DoofersDad

What a lot of rubbish has already been said about the World Cup draw! It is to be expected that the Scots have a moan about how lucky the English have been with the draw, but the surprising thing is that the English seem to think that just because they avoided France and Portugal, they've got an easy draw. They haven't. Now that all the initial knee jerk reactions have been made, it is maybe time to comment on the draw based on the facts

The facts are that England are in a tough group and they are statistically more vulnerable than any other top ranked side. Two go through from each group so it doean't really matter how strong the second strongest team is. A strong 2nd team will have a bearing on the likelihood of winning the group but it is how strong all the teams are that matters in terms of how easy it will be to qualify. It is qualifying rather than winning the group which is the most important thing.

The average FIFA ranking of all the teams in the draw is 25.125. In England's group the average is 21 with only group H (Spain) at 18.5 and E (Holland) at 20.75 being tougher. So it is not any easy group.

In addition, England (at 9) are the lowest ranked side of all the highest ranked teams in the groups. If you look at the difference between the ranking of the top ranked team in the each group and the average ranking of the other 3 teams the average difference is 26.8 but in England's group the difference is only 16 making their group the tightest of the 8 groups. Of all the teams that are the lowest ranking sides in their groups, Slovenia, at 33, are the highest ranked side.

The other sides in England's group may have no great international pedigree but, based on current rankings, will all provide a stern test for England. It is Italy who have the easiest group and it is worth noting that all the other sides in England's group have a higher FIFA ranking than all the 3 other sides in Italy's group.

Based on the facts, perhaps the anti English sentiment could change from moaning about England being lucky to looking forward to England's early exit due to them being in tough group.

Utter farce of a " draw " , set up for the big boys to progress and keep the tv companies happy .

The TV companies are happy when a lot of people watch the games. If the TV companies are happy then that suggests the fans are happy too. With 2 going through from each group there is plenty of opportunity for the less fancied teams to progress.

It seems as though we have the nucleus of a pretty good team and there is not a lot of squad rebuilding required - although we certainly need more in the way of defensive options. It is not all doom and gloom. People should keep in mind the first half of the Alba cup final when we totally outclassed the team that is generally regarded as the favourites to win the league. Remember too, that away from cup action, we are the leading scorers in the league.

What I think we do need to rebuild is the team spirit. I don't know what is going on behind the scenes but the kind of spirit that used to be a feature of the team just isn't there. There is far too much blaming and not enough mutual encouragement when things are not going well. There is not the same level of competetiveness on the park as there used to be. Perhaps fitness levels are also a factor here as the players in general do not look as sharp as they used to be in the Brewster days. And it seems to be the old guard that are most at fault here as one certainly can't fault the effort put in by the like of Foran, Hayes and Rooney.

If we can improve on that and have somebody whisper a few words of tactical wisdom into TB's ear from time to time, there is no reason why we can't make good progress for the rest of the season with only minor personnel changes.

Come on Smee. Put us out of our misery.

When are you going to tell us if the contestants were right or wrong?

Think positive. Inverurie Locos in the 5th round.

Dundee did well to overturn a 2 goal deficit to beat us last week and Burnley fought back from 5 - 0 down yesterday to only lose 5 - 3 to West Ham. But these comebacks pale into insignificance compared to the the antics of Soham Town Rangers in the Division one - Midlands of the Zamaretto league (formerly the Southern League).

Last weekend, away from home, they were 4 goals down after only 20 minutes but fought back to draw the game 4 - 4.

Yesterday, at home, it appeared that they had learnt their lesson. Far from being caught cold again, they raced into a 4 goal lead after only 28 minutes.

But had they really learnt their lesson? Not a bit of it! Remarkably, their opponents proceded to repeat the comeback of the previous week with the game again ending 4 - 4.

Does anyone know any comeback stories to match that?

I know that folk have said there there were reasons for Hastings leaving ICT, but the left back position seems to be the major weak link in the side at the moment whilst Hastings goes from strength to strength in the SPL for Hamilton. In the Sunday Times today the match report identified him as the star player in the match against St Johnstone. To rub salt into the win, Morais, who scored for the saints, was given the highest ratings for them. How we could do with the two of them still playing for us!

Home again against Montrose would do me as we were in the first round of the Alba cup when we were unable to get the better of them over 120 minutes. This would be an opportunity to desmonstrate that despite the disappointments of the last 2 weeks, we are now a much better side than we were at the start of the season.

If we don't win the league he'll blame the Board for not giving him the cash to buy players and say he's going somewhere where his talents are appreciated. If we do win the league he'll say he achieved that despite the Board not giving him the cash to buy players and will say he's going somewhere where his proven talents are appreciated. Of course, if he gets himself introduced on STV as ICT manager, I might change my mind.

Hear here

Think positive. The last game of the season is the Scottish Cup final on May 15th!

Good thread Northern Jaggie. I like the idea of being able to sit anywhere on a first come first serve basis. It brings together all those who want to make a noise and will help to create much more of an atmosphere. It would be rather like the good old days of the terracing when the atmosphere in some of the grounds was superb. It would also mean that the moaners could moan together in a quiet corner and those who choose to leave before the game has finished can sit at the front so they don't obstruct the view of the rest of us when they get up to leave.

I appreciate that some folk like the seats they have and wish to remain in that spot. No problem - just get there early if it is that important to you. If someone else has got there first, it just means they wanted it more, so good luck to them I say.

No way can we let him go. We do not have many options at the back and as others have said, he is improving and scoring goals. The problem is on the flanks: Tokely is only showing glimpses of the kind of play we have loved over the years whilst Golabek flattered to deceive on his return and is now showing that he no longer has what it takes. There are various options midfield and up front but for me the 3 names that should be first on the team sheet every week are Esson, Munro and Bulvitis.

The lad's probably gutted after his unfortunate own goal on Sunday and the last thing he needs is fans suggesting he should be shown the door. I thought he was one of the best players on Sunday and can't understand why anyone would feel his contract should not be renewed.

Does anyone know if you can give blood after having glandular fever? I was told by a doctor that I couldn't give blood after having it so that, apparently, rules me out.

I expect there will be some period of time after having glandular fever when they wouldn't take your blood but it won't be more than a month or two I would have thought. I had glandular fever when I was in my early twenties and it hasn't stopped me giving blood.

One would hope the club should have something to say about this.

It ought to be in his contract that if he does any pundetry on the box he is introduced as ICT manager.

I suppose we should be grateful that he is not introduced as "former Brentford manager".

I've been giving blood for years. It doesn't hurt, you get to lie down and relax for 20 minutres and get free coffee and biscuits after. It's all quite pleasant really.

There are loads of folk, like Mrs Jnr, who can't give blood for a whole host of reasons whilst there are loads of folk who need several pints of blood during major surgery. There is often a big demand at this time of year so if you can, why dont you give.

Phone 01463 705315 and someone nice will tell you how you can help save someon's life.

After such a brilliant first half, the second was obviously hard to take. But I share the view that even then, we weren't too bad. It was just one of those days. Dundee must have been very grateful to go in at half time only 2 down and still in the game. They were fired up for the 2nd, they got their tactics right, we got ours wrong and they got the breaks. Over the peice we were the better side and they know it.

Of course there are concerns in certain areas which need addressing but let's be positive here. The 2nd half performance, disappointing though it was, represented a massive improvement from the 120 minutes of dross served up in the opening match of the competition against Montrose who are still without a win at the bottom of the 3rd division.

Yes, we are inconsistent, but the average standard has improved by a mile. Sunday's first half performance was a joy to watch and would have graced any SPL game. Well done lads! Believe - we can win this league.

Leave the brolly at home.

There's now a 15 minute video interview with him on BBC.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/8367075.stm

That's a fantastic interview. I'd only ever really seen Pele speak in after-match interviews, when it was the usual cagey, dour Scottish manager stuff - I'd never realised the extent of the humour and warmth and modesty the guy has. It kind of gave me a shiver when he talked about wishing he could have finished his career at Inverness, like Guy Roux at Auxerre - realistically, it would probably have gone sour at some point, but I still have this dream of us playing fast, recklessly exciting Pele-style football in the SPL.

Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder ??

I'll drink to that

So the replay was ordered because the ref made a technical error (ie he didn't know the rules) rather than a misjudgement or not seeing something correctly. Perhaps Ireland could argue that the ref made a technical error in that he was clearly unaware than handling the ball is against the rules!

So does that mean the Liverpool beachball game should be played again?

Gosh - where to start?!?

Yes - Schadenfreude is not pretty nor is it decent but boy does it make you laugh at times. I had the same reaction to the Hand of God as I am having to the Hand of Henry. In fact the seriousness and earnestness of your post makes me laugh even louder. By the way I should add that I was supporting France through the whole game so I did have another interest in the outcome of the game.

The next biggest irony would be France winning the damn thing in SA. Now that would be hilarious!!

Life and sport, especially football, are not fair - get over it and learn to see the funny side of life!

Oh dear! I knew it was a mistake to reply to such a tasteless post so I'll say what I have to say and simply ignore you from now on.

The sad thing is that not only do you suffer from Schadenfreude, you clearly know you do and take great delight in something which most of us would consider a mental illness. For those who do not know what Schadenfreude is, it is the malicious enjoyment of another's misfortune. The key thing here is that it is malicious. You are owning up to and taking delight in being malicious. That has no place in CTO.

You suggest I "get over it and learn to see the funny side of life". I can assure you I rejoice in the funny side of life but I don't get my kicks from a maliciuos enjoyment of the misfortune of others.

If you think you are being funny or clever by referring to your Schadenfreude (and you clearly do) let me assure you that you are being neither. I will not waste my time pandering to your misplaced sense of humour again but have written this just to offer a friendly word of advice that you seek help for your sickness.

Maybe one day you will "get over it" and learn to see the genuinely funny side of life.

The Hand of Henry type of event occurs countless times every week in football. I just could not help seeing the funny side to it all.

There's nothing funny about it. Regardless of who you might have preferred to win, and whether or not it was deliberate, the fact is it was an obvious handball and the goal should not have stood. Indeed, had the referee or assistant done their job, France would have been down to 10 men. Of course, there was no guarantee that the result would have been different at the end but my money would have been on the Irish.

For the Irish players and their supporters this is heartbreaking. They were unbeaten through a tough qualifying group and were then the victims of a rule change which led to seeding in the play-offs where they were unlucky to be drawn against the best side. Having overcome all of that to outplay the French in Paris, only to then be victims of one of the worst refereeing decisions for years is not funny.

These lads have given their all to try to get to the World Cup finals - a tournament which is the pinacle of any player's career - and for most, if not all of them there will never be a chance to come so close again. To have it snatched from their grasp in such a cruel way is anything but funny.

Anyone with a shread of decency in them will be feeling heartfelt sorry for them and will not be laughing.

The great thing about the Alba cup is that it simply doesn't matter. OK, if we win we'll pretend it does matter, but if we lose, so what!

Let's get right behind the team and enjoy a great day out whatever the result.

I've only joined the forum fairly recently and from what I'm reading here it seems my joining has coincided with a deterioration of the site. I hope this has more to do with the fortunes of our beloved team than my contributions to the site.

Being new and not having experienced the site in "the good old days" I have to say I am rather surprised by the disillusionment of the mods because I think the forum is really pretty good. Of course there are some erses but the common sense, insight, enthusiasm and wit of the majority more than make up for that IMO.

However, I respect what the mods are saying and support any efforts to get rid of those posts that just make you want to say "fer fecks sake". As others have said, respect is the key thing here. But let's not use the notion of respect to sterilise the banter. Lets face it, there are a handful of contributors who seem to delight in making statements critical of the club or players or fellow contributers which are so negative and without foundation that it is hard to believe they are expressing a genuine opinion. IMO these folk are fair game for a bit of light hearted ridicule. I'm sure these folk don't feel bullied by this, instead they will get a wee thrill from having provoked a response. Such exchanges can actually be quite entertaining but the problem is that some folk take the jokers seriously, are frustrated by the lack of objectivity and respond in an abusive way. What should be entertaining becomes unpleasant.

The challenge is getting balance right and it is not a task I envy the mods. How do you maintain the mutual respect whilst maintaining that cutting edge and gentle humour that makes people want to read the posts? There have been a few good ideas posted and I sense a generally firmer line against the few will be supported by the many and will make what is already a good forum even better.

Doofer's coming up from Yorkshire and is hoping I'll be travelling down cos I've got the tickets.