andy steel

Agreed, some economic chastisement is certainly preferable to something nastier. There's the counter to that - which is that the US, in it's more right of centre forms, has indeed said and done 'follow us or we'll slaughter you' - central America springs to mind - but I want to avoid that line so as not to sound like some rabid America-hater. In broader terms, even threats of most favoured nation status or whatever are in my eyes petty and counter productive. Like most political actions they seem to be about appearing to be/do something rather than actually achieving things. If you are trying to persuade someone of something, lording it over them is rarely the best strategy; just look at Peter Mandelson. And finally, that VU song - who sings the lead vocal? I'm sure it must be Doug Yule; he's a good chanter.

Sorry, I missed this bit first time around. You're missing the point a bit there, people refer to the political classes of the US as arrogant because they expect and oftentimes insist that everyone else dances to their tune. You might quite like their tune - it might be 'She's My Best Friend' by the Velvet Underground, say - but if someone else constantly tells you where and when to play it, it gets a bit annoying. We were every bit as guilty in our turn, of course. As were the Romans, and so on. But it's not a petted lip because the Star Spangled Banner is played so often at Athletics meets or whatever..

I was horrified last week to find a column by Graham Spiers in my Sunday Times...that's another one off the list. Back to the Observer for me, I suppose. There is not much happening in all honesty, it would be stretching things to claim the international fixtures were 'crucial' or anything like that so I can see why writers are desperate for something to fill the paper. I would try giving the ditor something interesting, well researched and written - maybe something about a previous WC campaign, or a figure from the past of Scottish football who could be persuaded to give an interview...but we all know that in the real world, they'll smear some shite all over the back page, colour it green or blue and wait expectantly. Immature drivel, but alas that is what the country seems to want.

Some really interesting points, albeit most of them having nothing to do with the SFA's idea! I would agree the USA has a far greater sense of community and citizenship than we do; but in parallel to that it also has a far greater problem of underclass and exclusion than we do. In other words, they have more 'good' than we, but they pay for it with more 'bad.' Maineflyer wrote earlier about the fell hand of The State crushing the spirit of the free man, by knowing better than said man. True enough and I would rather see personal freedom on almost every level. The trouble is, in Scotland they do know better...free choice, which we've 'enjoyed' for the last couple of generations, has hardly led to a blooming paradise where everyone can pursue their dreams, has it? In no way are we as bad as some countries but we're on the wrong road in so many areas (health for one) and if it needs someone to slap the slobs around untiil they 'get it', so be it. Even the most fanatical Scots nationalist would have to admit we seem overly blessed with fuds around here.

All grist to the mill, chums! I have banged on for years on another forum that as long as timothy is allowed plenty of rope, he will assuredly hang himself, and I feel thoroughly vindicated this week as fud after fud has come on to defend the Wee Scrote, seeminly oblivious to their blatant double standards. And I would have to say in fairness that that point has been made in the papers and radio as well. Chalk this one down as 'a good week.'

I fear it's somewhat harsh to single out Scottish society for that criticism...that's an inevitable result of untrammelled world capitalism.

Unless SPL teams had control over their broadcasting rights the whole thing's a busted flush imo...the traditional Scottish markets, Canada/Oz-NZ/USA are still there, but I feel interest is declining outwith the hardcore. Bluntly, it if ain't EPL it ain't worth a fuck.

Unworkable unless it's implemented across UEFA; and the chances of that happening are about the same as Megan Fox chapping my door and demanding she be allowed in to get out of her dripping wet clothes.

Are you mad? The streets of Peking are dripping in Charlton shirts, appropriately red. And the South London club have certainly reaped the benefits of their Oriental tie-in, with a steady stream of money, tourist fans and world class players beating a track to their door. Once again, 'they' have stolen a march on us. Come on, Martin Bain, get your act together!!

I don't think you can go through the season with GD playing at the back of your mind. It can only come into play when it becomes a reality, as in the example quoted above. Of course in an ideal world the players would be going all out for those extra goals but I've never seen a player or a manager worrying about GD until the last few weeks.

I'd rather go the whole hog and play the youngsters from first minute to last. Life is a flower, said Ace of Base, and in order to bloom these seedling like younglings need maximum exposure to the fungal infection of defeat. Back to Murray Park - or the Blue Peter Garden, as I call it - for a spot of footballing Baby Bio, that they may return stronger and better.

He fell over every time he tried to rear up. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bud_Neill

I can see DMB buying out his contract and heading for pastures new should he fail to feature by October. I don't know why, I just think he's the kind of man who would rather move on that sit on his arse and get paid. We'll find out anyway.

I thought Cuellar had a 7m release clause, a la FM, so whether the club liked it or not there was hee-haw they could have done?

But for the sake of talking, should we play an inexperienced side and lose, it seems that the reaction might be 'there needs to be a shake up in the youth structure.' If we lost three years in a row I would agree, but I wouldn't say that after one result: it could have been a freak, after all. I'd be willing to take a defeat to someone we'd consider rubbish if it gave a young player an extra 10% developement. But that's mega hard to gauge until he writes his memoir and reveals it was the shock 0-1 defeat to QoS that made them mentally tough enough to play for The Rangers. I could never be a manager.

Would you accept a defeat, then? I agree with you, and I admire the way Arsenal and Man U use the Carling Cup in such a way - but they quite often get dumped out by a lower league side in the early rounds. Worth it?

I admit players have to get their bodies ready for maximum effort during a game. But pre-season aside, I can't call training working. It's just not.

I can't see why such a move, with it's virtually certain relegation at the end of the season, would appeal to either player.

There's some argumemts against that, though - it's a long season, and though I have little sympathy with cry-baby pro's who struggle, somehow, through a 50-60 day working year, tired minds or legs can come into it; also, there isn't much point in destroying an opponent to the degree of 10-0, all it does is fire them up for the next match. If we were trailing on goal difference with a few weeks of the season left, aye fair enough, but not in August.

I couldn't care less if he had a ST for them while he was playing for us. In fact, having one of their 'own' sticking the knife in is something I'd consider an equisite pleasure, to be revisited over and over again, cf Neil McCann. But he delivered virtually nothing in his last 2 years, and there was a game against I think Dundee Utd where he dived worse than Eduardo and McGeady's bastard love child. I know they're all at it but I hate to see in from a Rangers player. So nah, we did well to get rid of.

It's all them foreigners' fault! Coming over 'ere, beating our teams...and what about that Arsene Wenger, eh? He'd defend Adolf if 'e was wearing a Gunners shirt! Bleedin' Eduardo... Disregarding the hypocritical bleating of former players - all, doubtless, keen to play up their own honesty at the expense of others - it has to be faced, players have been diving since the year dot. It's only the improved coverage from more, better cameras in the last 10-15 years that has seen the perpetrators of this heinous crime being caught. Yes, that co-incided with the influx of foreign players into both SPL and EPL; but anyone who claims these greasy, garlic smelling dagos, wops and Krauts have initiated our honest Alf Tuppers into their evil mysteries is deluding themselves. My memory is not what is was - but I can recall Kevin Drinkell hitting the deck against Anton Rogan years ago, just before the tackle came in, not that I was complaining. I can recall Roy Aitken, hilariously sporting both the captain's armband and the shirt of his country - explain that - flying throught the air with all the grace of an arthritic goose, while a bemused Eastern European looked on wondering why. There must have been countless other examples. So come on you media types - let's have less of the patronising, mildly xenophobic finger pointing and address the matter honestly. There's nothing new in diving, but I suppose there's nothing new in hypocrisy either.

Just hold on a cotton pickin' minute there! It sounds good; but then, we know nothing of the Rumanians, but I assume they can pass so we'll have to play well to get the 4 points from them. Do-able I would assume, but I hear they have signed Edgar Davids? Where's all this money coming from then? We really are the hayseed country cousins these days... Stuttgart: We did sneak a win in the 2-1 game, they were looking OK till we hit them with the sucker punch. Mind you, we gave as good as we got in Stuttgart. But who have they signed since last time? Have they improved or regressed? I don't know anything about them. Seville: Know nothing, could be world beaters for all I know. I'm not meaning to be moany, I'm just fed up with Scottish fans and pundits claiming teams we know fuck all about are there for the taking. Let's find out what we're up against before we get our hopes up.

What was the appeal?

It's like East17 doing a video about ref-hate. Alright! Alright! Everything gonna be alright!! I see there's to be an inquiry into Eduardo's rather tasteful dive. Is there nothing the tims are capable of bearing with equanimity? You got horsed! Deal with it!

I honestly believe we could be on the threshold of an exciting time in our history. I absolutely trust Walter Smith's ability to organise a side, make them hard to beat - that must go for everyone, I would think. But I also think he is proving to be a dab hand at blending younger players with this solid unit. His hands are tied, to an extent, far more than at other clubs because you and me are moany, greetin' faced bastards who'll girn and complain should we drop so much as a point. I'm as guilty as anyone of this, but it's not doing Walter or the players any favours! I still hope, though, that we'll see Wilson this year; most likely in the League Cup and I hope there's some sort of statement that although we want to win it, it wouldn't be the end of the world should an experimental side lose; Fleck is clearly being developed and I must say, I can see why people rate him - I couldn't last year, so he's coming on already in my eyes; and there's the two lads who play for Northern Ireland, who ought to get a chance at least to show what they can do. Fingers crossed for the future!