rockson

Or maybe not.......

Maybe we're just not as good as we like to think we are. We have no entitlement to good results in Europe. None at all. That we had some in the past was probably an anomaly. We're a small nation on the northwest periphery of Europe and we haven't invested in grass roots football for decades. Take a look at Iceland for example. Training facilities that can be used year-round. even in an Icelandic winter. Now that money is all that talks in elite football our cash starved game just can't compete. Don't expect it to.

This is now definitely a parallel universe.

I think you've just answered your own question.

Surely I have now entered a parallel universe.

Oh dear. Last season he succeeded in that objective.

Just tried and there's an interview with Darren Young and the goalcam from us. The Albion highlights have gone. They're at

Since the demise of Boghead and Firs Park it's mine too.

There's no way we're finishing first. (I'll be delighted to be proved wrong about this, though.)

This.

That's just an argument against play-offs though. And when teams from different leagues play-off against each other who is to say which is the stronger league? You'd expect SPFL Tier 3 ought to be stronger than Tier 4 yet its teams have lost in the play-offs against Tier 4 sides. Which league is actually stronger then?

I well remember Johnny scoring a beauty against Falkirk at Boghead in 1970. He got the ball at the edge of their box and flicked it over a defender's head, whom he ran round to hit the ball on the volley into the net. Sublime. He also had the unique trick of seeming to let an opposition clearance go over his head in midfield before extending his superb left peg back behind him and without being able to see the ball using the back of that foot propel it forwards again - usually to a team mate. I've never seen anyone else do that. So sad he's gone.

I never mentioned Darvel or Tranent. But Tranent did win the triangular play-off. That's all that matters.

You are of the opinion that the standard of the SoSFL is lower than other leagues at Tier 6. That may well be true but it is of no relevance in the wider world where the only thing that matters is the result of the three-way W/E/S oSFL play-off at the end of the season. If the LL ever increases its number of relegation spots that play-off - or whatever replaces it - will still be the only thing that matters. No WoSl or EoSL team is in any way disdvantaged by the SoSL at Tier 6. To gain promotion they have to win their leagues and then the play-offs. If they can't do that then they don't deserve promotion. Similarly the NCL in the North is probably of a lower overall standard than the former Junior leagues in the north now also at Tier 6 but there is no clamour for the NCL's Tier 6 status to be taken away. As in the south licenced teams in the north winning their league have a play-off chance to gain promotion.

The argument may have been made but the conclusion from it hasn't.

The last time we dropped to this level most I suspect Sons fans thought we'd make the promotion play-offs. We ended up fifth.

As a response to, "The word 'direct' is therefore completely meaningless. If they had direct promotion into the LL as champions of the South then you'd have a point; but they don't," your "eh?" is somewhat strange. It's a simple enough point to understand surely? The SoSL does not have automatic promotion to the LL. Its champion still has to win a play-off to get promoted, hence promotion is not direct.

Arguably the tier above it is though. Or was, last season.

I'd just like to see a positive goal difference at the end of a season.

No. They were two Highland League teams.

More than twice the size.

Snap.

Championship football at Ochilview at last.

Chissy, surely?