starchief

I'm going to go for Brian Kerr. Ok, sure, he wasn't here very long but he exuded class. His full-blooded commitment to the cause made him a cert for a future captain. Shame he went to Dundee but our loss was their gain. No wonder he pulled that poor team up to a mighty second. We can only shake our heads at the glory that might have come if this dynamo had stayed. I'm sure a third Scotland cap is just around the corner.

Definitely agree with you on the first. Bit more complex on the second but if my electoral reform came in, you'd be going to the polls every month (and I'm not joking - electorate would make far more decisions, so they'd have to have a better command of the issues). Pity I don't even get a vote these days (and I'm certainly not getting one in Egypt)

We don't have presidential system. None of us ever vote for who to be Prime Minister. We just vote for our own MP. Personally, I now think it's got to the stage where Leaders are so important that we should consider a Presidential system. (but I don't think it'll happen)

Actually they don't. To form a majority, a party needs 650/2 = 325 - 1 (Tory Speaker) - 5 (Sinn Feinn, who don't take their seats) = 319 For historical reasons, Northern Ireland has different parties, even though they are just the Northern Irish branches of the UK mainland parties, so: Labour whip = Labour (258) + SDLP (3) = 261 Lib Dem whip = LD (57) + Alliance (1) = 58 = 319, so Lib/Lab is enough for a majority. I'm also led to believe the independent Ulster Unionist will actually take the Labour whip, rather than Tory and that's why she ran as an independent, so 320. SNP have said they would work with Labour but not Tory. Let's face it, Labour aren't going to cut Scotland's money, plus the SNP want PR, so even if they aren't in a coalition, they won't stand against a Labour Queen's Speech. They also don't vote on English matters, which makes them easier bedfellows again. I don't see huge problems with a Milliband led Labour (Brown will be gone as soon as it's feasible)/Lib pact. 2 years to implement PR and have Vince Cable, Alistair Darling and Gordon Brown to sort out the economy. Some hard-hitters in there. That's why Cameron is under a lot of pressure to get the deal right. Labour has first dibs to form a government. Tory has no right to form a minority government if he can't make a deal with LD.

BNP stood in a lot more constituencies, where they averaged 1,500 votes. Hardly a breakthrough. They were in control of 12 out of 13 councillors in Barking before the election. Lost every one of them on the night. Very unsuccessful if you look at the bigger picture. If Labour and Lib Dem form a pact (SDLP is the Northern Irish Labour Party, whilst the Alliance is the LD equivalent), they have a majority. No need for PC/SNP but anyway I can't see Labour wanting big cuts to Wales and Scotland, plus PC and SNP both want PR. It's all up to what Cameron can give Clegg. And I just can't see it being enough. I actually think having someone in (i.e. Lib Dems) to stop either Labour going for ID Cards etc, or the Tories millionaire giveaway taxes is pretty much what the electorate wants. Have either concentrate on the economy (with hopefully voting reform), instead of ideology.

I honestly thought he was going to punch Brown.

Kieron Dyer I remember Mido being on ?1k a week. Pretty sure though he'd be on a cracking signing on fee and bonus scheme.

McEvely might solve Celtic's left-back problem (mind you, I think Naylor's a decent player, so they don't really have one)

I thought he looked terrific under Strachan. One of the most asked questions I heard from Celtic supporters in the Mowbray months was "what happened to Koki Mizuno?" I'd have him in the team like a shot.

We'll be pushing for it but not quite there yet.

Looks as though we've kept our first team then! Tokely probably signing. Good chance of both Esson and Proctor as long as they're realistic. I think that's safety already. If we do manage to pick up a couple of players in defence and attacking mid, then we really can do something. Hayes, Rooney and Foran against a Barr-less Falkirk, a McArthur-less Accies, a poverty-stricken Killie or my old team St Mirren? Should do alright I think!

I'd like to see him at Hibs. If they can keep their players (yeah, I know, I know...), then he's just what they need, along with a version of Dods at the back.

There's a good few players in that list I wouldn't mind having. Hart for the Sanchez/Odi role? Kimpl is SPL quality. Colin Cameron? Good player but prefer to go younger. Maybe if Duncan went (I know he still has a contract). Lauchlan naturally. Possibly a few others. Could be a rich hunting ground if we move fast.

Mihadjuks didn't choose to leave. He was never offered a contract. Only because he hasn't performed do ICT have a chance of signing Pavels again. As for Bully. Depends who else we have in mind and whether Tokely goes. Get the first team signed first, then look at our options.

In Scotland, I can only think Aberdeen. They need a load of players and probably have the wages money. Can't see much difference between us, Killie, Accies etc, nor can I see him being useful to a top six club. Maybe Championship, a high Division 1 like Leeds, or Oz?

Aberdeen 3:0 down and a man sent off at home. No wonder it was so difficult for Celtic to choose between McGhee and Mowbray. Seem pretty similar these days, running their players down, whilst getting awful results.

Falkirk winning, Killie drawing, so it looks at the moment both Ayrshire clubs facing the drop from their divisions! And Saints down to ten men against Killie

Let's what the attendance/interest is in the end of season Partick Thistle v Queen of the South game today. No-one can get promoted, no-one can get relegated. I can't see having even more meaningless fixtures with a load of barely-supported teams are going to create any excitement. Last week, two teams that would be vying for a place in an 18 team league, Raith v QoS. Attendance: 1030. Can't see it rising just because it's in a different league and these teams are in a mediocre position. There definitely needs to be something done. I've stated my thoughts (and I've put in a more detailed discussion here) but I don't think more meaningless fixtures is the way to go. How about a comparison with other similar-sized competitive leagues: Austria: 10 and 12 teams in two divisions (regional below) Denmark: 12 and 16 teams in two divisions (regional below) Norway: 16 and 16 teams in two divisions (regional below) Scotland: 12 in the top and four divisions of 10 below. So, if like Morton, you have a bad season, slip out of the SFL1, then the team is actually worse off than less ambitious teams as they are quite happy surviving on crowds of 300 or less. Spend a bit of money trying to get out and risk the club going bankrupt as these smaller teams don't have an away support. The whole system needs re-imagining, summer football, less clubs and streamlining. More meaningless fixtures aren't the way. That's why the SPL was created.

I voted no. Doesn't solve a long season, playing the same teams over and over. For me: - A top 10 SPL and 12-team SFL. - Regional leagues below that. - The season to be split in 2, i.e., one season to run from February til June, followed by another that would run from July/August til November/December, so teams play each other twice a season (but four times a year) That's more silverware, more championship battles, more relegation dogfights. When a team goes down, then the impact of half a season to plan on a reduced budget could be more manageable. That gives us two competitive leagues, with a relegation place and a play-off relegation/promotion endpiece for extra excitement. There is an argument over UEFA rules but some South American countries run that system (I know SA isn't in UEFA), so I think it could be negotiated out.

I'm a bit surprised by some of these names. Cammy Bell has looked incredible this season. Thought Cillian Sheridan would have got a new contract with Celtic. Doubt he'll be short of offers. The Paixao boys have done well this season and surely Imrie can't be out of contract?? And I'm pretty sure Scott Severin is under contract in England. If the St Mirrens and St Johnstones ones are correct, I'd be happy to get pretty much any of them.

I just hope Stratford doesn't play. I think he's been the key to the season. It's no surprise that he's refused the offers of these new contracts. I guess he must be foremost in the minds of Championship clubs. Certainly, if I were Doncaster, I'd be concentrating on this midfield dynamo, or our rampaging tiger of a left-back, Lionel Djebi-Zadi. Surely, DZ would be looking far above the Championship though.

I think there's a real chance of that. I think Tokely and Munro are good enough for the SPL but I'd prefer Mihadjuks or someone of that quality to be in the mix. Aside from that, an attacking mid would probably get us higher up the table but without it, we should still avoid relegation. Aberdeen? Huge amount of work to do. No Kerr, Mulgrew or McDonald, plus others like Grassi (who is limited to say the least) etc. Loads of players to bring in (for one, I'd be breaking the bank to get Michael Stewart - always looked a good player to me), some of those like Ifill don't look up to it. It's going to be a long hard season for them but one thing's for sure... ...they'll still blame Jimmy Calderwood for being successful.

Surprised McBain is getting a new deal after being excluded for the whole season (virtually). Bulvitis? Hmmm, maybe. Depends on the cost. We need someone better IMO. Mihadjuks springing to mind.

Great news! You get the feeling Foran might be here long-term, as in a future staff member, if Butcher stays. Hayes is the next big one (and he's publicly declared he wants to) and hopefully a Rooney extension. I wouldn't worry too much about Tokely. Ross must know he's safe to be offered a new contract, plus I'm pretty sure he'd want to accept one. I feel the same about Duncan too. Esson has moved around a bit but keepers like to stay in one spot, so I think he'll probably stay, whereas, after a bit of indecision, Proctor has become a mainstay. I thought Foran might have been tempted to go to Aberdeen for the money but I'll be surprised now if we lose anyone we want to keep (except maybe Rooney if there's someone wanting to take a pop with a transfer fee, say, Dundee United if they lose Goodwillie?).

I don't know how to choose these numbers. Whether you win or not just seems to be an absolute lottery!