EastStandWellFan

Seems some on here have contracted the Old Firm disease of referring to it as a diddy cup. It's a trophy - one of only two we have a realistic chance of ever winning. That makes it worthwhile as far as I'm concerned. And for the Old Firm and their aspirations of winning the treble, well it's not so diddy then is it ? In any event, the draw is at 2pm on Tuesday. Stuart.

Possibly time for a response from Flow on this one. The apparent "sweeping under the carpet" by the club is causing a lot of anger and disappointment. Stuart.

Would sum up one of the reasons Scottish football is in the state it is if the organisation responsible for the tournament is sending out emails that the draw is on Tuesday when it's going to take place today ! Stuart.

I emailed the Scottish League this morning and was told the draw is expected on Tuesday! That should give them enough time to sort the ties the way they want them Stuart.

Yes, but this is an RIP thread for a former player. I don't see the problem with people wanting to pay their respects - it matters not that Paul played for us over 15 years ago or that he didn't win any honours with us. That's not the criteria for people to show their respects. We have a stand named after a player who won more honours and is more closely associated with Rangers, he didn't even play for us at the time of his death - but he contributed to our club and was appreciated for what he did while he was with us. I think though that any mark of respect before a game should have taken place by now and to do so now would probably be inappropriate. Stuart.

I think Lukas Jutkiewicz was mentioned earlier. Other one might be Kieran Agard. Stuart.

Daily Record I'd read the article again before calling one of our players a plank Stuart.

This thread would not be complete without mentioning John Philliben's injury time equaliser in the Scottish Cup at Tannadice - 1994 if I recall. Shame we lost the replay - but when Softy scored it was pandemonium. Stuart.

7-1 is the sort of score you would have expected in the "old days" before you had a sub keeper you could bring on if your first choice was sent off. Rotten start for Smith but he can console himself that he's earning a decent amount of money (presumably) - still think this was a strange move for him and agree with johnstone that obcurity beckons. Stuart.

If you can't afford it......erm don't go. Where do you draw the line - the unemployed, students, OAPS whatever don't get their shopping cheaper at Adsa, they don't get half price tickets to go see Springsteen or U2 at Hampden, they don't get cheap flights etc, etc. Without getting into the whole benefits issue, the money they do get should be prioritised and I wouldn't have thought a football match was a priority if your kids are starving or you can't put a warm coat on them in the winter. Been said before that football is in the entertainment business and as such it's a luxury not an essential. Sorry if that's a bit harsh but I'm paying for a wedding this year and, amongst other sacrifices, have had to draw a line at going to away matches (Perth on Saturday was my first since November last year, and only because it was the first of the season) - as much as I'd have loved to go to Llanelli or Bucharest I couldn't. Different from being unemployed etc but we all have to cut our cloth according to our individual circumstances. In any event - football IS overpriced in this country. Five euros for the match in Nancy ! Stuart.

All the other Rancid staff were too busy with the 17 page (I kid you not!) special on the Celtic-Arsenal game. scott_mfc - I totally take your point, not all journalists are lazy - far from it. In a former life I worked at stv and know how often the likes of Raman and Gerry McCulloch were on the phone to SPL clubs and their various contacts. Also, anyone watching ESPN's coverage last night must have been impressed with Derek Rae's research on the SPL. He was never my favourite commentator before he went to America, but I thought he was excellent last night and being so well versed in the teams playing meant he at least sounded as if he knew what he was talking about. I digress..........there are too many lazy journalists though who get basic facts wrong - not opinion pieces which we can argue all day long about...basic facts. I wish I had a copy of the article from The Independent (I think it was) which carried a match report in its early editions of a game which had in fact been postponed due to the weather ! Stuart.

Financial cutbacks don't explain a journalist getting names wrong (using the example with which I started this thread) - FFS the names are actually printed on the back of their jerseys and they are supplied with a full team list prior to kick off, confusing Humphrey for Jennings has nothing to do with financial cutbacks and everything to do with lazy and/or poor journalism. As fatcalf points out this has been going on for years, and it's not exclusive to the print media. How often did BBC's website list Steve McGuire (aka McGarry) as one of our players. I'd argue that it is laziness - best example being the recent episode where Neil Cameron in the Daily Record referred to our tie against Llanelli as our first European match in 13 years. I emailed him pointing out we played Nancy in the UEFA Cup last year - and in his reply to me he admitted his mistake while confessing that he had been at the Nancy match ! You couldn't make it up !! Stuart.

Watching the highlights of the Steaua Bucharest game on Eurosport, the commentator (not sure who it was) referred to Paul Shane throughout the match. We also had Chris Coke (at one point he actually called him Christopher Coke !) and James O'Brien (though to be fair I think JOB is actually listed as James on the SPL squad lists). Point is though - this is what these guys get paid for, so the least you should be expecting is that they get the names correct. So long as it affects the "diddy" teams they'll get away with it. Can you imagine if it was Kris Boyle or Adrian McGeady ! Stuart.

Sad to hear this news. Coming so soon after Paul McGrillen and Brian McLaughlin - an all too familiar pattern. Thoughts with Mark's mum and the rest of his family & friends at this time. RIP. Stuart.

Step forward Richard Winton (I think your brother Dale would have been a better bet) of the Herald. Easy mistake - confusing Chris Humphrey and Steve Jennings Stuart.

Your last bit is the only part I agree with. Stuart.

It's a Netherton thing . Far too much sense spoken by those of us from there..... Stuart.

Sheridan replaced Porter. Sutton "replaced" McCormack. Clarkson has just gone. So we are two down on where we were at the end of last season, and realistically we are only one down as Sheridan was pretty useless most of the time. There is no point in JG rushing a signing through - he's clearly stated that he is building a squad for more than one season.........and there are still two weeks to go before the transfer window closes. Does anyone seriously think that JG is not working on getting strikers and a right back in place. Give the manager some credit.......and put a bit of trust and patience in him. Stuart.

That's the bit which is really upsetting again. I didn't see Brian play for us - there was a spell in the early 80s where I wasn't going to matches but was following the results every week. Very sad to hear of his passing. RIP. Stuart.

Patience. Stuart.

Obviously it's too early to say JG is a legend but I think it's inidicative of the feelgood factor which he has instilled early on that people are positive and upbeat - more so than you would expect at the start of a new season. I think a lot is down to the fact that we lost a manager and a number of key players so there was a bit of "where are we going to end up?". Boyle has played a blinder in appointing JG and the Europa League provided us with THE best pre-season we have ever had - a six game run in Europe, some brilliant performances, emerging young talent......ok we only won 2 out of 6, but we've played 6 competitive ties before the SPL starts and there are definite grounds for optimism after those matches. One way or another, I'm sure this will be another roller coaster and I cannot wait !! Stuart.

Stuart.

I've taken us to win 3-1 on the BBC Predictor. I have been really impressed with JG and his team selections though the Europa League matches, his tactics have worked well (particularly in the second legs when he has had a chance to suss out the opposition - I would assume that his meticulous planning will have involved him and/or PW watching St Johnstone play pre-season). I expect us to come out flying and playing some really positive stuff - remember how blown away we all were at Love St for McWho's first game in charge - a goal after 3 minutes - still cannot believe that was the end of the scoring. Team selection is anybody's guess - but I'll go for Ruddy O'Brien, Craigan, Hutchinson, Hammell Reynolds Forbes, Coke, Slane Sutton, Murphy Really looking forward to the new season. Stuart.

I'd agree with that - anytime I saw McCarthy (admittedly only against us) I was not impressed. On the subject of "too many midfielders" signed by Gannon - Jennings, Humphrey, Coke and Hateley.......bear in mind we lost (from last season's squad) Hughes, Malcolm and Klimpl..........Fitzpatrick and Smith appear to be well out of the picture and the jury must be about be deliver their verdict on McGarry and Lasley. With the emergence of Forbes and Slane I think we are shaping up to have the strongest midfield we have had for many a year - and this is an area where so many games are won or lost. We do still need to strengthen up front and bring in a right back - but nobody needs to tell that to JG. Still plenty of time before the window closes. Not something which should be rushed. Stuart.

I'm a bit mystified by all of this. The Dundee story has been circulating for a few days and after Hammell was on the bench for the Flamurtari demolition a lot of people seem to be reading into this that he doesn't fit into JG's plans. I don't see it that way at all. While I still don't think we have seen the best of Hammell since he returned I think he is far too good a player not to be in JG's plans. My take on this is that JG will use players to suit his tactics/formation in a given match - because a certain player doesn't feature in the starting XI doesn't mean he is out of favour. It's all about horses for courses and Jim seems to be more than capable of working out what we need. After all, Jamie Murphy scored a hat-trick against Flamurtari, then was on the bench for the trip to Bucharest but started in the home leg ! Would be disappointed if Hammell wanted to leave or if I have called this wrong and he isn't part of JG's long-term plans...........but I'm willing to put my trust in a manager he appears to know what he's doing. Stuart.