Diamond Scot
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Posts posted by Diamond Scot
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7 minutes ago, aaid said:
Obviously everyone would want their team to play exciting and attacking football and win but I just don’t accept that any football fan would accept losing over playing well, odd game perhaps, where you’re up against superior opposition but not as a general philosophy unless I’m missing something about how football fans think and behave.
All my memorable football memories have all been about winning something, either a trophy or even just a match.
For example, one of my favourite Scotland moments is Neil McCann getting a late winner in Riga.
Winning isn’t necessarily the be all and end all but it is fundamentally what a sporting contest is all about. If you just want entertainment, go to the cinema.
Im not actually disagreeing but like anything its about different level. Exciting football isnt good if you get beat every week. But boring football also isnt good if you win every week.
One of my favourite football memories is losing to Italy. Maybe im just strange but I have fonder memories of that game than grinding out a win against some other sides.
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4 minutes ago, Orraloon said:
Are you sure Fraser and Clarke had a conversation?
Are you saying this quote is wrong?
"Asked about the Aberdonian’s omission from his squad, former West Brom and Reading boss Clarke said: “I haven’t actually spoken to Ryan Fraser yet.
“I was waiting on him getting himself a club but he hasn’t managed that yet.
“He actually contacted one of the medical staff and said his fitness wouldn’t be acceptable for a match of this level.”"
My understanding is that they have spoken and Clarke has no issues. Im led to believe it wasnt even Fraser who contacted the scotland medical staff though. It was his agent. That was only the initial contact though.
This has come from another Scotland player though so could be wrong but I cant see why he would lie.
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4 minutes ago, aaid said:
I used to work for a company whose head office is in Newcastle and so I worked with a load of Geordies. Lovely down to earth friendly people but completely deluded about their football team and it’s relative importance in the grand scheme of things. I never bought the whole “we’d rather lose 4-3 than win 1-0”. Always took that as a get out to cover up theirs general level of shiteness, particularly as aside from that short period under Keegan they’ve never really been an overly attractive side to watch.
Could be that they see football as a form of entertainment.
There comes a point when even winning football isnt enough if you arent being entertained.
Clubs tend to go in cycles. No success for ages and fans accept boring football if it has results. Then when the results become the norm they want the entertaining football again. This is normally when the results go away. Stoke is a classic example. Punched way above their weight for years playing boring football. Tried to change and got relegated.
I must say id rather support a team who yo-yoed up and down the leagues but always attacked than support a team like Aberdeen (no offence) who finish 3rd but arent exciting to watch.
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Clarke had a conversation with Fraser and they decided that he wasnt at the required level of fitness or match sharpeness to feature in these games.
Is much as it doesnt suit some peoples agenda, that is not Fraser making himself unavailable.
In the same way McBurnie was willing )and from the looks of his social media and previous record of turning up to squads) keen to play for Scotland this weekend. However Clarke and Wilder had a conversation about McBurnies fitness. Concentrating specifically on an injury and it was again agreed that the player would return to the club. Clarke in the full knowledge that he may appear in club friendlies.
Again this is not the same as saying McBurnje pulled out of the squad.
People need to stop attacking players based on untruths that they have just made up to suit their agenda.
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8 hours ago, phart said:
It's always the trials that get the news as well as opposed to the system that produces these fucked up situations.
My experience was sitting on a jury for a rape charge and the guy having already pled guilty to other rapes during his "spree" not being admissable.
Yes. Thats because the crown cant bring out previous convictions unless the defence do for one of the witnesses and it would be the worst of all bad tactics to bring out PCs on a rape charge if the accused has previous for rape.
The idea behind it is that every case is decided upon on its merits and the evidence in that case alone.
However if the accused has no record and the crown witnesses have a record for some kind of dishonesty crime then its a free shot for the defence to bring up PCs.
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28 minutes ago, phart said:
It's just the American Culture war raging on in the PR war. The trial will ascertain the facts. When i was involved in court past convictions weren't considered relevant to the jury and were witheld from us, those actions don't count. Not sure how it will work in Wisonsin.
There's interviews with his contemporaries where you get all this as well
“When he got mad or offended he would always say he could ‘fuck me up,’ but everyone would just laugh because he was like a 5-foot-4 chubby freshman boy who we thought wasn’t capable of harm”
“Kyle was the type of kid to wear a MAGA hat or other apparel just for attention, or to “trigger” people”
“Kyle was kind of shy from what I remember, but he was definitely in your face and pushed his views hella...Like one of those kids that liked ‘triggering libtards.’”
“He went to middle school with my little sister and she said that everyone always thought of him to be a possible future shooter...and so did I when I met him in high school.”
None of it will be relevant. It's just partisans trying to support their team both sides amping up the good and the bad that make up a seemingly naive teen. Radicalised by political rhetoric to illegally arm himself to protect property in another state. Pawns in the games of others.
Its only the accused's previous convictions that cant get aired. Its a common tactic for accused with no PCs to make a motion to bring the PCs of witnesses / complainers into play. They need to have some kind of relevence though. However in America it seems like trials are fair game for pretty much anything so id ve hugely surprised if the PCs of the guys who were shot werent brought out.
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Although most footballers could play in other positions. Playing well in other positions over a period of time is a different thing.
Its overly simplistic to say that because a centre mid scores goals then he has the attributes to play striker. Scholes and Lampard are classic examples of why. Ferguson experimented with playing Scholes up top a few times and also he could still score goals (because he had talent). He wasnt nearly as affective.
Goal scoring centre mids tend to thrive on timing their run into the box, losing tjeor midfield marker whilst the centre backs are concentrating on the forward players and the current phase of play.
Sticking Turnbull up top takes away most of his best assets. He isnt especially strong or fast so would be an on the shoulder nor a hold the ball up striker. He couldnt ghost as he would have 2 centre backs marking him and he wouldnt be able to score goals from distance as when he dropped deep 1 of the centre backs would go with him.
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Id be surprised and disapointed if Fraser ended up at Palace. Despite a questionable season last year he is still in the top 5 overall assists for the last 2 seasons.
I dont think he will get a move to a top club but if he holds off, I can easily see him at an Everton or Wolves. He is in a strong position as a free agent with proven EPL pedigree.
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2 hours ago, mccaughey85 said:
Gilmour has yet to properly make it, he's only played a handful of games. He could easily still not make it at Chelsea or a high level.
Mctominay is the only 1 in 15 years to come through at a top European clubs youth set up. There's probably been 20 young Scots in that time period.
Playing first team football even in the spl is better technically than youth epl football imo. It's also important for young players to learn about pressure from a young age. If he can't handle it at Hearts he's going to struggle at a big club.
Top clubs invest in youth set ups and then hoover up talent like Hickey with the hope they come good. Obviously they try to develop the young player but reality is they are just expecting 1 or 2 players to break through every 5 years.
Tbh my only point in all of this is for ppl not to get too excited by all of this speculation about hickey going to a top club as it very rarely results in a top player making it there.
Gilmour burst onto the scene at Chelsea and his displays have shown more in those handful of appearences than 5 seasons in the SPFL.
I agree though, moving to a big club is nothing to get our hopes up over but its a start. Its like getting accepted into a top University. It doesnt mean you will end up with a top degree but increases your chances over a poorer establishment.
The chances are that if you are 21 and playing first team football for Hibs / Hearts etc that the best you can realistically hope for is mid table EPL. Robertson being the exception in the past 20 years. Morrison most likely wont make it at Bayern but 1 thing is for sure. If he does make it then he will be a world class defender who will be a million times better than his peers at Scotland youth level who got 1st team football in the Scottish Championship or for teams like Ross County.
Id rather 100 of our promising kids went to top clubs and 95% of them completely failed as that would mean we would have 5 players who were real quality. Its that quality that gets you to tournaments rather than finishing 3rd all the time.
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5 minutes ago, Malcolm said:
Much rather he was at hearts playing first team football. Fine if he is going to Bayern to play in their first team.. look all the pish talked on here about Ryan Gauld and that other one, can’t even remember his name, at Real Madrid. Done f all.
Its very easy to talk about players at top clubs who didnt make it however I could name many many more players who played for Hearts or other SPFL clubs who didnt become top class.
Answer me this. Which club have produced more top class players through their youth systems. Bayern Munich or Hearts?
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16 minutes ago, mccaughey85 said:
I think first team football even at spl level can be a better teaching tool than playing youth football at a top club. The evidence shows that out of about 20 young players we have had at big European clubs 1 will make it.
Playing meaningful games where getting three points is a good learning experience. Players need to learn to take the pressure of having to get results which is much more intense than in youth football. The very things you have pointed out as drawbacks are actually why it is best to get first team football as a young player.
He would learn alot at Bayern but it's not the necessarily the better option for the guys career at this point in time imo, as shown by the fact only 1 of our players in 15 years has come through a top clubs youth set up.
In the last 15 years we have had 2 players come through at top 4 sides. Gilmour and McTomminay. We have had 1 work their way to a top 4 side. Robertson.
Pressure is the worst thing for a learning enviroment. You need the skills and technique before you can handle the pressure and do the job properly.
Its why all the top clubs invest in youth systems so heavily.
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Are we not looking at this the wrong way around. Being in a big teams setup doesnt mean that you will defo make it as a big player. In the same way not being in a big teams setup doesnt mean you wont make it as a big player.
The question is where is the best place to learn your trade? My opinion is that its at the places that can afford to invest the most amount of time and money in you.
Compare Hearts setup to Bayerns. Compare what he would be doing on a day to day basis. Compare who his "teachers" would be. Compare who his peers would be. Compare who is on close hand to watch and learn from. Compare the respective records of nurturing and producing world class players.
If the answer to the above is Hearts then fair enough. I just dont agree.
Whilst there is some merit in the argument that 1st team football is beneficial look at the goals of his coach at Hearts. Everything is aimed at getting the 3 points on game day. At a youth team its all about making the players better for the future demands of 1st team football. Players are not only allowed to try new things, they are encouraged. They can learn without the fear of dropping points, fans being on their backs or getting dropped etc
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44 minutes ago, mccaughey85 said:
With Hickeys case I think first team football would be more beneficial to his career as its unlikely he will ever make it at a top level club like bayern or Liverpool etc. If he went to one of those clubs right now I reckon he would just spend 2/3 years in their youth set up and then would be back to the spl or English championship. With Gilmour it was different, he is a genuine talent who looks like he could be the best in position in a few years and he's been fast tracked by Chelsea.
I think for a player like Hickey first team football would do him alot more good than playing youth football despite these clubs having better coaches and facilities. First team football does a player in Hickeys situation alot more good imo even though its at a low standard.
We have had only 2 young players come through at top clubs in the past 15 years which would suggest that all the great facilities and great coaching isn't making as big a difference as it should. We have only had mctominay and potentially Gilmour come through. I could probably name 15 or more of the top of my head that haven't made the grade.
Guys like Mcginn, armstrong and snodgrass played first team football at a young age and have progressed to become good epl players. Tbh Hickey will be lucky to hit those levels no matter what path he chooses but I think his best path to it is to stay at spl level for a couple more seasons before he decides to move south. He would only be 20 and wouldn't have wasted 2 years playing youth football.
Not disagreeing with regards to Hickey but interested to hear what you think could learn during these 2 years? Is he likely to come up against any players of real skill, pace or ability? Is he likely to have a programme put in place to develop him with Hearts?
Big clubs obviously see something in him. I think he would be more likely to learn playing against Germanys up and coming stars and getting access to all the things I mentioned.
Its interesting to hear what Tierney is saying about Arsenal and playing in the EPL. Simply put, training with and playing against top players makes you a better player. All aspects of his game need to improve or they are punished in a way that they just arent in Scotland.
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14 hours ago, mccaughey85 said:
I suppose it comes down to our opinions on Hickey, I think he's a decent player who could maybe make it in a lower half epl team in several years. Phil foden is a special talent who will play at the top level for years to come. That's why foden gets gametime for man City and why Hickey wouldn't.
I believe hickeys best route til lower epl level is to play professional football at spl level for a couple more seasons and then when he's 20/21 make the move to a lower epl club or a good English championship club.
The evidence and statistics for young Scots making it through epl/foreign youth set ups is extremely poor, maybe even as bad as 1/20. That suggests that with all the good coaching and all the money spent its still not working for our young players.
Our successes recently have been guys like Armstrong, snodgrass, Mcginn. These guys spent a fair chunk of their early careers playing first team football at a relatively low level in Scotland before they moved. Even a guy like burke might of benefitted from staying put at forest and playing championship football for a couple of seasons instead of going to leipzig and struggling.
Going to an epl club or a big European club just to play in their youth set up is not massive success that alot on here seem to think it is. The evidence from the last 15 years clearly shows we our young players don't break through at that level.
For what its worth ive never seen anything in Hickey that makes me think he will be a top player. My comments are more a general opinion.
I like Armstrong, McGinn and Snodgrass but they are perfect examples of the decent footballers I was talking about. To qualify we need guys like them plus 2 or 3 top players.
EPL youth football isnt the best but at that age its about development over game time. There was a thing called a day with Gilmour when he was about 16 ay Chelsea. The level of specific detail that goes into these kids development is unreal and way above what you probably see at any SPFL first teams. He had tailored diet, tailored gym sessions, tailored DVD analysis not only of his own game but of other top players who he could learn technique from, a tailored improvement plan which setout all the techniques and a traffic light system of where he was at and needed to improve. It is no wonder that when players break through at these teams they seem ready made.
Its not to say its a sure thing as alot of kids wont progress but what these clubs do is give them the best possible chance.
Just look at the calibre of coaches. Bayern have Martin Demichelis and Miroslav Close as their U19 and U17 coaches. Who do you think a young player can learn more from? Them or Robbie Neilson and Lee McCulloch?
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6 hours ago, mccaughey85 said:
Our young players barely ever make the grade at big clubs, would be better getting a couple of years playing football rather than going to some big European club and playing youth football which is a pretty low standard of football. Fair enough Gilmour and mctominay have made it but I could name you another 20 who haven't.
Tierneys situation is completely different to Hickeys, Tierney spent his early career getting gametime and experience and had moved to arsenal with the understanding he would be playing first team football. If anything he's an example of not moving too soon and gaining first team experience albeit at a lower standard. If Hickey moves to a top European club or even a lower epl club he will be chucked straight into their youth set up. That's not always the best move imo. Just look at Tony gallacher, signed by Liverpool from Falkirk at 18 and hasn't played first team football yet since he moved.
We have had plenty of young players at top clubs and loads more at average epl clubs and barely any of them make the grade. Hickey moving to one of these clubs could just stifle his development whereas first team football in Scotland might help him develop much like it did to guys like Mcginn and Armstrong etc.
Personally I don't see the big fuss over Hickey, he looks very average to me and I don't think he has the speed or athletic physique for top level football. I will happy be proved wrong though.
Thats my point though. Staying in Scotland is the safe option that we have been doing for years. Lots of young players can stay in Scotland until early 20s then move to England and end up at lower EPL / top end Championship but we have loads of those players and they arent difference makers.
If any young player moves to a top club in a top league early then they benefit from all the things money buys at these clubs. Top coaches, sports science etc etc. Most top clubs have more qualified and talented coaches in charge of their youth teams than we have in our main teams. When you take into account facilities, coaches, sports science etc, id bet more cash is spent on Bayern under 17s per player than 1st team players at establisged SPFL teams like Motherwell.
Yes most of these players wont make it however the ones that are potentially european or world class. Look at the smaller nations who compete international level. They have 3 or 4 top players, 4 or 5 average players and the rest just space fillers.
We fill our teams with average players in the grand scheme of things. Guys like McFadden, Brown, Miller, Naismith, Caldwell etc.
Years 16-20 are key in development. Game time isnt the be all and end all. Look at Phil Foden. Only plays for city as a bit part but tipped to be world class. Why, because he is learning his trade.
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Id rather Hickey move to Bayern or Bologna and risk doing a Feruz than remaining at Hearts until he is 21, playing a full season against utter dross then if Hearts get promoted the next season against slightly better players.
We have churned out SPFL standard players / lower EPL / High championship players for years. Our squad depth of these types of players has always been high.
What we lack is top end players where basically we have had Darren Fletcher and now Andy Robertson over past 20 years.
We need to get high volume numbers of youths into the best setups in the hope that some Gilmours and McTomminays come through.
If we can reguarly start to have 4 or 5 players playing with top 6 sides in best 5 leagues and compliment them with our normal standard of player then we will have a much better chance of doing something as a team.
Also, the more our players move and become a success the more clubs will start to take a chance on our other players and pay more for them in turn.
Tierney is a classic example. He was the best player in Scotland. If he failed at Arsenal what would that have said the next time a player was good up here. The fact he is now proving himself raises the profile of the likes of Christie etc imo.
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Tierney is a full back or at a stretch left sided CB.
Play him where we are weakest out of those 2 positions. If Robertson is fit then he plays LB.
If we have 2 semi decent cb's but no RB then play him at RB. If somebody comes through at RB but we are struggling at CB then play him there. He will always be one of our better defenders so will always get a start. No point changing formations or playing him in midfield.
Playing RB for a left footed player isnt a huge change. Tierney is a natural defender. His positioning and tackling wont be affected by playing RB. Its only really his ability to cross that is lessoned which given we dont play a system that relies on crossing shouldnt be a problem.
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I posted my thoughts on changes to the game on another thread recently but I truly dont think Scottish football will improve until it moves to a model that is totally alien to us and therefore wont ever happen.
We need to seperate full time and part time clubs, we need to make it a rule that a certain percentage of tv money or revenue is spent on youth development, we need to provide stability to clubs regarding relegation (make it easier to move between championship and prem both in terms of promotion / relegation but also in terms of reducing the gap in finances between the 2 leagues)
To do the above would be a radical shakeup which so many people would be against so will never happen so we will be left with fans calling for a bigger league despite their own clubs not wanting it due to finance.
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1 hour ago, Kirk said:
You are saying being less active as you're in the house, but if you are saving time on travel then use the other half hour or so to go for a walk in the morning or a run, I've been trying to gradually increase my exercise again as I've been so lazy. Missing fives though
Defo harder with a 7 month old than it was previously. I really need squash to open again although no sign of that yet.
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Working from home is cheaper. No travel costs, reduced food costs, reduction in work clothes etc. If you get flexi time like me then you can also commit less hours to the working day and build up more time. Ive never been able to build up flexi previously but im saving an hour a day travel so im adding half an hour onto my work day per day which has allowed me to take flexi days.
The flip side is that at times you are very isolated, I feel my physical health suffered as I dont move about as much and wellbeing is certainly affected as its abit like groundhog day / cabin fever.
A huge plus for me is getting to see my new son all day every day. Even if he is in the other room most of the day. Being at home has been a godsend and im grateful for not missing anything.
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One thing that I think is overlooked with home working is when somebody nee joins the company or team. Even if its possible to train the person remotely its likely that they wont have any bond with their co-workers.
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9 minutes ago, Stu101 said:
I think they will have a couple of players lined up in the background. Given they all seem to be french based, at least they will have had some form of pre season. Greg Stewart will probably play that roll on Saturday, if he is away
Having Stewart as your starting forward in a game against a top 4 side would worry me.
Rangers biggest problem last year was scoring goals in tight games. If anything they are weaker in that position this season.
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Surely selling your top scorer and most valuable player only a few days before the league starts when your only backup is out with a hamstring injury for an unknown time would be madness.
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5 hours ago, Rolling hIlls said:
Ok. As moron to moron. If I sat at a bar with you singing a sectarian song and only you got lifted what would the sheriff say if it ever went to court. Believe me I have been there. Sang Flower of Scotland one night with my pal and we went outside over for a kebab. The police lifted him. I went down as his witness. It got laughed out of court. That is a true story. We spent our expenses in the Black Bitch. My point is that if you arrest one guy for singing a sectarian song about the IRA or UDA then you would have to lift them all. That would never stand up in court my friend. It is about education. Rangers and Celtic are trying hard but it will take a long time. 3rd Glenlivet on the way. Scotland Forever.
I can 100% say that this is not how court works. Police reguarly pick out a handful of people from crowds and there is no such defence in law as "everybody was doing it".
The defence with regards to singing is almost always that the behaviour doesnt meet the required S38 or BoP test. Ie that it wasnt threatening or abusive and didnt cause fear or alarm.
Plus points tonight ?
in TA specific
Posted
Big thing for me is how slowly some of our players like McGreggor, McLean and Christie move the ball. Thats the big difference ive seen between them and Mctomminay. McLean and McGreggor in particular never seem to do anything wrong. They get the ball, take a touch, look up and then pass it safely to the player in space.
Problem with how they do it is that the opposition can see it a mile away and the time afforded gives them time to shuffle across.
Its noticeable with McTomminay and Gilmour that as they are receiving the ball they already have a picture of whats happening. They then ping the ball with pace to the player. That saved 2 or 3 seconds is the difference between Robertson being able to take a touch and out a cross in and having to take a touch and pass back to a centre half.
Something our "pundits" seem incapable of picking up on. Its no wonder we cant break teams down with the pace we pass the ball about.