Marten

Here are all the prices, Shire are the most expensive, Edusport & Dalbeattie the cheapest.

Saying that the EoS went for quantity over quality is unfair. The point is that the pyramid is for clubs at all levels. The likes of Eyemouth and Tweedmouth have just as much right to be in there at their place than the likes of Hearts and Hibs. Having clubs moving over en masse was always going to cause issues. An argument could be made for only accepting stronger clubs first and then let weaker juniors join at the bottom a season later. However, it's in my opinion far better to have 1 messy season and then move to a proper tiered structure in which all clubs play at the right level for them. For clubs like Linlithgow, it will only be one year playing against some of the weaker clubs, they will be EOS Premier (or LL) next season. And saying the pyramid is about reaching the top is wide off the mark. The pyramid is about playing football at your level. If it's only about reaching the top level than really only the 20 or so full-time SPFL sides have a reason of being in the pyramid as they are the only sides realistically capable of playing in the Premiership.

Considering abandoned matches in the Dutch league (just like nearly anywhere outside of the British Isles) are generally finished at a later moment from the moment of abandonment and not replayed, they will only have to come back for 89 minutes and 25 seconds.

Some shocks in the Dutch Cup last 32 this week. PSV lost 2-3 at home to RKC Waalwijk, who are struggling in the 2nd tier. Third tier AFC & Kozakken Boys beat 2nd tier opposition (TOP Oss & Almere City) and 4th tier ODIN '59 won 1-3 away at top flight FC Emmen. In total, 9 Eredivisie teams, 4 2nd tier, 2 3rd tier and 1 4h tier made the last 16. Draw for the round of 16 (level of the club between brackets): Willem II (1) v AFC (3) ODIN '59 (4) v SC Heerenveen (1) FC Twente (2) v RKC Waalwijk (2) Feyenoord (1) v FC Utrecht (1) AZ (1) v PEC Zwolle (1) Roda JC (2) v Ajax (1) Fortuna Sittard (1) v SC Cambuur (2) Kozakken Boys (3) v Vitesse (1)

When I lived in England I always enjoyed going to non-league games. Seen many lovely grounds, especially in the north of England. I'm planning a weekend south of the border again early February, hopefully I can go to some nice games then.

Peterhead 2-1 Albion Rovers A typical game of 2 halves. Peterhead took the lead within minutes and then scored a second just over 10 minutes later. Albion Rovers were very poor and lucky to only be 2-0 down at half time, it could easily have been 5. Second half was much closer. Rovers scored one and even had chances of an equaliser. Deserved win for the hosts though.

Ah, thanks for that, I wasn't expecting that!

Maybe we can help the Qatari out? Just play some games at Murrayfield/Hampden/Ibrox/Parkhead. All that's needed is giving Scotland an automatic qualifying spot. After all, in Scotland we're used to clusterfuck organisations. (that and it's the only possible way I can see us getting to that World Cup)

Yes, the SFA would need to shell out, but for them it would only be a tiny percentage of their annual costs, that really shouldn't be a big issue. If the SRU can do it, who have much less money, than there is no reason the SFA can't. And in reality I can't see many clubs needing this, unlikely to be more than one each in Orkney/Western Isles and maybe some cup ties for a Shetland team (even with subsidies I can't see a Shetland team joining the pyramid and needing players to go on an overnight ferry or flight every other week).

Are there any subsidies in Spain for island clubs, especially in lower tiers, when they have to go to the mainland?

Travel can be an issue underneath the HL, especially considering in the more remote areas the road network is not exactly the greatest, and the islands are an issue too obviously. But underneath the LL it can't really be a problem. On a sidenote, I wouldn't be against a system to subsidise travel for the real outliers, like Orkney if they were to progress into (for example) the Highland League. In some other countries (like France) and sports (like Rugby) this already happens. The same can go for opponents traveling there. Alternatively, subsidies can be provided for outliers to take part in the Scottish Cup to make it truly national so Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles can provide a team each.

Livingston 0-1 St. Johnstone yesterday. Deserved win for the Saints.

Pretty much the only friends that Qatar have left who have grounds capable of hosting matches are Iran & Turkey. Having a Qatar/Iran World Cup would get messy, although I guess it could be doable.

It's just like with the Northern League south of the border. When the English pyramid took off with the formation of the Conference underneath the Football League, they could have been right underneath the Conference at tier 6. They didn't want to take part and now they are tier 9. All down to their own refusal to co-operate at first...

All sides in this come in the discussion with the aim of self-preservation, the LL, EOS, SOS, SJFA & HL, that seems quite obvious. The point is that different sides are now putting their cards on the table and then they'll have to reach a compromise.

Big chance we'll again be near each other at a game this season as Whitehill Welfare are on my list of clubs I still want to go to this season.

Literally posting up minutes that show that @Burnie_man is correct and then still saying he is wrong. There is simply no reasonable argument for 2 routes to the LL in the East. There is no reason why the East Juniors & EoS can't merge (or at least those East juniors in the LL area if the boundary doesn't change). It's important to finally get rid of the artificial divide in non-league football. There is no difference between juniors & senior non-league. It's all non-league and other than a label and different governing body effectively the same.

Why would it be so terrible for Tayside to come under a HL? Travelling will not go up, the teams around Aberdeenshire aren't further away from places like Dundee than many of the Edinburgh/Lothian teams, leave alone the ones further south. The only real outliers are Wick & Brora, but Gretna/Annan is also quite a trek from Dundee...

Fully agreed. It's probably wishful thinking from my side as usual, but if a LL2 in that way were to happen, I think it would be very positive. The juniors get their desired tier 6 entry, there is a proper way into the LL for the better clubs currently outside it, yet it forms some sort of safety net for the existing LL teams. Add in a proper cup tournament for all of non league and a decent structure north of the Tay and it will be a great set up. I can but hope...

I think that would make sense indeed. Form a HL2 with the bottom 2 HL teams and add the strongest North/Tayside juniors (and maybe a NCL team). If Tayside remains under the HL than a 16 team Tayside league will be undesirable due to the difference of standards imo. Imagine Lochee United v Coupar Angus, that's going to result in scorelines that would even shock Fort William .

With the people currently in charge, I think with @Burnie_man as the ruler of Scottish football things can only get better.

You sat very close to me then, lol. It was good entertainment, I almost forgot there was actually a football game going on.

If there is a structure like 3 up/down between LL1 and LL2 & LL2 gets formed of the best clubs below the LL it will be good. For an immediate return, you'll only need to finish 3rd in a division with the likes of Auchinleck Talbot, Beith, Bonnyrigg, Linlithgow, Bo'ness, Camelon, Hurlford, Pollok etc. Should be easily achievable.

If that's a concession that can lead to a proper promotion/relegation structure rather than just 1 spot now which will be unsustainable in the long term I'm all for it. Although I'd prefer just 2 feeders directly under the LL, with SoS merging with WoS & only 1 route in the east. Then both champions can be promoted with play-offs for the runners-up.

Considering they're talking about July/August, it will probably just replace the current lucrative pre-season tournaments to something that's not just a bunch of friendlies, but more structured with an actual trophy connected to it (and commercially even more interesting).