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Conversely, I think if it wasn’t for the offensive anti-British stuff coming from Ireland I don’t think anyone here would give a crap about the Irish or their country.

Is there any option to sell your seat for the last 15 minutes? About 10 thousand people might be interested in that.

Flanagan clearly doesn't have the same attacking skillset as Tav or Barisic but he played fine the other night and I didn't notice any players being uncomfortable in using him.

My opinion is that Griffiths is a despicable wee cretin and deserves all the criticism he gets. Real men take responsibility for their actions. Questionable people blame everyone else for their shortcomings.

I think it's going to be a quiet closing week if you don't count the obligatory nonsense links from the media.

The amusing thing is that Boyd is actually more impartial than Sutton. By far too.

My mate, who has had a season ticket for 33 years, doesn't go a lot these days due to illness/old age. He often does give it to someone else but it seems unfair to punish people like him who'd love to go every week but just aren't up to it, but enjoy it when they can.

This thread has taken an unexpected turn. Anyway, here's some fuel for the fire... Personally, without any inside knowledge, I expect every member of the Hamilton board, playing staff and supporter would love to win the Scottish Cup. The Scottish Cup final has been contested by Ross County, Falkirk, Motherwell, Inverness, Dundee Utd, Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs the Tims and ourselves over the last decade. The decade before saw Queen Of The South, Gretna and Dunfermline reach the final. So it's not inconceivable that Hamilton, or any other side in the top 2 leagues in Scotland, could make the final. However, undoubtedly every side in Scotland sees the Cup as a potential cash windfall, and for many, many sides the prospect of a trip to Ibrox or Parkhead is a huge bonus for them. There is still romance in a small side drawing a big side and travelling to their ground for the match. I suspect some of the people involved at Stranraer on Friday will never forget the experience, one they may never be involved in again. It's different for Hamilton, they play us 3 or 4 times a season just now, they are already guaranteed at least one trip to Ibrox, so drawing us is less 'romantic' in that respect. But it would be naive, I think, to dismiss the financial windfall a trip to Ibrox would provide a club like Hamilton. Getting half the gate, probable TV revenue, catering and so on would make a massive difference to them, it wasn't so long ago they somehow 'lost' half a million to a Nigerian prince or some other internet scam. I think it's entirely possible for people involved with a club to hope for an away tie whilst still harbouring thoughts of winning and progressing, you can be pragmatic and romantic. The term 'Old Firm' comes from the belief that both club's directors were more interested in money than 'romance'. There was a widely held belief that the clubs played out pre-agreed draws, requiring replays, so both could cash in on another full house. Back in 1909 after a Cup replay also ended in a draw there was a full scale riot, involving both sets of supporters, aimed at the Glasgow police, both club's directors and the SFA. We literally tried to burn down Hampden that day. Romantic. Anyone with any connection to professional football knows that the game functions on money, and it always has. My great grandfather signed for an English side from Clyde many years ago. There was a wage cap in place in those days, so he was given the maximum wage available, however he was also given a 'job' in the Chairman's factory, and a wage with it. So was my great grandmother, neither of them ever set foot in the place though. This was commonplace in football, he only signed for them for money, there was no romance in playing part time and going down the pit the rest of the week. Things are a little different now, but I'm fairly sure most of the Hamilton side aren't born and bred Accies supporters, they'll leave and play for Motherwell or Ross County or any of Hamilton's rivals for a couple of grand more without losing a moments sleep. There is no romance there. However, on the day, I suspect every Hamilton player will be doing all they can to win and I suspect some of their supporter's will have a day dream of a trip to Hampden for the Cup Final. Their directors will also dream, however they'll be happier knowing they'll have some extra money coming in, and I suspect they'd be even happier if an away tie had made the windfall ten times as much.

Now we know that we are heading towards 15k on the waiting list and the club are quite rightly pushing seatsub. A pet hate of mine is noticing empty seats at games frequently. I am sure we all know a seat somewhere that is often empty as the occupiers only turn up for "the big games". Borrussia Dortmund have informed supporters that if they are absent from more than 7 games then they can have their ticket cancelled. We are pushing Seatsub for various reasons, but it seems logical that if you can't make it inform the club, and everyone benefits plus other bears do not miss out on the chance of tickets. Personally, I would suggest we follow the same line as Dortmund if supporters just leave their seat empty?

He's clearly what used to be called a wee shite. Anyone rushing to defend this cretin seriously needs to reconsider their own values.

It's everywhere. You can't move for people being infatuated with their own self-righteousness.

I think some people want football stadiums and forums full of people who never utter anything but acceptable (to them) comments. What a dreary world we're heading for, full of nodding automatons.

I think he's finding it hard to contain his sympathies for the oppressed Irish and their rightful monopoly on victimhood.

Not having the depth of squad Celtic have concerns me.

We are, effectively, top of the table (notwithstanding the game in hand being won)….. we haven't lost ANY of our first team (yet), every player that has gone out has actually offered almost nothing in terms of even minutes this season.... so why would we regret it if we continue on the same trajectory we have in the first half of the season. None of the players that have left have contributed. And they didn't look like they had a chance of contributing. So why keep them ? Realistically, how could we improve the starting XI, or even the squad, in January ?

I don’t think we’ll sign anyone this window and we’ll massively regret it.

As Celtic may discover, integrating new players in January doesn’t always lead to the results you want on the park. I’d rather have stability for the time being.

I keep saying this that nobody is being penalised. You would just be asked to let the club know you won't be there. Jeeees?, the club are essentially paying you to do that. As I said the Dortmund idea would leave you having to miss 40%+ games for you to be pulled up. To be fair, if you are not there 40%+ of the time and DON'T tell the club, then they lose out on circa £150-250 depending on how much you go. If we times that by several thousand between 10-20 times a season, it's a lot of cash. Additionally, I believe the catering comes back "in house" next season so that's more money (from a business perspective). Anyway, I only brought it up as I seen Dortmund are planning on doing it, We should all be using Seatsub anyway as it's money for the club?

Unfortunately Raul played it just behind him or it was a certainty for a goal. Wolves were worth at least a draw. Nuno is a very, very good coach and has Wolves playing the game the way it should be played.

You’ll be entitled to change your mind nearer the time.

Goldson another attracting interest from Leeds, West Brom and Fulham according to LeedsNews. Valued at just over £6m. I can't wait for this transfer window to end!

No doubt most involved with the club would have preferred to have been drawn at Ibrox as they have a 100% cup record there whilst never having won a home cup tie against The Rangers in six attempts (lost the last five). ?

Seat sub i agree is a great idea and should be encouraged but no way do you cancel a persons season ticket when paid in full.

If giving sensible or unbiased input was a prerequisite of being a TV pundit, Chris Sutton would fail miserably. Sutton seems to be employed purposefully as a controvertialist. Maybe Scottish football is so polarised that it becomes difficult for ex-players to be impartial, or maybe it's just that whatever they say, opposing fans will take issue (like me above with Sutton) English football does not seem to have this problem. Gary Lineker for example, while showing his support for Leicester will also criticise them. English pundits seem able to balance a support for a team with a professional approach much earier than those in Scotland.

For a back-up player he's about as good as we'll get.

If I wanted to sing I'd go to church or join a fucking choir ? By the same token I'll never understand the attraction of going to watch your team and spending the game slagging off selected players in your own team. It must be an illness.

What if I give my ST to a ScotNat instead?

I think the main point is that it is better to have a Rangers supporter in a seat than to leave it empty.

There are 15k on the waiting list Bill. There is no issue here, if you can't make it just tell the club. They can re-sell the seat and you get 50% (not you Bill, anyone...) and everyone is happy. The reason I posted this was I seen the BD idea and it seems a good idea. If you continually don't go, and continually don't help the club re-sell by informing them, then why should it not go to a supporter who is eager to attend every match? It's not that draconian, the BD idea means you would have to miss over 40% of games without telling the club before this was an issue.

It's not about telling people what to do. It's about finding a better way of doing things.

You pays your money, you makes your choice. If you’ve paid for your seat and abide by stadium rules, it’s no one’s business but your own whether you sit in it or not. Why are people so keen to tell you what to do?

Looks like Wilson has brought a smart new strategy to the club. We used to just let young guys' contracts run down. Now we are selling them for probably next to nothing but it allows us to insert clauses in their contracts just in case they prosper. Houston's contract is up in May so he'd have gone for nothing.

What price a league title? I can't wait to find out.