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Our Highland Marchers are preparing for their wee jaunt from Inverness to Mordor but it seems they've lost their maps and compass and are taking the (very) long route. Good luck to them all!

I didn't know that this was normal practice in terms of recommending being sharp with cards, almost card happy from the fans viewpoint. If it is TV that is behind this approach then that's the height of irony, as due to the massive TV coverage now, card decisions are endlessly debated and refs further slagged off - even when with reruns, no-one agrees (Man Utd in Champions league recently as a good example, when the guy got threats afterwards) Most TV reporters and pundits still give credit to those refs who take a wee bit time with big card decisions, check with the other officials etc rather than having games hugely affected by 'could have gone either way' calls. Maybe TV companies want more controversial refereeing though as good for ratings? It's ironic that right now in televised games, with instant reply available to thousands at home, in the pub, some in the crowd on mobiles and even for radio commentators in studios, the only person who can't have a quick second look is the referee.

A buddie friend who lived in Paisley at the time told me he was (allegedly) sacked for liaising with the then chairman's daughter! Either way no doubting his amazing achievements. I'll miss seeing him involved in the game. and yet other reports claim that he was (allegedly) sacked for 'improper payments' made to players ...... I guess only a few people know what the real truth is. Whatever the reason for his sacking at St Mirren, I think it was clear it had nothing to do with his coaching or managing of the team .... they were a team on the up under him and I read an interview this morning with Tony Fitzpatrick who described how Fergie made him captain of St Mirren at 17, how he put in place a young team and a structure during his 4 year tenure that saw St Mirren reap benefits for the next 10 years (including, in his opinion the Cup win) ...... there are loads of other articles out there too from the likes of Alex McLeish, Bryan Robson, David Beckham and even Cristiano Ronaldo who all hail Ferguson as having a huge impact on their lives and careers .....

I will point out that the Saints sacked SAF as they found out he had agreed (or was well on the way) to become manager of Aberdeen. I view Aberdeen as his greatest achievement. Hope Moyes gets it. Always like to see a Scot doing well - I guess that'll be unusual on this forum.

Basic rule for the referee is that he makes the decision and is guided by others (i.e. his assistants). In this occasion however he should have spoken with you to understand what you had seen and thereafter re-affirm his decision or otherwise. In addition to the common sense aspect of this it also helps diffuse the situation to have officials conferring. Higher level assistants are trained and should be briefed prior to the game that they should support the ref in the decision being made if they are overruled.

The Maude Flanders Memorial Stabd.

Given that we recently started a match with only one Scot on the pitch I don't think we should start throwing stones from that particular glass house. I see that Simon Ferry has been released by Swindon. A competent midfielder who might be a replacement for Andy Shinnie. Yes agreed but we havent been bragging about having different morals or local guys for a local team have we?

Given that we recently started a match with only one Scot on the pitch I don't think we should start throwing stones from that particular glass house. I see that Simon Ferry has been released by Swindon. A competent midfielder who might be a replacement for Andy Shinnie.

And remember the fuss when we let Munro and Tokely go, perhaps Butcher got that correct (I think he did) despite all the nonsense spouted on here by certain posters On the whole Tokely hasn't been missed. He might have got a game at right-back ahead of Raven (before he came good) at the start of the season, but'd be sat on the bench for a while by now. Munro has since been adequately replaced. Had he at the time been replaced by Warren (or someone of that ability) at the time, then I think the issue would have died a death fairly quickly. His replacement though Tom Aldred who wasn't as good and disappeared fairly quickly. For my money, Williams, Tokely and Proctor all weren't as good as him, while Golobart came good after a dodgy start. He would have made a difference to the defence last season, but would be a bench player for this one.

I have to say if Pawlett is found guilty, he should be banned and fined with the rules immediately changed in Scotland so that in future, cheating to secure a material change to a game, results in points being awarded to the aggrieved party. That is the basic damages principle surely in Scot's Law? I have real sympathy with referees. They do not have eyes in the backs of their heads so often miss ''off the ball'' incidents. Equally, being at the wrong angle, can create a wrong impression. I really hope Pawlett is found guilty and then ideally be required by his employers - Aberdeen FC - to justify in public why he did what he did. Brown at Dundee was fully justified in my opinion of his criticism of the decision. If the compliance officer agrees that the referee was cheated alongside Dundee, then Brown could apologise to the referee and vice versa.

What would be the need to change the attack that scored 4 past Motherwell

I noticed and what a difference it made, a keen competitive chase for Europe, more life in the teams, a real will to win most enjoyable and made even better by ICT achieving their aims of a best ever season and reaching the top six. Go now ICT we want you in European football ........................................................because you are worth it !

Pawlett could have owned up, but didn't because he's a cheat. I know it's simplistic but he may have cost someone a job, be it the canteen lady or John Brown. I feel for Dundee fans. I think the goal should be chalked off and the punishment given. If it was an illegible player this would have bigger repercussions win, lose or draw. Ok, this is not a bureaucratic matter, but it is still potentially as damaging/unfair. If you cheat in an exam, it's null and void, so why not in a game?

I see John Brown has been cited for his comments about the ref. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22458139 Seems to me like there should be no case to answer. As the SFA have also cited Pawlett, and he appears to have accepted this, then it is means the SFA agree that he ref got it wrong so they are agreeing with Bomber, but still taking him to task for saying it. The rule is written so that even if a manager is right (with SFA confirmation of the fact) about a ref, they are not allowed to say so.

why would you say something like that

SAF did pretty well at St Mirren, then of course Aberdeen. When he took over St Mirren they were languishing in the bottom half of the old 2nd division with crowds of about 1000 (and there were only 2 divisions in those days) ... in his first season, with the help of league reconstruction he took them up to the new D1, then finished in mid-table the next season before winning D1 the year after and steering the Buddies to the Premier .... managed to avoid relegation in his first season in the Premier but was sacked for breaking club rules (allegedly). that's a pretty good record at a club that is not exactly rolling in cash Moved to Aberdeen in 1978 and completed 8 full seasons with the Dons, winning trophies in 6 of them. He may have had more resources than some teams, but it should be noted that prior to Ferguson arriving, even with those extra resources, Aberdeen last won the league in 1955, the SFA Cup in 1970, and the League Cup in 1976 ST MIRREN 1974/75: Finishes 6th in D2. League rearrangement sees them up to new D1. SFA Cup Rd 2, League Cup - R1 group stage 1975/76: 6th in D1. SFA Cup Rd 3, League Cup - R1 group stage 1976/77: Wins First Division, SFA Cup 4th Rd, League Cup - R1 group stage 1977/78: Finished 8th in Premier Division, SFA Cup 3rd Rd, League Cup QF. Sacked ABERDEEN 1978/79: Finishes 4th in Premier Division, SFA Cup SF, League Cup runners-up 1979/80: Wins Premier Division (1pt ahead of Celtic), SFA Cup SF, League Cup runners-up 1980/81: 2nd in Premier Division (7pts behind Celtic), SFA Cup 4th Rd, League Cup QF 1981/82: 2nd in Premier Division (2pts behind Celtic), Wins SFA Cup, League Cup SF 1982/83: 3rd in Premier Division (1pt behind DUFC, level with Celtic), Wins SFA Cup, League Cup QF, Wins Cup Winners Cup, Wins UEFA Super Cup 1983:84: Wins Premier Division, (7pts ahead of Celtic), Wins SFA Cup, League Cup SF, Cup Winners Cup SF 1984/85: Wins Premier Division, (7pts ahead of Celtic), SFA Cup SF, League Cup Rd2 1985/86: 4th in Premier Division (6pts behind Celtic), Wins SFA Cup, Wins League Cup 1986/87: 4th in Premier division (11pts behind Rangers), SFA Cup 3rd Rd, League Cup QF. Leaves in Nov 1986 for Man Utd I have no feelings toward Aberdeen or Man Utd, and kinda dislike St Mirren but regardless of that, I dont think you can view Ferguson as anything other than a managerial legend .... whoever replaces him is on a hiding to nothing .... look at the managerial record after Matt Busby - the next few didnt last long, until Tommy Doc, then Sexton and Atkinson came along for about 5 years each but with Ferguson having done 27 years (3 more than Busby) .... how patient will they be with the new guy ?

bughtmaster, while you are correct in principle, I will tell you a story from my own refereeing experience. I was assistant in an Austrian 5th tier match when the away goalie tackled a forward inside the area about 15 yards away from me, clearly playing the ball for a throw-in which I signalled. To everybody's surprise the main ref who was running on the other side of the pitch and had about 10 players between him and the action gave a penalty. I tried everything to show him that he was wrong, stayed on the sideline instead of going to the place the assistant has to stand at a penalty, waved the signal for throw-in and even tried to call him over, but he didn't even look at me despite several away players asking him to talk to me. Assistants cannot leave the sideline to run over to the main referee to tell them what they have seen, the walking has to be done the other way round, and with a good reason. After the match, the supervisor came into our changing room and asked the ref what I had signalled in that penalty situtation. The answer was that he had been that sure of his decision that he hadn't been interested in my signalling.

I also heard they have Iron Man, The Hulk, Captain America and Thor on trial too....cacking my pants as i type

I agree, McCall got it right and enhanced his credibiity. McInnes got it wrong and damaged his.

There are times when players go down too easily but where there is clearly contact. In those cases it is genuinely difficult for referees to be sure whether it is a foul or not, far less whether it is simulation. Pawlett's dive was obvious and there can be no excuse for it. The chances are that Dundee were doomed in any case, but that is not the point. If we are to have games won on merit, then cheating in all its forms needs to be severely punished - not just in the game it occurs in but with a small points deduction on top. If that was to happen the clubs would soon make sure their players played by the rules and the game would be a lot better for it

3-3 at Dingwall in the cup and DA's wee fizzer at the end

when i was about 17, long long ago i wandered over one night to watch a welfare game at the bught. the ref had'nt turned up. i was asked if i would ref the game as each team would not let an official from the other team do it. no chance i said. come on mate we are ready to go, all you have to do is fouls, offside, we will supply a linesman each for throwins. ok i said but any nonsense and i am off. all went well for 20 mins or so and then a crunching tackle resulted in a punch up. everyone was so busy punching each other nobody noticed me legging it home. 10 years ago on holiday in ottawa i was watching my brother in law play in an over 40's league. i was asked to run a line, no offsides the ref would do that. it was the most difficult thing i did. hard enough to see if the ball was out nevermind who it hit last and which way the throw in was. and these guys were a bunch of duffers i give ref's pelters most saturdays when decisions dont go our way. but in the cool light of day it is a very difficult job and they have no way of getting all decisions right. dont know how many times i have watched footie on tv and pundit will say offside how did he get that wrong, on slow replay the linesman was proved to be correct my view ==== they do their best and all evens itself out over the year. no referee = no game = simples

The players/managers also have to take a bit of responsibility. Players diving for free kicks and penalties, shouting for every throw in and corner that they know they haven't won, getting in refs face for most decisions, or groups of players surround ref after he gives a free kick/penalty. Managers constant nit picking of every decision on TV/radio after the game. If these things were to stop, the ref's would be under less pressure and probably get most decisions correct. Having said that, I still reserve the right to call the ref a w****r from time to time.

Have you guys ever tried to referee a game of football? We need referees and should treat them with more respect. Just because Terry spends 90 minutes calling them muppets does not give us the right to boo them regularly.

Possibly the result of the season we really should have had it sewn up when 3-0 up but to get the winner all be it against ten men shows we have some bottle Wee bit disappointed that Utd couldn't have taken at least a point from St Johnstone but it's still very much in our hands Looks like the game in Dingwall will be judgement day it's going to be some end to the season Dougal

F*ck me. That was murder listening to that on the radio. Went proper mental when the 4th went in. Relieved!!