Laurence

Rubber

I wonder what Thomas would think about the use of his name for  very average humour ?.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Crapper

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.

Quote

Your opinion not mine Kings'   -  There were  players on the field who played there hearts out today who should be applauded  -  that is why it is an advert for the game in Scotland , which in general is   on the main is  pretty  average.

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

On ‎26‎/‎02‎/‎2018 at 12:11 AM, Charles Bannerman said:

I'm going to indulge in a bit of mutual back scratching here and also commend the above by DD!

Football's wage structure and expectations make it very difficult indeed for a large number of clubs to balance their earnings and their expenditure. In the case of the two Highland clubs, the ICT situation is as already described. Twelve years in the Premiership, ending in a very precarious financial situation, have only been achieved as a result of being propped up by a ballpark £6.5 million of other people's money - mainly Tullochs'. In the case of Ross County, the actual numbers are a lot less accessible but it's very clear that their twice yearly signing spree and a lot more have depended critically on subsidy by Roy MacGregor and very probably others. I would be a bit surprised if the total over the years is any less than the approximate figure quoted for ICT.

The bottom line is that the Inner Moray Firth isn't capable of sustaining two upper tier SPFL clubs with both (or maybe even just one of them) standing on their own two feet. However, although I believe that the Inverness/ Easter Ross population conglomerate is becoming less polarised due to incomers, there is no way that this two club arrangement is going to change. Indeed I'm sure the SFL didn't envisage the progress made by BOTH the neighbouring clubs they elected in 1994 to the extent that they both need the current level of rnourishment from limited local sources. That progress and growth has created an unsustainable and very precarious situation whereby a twitch on the ICT tightrope or the withdrawal of Roy MacGregor could precipitate a collapse which would see much of what has been achieved flushed unceremoniously down Johndo's aquifer.

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.

Jenny Ryan

Setting up a new tax regime in Scotland is going to be something of a jolly for computer programmers.
Each employer will have to have two schemes, one for those who live this side of the border and one for those who live outside Scotland. Tax offices both sides of the " Mason Dixon line" , will have to be careful they apply the right rates. Like myself my tax is controlled by the office in Bootal, and my wife is subject to the office in Portsmouth. I suppose it is simple to apply a post code to see what tax regime to apply.
Will the very wealthy suddenly become domiciled in England to avoid being nailed by higher taxes. Many of the top earners do have homes either side of the border, I know a rich farmer who is " something in the City ", he spends time in London and lives in Scotland. What is to stop him now saying he lives in London and his Scottish address is just a holiday home.
It can end up a nightmare for people in the border regions who live in Gretna but work in Carlisle. Like a lot of aspects in the government of Scotland there is more to life than the simplistic approach.

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.

My word Charles  Pity you have nothing less to worry about. Like paying the new Income tax rate for the wealthy -

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.

14 hours ago, IBM said:

Yes Kingsmills and the other parties that were in power in Scotland before the SNP that did nothing!

I think to say that nothing was done before the recent times , is being very political to say the least

The  British government going back to  the formation of military roads has done wonders to open up the Highlands and the north to  traffic.  Not to mention the railway.

Amazing engineering feats  have been the order of the day .  I travelled in Scotland as a young boy and it took a very long time to travel between Edinburgh and Inverness.

The full history of the development of the A9 can be seen on line anybody willing can  follow this link

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A9_road_(Scotland

Summary  14/01/2018  1st ODI  down under   The Pom's win

1. Roy (180) breaks Hales' England ODI record (171)
2. Highest ODI score at MCG (beating Mark Waugh's 173)
3. Roy was reprieved by DRS on 91
4. England lead five-match series 1-0
5. Aus 304-8; Finch 107 (119 balls)
6. M Marsh 50, Stoinis 60

http://www.classicsunveiled.com/mythnet/html/lessgods.html

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

6 hours ago, Kingsmills said:

To digress further, just how snobbish and superior is that.

Narrow minded is your  usual insult give it a rest

Nice to see  The Canadians  get  the better of the US.

Not my sport in America much prefer the NFL after my trip to Wembley to see the  Kansas v Detroit game

14 hours ago, caleyboy said:

think they all went to the Caddy reading woodwork whilst I graduated wif fek all from The High. I'm still pretty yooffool as well tho.?

Most of the lads I went to school with ended up in Strangeways  ( jail that is)

Most of them were predicted to do so at the age of 7

That's what I call digressing but it brought to mind  when someone mentioned meeting old school chums . No thanks