starchief

Now a rather measly one point difference. Belief or plain old hope?

And if we can persuade Wayne Rooney and C. Ronaldo, then I think we could seriously challenge for the title. Surely, these players must be a priority?

I didn't think his track record was as bad as it was made out. Did well at some clubs (especially Motherwell and Coventry) and not given a full season at others (I don't think a manager can be judged on any less). That said, I didn't think he would leave voluntarily. I don't see a huge demand for his services, especially if the last thing he did was getting ICT relegated (again, it's on his record but not deserved). But I did think his contract would not get renewed and either a more local manager, or an up'n'coming name from the SFL would step in longer term with less ambition (i.e. make sure we're stable in the First). Need those players signed up though. Losing Vigurs was probably Butcher's biggest mistake - but he does seem to be the last one laughing (so far).

Researching mining restoration in Western Africa. Love it*!! (*nah, don't really - the perils of freelance - work when you can, relax when you don't)

Why do people insist on calling Ibrox 'Castle Greyskull'? That's where He-Man and the good guys live. Skeletor lives at Snake Mountain. Mind you, with these results, it feels like I'm living in cartoon-land anyway.

Too true. Club is virtually bankrupt. Although I notice they have some decent players like Hammill, Pascali and Invincible that are struggling to get a place in the team. In fact, I look through their team and they have so many decent players, plus two good managers in Jefferies and Calderwood, that I just don't know why they are struggling so.

Cammy Bell looks a real find. Wouldn't rule out a big move sometime soon. Surely must be near Scotland call up time soon. And to think he wasn't even a starter earlier in the season (but it shows loan moves can work).

I didn't. Still don't. But I'm hopeful.

Whew, I just switched on the radio to hear Richard Gordon say, "Division 1 - a very late equaliser into injury time" - my heart sank. Thankfully it was Raith. Top of the league? Who'd a believed it?

Nice of you to pop in Mr Godwin. And, oh, here comes you law already... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law

Just as I hit the return button a long football piece on why Mowbray was never the man for the job http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/blog.php?b=7997 Latest odds: 3/1 Paul Lambert (has said he won't) 5/1 Mark Hughes (doubt he would want it) 13/2 John Hughes (no chance 'coz of current form) 12/1 John Collins (no chance - hasn't done enough) 12/1 Roy Keane (think he will stay at Ipswich through loyalty) 14/1 David Moyes (absolutely no chance) 16/1 Steve Clarke (hmmm, maybe?) 16/1 Avram Grant (be a decent signing - outside chance) 18/1 Alan Curbishley (again? Can't see it) 20/1 Darren Ferguson (not done anything in a bigger league, so no chance) 22/1 BAR (could be someone from here I reckon)

I don't think Celtic will have too many complaints soon about less coverage compared to Rangers. I can see a few announcements and much speculation very very soon.

[EXPLETIVE] me! :P I said right at the start Mowbray was a poor choice, when he was still top of the league and in Europe. He has always been a youth team manager, never a win at all costs. Surely Celtic can't put up with that. That said, my legs are probably too weak to stand from all this laughing (mind you, I'm a Celtic supporter according to some on P&B -- then again, I'm also accused of being a Rangers supporter on the Scotsman site - because of course if you don't like one team, that must mean you like the other :P )

I was sure we were gonna lose this one too. Great result ICT. Well done County. I'm hoping they put the Highlands on the footballing map again by winning it.

And between the two, the stories are all about Rangers. Winning everything. In deep dung financially. Possibly no Walter Smith next year. Top scorer's contract running out. A lot to talk about, both good and bad. What can you say about Celtic? Manager's a bit crap. Finances ok. Top scorer definitely leaving. Going to finish second. Might get to the Cup final. Not a lot of stories there really.

Fairly defensive line-up today, so not too bad. Latviaman - you have to remember that Ross County have been above us all season. Players like Brittain and Vigurs have been good signings on a decent base. We can't expect to just go over the bridge and beat them. We're a top end SFL1 title challenging club...but so are they. Although we'd all say we want ICT to be in that 7th place in the SPL we got so many years ago, hasn't the relegation battle and this season's title race been more exciting?

Get in Airdrie!

On Showtime Sports 3 with Scottish commentary I'm on aljazeera sports, so unfortunately I don't get that. It's 6 nations on the normal SPL channel (which did show the Edinburgh match though - pretty good it was too).

Think Butcher would settle for a draw with that line-up. BTW, for those in MENA, Celtic-St J on Dubai Sports 2 (Arabic only)

Bloody amazing, wasn't it? Juve should have been a man and a goal down sooner after a blatant push on Hangeland at a corner early in the match. Glad for Zamora. At 29, this is his only real chance of going to the World Cup (though I doubt he will), so didn't like Cannavaro saying he shouldn't go. As if that wouldn't fire up the striker even more. Well done Fulham!

Can't stand either but this year, I hope Rangers walk it. Celtic trying to blame referees for their poor form and bad signings is scandalous. The fact is, Mowbray can't organise a defence, has sold good players, brought in similar or worse and would actually be far far behind Rangers but for Robbie Keane - not even one his signings, rather a fancy by the Board! I've not heard any Celtic fan mention how referees are so poor Hinkel should have been sent off and a penalty against him for the last Old Firm game, or how Robbie Keane should have had another booking (meaning a red card) for deliberately time-wasting as he poked the ball into the net after being given off-side, or how Boruc should have had at least a penalty against him when taking down an Aberdeen player in the 4-4 game...and that's only two teams, not even mentioning the games against St Mirren or Falkirk for example. Celtic get their share of decisions. Any right minded person can see that. So this year, I'm more anti-Celtic than anti-Rangers (so I've not voted). Overall, I'd still prefer Hibs or Dundee Utd (or anyone else) to somehow win the league. Given the current financial climate, there's the best chance of that since Jefferies was first at Hearts (not a huge chance but a chance nevertheless).

Makes you wonder why Djebi-Zadi is never played on the right-wing as he has, not one, but two left feet

Quite often, last season, I'd go for a back five with Tokely and DZ as wing-backs. I think that's their natural positions. Allows rampaging runs forward and tightens up the defence when they forget to get back. DZ isn't skilled enough for a true midfielder but a wing back overlapping? Sounds fine to me. The back 5 idea was before Mihadjuks, so the Proctor-Munro-Hastings combination looked a bit tighter too plus with a touch of passing and mobility. Thought it could have worked seeing as most of the time, we only really had Munro as a central defender. I don't think we've got a passing midfielder good enough to play a 5-3-2, so now the moves would constantly be breaking down. Need a lynchpin like Black for that system.

Because Stranraer (for instance) is a community club (and, as I said, I'd like a league of the larger teams and more community centred clubs). Stenhousmuir has other clubs right on it's doorstep, e.g. Falkirk, so doesn't serve either isolated places nor could they ever seriously challenge in the upper leagues. Stranraer fans don't have the option of that. They represent a particular area. A smaller amount of teams mean the community clubs would be playing larger clubs, so their money would increase, as would their staff by simply playing against better teams regularly. Not what I meant. Albion Rovers or Stenhousmuir might have a few decent players for their level, plus a number of lesser lights. Stirling Albion and Queen of the South much the same. Take out 2 from 4, then those players would be available to these clubs. I don't mean SPL level players, just a better standard of Division Two player. I disagree. We'll have two leagues of the best players, with less journeymen. There will be less games of unambitious team versus unambitious team, where the crowd is 100 or less, so it'll be more exciting. Teams like Morton won't have to dread falling into a division where to have ambition means virtual bankruptcy, as even going full-time is difficult enough with the small crowds brought by opposition teams. Combine the two league system with summer football, then we have a better league, the national team performing better and more fans at the gate.

And while we're at it..two leagues of 16 to 18 will do comprised of the bigger clubs and community clubs (e.g. QoS, Stirling, Stranraer etc). The likes of Stenhousmuir, Albion Rovers etc aren't needed. They're just keeping the community clubs from progressing by taking players from the more remote areas to unambitious teams in the central belt. The game would improve as there would be a better concentration of players in a smaller number of clubs. The argument, I know, is that these supporters won't go elsewhere but that means we're only losing the odd 100 here and there.