Thistle Scotland Europe

Sporting Integrity Is Utter Nonsense I am fed up with this utter nonsense about sporting integrity when it is just used to put Scottish football down. When you look at other leagues accepting money from corrupt tyrants, and crooked billionaires. And then some clowns decide to use the sporting integrity excuse to ask for conservative ideas that just keep Scottish soccer down. I would call it sanctimonious but they do not have morality or integrity on their side. Let me put what I want. 1. The Scottish international team to do well in major trophies. 2. The Scottish football clubs to do well in Europe. 3. My clubs to win trophies and games. 4. The Scottish football system to attract and produce good players. But what gets on my nerves is clowns who would rather keep Scottish football down and use the excuse of ‘sporting integrity.’ Even when it is nothing to do with integrity it is just some conservative attitude or some pedantic addiction to rules that hurts Scottish football. I mean specifically these areas; 1. Unpatriotic people who would rather the big sides do not have colt teams in the lower leagues and use the argument of morality and sporting integrity. It has got NOTHING to do with sporting integrity. How does playing colt teams in the lower leagues have against integrity and morality? Surely it is far more immoral to allow top Scottish players to rot away in youth teams out of some idea of a part time finishing 4 or 5 places higher in the league. It has NOTHING to do with integrity. The Spanish, French, Belgians, Croats, Portuguese, German and French all have B teams playing in lower divisions. Are they immoral or lacking sporting integrity to do that? Croatia a smaller country than Scotland reached a World Cup Final in 2018. I would rather have their level of sporting integrity than avoid going to World Cups for 2 decades. It is an utter utter nonsense that putting B teams in the lower leagues affects our sporting integrity. It is just traitors who could not care less about the Scottish national team using conservative excuses that as it might lead to a B team winning a league it damage our integrity. Utter nonsense. And do not tell me some nonsense that Celtic and R angers should play an entire team of youth players, as they would get slaughtered by some League of Ireland team 9-0. It would be humiliating for Scotland. It is surely a far worse crime as a Scot to ask for other sides to fail to produce top players on the basis you hate other clubs so much that you would even damage the national team on those levels, 2. When you get fans of other Scottish clubs wanting other Scottish clubs to go out of business on the basis of sporting integrity, Even if it damages our chances of our clubs doing well in Europe. I know of fans of some clubs who rather Scottish football did rubbish, than have one of their rival teams do well in Europe. And then they bring up some pedantic regulation and claim it is to do with sporting integrity. 3. One guy that got on my nerves was someone who said all Scottish clubs should be part time. His argument was that we would have more competitive and equal league. Nonsense. All that would happen is Scottish people would go and support clubs from other countries and our league would be worse than the other part time leagues of Europe. We would see even our champions losing 8-0 to some team from the Faroe Islands. It would be an utter disaster. No Scottish of international level would stay in Scotland. We would see a total collapse in quality of the league.

I support Scotland. That is why I want Scottish football to do whatever it takes to develop top players. I think Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Hibs, and Motherwell should have colt teams in the Lowland League, Plus Aberdeen, Dundee United, Inverness CT, and Ross County should have colt teams in the Highland League. How is it a question of morality or integrity to want Scottish clubs to not produce good Scottish players. That is a disgusting vile attitude to take. The lack of morality and integrity is those people who want Scotland to fail. Who want Scottish clubs to fail in Europe. Let me state where I stand 1. I want Scotland to do well in major trophies. 2. I want Scottish clubs to get far in Europe. 3, I want Scottish football to produce and attract top players. 4. I support ALL Scottish clubs in Europe. 5. I want all Scottish players to reach their potential. The problem of integrity and morality is those who would rather Scottish clubs DO NOT produce top players. And then continue with this conservative agenda, that a part time team with 300 fans finishing 3 or 4 places higher in the league is more important than Scotland producing top players. No wonder Scotland fails when there are people who WANT Scottish football teams to fail. I do not support Celtic or Rangers in domestic football. Although I do support them in Europe. But I want them to produce good Scottish players, because Scotland is more important to me than tribal loyalties. HOW IS IT SHOWING INTEGRITY AND MORALITY TO WANT SCOTTISH TO FAIL TO PRODUCE TOP PLAYERS? HOW? No wonder Scotland has failed for 20 years at international soccer, with such a lack of patriotism and unity from some so called fans, I want all Scottish players to develop. End of story. And don't give me this guff that Rangers or Celtic should play an entire youth team in the first team. They would be humiliated 8-0 by a team from the Irish league. I support Scotland. That is why I want Scottish football to do whatever it takes to develop top players. I think Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Hibs, and Motherwell should have colt teams in the Lowland League, Plus Aberdeen, Dundee United, Inverness CT, and Ross County should have colt teams in the Highland League. How is it a question of morality or integrity to want Scottish clubs to not produce good Scottish players. That is a disgusting vile attitude to take. The lack of morality and integrity is those people who want Scotland to fail. Who want Scottish clubs to fail in Europe. Let me state where I stand 1. I want Scotland to do well in major trophies. 2. I want Scottish clubs to get far in Europe. 3, I want Scottish football to produce and attract top players. 4. I support ALL Scottish clubs in Europe. 5. I want all Scottish players to reach their potential. The problem of integrity and morality is those who would rather Scottish clubs DO NOT produce top players. And then continue with this conservative agenda, that a part time team with 300 fans finishing 3 or 4 places higher in the league is more important than Scotland producing top players. No wonder Scotland fails when there are people who WANT Scottish football teams to fail. I do not support Celtic or Rangers in domestic football. Although I do support them in Europe. But I want them to produce good Scottish players, because Scotland is more important to me than tribal loyalties. HOW IS IT SHOWING INTEGRITY AND MORALITY TO WANT SCOTTISH TO FAIL TO PRODUCE TOP PLAYERS? HOW? No wonder Scotland has failed for 20 years at international soccer, with such a lack of patriotism and unity from some so called fans, I want all Scottish players to develop. End of story. And don't give me this guff that Rangers or Celtic should play an entire youth team in the first team. They would be humiliated 8-0 by a team from the Irish league. Maybe we should just give up trying at football and all support foreign teams. There is 100% integrity and morality. Sarcastic.

I support colt teams in the lower divisions. This about giving young Scottish layers opportunities. You should not put tribal loyalties above Scotland producing top players, I put the Scotland national team first. I also want to see Scottish clubs doing well in Europe,. I think the Highland League should allow Aberdeen, Inverness CT, Ross County and Peterhead to have colt teams in the Highland League. If it produces more top Scottish players then it is good,. How is it anything to do with integrity, or morality to stop colt teams playing in the lower divisions? HOW IS THIS A QUESTION OR MORALITY OR INTEGRITY? It is nothing to do with integrity or morality it is just conservative, anti the Scottish national team agenda to put tribal loyalties above the good of Scottish football. They allow second choice reserve teams in the lower divisions in Spain, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Spain and Croatia. Have they lost all their morality and integrity because they play col teams in the lower leagues? Nope. We used to have Division C where reserve teams played proper sides. Did Scotland have no integrity or morality then? I support all Scottish clubs. I do not see it an an issue of integrity or morality to stop Scottish players developing. But I would never put a part time team finishing 4 or 5 places higher in the league, above the Scottish national side., The true integrity and morality is to do what ever it takes for the Scottish national side to have top players, while still enabling Scottish club sides to do well in Europe. How is stopping young players develop showing integrity or morality. It is just cutting off your nose to spite your face/. .It is a lack of integrity to want a part time tram to finish 3 or 4 places in the Lowland League to be above that of the national side doing well. I love all Scottish football clubs. I want all Lowland League and Highland League sides to do well. But the priority is the Scottish national side. SUPPORT THE SCOTTISH INTERNATIONAL SIDE DEVELOPING TOP PLAYERS.

I fully support the idea of colt teams in the Lowland and Highland League. I think Hearts and Hibs should have colt teams in the Lowland League. I am a big believer in giving young players opportunities, The more opportunities for young players, the more players will develop, They play second teams of the big sides in the lower leagues in Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain, All we hear about is getting experienced players for the international team. Well this is how to get more experienced players. Kenny Dalglish played for a year in the Juniors leagues, That was one of Scotland two best ever players, Look at the famous Motherwell side of James McFadden.. They basically threw a good chunk of their youth team into the adult game because they were in administration and it resulted in loads of great Scottish players like McFadden, Pearson, Hammell., Clarkson, all developed into top players, I think you could take any year in any Scottish Premier youth sides and throw them into adult football and some of them would develop into top players, Sometimes players you would not expect. In the real world clubs cannot throw their entire youth teams into the first team in the Premier. They would get relegated, But this idea of second teams being allowed to play, allows teams to throw entire youth sides into competitive adult soccer, Some claim that they are against this idea as it might help Celtic and Rangers, Well that is a nonsense anti-Scottish argument. As the only way it can help Celtic or Rangers is that it would help them develop top young players, So you are against Celtic and Rangers producing good Scottish players. That is a disgrace,. No wonder Scotland has failed in international football, if a significant proportion of fans would rather clubs fail to produce top Scottish players out of tribal rivalry. I support Scotland. I also support all Scottish clubs in Europe. But we should make sure all top Scottish players develop, regardless of who they play for. Some people would rather the international team fail. Some people would rather a part time team finish 3 or 4 places higher in the league, than Scotland produce top players,

I support the Old Firm having B teams in the Lowland League. 1. This is to help Scottish football produce more good Scottish players. That is as simple as it is. It is simply to help our international side. Which is the priority. 2. I do not care if it is self serving of the Old Firm. If you think it is self serving then the ONLY explanation for that is that it Will help the Old Firm produce good Scottish players. So GOOD! If you do not want a good Scottish national side, then why on Earth should people listen to you, on how to help Scottish soccer? I support systems that produce good Scottish players. I do not care if it helps other clubs. I support all Scottish clubs doing well regardless if they are Celtic, Rangers or Brechin or Peterhead. 3. The Old Firm are winning every league anyway, so the idea that this is bad because it might enable the Old Firm to win the title, is a ridiculous argument. 4. I would love it if all Scottish clubs could play B teams lower down the leagues. The more chances for young players the better. 5. They do this in Croatia, Belgium, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, France and Germany. So if it works there it should work here. Look at Croatia reaching a World Cup Final. They have a smaller population than Scotland. If only Scotland could reach a World Cup Final. 6. I want all Scottish clubs to do well. Some people would rather Scottish football did rubbish, than help another side develop young players, 7. Then you get the lot saying that they want nothing to do with the Old Firm. Well why is it when a side draw Celtic or Rangers in the cup or a testimonial the attendances go up? Would your team refuse a big transfer from Celtic or Rangers, Would you refuse to loan their players? Would you really put your hatred for Celtic and Rangers above helping the international side? I want what is best for Scottish football. Lets create a system that EXPLOITS the Old Firm to develop good Scottish players. They would never fill their first team with young players, they would get slaughtered in Europe, so they would just let their young players rot away. So the preferable option is a system where all young players get competitive game time. The B team system seems perfect. I support B teams in the Lowland League, as it will help the national side develop more players. It would be fun. I do not see it as a humiliation to play Celtic or Rangers B sides,. It would be a big game for the teams and players.

It is a good decision by the Scottish football authorities. It is good for Inverness CT and Raith Rovers, in these tough times, for them to win the trophy. The first Scottish football league title was shared by Glasgow Rangers and Dumbarton. In rugby the 5 nations was once shared by all 5 nations.

Having our own national side is part of the Scottish national identity. There is no way we should merge the leagues or national sides. I love Scottish teams playing in Europe, or winning national trophies. If we lost that it would be a big loss, I talked about this on another forum post. https://www.pieandbovril.com/forum/index.php?/topic/267505-united-kingdom-or-great-britain-premier-soccer-league/

Divisive tribalism in Scottish football. I know we need rivalries and intensity and passion in Scottish football. But I think the tribalism in Scottish football often gets in the way of creating a system that helps develop teams that can do well in Europe, and that can develop international players. For instance we know about the Old Firm rivalries. Where Celtic fans are supposed to hate Rangers, and Rangers fans are supposed to hate Celtic. But then it starts getting ridiculous when there are beliefs that there are conspiracies in favour of and against both Old Firm sides. How can both be right? How can the Scottish authorities be simultaneously for against against each Old Firm member at the same time. Then there are other theories that are contradictory and cannot all be true. Such as; 1. The contradiction of the authorities being in favour of and against both Old Firm sides. 2. The conspiracy theory that the authorities are biased towards both members of the Old Firm. 3. The conspiracy theory that the authorities only care about the West of Scotland. 4. While at the same time both Old Firm clubs think the authorities hate them. 5. That Aberdeen fans claim that the authorities only care about the West of Scotland. 6. That there is a conspiracy against Hearts. Which is why they were relegated, 7. Fans of smaller clubs who think there is conspiracy to only help the big clubs including the likes of Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs, Dundee United. 8. Fans who hate opposing clubs to the point of damaging Scottish football. They would rather cut of their nose to spite their face. 9. Fans of small part time clubs who think there should only be part time clubs in the Scottish league. 10. Fans who want other Scottish clubs to be humiliated in Europe. 11. Fans who do not care about how good the international side is. 12. Fans who want opposing rival Scottish clubs to go out of business. And the next minute want everyone to believe they care about the development of Scottish football. 13. Fans who want Scottish clubs to leave the Scottish league, on the basis that it would help their club, even if it damaged Scottish football as a entirety. The danger is that if you do not want other Scottish clubs to develop good players or do well in Europe, or even to stay afloat. How on Earth can anyone sincerely take your advice on what is best for Scottish football? I sincerely want all Scottish clubs to do well in Europe, and develop good players. To do that I would sincerely want Scottish football clubs to get good TV revenue, crowds, sponsorship, international audiences, and for Scottish people to support Scottish clubs, Ideas that get stopped due to tribalism are; 1. Putting colt sides in the lower divisions. My view is that if you had colt teams in lower leagues, then that would help the big sides develop better players for the international side. As young players would get early competitive experience. Yet there are even actual Scottish club coaches who have proudly said it is not the job of lower league clubs to help big clubs develop good players. Well if that is your attitude why should anyone take your seriously? I want every Scottish club from the Old Firm to Lowland and Highland League to develop good players. In fact I would not mind if that meant sending a Scottish player abroad if that helped his development. It should be the priority of every Scottish football fan for Scottish clubs to develop good international players. There are fans of smaller part-time clubs who would rather see a part time team finish 3 or 4 places higher in the league system, than Scotland develop good players, 2. Helping Scottish clubs to well in Europe. 3. Helping develop good Scottish international players. Let me say what I want. 1. Scottish clubs doing well in Europe, 2, Scotland having a strong international side of strong players. 3. Scotland producing and attracting good players. 4. Scotland having a rich variety of big professional and part-time clubs. . 5. I would love some form of cross border cup on top of domestic and European football. I would like a cup with other European nations. Even with the other Celtic nations.

I would prefer a national non-league cup between sides from the Lowland and Highland Leagues. I would support colt teams being in that as well. I think there would big crowds for Kelty Hearts v Glasgow Rangers B ,or Brora Rangers v Aberdeen B side, when fans are allowed back. Plus leading Scottish Junior sides could enter.

United Kingdom Or Great Britain Premier Soccer League I do not support a United Kingdom or Great Britain Premier Soccer League. I also do not support Celtic and Rangers joining the English leagues. It would be humiliating for Scotland. We keep hearing that it would be a good idea, for Scottish football. But it would destroy the national identity of Scotland. Losing the Scottish League would be a disaster for the status of Scotland as a nation. I am not anti-English, but I hate it when people think Scotland is just a part of England. If our biggest clubs played in the English League people would go back to thinking Scotland is like Yorkshire or Devon. Even if we just merged our leagues together. I would be against that. People would think that the UK league was just a continuation of the English League. So all the trophies English clubs had won would be counted as real trophies. While all the domestic trophies that Scottish sides had won would be counted as non-league trophies of no national status. So all our club’s histories would relegated to that of the status of winning a non-league trophy. Also 1) I have met English people who think that it would be unfair if a UK league was created to put any Scottish clubs in a UK Premier. They really think it is fair that all the Premier teams would just be only who would have been in the English Premier. Many of these people even think that if there was UK League, then the Scottish sides should have to start in tier 5 or lower. That is just ludicrous. That is not a league merger. It is a humiliating annexation. If there was a UK League then the Scots should have two teams in the premier and two teams in the championship and two teams in League One, and two teams in League Two, as the reflective population would account for. Another problem with a UK League is the enormous travel involved. A Scottish club could be stuck in a league of no Scottish teams, where they were travelling many 800 miles each two weeks. Many of the Scottish clubs who are significant forces in Scottish football might be stuck below the 5th tier for decades, travelling nearly a 1000 miles each week. How would that be progress? I think preferable options for Scotland are cross border cups. On top of Scottish domestic and UEFA competitions. Ideas like a Celtic Club Cup could be tried. Where all Scottish Premier sides play selected sides from Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Cornwall. That way long travels would be kept as a enjoyable novelty. We could have trophies with teams from other European countries. But a UK League would be impractical, for Scottish sides. It would humiliate Scotland. It could be decades before a Scottish club wins a national trophy. Which would be utterly humiliating. We might go decades with a Scottish club even qualifying for Europe. Cross border cups on top of domestic and UEFA football is preferable, in my view. I would even prefer a European League to a UK League as at least we would all be starting with no titles. Rather than one country having a continuation of their league and the teams from other leagues being seen as starting from scratch. Also no one would think Scotland was part of another country, just because it's teams were playing in the European League. While if Scottish teams played in the English League, then people would wrongly think Scotland was part of England.

The European Super League idea, is not a European Super League. With no promotion, relegation or entry for teams from more than 3 countries, it is just a mid week invitational mini tournament between a few invited sides that means nothing. The teams entering are not even the most recently successful in their leagues. It is no higher in status than a pre season friendly in the USA, or Middle East, between Real Madrid and Man Utd, or Barcelona and Liverpool, I think if the big sides are allowed to create new mini trophies, why don't Scotland? I am not suggesting a cross border league. I am suggesting a cross border cup on top of European and domestic league and cup soccer. I have said before about a Celtic Club Cup between all the Scottish Premier sides and selected sides from the Northern Irish, the Republic of Ireland, Welsh and Cornish systems. Or trophies between Scottish clubs and clubs from similar sized nations like Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium or Greece and others. I am a big fan of cross border cups on top of European and domestic. I think that would help Celtic soccer. But what I am angry with is the idea of an invitational mini tournament calling itself the European Super League., when there are only 3 countries in it. I say Scotland should work hard on getting extra cross border cups on top of UEFA competitions and Scottish League football. As a satire of the ESL, could Scotland and Wales create a league and call it the World Club League?

I would support the big sides having colt teams in the lower leagues. The point in this is to let the big clubs develop more top players for Scotland. It would be great if we could get back to the days when Scotland produced a glut of top players. If the big sides had colt teams playing in the lower leagues it would generate more international class players for the Scotland side. My priority is Scotland. The priority of Scottish football should the performance of the national side. If this idea develops more top players then that is good for Scottish soccer. I would want Aberdeen, Celtic, Rangers., Hearts, Hibs, Dundee United, and Motherwell to all play colt teams in the lower leagues. The reason for this is the national side. The colt teams of big sides play in the lower divisions in Germany, Spain, France, Portugal, Belgium, Croatia, and the Netherlands. I do not see why it is an insult for a team to play the B sides of another side. Most Scottish fans would love to see their club play the Real Madrid B or Barcelona B sides. So why does it become an insult to play a B team when it is a Scottish side? We should make sure every Scottish player is given an opportunity to progress, I heard once coach say it is not the job of Scottish football to develop Celtic and Rangers youth players. I profoundly disagree with the attitude. How can Scottish football go forward if people actively want to discourage other clubs developing good Scottish players.? IT IS NOT AN INSULT TO PLAY THE B TEAM OF A BIGGER CLUB.

I think if a European Super League only contains sides from England, Spain, and Italy. It should just be called the English- Italian,-Spanish League; It is not a European Super League if it only has 3 nations. If Scotland, Switzerland and Greece create League can we call that the European Premier League?

I think we should have Celtic Club Cup in soccer. I am Scottish and would love Scottish sides to have more cross-border games each year. It would also be about Scottish football helping the other Celtic nations. UEFA have already said they do not support cross border leagues. UEFA are against a European Super League. But UEFA do not seem to have a problem with cross border cups. UEFA allowed the Royal League. This was an annual Scandinavian trophy that was a group stage trophy. UEFA also allowed Scotland to have Irish, Welsh and English sides in the Scottish Challenge Cup. UEFA allowed the Commonwealth of Independent States Cup, a club trophy played between club sides from across the former Soviet Union. So UEFA do not seem to have a problem with cross border cups, just cross border leagues. So this is route we should go down. We should have a Celtic Club Cup on top of domestic league and cup football. And on top of the UEFA Champions League, the Europa League and the new Europa Conference League. My idea would be a to have a Celtic Club Cup, involving teams from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, and others could be added. The populations of the initial regions would be; The island of Ireland 6.5 million. Scotland nearly 5.5 million. Wales 3.1 million. Cornwall 500,000. Isle of Man 60,000. That is a population of over 15 and half million people. That is a huge market for football in terms of big clubs and sides. Perhaps even Brittany could take part. Brittany has a population of 4.5 million. Brittany sees themselves as a Celtic nation. But my initial plan would not include Brittany. Organization of the Celtic Club Cup. To do this Scotland would need to have the most teams in the new cup. As Scotland would be bringing more to the table in terms of professional well supported club sides. I would have Scotland change to 16 team Scottish Premier, with 30 league games a season. This would free up weeks in the schedule for a new trophy. I would support there being in the trophy; 16 teams from the new expanded Scottish Premier. 4 teams from Northern Ireland. 4 teams from Wales. 6 teams from the Republic of Ireland. 1 team from the Isle of Man. 1 team from Cornwall. That would equal 32 teams. I would support 8 groups of 4. With each team playing each team in their group home and away. With two Scottish teams in each group. The top two teams in each group qualify for the 16 team knockout stages. The knockout stages is one leg except for the final which will be two legged. That means a team reaching the final would play 11 more games each season. Arguments for my idea 1) It would expand the market for Scottish clubs. 2) It would create a bigger market that could attract bigger TV deals and sponsorship deals. 3) It would mean Scottish clubs could win trophies that covers a big population. So Scottish clubs could win a bigger trophy. 4) Irish, and Welsh sides could grow from the guarantee of playing a group stage cross border trophy each year. 5) It would be a helpful gift from Scottish football to other Celtic nations at football. 6) It could attract interest from markets outside the British and Irish Isles. It could be an attractive tournament in other markets. 7) More cross border rivalry each season, would spark great banter, and intense rivalry. Replies to criticisms of the idea; 1) Travel Would be too tough – Well my reply to that is to look at the distances they travel in sports league in Russia, Australia, the USA, Canada, Brazil, China, India, and Indonesia. Meanwhile Scottish and Welsh teams have travelled to the far corners of Eastern Europe in UEFA trophies. So a trip around the British Isles is not too much. Also in rugby the PRO14 had games between club sides from Italy, South Africa, Ireland, Wales and Scotland. So I do not see a trip around these islands that tough. 2) Loss of two Old Firm derby games. I accept that would be a loss, but this would be about expanding the Scottish system to a region of over 15 million people. We could be tripling the market of the Scottish football. 3) The other Celtic Leagues are too small to play. But if we help them, then their leagues will improve and grow. And in the long term we can end up playing bigger sides, from big cities like Dublin and Belfast. 4) Sectarian issues; Celtic played Linfield in recent years. Rangers play Celtic normally every year. So even Republic of Ireland club sides could cope with playing club sides from the Scottish Premier. 5) Too many games. But we could cut the Scottish Premier to 30 games a season. So even if a team plays all the way to the final, they would still only play 41 games, compared to the 38 in the league at present. So that is just 3 more games, on top of what we have now. 6) UEFA would not allow it; But UEFA have allowed many cross-border cups. It is cross border leagues they have a problem with, not cross border cups. I think this would be a great cross border trophy. Imagine games like Cork City v Aberdeen, Shamrock Rovers v Glasgow Celtic, Truro v Ross County, Dundee United v Connah’s Quay Nomads, The New Saints v Derry City, Hibernian v Linfield, Kilmarnock v Waterford, Heart of Midlothian v Dundalk, and Motherwell v St Patrick's Athletic. It could help Celtic soccer. Which would be generous of Scottish football. And added to that, it could increase the market Scottish football is brought too. It could help the big clubs in Scotland. Most important – The intense national and regional rivalries that would happen. It would be intense. That is what football is about. It would mean great trips for travelling fans. The English and bigger European nations are unlikely to have extra cross border cups with Scottish sides. But the Celtic nations surely would help. Thanks.-

Ten Centre Backs In A Team. - Wild Tactics - Would It Work? I wonder how a team would do if it just picked 10 centre backs in the team? I do not mean playing all those centre backs in defence. I mean playing those centre backs all over the pitch. So bring in 10 natural central defenders and play them in every outfield position. Obviously have a normal goalkeeper in defence. But then pick the 10 best big powerful central defenders all over the side. So playing central defenders as wingers, full backs, strikers, in midfield, as holding midfielders, as creative midfielders. I know Scotland is probably not big enough to pick 10 strong powerful central defenders all through the team. But imagine if Germany, England, Poland, or Russia, picked their ten best big powerful central defenders in every outfield position. In rugby union players have got taller and taller. In top level international rugby the vast majority of players are over 6 foot tall. Could this be the case in football, if someone tried? An entire team of 6 foot 3 inch tall plus players. Yet we saw the great Spain and Barcelona teams dominate football for a few years. Both teams were not that tall. Barcelona had Xavi, Iniesta, and Messi. All relatively short players. They humiliated some bigger teams. Yet it is normally the case that good tall team will beat a good small team. Going back to my idea of a large international team playing an entire outfield team of centre backs. Advantages- The team would dominate set pieces. They could dominate teams at height, for free kicks, corners. The team could play long ball football and destroy teams, in the air. The team would outmuscle every team in most positions. It might be like men against boys at soccer. Disadvantages- The team might have no creativity. The team might have no natural goal scorers. The team might have not good passers. So it would be a waste to have 10 great central defenders for set pieces, if the passing was rubbish. There might be no one who can take free kicks or penalties. - But could it be a possibility to pick players who are natural central defenders, but can also play as utility players. - Conclusion I think the best teams have a balance between physicality, and creativity. So obviously we need sides that can have some big powerful players for set pieces, and the physical aspects of the game. But also have some creative players with pace or skill, or passing ability. But would an entire team of centre backs actually do well?

Steve Clarke is a great boss. I am a big fan of Steve Clarke. He has done a good job at Scotland. I hope Clarke stays as Scotland boss. If in the future if Clarke is not boss of Scotland, then I would like Paul Lambert as Scotland boss one day. He is a Scotland legend. And was a great player at Glasgow Celtic, B Dortmund, St Mirren, and Motherwell. He has lots of managerial experience. He has a mixed record as a manager. But he has had success. I think other great targets for Scotland could include Derek McInnes. I would prefer a Scots person to get the job. As I think we need someone with a basic understanding of Scottish football.

Investments In Scottish Soccer Or English Football Compared - I think there are 3 types of investment in Scottish and English Soccer; 1) Investments to make money. 2) Investments as a status symbol. 3) Charity Investments. I think people have to be realistic about investment in Scottish football. The only way we are going to get serious investments in Scottish soccer is if there is a way of giving return on those investments. In England, there is the target to reaching the English Premier League which can open a team up to 100 million pounds a year TV deals and huge attendances and sponsorship deals. So it make sense to invest tens of million pounds in a club if the reward is reaching the EPL, and making hundreds of millions of pounds a season. While in Scotland to be realistic all we only have is a few million pound a year TV deals and maybe qualifying for the Champions League, or Europa League group stages. But even Celtic and Rangers struggle to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League. So giving even 10 million pounds a year to a Scottish club smaller than Celtic or Rangers would still be difficult to qualify for the Champions League Group stages, or even finish above Celtic or Rangers. I think we need to create a new cross border trophy for Scottish sides and teams from other countries that offer massive returns in financial revenue. I think a way to do this is for Scottish football to create a cross border trophy with teams from other countries such as an Atlantic League Cup. With smaller to medium sized nations in Europe, or Northern Africa or North America. Now I will go over the 3 investment motivations in Scottish football; 1) Investments to make money. The only way football clubs can make the money back is; A) If they qualify for a league or European football run that earns them huge amounts of money back. Like in the English system clubs can earn 100 million pounds a year TV deals. Or in Europe teams can makes tens of millions in long European runs in the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League. But the problem is that it is difficult for Scottish clubs to find a reward system that will earn them a league or trophy that will earn them millions of pounds. B) Developing great players to sell on for huge transfer deals. This could include developing youth players from their youth system, or making genius buy from Scotland or the World, that they can sell on for huge profits. But this is a difficult thing to do. Dundee, Airdrieonians and Hearts have tried that. And it did not really work. Because it is football alchemy to develop multi-million pound players and buy bargain buys who you can sell on for profits. You have to get lucky or have a genius in charge. And if you have a genius, some bigger club will probably come in for that genius individual. In short, I think the only real way for Scottish football to offer returns on investment is for Scotland to create some sort of trophy with teams from other countries that could earn multi-million pound, or multi-million euro deals for loads of Scottish clubs. 2) Investments in soccer clubs as a status symbol. Some people might invest in Scottish and English football as a status symbol. You also see billionaires buying up big American sports sides as a status symbol. Like the honour of owning the New York Yankees, or LA Galaxy, the LA Lakers. Or owning some great gridiron side like the Dallas Cowboys or Pittsburgh Steelers. You see wealthy billionaires buying up horse stables and trying to increase their status with the rich. It is like buying a famous painting or a faberge egg, Some even invest in sports clubs to whitewash moral failings. There are unscrupulous governments and billionaires who have invested in English soccer sides to whitewash their moral crimes. Such as human rights abuses and tyrannical business dealings. Sometimes these people even invest in the surrounding area to develop the entire football region to improve their status and build a legacy. It is difficult to imagine an Arabian trillionaire to invest in a small Scottish club as a status symbol. 3) Charity Investments. Sometimes people even invest in football clubs like a charity. Like when Jack Walker gave a fortune to Blackburn Rovers. Or when the great Edinburgh-based philanthropist James Anderson gave a fortune to Scottish football. This is not like the status symbol investments. This is for purely charity reasons. This is a common occurrence in British football. Aberdeen, Blackburn Rovers, and Dundee have had what I would call charity donations given to them. Where the provider does not expect any return back. Conclusion I think if we want to attract investment in Scottish football, we need to have extra cross border trophies with small to medium sized football powers. Where all the Scottish clubs can enter a cross border trophy that allows all Scottish Premier sides guaranteed European football, in a group stage trophy., This would hopefully earn millions of pounds guaranteed for Scottish clubs. This would allow investors to invest in Scottish clubs and get return on their investments. I do not want Scottish football clubs to join the English League. As then people would think Scotland is part of England. I also do not think the English want Scottish clubs in their league. I want the Scottish clubs to be strong and for there to be a strong league system. Where clubs are strong and investors can get return on their investments, The English have created a soccer system where you could invest 10 million in a club get them promoted and then earn 100 million pound a year TV deals. Scottish football needs to have a system that offers return on investments.

I totally support colt teams playing in League Two. It is not showing disrespect to the lower leagues to want the Old Firm to have colt teams in League Twp. Most Scottish League Two sides are happy to play the colt teams of foreign sides in testimonials, friendlies. Most League Two sides are happy to even play the second string sides of Celtic and Rangers in friendlies or in the cup. IT IS NOT SHOWING A LACK OF RESPECT TO ;LEAGUE TWO SIDES FOR THEM TO PLAY THE RANGERS OF CELTIC COLT SIDES. IT IS A MASSIVE SIGN OF RESPECT. It is a compliment. It shows the clubs that the bigger clubs respect them enough for them to be the perfect breeding grounds for developing young players. They do this in Croatia, Germany, Spain, France,. Belgium, Portugal, the Netherlands. Scotland even had a Division C in the olden day where proper sides played b sides. Croatia develop great players because of this system. Why is it suddenly showing a lack of respect for colt sides to play League Two sides? It is a compliment. It will increase interest in the lower leagues. We should do everything we can to ensure young players at all clubs develop while taking into account that most sides want experienced players in their first team. This will be the perfect way to develop young Scottish players. League Two sides are happy to loan Old Firm young players but suddenly it is the greatest insults in history to play a team of Old Firm youth players. HOW DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I do not see how a part time team finishing 2 places higher in the League Two is more important an issue than Scotland developing great international players? I love all Scottish soccer sides, including the part time sides. I want a strong League Two, with strong sides, but the national team is the priority for me. We should do everything we can to create a system which encourages big clubs to develop great players. Before someone says why don't Celtic and Rangers just stick all their youth players in their first team. Well nobody does that if they want their club to do well. All clubs pack their squads with experienced often non-Scottish players,. It is not realistic to expect any full time team to just send out an entire team of youth players,. We need a system where all the top sides can continue to have experienced often foreign players in their first team but can still develop young Scottish players. What gets on my nerves is people who say it is an insult to play b sides yet are happy to have b side players loaned to them. What gets on my nerves is people who would rather their part time side finishes two places higher in the league than the Scottish team develop great players. What really gets on my nerves is people who want to chuck out all the part time team from the SPFL, then the next next minute claim it is an insult for those teams to play against B sides, I love all SPFL sides, I want them all to exist, and perform to their max ability. But the national team is the priority, .

I would support B teams playing in the senior leagues. That allows young players to get early competitive experience, It does no harm to the senior leagues. It allows young players to develop. They do that in Germany,. France, Belgium, Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain, and Croatia. It would also increaser in the lower league, It is a compliment to the lower leagues to say that is where great young Scottish players could develop,

I would support a pyramid system for the Highland League. It would be great to have teams getting promoted to the Scottish Highland League, from different parts of the Highland League region.

I hope Celtic and Rangers stay in the Scottish League. I am not ant-English, but it would be embarrassing for people to think Scotland is part of England, We should use the Old Firm to develop a cross border European trophy with other small to medium football power nations. So all our clubs in the Scottish Premier get to play decent sides from all over Europe in a multi nation club trophy on top of domestic football, and on top of the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League. It would be great if we could have a cross border cup with clubs from countries like Poland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal, That way Celtic and Rangers get to play more top foreign sides, but the idea would allow the other Scottish Premier sides to play top foreign sides.. We could even allow Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa sides to play club sides in a cross border trophy with Scottish sides, We need to look outside of England. Also another really annoying problem with Celtic and Rangers joining the English League is that they would be expected to start off the bottom tier. It could take them decades to re-build and get up from the non-league system through the EFL and then into the EPL and to challenge for the EPL. They could take decades to win a major trophy, It would be humiliating for the two biggest Scottish sides to go decades without winning a trophy, Let's exploit the size of the Old Firm to be more ambitious and play a cross border cup with other European nations, I would love games like Celtic v Ajax, Rangers v Basel, Aberdeen v AEK Athens, AIK Stockholm v Hibernian, Heart of Midlothian v Legia Warsaw and Dundee United v Brondby. That way we keep our own league but also have a cross border games with big glamorous European sides, Forget about joining the EPL. EFL or English Non-League, Go for something bigger. A cross border European trophy,

Here are my big ideas for total Scottish League reform. This takes in a lot of ideas. That I have put into one post. It is my all encompassing plan for Scottish football. So I hope you enjoy reading it. It covers league re-organisation, cross border cups and colt teams in the lower divisions, But to achieve these would need Scottish football League re-organisation, The key ideas are; 1. 16 team Premier 2. Cross border cups, such as an Atlantic League Cup. 3. B sides or colt sides in the lower divisions 4. Create a system that takes advantage of clubs self-interest, but encourages them to develop top Scottish players, without lowering the quality of the first teams in Europe. My priorities for Scottish football are; 1: For Scotland to have a strong international team. 2. For Scotland to produce loads of great Scottish players. 3. To ensure Scottish football clubs do well in European and international club trophies. 4. To attract, keep and develop great players to play for Scottish football clubs. 5. For all the Scottish clubs to survive and have potential to do well in the system. What I am against. 1. What I can’t stand is people who do not care about the international team, and only care about their one club side to the point where they would rather Scottish players did not develop, and they would rather Scottish teams did badly in Europe, than their own club finish a handful of places down the league system. 2. If someone does not care about the international team or the performance of Scottish sides in Europe, then why should that person be taken as giving a serious view on what is best for Scottish football? They don’t care. 3. I am not anti-English. But I do not support Scottish sides joining the English league. That would be humiliating for Scottish football. People would think that Scotland is part of England. The top Scottish clubs might do rubbish in the English league, which would be embarrassing to the status of Scottish soccer. They might go decades without winning English trophies. And then loads of people claim that the big Scottish sides would have to start in the bottom tier of English soccer. So Scottish clubs could take decades to make their way up through the English non- league and football league system. Which would leave them ranked below far smaller clubs in terms of success. If someone wants to destroy the status of the Scottish League, and have the biggest Scottish sides playing in the English league. Then they should not be taken seriously as someone who wants the best for Scottish football. 4. I am against people who want Scottish clubs to fail in Europe. If you want other Scottish clubs to fail in Europe. Why should your view be taken seriously on what system would help Scottish football perform better in Europe? Here are my ideas in full. 1. My League re-organisation Plan. 16 Team Premier. 10 Team Championship. 16 Team Scottish League One North, 16 Team Scottish League One South., I think we should have a 16 teams Scottish Premier and cut the number of games down to 30 games a season in the league. That way more Scottish sides would be in the Premier. The first 10 seasons of the Scottish League were played under a system that involved less than 30 games in a league season, for each team. Plus, more importantly it would free up the schedule to have more cross-border trophies with teams from another country, With 16 teams in the Scottish Premier, That leaves 26 more sides who are not in the Scottish Premier, but are in the SPFL. Plus if all Scottish Premier sides were allowed to have colt sides in the SPFL, then, that would mean for instance the 16 Scottish Premier colt sides. That equals 42 sides in the SPFL but not in the Premier. My idea is that we could have a 10 team second tier, championship, Then I would have a Scottish League One North, and Scottish League One South., Each containing 16 sides, These would be a mixture colt sides and proper sides, The top sides in League One would have play offs to enter the 10 team Scottish Championship, 2. Cross border cups, such as an Atlantic League Cup. I think we should free up the schedule to have cross border cups with teams from other countries. UEFA have showed they are against cross border leagues in general. But they have allowed cross border cups. UEFA have allowed Scotland to play non-Scottish sides in the Scottish Challenge Cup, Plus UEFA have allowed the Royal League, a cross border cup between Scandinavian sides, I think we should have a cross border Atlantic League Cup with sides from other small to medium football powers. This would be on top of domestic and European football. So on top of domestic football, and on top of the UEFA Champions League, the Europa League and the new Europa Conference League. So an extra trophy on top of that called the Atlantic League Cup, This should be a group stage trophy for all Scottish Premier sides, With a knockout stage for teams who get through the group stages. We could invite teams in from nations such as Poland, Switzerland, Slovakia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Wales, Austria, Lithuania, Norway, Finland, Bulgaria, Armenia, Georgia, Cyprus, or the Czech Republic. We could even invite sides in from Russia, Turkey, France, the Ukraine, or Belarus, and other European nations. As long as we get 3 or 4 countries of a decent size I think it would be worth it, This is where I get even more ambitious. How about inviting in African sides, or Asian sides? In the rugby PRO 14 South African sides played club sides from Scotland, Wales Italy and Ireland. So if it is possible for rugby clubs to travel great distances why can’t football sides, Africa is on the same time zone as much of Europe. I would love Nigerian, South African, Moroccan, and Egyptian sides to be invited into the Atlantic League Cup to play Scottish sides, African football is of a high standard and I bet they would love to play the big clubs from the medium football powers of Europe, Maybe we could even play club sides from China, Korea, the Middle East, and Japan. If clubs can travel from Korea to the Middle East, why can’t Scottish sides do similar trips? , It would be cool to have games like Aberdeen v Basel, Glasgow Celtic v Copenhagen, Glasgow Rangers v AEK Athens, Ajax v Ross County, Porto v Dundee United, Heart of Midlothian v Legia Warsaw, Hibernian v AIK Stockholm. It would involve Scotland trying to create a trophy that allows Scotland to compete with the bigger nations We need to create a system that ensures the national teams to well, that ensures top players come to and develop in Scotland. But also where Scottish clubs continue to do well in Europe and international competitions , We need a system that takes advantage of self-preservation, of big sides. 3. B teams or colt teams in the lower divisions. The purpose of sticking the big side’s colt teams in the lower divisions, is simply to ensure that the big sides develop. I would love all Scottish Premier sides or the big 7 sides Celtic, Rangers, Hibernian, Hearts, Aberdeen, Dundee United and Motherwell to play colt sides in the lower divisions. I do not support the Old Firm, except in Europe. The reason I want the Old Firm and other big Scottish sides to have colt teams in the lower division is simply 110% because I want all the great Scottish players to develop to maximise their potential, It is nothing to do with wanting Celtic or Rangers to win League One or League Two. It does not destroy the lower leagues to have Rangers Colts and Celtic Colts playing in League One or League Two. It would not humiliate these clubs. It is not about disrespecting the lower divisions clubs. It is a massive compliment to the lower divisions to say that League One and League Two would be a great level to develop young Scottish players. What annoys me is the type of annoying fan who wants half the SPFL clubs to be chucked out of the SPFL on the basis that they do nothing for the Scottish game. Then the next minute that same person thinks it is massive insult to have colt sides playing these sides. Let me re-iterate I love all the SPFL sides. I want them all to continue and grow. But I think colt sides playing these sides is a compliment to those sides. It shows they have a purpose for being teams to play for the colt sides. They allow B or Colt teams to play in the lower divisions in Spain, Croatia, Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Croatia is the big one for me. It is notable that Croatia is smaller than Scotland, yet reached the last World Cup Final. I think this is because all their players get maximised to play competitive football at a young age. Some people will angry that part time or semi-pro sides will finish a few places lower in the league because of this idea. But that is selfish. How can you put your club finishing a few places higher in League One or League Two above the ability of the big sides to develop young Scottish players? That shows you put your own club above Scotland developing good players. That is a disgrace. The Scotland team is the priority. I know one person said it is not the job of smaller clubs to help develop Rangers and Celtic youth players, Well that is a disgraceful thing to say. In my view, it is the job of every club in Scottish football to ensure every club can reach it’s maximum potential at developing great Scottish players. If you would rather Scottish players did not develop because you are so self-interested in your own club, then you are a disgrace to the Scottish football system. Another person said to me, how would you feel if your big side had to play Real Madrid B side. Honestly my reply has two points. A) If that was the level we got relegated into, I hardly think playing Real Madrid B side is a humiliation. I would be totally proud to be play Real Madrid’s B side. If that is the level we are relegated to in some European league so be it., B) The fact you think a big foreign side is of the same priority as a big Scottish side, shows you the level of patriotism for Scottish football. It is like saying you would rather a big foreign side does better than a big Scottish side. That sort of attitude is a humiliation to Scottish football. Another person said that we should just copy English football in what they do. As otherwise they will laugh at us. Well that is utter nonsense. And anyway we used to allow B sides to play proper sides in the old Scottish C Division in the fifties. So does that mean Scottish football was a joke then? Plus most smaller Scottish clubs are happy for the big sides from foreign countries to send second choice teams for testimonials or friendlies. Yet if we put the B sides of big Scottish sides in the lower division it suddenly becomes a humiliation to their honour to play the B sides of big Scottish sides. I cannot see why sticking colt teams in the lower division humiliates smaller clubs. Even if my fave clubs had to play B teams at any level, I would accept that. If it helps Scottish football I would support that. You will get people who say that if the big sides care so much about Scottish football then they should just stick 11 young Scottish players in their first team to develop great Scottish players. But if they did that they would do rubbish in the league and would get slaughtered in every game in Europe. Would every part time club in Scotland get rid of all their experienced players, or non-Scottish players? It is not realistic in the modern age to expect all the Scottish Premier sides to have a team entirely young Scottish players in their first teams, We need a system that motivates teams to have great first teams sides, that can be made up of foreign players and experienced Scottish players, Having B teams in the lower leagues would ensure that the big Scottish sides could still develop top Scottish players without damaging their chances on Europe, Some will claim it is unfair that the big Scottish sides might find it easier to get young Scottish players to their team. But that is a nonsense argument. All the clubs will be in the same boat. It is not as if one club in the lower division will be able to get any player they want while other clubs will not. I would rather a top Scottish young player develops into a great international, at another club, rather than them playing for my fave side and not developing. The priority is what is best for the development of that Scottish player, Every non-colt team will be in the same boat., So what is the problem? 4. Create a system that takes advantage of clubs self-interest, but encourages them to develop top Scottish players. Take advantage of club’s self-preservation to develop top Scottish players, while at the same time still doing well in Europe. B sides in the lower leagues is better, Thanks.

NEW DOMESTIC NON LEAGUE NATIONAL TROPHY. I know we have the Scottish Junior Cup for junior teams. But what about a new national domestic cup for non league sides, and junior sides, A national non league trophy for all Scottish non league sides. The early rounds could be regional. Leading to the later stages being national. Then a final either one leg or two legged, We could have teams from the Junior set up, plus the Highland League, the Lowland League, the East of Scotland Football League, the South of Scotland Football League, the West of Scotland Football League, and the North Caledonian League. It would be fun. There are some massive teams in the non-league system of Scotland, so it could have great potential. Even more controversial would be to have non junior teams invited into the Scottish Junior Cup. Could we make the Scottish Junior Cup open to all non-league sides in Scotland?

McInnes is a great manager. He is the best manager since Alex Smith. Aberdeen fans should be patient. Aberdeen have been second four times under McInnes. They have won a trophy, and reached loads of finals. McInnes has developed and improved some super players for the team. McInnes has made millions of pounds in terms of transfers We have had a respectable performances in European football. We should stick with McInnes as long as possible. Look at Hearts, Hibs, and Dundee United being relegated in the last 10 years, from the Premier. So we need to be patient and stick with McInnes for as long as possible. Look at some of the relegation battles Aberdeen have had in the last 30 years, Look at the managers who took Aberdeen to bottom 6 performances, Aberdeen should be patient with McInnes.

I hope Scottish teams take the new Conference League seriously. A Scottish club COULD win this new competition. 3 Scottish clubs have won European trophies. So it would be great to add to that, I think it is too difficult for Scottish clubs to win the Champions League. Celtic and Rangers could just about win the Europa League. But I really think any Scottish Premier team could get a good run and win the Conference League. Which would be great for Scottish football. Scotland should take the trophy seriously.