Shallow Dave

Okay; no problems mate. I'm more the Clash than Elvis Costello, BUT I did have "I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea" firmly in my head that weekend! Pre-internet days. Not important. Ten days time is important- I'm a scientist, not a historian...... SD

My recollection was that I went to the final with the knowledge that this would have been Tom Boyd's last game for the club, for sure. Whether he had signed for anyone on 18th May 1991, I cannot comment on. Having written this, I cannot remember whether I stayed the night in Glasgow (Broomhill) or in Paisley, where I was studying. I do remember an absolute fluke of stepping out of the Glasgow train at Motherwell on the Sunday, to catch the open-top bus driving by. (Maybe it did the one-way system a dozen times.....who knows?). Happy memories. Here's hoping we do a Tottenham with the Cups ending in ones (1s)! SD

In some respects, it will be a normal Saturday for me. A month ago there was a chance that I would have been in the Warrington office w/c 16th in which case I would have hired a car and driven up; a few weeks ago likely I would have been onsite in Tianjin which would have meant a fast train to Beijing to catch the game in a pub there. However, almost certain I'll be in Shanghai now. Game kicks off 2200 local, which is ideal. No chance of any Scottish 'delicacies' a la square sausage etc. Must make mental note to buy a good malt for the day. Despite the fact that this place is ex-pat central, I've yet to meet a Sellic fan here. (I was in Hong Kong at the time of the 2007 DUFC/RFC CIS Final and the atmosphere was superb in the bar. Hvns, very lucky to win, IMHO (big Mark Kerr mistake), bought everyone in the bar a Jaegermeister afterwards, including the one Arab fan and the one neutral (me). I would expect the Tims to be similar here, if there are any; maybe they are all still in Sevilla.....!) Probably watch the game in either the Park Tavern or Bulldog Pub. In a city that spans 90 kms, both within a 20 minute walk or a 30 pence metro trip. As I mentioned on another thread, I just don't have the bandwidth to risk watching online. (Well, maybe I do, though the authorities severely restrict access as Andy Harrow also points out). As others have mentioned, cannot underestimate the achievement in reaching the final. Strangely, I think playing Sellic away next Sunday may help us. In any case, I hope everyone enjoys the day from start to finish. Think I may be the only 'Well fan in a city of 19-23 million. (If not, please PM me!) Ho Ch Min City, merely 8 million has double this..... Enjoy! SD

More than half, I think; because of the dug, To be fair to Davie, he's only a four hour boat trip away from Asia- to Haifa in Israel..... SD

Guys, Thanks for the advice, though the bandwidth has seriously deteriorated here since it all kicked off in the Middle East...... CN authorities turn a blind-ish eye to commercial premises doing proxies. In their interests and in the 'big picture'. What I can access in a pub is not the reason they banned YT in the first instance. Adult sites are no longer blocked; seriously. Since January, BB has directed his attention elsewhere..... I've just watched Yabba's SF highlights in the protected forum and it has taken 15 minutes for 7 minutes of feed. I just have to accept the situation, else take the laptop to Hong King. (Or, better still, visit Mr & Mrs Harrow) It's the system. To be truthful, I didn't come here to watch the internet...... But, thanks again! SD

Syd, As I've mentioned elsewhere, Stewart Henderson; 'Hendy' out of the delgados and their 'Fourth Man', cellist Alan Barr; 'Barzo'. They were some indie-schmindie band from the mid nineties to the mid thousands. They do, however, own their own record label, Chemikal Underground, and they are doing a fine job. Sadly, most of the other decent local music acts (yourself excluded); Teenage Fanclub, Mogwai, etc appear to be Tims. Perhaps get a celebrity band five a side on the morning of the final for the show.....? Cosgrove may have yet to interview them all, though he did do M Jackson in the past....... Greetings from the 'hai..... Don't think I'll make it back for the Final.... Cheers SD

Yabba, Nice one! Not sure where I'll be- could be onsite in Tianjin; which would mean a hotel stream and maybe a blocked ISP. If I'm home in Shanghai, I know a pub that has a proxy, which I think is reasonable speed, though I will check beforehand. Hey, I've maybe got myself deported in writing that..... That means, I make the game after all..... Was a real chance I could be in Warrington office w/c 16th May; doubtful now as project has slipped. Great gesture, anyway mate. Any chance of an avi/mpg file of Sutton's goal somewhere? E-mail or a file share? Chancing it, I know..... The BBC clocks my IP address and Youtube seriously banned over here. Cheers SD

Tory Prime Ministers; assuming no assassination/coup/sudden illness etc: 1952- Churchill 1991- Major 2011- Cameron Don't know who was in when we lost the big finals. but, as always, the internet is your friend here.... SD

I disagree, personally I think B & K going has helped our club. Neither, in my opinion would have made the recent loan signings that have re-vitalised our season. Lennon, and his colleagues, have tried to completely undermine the fairness of the domestic competitions. Perhaps the SFA/SPL/SFL/whatever are easy targets and Sellic can afford better laywers..... in short Brown is (allegedly) at worst, a liar whilst Lennon and co are much, much, worse.. When we last won the Cup, we beat Sellic along the way. I can't see why it should be any different this time. Just my RMB 10. SD

Jo, Sent another PM; didn't see your reply in time. If I am not on site in Tianjin, I'll show you the city in a few weeks. If we don't meet, try and find Oscars Pub (1377 Fuxing Zhong Lu) as Linda the tiger girl is absolutely stunning! Otherwise, it's all good in the city! Regards SD

Shallow Dave is in town, though going out to watch bands at Yuyintang in about an hour's time. Have sent a PM though cannot help regarding any streams..... Enjoy! SD

I do see your point, sir/madam! However, the way I see it, one half of the OF want to be Oirish whilst the other half supports Engerland..... SD

Close, though it has to be Motherwell. The Scotland fans are generally okay, mainly non-OF, which is good. However, I hate the badge-collectors and the endless debate about points for the supporters club. BORING! And in Skopje, most were twats. We were told that in no way would Scotland fans be allowed in the home end. However, most of them still got kilted up and were singing 'We'll be coming down the road' 20 m from the gate. I got in because I was plain-clothed and can speak a bit of German. Prepared to flash the old Swiss bank card and claim a true neutral. One of my mates wasn't so fortunate. Most fans were so pished that they didn't realise that Macedonia was hard-core communist less than 20 years before, and it's not like it's Austria where a flash of your scroates can help win over the locals..... Rant over! SD

We did have this guy, in 2000. From memory he wore the famous number that was the bus that ran from Wishaw to Glasgow, via Cleland......this taken from his Wiki page: [Known to enjoy his night-life and his appreciation of the opposite sex, he remarked: 'I would not sign for another club, not even if I was offered 15 million dollars. However, it would be different if they were to instead offer me 15 different women from all around the world. I would tell the club chairman: 'Please let me make these women happy - I will satisfy them like they have never been satisfied before'] SD

For me, it ended at about half past two. Those dirty, filthy, sectarian scumbags were venting their normal nonsense, within 10 metres of my seat, and neither the Rock-Steady neanderthals, nor the police did anything about this over the next two and a half hours. As I mentioned elsewhere, this concerns me far more than a would be SPL of ten teams. Of course, I didn't enjoy the first five minutes of the game. My overwhelming memory is more of the nasty atmosphere off the pitch, than anything on it. So, please let's GIFRU these animals! It's long overdue! SD

Same for Jas Weir, who went on to be captain of St Johnstone. Nowhere near the best player in his year at Braidhurst, though he did have a bit of bulk that the others didn't have at the time. He did start on a YTS, though and I think a bit fortunate to get full time.

Another quote from one of the delgados- this time big Hendy- "You can sprinkle chocolate on a shite, though it's still a shite". My opinion is that it is TV that has ruined Scottish football. Bigotry is the next factor and the number of teams in the top league is even less relevant. I have a mate, now near Sheffield, who takes a great interest in the club. On Saturdays, when I am normally at YYT watching bands, he gives me regular text updates. At the moment, he's far more interested in the club than I am. But he didn't take the trouble to travel down to Llanelli, approximately half the distance from Lanarkshire, as the game was on S4C. I was really, really angry with both the Nancy tie and Gannon's first game at Airdrie, so I was desperate that we got through the first Euro tie in 2009. But it wasn't a big deal for Jim- as he'd rather "spend the disposable income on a few swallies down the pub". Remember when Channel 4 started showing Italian football on a Sunday and what a relevation that was? Now, we can see almost any meaningful game on the planet, either on TV or streamed online. I don't have Asia's equivalent of Sky; ESPN/Star Sports, as I cannot justify the expense versus my travel committments. But, I do understand those who do as over the season, it does offer value for money over the complete season. Sadly, I cannot offer any tangible solutions. TV money from Asia will make the EPL and English leagues more powerful in future; fact. That it is easy for talented Scottish players to go south, due to language and culture is also fact. I do think that a league without the Old Filth would be an improvement, though would the clubs have the bottle to implement it. Hopefully just one more media comment from Lennon may tip the balance in their favour..... Finally, too lazy to get the exact quote, though I have to disagree with the poster who stated that the Championship is full of shite clubs. But, hey, the internet is just the internet, isn't it.....? SD

OP, I can't get your survey to load as my ISP blocks it. Wish you all the best with your research. Regards SD

Do I detect a typo? Don't you mean "There are too many parties that ruin the game"? SD

Kat, I worked in Grangemouth for six years, lived in Stenhousemuir. When we had no game/Sunday game, I'd go to Brockville. Have to admit that McAlister's goal against Huntly was one of the best individual goals I've ever seen live. But, there are some bitter fcks that support that club, for sure. I'd forgotten the Airdrie thing- that's a retort when the subject is next raised..... SD

"Football is pish- all footballers are dicks". Almost exactly 10 years ago, in January 2001, Alun Woodward of the delgados coined this phrase at a concert at The Fruitmarket. It was certainly prophetic..... Trouble is, I've re-quoted this phrase via e-mail several times over the last few months. There is so much wrong with the Scottish game at the moment. The unpunished antics of Dr Death and Hannibal Lennon. A betting inquiry where some Scouser has laid a bet of GBP500 that there is a red card in a Motherwell- Hearts game- at 10-1. Whoopy Do! Declaring a game off five days before it is due to be played. The FJW as manager of the national side; 4-6-0 and all that. Strangely, the Brown/Knox thing doesn't actually bother me. The sheep are welcome to them. I just can't see a way out of this. If I was living in Central Scotland, and a current season-ticket holder, I just couldn't renew next season. But, folks- some good news: yet to hear anyone having a pop at state of the the pitch, this season! SD

It wasn't so long ago that we were last in the league and not relegated. Likewise, we went into administration, made dozens of employees redundant, and didn't receive any tangible punishment. There are many fans who hate us for this; although though those were the rules at the time. Believe it or not there are some Falkirk fans that hate us more than The Dirty Fifers. SD

I agree with the last few posts; correct decision. If you're the manager of a football club and you've a player who no longer wants to play for the club, then you punt him; simples. So, it's surely similar when your manager no longer wants to manage the team; contract or no contract? Agree there could be some deal done that we never know about. Similar to Weeyin's comment, business is business. Let's move on and not to be seen as whinging cnuts. It's not as if we play in green and white, is it? SD

Almost responded to the other thread; the one with the 'ironic title' which may disappear elsewhere, so I'll throw this in: I seem to recall Sydney Devine having a run-in with the club over something printed in the Evening Times at the time. Who acted as solicitor for the club?- a certain TV commentator called Jock Brown..... Now, I don't know whether Jock is alive or not. He did strike me as being far more odious and supercilious than his brother. But, as they say, "it's the quiet ones you have to look out for"..... SD

Regarding Leitch, can't see any action myself. Scottish football is in a mess and any organisation has to justify every position/role. And, for the first time ever, I've agreed with a Chick Young blog. It is relevant to the discussion. (Still think he could masturbate for the nation, however). http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/s...rem/9247843.stm Why employ Leitch? May as well employ Valakari, in my opinion. I'm old enough to think that modern 'famous' = 'well known' and 'well known' = 'has Twitter account', so we'd be crazy to employ Leitch on any terms. Besides, he's probably got a few months wages in the bank. My opinion: Leitch=Lasley= overrated. Each to their own; mai wen ti! SD