zurich_allan

Could see that coming a mile off. Absolute f**king disgrace. No discipline whatsoever.

Re: Mallan, I've been thinking about this as in my opinion he is very talented, but has a habit of doing the complicated things well but the basic things poorly. In the central midfield role, the game often passes him by, and his basic passing / choices are dire. He performs much better with a gritty player beside him doing the hard work. I don't think he should be played as a central midfielder in a 4-4-2. Should be played as one of a 5 man midfield, or played between the midfield and a front man such as Sutton. I'm not blaming Mallan for anything btw, but he has definitely been weak in the position he's being played for the whole season so far, the odd game aside.

At the Winter Gardens? I love that wee cinema! Not seen the film yet, but going on Friday, so hoping it's good.

I think it's more that everybody knows somebody who suffers or has suffered through substance (whether drugs or drink) abuse, and many will also know people who have struggled or had issues related to their sexuality. Criminal conviction doesn't mean people are 'bad' as such either. He was human.

As it goes, I actually think the opposite. I think many people relate to George Michael's death because in spite of his fame he was 'normal' in that he was flawed, he had issues, and yet he didn't hide them, he embraced them. Definitely was a big part of my childhood and teenage years.

Merry Christmas buddies everywhere! Just sitting down after a day of firstly visiting my brother and his family in the morning followed by Christmas dinner at my house with both my parents and in-laws round, just left a few minutes ago. My birthday today too, glad to finally get beer and sit down without having to run about after everyone else!

This isn't an appropriate comparison. Elderslie doesn't have its own legislature capable of creating laws that meet EU standards. Elderslie doesn't have it's own judicial system with judges capable of interpreting and applying EU laws within its judgments. Elderslie doesn't have official measures for ensuring respect for human rights and democracy. Elderslie doesn't have a functioning market economy capable of integrating and operating within the single market. All of those are elements within the Copenhagen criteria (the criteria that is expanded into the chapters which candidate countries to the EU must demonstrate with evidence that they meet prior to a vote being allowed to be taken within the EU parliament to allowing them to be granted EU membership). Scotland has all of those in place currently due to the unique way that the countries within the UK are devolved as well as historical separation of our judiciaries to a massive extent. The only main stumbling block with Scotland applying for Member State status in its own right if made independent would be to have evidence of an economy that it controls independently of the rest of the UK. It would need its own central bank or an agreement to separately control its currency in some way.

Not written on the thread before now, but been interesting to read the mixed opinions. Personally I think it's brilliant. I totally appreciate that both Elaine C. Smith and Jonathan Watson can be like marmite, and indeed in some previous things they've done I've not been keen, but in Two Doors Down I think they've both (along with all of the rest of the cast) played a blinder!

4 points from the next 3 games would be just fine. 6 would be brilliant...

You're right, but they actually changed the wording in the official rules a couple of years back, and the tackle being from behind is no longer explicitly mentioned. I can't remember the exact wording now without looking it up, but it is to do with being intentional, reckless or out of control. I weirdly heard quite a few people debating it yesterday on the basis of if it was or wasn't a goal scoring opportunity, even though it doesn't have to be for a referee to decide it's a sending off. I have to admit, I thought it was a red initially due to the clear intention, but replaying it in my mind I thought maybe it was a bit harsh. Undecided.

Bloody typical. Shooting ourselves in the foot yet again. Could have been 2 or 3 up if we'd shown any composure before now. Need to turn this around.

Just dropped off a few bags of stuff at the west stand. Whichever of you it was that took them said that they'd already filled and emptied a bin of donations, and that was quite early. Hopefully they get everything they need for over the festive period.

It's got palm trees. The Costa del Rothesay.

For what it's worth since I posted the question, I think 8th is realistic, 6th is still definitely possible. Beyond that is unlikely. All of this could have changed in either direction by the time the final whistle blows on Hogmanay though...

Okay, so two wins on the bounce, still 4 points away from the team ahead of us, but with a quite possible result next week against Ayr we could be right back in the mix. Having been hopeless and out of it, we're now bizarrely only 13 points from 4th and a playoff place - stranger things have happened? Relegation? Promotion? Mid-table comfort? Where do we go from here?

Don't like saying it, but the midfield looked a lot more balanced with Quinn in and Mallan out. Not bypassed as much during the game. But then Mallan is the goal threat going forward... Not sure what I'd go with next week.

I said it earlier in the thread at the time; there was no prospect of this being allowed as there was no possible way of securing a conviction. In short, Harry Clarke is a despicable human being for the lies he told and the pain and suffering he has caused, but to me knowing what I do, the lawyers acting for these families are money hungry, immoral leaches who have led those poor families down the garden path when they KNEW, and I'm saying that absolutely categorically, they KNEW there was no way they were going to be allowed to proceed with a private prosecution. Those lawyers should have been honest from the outset and stopped it, it would have been less painful for all involved by not giving them false hope.

That, plus it fills a seat and makes the stadium a bit more full looking.

Damn. I was hoping that when I die, rather than a traditional burial my corpse could be positioned on my seat with the plaque still in place. Cheaper than a headstone...

We're going to win this league!!!!!!

A real shame. My brother worked there for 4 or 5 years after joining their graduate scheme back around 2000 / 2001, and really enjoyed it before he moved on.

It begins....

Here's my view for what it's worth. I've probably played over 2,000 games of football, whether 5, 6, 7, or 11 a side in my lifetime. A combination of regular games, tournaments, and leagues when I was younger. I have once. One time only deliberately targeted another player, and with a late tackle from behind, only after I had been fouled multiple times by the same player (deliberately in my opinion) in the same game without acknowledgement. I instantly regretted it and fully admit I shouldn't have done it. It was frustration, and stupidity. But, I have NEVER felt the urge or need to actually punch anybody on the field of play in spite of having been kicked, elbowed in the face, head-butted, scratched, and squared up to. I didn't even feel the need to do it either of the two times I've had my leg / ankle broken on the pitch. So in my opinion, and again it is only my opinion, there is NEVER an excuse for a player throwing a punch at another, even accounting for frustration and anger. Hopefully it's a one off, let him serve his ban and fight his way back into the team. If he can get back in on merit then draw a line, clean slate.

I would fully admit that at the start of the season I was very optimistic, as 'on paper' our squad is top 6 certainly, and top 3 or 4 arguably on past experience and form. However, the more I've watched, the more it looks to me like the squad haven't been coached consistently in some of the basics of team play such as how to move into space and open yourself up to receive a pass, and importantly how to cover the defence when full backs / wing backs are attacking. I don't know who in the coaching staff is responsible for these specific areas, but they aren't coaching them effectively or the team are ignoring what they're being coached.

So that's that then. Get Jack Baird to fu*k.