tom_widdows

This is only a theory and I have little knowledge of former Yugoslavia but I threw the birthplace in as a possible factor to the success of a sports team. Could have absolutely fuck all to do with it but based on my family being born and raised in england is quite different to being born and raised in Scotland. I am surprised at how parochial and generally ignorant many english people are about anywhere outside england and moreover how they are perceived by other countries. Ergo is it possible that players who were born and raised down south where scottish football is belittled and patronised will not have the correct mindset to actually represent the country? Anyway as for the current scotland team, wikipedia has a 'current' squad plus a list of recent call ups which can be treated as a comparison. it is also possible to pick qualifying squads from previous tournaments. Perhaps this would be better moved to an actual thread on the scotland squad? edit Quick scan of the 'current' scotland squad plus recent call ups. only 2 players have played at under 16 level. That goes up to 4 when its under 17, and 5 at under 18. A handful started at under 19 or under 20 but the majority started at under 21 or went straight into the squad. Some represented england at under 18 & under 19 level. As per my earlier post a large chunk of the croatian squad have played from under15s right up to the full squad. Is this merely a coincidence or a big factor in the success of their national team. Iceland is the other country to consider. 1/10th population of Scotland and yet qualifying with relative ease for last 2 tournaments.

By any chance do you know many of them started either started their careers or have at least played for a croatian club? With the exception of the swiss and austrian guys all were born in the former Yugoslavia. Edit All but two of them started their careers in Croatian football. Also large chunk of that squad started playing international football from under 15 level so have been playing together since they were at School What are the stats with the Scottish squad in terms of schoolboy internationals?

The boy who works in my local takeaway has put his money on them to win it. His logic is 'they are all Croats' ie every single one of them was born & bred in the country (not actually sure if that is true given their age there is a chance they were born in other parts of the former Yugoslavia) and sites the example of Celtic 1967 Has anyone done any research into the demise of the Scottish national team and looked to see if there is any link to the number of players 1) Never having lived in Scotland 2) Never having played any football in Scotland) 3) Not having an 'actual' connection to Scotland (IE the one Scottish grandparent may have died before they were born) Scotland squad for France 98 (22 players) 12 Scottish club players Of the non Scottish based players 6 had started their careers in Scotland 19 were born in Scotland Scotland squad for Euro 96 (22 players) 11 Scottish club players Of the non Scottish based players 8 had started their careers in Scotland 19 were born in Scotland Reached the playoffs for Euro 2000 with similar squads and had the team not seen fit to throw away a 2-0 lead against the belgians would have made the playoffs for Korea/ Japan Potentially a massive piece of ignorance here but the consensus I have is after Craig brown left the habit of picking non scottish based (and perhaps even non scots) became more prevalent.

Given the bullshit the rail companies are pulling down in Englandshire it could end up being a very smart decision

Don't recall people giving Calderwood's tombolla eleven much hope against Dnipro (believe they were actually one of the favourites to win the trophy that year). A fairly average hearts team gave Liverpool a fright not so long ago Much prefer Burnley to Atalanta or AZ Alkamar as at least for me anyway there is a bit of excitement with this draw As long as the Dons put up a proper fight I'll be fine.

Shame about the result but did anyone else get to enjoy the whining on 5live's coverage? Chris Waddle & Terry Butcher throwing more than toys out of their respective prams.

I think everyone is annoyed by dementia

suffering from a dislocated showlace' or something along those lines French players acting was pathetic as was the referee. Had that ref been in charge of last nights game then Spain's first goal would have been disallowed. Had high hopes for the refereeing when I heard Collina was now in charge of it but instead its more of the same. The game has gone full circle from essentially being allowed to break players legs to being hauled up for having bad breath.

The use of the phrase 'thoughts & prayers' when people feel the need (or are 'forced') to comment on some sort of disaster/ tragedy.

Doesn't surprise me as no matter how much people say 'we are all in this together/ everyone is equal' there will always be those who seek to maintain a class system and wealth is one of the key drivers 'greed is good' etc etc The only thing that does surprise me is the transport companies (and other estabishments) have not had a severe PR drive and removed the word 'class' from their services/ facilities. If you rename them say 'bronze ticket, silver ticket, gold ticket etc then for me anyway, it doesnt seem to carry a label. I'm perfectly happy buying 'bronze' tickets for Ice Hockey games (don't see the point of paying an extra few quid for the gold and silver) but I was a tad pissed off when my GF was given a free upgrade to 'business class' on our flight to Melbourne (due to the flight being overbooked) whereas I was kept back in 'economy class' Could be wishful thinking but i think it would have seemed a but less painful had the attendant had said 'heres a free silver ticket' for your flight

It is said 'waiter's' alleged response of 'its my choice who I ask' which is the red flag. My follow up question would immediately be 'Ok, and what prompted you to 'choose' these passengers?' Going out on a limb here but I would not be surprised if sexism was also part of this person's personality but his assumption of any women in the 1st class carriage would be their 'big rich husband' would have stumped up to give the 'little woman' a treat/ keep her in the manor she is acustomed to and so on.... Just adds to my dislike of Virgin trains

Is this perhaps a response to a potential UEFA plot to have the Champions League final kick off at 3pm GMT saturday kick off?

I'm open-minded to Miller in a Dons Shirt. Just thinking back to Calderwood bringing a 40 year old Craig Brewster out of retirement as an 'impact sub'. 3 goals in 7 appearances (according to wiki) and he set up the equaliser at Tynecastle which effectively guaranteed European football. I also reckon he would be a significant weapon against Gerrard's barmy army. Doubt it will happen though

would it perhaps be more interesting to add a further category 'what will you miss least?'

The World Football Cup has kicked off in London - Tournament for Nations not recognised by FIFA such as Tibet, Northern Cyprus, and for some reason Yorkshire. As an experiment the Refs now have the option of dishing out green cards as well as the usual reds and yellows Premise of the green card is the ref can send a player off but the team is allowed to bring another player on to replace him, essentially a forced substitution. They haven't explained the criteria for the green card so I am presuming it would be as an alternative to a second yellow for dissent and it would mean losing one of your 3 substitutions. The cynic in me reckons should this be adopted this would be the end of red cards for two certain teams

Just throwing it out there Louis Moult was plucked from mid table english conference and the consensus from many folk is last season would have been so much better had he turned up on Pittodrie in a red shirt. Dean Windass was plucked from a Hull City team which had just been relegated to league 2

Yer not the only one Also noticable that Madrid went to diving/time wasting tactics after the first goal only to buck up their ideas immediately after the equaliser. Really cannot stand spanish/ italian/ brazilian football

Glasgow police will probably be happy about this one Nothing to do with suddenly needing to find 6000 additional full price season tickets to plug a gap/ buy Gareth Bale etc

Be interested to hear from you if the Kiwi's have changed their licensing laws since the 2006 world cup. Was quite irritating being chucked out of their pubs just as a game was going to extra time although it was satisfying finding a nightclub 3 doors along from the said pub which was showing the England v Portugal match extra time and not taking the time to tell the angry mob of england fans who were threatening to riot on the streets of Wellington. Got to watch the game on a 14in portable telly hung on a bracket in the corner too so it was very nostalgic. Personally I reckon Russia will get pumped out of the group stages

Livingston Promoted. Partick were shocking over both ties and Connor Salmon showed that for all the hype he has had over his career he just isn't a goalscorer

If so I doubt anything will happen until 29th May at the earliest and depending on whether or not Coventry turn over Exeter at Wembley.

'The Young Person's guide to becoming a Rock star' box set now available on All4 Hadn't seen it since its original run in 1998 and its one of my favourite ever programmes. Quite fun spotting the areas of Glasgow, particularly the bits they try to pass off as London. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/young-persons-guide-to-becoming-a-rock-star

I like to think of it as a no lose situation Motherwell win - GIRFUY Celtic win - 2 weeks extra rest for Dons and less chance of a Bohemiens/ Skonto Riga incident. But I will be hoping its a Steelmen win. I like to think Rodgers grip on the SPFL is starting to crack and not winning the treble would nicely stock the paranoia of the Tic given they shipped 24points from last season and lost that unbeaten home record. Should they fail to make the Champions league (or better yet the Europa league) the natives will start getting restless.

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Freddy Ljunberg Roy Keane Kolo Toure Joey Barton Niko Kranjcar All turned up towards the end of their careers to much 'excitement' and press masturbation and were found wanting. One really robbed celtic blind too. But then again footballers are not known for their intellects. I do admire Defoe but my cynical mind says the EPL refs give alot of protection to their players which even with OF bias is not the same North of the border. I feel a certain Mr Brown & Mr Shinnie and most of the Motherwell & Hearts team would give him a welcome he hasn't experienced since his youth days. Torres ain't leaving Athletico Madrid for anything other than an MLS pay off. I had to google the other one