alexscottislegend

A good post and I agree with all the points. All it has really proved is the case for tennis -type video technology. We would be in some state though if every player 'owned up' after such an incident; the ref's authority would be undermined as his decision is meant to be final, rightly or wrongly. The diving nonsense is a slightly different issue as it is clearly pre-meditated, whereas Henry's actions were in all probability, instinctive.

Much as I loved it, I can't help thinking how I would have felt if it had happened to Scotland. IMO it was worse than the Maradona thing for two reasons: 1) Argentina scored a wonder goal after the incident to show the better team won anyway; 2) This one happened far too near the end of the game realistically for anything to change. Cruel. But glad RoI, made up as they are of impostors under the grandparents' rulings, are out.

Now I can be hypocritically magnanimous - poor ould Ireland.

Yeh, but shouldn't France have had a penalty? Mind you I know how I'd feel if it were Scotland. McGreedy on now - look out for diving .

1-1 now!! Oh what a pity, brave Oirish!! Poor auld McGeedy.

"Blue Rose of Govan" - that should be a song!

Well, Boogie, now you've got what you want and you're in a good mood, how about giving a wee bit of attention to the team that pay your wages. I know you'll be tired on Saturday, poor soul, but maybe you could see your way to giving the benefit of your experience to young Mr. Wilson?

Oh god, no. Used to support the RoI but now that they are financed by a director of C****c and include - even on the bench - traitor McGreedy, I hope they get pumped tonight.

"Most Oppressed People Ever" - think Ian uses it ironically.

And the grass roots level - indoor pitches, that sort of thing - needs funding from the Scottish Government. When you think they wasted �£435million on the 2014 Commonwealth Games, what an opportunity was missed.

"True Rangers man"? I lost a lot of respect for him when he jumped ship for Liverpool. The sub-text at the time was that he was saying Liverpool were a bigger club than Rangers. They may be now but not then. I remember someone saying he always had his eye on the Anfield job but I swallowed his guff about the 'only club for me' etc. In saying that I would still welcome him back.

I did! Just as an example of someone who would be perfect but out of reach. Re Souness, I think the man himself has ruled himself out by saying that Scotland do not have enough quality for him to be interested. I wouldn't mind seeing him in tandem with a younger man maybe McAllister. Unfortunately Walter too has ruled himself out. Brace yourself for Levein, who actually has a worse managerial record than Burley who won English manager of the year!

Agree with any of those on your list; but we could not afford any of them.That's the bottom line. We have no Irish billionaire sitting on the C****c board to help out.

There's a lot of posters on here quite good at saying who we SHOULD'NT get. But we are limited to who we can afford and who hasn't ruled themselves out. We also need to leave our Gers bias out - e.g Levein. If he's the man, we get behind him; he will not be any worse than GB. O.k. he ranted against us over a few debatable decisions but he did v. C****c too as I recall. I'm not making a pitch for him, just saying that we should be realistic. Levein at least has shown a bit of passion on behalf of his club.

So who do you want, then? Bear in mind we can't afford Hiddink! Souness won't take it, or do you want to lose Walter?

That would send out a clear signal that we have settled for mediocrity - the most uninspiring candidate I can think of.

Also true, but we need to be thinking about a Weir replacement sooner than later.

Ally - you've just cheered me up a wee bit. Any reasonable manager ought to be able to get something out of that lot. Though I think S. Fletcher, being an EPL player, should probably get Miller's place (unless it goes to Fleck).

Yes, but what a partnership they could make, one right-footed and one left, and both able to play a bit? Does that not make you drool? Sadly, I think you're right. At least we're now looking for only one centre half at the end of the season.

Spot on. Whoever it is - if it happens - the first pre-condition the new manager must make is to re-instate the banned 3. We are in no position to take absolutist moral high ground positions. I only wish we were.

In a thoroughly depressing week, this is probably the best news I have heard. We could conceivably build a central defence to last us years if these two live up to expectations. It would be a lot better than having to rely on a Ehiogu type signing or someone who just sees us as a stepping stone.

Agree with much of what MF says but what he fails to state is that the the TV money has given the EPL an artificially high status. That wasn't the case during 9IAR. We have to address that disparity in revenue somehow.

This just a disgrace. An absolute disgrace. I have NEVER felt so ashamed and angry as as a Scotland fan. But they probably won't sack him because of the compensation needed to pay.

Thanks for that. However, ancient Greece was not the democracy it's often painted - it was supported by millions of slaves.

I may be naive or ignorant (or both) but could explain that for me?