Uilleam

I think you are right. No way was Mcinnes @The Gas Heads.

Those finishing in the top 4 for 2 yrs in a row are clearly football hipsters, and should be banned; failing that they should be relegated to a sellik prediction league. If they win that, they should be made to stay there.

A handicap system should be implemented, with those finishing last in Year 1 being awarded bonus points for Year 2. Seems fair to me.

But not as relieved as Mourinho was last night.....

I rather think that I would rather watch Spurs......

Ban hipsters from the tournament.

Our friends in the press will be camped outside his digs 24/7, and will have a bigger entourage than Trump following his every move.

At worst, it would seem that PC is signing a tactically disciplined player for a specific role, positionally and tactically. That would make a change from a key defender wandering lonely as a cloud....

This Mexican lad (27 yo, central mf), is called Carlos Alberto and nicknamed 'Gullit' - that's a lot to live up to..... (Oh, and "bombazo" means bombshell.)

It goes without saying that Monday's atrocity will lie heavily across the whole event.

BT, out of the goodness of its corporate heart is putting this out for free, as follows, as far as I can establish: Freeview on BT Sport Showcase HD, BT TV, Virgin Media, Sky, live on BT Sport’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/btsport; http://www.bt.com and the BT Sport App, which provides extra statistics, angles and exclusive content. (E & OE so don't shoot the messenger!!)

CRINGEWORTHY! Colin Duncan's attack on high spirited supporters, and a bit of harmless fun. I would suggest that he gets out more, but, frankly, would you -would anyone- want to meet this miserablist down the pub, the club, the park, on a boat or a plane, or on even on top of a Munro? File this embarrassing oxterguff under "Girning, gratuitous". They should never have initiated compulsory drug testing at the super soaraway's offices, in my opinion.

Tavernier's principal problem is concentration, attention span if you like. I don't know how/if you can coach improvement in that facet of his game.

They, and their editors, will be braying: "Hit the mark, there. Excellent." Positive PR is needed across the board, not reactive feeding of grist to the anti-Gers mill.

If he comes, he comes on a Bosman, so no transfer fee will go to our Doric friends. Plus. He will command a reasonable wedge for signing on, nothing outrageous, I assume, and a salary less than bank breakingly astronomic. Plus. He will fit into a position where the team is noticeably weak, ie defensive midfield, and, if pushed, can play full back, or even centre back. Plus. He is, according to Mr Forlanssister, our expert on all matters north of bridie country, a 'Rangers' Man', which I have to say is a bonus , as I like to see players whose parents have raised them properly, and who, in consequence, know both the weight and the worth of the jersey. Double Plus. He is, or was, until this week, their Captain, which indicates something about his personality, and authority, in the dressing room, and on the pitch. Plus. He is, or was, their Captain, so, for the coarser minded among us, signing him represents shoving a jaggy stick up their collective fundament. Hardly a minus. (Fundament? Furry boots is tha'? Jist bend ower the noo, loon......)

Rangers' Knee should be added to the Lexicon of Sporting Injuries and Disorders.

All joking aside, who would do business with that baldy lecherous bastard?

From today's Guardian. Michael Cox on tactical lessons from the season just finished..... Premier League 2016-17 review: what we learned tactically from the season Michael Cox Chelsea’s switch to three at the back changed thinking in top flight while regaining the ball via pressing, rather than retaining it, is now regarded as fundamental Chelsea’s defensive system was flexible but it was most effective when Victor Moses,and Marcos Alonso pushed forward aggressively and effectively formed a front five. Tuesday 23 May 2017 11.00 BST Last modified on Tuesday 23 May 2017 11.25 BST Three-man defences Unquestionably the Premier League’s dominant tactical trend was the three-man defence. A remarkable 17 of the 20 sides started with a back three at some point in the season, with only Southampton, West Bromwich and Burnley doggedly sticking to a back four. Its overwhelming popularity was largely down to the influence of Antonio Conte at Chelsea. His decision to switch to a three-man defence in the second half of the 3-0 defeat by Arsenal in September proved a turning point and is arguably the most significant tactical decision in the Premier League’s history. Chelsea’s subsequent run of 13 successive victories, the first six without conceding a single goal, was the main reason for their title success. Chelsea’s system was flexible – at times it looked as if the wing-backs were part of the defence, at other points in the midfield line, but it was most effective when Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso pushed forward aggressively and effectively formed a front five with Pedro Rodríguez, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard. Teams found it impossible to cope with their back four being overloaded, with Chelsea’s wing-backs regularly popping up unmarked at the far post to convert when the opposition had been dragged to the opposite flank. Ronald Koeman’s Everton were thrashed 5-0 at Stamford Bridge when attempting to match Chelsea’s shape but opponents often found themselves faring better when deploying wing-backs. Pep Guardiola’s unusual 3-2-4-1 system should have beaten Chelsea at the Etihad but Chelsea fought back and recorded a 3-1 victory, their most important win of the campaign. Chelsea’s winning run was ended in January by Spurs, who also played 3-4-3. By spring even Arsène Wenger was playing a three-man defence for the first time in 20 years. Arsenal took inspiration from Chelsea, who had changed system in the first place because of a defeat to Arsenal. Saturday’s FA Cup final will be 3-4-3 against 3-4-3, a fitting summary of this domestic campaign. Pressing While many of the bottom-half clubs remained focused on dropping deep and staying solid in two banks of four, the general trend for the bigger sides was to press aggressively in more advanced positions. Although it was relatively rare to see a full-pitch press in the Premier League, midfield zones have become based around regaining the ball as much as retaining it. Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham remained the Premier League’s most cohesive, efficient pressing side. With Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld happy playing in an advanced defensive line, and Victor Wanyama recruited for his ball-winning ability in front of the back four, Tottenham were even more defensively solid than last season, conceding only 26 goals. Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool press in a different manner, counter-pressing to regain possession immediately after the ball is lost. They are also excellent at boxing teams in towards the flanks, shifting almost their entire side over to one touchline. On regaining possession they look to spread play and knock quick-passing combinations into attack, which occasionally worked excellently. A few years ago, when Barcelona and Spain’s possession football was at its most revered, Premier League midfielders played calm roles, keeping their shape and using possession with care. Now everything has become considerably more frantic, based around constant sprinting, closing down and blocking off passing angles. The physical demands are extraordinary and it is notable Chelsea – like Leicester the previous season – had the benefit of no European football. Quality in possession has taken something of a backseat and it is significant N’Golo Kante was voted the PFA player of the year. Ball-winning has rarely been so vaunted. High goals-per-game rate At one stage it seemed the Premier League was on course to beat the division’s record for the highest number of goals per game. In the end it fell narrowly short, finishing on 2.80 goals per game, 0.01 short of the record set in 2011-12. But whether or not the record was broken is largely irrelevant – the main story is the average has returned to its level of a few years ago. Between 2009-10 and 2013-14 the goals-per-game average was at its highest rate, a steady spell of 2.77, 2.80, 2.81, 2.80 and 2.77. It then dropped to 2.57 and 2.70 for the last two seasons. This season’s rise underlines that the majority of Premier League teams have generally played positive football. Perhaps only Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Watford were unduly negative – others may have defended deep but usually offered a sufficient counterattacking threat too. The high goals-per-game ratio was also a reflection of the inequality in the division. The 15-point gap between seventh-placed Everton and eighth-placed Southampton was notable but more significant is the fact the top seven recorded goal-difference figures of +18 or more, and everyone else managed -7 or less. The final day of the season, when the top four sides defeated the bottom four sides by an aggregate scoreline of 20-2, rather underlined the disparity and, while a high goals-per-game rate is usually celebrated as a good thing, it is worth considering the numbers in more detail. Often it is simply a sign of inequality, whereas the Premier League has marketed itself as a league where anyone can beat anyone.

Thanks for that.

Was he the boardroom mouth to media outlets, various?

Armstrong, and, maybe, at a push, Kenny McLean.

i'm sorry, but Niko Krancjar is a "Match of the Day"/ "Goals on Sunday" player: a highlights' editor's dream. When he is good, which is in spurts, he is very, very good, but a lot of the time he is horrid, or, more properly, missing in action. When you factor in the propensity to suffer injury, he does not look like the man to build a midfield, far less a team, around. If the team can "play to his strengths", ie carry him, then his quality could be telling, but it is clear that we will not get a full season of full match performances.

Well, it took about 25 mins for our lads to warm up and come to terms with the opposition. After that we were the better side, and deserved the win. Of course, it was only an end of term game against St Johnstone. Barjonas impressed, the departing Toral looked something like a player, and Windass has something about him. The defence needs a bit of work, but the young guys stuck to their tasks manfully. The midfield lacks snap and crackle, while up front there is a deficit of pop. It remains clear where the team is short, so, although there are reasons to be -modestly- cheerful, we surely know not to get carried away,

Think his mind is on the beaches of Spain.

Masquerading as a midfielder.