Council Juice

Has anyone forgotten that our own gaffer is an Englishman?

They are former work colleagues and Im sure they got on and Terry has crossed a line (which his ex did too, allegedly more than once.) Im sure he feels a bit let down and humiliated. But to answer your question, whilst i might give it a bit to take the raw edge off(ie pull out of friendly but not altogether), I wouldn't let some mug who did the dirty on me take away an opportunity of a life time. I'd like to think I'd be the bigger man and get on with it. None of the playing to the cameras by refusing to shake hands nonsense.

In case anyone is interested here's the Czech squad. Only 1 newcomer to team according to beeb report. Czech Republic squad Goalkeepers: Jaroslav Drobny (Hertha Berlin), Michal Danek (Viktoria Pilsen) Defenders: Roman Hubnik (Hertha Berlin), Ondrej Kusnir (Sparta Prague), Michal Kadlec (Bayer Leverkusen), Jan Rajnoch (Ankaragucu), Tomas Sivok (Besiktas), Jan Simunek (Wolfsburg) Midfielders: Tomas Hubschman (Shakhtar Donetsk), Mario Holek (Dnepropetrovsk), Jan Moravek (Schalke), Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal), Jaroslav Plasil (Bordeaux), Rudolf Skacel (Larissa) Forwards: Roman Bednar (West Brom), Adam Hlousek (Slavia Prague), Tomas Necid (CSKA Moscow), Vaclav Sverkos (Sochaux) Certainly beatable.

I've swung this way as well. He's coming out looking the worst now. It was his ex. Sure JT can be accused of bad ettiquette. But his worst acting cheating on his wife. Thats his real crime. Wayne Bridge is crying that his alleged, apparent slag of an ex(Gudjohson, and a couple of other chealsea stars linked to her) has slept with a former colleauge of his. Would I pull out of possibly my only chance at being 1st choice left back at the World Cup because some *** has hit a taboo. No way! He needs to man up, get back on his horse and just deal with it.

But there's a difference. Like it or not, England and Scotland are part of the United Kingdom whilst France is not. People from other countries find it difficult to understand why the four "Home Nations" have separate football teams rather than a single UK team as we do in the Olympics. It is a very strange arrangement and really we all ought to be behind a single UK national side. But for some reason the UK is allowed to field 4 sides and as part of a so called "united" kingdom, it is not unreasonable to expect that the bonds that unite the 4 nations would mean that we would support each other. As things stand, England is a part of the same political state as Scotland and by supporting England you are supporting a team that is part of the same political state you belong to - that seems a reasonable thing to expect people to do. If Scotland was an independent nation then things would be different. Believing Scotland should be independent is a good reason for not supporting England but is not a good reason for wanting anybody else but England to win. Of course the English media go OTT on the the hype and that can be irritating - but so what? Let them get on with it and good luck to them. If Scotland had a team with any chance of a good showing on the world stage there would be just as much hype. If you can't wish your neighbours well it is a little bit sad. After all, we're more than neighbours -we share the same house! Other countries argue about the home nations being to play whilst being part of a united kingdom. But they have to look of it as it is. A union of countries. Much like the EU only older. Scotland, N.Ireland, Wales and England are still different countries though. Much like the Faroes are to Denmark.

I'd very much doubt anyone that uses this forum gives two hoots where anyone is from. You get people you like and dislike from all walks of life. I've friends from, Ireland, N Ireland, England, Oz and Africa. Work with Indians, Pakistanis, Sudanese. Some of the worst I've come across are from Scotland. As well as some of the best. So as much as racism is not to be tolerated and wrong, there is nothing wrong with the odd jibe. Banter. plastic hatred. I've always firmly believed it is NOT nessesarily what you say or the content, but how you say it and whether it is meant to cause offence, an attack, which is what deems it to be racist anyway.

Look its ok, we understand. It's not your fault your English. Some people are just born that way. Can't be helped.

I guess this weekend will show how many Rangers players are to pull out of the Squad. (I'd say OF players but Celtic only have 1) I wonder who is in Leveins mind as stand by. He says he's not got a list but he must have potential replacements in mind just in case.

Wow, just when i thought we had hit rock bottom and couldn't sink any lower :022:

Not to worry anyway. The English media are doing everything they can to divide the team months before the tournament even starts. Captain sacked, 1st 2 left backs potentially out... The best you can hope for is the team developing a siege mentality.

You could borrow my donkey.... if i had one.

Well he did instigate his own transfer then. Whether we agreed to it beforehand or not. If he arranges it, he is the instigator. We win! Sadly I wish it were so simple.

Going by travel reports and what my mother says (who is waiting in Aviemore until the roads clear etc) the game will be on and the roads should be clear etc. That is unless there is a deluge of snow this very night.

Na I was just crediting Rangers (and Celtic) for tying these events into trying to raise money for Clach. It will bring further good publicity I imagine and that generally helps bring in revenue. And I think ICT should be more proactive with roadshows or at least more vocal about it.

Spot on! I voted no. Simply because whilst I fully understand the guys reasonings, why should he let his dreams be ruined by the actions of some tosspot? It would probably show a more "up yours JT" to let it come across like it's not getting to him. It's a very tough choice to have made. And will probably reduce the risk of any divisions in the squad which was included in his reasoning. I dont really care. But hey, if it hinders the England team.... all the better eh!

Hansen is very coy, if you watch him. Sure he'll talk up the English team and highlight their strengths, but if they fail to do what is expected and lose or draw a game, watch for a wry smile. Very subtle. And often it will be followed by him picking apart any faults made. In a neutral analyst type of course. Doesn't gloat. And it really infuriates the likes of Wright (most ridiculously biased pundit ever) to see all the fallicies of their team picked apart in the fairest of ways.

Its not racist in the slightest. Saying you dont want someone to win as a joke isn't racist is it? Or has the world become so ridiculously PC that we are not allowed to make comment on anything in case we offend? England are Scotlands main rivals therefore it is natural that we dont want them to do well. Forget all the belittling comments from the media and ancient abuse on our land. Its pure and simple rivalry. Of course we gloat about the fact we beat them in 67. We were the 1st team to play them and beat them post winning the World cup. " We won the world cup in 66'" " yeah, then we beat you!" Beating world champions for a team that Im not sure even qualified for the 66 tournament is no mean feat. And its even bigger considering its our fierce rivals. Does any ICT fan ever want County to do well? Would we not find it more amusing seeing them crash and burn? Do Everton fans call for Liverpool to win them premiership? It's a little dig at not wanting the English team to do well. Its half hearted at best. Really no point reading more into it. On one note though, the publicity will have done wonders for their business.

eeewww you quoted black eyed peas... be ashamed... very ashamed!! You knew the lyrics. What does that say? tut tut tut :P

Fifa and the CAS are very different. How often do you hear of appeals to the CAS overturning the Fifa ruling. It seems to happen alot. I dont really have a clue, like anyone else, who is right. Just that the club obviously think they have a valid right of appeal otherwise wouldn't be following it up and paying for it. Marius went to Bucharest. Thats fact. What personal business he had to sort out is anyones guess. Sort out a deal with Dinamo 1st and get them to bid when he had got his contract? perhaps? maybe he just went on Honeymoon. Though I thought most went away from home to do that. Say Rome, NY etc? Perhaps we approached Dinamo or they approached us and the fact he was in Bucharest made it seem the deal was all sorted before he had a contract agreed. I dont know. Nobody (bar perhaps Stevieco) seems to really.

Depends whether money is already invested in staff (ie catering) and policing for the game that day. I'd imagine it would still have to be paid for and therefore it would be in the clubs best interests to get the game on 1st time round.

Looking at that last comment I'd also agree. Good managers would not allow situations like Boyds to appear and would have handled any **** up far more effectively. He'd work out a system to utilise all his players best attributes as opposed to trying to fit them into an ill balanced, ill disciplined, quagmire.

He is bang on in saying that it should be an honour to play for your country and that no one should pick and choose when they can play, however we live in changed times from the Stein era. Players are molycoddled nowadays and get far more leeway right across the board. They also earn alot more than they used to and want to protect their career and salary. Players in Steins era would be hesitant for pulling out with a broken leg. Nowadays if a hair is out of place they're off to see a specialist in London.

Why? It should be interesting to compare the local lads skills with the Rangers youngsters when they train together during the roadshow. Seemingly any player who shows a certain degree of flare and skill will be invited to Murray Park at the end of the season. The roadshow is open to boys and girls aged 7 to 16 years. Can't believe Im saying this, but credit where credits due to Rangers on this one. And Celtic. Not only are they helping out a team in need of the money but giving young kids the chance to impress and earn themselves a career. Wonder if ICT would ever think of doing something like this to get young players to join. Or are we just going to take the left overs? I think we've done roadshows etc in the past. Open trials etc. But we should get involved in anything to help Clach.

My team would be (using squad) - Gordon - Hutton - Caldwell - Berra - Wallace - Thompson - - Brown - Fletcher - - Miller - - - McFadden- - Boyd - I think that's pretty close to our best 11 and i think that Levein will certainly opt for some variation on 4-5-1. The line-up you offer should be great for when we play Liechtenstein, but for the Czechs and the Spanish i think we will need to be a bit more conservative. With the same defence: -------------Fletcher-----Thompson------------- Robson-------------Brown---------------McFadden ----------------------Miller------------------------ Steven Fletcher could also be considered for the lone striker's role, with Boyd coming of the bench if need be. Looking at it again it probably is a little offensive. I'd probably get big Lee McCulloch sitting in behind the midfield and drop Boyd for the games against Spain and Czech Rep. Particularly away from home. Whilst I do rate the striker there can be such a think as being to gung ho. He'd probably be best served as a sub in those games should a change in methods be required. And Lee Mcculoch offers alot at set pieces with his physique. He's had a good season and could do well in sitting role.

It is about time we did stick with a basic idea of strip. Stripes. Blue and Red with black n White trim. Fair enough change the design a little. Move bits about and stuff. But have a core base of the stripes.