big cherly

I don’t think England were totally outplayed culduthel, they were 50-50 for 65 minutes but were found wanting in the last 20-25 mins. It was in Englands tool box to grasp a place in the final however they came unstuck (for me) for the following reasons:- Tactics - Tuchel tried to ‘shut up shop’ by substituting flair / speed for bulk. Players - Englands top players went ‘missing’ in this period. Ie they were either too exhausted or mentally drained to take the game onto /into the Argentina half. Easy to say/ see with hindsight but England just came short at the very top level of football. I feel if Tuchel had brought on Rashford and Watkins instead of Burns O Reilly then the outcome could have been different. Ie Argentina would had to deal with running attackers and that would have released the pressure on the defence. Three great goals, a intense & somewhat ‘in your face’ and absorbing match, with the presence of a once in a lifetime truly world class player, then with the atmosphere you have a contest unparalleled in any other sport. Best team won on the night. England just short of what was required to get over the line. bc

I agree and understand the consolidation point. I know most supporters don’t give a toss, however I will add we also need a succession plan in place ie 3 and 5 year framework. If we are to limit or mitigate catastrophic cliff edges (of past yore), then this subject should be on the Boards agenda. If they act like the past and think that’s for the next Owner and CEO, then we’ve learned ZIP. On field activities and success or failure run hand in hand with the off field ones. AS has and is doing his bit (within the limits of the budget (+ emergency pot)) he has set himself. A two or three year run in the CHPS would better the club’s position for better outside investment. Avoiding relegation this season must be the priority. Anything else could put us back more than I care to consider. Just putting it out there as I feel it’s relevant. bc

Good subject and post Luddite, The timing is right as whilst predictions about how ICT would/ could get on the CHPS when we won promotion was in full swing, we had no idea what the player pool would really be come August. I’ve not seen any match so far but the posts back from those that did indicate we are a bit away from being at the level required to compete (and importantly win) in the CHPS. Have we enough quality to replace or improve the player level from last season ? - Far too early to say however I still expect a couple of players to come through the door. Personally I believe we will be tested a lot more defensively, and whilst the goalie and back four will do the heavy lifting here, strikers and the midfield cannot go missing in this task. Kells role in how we get on will be important. He has had 20 odd months under his belt now and gained enough experience to take the players he has to come up with the best tactics and game plan to get results, (ideally a few draws away and victories at home). Ultimately I’m optimistic we can secure ourselves in the ‘middle-pack’ knowing promotion ain’t going to happen, but get results that keep the threatened two or three relegate teams 4 - 6 points below us. A good season 26-27 season for me is fifth (think it’s possible). A poor one is eighth. bc

Quote on P&B ICT posts today: • CTO = main stand weirdos • P&B = The North stand legends I’m fine with the top category as the auld fuss pots around me allow me to blend in easily. I take it the poster in the North Stand has sat in Main stand to be able to make an opinion? Thing is I started out in the young team shed a million year ago but crept ever-so slowly into the gentleman’s arena of not standing in the rain for a Pie & Bovril. I leave it with there’s always a seat available in the Main stand for legends to gravitate too 🤪 bc PS - Wiznae at the match.

Play, repeat !! bc

Watched what I thought was the best advert for football so in this WC. It takes two teams to make a great match and Egypt deserve much credit for their part in the game and their willing to attack with speed when the opportunity presented it! The game was kicked into life when Egypt scored early in the match. A penalty miss by Messi (who despite scoring the equaliser, I thought showed his age and had a poor game), just added to drama and tension. The final 30 minutes of the match were absorbing with the final goal a great cross and header. I feel the thing that got Argentina over the line were the Argentina fans. The racket and support when their team was ‘down’ was nothing short of remarkable. bc

The new away strip looks like what the old lags would be wearing when they are transferred over to the new prison when it opens. bc

Pile the pressure on this cretin Infantino. The Spanish league (La Liga) president Javier Tebas has called out FIFA (or by implication) Infantino with their ‘complicit silence’ on the Balogun CARDGATE shameful debacle. Well done Tebas and the La Liga. They have the balls to call out this crap behaviour for what it is - Simply corruption and the effrontery of the rules. I wonder if our national football executives, President Mulraney and CEO Maxwell have the spine and courage to put their heads above the parapet and denounce FIFA. Well, thinking about that, that would need a stiff drink and something they lack; vision, conviction and spirit! I bet Infantino was secretly praying and cheering on Belgium against the Yanks. His skinny a*s must have been twitching in his seat before Belgium secure the victory. PS - Tried feathers for breakfast today but couldn’t swallow any more FIFA bile. bc

Agreed, I said the post below when the Somalian ref was ‘pulled’ then later the soul of the game was getting taken away from its fans. With the clear corrupt manipulation of the rules, (under the order of Trump), Infantino has simply sold any self respect or reputation he possessed for personal greed and self interest. He has debased the greatest game the world has known and it’s clear now anything pertaining to the rules can be bought. Utterly SHAMEFUL and SHAMELESS. The damage done in undermining the game may be impossible to repair. Ie Arabs, Far East and influencers like Putin seeing what’s possible with corrupt individuals at the top. I can’t express my contempt for this act and individual in proper terms. bc “ What a cretin Infantino has shown the football world he is. It seems the norm now that football authorities put more emphasis on their own image, recompense package and pensions ahead of the game they are supposed to care for, develop and present in its best light”.

Pre season friendlies are ‘Exactly what it’s says on the Tin’. Unless there was a particular player or team I was wanting to see I tended to give them a miss as they are normally hard work on the eye. 0-4 to our close neighbours serves some purpose I imagine in that it’s a clear wake-up call. To use one of Kells post match comments - He’s learned a lot today and we need to be better attacking and defining. Good, that’s the objective! Expected improvement to follow. bc

Scotty rabbits on rubbish most of the time, so don’t feel alone disagreeing about his crazy posts. I put it down to far too many maple syrup pancakes and watching a rich duff big city team with the trapping of privilege. Misses a tepid bovril and rock hard pie of a February mid week game I suspect! 🍁 (glass house bc)

Putting aside he singlehandedly saved England from a certain defeat tonight with two great striker goals (2nd one world class IMO), the art of conning a referee is now part of the ‘craft’ for just about every player without exception. L Sole and big Chanka were at it in just about every game they players last season, so while I would rather it is pulled up by the refs, it is now part and parcel of the game now. Apart from his two goals Kane was a die-vin git and would have been send off had a good upstanding Scottish referee umpired the match! 😃 bc PS The DRC would have gubbed us I feel !

Struggled through the SA - CAN match last night. Dreadful spectacle but pleased Canada won. South Africa’s tactics appeared to be kill the game (for most of the second half with umpteen pass back to their goalie) and draw CAN towards them, then when the opportunity presented itself attack with speed. The thing for me was SA appeared to be the more skilful and quicker team. If they had simply attacked CDN more then I believe SA would have got through. Glad they didn’t seeing the antics they displayed. No wonder a great number of fans were booing SA! Canada were no great shakes however (reminded me of most Morton teams) and they’ll have to improve if they wish to stay in the tournament. I’m not sure if Oluwaseyi was the Canadian centre forward last night. He had the mobility of a broken washing machine IMO and made Chanka Zimba almost gazelle like. Looking forward to the JPN - BRL being a much needed injection of attacking football. bc

I don’t want to criticise the individual as he was just the latest person to have to deal with a almost impossible task, which was to develop and progress a national team that could take the next step of qualifying to the knockout out stage of the Euro or WC tournaments. I give credit to Clarke for having the common sense to know his time ‘had run’. It’s a statement (to anyone listening IMO) we neither have the organisational structure, people running the ‘show’ or players with the requisite ability or skills to take us to that level. When to take in the populations of the major (successful) footballing nations then it’s clear numbers (players -competition-standards) count. eg GRM - 85; FR - 70; ENG - 60; SPN - 48 Million. Of our WC group, BRL-214, Morocco-39, HTI -12 M. Equivalent Euro countries with Scotland 6 million, DMK -6, SWD -11, NWY-6, BLM-12, IRL - 6, PGL - 11. Belgium and Portugal has proved that with the right vision, structure and people (weather may also be an important factor here), it is possible to compete against the ‘big’ countries. The WC has proved that ‘small’ nations can however can provide exciting football, Curacao the prime example with there flair and quick moving football. They came unstuck of course points wise (2), however was an example (to me) that an adventurous approach is more appreciated than a Don’t - Loose one. I think ‘adventure’ wasn’t in the Stevie Clarke training manual. It only happened by luck. So to close, good luck to Mr Clarke if he wishes to continue in football management. There will be clubs willing to use his talents and experience. For Scotland (and more importantly its fans). the challenge and expectations need to be kept in check. Ie what is realistically possible. Thats not to say don’t stop the tartan army having a great time at tournaments when we quality, quite the reverse, their brilliant ambassadors. The only thing I would do is change the model (and leaders) at the SFA has for the development of our young players. The current one (employed for decades) has not worked or progressed your players skill set IMO. I don’t wait in great expectation! Thats it off my chest!! bc

Pretty accurate assessment of our national team’s performance I thought (Just dirt) ! 😆 bc