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...was the worst day of my life. I was at the 1985 European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels. Looking out of the toilet window and seeing a line of dead bodies being covered with blankets by the police was an experience I wish I had never had. As soon as I saw it, I left the ground along with my brother. Some extremely kind Belgians let us into their flat to ring our parents, I will never forget their kindness and wonder if I would have allowed foreign people into my house in similar circumstances. We later bumped into a crowd of Italians in evident distress and then a minibus of Liverpool fans from Kirkby who had also left the ground in disgust. Some of them said that they could be classed as hooligans but were outraged at the fact that the Liverpool thugs that night had attacked scarfers and family fans. They believed that a fight should be between consenting thugs. Unfortunately, hooliganism can't always be contained in this way. We had travelled over from Liverpool on a coach, really good atmosphere and good people. On the way back the bus was silent, very depressing atmosphere. Nobody cared about losing the match, I think a lot of us saw the crassness of the regular regurgitation of Bill Shankly's quote about life and death (made in more innocent days)as being fraudulent. As I said at the start, it was the worst day of my life and also one of the most influential. Since that day I can count the number of major football games at major stadiums on one hand, it has been very difficult for me to face the thought of a big match live. Live football matches to me now mean non-league games with my daughter or low key matches abroad in Sweden, Finland or Iceland. Scotland, particularly Rangers, benefited from the English ban, but England and I think continental Europe suffered from the absence. Everton were never allowed to compete in the EC, something which aggrieves their fans and fuels a sense of bitterness towards Liverpool to this day. They had a very good team then and it was quite feasible that they could have gone on to win the trophy but never got the chance. We can see the problems that existed in Paris and Seville recently but thank God nobody was killed.

Ukraine winning it doesn't send any sort of message.

Davis for an extra year is fine by me.

Aribo, Morelos, Lundstrom and Bassey were all excellent for parts of the season, but for consistency (and some of these goals in Europe) I'm going for Tav.

For 21: Aribo For 22: Lundstram Business End: Bassey But 21/22: Tav

Aye, why not just give them the trophy. https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/other-football/graeme-souness-wants-scotland-lose-24096167.amp SPFL Graeme Souness wants Scotland to lose against Ukraine in World Cup playoff as emotions run high The legendary midfielder believes it would be best for the world if Ukraine qualify for the World Cup BY MARK MCDOUGALL 09:12, 30 MAY 2022UPDATED15:51, 30 MAY 2022 SCOTLAND IN TRAINING AHEAD OF UKRAINE WORLD CUP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL Emotional Graeme Souness admits he will be roaring on Ukraine when they face Scotland on Wednesday night. The ex-national team captain is putting his football loyalties to one side by backing the war-torn Ukrainians qualify for the World Cup. Rangers legend Souness also wants them to go on and lift the trophy in Qatar because he reckons it will send a message from football that what is happening is unacceptable. The game was initially due to be played in March but was postponed due to the Russian invasion and will now take place at Hampden this week. The winners will then book a playoff final on Sunday against Wales in Cardiff. But he admits he feel sorry for Scotland players who have to play the game because he doesn't know how he'd deal with it if he was in that position. Graeme Souness wants Scotland to lose against Ukraine(Image: Reach PLC) He told The Times: “When I have thought about this game in my quieter moments, I’ve thought, ‘How would I deal with this?’ “Part of me keeps coming back to the fact that it’s just a game of football, and do I really want to beat them? Whether it’s sport, politics, the arts, whatever it is, we must send a message to Russia that it’s not acceptable what they are doing. “I’m going to find myself in a really difficult situation. I’ll be emotional. I don’t just want Ukraine to qualify, I want them to go there (Qatar) and win it. "How far do you have to bury your head in the sand not to realise the situation the world’s in right now? Will it be when someone presses the button on a nuclear weapon? “I’d not want to be one of the Scottish players playing that night. I don’t know where my emotions would be. My emotions when I think about it deeply are that it’s more important than football to send a message that Russia’s behaviour is unacceptable. "The world has to unite and tell them that — you can hear the emotion in my voice. That’s my over-riding feeling on the situation. "I’m doing it for television and I’m not sure how I’ll cope with that. I know the majority of our supporters who go there will feel the same — there you are. It’s going to be a really strange night.”

He is being rather quiet mate - I did wish him all the best earlier but not getting anything out of him, lol. I could see this coming in fairness - don't think KT felt that Kelty were prepared to match his ambition as he wanted to have a real crack at League One. Not sure if KT would want to be an assistant to anyone - but if he was to be assistant at any club then Rangers is where he really wants to be.

On topic please folks. Let's stick to the sporting merit or otherwise of Souness' comments rather than the possible political niceties.

Liverpool specifically requested paper tickets. Real Madrid went with the e-tickets.

We did make it to the EL final and won our first Scottish Cup in over a decade.

Morelos probably rates a mention too but he started poorly and missed the end. In the middle he was sensational though.

You only need to look at issues like Brexit and Scottish independence to know that once views become entrenched, nothing will budge them. When I see Catalonian, Welsh or Corsican separatists supporting Scottish independence, it doesn't make me think, 'Oh, I was wrong all along'. I think you're underestimating Russian patriotism.

I feel the same about that as i do about this. There is something inherently wrong about some people having to fight for thier lives while others live it up at singing contests and football matches. It doesn't sit right with me. I don't have a perfect case scenario or an answer to this but it isn't right.

This is Player of the Year, not Player of the Two-Months-when-they-found-form.

They took part in Eurovision Song Contest didn't they so a sporting contest is no different. They won the song contest via a massive sympathy vote IMO.

They shouldn't be involved in competitive sports while the country is under attack tbh, seems mental to me. Maybe the country will stop blowing up russian tanks and dodging bombs to watch the game.

I've now collated all the data from the season's match by match polls but I also like to do a stand alone thread to see what people think in a general sense once the season is done. Plenty praise of late for Tav, Bassey, Lundstram and Lowry whilst the contribution of guys like Aribo, Hagi and Kent across the season has been decent as well. Who gets your vote? I've restricted the numbers to players who have had decent stats.... Poll closes on Thursday at noon.

That was PSV - we beat them 4-1 after that

I can see and understand both sides of the argument, but all I know for sure is Ryan Jack won't be playing 😂

Tav - great season, leadership and goals

Don't know how true it is but we have apparently offered Aribo, Kent and Morelos new contracts. Again, it may just be rumours but apparently Kent and his partner have just purchased a new house in Milingavie.

As a member of the 1 in 12, that makes sense. The most common form of colour blindness is red-green and I know from experience that it is difficult for us coloured blind folk to tell the difference between a dark red and a dark green, particularly from a distance. I suspect that it may be for the benefit of the officials, more than for the players or spectators, that the two teams are distinguishable by dark/light kits. Maybe Scottish linesmen are not incompetent in offside calls, maybe they are just colour blind

90% have entrenched views then. Thanks for proving my point. 😀

Some suggestions the clubs requested such.

To do with the Stadium perhaps?

and why oh why did Mols choose to avoid landing on Khan? resulting in finishing him as a prolific striker for us.

I don't pay much attention to polls but I'd like to know which specific polls prove what I said isn't true.

I was stating you were wrong about entrenched views. I was stating that a mounting body count makes views change faster in a war situation. I was stating you were conflating very different situations. nothing you have said above is what i was saying.

Tavernier for me for being consistently good over the season. Others shone at particular times - Bassey and Lundstram in the second half of the season, Aribo in the first half.

Nah, don`t get me wrong. It`s not a grudge, but it is one of them defensive blips that cling to mind. He also managed to shank-in an own goal during his first seasons, when he was banging in goals on the other end from open play and free-kicks for fun. It was a belter.

Morale is beyond vital in any conflict. Bluebells over the white cliffs of dover Etc Etc.

Pray that we don't encounter FC Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League qualifiers. If it happens then we will be subject to wave after wave of similar dumb commentary. Perhaps Souness should just stick to Eurovision and leave football to the rest of us.

Voted for Tav - his numbers, especially in Euorpe are phenomenal

Morelos for me the improvement under Gio was really good.

Tav has been outstanding this season.

I disagree with him. This is a competitive match and should be played as such. Otherwise the competition is a joke. It is enough the Russians are banned.

Our captain for me. Most consistent over the year. Lundstram and Bassey really came into it second half of the year.

Don't see an issue with that. He has an opinion and that's all really. Absolute tiger of a player, but seems to have mellowed over the years.

I went with Tavernier, just for consistency. My other contenders would be Bassey and Lundstram, but they did not start the season well. Bassey's indifferent start was mainly down to taking a little while to get used to playing at CB; while Lundstram took a while to find his best position - indeed, some were wanting rid of him in January! In the same way, Aribo started exceptionally well (easily PotY form), but faded after AFCON, unfortunately. (So did Salah, incidentally... ) I think it would be unfair to give it to those that have only produced for a few months, over Tavernier, who has produced throughout.

I went for Lundstram he had a sticky start but came good .

Totally agree with him.

He's entitled to his opinion

President Zelenskyy agrees.

Don't know the ins and out here of course but i do know two separate people who were given 6 months and are still on the go many many years later. Wishful thinking I am sure.

Maybe - but it is actually offensive to suggest that many of the Rangers fans in the stadium were "big game hunters". Our section was filled with Frankfurters,, folks from Glasgow, myself from Bermuda and a guy who came in from LA. Dont for a second think that the distance travelled means we are less a fan than those behind the goal. I also paid for half my Uncle's ticket and he had more of your experience - but the way you portray it he would be one of those who don't follow their team regularly because he wasnt in the "right section"... despite him being a ST holder for 37 years and follow following all across Europe. Boils my piss mate to see fellow fans suggest that we, in the stadium, were somehow not doing our bit - I lost my voice before half time trying to be choirmaster - and in the second half it was either stop singing or pass out.