nosferatu

That's a point of view I've been hearing I've been hearing for the past 30 years, yet attendances have gone up. Football clubs will follow the facts and reality and not the subjective opinion of any individuals. The use of phrases such as "TV's bitch" are utterly meaningless. The use of such aggressive language does nothing to make your point, quite the opposite. And my point about the bigger clubs wanting to play each other in a smaller league rather than have a bigger league is totally independent of TV money. TV money in Scotland is a fraction of a club's income in Scotland compared to club's in England. And the formation of the smaller leagues in Scotland in 1975 was years before any significant TV money hit the game.

On the contrary, the facts speak for themselves. Attendances over the past few years in Scottish football are at an historical post 1950s high. higher than when Scottish football was a European power. higher than when we had a lot more domestic competition. higher than when there was no football on TV. higher than when gate prices were far cheaper. and higher than when we had a large top flight. Take a look at the history of Scottish football attendances yourself.

Back in 1968, Scotland were the equivalent of number 2 in the UEFA rankings. The previous 2 decades had seen a wide variation in clubs winning the league title and cups. Scottish clubs had excelled in Europe with the Old Firm both winning trophies and clubs like Kilmarnock, Dunfermline, Dundee & Hibs all reaching the latter rounds. There was no football on TV, entry price was extremely cheap and ground capacities were massive. You could say it was the pinnacle of Scottish football on the playing field. And we had a big top flight... Yet attendances were lower than they are today... And attendances continued to fall, even during the Aberdeen & Dundee Utd new firm era which Scotland back in the UEFA top 2 rankings and had a national team which had world class players and qualified for major tournaments. You say that the game is dying, yet attendances in Scotland over the past few years are at a historic post 1950s high for most clubs. The game isn't dying and the bigger clubs won't ever vote to replace games against their main rivals with games against Alloa, Cowdenbeath, etc..

Stuart, I addressed the issue of "fans" questionnaires earlier. Folk say one thing in surveys but do something different in reality. Celtic is a great. To a man they will say they don't miss Rangers, don't want them back. But their gates have fallen through the floor. The sort of folk that complete these surveys aren't representative of wider football audiences anyway.

Groan.

Yes, I totally agree that you are a clueless twat.

If you're going to steal my patter then please note that adding your usual load of smileys lessens the effect

Seriously, it takes someone of immense stupidity to think that its easy to open up airport parking... Faraway = exhibit 1

Don't be so harsh on yourself

Cos if it was that f**cking easy then you'd have opened one as opposed to asking me such a f**cking stupid question!

I'd suggest that Charlie Adam, Scott Cuthbert, Paul Dummett, Paul McGowan, Conor Newton, Graham Carey and Isma Goncalves were all pretty decent...

I'd suggest that Graham Carey is best deployed on the right hand side of midfield. Cutting in from the right and shooting is where you can get the best out of Carey.

Indeed. Fans need to realise that we aren't in the top flight anymore. Back in 76/77 we had Donny McDowell & Derek Hyslop. I think they scored almost 30 league goals between them that season as we won the league. But they were swiftly replaced once we were in the top flight. I have no idea if we are actually interested in Matt Cardle or not but the fact is that he is proven quality in the league we are now in.

A quick check on twitter suggests that the Raith fans thought that Cardle was fantastic...

More folk will turn up to watch Dundee Utd play Hearts than to watch Dundee Utd play Alloa. Its not really about greed. Scottish football club owners don't make money out of it. Quite the opposite in fact. What its really about is what most punters actually want to watch. And while you get these fan surveys which indicate folk want a bigger league... The reality regarding what they will actually turn out to watch is quite difference. TV money doesn't matter. Clubs will never ever vote for an 18/20 team league in Scotland. Ever.

Hasn't done much since winning the X Factor so not sure if I'd take the gamble.

I'm pretty sure its something the club would have thought about before now. I'm also pretty sure its easier said than done!

I know the number of games work. What doesn't work is the standard of opposition.Dundee Utd, as an example, aren't going to want to replace home games against the Old Firm, Aberdeen, Hearts, Dundee, etc with games against Alloa, Dumbarton, Cowdenbeath. That would be a huge loss in revenue. Scotland's bigger clubs will never vote for that so it will never happen. Similarly, "summer" football in Scotland will never happen. We can have these debates until the cows come home but but neither will ever happen.

Do you really think that John McGinn will really give a shit about Saints fans following him fondly? Professional footballers have a short career which could be curtailed by injury (eg, a spearing). He needs to make as much money as he possibly can and the last thing he'll be worried about is what any Saints fans think of him!

Every single Celtic fan on PNB is a clueless twat

Chris Iwelumo went abroad as well?

^^^^ anger

What makes it so funny is your rage and anger

We need another couple of defenders at least. Think we also need another out and out striker. At the moment, Thompson is our only out and out striker. We need another to partner / cover / compete with. Losing Thompson last season was a disaster and he's another year older now. If we can sign players for these 3 positions then we'll have a decent squad.

"apparently" and "expect" = "doesn't actually know"