Laurence

What I was trying to say, is all computers in many business' will have to be reset to accommodate the new tax regime. If you are a company like Scot Rail for instance , with employees domiciled in both England and Scotland, someone will have to work out PAYE for that company, with different rates. That multiplied throughout the land both in England and Scotland, will just feather the nest of computer programmers. It's as simple as that. This will be a burden put on English based companies by a Scottish government . I leave the argument on the political side to others. I just see it myself as a waste of money. I well realise that the party I support would mess even more with the rates. I do not agree with different rates within the Union.

I an only emphasise with the families and friends of these teenagers killed on their way to play in an ice hockey play off. It makes you put all the ins and outs of our own problems on this forum in perspective Our Canadian contributors on this forum must be feeling the devastation , more than I can imagine. I note the Prime minister of Canada has made his thoughts very clear on the event , 14 killed and 3 more in a very critical condition http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43679808?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_breaking&ns_source=twitter&ns_linkname=news_central

Dickens

I think Association Football to give it its proper name, is about the only major sport, at a professional level , I know that is officiated the same as in the 19th century. I know that we have the guy behind the goal in champions league matches, and some form of goal -line technology is in the English game, but basically at our level not much as changed I would like to see a rule where referees have to consult the Assistant and the fourth official; and the penalties are not given unless the majority agree. The linesman should have guts to say " ref now was no way penalty ", there seems to be some sort of code that Assistants have to follow, where they won't disagree with refs. With regard to diving the same procedure should follow. Where cameras are available they too should be consulted. I know you can't have a watertight system, but referees should remember it is not about them. I am told the good referees are not noticed. Cheating is ruining the game, but so too is bad refereeing. By the way should this not be removed from above BridgeAndCastle said: Go home Butcher, you doddery, bumbling, inept old English Hun tw%t. It is disrespectful to arguably the best manager this club every had , and has an English man I take it personally too.

I came away not sure of anything except my perceptions of the penalties given was right. Before the 2nd penalty I said to the guy sitting behind me if he puts it in a similar place the goalkeeper will save it. I thought the first half was a mess for us, We were definitely second best and St Mirren seemed to be in control , our passing was hurried and long and usually finding an opposition player. The goalkeepers ( ours ) kicking was Pat Jennings like virtually the full length of the pitch and caused the Saints defence to back peddle. St Mirren top of the league with twice as many points as us, and it showed. Together with a singing crowd support they could have gone into a bigger first half lead. The second half we pulled our socks up, St Mirren scored from a free kick just outside the box, I am sure the St. Mirren supports would argue it was just inside, I thought at the time we were lucky it as outside. A man on the far post would have been a good idea I thought. Nobody expected the comeback, A Warren header from a corner made it 2 .I and our own free kick, similar to theirs made it 2 apiece. St Mirren who had been coasting and had gone into hibernation, suddenly woke up . There followed some terrific end to end play, the St Mirren fans true to the old concept " You only sin well you winning ", fell into silence and shock I feel. Towards the end one of our players ( I didn't notice who) , headed the ball over the Saints goalkeeper and for a split second I was sure we had scored , but the custodian reached high above his head and saved. It is always easy to criticise the ref , but the ref didn't inspire any sort of confidence. Irrespective of the decisions he just did not look the part, He seemed very unsure of himself, Having said that we couldn't have a game without them.

blues

Relegation

I think being whacked for six would knock off the most fierce coating - The white ball not used in test match has a coating which does not shine up so easily , hence it doesn't swing at high speed You also have to accommodate the spinner who needs to grip the ball . The structure of the red ball has been the same for decades, I can't see it being altered. Tony locke a fantastic English spinner of years gone by used to rub the ball in the sawdust provided for filling the bowlers foot holes , until he was stopped . by a combination of aggrieved fast bowlers and the authorities. The ball has an active life being slammed into the stands over and over , hitting boundary boards , being soaked in rain water . Down under they use a different ball to the British one, which I am told behaves less likely to swing. It is the battle between bat and ball which makes cricket the most difficult of sports to play and to master.

I think we have not heard the last of the fines or the bans. The Prime Minister of Australia is on the case and he is furious. Australia is a country I feel will not tolerate this kind of publicity Michael Clarke the former captain said, "" It is a nightmare, I can't wake up from "" Australia will be merciless on these guys Scotland did well , but what has happened to the West Indies, once the mighty power , that used to blast all before it , ??????

I get your point John, I was just thinking we have a job to do, and not to get carried away with celebrating. A job to do that must be done.

Lets not get carried away. A good day yesterday, but the team still has a job to do in the league, Far more important job to do. They have to make sure they don't finish second bottom. I for one don't want to play a team like Raith Rovers in a two match play off . Lets concentrate on doing a job for the rest of the season. Matches left Away games They look difficult. If Dumbarton park the bus not even a certain 3 points there Home games , Brechin is a certain 3 points , Dumbarton is the critical one , but again the dreaded bus may be parked, as they will also be fighting for survival The other games anything can happen , As I said we have a job to do. Somebody I once knew did a survey of midweek floodlit games and he told me a team was far more likely to drop points at home than on a Saturday fixture. Tue 27 19:45 H Dundee Utd League Sat 31 15:00 H St. Mirren League April 2018 Tue 3 19:45 H Brechin City League Sat 7 15:00 A Queen of the South League Tue 10 19:45 H Falkirk League Sat 14 15:00 H Dumbarton League Tue 17 19:45 A Dumbarton League Sat 21 15:00 H Dunfermline League Tue 24 19:45 A Livingston League Sat 28 15:00 A Morton League

Would you ( anybody on here ) take a cup final defeat in exchange for a league win against Dumbarton ?

Dixie Dean played for Tranmere Rovers , 60 goals in a season on his move to Everton. Arguably the best centre forward ever https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Dean

I don't think they need grannies I think the only proviso is that if a player plays for England he must wait 5 years before returning to his home country

Brexit

As John Mackenzie ( the founder of this topic ) has not been well lately I would like to take the opportunity to wish him a very speedy recovery. I hope we win the cup to cheer the guy up a wee bit,

As a Qualified umpire I can only say that LBW decision was a total disgrace. If Iwould have given that in the Lancashire League I would have been sacked from umpiring any more. Also I am quite surprised that a very good Irish team is not in the mix. Having said all that I feel that football has gone too far in widening the finals . I got shot down in flames on another forum for suggesting the same. Scottish cricketers and Irish cricketers can qualify to play for England as Owen Morgan and others have proved. Arguably although born in India Douglas Jardine ( a Scot ) ranks amongst the best captain ever to lead England . I would be happy to see Dorrington and possibly Sharif qualify for England.

To be quite honest I have no love for Rugby Union. I am not too bothered about a sport that needs 30 players on the field at any one time. I see it as a sport for upper class public school boys, or was once. My view is that as a professional sport they should look to reduces the wage bill, by following the format used by Rugby league and having no more than 13 players on both sides. When rugby is at its best , the teams have room to pass, and the game is not controlled by grunt and bang forwards. The ruby sevens show this. Regarding the hype I suppose living in Scotland I respond to the frenzy generated by the media, for anything that is a challenge for Scotland. : when I lived in England there was far less media interest in the matches between the two nations, if there was I never noticed it. As far as I am concerned they can chop up the sweet chariot for firewood. Nice to see the Emerald Isle on top.

Reel

thanks Charles

The old Vale of Leven too

When I have longer than 5 seconds , (incidentally it took George Jones of Bury less than 5 seconds to score against Notts County in the F A cup ) . I digress I will delve further into my complete history of British football to see when next a local team appeared in the Scottish cup rounds proper Was the Bon Accord club ( defeated 35.0 by Arbroath ) An Highland league club or was it the forerunner of Aberdeen ? Thanks to Charles for his input most appreciated

I noticed in my record book the following which was news to me Not Caley Thistle, but certainly Inverness and certainly Thistle Scottish Fa Cup Third Lanark 9 Inverness Thiele 3 1893 - 94 Third Lanark were a 1st Division team Sottish FA cup 1896 -97 Dundee v Inverness Thistle 7 - 1 Probably the first time an Inverness team played a team still playing

The commentators at the Rangers Celtic match claimed the fixture was the oldest in football. I was very dubious because I though Celtic were not in competitive football in the early days. I got out my history books and noticed that in a competitive match - The first derby with teams still playing today ( In either England or Scotland ) was a third round Scottish FA cup fixture , between Rangers and Partick Thistle Date 1878 -79 Rangers went on to get to the final at Hampden, drew 1. 1 with Vale of Leven. Rangers failed to turn up for the replay claiming they scored the winning goal in the first match which was disallowed. The SFA awarded the cup to Vale.

Derby games are surely a good thing. The Interest they generate in the locality makes the season. better.