Yngwie

"The state of Scottish football" As in, top of our qualifying group, unbeaten? I know what you mean, we aren't very good at club or international level. The reality is we are a small fish in a big pond. From about 1960 to 1990 Scotland punched above their weight, perhaps helped by the fact that an awful lot of countries weren't nearly as serious about football as we always have been. I remember in the 1980s countries like Greece and Turkey would get rogered 6-0. But they quickly caught up. As a small country, once or twice in a generation we will get a handful of top class players and the right manager, and get some success. Over the years the likes of Belgium, Hungary, Norway, Croatia, Bulgaria, Ireland, Sweden and Denmark have all had their moments, then usually reverted back to their natural position in world football. Ours is probably 40th-50th in the FIFA rankings, just outside qualification for tournaments. Once in a while we'll get there, but to have any expectation of success is just asking for disappointment if you ask me.

My missus went for 2-1 at 13/1.

Hey, we might get a point

Oh Frick. This is not good. And scoring goals is not our strong point.

Tuffey's strategy here only works if he gets a loan to a club where he will be first choice. So realistically his agent needs to find an English lower league club that isn't happy with its current keeper and has a chunk of its salary budget unspent.

Well done to the Under 21s for their last minute win against Austria earlier. This means they have won their qualifying group. Rather harshly that just puts them through to a 2 leg play off rather than automatic qualification for next summers finals in Denmark. One of the most memorable finished to a match I've attended was in similar circumstances a few years ago. The U21s needed a win to reach the play offs. They were 0-2 down to Lithuania with 10 minutes to go before going all out attack, Steven Hughes getting an injury time winner.

Whilst I applaud any judge who jails Rangers fans, that was a strange and ill informed comment he made. What about the 1996 IRA bombing of Manchester city centre, injuring over 200 people, causing about £1bn of damage and requiring the complete reconstruction of a large area?

I can't decide whether you are some sort of genius or whether you just have waaaaaay too much time on your hands. Given that Neale Cooper never played for Scotland, I wonder if the Indian FA were aware of his eligibility?

What on earth happened, did they call up Lionel?

I just googled Bellend to find out, but the results weren't particularly helpful, sorry.

Given the name RobsonisGod, it must have been about 2002. Unless it was 1999 and you were being ironic.

Agreed. I think 8 of that starting line up been with Rangers at some point. And I still find it pleasing to see an (ex)ICT player in the national team.

I first came to CTO in the late 90s (2nd division days) when the company I worked for introduced this newfangled thing called the "internet". The forum was relatively quiet in those days, and a key part of it centred around identifying pre-match pubs to meet up in, along with directions/parking for all these exciting grounds we were often going to for the first time. I recall a sudden upsurge in activity on Feb 9th 2000 with visitors from other clubs' websites congratulating us.

Oh ****, it gets worse. Word on the street is that the notorious Summer Wine Crew are going, and they ain't happy about these other factions muscling in on their territory. Apparently they will be popping a few scones and drinking loads of tea before wading in to the action, armed with their full arsenal of dated and predictable jokes. Stay well clear .

Like it. Surely, though, Rosscoe's ultimate recognition will come from a much higher authority than we are talking about here.

On that basis I suppose you have already earned the honour of being an OBE. Obese Beer Expert.

Like yourself Scotty - enabling ICT fans worldwide to have petty but heated arguments on a public forum since 1994

We played them on 4th August 1985 (Billy MacDonald testimonial) and on 3rd November 1986, if I remember rightly! But the Aberdeen players mentioned date it much earlier than that, perhaps 1978-81? If it had been 1980 onwards I'm pretty sure I would have been there and would remember it, but I don't recall anything.

The size of the pay-off being offered usually persuades the player to have his contract cancelled.

The only way to end this sort of argument would be to play our games behind closed doors. As an added bonus, there would no cause for dissatisfaction with the pie kiosks, the stewarding, the announcer or the car parks.

What rumour, the one you just started?! Given that we were unsuccessful in the last few days of the transfer window, this kind of move would make sense so I wouldn't be surprised. The lad just needs to stay free of injury and it could be a great step for all concerned.

I'm sure all ICT fans are delighted that he sorted himself out and is back in football management where he belongs. Everyone deserves a second chance. Well done to Huntly too for taking a risk that many other clubs wouldn't. I'm sure they won't regret it. And if Huntly have another Ross Tokely, Pele knows where to send him.

Only 10 minutes left now. Thought we might have got even a decent loan deal.

Ooooh you bitch!

No need to apologise, you were absolutely correct with that! His mail order wife is more your age though.