bauhaus

Any one know for sure if our curse has struck again. Have been told that Andrew " Chubbs " Greig has dislocated his shoulder and will be out for 3 months!

With our injuries, lets be honest, if we can stay in touch we will be ok when our injuries clear up. We really need to work on our defending though. It would be good to play both halves well in the same games

The better days of Scottish football were largely prior to the onset of computer games and most modern technology. Kids would go out in all weather kicking a ball, come rain or shine, snow and frost. That has now disappeared. The kids who do still go out in all weather, will be the ones we are watching in ten years time, difference is, the coaches have ten times less talent to nurture. All weather pitches, covered community pitches, and doses and doses of encouragement will be needed. The game has changed so much in 25 years. Money has changed it. Celtic won the European cup with ALL Scottish players, Rangers, Aberdeen, and Dundee Utd when they were at their best were full of Scots. Italian, Spanish, German, French, Dutch teams were all full of their own players, with only the exceptional few going to play their football in foreign countries. English football was full of the best British and Irish players. In fact I think before the Bosman ruling, very few won the English league without a backbone of Scottish, Welsh or Irish players. Money and Greed has destroyed all of this. The English, Spanish, Italian, and German teams now have the best players in the world, with all other domestic leagues picking up those who are below this level. Where its all gone wrong for Scottish football, is the not so good foreign players in our game, who are keeping out our young talent, preventing them from developing and getting their chance. Our 12 team, and previous 10 team league strangled our game. Teams are so scared of dropping out of the SPL, the managers are unwilling to play our own talented youngsters, in favor of older journeymen with experience. A bigger league would mean room for the safer teams to try and develop the kids, and give them the chance, and in the long run improving our stock and depth of talent. Barca are the big exception to this in modern times, and if we could have some of what they have we should order masses of it, better weather, loads of pitches, and brilliant youth coaches. Some might shout what about Man U, Arsenal etc. Sure they have very very good youth players in depth, but they are both buying them in from all over the place, depriving the smaller teams of their future players ( Celtics Islam Feruz an example ) because they cannot afford to pay a 16 year old ? 2,500 a week. Back to money again. The only way Scottish football will improve without big money is to concentrate on youth development. Expand the league to give managers the security to try things. Get the under 21s or under 23s back, so they get a chance to develop. Play offs and relegation, and access to the leagues from non league to unstagnate things

I actually admired Lennon and his footballing ability, he rarely lost the ball, won more tackles than he should, and was a calming controlling influence, and one of Celtics better players in my opinion. However, this has always been stained by the Juanjo farce. Lennon cheated and he and his team got away with it. The SFA knew he cheated, and still they did nothing after they cleared Juanjo. Last season, he showed his managerial ability, taking Celtic from embaresment on the field to a very very good team. However he was caught believing the conspiracy theories that all non old firm fans know are bull, but suffered unbelievable levels of shocking behaviour towards him. This season he has been a changed man so far, not spouting the bile that others have made him believe. But then he goes and spoils it all again by lying in his book. I was there, I saw the incident, I know Juanjo didn't touch him. And yet when a fellow countryman ( Lafferty ) copies his move, he would call foul. Cant stand cheats, worse still cant stand cheat who lie, and then continue to lie after cameras prove he lied. Admit the truth that you cheated

Spoke to one of the Forres players today, about the final. They are expecting to beat the U19s. Could be a good game

Had to laugh tonight listening to the radio. I think it was Sportsound , and they were talking about Celtic getting back into Europe because of Sion playing several unregistered players. Tam Cowan says he looked at that for complaining to UEFA after the Czech game, but suddenly it dawned on him that thinking it couldnt get worse for the Scottish game, he realised that it wasnt the Czechs that played with players who weren't born in their own country.

We may have another minnow to trip us up soon. Sepp Blatter, FIFA , EUFA and CONCOCAF were in Greenland the week before I was up there on holiday discussing their admission to the world family of football. They have seemingly been prevented from competing by the lack of a grass pitch. Well with global warming and all that, they were up inspecting the standard of a grass football pitch which the Greenland FA have been growing in one of their most southerly cities ( Qaqortoq if i remember ) They are mad passionate about football, and have a number of players who can represent them playing in Danish football. Jesper Groenkjer ex Chelsea was their best known player, but had to play for Denmark as would any other up until now. FIFA have to decide if they compete in North America or Europe seemingly. If they are admitted to UEFA that would just leave one group with the lesser amount of games, and I have heard their is a possibility of one other new nation competing ( think it was going to be Herzogovinia, becoming seperate from Bosnia )

the short and long of it, both the religious charge and the assault charge should be kept separate, in case one or other is not proven. I cannot believe that because Neil Lennon was not physically injured they didnt convict. If anything physically, the aggressor would have been the one with more injuries after every one jamp on him, and the way the legal system is going, if the aggressor shouted insults, but not sectarian, if anyone had retorted in a religious retort, could they have also been charged. Bit like shooting a robber in your house, they get community service, you get prison

Take a look through the divisions in England and see how many clubs have just released players, with no ongoing club. Some big names, lots of experiece, and without a club they can sign for anyone at any time. Some clubs even released as much as ten or twelve players from their contracts. Im sure some would rather have a wage than be on the dole. Opportunities if the ex pats put their money in, if we need alternatives later

The sports bar would be the perfect answer. Both clubs won the same trophies over the years, so it not as if one has a Fairs Cup tucked away from the main competitions. Would also be nice to have some of the stuff presented from other clubs on show. Pendants from Denmark, Italy, Sheffield Utd, QPR, etc. Believe some of the other clubs in Scotland gave ICT stuff to celebrate them joining the league. Could even have it as a tribute to the history of north football, with a bit about the clubs in the north, from Caley, Thistle, Clach, Citadel, Wick, Fort William and The Broch etc. Would possibly add a wee bit to the coffers if it was paid entry on non match days, with profits going into youth teams. My Bannerman might like it to be another of his legacies at TCS!! Just a thought

Fair play, didnt hear he still got the clink on the radio, probably because they concentrated on the not proven guilty part. That said, it was clear what his intention was, and who his target was. It could be argued if it was sectarian, why didnt he attack the first Celtic person on the bench

maybees Tel is going to show a wee bit of faith in the youth system here. I do like Liam Polworth, and although still very young, he has a lot about him to admire. He has excelled at each youth level so far, and stood out at each level internationally. If your good enough, your old enough. Noticed that during pre season he was also out with his dad training with Clach doing their full pre season at night after he had done Caley's. Fitness wouldnt be his shortfall

If 'chippy' appears a bit brain numb from the Terriers fans, we can certainly improve on things with David Davis, suppose we have a lot to play with......double Ds

The said Hearts fan, has been proved that after all the qaffuffel, that he just hated Neil Lennon, and not his religion. As I said at the time, the majority of people would hate him because of the way he was going about things, nothing to do with his religion. His complaining was doing as much damage to the reputation of Scottish football, if not more, than this idiot did. However, to only get done for breach of the peace is a joke, and now includes the courts and Scottish legal system into the catagory of damaged reputation. I dare say religious bigotry and sectarianism is difficult to prove unless you have shouted said abuse at the time of the attack, or have feck the ........ tattooed all over your forehead. Hope they can still jail the idiot,

Certainly down as 'released'. Hope he aint huffed his way out of a career

Under 19s usually play up at the Ross County pitches in Dungwell. If its yer first time, the park can be seen from the railway station, and they play on the Highland Academy football pitches behind the stadium. Kick off varies, but check the spl under 19s website closer to the time and it usually states the times. However, if in doubt call the club. Rocpool is just up from the city centre, youll get value for money from your ? 50 for a starter, but they also provide toothpicks incase it sticks between your teeth. Town just dripping with pubs, and plenty of shameless available too

Ive heard they are expat businessmen in Dubai

The Caley one!!! Seriously, are they not in the board room on the top floor. Most of the trophies would still be in circulation, ie Highland League Championship, Qualifying cup, Inverness Cup etc etc

Who are the ex ict youths at Curryhoose. I know Kelvin MacKenzie plays for them. Adam MacLeod turned out for them to keep fit until he got a club, playing out of position he scored 15 goals in 4 games but has gone to Strathspey

IHE, that could be turned around if we say they havent got as many injuries as us. When you have the injuries we are currently experiencing you could look at others in the similar plight, and only Arsenal come to mind. Dont think we are doing quite so bad, as with players coming back I think we will be ok if we stay in touch with the rest, and if we stay ahead of a few even better.

Aberdeen play Hibs next, so do we prefer a clear winner, or a draw to continue their gloom. We have Hearts up here which is certainly winnable

If he is a free agent, then we dont have to sign him by the deadline, so he can be properly assessed. If he has promise what he may well need is time and fitness

McCoist knocked out of Europe twice in his debut season, Lennon knocked out thrice in two seasons. Only team in Europe to record a win to the next round was Hearts, only to then be mutilated at home. Maybe the SPL will start the new season in April to give our teams a chance, and it could be argued we could get a better TV money deal with Summer football, better attendances, and pre season tours to Scandanavian countries also starting their seasons. The month early didnt help our European hopes at all

not the worst and not in the top 3 either, BUT WHEN ARE WE GOING TO PLAY 90 MINUTES, and not the 45 we seem to think will do the job. In all honesty we were doing this for the majority of the last two seasons. We need a win from somewhere. If confidence keeps getting lower, the harder this will become. Need our injured players back asap to give strength in depth

Injuries galore, and another bad sounding one for Johnny Hayes tonight. Anyone know how long they are out for. Where was Greg Tansey tonight, if he is injured I must have missed that, and does Tel like this cup, as we bowed out meakly last year too - even if it was a weaker team against the tic