RicoS321

Exactly. Given the opposing position is "we need to move on", both sides are a stuck record until the evidence is actually presented. Ten Caat, as for the Pittodrie street services, I'd guess a million or two? I suspect Stewarty's housing developments are rarely held up by such a concern. But the fact that we don't know is the biggest concern. The fact that, as fans of the club, we haven't been presented with a statement of cost for the ground to be re-developed. £35M is a lot of money for re-development of Pittodrie, and that's the non-Pittodrie-sale-related funds being found for Kingsford. I'm certainly surprised more people aren't against this. If this were the hun being moved from Ibrox by Dave King (or Hertz with Romanov), we'd all be laughing at them getting screwed.

Hemmin. Who removed this thread? Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

2-2 draw with Dunfermline sees Hearts go out in a group with 3 part time teams. Hilarious.

It's never been tried. Insurmountable apparently. Unlike bussing 6,000 people out to the sticks every week. It's amazing how quickly the hurdles were written off as impossibly large when discussing re-developing Pittodrie when those facing both Loirston and Kingsford are seemingly simple inconveniences. I'm not suggesting re-routing Pittodrie street is any way easy of course, but it certainly isn't an avenue that has ever been explored in detail. Even turning it into a single lane, with zero parking on one side (and zero on either on match days) would greatly allow room in what is a reasonably wide road (4 cars wide currently). Anyway, there are plenty of reasons why it would be very difficult, just as there are plenty of reasons why Kingsford is. The problem is that we're not looking at the two side-by-side, and what little presentation given of Pittodrie is not given equal weight.

If you don't see the connection between the shenanigans at Ibrox and the demise of Scottish fitba, then that's because - as you admit - you haven't followed it. Don't disregard history, as you say. I'm with you on the Milne thing. In terms of Cyprus, they've been ahead of us for years. This isn't something new. We've had years to get used to it, and so it's no longer the argument as we are we are today. It's no different to understanding that we can't pay higher than championship teams anymore. I accepted that years ago and adjusted my expectations then.

Fit's wrong with Cyprus like? Got a few decent teams in their league. Scottish fitba has been shite for years, we have no right to beat teams from Cyprus.

Siroki caused us problems because we were way off the pace and it was our first game. Apollon were controlling the game the entire second half up until they got their man sent off, and I think we may have gone on to lose another if it'd been 11v11 for the full 90. They were working their way closer and it wasn't a surprise when they got their goal (McInnes unfortunate that he couldn't make the change in time). Agreed, they didn't exactly batter our goal with shots, but they certainly showed enough to see that they're better than anyone (bar the Tims) we'll face in the SPL and that they're good enough to beat us if we're not careful over there. I suspect we'll see a back 3 (or two with O'Connor in front) and maybe even McLean as the striker over there. It'll need 90 minutes of putting them under constant pressure and putting them off their game to keep them from scoring. We'll beat them though, as they didn't like it up them on the break.

Exactly. They just take them differently to us. Maybe one of them was a foul throw last night, but the majority weren't. Although I'm surprised we haven't adopted the technique in the UK, because bending yer heid forward allows you to direct the throw quickly to a player's feet as opposed to the loopy shite we've perfected, which gives the opposition time to close down and the player an awkward ball to take.

Think yer drunk. They were a good team like. We didn't give them a moment's peace for large parts of that game. The moments we did, they moved it quickly and very well. The boy's cross for their goal was top drawer. Need to keep it tight over there, I'd consider keeping the back five that slowly got us back in the game. Some fantastic performances tonight, the front three of GMS, Christie and Stewart fantastic in the first half, McLean and O'Connor coming onto very good games in the last twenty. Consi and Lewis solid as always, with Arneson, Wright and Stockley decent enough from the bench. Shinnie, however, was fucking immense. That's a captain's performance. The very harsh booking didn't stop him for one minute, he covered the entire pitch and capped it with a peach. Only one poor performance tonight for me, and that was Maynard. Way off the pace, breathing out his airse. I'm hoping that tiredness was the only reason he appeared unable to control a ball or play football in any way at all. He was Storey bad tonight. That position gives us a big dilemma at the moment. I think it could be the difference between us going through and not. Rooney still the best at the club.

That isn't a statement of fact, because you're entirely incorrect. You don't need to argue whether it's old,new Rangers, it's entirely irrelevant. Argument doesn't affect facts. A new club applied to become a member and Dundee were given Rangers' SPL membership. That is a statement of fact. No demotion of any club. That is also a statement of fact. I could capitalise "fact" if you think that'd help? Seeing objectively and sensibly has nothing to do with anything. It's a cut and dry case of right and wrong. Decades of legal fights and arguments would have no effect on AFC whatsoever, just as Inter Milan haven't been adversely affected by Serie A's decision to do the right thing. If it turned out that AFC cheated to win the ECWC in 83, or even the more recent/relevant 2014 league cup, I'd want that title stripped. That's not a punishment. Everyone had their enjoyment from those occasions, and will remember them fondly. It's simply a case of updating the records to acknowledge the cheating that took place. The absurdity that title-stripping is a punishment and that it can, in some way, reverse feelings that occurred on a day many years is a strange myth to be perpetuated. It's simply an updating of history to reflect new evidence. Think of it as a bit like removing Jimmy Saville's knighthood.

Good shout. I'm imagining some screaming idiot (me) hopelessly trying to remove a sock through a shoe while abusing fuck out of the team before finally realising that it's nae working, removing a shoe and having the thrown sock blown straight back in my face. Like the mongs that throw their scarves at the pitch after a bad result only for them to land about three rows in front, or those that throw their season tickets away (the old books, nae the identifiable modern cards) in disgust on the final home game of the season.

A new decision, not new evidence per say. The first court (tax case) ruling dubiously exonerated der hun (actually, it wasn't dubious, it was just technical - and recognised as wrong) from any breach of tax rules. The SPFL/SFA swiftly moved to appoint Lord Nimmo Smith and form an inquiry despite the fact that the HMRC had already registered an appeal. Like all whitewash inquiries, the terms of the inquiry were severely limited and were hugely influenced by the findings of the initial tax case. Several people at the time suggested (myself included, so it wasn't like you needed to be an expert to notice) that the LNS inquiry could only produce limited results without waiting for the final settlement of the tax case in court. That was the case (I believe that to be deliberate opportunism in terms of the timing on behalf of the SFA/SPFL). The tax case was finalised recently with the hun losing spectacularly. In that case, it was ascertained that the players signed would not have signed for them if they had not been given the EBT loan - i.e. massive sporting advantage was gained - they couldn't afford them otherwise. That was not recognised in the LNS inquiry, hence the paltry fine for an already liquidated company. No other punishment was handed out. Newco was handed a ban on signing new players upon being given favourable membership of the SPFL (i.e. bypassing the normal required process) and was ordered to pay all oldco's previous footballing (transfer) debts. There has been no official recognition of Rangers' cheating with regard to signing players with a side letter to gain sporting advantage. No punishment has ever been handed to them for this.

I have my red socks on. If we don't win, I'm ripping them off and throwing them on the pitch in disgust.

Aye, yiv pretty much nailed it G_G. It's all about sport. If it was Aberdeen, I'd want the titles to be stripped too (obviously that would have happened on day one). I'm very surprised there aren't a lot of huns up in arms about it (I'm not). The fact that the shite BBC continually portray this as some sort of Tim issue means that it's difficult to get anything done. If it affects our game negatively - it won't - then we have to accept that that is the price of integrity.

To be fair, you have said that about every single player that has signed for us over the last few seasons. I reckon you might be right this time though. I'd start Maynard too for what it's worth. Can't do any harm.

Yep As expected - and deliberately designed to - the original LNS shite stifles any attempt at taking further sanctions. The only course of action is for those people that, sanctioned the enquiry - deliberately - to take place prior to the matter being resolved in court, to stand down. That is what fan's groups should be entirely focused on now. Where art thou DST? One statement does not a protest make.

Aye. Bojack Horseman also?

A bit disappointed? It's fucking disgraceful. Who does he purport to represent with that shite? Certainly not the fans of the club he's chairman of. "We all have to work hard in getting everyone focused and pulling together" This is the political bullshit phrase de jour. Whether it's this hun bollocks, Brexit, independence/non-independence, Kingsford, the Grenfell inquiry, Hillsborough or whatever, it's fucking disgusting. It's basically saying "don't stand up for anything you believe in, don't have principals, don't have an opinion, we know what's best for you". No-one should "pull together" on anything, ever if they don't believe in it. They should continue to voice their concerns, their opinions and their grievances until the evidence proves that they shouldn't. It might be in Milne's best interests to sweep things under the carpet, but it certainly isn't in the best interests of AFC or Scottish football.

I assume Tansey was to replace Jack, or McLean playing deeper. Shinnie will just do what he did last season (he's like a higher-class version of Flood). I think that suits us better, as there were many games last season where we just didn't need Jack's protecting role. I think Stewart will replace McGinn just nicely. Similar player, can ghost past a man and play in a decent ball as well as having a decent finish. He was headering the ball on occasion last night though, he needs to cut that out - heading's for the big lads. So we haven't replaced Hayes really. But GMS will be decent, and we'll just have to cope. I think we're a different team without him, but I don't see that as a bad thing. We can easily change our style to accommodate, and overall I think the freshness of the team will help us out as teams could often work us out pretty quickly due to the fact that we've been playing the same for a few seasons now. I'd still like to see Moult here. I think we really need to ship a few out, we don't need unrest or too big a squad and we need to make space for the youngsters. I'd like to see the Storie/eys shipped alongside Stockley if we get Moult.

Agreed. Stockley isn't the answer to anything, and the more we keep trying him, the less effective it becomes. It was far too easy for them for long spells. Maynard didn't do much when he came on, but you're right, he stretched them and made it difficult for them at the back. Anyway, fantastic result. Very much deserved. It was basically like playing Hearts. Kicky and shite.

Hmmm. Nae too bad. Stockley providing nothing. Stewart starting to look good, with some lovely bits of skill, just need to get him on the ball. GMS nae been great, hasn't really beat his man yet. Is it too late in the game to sign Moult? We've got fuck all up front, and Rooney was gash last week. I'd get Maynard in there, or take Rooney on for GMS and go for two up front.

Showing now, thank fuck!

Same here. Through VPN obviously, but surely they haven't cut off that source?

Listening to Cosgrove at lunchtime and he made some excellent points about it. Revealed his own pay too, of £41K for the off the ball shows and lunchtime appearances on John Beattie. He was quite humble that it was a large payment for what amounted to around 8 hours per week. Much in line with what was said here, Lineker a nice chap with a decent twitter account but as an auto-cue reader, he was exceptionally poor value for money. Interesting that this appears to be being made into a male v female (Cosgrove mentioned the minorities v whites factor too) argument rather than an argument of over-payment for all. Maitliss, Kuensberg and so on are all vastly overpaid for what they do. He also made the point that the BBC shouldn't ever be saying "well Sky/ITV/BT etc will just offer more", which I agree with. The BBC should set the level it wants and not be dictated to by others. Much in the same way as it's news coverage shouldn't be dictated by what stories are covered in the tainted press. It stems from the top of the BBC though and - to be fair - it takes place in other public/charitable organisations where CEOs get paid "the going rate".

I hope they kicked fuck out of some Croats.