Laurence

I don't think they need grannies I think the only proviso is that if a player plays for England he must wait 5 years before returning to his home country

As John Mackenzie ( the founder of this topic ) has not been well lately I would like to take the opportunity to wish him a very speedy recovery. I hope we win the cup to cheer the guy up a wee bit,

As a Qualified umpire I can only say that LBW decision was a total disgrace. If Iwould have given that in the Lancashire League I would have been sacked from umpiring any more. Also I am quite surprised that a very good Irish team is not in the mix. Having said all that I feel that football has gone too far in widening the finals . I got shot down in flames on another forum for suggesting the same. Scottish cricketers and Irish cricketers can qualify to play for England as Owen Morgan and others have proved. Arguably although born in India Douglas Jardine ( a Scot ) ranks amongst the best captain ever to lead England . I would be happy to see Dorrington and possibly Sharif qualify for England.

To be quite honest I have no love for Rugby Union. I am not too bothered about a sport that needs 30 players on the field at any one time. I see it as a sport for upper class public school boys, or was once. My view is that as a professional sport they should look to reduces the wage bill, by following the format used by Rugby league and having no more than 13 players on both sides. When rugby is at its best , the teams have room to pass, and the game is not controlled by grunt and bang forwards. The ruby sevens show this. Regarding the hype I suppose living in Scotland I respond to the frenzy generated by the media, for anything that is a challenge for Scotland. : when I lived in England there was far less media interest in the matches between the two nations, if there was I never noticed it. As far as I am concerned they can chop up the sweet chariot for firewood. Nice to see the Emerald Isle on top.

thanks Charles

The old Vale of Leven too

When I have longer than 5 seconds , (incidentally it took George Jones of Bury less than 5 seconds to score against Notts County in the F A cup ) . I digress I will delve further into my complete history of British football to see when next a local team appeared in the Scottish cup rounds proper Was the Bon Accord club ( defeated 35.0 by Arbroath ) An Highland league club or was it the forerunner of Aberdeen ? Thanks to Charles for his input most appreciated

I noticed in my record book the following which was news to me Not Caley Thistle, but certainly Inverness and certainly Thistle Scottish Fa Cup Third Lanark 9 Inverness Thiele 3 1893 - 94 Third Lanark were a 1st Division team Sottish FA cup 1896 -97 Dundee v Inverness Thistle 7 - 1 Probably the first time an Inverness team played a team still playing

The commentators at the Rangers Celtic match claimed the fixture was the oldest in football. I was very dubious because I though Celtic were not in competitive football in the early days. I got out my history books and noticed that in a competitive match - The first derby with teams still playing today ( In either England or Scotland ) was a third round Scottish FA cup fixture , between Rangers and Partick Thistle Date 1878 -79 Rangers went on to get to the final at Hampden, drew 1. 1 with Vale of Leven. Rangers failed to turn up for the replay claiming they scored the winning goal in the first match which was disallowed. The SFA awarded the cup to Vale.

Derby games are surely a good thing. The Interest they generate in the locality makes the season. better.

Charles as he usually does , sums up the so called glory hunting , perfectly My own observations are the same. I have noticed that people will attend these matches, with their whole family. Several people with the usual normal supporter. On my way back from Hampden I was sitting next to a guy who never or very rarely went to a match , But he was thrilled to have been at the Final. When Ross County made there final did they not say " The last people to leave town switch the light off ", Sometimes you just can't get a ticket, when Bury played Liverpool at Anfield in a later round of the FA cup . I was desperate to get a ticket. But a sign at the ground said "sold out " , I did manage to get one as I knew one of the players, who got one for me.

Just listening to Five Live on my Radio. Chris Sutton on Inteview opening Gambit said and I quote 2 A great adver for Scttish football " unquote

I am a dedicated Rugby League man , I played at colts level up to 18 years old. I played in the same league as Rochdale Hornets who were a big team in those days , No Chariot for us lads, we had to go to matches on the bus,. I wasn't being critical of the Scottish rugby union team, but the way the press hype up the matches. As I said it doesn't do the players any favours , who need to be relaxed to play what is very tactical and dangerous game.

You have to remember that this match was broadcasted on Sky TV , to many countries throughout the world. I am sure that the situation in Glasgow would not be on the forefront of viewers minds, As a Milan Derby would not be registered by viewers in Scotland, should the situation be reversed If we are talking about poison, look at the West Ham United fans , who stormed the pitch during the game yesterday .

I thought yesterday the United Liverpool game was a great match but Today the Glasgow derby was sensational game , Rangers in the first half put in a shift . I thought that it was great entertainment for the neutral and the more committed spectators , some of the defending was pretty poor, but it helped to put on a spectacle of the first order. Great stuff and a good advert for Scottish football

Running the line ? you will maybe get a game

Sorry

Did Terry Butcher pay over the odds in players pay ? Charles Did John Hughes not leave because he could not meet the players pay demands? In American Football, winning the Super bowl and getting the ring is known as the curse of the super bowl ring. Success has to be matched by a pay rise. My feeling is we couldn't reward the players for winning the Scottish cup, so those who could left. Cup winners expect cup winners pay

There seems to be a lot of naval gazing going on All teams in this league consider themselves too good for it ( Brechin City excepted) - There are positives to the season , but we tend to dwell on the negatives. In football just keep the flag flying there is always another season. Did anybody really want to make the play-offs , hand on heart. To perish on the rock of Partick, Ross County , or Hamilton. Even if the Gods smiled on us , Next season would be a nightmare. WE need to rebuild has have St Mirren , and go up with a good side. . I am glad we seem to have avoided a play-off at the other end of the table. Raith Rovers or similar would not be easy.

I should like to add my thanks to the club the Chairman and the staff of club for the efforts and skill in keeping the club active and to some degree solvent In what is without doubt difficult times. The past is the past and there is no good to come from dwelling over actions taken last season , it is over with. The future is what it is all about in sport, or more to the point the here and now. I know we all apreciate the fact that without good professional people at the helm the club would never get bak to its former status. Thanks again to the Chairman for taking time out to speak to the supporters.

Still it continues by day and by night - going back to the Scottish rugby topic , My neighbour a dedicated follower of Rugby Union in Scotland was devastated by the recent defeat in Wales , after the hype preceding the game .In fairness to go to Cardiff and win was a big ask . Now they are to take on the French in Edinburgh . More hype , I think the media put the Rugby lads under too much pressure. I hope the team can rise above it, but time alone will tell. . K O 3pm Sunday I believe

Speaking as a one time Owen Coyle fan ( When he was at Burnley ) I now think he has lost the plot and a good deal of his confidence , No I don't think Coyle will save County, but watch this space as they say.

My view for what it is worth, If someone held a gun to my head and said " if you get it wrong I will shoot you" . I would say , "County will come bottom and we won't win the play off." Even if we did get into the shoot out, I feel Partick or Hamilton would be just too strong for us at present. Following our games against Dundee in the cup, we could pull off an up set, but I wouldn't put much money on it.

Summary 14/01/2018 1st ODI down under The Pom's win Roy (180) breaks Hales' England ODI record (171) Highest ODI score at MCG (beating Mark Waugh's 173) Roy was reprieved by DRS on 91 England lead five-match series 1-0 Aus 304-8; Finch 107 (119 balls) M Marsh 50, Stoinis 60

Just got home from a 2 weeks vacation in Brighton Went to the Brighten v Watford game at their New Stadium but joy no tickets left complete sell out Anyway A happy New Year to all I hope you get all you would wish for yourselves and your families God bless Laurence