Tichy_Blacks_Back

Photos from the Austrian League I remember seeing SV Salzburg a few years ago and couldn't believe the amount of sponsorship they had on their strip. Top - Front, Back (Shoulders), Back (Tail), Sleeves Shorts - Front Leg, Back Strip across butt Socks - Back Strip down each leg It was pretty awful but I assume the reduction in revenue from shirt sales is well made up from the money the sponsor's provide. I agree the clubs need to get as much money in as posible to survive in today's environment but it just doesn't look right. Salzburg have got over it though - they are now called Red Bull Salzburg - one of a number of team's around the globe who are now called RED BULL. Now there's an idea RED BULL THISTLE :015:

Why not :003:

The Team from Denmark was due to play the winners of Match 13 (Round 1): DENMARK TEAM v (Lithuiania TEAM v Republic of Ireland TEAM) I am not sure if there would be a direct swop with ICT but then you would have in the final Round - Round 3: WINNER v (Hibs v Latvia TEAM or Faroes Island TEAM) Now that would be interesting.... All IFs at the moment though.... Would keep the costs down - travel to RoI and then game against Hibs :003:

JAPAN 0 SCOTLAND 0 Attendance: 58,648 Scotland battled to a goal-less draw against host nation Japan to claim the Kirin Cup. :clapping02: At least there will be a piece of silverware for one international team from the British Isles this summer :014:

The dismatling of Hibs is well underway - the manager next? Celtic have clinched the surprise signing of Hibernian ace Derek Riordan. The SPL champions have agreed a pre-contract with the Scottish international and he will move to Parkhead next January.

Another excellent looking stadium for today's game - should be a sell-out crowd Stadium Guide - http://www.stadiumguide.com/saitama.htm

Class wee song :021: Also didn't see any stereotypes there at all :015:

Looking at that stadium design - you don't get much rain then :001: Looks good though

COSTA RICA :014: Had a nice two weeks there once....

Update on table, scorers etc. - roll on Saturday - should be a bigger crowd than 6,000 :005: http://www.futbolplanet.de/asia/friendly_t...in_cup_2006.htm

Some of the words used in the report are not what you would normally associate with Scotland in one of their games :003: Cracking performance and some other good chances created - should be interesting against Japan now :001:

1304 BST: The final whistle goes on a remarkable scoreline in Kobe - Scotland 5-1 Bulgaria. Who needs the World Cup when you've got thrashings like this in the Kirin Cup? 1248 BST: GOAL Scotland 5-1 Bulgaria Chris Burke spreads icing all over the cake with his second and Scotland's fifth in what is now a thrashing. That's two goals on debut for both Burke and Boyd. The Tartan Army would be struck dumb if they weren't so busy singing their lungs out. 1248 BST: GOAL Scotland 4-1 Bulgaria Chris Burke sends the Tartan Army into ecstacy with a gorgeous finish - lobbing a volley delicately over the goalkeeper. This is now one of the best Scottish performances in recent memory. Could there be even more to follow? 1240 BST: GOAL Scotland 3-1 Bulgaria McFadden has done it this time - stretching at the near post to flick Teale's cross past Kolev. It's a great strike and which puts Walter Smith's side in control. Scotland are playing excellent passing football and the scoreline in no way flatters them. 1159 BST: GOAL Scotland 2-1 Bulgaria Kris Boyd is in dreamland after his second goal on his first ever international game. It's not the hardest chance in the world - a tap-in from three yards after the goalkeeper parries - but it's enough to give Scotland back the lead. 1141 BST: GOAL Scotland 1-1 Bulgaria Yordan Todarov brings Bulgaria level with a neat finish from fellow striker Todorov's lay-off. Scotland appeal for offside but the goal stands. 1128 BST: GOAL Scotland 1-0 Bulgaria Kris Boyd seizes his first chance in international football with alacrity to put Scotland ahead with an excellent finish. Darren Fletcher put him through on the right hand side of the box and the debutant clipped it over goalkeeper Kolev.

Any word on the Scotland line-up?

First Game: JAPAN 1 BULGARIA 2 Bulgaria's footballers beat Japan 2-1 in a match of the Kirin Cup, played Tuesday in Osaka. The guests led 1-0 in the first minute with a goal by Svetoslav Todorov. An equalizer by Seiichiro Maki came in the 76th minute, but Bulgaria regained its lead on 90 minutes. CSKA Sofia's young star Hristo Yanev scored the decisive second goal for Bulgaria.

It looks slightly bigger than TCS: Location: Oazamnakanoda-Chinai, Urawa-shi / Saitama-Ken Capacity: 63,000 Parking: 2,500 Access: Located 9 km from the centre of Urawa City / 50 min. by train (Saitama Railway) from JR Tokyo Station to Urawa Misono Station / From Urawa Misono Station to the Stadium, approx. 15 min. Walk. Stadium Guide

Thought there was a Rankin thread somewhere but couldn't find it. Anyway since he has just got the Div 1 player of the year award the price might have just gone up. Interesting that St.Mirren are listed as favourites to get his signature. Rankin voted best in Division One Ross County midfielder John Rankin has been voted Division One player of the year by his fellow professionals. The Dingwall outfit slipped out of the title and promotion race in the latter part of the season, finishing fourth. But the 22-year-old had been particularly instrumental in their early-season challenge and scored 13 goals this term. Rankin had joined County from Manchester United in 2003 is wanted by St Mirren and Inverness Caley Thistle. County rejected January bids from Scottish Premier League outfit Inverness and from the Paisley outfit, who are expected to launch another attempt to sign Rankin now that they have won promotion to the top flight.

It's probably still on file :D

Ah ha - the first of many have started - didn't expect three of the bat just like that though.... :D

nope enough said - ditto :D

At Man City you get a plastic card (credit card size - like you get at some car parks/ski-lifts) instead of a paper one and you just scan it like a ski-pass and you get access at the turn-stile. I am not sure if it is used for all games though. Seen the same thing at the Salzburg stadium in Austria but there you put the card into a slot to get automatic entry. Can't see it catching on at TCS though :D

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Absolutely CLASS - good spot RiG - how in earth did you find that one :dunno:

3 wins (and clean sheets) in a row - well done lads :thumbsup: __________________________________________________________________ _______________ Inverness secured seventh spot in the SPL on the back of the victory to the delight of head coach Charlie Christie. But the Caley boss was simply pleased to end a poor run at Almondvale this season. Christie said: "It was our fourth visit here this season and we hadn't won the previous three. "But, defensively, we were sound and have had three clean-sheets in a row - the first time we've done that since coming into the SPL, which is tremendous. "Livi did not look likely to score and I'm delighted to come away with the win. "We have confirmed seventh spot, which is progress for us, and the top six is something to aim for next year. Every supporter should be delighted at our season." __________________________________________________________________ ______________

Oh and as for the great Motty it was simply just a case of Foot 'n Mouth :D

It appears we have not heard the last of Owen's foot either My foot does not feel right," Owen told the News of the World. "I felt something go after 10 minutes. But it's not the kind of pain I experienced when I needed a second operation. "I will have to go and see the surgeon. Until then I don't know how serious it is. It doesn't feel perfect. "Is it pain? I don't know how to explain it. There is a numbness there. Riveting stuff.... :nuts: