TartanJim45

Lambert for me. Sweden, Iceland, Northern Ireland are on a par with us, yet seen to do better, why ? S.F.A. has failed us for so long

I agree, there was a lack of atmosphere before and during the game.

I came out the SSC about eight years, after they doubled the membership thus resulting in only getting one home ticket. For years it wasnt a problem. Added to that, this campaign saw a big hike in the Home jersey which was only available from one outlet. The match ticket price doesn't represent value for money, the games are on Sky TV and there's not even proper match highlights on now. I stopped doing away games, when I started realising that air companies etc starting hiking their prices up when Scotland played away, knowing in advance that they had a captured market. Last night was the first game I went to in this campaign. I'm fed up being ripped off, if I didn't go, it would have been the first campaign in about thirty years that I didn't attend. Their price structure for the World Cup campaign is going to be interesting.

I've seen worse, the England game at Hampden in 1989 was really bad, running riots, mass disorder etc I thought that sort of behaviour was in the past. At times last night it felt a throwback to the 1980's. I remember talking to a family last night and it was their wee boy's first home game (he was about eight), he was all excited with his Saltire flag, I really hope he enjoyed himself and wants to come back.

The problem there is, I think, there is only one automatic position, and then it's a play off with one of the bigger nations........

It's like pissing against the wind with the SFA. Most people on here can see where the problem lies, but nothing gets done or improves. We've had Ernie Walker's Think Tank, The McLeish Report what's next ? These all appear to be smokescreens hiding a bigger problem.

Fortunately it's a problem I don't have, a ten minute walk and I'm home. I would have thought with the new section of motorway going in it would have made things a bit easier! Whatever happened to the days when the police done traffic control and switched the lights off to get the traffic moving quicker ? I suppose, this is the downside to midweek internationals.

I'm with you on this, I could sense an atmosphere in Hampden. If the Polish fans want to set off flares etc in their allocated end of the ground, that's fine. But, when they start coming into a family section and setting them off, I have serious concerns. I've already read that the police didn't want to comment. This is the headline in todays Evening Times. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/13837066.Football_trouble__21_arrests_at_Scotland_Euro_clash_and_Polish_fan_loses_part_of_tooth_in_street_brawl/

That's a point that's often raised, but taking that onboard, wouldn't that logic apply to every other league in the world ? Do we not have meaningless games as it is ? We do have a 'play off' now, but if you're 7-10th in the league with no chance of being relegated, are they not meaningless ? I often found it interesting when Billy McNeill and John Greig etc used to say, it was a chance to bring through younger players and give them the experience. They don't get that experience now, the league is structured for 'two teams' and it's a disaster if they even loose 'one' game, and they get dropped. We did have a strong league with a vast amount of talent, so where did it all start to go wrong ?

Are we not the only country in the world were our teams play each the four times a season ? There's a degree of familiarity, talent is stifled, our two biggest clubs buy up the emerging talent, never to be heard of again. These issues have been well discussed over the years but nothing ever seems to happens. Scottish players don't look comfortable on the ball, it as though it's a hot potato at times. I'm still of the opinion the decline started when we went to the ten team league in the 1970's..... I remember playing in goals for my school team (primary) in full size goals, every ball that went over my head was a goal. It was demoralising, I was only 10, and that was 1980. It still goes on now. Talent just doesn't dry up, it's still there, it's just how you develop it. When's the last time you heard a Scottish player being regarding as 'gallus' ? McFadden on his day had touches of it.

I did make that last match against Morocco in France 98, although we ended up getting pumped 3-0 it was a great experience and a very long drive. The night before probably the best outdoor party I've been to with Romania beating a certain team. I honestly didn't think then, that it would have been another 20 odd years before we qualified for a major tournament again. As luck would have it, I actually found my key ring the other day from France 98, that we were awarded for being 'voted the friendliest fans' I suppose that will become a collector's item in due course! No offers please...........

That was going to be my next point with regards to flares in Scottish grounds, you bet me too it It's bad enough having to put up with the odd eejit having a fag, I'm on permanent medication for a throat problem, smoke and such like inflames it. We're meant to have laws that protect us with such things in stadiums. I really hope I don't read tomorrow a kid or another innocent supporter has been injured through idiots setting these things off.

I remember being in the West Stand a few a years ago for the Croatia game and the police were going in and lifting the culprits, so why not tonight ? I would love too hear the match commanders take on it. It's a bad day when you have to look over your shoulder in the family section!

There was a bad feeling in the family section tonight, I thought that sort of atmosphere was left behind years ago! Lighting flares off next to kids was way over the top, total disregard for others around them. The police and stewarding was poor to say the least, but then living in the area next to Hampden, poor policing seems to be the norm.