League featuring the exact same teams (give or take a couple) playing the same teams.

I just did this today for my first time, and loved it. Does anyone do this regularly or know how possible it is to hire boat/life belt and a paddle around a loch, water for a few hrs? Apologies if this is pretty vague, but I really have no idea eg do I need to buy my own or is there a club you join ? Etc Cheers

Thought they did alright in small doses. Nice wee one, twos but that was mostly when the pressure was off and we were 4-0 down. Don't know if it was nerves or what, but the first 20-30 minutes the tactic of punting it up to Ross seemed to be our only way of playing which ended up with England soaking up the ball with relative ease. Also, quite a lot of misplaced passes and basic errors when we had the ball. Defensively they looked poor, the right back had a stinker. You feared an England goal every time they were in and about the box. Looking at Portugal though and it seems according to Soccerway that they are not in the best of recent form either. So hopefully they can dust themselves down and put in a better performance. Anyhoos, its still an excellent achievement just qualifying. Weren't we absolutely terrible about 15-20 years in ladies football? We seem to have come on leaps and bounds.

Seen a few of the games and we look the worst team at the tournament.

Hope the supporters heading out to this have a great time. Are the bookies a bit clueless regarding the odds to this? I don't know that much, but Iceland - who are a fairly decent side - were 21/1 to beat France tonight! It ended up 1-0 thanks to a very lucky French penalty in the 85 minute and whilst France were the better side, Iceland had their chances and there was little in the game itself, nothing like 21/1 odds. I notice we are 11/1 tomorrow, do we have more than an optimistic punt chance of winning? Or are the bookies way off here?

Some excellent stuff in here, especially thplinth. The first 2-3 days off the sweets/carbs etc are the hardest, but it does get so much easier. Much like diet drinks, after a week you will wonder whatever possessed you to drink them in the first place and how bad they actually taste. Our diet is a huge part of our mental well being. People are clinically depressed and no amount of diet, exercise will work ; but for a lot of people - exercise, a proper diet/healthy eating plan will certainly boost your mind and serotonin levels. I ate clean for about 4 weeks before I went on a weekend trip and ruined it all by eating/drinking, but those weeks were simply amazing. I felt alert, brain was functioning much better than previously, energetic, fresh and that brain fog was completely gone and I believe it was all down to diet - vegs, fruits, fish, and water. Have you tried carrots? Doesn't sound exactly amazing to sit and eat them, but they certainly work if you are craving a big bag of sweets. They take an age to crunch down. This plus water near enough always fills for me up or at least puts a gap in the craving for something better tasting. I know of a PT/fitness coach who advises his clients who binge eat that when they are craving something and it's not a cheat day, that they get up and down 10 push or sit ups. And to keep doing it until they are too tired! Easier said that and done and we are bombarded with deals, offers anytime we step foot in a shop or even turn on the TV - I'm watching Dundalk v Rosenborg right now and can see an advert for a pie shop! Writing a meal plan is a good step, and sticking to it. I always think it's better to have a goal or a treat etc by the end of the week, doesn't need to even be an ice cream or that. Do something you like doing! Try cutting the carbs as Plithy said. I hope you will notice a difference in your mental health, and good luck with the CBT sessions.

His voice narration is grating too.

Even if there were Scots in this team, I just cannot seem or have ever been able to get behind 'The Lions' and media circus around it all. Mon the All Blacks!

The SNP misjudged the pro-EU stance and who knows it may well work in the future after Brexit, and I can see why they went down that path. 62% voting to remain is a huge number and when you get 45% in a referendum 18 months previously it looks like a natural progression ; but the swing towards Indy hasn't moved much, if any at all in the past few years. And the likes of JK Rowling are never going to vote for independence, so whilst it was a honoruable charge, it probably won't ever work. Still there are people to be won over and Independence is definitely achievable. Are we really that pro European anyway? I am, but as a nation? Are we just not feart of change, so why the big 62% yes? If you look at the election result, both the SNP and Lib Dems put the EU or access to the single and common market, and the Libs even going for a second referendum and both parties struggled in the election. Although Scotland was a different thing and there was an anti-independence vote that turned out, the Lib Dems sole gains came from Scotland alone and I'm guessing it wasn't from being pro-EU, rather more to do with Unionists picking the best candidate to beat the SNP. Labour (not SLAB of course) probably had the right balance about Europe. At the time it felt like it was a shrug of the shoulders from them, but you can understand it - large areas of Labour supporting regions voted for it - and it seems their balance of we're leaving the EU, but we'll get a good deal worked and their voters in their traditional areas in England after flirting and even voting for UKIP returned home. The Tories were tipped to win the likes of Bolton, Bishop Auckland, big areas of Birmingham, Wales, etc and they failed to do so. Saying that, the SNP would be unwise to take a referendum off the table next week. Not only would they lose further support and members; the Unionists and media would have a field day with that. I'd like to see them announce that for now we will fight for a cross-party coalition and for the UK to remain in the single market and once Brexit is finalised and we see how things are going, we can then decide if we wish to have another referendum. That might cause problems though for a future referendum, as Brexit might happen after 2021, it might never happen! And if there is a Holyrood election then maybe there won't be a pro-independence majority to pass another bill on a referendum.

You instantly know its a wrong ein when the Tories and the Fibs vote for it. I don't know enough about it, or animal welfare in general, but going from the basics and evidence from vets, it seems a horrible law, and just why the SNP brought this in seems very strange. Winning back the tartan Tories? If so, nae thanks!

We just weren't at the races in both games. A mixture of everything really, and we seem to have the small-town mentality of over-achieving against bigger nations (or at least giving a lot more of a performance) when we are being doubted or playing against higher ranked/traditionally huge teams and struggle against the smaller ones. It's happened a bit in this group : beat Malta 5-1 (but were very fortunate at times to win so clearly), Lithuania 1-1, Slovakia 3-0 pumping and not even close, England - likewise. So we're all written off and come back with a pretty good performance in the next two games against England and Slovenia. We struggle away though, but if you can't beat Lithuania, then we probably shouldn't even be thinking of Russia or even Playoffs. One of the things I admire about the Irish side is you don't seem to have that issue and go out there and win those difficult games. Even that Austria game last week - in the end you were unfortunate to not get the 3pts and a terrible decision from the ref for the disallowed goal. Good luck with the rest of the campaign! Your group is tighter than the proverbial duck's .... but certainly looks achievable to get to Russia. I'll not predict any wins or further points as I wouldn't want to jinx you before you go back to Tblisi - but in the past, you have been very very good against Georgia

Exactly. I could have worded that better, but I agree, I meant let's not even bother about the goal difference or what may happen with the other sides - just win the first two games, and then if that happens - start dreaming a wee bit, and win the next two after that. Before it all comes crashing down in that final Slovene game. Although we seem to be doing things in reverse rather than the norm - good start, fade out - so hopefully we are following Ireland's path to Euro 2016 - weak start, strong finish. 1-0's would do fine.

Win the first two and then start worrying about goal difference. It is Scotland and IT IS Lithuania, away! I want to see us as clinical as the Irish seem to be in away games - they play Georgia next and we struggled twice there whilst Ireland have won all their games away. If we can do that, we will be in with a great shout and it'll be near enough in our hands with two huge games against Slovakia and Slovenia - considering England hopefully beat all the rest.

Danke schöne. I was told this as well by my non-politico friend too. So maybe I was wanting looking hard enough

The British press are so bad at giving out basic information. I watched Newsnight and had a look at a few papers online. Am I not the only one wondering, and if it has been released then I apologise for being a thick, lazy, arse ; but I cannot find anything about the likes of - Are these talks every day? Once a week? Once a month? When are the next ones? Is it an open session?

Haha. If anything good came out of Thursday's losses, it was the likes of her, Corri Wilson and Paul Monaghan.