Anfield 1977

Was at the Ulevsal this afternoon. Got ticket myself but asked just out of interest. None on sale as game sold out. Ironically I was told to try the SFA wouldn't worry too much as I suspect you might be able to pick one up from a local

Was in the tourist traps last night. £9.50 - 124 KR - a pint in the Scotsman similar in Dubliner and Andys Pub. Pretty much as expected really just don't spill any. Still busy for a Tuesday though.. For some reason the locals don't seem confident about Saturdays game. It's sweltering out here by the way best decision I made was not to bring a jacket. Here is how it was when only about a fiver a pint!

Call me an optimist but I have a hunch Haaland won't join up with the Norway squad.

And it's just wrong. Alcohol should be available to either everyone or noone within the stadium. Wealth should not be an issue.

I did NOT post this. Someone gotten into my account?

Kilmarnock lost 0-3 to Scotlands Under 21 side at Rugby Park on October 9th !976 - same day as the Villa Park riot. Premier League games were cancelled that Saturday with the impending World Cup qualifier in Prague. This was the first U21 game we had played although officially that was three days later in Pilsen.

Well that's interesting that they have changed the cut off date. Can I ask what happens for a minor match - ie- Scotland V Faroe Islands - when the South Upper is not open? Do debenture holders get allocated alternative seats in the hospitality section of the South Lower?

Clark was asked in his first press conference as national manager if he would be approaching players who had retired from international duty to reconsider. He replied he would not be asking anyone in that category stating it was up to them to contact him should they have a change of heart. This clearly left the door open to Alan McGregor and others to pick up the 'phone but they chose to stay in exile. The same should be applied with Marshall - it's up to him to ask to be reconsidered. The manager should also be mindful that the goalkeepers who have travelled with the team in Craig Gordons shadow hopeful of a cap in the friendlies with Poland, Austria and Turkey - plus the qualifier at home to Armenia - will now sense an opportunity and may very well tell him to get lost if Marshall gets priority over them.

Many of the seats in the `middle` are reserved for Debenture holders. They also become available should the option not be taken up - but not until nearer the match.

The reasoning behind it is, as always, down to cost. They will only put South Upper on sale if the game is a guarenteed sell out like a Cup Final or England match. If sales are going well for lesser fixtures they may decide to release those sections a week or two ahead of the match otherwise the SFA won't go to the expense of extra catering staff and additional stewards if a small number who may prefer the upper section might be acomodated in another part of the ground. So you are correct - it is a gamble to wait and see if South Upper becomes available and if not you have to choose from what is left below. However there are currently South Upper available for the Spain and England games on the SFA site if you are quick.

Clarke has a habit of pulling a result out of the bag just when opinion is turning against him. The penalty kick win in Vienna is an example followed by the recent win against Ukraine.

Yes indeed. Cumnock V Boness was shown live on STV - a regional opt out during World of Sport - 19th May 1979. No risk off affecting other attendances that Saturday as Scotland were in Cardiff on Home International duty at the same time - the John Toshack hat trick game. 1978 Stonehouse v Bonnyrigg was also live on STV.

That's my understanding suggesting it is Group A which is affected. Potentially it could affect all of our fixtures.

I managed to purchase a South Upper on Friday. Weren't many available though.

In all seriousness it depends on your eyesight. Personally speaking it is my favourite section and the view is second to none. Met many who agree with me but also a number of people who think it is too far from the pitch and a couple who have been in the South Upper once and don't plan on going back - but it's a definite thumbs up from me.

There was never any chance of the Welsh moving it to a larger ground. They did that in 1977 for financial reasons and have regretted it ever since acknowledging the decision was a mistake. With Liverpool less than 100 miles from their border they assumed their fans would be in the majority which turned out to be a massive blunder.

Unless I've missed it don't think anyone has picked up on the fact should we make it the Auld Enemy fixture will be exactly 150 years - minus one day - since Scotland and England played the first ever international football match. This has to be a good omen. Predict our luck will hold and we will go through after a penalty shoot out in Cardiff after disposing of Ukraine.

To be honest I would quite like to watch Wales V Austria. A much more interesting fixture with relevance to Scotland althougn I am not opposed to friendlies. Probably end up at Hampden though!

Denis Law scored all of Scotland's goals in a 3-4 defeat in Bergen to Norway in June 1963. Five months later Denis grabbed four in a 6-1 revenge at Hampden. Both games were friendlies.

Not when the final group games are played together.

Agreed. attended each tournament we've been at since Spain and I just don't fancy this at all. So we're bound to qualify. 2026 is much more appealing.

Phew! Thought he had passed away when I saw the topic heading.

Nonsense. It is a perfectly valid excuse for `never having watched them.' All of Irans games between the draw and the Finals were in Tehran with the exception of the France match. It is documented in the minutes of SFA meetings that MacLeod always intended to attend this game and the trip had been approved. It was not the managers fault the date of the fixture was changed at short notice leaving the only remaining opportunities to watch Iran when he was preparing with his own squad. A more valid criticism would be MacLeod turning down the opportunity to travel with the BBC to watch Peru play against Argentina at no cost to the SFA. Stein was not keen to travel to watch New Zealand either prior to Spain '82 but knew he would be wide open to criticism after what happened four years earlier if the result went against him.

MacLeod had made arrangements to watch the France V Iran match in Paris on the Wednesday before the opening Home International match. However with the game clashing with live screening of the European Cup Final in France it was rearranged for the Friday night. This meant he would struggle to get back for the N. Ireland match and also miss out on the preparation. as the squad assembled on the Wednesday - minus the Liverpool players.

And Alan Rough was outstanding in that qualifying campaign, particularly in Tel Aviv and the 0-0 at Windsor Park where we secured the point which saw us qualify. He also played well in the Home Internationals and warm up games pre World Cup so I can see why Stein stuck with him, but agree Leighton did prove to be a better goalkeeper.