JamesM82

On the other hand, the 0-0 at Wembley was the first time we hadn't been pumped off a top team away from home since what, Croatia in 2014 qualifying? And that was in a dead match, as we were already out before we played either game against them. Probably going back to Paris 2007 for as good or better result in a live away match. Same is probably true of the Serbia game.

The big thing out of that is that it looks like the work permit appeals panel will be scrapped after January. The SFA being (too?) liberal in their appeal judgments is why players who weren't getting permits in England were getting them in Scotland (e.g. Efe Ambrose after he left Celtic). It looks like the most the SPFL / SFA might be able to haggle the Home Office down to is having a lower world ranking threshold for the countries that full internationals can be signed from.

I didn't know that the women played with Tennent's Sixes-sized goals.

I suspect that was more to do with wanting a wee rest ahead of the Merseyside derby next weekend.

JR is now saying that Allan is out for a while (?) with an undisclosed "personal health issue". 2+2 = ?

The problem with bigger clubs getting crowds back isn't necessarily to do with how widespread their support is. I think they're more concerned about (over)crowding on public transport, e.g. the subway on Ibrox matchdays.

Jambos were talking him up after a Betfred game against them last summer.

It's like if we were playing someone at home but without any players from the OF or English clubs. I think we could all pick a half-decent starting XI from that. Obviously the full team would be favourites, but I don't think it would necessarily be a walkover. This isn't like the Slovakia - Denmark game a couple of years ago where Denmark were restricted to amateur league or futsal players, because literally all of their professional footballers were on strike.

One of the Czech team's staff has tested positive.

Thing is, he wasn't supposed to be a bit part player. Cost a fee and must have been on decent wages, coming from PNE.

Hearing doesn't start until 4pm, according to the BBC's report of McInnes bleating that they've been punished enough already.

Probably another CB / DM type to cover both positions. Kind of need that in a year where the squad isn't going to be as big as normal. Need someone to cover Gogic, and with Jackson away there are only three CBs we would be happy with playing there in a four-man defence (Hanlon, Porteous, McGregor). And their injury records aren't brilliant. I don't think they'll be looking at a striker as Mathie was talking up Ryan Shanley as a prospect in that podcast. Any other midfielders would need one of the existing ones (Hallberg?) to go out.

Talksport pundits talking shite is not journalism as such, but I think it's reassuring in an age of turmoil to see/hear perennial mince like this.

Because this isn't an accident (storm damage) or negligence (forgetting to switch on undersoil), this is wilful flouting of the rules under which football is being allowed to operate. Letting it pass without punishment would create a very dangerous precedent.

I think they need to award a 3-0 to St Johnstone (and presumably Accies and Celtic). If they just let Aberdeen rearrange games to whenever, that sets a dangerous precedent. Players will think it doesn't matter if they have to self-isolate, the game(s) will just be off and played later.

That would only work if they full leaned into it.

Hopefully Kickback doesn't find out that they've just voided the women's league. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53521312 (they had only played one game before corona hit)

The thing you've got to remember about journos in this sort of league v club dispute is that lots of people actively support a club (particularly if it's one of the bigger ones) and nobody actively supports the league. If a journo writes an opinion piece savaging the club and defending the league, their paper may get boycotted. Nobody is going to boycott the Scotsman because they've published a piece that has a go at Neil Doncaster, the SPFL. the SFA and some unidentified lawyers. That doesn't excuse Tom English, and Sportsound in general, of course.

English whining about Doncaster's statement yesterday, as if he wouldn't have been calling for Doncaster's head on a pike if it had gone the other way.

Deans was just drumming up publicity for himself / his business. Job done.

Looks like the bold Thomas is literally "sticking to rugby" today. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/53552277

Think that was just a temporary thing to cover leagues that were being finished during high summer. Not really needed in Scotland at any time!

But big enough to compensate the other clubs for those unnecessary legal fees.

At least she's had the good grace to get her rich pals to bail out (most of) those mistakes, rather than encumbering FOH or the club with tons of debt.

Playing them on Monday. Celtic had been trying to fix games against Irish teams for some reason but the Irish government were telling their teams they would have to go into quarantine after they came back from Glasgow.