Barney Rubble

So did I. That expectation went well.....................

Worked in Albania and Montenegro for 13 years. You've already nailed Albania in a previous post. For Montenegro, Podgorica (the capital) is pleasant enough, but the real value is on the coast, namely Kotor Bay, Portonovi, Sveti Stefan, Petrovac and Ulcinje. Probably pretty much in that order. Also the road trip from Podgorica through the gorge to Koalasin - and the Tara River gorge near the national park at Durmitor. Feel free to PM me if I can be more helpful on either Albania or Montenegro.

From the tournament regulations: Article 22 Venues and kick-off times 22.01 By 17 January 2022, the associations must submit a list of proposed stadiums to the UEFA administration for preliminary approval for the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League. 22.02 The host association submits the venue for each match from the corresponding list of proposed stadiums to the UEFA administration at least 120 days before the match in question. 22.03 The UEFA administration is responsible for approving stadiums. Only when the administration has compiled the necessary information, and conducted potential stadium visits, will the final approval be given for use of the stadium in question. 22.04 When fixing a venue, the host association must take into account the length of the journey to be undertaken by the visiting team. In principle, the venue for a match must be no more than a 90-minute bus drive from the nearest international airport with daily flights from/to other European cities.

RIP to a top keeper.

From 50 years ago this week.

I know I'm flogging a dead horse here with you, but where exactly has Patterson impressed in Europe and for Scotland? With Scotland he's been a defensive liability - fine going forward but not reliable under pressure. I'll trust you to inform the debate about his impressive performances for Rangers in Europe. Until then, to me he seems a decent prospect who is being way over promoted as a Scotland right back in the face of stiff competition (Ralston, Ramsay and your favourite bitch O'Donnell).

Nathan Patterson isn't Carlos Alberto. Some perspective is required - so far he has played in precisely 28 first team games for his two clubs. Calvin Ramsay played in 39 first team games for Aberdeen.

Isn't that a hell of a risk though when he's hardly had 20 games of first team football in a five?

Respectfully Craig, I disagree. There's a wheen of difference playing full back in a five to playing full back in a four.

Patterson could become a top-class full back, and I sincerely hope he does. But to suggest he can be a defensive right back in a back four right now is nothing short of ludicrous.

How are you ever going to play four at the back with a guy who won a watch playing ten games for Sevco in a five and got picked for Scotland, and then got a mega-money move to Everton where he played his 45 minutes in a five against a non-league team and STILL gets picked for Scotland??? Nathan Patterson has never played in a four at the back at top level - and there's a reason for that. Get serious please.

Hickey got found out tonight sadly. Never ever a right back and certainly not an international standard right back. And with every respect to Tartan Chris, we do not have the luxury to bed in a player who is not international standard in competitive games when there is a proven 25-cap solution in the squad.

Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto?

You forgot the most scandalous decision of all - Thistle being relegated from the Championship when one point behind their immediate rivals (QoS) and having played one less game.

^^^ O'Donnell hater. The rubbish he has to take from his own support is breathtaking in its predictability. Those crosses has been coming in all game from both sides - and particularly second half - even when the megagalactic phenomenon that is Nathan Patterson was on the park. It just so happens that the newly introduced substitute outfoxed Hanley to get a good header away. As for the second, have a look at the number of defenders that failed to close the shot down. There's nothing Gordon could do there. Would you have preferred if SO'D hadn't headed the ball? That we blew a two goal lead against Austria is a collective responsibility. Get off Stephen O'Donnell's back.

They didn't have our number in 1977 or 1985 when it really mattered, so have faith weekevie!!

Which would be fine if thplinth didn't have an extensive history of playing the man.

I wouldn't necessarily expect him to be a fluent speaker after 18 months, but with any effort at all he should be fluent in the basics at least. These guys are given access to language training from day zero from the clubs, and they will be tutored by the best local language teachers available. After 18 months he should at the very least be able to conduct a basic TV interview in the local language. On a similar subject, allegedly Liel Abada didn't quite feel his English was up to an interview yesterday, so Joe Hart accepted MoM on his behalf.

If that's really case after 18 months out there, then that's on him and nobody else. It's his responsibility to integrate and that includes achieving a basic command of the local language.

Your point is valid re Leigh Griffiths. However let's not pretend there isn't a single on of us on this board and beyond who wouldn't dine out on two goals against England. Particularly those two goals. That's a level of mediocrity I'd be very happy to achieve.

Sadly, a 'Scottish players inaction' thread would be more appropriate for young Nathan.

Newcastle United. The amusement never ends.

Fully agree with this, The double standards displayed around the Patterson/O'Donnell and Patterson/Tavernier questions are illuminating.

Merry Christmas Everyone - may each of you, and your families, enjoy the very best of health, happiness and banter in the coming year and beyond!!

Seriously, what went wrong with Wright? It isn't as though Killie aren't in the mix for the play-offs. So what gave?