Pacific Quay Musings?

[26th of foot 6,084]

Congratulations to Tam Cowan on Achieving 'Useful Idiot' Status.

 

UEFA apologised to both Rangers and Rangers supporters on Friday last. Actions not unfamiliar to BBC Scotland. On a day in Seville where the mercury reached 35 degrees Celsius and evening humidity touching 90 degrees, the Guardia Civil turned off the tap water inside the stadium and UEFA agreed with Guardia Civil recommendations to close most of the stadium's refreshment kiosks. The Rangers Doctor dealt with four separate incidents of supporter dehydration inside the ground. The Andalusian para-medics were constantly involved in administering saline solution. 

 

Several hundred Rangers supporters experienced uncomfortable to most upsetting issues spanning a six hour period. As expected, BBC Scotland found mass H-u-n discomfort as subject matter to be cruelly exploited by preferred prejudice. Photographs of Bears at watering holes, songs eulogising cool, cool water and, multiple quotes from the Ancient Mariner were in full flow. Viewing the distress of your fellow Scots brought joy and it was not the fault of UEFA or the Guardia Civil; no, dehydration in every case was the responsibility of bevvied Bears.

 

Former PQ employee, Catriona Shearer appeared on Saturday's Off the Ball to articulate her distressing experience at the final. Sixteen years as a colleague meant nothing, she is a H-u-n thus Cosgrove ignored her experience whereas Tam Cowan taunted with playing Marty Robbins Cool Water. RAB Cosgrove made a quip about drinking holy water, Cowan was concentrating on received correspondence, a pregnant silence ensued broken by RAB saying, "we must discuss Rangers supporters singing anti-catholic songs". Catriona Shearer stated, "I am here to discuss the failings of the authorities at the game, I condemn any such singing" and, the Producer moved them all along.

 

The next day, Sunday's Off the Ball had Susie McCabe as a guest. Like RAB, she has a history of liberal usage of the 'H' term. Along with RAB she is there to judge the guilty parties, Tam and the H-u-ns. There is a 15 minute discussion on the day before's broadcast. RAB flashes the show's credentials on anti-catholic chanting and ant-Irish racism. Susie wants everyone to move forward without the old baggage and, Tam joins Graham Spiers in the useful idiot corner. He offers to Chair a two hour discussion on sectarianism next weekend when laying his life bare, "married to a catholic why would I indulge"? Tam should have extended the accuracy before blurring the objectivity.

 

Tam told of Chairing the Reamonn Gormley Diner on an annual basis, "a lad murdered because of the football shirt he wore"?

 

Let us look at that statement. Reamonn Gormley was brutally murdered eleven years ago in Blantyre. Along with a mate, David McFall; both watched the Aberdeen-Celtic match live at the Parkville Bar. The pub was owned by former Celtic player, Harry Hood. Both those charged and convicted of Reamonn's murder, Barry Smith and Daryn Maxwell were also in the bar watching the game. As Raemonn left the premises, he turned off the main drag into a tree lined lane where the armed Maxwell and Smith waited. It was a mugging, they demanded money and the lad's mobile? He refused and was stabbed three times and bled out. All four mentioned attended the same school, St John Ogilvie High School and Smith joined a dating agency on release from jail with the username, 'HappyHooper' - a homage to his favourite player, Gary Hooper.

 

An attempted robbery gone tragically wrong. There were those at the time who attempted to portray the murder as sectarian, it was not. Similar to the Francis Haggerty murder of a dozen years before; the Daily Record's Anna Smith continually told us, "the Police refuse to rule out a sectarian motive for the murder". Francis was the victim of a Paedophile ring. If Tam had utilised the murder of Mark Scott in 1995 at Bridgeton Cross, then he would have been correct, it was undeniably sectarian. 

 

We can see an issue about the distress of dehydration among the Rangers support has had the narrative seized and suddenly it is all about sectarian murder. If you are accurate you will be objective has NOT been applied and RAB is NOT going to intervene. RAB is bleating on other means about David Graham's role at Rangers and, his Loyalist political links, all because his partner in Rangers hate, Michael Stewart was forced to apologise publicly to Rangers, Rangers supporters and, Jim Traynor. RAB talks about Rangers needing, "to participate in the removal of doubt" ie remove David Graham. Let's reverse this, RAB bellows about, "Handsome H-u-ns", introduces a guest Janitor from Largs on his show for five years as, "the H-u-n with a Heart" and, pens articles for St Johnstone fanzines referring to Rangers supporters as, "H-u-ns and typical orange bastards". When does PQ participate in the removal of doubt?

 

You will never quench the thirst of the PQ Gang Hut for another Useful Idiot?

[Uilleam 5,948]

3 hours ago, 26th of foot said:

,,,quotes from the Ancient Mariner were in full flow.

ST Coleridge, very appropriate -

"....and slimy things did crawl with legs

Upon a slimy Quay..."

 

 

[26th of foot 6,084]

"The Suvul Sooks"?

 

"The Suvul Sooks" is the name given by RAB Cosgrove to those employed by PQ that traveled to Seville to provide coverage to Rangers supporting BBC Licensing Fee payers. Although, given RAB's behaviour at the weekend, it could apply to Rangers supporters lapping water from Seville toilet bowls in favour of drinking Holy Water? It has taken over a week to compile a comprehensive list of al those attending on a Presentation basis. We know RAB and Tam Cowan did not trap because they were not asked to do so and, didn't they complain about it? RAB has a keen sense of entitlement in this regard, it is a Quango state of mind.

 

Serving on the RST Board for over five years saw a number of matters of interest come across one's desk. Launched in 2003, one of the burning questions at the time, was just how many Hamilton Drive employees attended Seville'03 on the Beeb dime? It took months but, we received an official answer from the then BBC Scotland Controller, Ken MacQuarrie. We remember the double decker bus driven to Spain, we remember Jackie Bird presenting the News that week from the bus and, how that bus parked in front of the stadium with entertainment going, attracted hordes of ra green'n'grey hooped horrors. Ken told us eighty-eight(88) attended, no break down of designations.

 

Nineteen years on and a move across the river saw no double decker bus, no Jackie Bird and, no(well at least one or two) hooped horrors. The definitive list is : Laura Miller, Al Lamont, Amy Irons, Steven Godden and, Chris McLaughlin.These five were in situ' for at least three days. The footballing side were flown in and out within a 24 hour time frame and included : Liam McLeod, Richard Gordon, Tom English, Mark Hateley and, Richard Foster. I believe these days you can multiply those ten by two point five to include Producers, Directors, ...... Technicians. There you go, 88 became 25 maybe?

[craig 5,199]

9 minutes ago, 26th of foot said:

"The Suvul Sooks"?

 

"The Suvul Sooks" is the name given by RAB Cosgrove to those employed by PQ that traveled to Seville to provide coverage to Rangers supporting BBC Licensing Fee payers. Although, given RAB's behaviour at the weekend, it could apply to Rangers supporters lapping water from Seville toilet bowls in favour of drinking Holy Water? It has taken over a week to compile a comprehensive list of al those attending on a Presentation basis. We know RAB and Tam Cowan did not trap because they were not asked to do so and, didn't they complain about it? RAB has a keen sense of entitlement in this regard, it is a Quango state of mind.

 

Serving on the RST Board for over five years saw a number of matters of interest come across one's desk. Launched in 2003, one of the burning questions at the time, was just how many Hamilton Drive employees attended Seville'03 on the Beeb dime? It took months but, we received an official answer from the then BBC Scotland Controller, Ken MacQuarrie. We remember the double decker bus driven to Spain, we remember Jackie Bird presenting the News that week from the bus and, how that bus parked in front of the stadium with entertainment going, attracted hordes of ra green'n'grey hooped horrors. Ken told us eighty-eight(88) attended, no break down of designations.

 

Nineteen years on and a move across the river saw no double decker bus, no Jackie Bird and, no(well at least one or two) hooped horrors. The definitive list is : Laura Miller, Al Lamont, Amy Irons, Steven Godden and, Chris McLaughlin.These five were in situ' for at least three days. The footballing side were flown in and out within a 24 hour time frame and included : Liam McLeod, Richard Gordon, Tom English, Mark Hateley and, Richard Foster. I believe these days you can multiply those ten by two point five to include Producers, Directors, ...... Technicians. There you go, 88 became 25 maybe?

Met a young lad in Seville who had travelled with backpack from Lanzarote... his pal was one of the Beeb producers.  Said producer told the young lad he could bunk in with them as the kid had no digs, not a problem.  So the young kid then heads off to the villa that the Beeb had rented for the week.... only to be rejected because, and I quote "Michael Stewart is staying here with his entourage now and there's no way they would let you stay".  The young lad was almost forced into having to sleep on a park bench, but luckily found someone else to assist.

 

Apparently they (the Beeb) were looking for me to interview me (the lad had told them I had travelled to Seville from Bermuda and I guess they liked the whole long distance fan thing) - thankfully, prior to them showing up, we had departed the Starbucks in which we met the young lad.  Genuinely nice kid who we met the following day at the fanzone. 

[26th of foot 6,084]

3 hours ago, craig said:

Met a young lad in Seville who had travelled with backpack from Lanzarote... his pal was one of the Beeb producers.  Said producer told the young lad he could bunk in with them as the kid had no digs, not a problem.  So the young kid then heads off to the villa that the Beeb had rented for the week.... only to be rejected because, and I quote "Michael Stewart is staying here with his entourage now and there's no way they would let you stay".  The young lad was almost forced into having to sleep on a park bench, but luckily found someone else to assist.

 

Apparently they (the Beeb) were looking for me to interview me (the lad had told them I had travelled to Seville from Bermuda and I guess they liked the whole long distance fan thing) - thankfully, prior to them showing up, we had departed the Starbucks in which we met the young lad.  Genuinely nice kid who we met the following day at the fanzone. 

BBC Scotland's treatment of the young Scots lad is not surprising.

 

I do not believe Michael Stewart was working for PQ on the night of the game? Certainly, I did not see or hear him.

 

Maybe Michael was working for BT Sport or perhaps BBC Five Live?

 

Anyways, as posted on the day of the game, Michael posted on his Twitter feed a link to the Frankfurt Chairman and his take on supporters. He was particularly impressed because said Chair regularly spoke out against unsavoury elements within the club's support. Michael thought others could take a leaf out of the Frankfurt Chair's book. His Twitter post contained a photo of a concrete underpass with Frankfurt Ultras prominently displayed. Of course, violence in Seville was confined to those balaclava wearing unsavoury Ultras attacking Rangers supporters in a bar.

 

Just like with his hard to read context reference apology to Rangers, Rangers supporters and, Jim Traynor; Michael decided once again to bury the unfortunate recommendation amid another dozen inane Tweets. A Twitter feed akin to a clanging bell and tumbleweed is suddenly most busy, Michael seized the narrative post match telling of a financial disaster awaiting Rangers. The result was, "MASSIVE" in capital letters, we would have to sell a number of our better players. Post final, Michael was in a happy state of mind.

 

Since, Michael has ignored his Twitter feed. A Hearts supporter, a member of the Hearts Foundation and, the Scottish Cup final has NOT happened. No comment?

[26th of foot 6,084]

"certain supporters"?

 

I took myself to a bar one hundred metres from the River Ebro, the cooling breeze lifting off the flow was most welcome in a hot Zaragoza night. Scotland's performance was woeful, we deservedly lost 1-3 to Ukraine. As is normal in most Spanish cities, the local Argentine ex-pats were sounding off wildly, they had just stuffed Italy 0-3 in their own midden. Zaragoza is on one of the official Camino routes and, a couple of fellow middle aged Scots alighted from their bicycles to take in the game. As Ukraine went one up, they were in the midst of telling me their scallop shells on said bikes were from the Isle of Barra. Further, Nicola was attending Hampden.

 

PQ Ganghuttery quickly descended into PQ Shithousery. Tom Anguish, Pat Nevin, Michael Stewart, .......... et al determined someone was to blame for our abject performance and, it was NOT Steve Clarke. Now, we know Nationalism demands blame be attributed to the Rangers player(s) or the Anglos on occasion. Oh, Ryan Jack withdrew from the squad injured and, Souttar was stuck on the bench. Kieran and Andy are the right type of Anglos.

 

Shoehorn in the demonised and marginalised supporter grouping who do not subscribe to the Brigadoon constantly presented by the Tartan Army. Michael Stewart snapped : "I see certain supporters are talking about a Kilmarnock style manager. total Garbage. Yes there were mistakes made tonight But Steve Clarke is a top drawer manager and even they don't get everything right". Michael did relent and get after Scott Mctominay -"no natural defensive instincts and to blame for the second goal".

 

I note the Scottish press commented long and hard on travel arrangements for the game. Michael did NOT contribute. Extra train services were organised to take the Tartan Army home. Although if you had an island destination, you would have settle for the comfort of a cardboard funnel. Nicola has one of those 28 Chauffeur driven Scottish Government cars. She has the one with the really BIG boot, it has to accommodate £20 million ring fenced monies put aside for a second Independence referendum or, as Nicola said on Monday, "it's a good investment". 

 

Why didn't Nicola just fly home on her Broomstick? It is like asking Michael to define, "certain supporters", you will not receive an answer?

[Uilleam 5,948]

1 hour ago, 26th of foot said:

certain supporters are talking about a Kilmarnock style manager.

Yes, they were certain about it, and certainly not wrong. 

One wonders if the ginger sage actually watched the tactical, positional, and organisational shambles that prevailed for 65/70 minutes last night. 

 

[craig 5,199]

4 hours ago, Uilleam said:

Yes, they were certain about it, and certainly not wrong. 

One wonders if the ginger sage actually watched the tactical, positional, and organisational shambles that prevailed for 65/70 minutes last night. 

 

 

To have two natural CB's on the bench and use McTominay was suicidal.  McTominay is pish as a CM so why use him as a CB.  Then he used a LB at RB.  Scotland got everything they deserved last night - nothing.

[the gunslinger 3,366]

Mckenna is just off winning promotion to the EPL, Soutter was the best Scottish player on the park in the Scottish cup final and Hendry is better than any of the starters. 

 

The manager is very much at fault here. 

[Uilleam 5,948]

2 minutes ago, craig said:

To have two natural CB's on the bench and use McTominay was suicidal.  McTominay is pish as a CM so why use him as a CB.  Then he used a LB at RB.  Scotland got everything they deserved last night - nothing.

It was almost mystifying. 

Three at the back is Clarke's way of getting his 'best player' ,ie the Balsawood Bassey, into the side, on those occasions when he is not injured, or ill, or otherwise dodging the column. To persevere with it when he is unavailable, and with inappropriate personnel, was folly.