Johnboy

There's a train of thought, and not one I entirely disagree with, which questions why countries such as the US and ourselves spend so much money on providing foreign aid when we have big problems on our own doorsteps that might be deserving of a bit more attention instead.

With great respect, I'm inclined to suggest the "big problems on our own doorstep" kind of pale into insignificance when compared with the problems presently being faced by Japan.

My mail to ESPN:

Dear Sir/Madam

I write with regards to your article dated 14th March 2011 entitled ?Celtic and Aberdeen Set for Rematch?.

I was under the impression that Celtic were yet to play their Scottish Cup Quarter Final fixture away to Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Aberdeen were to host St. Mirren in a replay at Pittodrie after scraping an injury time equaliser in Paisley.

I must therefore congratulate your journalist's ability to forecast the outcome of both matches with such clarity.

In light of the foregoing I have returned my match ticket for Wednesday's rearranged fixture in Inverness and will invest said funds in a Celtic/Aberdeen double.

Could you possibly advise the winner of Friday's Cheltenham Gold Cup in order that I may invest my winnings on the above bet accordingly.

Yours faithfully,

ymip

I'm not holding my breath for a response.

Brilliant!!!!!

"Celtic and Aberdeen Set for Rematch? according to ESPN.

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/79539.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

Good to see they're not jumping to lazy conclusions.......

Morons....

Added incentive for our lads on Wednesday night - not that it will be required!

Incredible to note that President Obama is coming under attack from US citizens on Facebook and the like for promising humanitarian aid for Japan.

Many of those are apparently suggesting that the Tsunami is a punishment from God for the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbour.

Assuming we overcome this forthcoming minor hurdle on Wednesday night, I hope we meet Motherwell in the semis, and then go on to a showcase final with Aberdeen.

What about that foreign TV channel - Alba, or whatever it's called.

Wouldn't they be interested in televising it?

Any idea how much this gadget costs?

The club could possibly recoup some of the costs involved by introducing a "cover" charge.

That's the idea of covers though, you don't need to spike it if you keep the water off of the surface.

Like these?

It does indeed..... what's obvious though is that Rory's already had a season to make an impact and Wood is new. No doubt you can find me some threads from the season before!

Buggeroff!!

Just wasted an hour of my life trying to find that thread.

[ Also, for some reason, a sizeable element of our support just never took to him and subjected him to all manner of unnecessary abuse.

I disagree with that. Everybody's prepared to give a young player a chance at first. When he was breaking into the team he was a cult hero with all the young lads chanting 'Rory, Rory' as he warmed up, with his white boots and so on, even when I hardly knew who he was. He just seemed to start believing his own publicity.

Try reading through this thread, Mantis....

Might stir up some memories of Rory's ICT days.

.

So..... Back on to that bus, and back down the A9 towards Glasgow for the Celtic entourage, and then back on it again for the long boring journey north on Tuesday. They'll be thoroughly p1ssed off with that - my heart bleeds for them!

Will the celtic team stay in Inverness on the Saturday night or travel on the day ?

I noticed a Parks of Hamilton coach parked at the Kingsmills Hotel a short time ago. That usually means a Glasgow football team is in residence.

Can I change my answer to yes.

It's now an absolute minger of a day, sleety snowy slushy minging weather.

I would imagine the only thing that will put the game off would be waterlogged pitch.

Or problems for the travelling supporters coming up the A9.

Watched him deliver numerous top performances and bag plenty of goals for the reserves, but despite the ample opportunity he got in the first team he rarely managed to emulate it.

Glad to see him doing well, but saw nothing from him while he was here to suggest he can cut it at SPL level and wouldn't be in any hurry to have him tying up a wage here again.

Most of the "ample opportunities" he got in the first team, were from coming off the bench - very often, with only a few minutes of a game remaining. Also, for some reason, a sizeable element of our support just never took to him and subjected him to all manner of unnecessary abuse. That for me, was what hastened his departure.

He's certainly come on leaps and bounds since joining Brechin, but whether he would be able to cut it at ICT, I doubt if we'll ever know. It's very unlikely he'd want to come back here again.

shagged-out

erect

Not looking good for tomorrow. If you project this weather map forward to Sunday it looks like we might be on the edge of a precipitation, as we meteorologists say.

See here

Whre is the viseo?

Dunno, but the BBC highlights are here.

Yeah.... Good stuff again guys! Sets the scene up nicely for Sunday.#

Can I add this alternative preview/prediction unashamedly nicked from P&B?

I think a 1-1 draw *may* be on the cards here.

Celtic to score early on, via Hooper, then miss a sh1tload of chances. Caley will pass it about nicely without really doing anything in the final third, until the last couple of minutes, when Adam Rooney will score.

However, Celtic will complain bitterly about a throw in given erroneosly to Caley six minutes previously, to no avail. Come full time, Neil Lennon will be seen running across the pitch to berate the referee, before being hauled away by at least two Cops, spitting the word "conspiracy ya bass!" in his direction.

Minutes later during a TV interview, a clearly seething Lennon will get steadily more angry as the unfortunate reporter asks about Celtic's profligacy in front of goal, rather than the more pressing issue of a country-wide protestant conspiracy against Celtic. Finally, Lennon explodes with rage, banjoing the reporter, then screaming maniacally into the camera "Get THAT fecking story straight you motherfeckers!" before marching off to the Referee's dressing room.

Cut to blood curdling screams of terror, as the camera slowly pans to the open dressing room door, to a scene of unimaginable brutality. The referee and the offending Assistant who gave the wrong throw in, lying dismembered in pools of their own blood. In the corner, a blood soaked, tracksuited Lennon, arms folded tight rocks gently back and forward on his haunches, whimpering "All i wanted was clarification, that's not too much to ask is it?"

Unless Eddie Smith refs it, in which case, Celtic 3 (Hooper 3 pens) Caley Th 0 (somebody sent off)

Undoubtedly a talented player, but his attitude could be suspect at times, and that would probably not endear him to TB.

Has to be the same IHE Kilt outfit that has graced the last two cup wins - and they havent been washed since.

Where will you be sitting?

I remember the incident well , butcher should have been red carded at the initial incident when he got involved in a situation that had nothing to do with him .

He did score a peach of an own goal though .

Maybe there was a case for a red card - arms raised and all that - but there certainly wasn't a case for a breach of the peace charge.

TB's crime!

About 1.30 in.

What a load of shyte , of course terry should have been convicted of breach of the peace . If he'd done it in a pub or in the street he would have been charged , what makes a football pitch any different ?

You obviously didn't see the incident..... Much worse has happened since that game, and much worse happened before it.

Richard Gough (quite interesting quote in today's Scotsman):

"People are queuing up to condemn what happened last week," said Gough, "but they will still be tuning in to watch when the Old Firm meet again in the League Cup final on 20 March. These hypocrites are saying how terrible it all is, but they'll still be watching.

"Last Wednesday was just a case of history repeating itself as far as the Old Firm are concerned. We had all this nonsense back in 1987 when I played in the 2-2 game at Ibrox which saw Terry Butcher, Chris Woods, Frank McAvennie and Graham Roberts all charged with breach of the peace.

"Yet it was handbags at dawn stuff. Terry grabbed Frank around the neck and the rest of us were laughing at the time. But Terry and Chris ended up being convicted and got a criminal record. They were even banned from travelling to the USA for a few years because of it, it was crazy. What happened to them was diabolical and, for that reason alone, politicians and the authorities should stay out of football. I honestly believe football should be regulated by football people. The government shouldn't be involved at all."

http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Old-Firm-Richard-Gough-urges.6730240.jp

Couldn't agree more with Gough's comments. Suspect our very own TB will also agree. It is a complete and utter farce that he, along with all the others charged during that 1987 OF encounter, have a criminal record for breach of the peace.

Handbags at dawn sums it up perfectly.