Scott7

I don’t think it’s corruption in the true sense of bought and sold. The refs are amateurs not in the true sense of love of the game but love of their team. Whether decisions generally favourable to one club and generally unfavourable to another are deliberate or sub-conscious I can’t say. Young Dallas was VAR Chief yesterday and he has no cause to love celtic. Did he get to see the bit of the footage that shows the defender cow-kick the ball out of the goal? It travels from the sole of his boot forward to the field of play and lands on the goal line thus the ball must have been over the line. Goal! Even Michael Stewart thinks it was a goal though he exculpates the ref and linesman by saying it’s not enough to think. The officials have to be sure. Fair enough for the referee but VAR conclusively shows otherwise. What was Dallas thinking?

What have you got against Raith? The jumped up chairman whose name I’ve forgotten and the weird book writer? The principle is ok. Have you a more suitable club in mind? It would have to be one with no immediate chance of promotion to the Premiership. Airdrie?

Toffeemen 2-0 up at halftime. From the Telegraph: So, after 133 years it’s finally time to say goodbye to Goodison Park. Farewell, then, to St Luke’s and Old Ma Bushell’s Toffee House, farewell to Johnny Todd, Bullens Road, Walton Lane, Goodison Road and Gwladys Street, farewell to the field where bullocking Dixie frolicked, Duncan McKenzie dazzled, the Golden Vision gilded, Brian Labone strained every sinew, Big Dunc battled, the Holy Trinity were worshipped, where Tommy Lawton scored 70 goals before his 20th birthday and Wayne Rooney shook up the world at 17. It’s a world of royal blue, the Mersey Millionaires, Bob Latchford and his five grand cheque, of eternal questions such as ‘what the hell is Hafnia?’, Le Coq Sportif and white bibs, Big Andy and Inchy, Sharpie and Sheeds, Reidy and Brace, Stevens and Steven, the Rat and Degsy, Bails and Psycho Pat, Rico, Harpo and the imperishable Nev. It’s the popping of corks in Howard’s office, stern Harry, Eusebio, the Black Pearl, going berserk at 3-0 down to North Korea and banging in four, Haller and Beckenbauer in a World Cup semi, where two teams in black and white stripes won FA Cup finals. Football clubs have moved stadiums without a backward look before and both Middlesbrough and Sunderland have had some glorious moments in their years away from Ayresome Park and Roker Park. Football clubs are more than lumps of ground, they are confederations of memory, tradition, of the hopes and emotions of millions of people over more than a century who have carried them in their hearts. That will not change away from Goodison but something will be lost because it has been, since the moment Archibald Leitch laid down his T-square, the perfect football stadium with a unique atmosphere. Those who mourn its passing are not Luddites or romantic simpletons out of tune with a hard-nosed corporate league rapidly colonised by plutocrats. They know its time has come but hope it can be given the send-off it deserves.

Barron it is, then.

It’s a terrible burden knowing you’re going to be right.

Disagree. It’s worse. He supports the celtic.

Not a bad outfit apart from the gold bits.

Hope you’re right about City winning. I have a feeling that Palace (spelled Eze) have their name on the cup.

‘Keepers like Ritchie, Cruickshank, Niven (at Partick) McCloy (at Motherwell) Sorenson (at Morton) ? OK, Niven was at the end of his career and Ritchie was nearing it and McCloy and Sorenson were at the beginning of theirs and the all the rest were average. Barging was nearing the end of its career too. Tommy White at the Hearts was the last of the bargers and he didn’t get away with it often. McBride was a Negri style finisher with added endurance. A real injury curtailed his career.

75,000 record attendance at the old Valley. Games against Millwall could be interesting.

Thinking back to serial missers like Maxie Murray and McCoist you always felt it was ok because they would get the next one. I don’t have that confidence with CD. His stats suggest I should have. It’s a perception thing.

Villa 2-0 ‘Spurs Chelsea 2-2 United Everton 2-1 Southampton Hammers 2-0 Forest Brentford 3-1 Fulham Leicester 2-1 Ipswich Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle Brighton 1-3 Liverpool Effy Cup Last Gasp: Palace 2-1 City unfortunately and in 90 minutes.

Written off early on by some hasty critics but Cerny’s been a valuable maker and scorer of goals which probably means he is unaffordable by Rangers.

I would keep Kelly as backup and Hagi because he knows how to play football though he probably doesn’t want to stay to be messed around any longer. Jefte might make it on the left wing. Nsiala and Kasanwirjo are worth another go. Good money for Dessers would not be refused and Sterling keeps breaking down so he can go too.

Fails the Tiger test as they all do but I’ve seen very much worse. The over fussy collar arrangement reminds me a bit of Hearts 1972-ish.

This topic becomes more frightening by the minute. What’s Bert Konterman doing these days? Assistant Dutch National youths or something?

On bbc results Women’s football takes precedence before the Championship. I can’t imagine that more viewers are anxiously waiting for news of the ladies’ games than Leeds United or Sunderland or even Preston North End. To be fair Chsmpionship should also take precedence over Scottish Premiership except the Rangers game which always feature at the beginning before anything else.

Ha’way the Lads. Sunderland pretty much trounced by Coventry but contrive not to lose with a last gasp equaliser.

They’re going to do that? Sale for development is better.

What’s the point of a thread with nobody else on it?

I remember seasons when for about a week Carlisle United and Northampton Town were in first place in the old League Division 1 as the EPL used to be called. They and the clubs mentioned by @Gribz except maybe Bolton Wanderers are never going to make it but the likes of Sunderland and a Sheffield club should. If Sunderland win or draw tonight I will be pleased and even more if they go up but if ever a team is going to bottle, it’s Sunderland and if ever a team is going to knock the bottle off the wall it’s Coventry.

Yes. He eventually won the league, bless him, in propitious circumstances, failed to take advantage of that in the following season, left suddenly and failed in Brum and Saudi. Rangers need somebody who has been round the track, can command the players, get the team to a league championship and consolidate on success. When that’s been done, bring in a maestro. Who that manager is I do not have a clue.

ABSTENTION.

Young Ancelotti is high level Pedro. High level, yes but still Pedro. Ibrox is no place to learn the trade.

His managerial CV is beyond redemption.