Diamond Scot

My understanding is that the voting structure requires a 10/2 majority for major change. That will never happen with the Old Firm in the league as their interest so closely align. Voting through a change in voting structure would have allowed the other 10 clubs to change anything they wanted that they could agree on. Now getting them to agree on something is another thing but for example it could have been league size, financial fair play, hone grown player qoutas etc

Im surprised by that. Almost every person ive ever spoken to describes Airdrie fans as huns. Most hime fans will chant some kind of Hun song when I used to go to away games. Even when I was in Northern Ireland for work I had an "encounter" with some youths around the 12th July when I got allowed to go on my way because "Airdrie are more Hun than we are". Airdrie are generally associated with Proddy and Rovers (Coatbridge) with Catholic. Personally speaking it doesnt anger me, Airdrie have an element of really scummy fans ourselves. As an adult though and working in law, I see the context of the use of the word all the time and it goes beyond the mere choice of football team. Its nasty and is part of a much wider problem. As an comparison id highlight the use of the word "paki". Lots of people use the term to describe the corner shop which in a way is totally innocent however the word and its use goes way beyond that and when broken down there is zero reason to describe a shop this way. Its part of an underlying prejudice, known or not. For what its worth I dont like the term sheep shaggers either.

Would you expect Rangers or Celtic to actively take steps to make their own clubs less succesful? There is 1 club who are to blame for the current and future voting structure in Scottish football. Aberdeen. Everything could and should have changed when Rangers werent in the top flight.

Whether a word bothers somebody or not isnt the test for its meaning. Legally its a word that may get you charged. Whether convicted or not depends more on the Sheriff as most like to stay away from the tit for tat football nonsence. That being said it shouldnt be allowed on a Scotland football forum. If like people claim, its just another word for Rangers fans, why is it also aimed at Hearts, Airdrie etc There are plenty of words that can be used to describe Rangers. Why use the word at all.

You would have to ban about 10/20 fsns as it was at least 2 bottles and loads of coins over 3 corners. All from the GB section.

Surprised theres been no chat on the Rangers agm today. No need to sell players being the headliner.

I agree but not quite as good with the passing. McTominey has something that all top top players have thats very hard to describe. I cant remember the game but think it was Cyprus at home. Kenny McClean started and I think got motm. He passed the ball succesfully to the player who most people would say was the correct pass, completed the pass, kept the ball moving etc etc. McTominey then came on for him and made the same passes, he just did it quicker. He never received the pass, took a touch, looked up and passed, McTominey just got the ball and fired it into the player. Not near the player, not behind the player, right into the players stride. This led to many more chances being created because Cyprus didnt have time to adjust. The result of playing like that is that McTominey is more likely to misplace one out the park and get the ire of the fans however the upsides are massive. Its a very subtle thing but is huge in football. You see it when watching the top nations. How often do you see a ball being played out to a full back charging forward and the full back having to check back, adjust his stride, change his direction etc. The top players have the ability to just put it in the path.

I dont like the way McTominey seems to be becoming the new whipping boy. It seems to me that the fact he plays for Man Utd is being used against him. He is an exceptional footballer. All things being equal he is lightyears ahead of McGreggor and others like McClean etc. However football is sometimes about playing combinations and there is no denying the McGreggor and Gilmour have played really well together and imo we shouldnt be breaking that up for such important games. McTominey isnt a CB however what he does give us in the RCB position is somebody who is calm on the ball and is really good at passing through the lines. Playing him and Tierney at LCB and RCB is actually more of an attacking decision than anything. That being said if we now have actual defenders that can pass with similar quality then McTominey should give way to them. If we had friendleys id have been interested in seeing him in the Armstrong / Christie role however again not worth experimenting in a play off. Lets just be grateful our squad depth is so good atm rather than making out like our best players are actually rubbish.

Im not convinced GVB will be any different. Rangers have a 17 year old CB on their books, Leon King who is reported extemely highly rated at the club yet they continue to play a LB at CB and not give him a sniff. I believe the only time he has got near the 1st team this season is in the EL when Rangers dont have a full squad because of eligability issues. Now reported that some EPL sides are looking at him for when his contract expires in the summer. Who would blame the boy, if he isnt going to be playing 1st team football you are much better getting paid more and being at a club with better coaching / facilites.

Wont happen until the other teams start to stand up for themselves. Even the other 10 prem sides getting together and saying they wouldnt field sides in any round unless the final ticketing arrangements were changed would work. But wont happen as the non old firm teams cant get onto the same page.

Thats why I think its more sensible to make a stand in the league cup. If Hibs refused their allocation all the SFA would do is give it to Celtic so they wouldnt care. Even threatening to not play the tie would get tbe SFA talking. If a club played it smart, leaked things to the press like they wont turn up out of protest etc then the SFA couldnt do anything in advance ans the fear of how it would impact on sponsors, TV etc would be enough to get their attention. It should really be quite simple. Offer both teams 50% and sell it in stages, moving around the stadium. Have dates for the tickets to be sold by or else no more tickets go to that team and the rest get offered to the other team.

Could a club refuse to participate if the allocation wasnt 50/50. That would be a strong stance to take. The SFA wouldnt want the embaressment of not having a final so would at least bring them to the table and is low risk for a club as theres no european qualification anyway.

Hibs were brilliant today. Especially in the 1st half but solid also in the 2nd. Very brave by Ross to go (and keep) 2 up top. They showed what can be done when teams attack.

Im abit torn on Dykes to be honest. I didnt rate him prior to him being called up but he has certainly shown that he adds something to our team and has come up with some crucial goals. That said id be surprised (plesently) if he continues to score at his recent rate. I thought Adams was excellent in the last 2 games and operated at a higher level than I personally feel Dykes is capable of. Its good to finally have a couple of strikers capable of scoring and leading the line for us though. My comment was more along the lines of somebody who might challenge the scoring records. I cant see that being Dykes.

Reaching major comps certainly helps with the cap count. I couldnt believe that Adams is on 13 caps when I heard it on the radio the other day. Would be nice if Robertson could push towards 100 caps. One thing id love to happen soon is somebody to start moving up the scoring charts. Mcginn on 11 is our highest at the moment I believe.

Yet when the monopoly was bust another team kept it ticking over until Rangers got back in the league. Surely you cant blame the Old Firm (too much) for protecting the Old Firm. Surely the blame has to lie at the feet of Aberdeen. Vote to change the 11-1 voting structure then the league can pretty much do what it wants forevermore.

Thats exactly my point. Somebody said he wasnt world class because he isnt good at shooting. I said he is a defender and thats not his job, he does everything else to a world class level but he could certainly improve his shooting. Then a bunch of other ppl post about how good he is at shooting which he isnt as the stats show.

Other channels can pay to share broadcasting. Apparently stv are trying to negotiate with sky for march fixtures.

Im not sure what part you disagree with. BBC are meant to have a different operating model than commercial TV. Therefore viewing figures dont play the same part as commercial channels. Its the reason things like Shinty, garden watch etc are shown. The BBC is supposed to serve all licence fee payers. Not just those in England.

The opposite is true surely. ITV have to justify their spending. Viewing figures directly impact on advertising value. BBC get their money from the licence fee. Programmes are supposed to be judged on their educational or public merit. Not viewing figures.

Robertson has scored 4 goals in 170 games for Liverpool. 1 of which I remember was defo a header so 3 goals in 170 games for a side who dominate most games, where he is encouraged and indeed does reguarly storm forward. A goal every 56 games isnt exactly backing up your position is it? Cooper has 9 in 219. At least 5 of those werent headers according to the stat websites so even as a starting point his scoring stats with his feet are a goal every 43 games. Anyway enough with stats. The general point I was making was that Robertson isnt good at shooting but is a world class player regardless as that aint his job.

Why cant they when ITV are able to outbid sky for England games? The BBC have a huge budget. The pay multi million pounds for EPL highlights, multi million pounds for presenters to do shows like motd. Would they be paying over the odds for the number of viewers. Yes, given its likely that only a percentage of Scottish people would be watching but thats what the BBC is meant to be about. Its a public service broadcaster. Its not meant to be about viewing figures etc. Thats the criteria for commerical channels.

What part of saying it was our best performance in 20 years in downplaying it to you? I stated a fact. Denmark had already qualified. Do you agree or disagree that players try harder when there is something on the line? Thats not the same as saying Denmark didnt try, didnt care or were easy to beat. In my opinion its just something to bear in mind when looking at the bigger picture.

The world doesnt end but getting ahead of ourselves can have an impact. Classic example was the summer. For years and years the vast majority of fans just wanted to get back to a major comp. Couldnt care less how we did when we got there, please god please just let us go to one. Clarke and the team then get us to one with a very good unexpected performance in Serbia and come the lead up to the summer we have lots of fans saying we should beat Czech and Croatia. When that doesnt happen a not insignificant percentage of fans were doubting Clarke and not happy he got a new contract. If those fans had got their way would we be in the position we are now? Im not saying dont enjoy the success, god knows I am. Im saying it needs to be tempered with a touch of realism. We have done amazingly well to finish 2nd and get a seeded draw but its still uphill from here. If for example we got a non Poland for the semi and got beat. Id be disappointed but still confident in the managers and players going forward as its all about progress.

It was at the start of the game so McKenna wasnt on the pitch at the time but yes. Id rather have cooper through on goal. I get the feeling he would put his laces through it. Not saying id be confident him or Odonnell scoring either but Robertson's shooting is woeful.