Uilleam

You think that's the 3rd degree? A sheltered life. I find it a little strange that people are prepared to bandy names for a job the content of which is something of a riddle.

So it is a coaching job? It strikes me as strange that PC would want, specifically, a 'local' guy to undertake run of the mill coaching duties. Where does the requirement for local knowledge come into it?

Strachan gives every indication of being burned out and useless, so Peter the control freak would have no difficulty with such an appointment, no matter what the duties entail.

And to undertake what duties?

If it's names........Gordon Strachan might be available to start on Monday morning.

Your pick to do what?

I agree. In fact, I said this earlier, somewhere, on this or the BF thread.

Is it a "coaching job"? Does anyone, apart from PC, know? Maybe I have missed the definitive statement. Various names are put forward, for a job, the duties of which seem somewhat unclear.

I imagine that the 'rationale' such that it is, has to do with an earner for the Leith midi-fhilth.

The most interesting thing will be Pero Caixinha's assessment of the playing staff,at the end of the Season.

You will find a good number of them at Easter Road tonight. There will be collateral damage, but it's going to be a small crowd, apparently.

You may be right. I hope that you are.

You will need a snub nosed revolver. May I recommend this? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Detective_Special

That seems to be how fhilthfc does it. The drawback for Rangers is that the valuation it puts on Waghorn, or, indeed, on any other player, will be completely derided by the Scottish media. Whether the opinions of the balloons of the press, tv, radio, etc., influence anyone is debatable, of course, but you may rest assured that they will endeavour to belittle the value of anyone and everyone connected with the Club.

Peter tells Gordon. Stewart finds out from the media.

Correct me if I am wrong, but it reads, to me, like the bauchle intends to take on a 'must win game' (his words) with a team that has not played together before. Extraordinary, but I do agree that the paramount consideration for any manager of the National XI is sufficient rest for players from fhilthfootballclub.

Well, my friend, I have seen, unfortunately, far too many goons in a Blue jersey.

Many see a problem, not one specifically with BF, or Bomber, for that matter, but with the general and apparent necessity to invoke the terms and conditions of The Old Pals (Scotland) Act 1872, as amended by the various Money for Old Rope (Scotland) Acts, and all without question, as soon as a job at Rangers appears. Appoint the best man, regardless, say I. However, there is a more, well, sinister way of looking at the current clamour for our prodigal ex-Captain, Barry Ferguson, to return to the fold, fatted calf, and all. I still don't know what the job actually is. I suspect that the only man who does know is Senhor Caixinha, although his support staff will, no doubt, have an inkling. It appears strange,that "Board members" are prepared, as we are told, to lobby for Barry Ferguson to fill the vacancy, the duties of which seem unclear. To me this means: Board members, having bought the Portuguese dog, so to speak, now wish to bark themselves, as far as recruitment to the Coaching Division is concerned; it seems clear that they wish to have someone on the inside of the Coaching Division, beholden to them, not to the Manager/Head Coach, for his position, and, thus, we may speculate, likely to give them the skinny, from his viewpoint mark you, on anything and everything, within the Coaching Division. That such will be regaled to the Daily Record, etc., in short order, we may take as read. Interestingly, PC, in one of his public appearances, stressed the supreme importance of loyalty among his staff. He followed Alex Ferguson in this regard. It is a cliche, but nonetheless true, that a man may not serve two masters. Let us embark upon a bold, new, innovative, strategy, but, to reduce its chances of success, let us introduce potential conflict at the earliest opportunity.

Frankly, the last few months have been an interlude of Tactical Periodisation, but, clearly, one in which I missed the essential transition, or Ne'erDay, as it is known in the trade.

Who shot the piano player?

Yes, that is likely to a problem.

I have no idea what the role is, nor what it may evolve to become. It is surely not a matter of language, as Caixinha's English is very good, perhaps better than Ferguson's. It is surely not a coaching appointment, as there is a full establishment in place, and PC has brought his trusted staff with him. It is surely not an appointment to cover scouting, recruitment or analysis, or anything that the DoF (remember him?) will cover. It is surely not an appointment to deal with the media, as, apart from any League/sponsors requirements, PC seems like the kind of guy who will wish to get his message across, and of course, there is, I am led to believe, a Media/PR department. As far as I can see, that leaves scouting the opposition, and getting the rolls in of a morning. Do we trust him to return with the correct orders? In the correct pokes? If he is appointed, and if the role is restricted, and kept within the defined limits, then why not? Day to day involvement with the players, however, might be a potentially divisive step too far.

Not for me. What's wrong with the old songs?

It being 2016, it is de rigeur to take the positives out of everything. Therefore - Pedro C. will have most of the players on the training ground, and in the analytics suite, for 10 days or so, which must be a Good Thing, for him, if not necessarily for them -defeat by Slovenia will mean, surely, that the Coach/Manager of the National XI, along with his assistants, will be bagged, which must be a Good Thing, if not necessarily for them Generally, I concede, the International Week is a right pain in the arse, particularly when the Association shoehorns a "Challenge Match" ( a Friendly, to thee and me, and thus worthless in terms of entertainment) into the schedule. This week, Scotland v Canada @Easter Road is the morsel dangled before the paying public. I believe that even the Tablecloths and Timberlands are employing the body swerve for this, inelegantly, maybe, but instructively.

It is little wonder that he continues with his cantraips, given that he has, quite clearly, carte blanche from referees and from Compliance Officer, to say nothing of his team's management, which seems to be loath to discourage them. Of course, it would help if the Scottish print and other media questioned his behaviour, or even mentioned it, passim. (Said this on the thread, elsewhere, Footie Chat, but I do love the sight of my own voice......)