Scott7

He didn’t need specialist Yank trainers. His wife had him under the cosh.

The Everton-Scottish: Tommy Ring, Clyde, Alex Parker, Falkirk, George Thomson, Hearts, Alec Young, Hearts, Alex Scott, Rangers, Ian Durrant, Rangers, Stephen Naismith, Rangers and from older times Jimmy Caskie and Torry Gillick plus Walter and Archie. Any others? Coming the other way, Stuart McCall, Trevor Steven and Gary Stevens. What a trio. We won’t see their likes again. Nikica Jelavic wasn’t really Scottish, only a bit.

I see he kept his Blackpool socks.

Faute de mieux, but yes, the ‘keeper should do more, much more. Anticipate, intercept, manage the penalty area and above all, get the angles right. Comes to naught, though, if he lets a trundler through his legs.

Not a penalty under the old laws. Disregarding the letter of the law, ancient or modern, it just wasn’t a handball.

And for football in general.

Do I detect a note of irony? Why select defensive players at all? Why not ten Cruyffs and a ‘keeper?

Hope so. 2-0 to the Toffeemen.

Sorry. Wrong one. Here’s the correction.

The great Garfield

Five-nil to the Arsenal. I favour the Gunners in this title race but @ChelseaBoy is a decent cove so I’ll restrain my exuberance..

An upsurge in support for Partick Thistle, Falkirk, Third Lanark.

The paean for Willie Woodburn contains the lines: We know your heart’s at Ibrox Park With the boys in Royal Blue Royal Blue features in the anthem Who’s That Team. I always thought “light” was to distinguish Rangers from the dark blue of Scotland but more knowledgeable folk say it’s derived from an early newspaper report describing Rangers as “the light and speedy blues” presumably because they ran rings round a team of cumbersome heavy-footed opponents.

We don’t rate the opposition.

Bit harsh. Maybe.

Did you not mention him a while back?

Great game today, yesterday not quite so much but you’re absolutely right, the FA Cup is a tremendous competition especially the earlier rounds before it gets too tense.

Jings. Coventry from 0-3 down equalise with a penalty in the fourth minute of added time. Simms played no part in the lead-up play bit he appealed very well. Extra time. United should do it now. Coventry’s adrenaline rush will be exhausted and their legs as well.

That chap used to play for the Hearts - what was his name, Knott-Goodenough Simms? - has scored for Coventry. Coventry let United get three first, unfortunately.

Richards at three was no incentive towards bowling out Haynes or Greenidge.

On standby for five minutes on the job roster I switch on the telly to see the score in the semi-final. It’s in added time in the first half, celtic on the attack. “Just like them to score now” thrills Squeallum McLeod. They don’t. Aberdeen clear the ball up the park, a forward latches on to it and heads for the spalpeens’ goal. “Offside!” shrieks the little lad. The replay shows otherwise. The co-commentator, identity unknown, shrewdly observes: “that's why ye’re no runnin’ the line, Liam.” I switch off. Not a waste of time because I’m now clear that though McLeod is genuinely fond of the Dons, his greater love is for their opponents today.

He is one of our best players despite his defensive weaknesses. What does that say about the others? Defensive weaknesses are fatal for a defender.

Approaching prime for a ‘keeper, surely.

Again.

Nope. I gave up feasting during Lent.