stewarty

I'll take the Motherwell game.

Undoubtedly O'Brien is one of Motherwell's better players who has the ability to turn an SPL game from time to time. The trouble is, he will be as infuriatingly inconsistent as any other winger. No doubt he will have moments of quality, but he will have plenty of other moments where he poor or just ordinary. The question I guess is one of finance. Methinks he will command a salary which is considerably less than Beasley so you can begin to see why it might make sense. Then, if you factor in that he seems to be turning his back on Ireland and cross the Old Firm divide, he may become a very interesting signing. Of course, it could all be p**h though

His messages were confusing and often contradictory. Taking a recent example of the outcry over the appeals process - Smith was on Radio Scotland (and probably quite a few other media outlets) defending the SFA's stance and somehow suggesting that having an independent review panel was a contravention of FIFA rules - even though it is a common practice in other countries, including England. He also spelled out that the current process was drawn up and agreed in consultation with wider football community in Scotland whilst also hinting that it was dreamt up on the suggestion of the refereeing fraternity. Then, lo-and-behold, within a week or so, the SFA agree to review the process and are likely to borrow the model used in England. I sympathise with him to a degree in that he clearly was working with one hand behind his back. But in hindsight he wasn't the right man for the job and there are big questions over his management and public speaking abilities.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha On a serious note, given the number of minors present and the violent and aggressive manner adopted by several yahoo's... Surely Plod should have been making some arrests, no?

I too thought Smith's appointment was a progressive step and I held out a glimmer of hope that some positive changes were afoot. However, Smith may be an accomplished pundit, but an accomplished Chief Exec, he was not. There have been far too many blunders that have happened on his watch and the Robbie Winters incident may have been the straw that broke the camel's back. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/sfl/2010/04/16/livi-demand-probe-into-sfa-chief-gordon-smith-over-robbie-winters-dive-saga-86908-22189983/

I'm on it!!!

True although I think Little's appearance there was done to Smith changing up and doing something unexpected in a big game.

I hope you are right. He would certainly appear to be the next in line.

I don't particularly get it either. It's just bizarre. I can't work out if it's a pisstake or not.

Not read it. Judging by the headline he's just laying the foundations for some big excuses. Hahaha

From a bheasts message board... WTF??

One word..... Bitter

Don't think that's within the rules but I would piss maself if that happened.. :devil: Thought County were excellent. Thoroughly deserved the win. Played some nice football and took their goals well. Its a pity the chat about the game will be dominated by how poor C**** were, rather than how well County played.

There were a few culprits. Can we put it down to the players needing a rest? You can only ask players to play 2 games per week for so long before performance levels, sharpness and concentration start to dip.

Anyone else suspect his performance level may have picked up now that another team are showing an interest? Think its called the Lovenkrands Effect...

We can only speculate on that point until such time as we hear something official

It was his work-rate that impressed me most. He defends from the front and his a team player. Truly phenomenal

Its all fuel for Walter's team talk tonight.... Look at how they twist our words...Its us v them.... Get stuck intae they sheep c***s!

I'm not sure it is such a change as suggested. Sure we are working to a business plan imposed by the bank, but we knew that already. Sure we are able to manage our debt levels as we are only repaying �£1m per year for the forseeable future (but hopefully this year's profits might take a chunk out of it). Its not pretty and its having a detrimental effect on the size and quality of the playing staff, but we knew that already. Sure we know Walter doesn't like the bank's business plan, but we knew that already. Sure he is working without a contract, and that may well continue, but we knew that already. Seems to me that we are reading too much into this.

Kinda agree that clearly a twist or spin has been put to Edu's words. Interestingly, although it was widely reported about the player going for a trial at Wigan, Hamilton's chairman was in the radio on Sunday saying there was no way it was going to happen. Strange things going on there and Willie Mckay is the boy's agent... I think we can draw our own conclusions about this story I.e it's designed to flush out rangers interest in the player come the transfer window.

Players would only sign short term deals if clubs insisted on such clauses.

he's certainly got something about him so for me it would depend on the price.

Dammit. I knew I should have used a more ironic smiley.

Always like hansen. Insightful analysis, witty banter and all round good egg.

Yet more garbled logic from Gordon Smith and the SFA. He is quoted as saying the current system isn't perfect but a change would contravene FIFA rules. Also, he says the current system "... was implemented after discussions with the wider Scottish football constituency through the Disciplinary Committee's Working Party, which consists of representatives of the Scottish Premier League, Scottish Football League, Managers' and Coaches' Association, PFA Scotland and the Referees' Union. So the current system was not dictated by FIFA, but rather the interpretation of those with a vested interest. He just said on Radio Scotland that it was more or less the opinion of the refereeing community, including their union, that was the key driver. He is then quoted in the article as saying "We are mindful of the growing public debate to streamline and harmonise the current procedures and I can confirm that discussions have already taken place to expedite certain aspects of the process." But if it is FIFA rules, surely there is nothing to expedite? And what exactly does that mean anyway (in this instance)?