Uilleam

I'll be glad when the break is over. Maybe it is, now, after last night. Still, on the plus side, we had the chance to watch the All Blacks destroy South Africa, in Durban, yesterday afternoon. Nine tries to none.

I think that he would have been sacked (he should have been) after his last flawed, failed campaign, if there was not malign influence at court. It is useful to certain power brokers to keep him in place, it seems. The argument that there is no alternative holds no water, as it rarely does. If Red Dwarf walked under the Cathcart bus tomorrow, would the National XI continue without a Manager/Coach? The argument that there is no one better is flawed, too, if only because he has failed, and shows every sign of failing again. Last night was, for the greater part, a bloody shambles, after all. There must be a reason that the SFA is hell bent on rewarding serial failure.

Not cheap; and nowhere near value. Personally, I would not give the SFA couterfeit coin, but the support, whose most prominent trait, admittedly, seems to be masochism, are being milked. And The Bauchle is on what, c 400K GBP? To preside over a shambles ?

Old School: any goal against the fhilth is a great goal; some goals are greater than others. Jock Wallace was asked, after a Rangers' victory over them, can't remember which "What was your best goal?" He replied, succinctly "The winner."

I watched, for my transgressions, the entire game, courtesy of Messrs Sky Sports. How much were the SFA charging those poor saps who actually attended? Frankly, for a must win game, it was piss poor. In fact it was not merely piss poor, it was Marks' and Spencer's piss poor. In fact, it was not merely Marks' and Spencer's piss poor, it was Nurse Cafferkey's Ebola infected piss poor. On almost immediate reflection, last night, I suggested that it may have been better to lose the match, and, as a consequence, to suffer a quick clean demise, rather than to endure what, ineluctably, seems will be a longer, slower, death of 1000 cuts, or of half a dozen draws (no matter how "brave"). I see, in the bright light of morning, no reason to change my mind. The National Manager, or Coach, or however he is styled, is clearly struggling. I think he should be retained until failure is unavoidable. During this period of -what?- a year, the SFA should identify a leet of potential candidates, and on The Bauchle's departure, appoint the preferred candidate, giving him (her?) a few dead rubbers to bed in, prior to the next campaign. Of course, a major difficulty is that Red Dwarf, and his partner in crime, represent pieces in rasellikfc jigsaw of influence and control, and any changes in their status will be dependent upon their usefulness, or otherwise, to that particular rat's nest. To expect an appointment without the imprimatur of the King Across the Water, or His Regent at the piggery, may be startlingly naive. All of this presupposes that I give a damn. Maybe the fact that I have written it means I do.

The media used to tout him as "one of the top young managers in Europe", regularly Don't tell me that they called that wrongly. They used to assure (actually reassure given his behaviour and general demeanour) their readers/listeners/viewers of his sophisticated intellect and his erudition, frequently. Don't tell me that they called this wrongly. I used to think such fulsome eulogies, often repeated, as they were, exaggerated his qualities, such as they were, greatly; I considered them naught but propaganda, if you like. Don't tell me that I called this wrongly.

Well, there are not many teeth to count in rahoops support, as a rule, and damned few would risk flashing gold in that company.

Looks like he will have some time on his hands, and will be able to read Plato, Aristotle, Homer, and all the Ancient Greats. He might even be able to discuss them with Joey B!!

I always had time for Willie Ormond. Ally McLeod really ballsed it up in 1978. After that fiasco, which scarred the best minds of several generations, supporting the Scotland XI was never the same: the fun and fantasy was gone, and, thereafter, well, we just knew.......

Senderos may be the 1st player to be retrospectively tried and punished on non existent evidence. It has got to happen to a Rangers' man sometime!!!

Indeed, sir, indeed. I forecast that he will receive 28 hours Community Service, which he may spend receiving Instruction in the Catholic faith, and, thereafter, a season ticket for sellikPark.

I have long feared that the PF/Lord Advocate's Office lacks the wisdom, the wit, or, critically, the will, to push this matter to a proper conclusion. Prentice, QC, may, as you say, bring a degree of professional competence to the party, but, sadly, he is not in charge, but under Instruction. Let us hope that he is given leeway to prosecute properly, is afforded all cooperation by the Crown, and secures a conviction. What is the likely sentence to follow these charges, presupposing that the sleazebag is found Guilty?

I heard, via parents of a lad currently on the books, that a youth player, training with the 1st team, nutmegged Joey B; twice; shouting " 'megs ". As we know, a young guy , if he has the talent, and the attitude, is going to do stuff like that. JB took significant exception, however, and, as they say, halved him with a tackle. Andy Halliday, at that point, got involved, and had a severe difference of opinion with Barton. Coaching staff intervened. Barton was sent to the dressing room. Next day, Warburton saw JB in his office. Words were exchanged. Strong words. Very strong words. Opinions were offered. Strong opinions. Very strong opinions. MW took exception, and suspended him. If this is accurate, then it seems clear that matters got significantly out of hand; 3 weeks is a long period of suspension, and a long cooling off period. I do not know if time will heal, or merely entrench differences. Barton it seems to me has always been a rancorous bastard, so I am not optimistic that he will reappear in the team, suitably chastened, even if Management is prepared to countenance this. On the other hand, maybe the blow up has cleared the air, and the frustrations. In any event he will be unfit, and will need weeks to get up to speed. But really, can he screw the nut?

Maybe the dog ate it.

We will be denied justice for the offensive and inflammatory behaviour of Guttersnipe FC: - for the provocative and demeaning banner: Know Your Place, Hun Scum; -for the provocative and inflammatory banner: This Is War.... -for the provocative and inflammatory banner: Kill All Huns -for the execution posed mannequins -for the tacit connivance of the board and management of Guttersnipe FC in all of the above.

In Australia, I believe, a Joey is a young kangaroo. Barton to bounce back, then......

I wonder if any sheriff(s) hearing the case will follow the sage guidance of the Lords of Session, in the 'Big Tax Case' appeal, and take a "common sense" view? In such an event, the crime, such as it is, clearly would be identified as one aggravated by religious bigotry. Of course, if memory serves, the fellow at Tynecastle who had a strong difference of opinion with the Lurgan bigot, was charged with an offence aggravated by religious hatred, and a jury, in this instance, returned a Not Guilty verdict. As far as I know, the "religious rider" on the charge was the reason that such verdict was returned.

Too long ago for a 'selfie', your posterior caught for posterity; such a shame.

3 - 1 to Rangers. 1st goal by Jason Holt

Score early, score often; you know it makes sense.

What are the implications for player insurance of this SFA nonsense?

Frankly, if the English FA wishes a manager for its National XI, it should hire, irrespective of the cost, Carlo Ancelotti.

He has consistently got one thing right: the credulity of his readership.

Disappointing. One of the few pleasures a gentleman has left is watching the fhilth being horsed in Europe.

The spin is in: The Judicial Panel found that Hibs had no case to answer. As a result of that -and by implication, only as a result of that- charges had to be withdrawn from Rangers, the perennially guilty party. I am grateful to BBC Scotland for this.