Scott7

Betis (home) defeat Prague (away) defeat Aris (home) win Aris (away) draw Prague (home) draw Betis (away) defeat Total: 5 points.

It’s sort of equivalent to East Fife being promoted to the Premiership and schooling celtic at parkhead. Many similarities between Methil and Brighton.

Clark was an excellent player. The fact that he was hardly noticed shows how good he was at his specialist trade.

Excellent contribution on the McKinnon/McNeil debate from FollowFollow by the very knowledgeable MO_TxTruBlu. (How much of a transfer fee could Frankie pay to get this chap on here?) “Even today it is often discussed, sometimes hotly disputed, as to who was the better centre half during that period.Here is my take on it. Billy McNeill was a very good Centre Half, commanding in the air, an inspired Captain, a good leader, and he chipped in with a few important goals over the years. As a defender, he had his weaknesses though, he was often destroyed by the sheer power, strength and guile of Jimmy Millar and he was taken to the cleaners a few times, by a speedy two footed teenager called Jim Forrest. As much as Stein saw the leadership qualities in McNeill, he was smart enough to see his weaknesses as well, and set about playing the unheralded, but vitally important, John Clark behind him, as a sweeper. Even with all his experience and aerial command, McNeill (along with Jim Craig), could not prevent a 16 year old from out-jumping them both, to head the winner in the 1970 League Cup Final Ronnie McKinnon was an excellent Centre Half, a cool, composed, determined, intelligent player. He tackled fairly and often, he had great pace, and also knew when to kick the ball clean out of touch, to yon folk up there in the seats.McKinnon was very good in the air. He read the game very well, and did his job with precision, rarely exposed, he would collect that ball, feed it to Greig, Baxter, Dave Smith, and let them do the rest. It was Jock Stein (Whilst manager of both Celtic and Scotland) who gave Ronnie McKinnon his International debut, at the expense of McNeill.....and this was no meaningless Friendly, to bring in the untried, this was a must win World Cup Qualifier at home to Italy. The previous match had seen Stein go with McNeill in the World Cup Qualifier v Poland at Hampden. McNeill with 19 Caps had now fashioned Scotland's Centre Half berth as his own, having been selected in all of the last six internationals. Indeed it was McNeill who opened the scoring, after only 5 mins to give Scotland the lead and well on our way to England 66'. Unfortunately, two errors in the last 5 mins, gave Poland a surprising, and devastating 2-1 win. Scotland's next match was a must win, and Stein opted to drop his Captain, and introduce Ronnie McKinnon of Rangers, to International football. McKinnon did not disappoint, as he and his fellow team mates Greig, and Provan restricted the Italians to zero. It was John Greig who scored that famous winner in the 88th minute. Despite the competition around at the time, Billy McNeill, Jackie McGrory, Ron Yeats, Ian Ure, Frank McLintock etc.Ronnie McKinnon was above all of them, and would get the nod in 17 of the next 19 Internationals that Scotland played between that World Cup qualifier v Italy in Nov 65' until the WCQ v West Germany in April 69'. And lest we forget, He was very much a part of that fantastic Half Back Line of Greig, McKinnon, Baxter, that annihilated the World Champions 3-2 in their own backyard at Wembley 67'. Despite McNeill picking up all the trophies, and accolades during that period, there was simply no contest, as to who was the better Centre Half. After missing out on the Home Internationals in May 69', McKinnon returned to national service in Sept , and would start in all the next 9 Games for Scotland, between Sept 69' and April 71'. Once again he would miss out on the Home Internationals in May 71', as Frank McLintock, who had led Arsenal to a historic Double, for only the second time it had been achieved so far, that Century, was brought in. Scotland failed miserably, drawing 0-0 with Wales, losing 0-1 to Northern Ireland at Hampden, and losing 1-3 to the English at Wembley. McKinnon was back in the Scotland team for the European Qualifier v Denmark in June 71', and for the friendly v Russia. On November 3rd 1971, Ronnie McKinnon suffered a double fracture of the right leg, in a European Cup Winners Cup tie. His career was abruptly ended! During the time that both Billy McNeill, and Ronnie McKinnon were vying for that Centre Half spot for Scotland, the much less decorated McKinnon, won four times as many Caps for Scotland. Ronnie McKinnon collected 28 Caps, between 1965 and 1971 whilst McNeill won 7 Caps during that well decorated span of his career. Of McNeill's other 22 Caps, 19 came before McKinnon had played for Scotland, and 3 more came in the 72' Home Internationals after McKinnon was finished. Billy McNeill got 29 Scotland Caps, in an 11 year International career, from the time he made his debut in that 3-9 Loss to England in 61', until a much more respectful 0-1 loss to England in 72' Ronnie McKinnon got 28 Scotland Caps, in half that time, between Nov 65' and June 71'. They were both good, but McKinnon was better, far better!”

Liverpool’s victories at Newcastle and Wolves are the stuff of champions. But City have even more.

Anyone better apart from Woodburn and Young?

I think you could be right. Just a feeling. Nothing scientific.

Too young to have assessed Willie Woodburn properly and Geordie Young was a colossus and the epitome of a Ranger but the man I pick for centre half is Ronnie McKinnon. Fast, knew what to do with the ball and though not a giant, nobody pushed him around. He was good. So was McNeil but not in McKinnon’s class.

Well played, Danilo. That was a Jimmy Millar header.

That is nonsense. The celtic player is guilty of obstruction.

With regard to VAR, as @Rousseau pointed out some time ago the system is fine but interpretation is gong to be just as dubious as the on field refs’.

ten Hag could be available soon.

I wish they had to pay for a ticket for that god-awful drum. Moderately priced at £200.00 a match - per half.

“Today’s #RangersFC team to face St Johnstone.” Time and money wasted in the summer.

I don’t mind a bit of arrogance. Not in other folk, though.

“Damn few an’ they’re a’ deid” is the traditional response. I’d prefer “Damn few an’ nae deid yet”. Bit more optimistic.

If Williamson were referring to Bannockburn he should have remembered that the losers, although indeed an army of Edward, the Edward in question wasn’t all that proud. The proud one had died seven years before on his way to hammer us again. If he’s referring to Stirling Bridge the vanquished army was one of proud Edward’s right enough but it might have been the second eleven because the big team were in Europe that day. And we lost the replay at Falkirk. Puir auld Scotland, eh?

The would if an SNP candidate stood in a Liverpool constituency.

Yep. What’s the point? Just get on with the game.

Stewart is indeed a fool. When I attended international matches there was only one anthem, that of the United Kingdom. Welsh Rugby had their own in addition - fair enough, it’s a rattling good tune. Burgeoning nationalism in Scotland promoted the need for a separate anthem hence the wee song they burble out now. Stewart needs to learn that God Save the King is not the English anthem and the English don’t claim it to be so. When they want another anthem for cricket, rugby or athletics they use Jerusalem though what Jerusalem’s got to do with England I do not know.

From the Daily Telegraph: ”Ally McCoist blasts Scotland fans who booed national anthem – and admits he sang God Save The King When it was put to McCoist that he was being too “pro-English”, he responded: “I'm British. You got a problem with that?” BySam Dean13 September 2023 • 11:32am “Ally McCoist, the former Scotland striker, has described his country’s supporters as “totally out of order” for booing God Save the King ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against England. The national anthem was drowned out by Scotland fans at Hampden Park, where McCoist was working as a co-commentator. The former Rangers player and manager said that he sung along to God Save the King on the gantry and suggested that “SNP fans” were behind the jeering of the anthem. “I do not like the booing of any national anthem to be honest with you,” McCoist said on TalkSport. “I just think it is a distinct lack of respect. I genuinely dislike it intensely. “If you can’t show respect, I am not talking about England, I am talking about anybody or anybody that goes to Hampden, any football ground or any sporting event. If you can’t show the opposition respect by respecting their national anthem, I think it is a poor show. “I get the rivalry with England and Scotland, and I get some of the Scots, perhaps SNP fans, giving it the whole bit, but I am talking about in general. There should be respect shown for an opposing national anthem and I think it is totally out of order.” ‘I am British. You got a problem with that?’ When it was put to McCoist that he was being too “pro-English”, the 60-year-old responded: “For telling the truth? What all these guys can do is put their head back under the covers or the pillow. If they want to lift their head up and open their eyes, great. It’s them that need the reality check, nobody else. “Actually I was [singing God Save the King]. Because I am British. You got a problem with that?” England went on to win the game 3-1, with goals from Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. During the match there were witness reports of an England fan needing medical treatment after being struck by a bottle thrown into the away end.” Well said, Super. Incidentally The Telegraph employs a writer who doesn’t know his sung from his sang. Couldn’t of went to the right university.

But where will we be when Beale brandishes the Scottish Cup at the end of the season to add to the Championship? I’ll be shouting for a second helping of that delicious humble pie.

Well done. One of my son’s neighbours put up a “Yes” flag. Within days the loon had hoisted a Union Flag in response. Another neighbour followed suit and a third raised a replica Regimental Colour. The silent majority spoke.

Up until as late as mid sixties the Scottish international football socks were dark navy blue, like naval uniform colour and - shock, horror - the fold-over was red. I’ve seen team photos with a narrow white fold-over and I have a vague memory of darkish blue.

“Dessers, Danilo and Lammers getting the practice in for St Johnstone away next weekend.” I’m impressed. This shows what good coaching can do. They’ve learned where the goal is and to kick the ball in that direction. Now if Beale can just sharpen their accuracy I can foresee a full trophy cabinet.