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Showing content with the highest reputation on 04/06/21 in all areas

  1. Although the 20-21 season has just finished, there's much to be intrigued about in the forthcoming season. There are a number of clubs emerging as strong contenders for the title of Banter Kings of Scottish football. A competition dominated by rangers in its first few years, Celtic finally managed to wrestle the trophy from their big rivals in a dominant display during 2020-21. The following is a summary of the contenders in this season's Banter King Title Race, feel free to skip down to the Too long couldn't be arsed ending. The runners:- Aberdeen - set their stall out early with the appointment of the chairman's best pal as manager and talk of strategies and visions, compounded by the announcement of Scott Brown as assistant. A few decent signings on and some far bigger plays by rival clubs means the Dons have slipped down the reckoning a bit. This could go either way, and be a sink like a stone or an incredible season. Alternatively, they might finish top half but win f**k all just like usual. Will it be high 5's and yeehas all round for the Dandies? Celtic - Didn't just take the Banter title from their arch rivals last season, they ripped it from their grasp and carved their own name onto it half way through the season. Some 'interesting' managerial appointments at other clubs had left Celtic unsure how to better them, until they top trumped everyone with the 'appoint no one for 100 days' strategy. Just as the novelty of that is diminishing, they look set to appoint a complete unknown who might not be qualified to coach in Europe. It's been a strong early showing by the current Banter Champs, but can they keep it going for another full season..? Dundee - a club steeped in the tradition of point and laugh moments. Look fairly settled just now, and have possibly passed the city of discovery Banter baton along the road.. Dundee United - On paper, appointing a relatively unknown youth coach and playing your under 14's before selling them on for millions seems like a sound business plan, but who's to say? Will he end up the Daddy Mac, or be another Jackie Mac? Could be one to watch in this race.. Hearts - An incredibly consistent performer in this contest over a couple of decades, yet all seems surprisingly quiet down Gorgie way. They may well have completely changed strategy and going for a run things smoothly approach to provide a foundation for success, but you can never write off this behemoth of Banter, as the next maroon implosion is never too far away. Hibs - Seem a long way down the running for this. Fairly steady with a decent manager. The sale and failure to replace a couple of key players might disrupt things, but the only thing likely to involve Hibs in this battle is going into full meltdown and panicking if Hearts are having an outstanding season. Livingston - Will the sugar man be able to reproduce his team's early form, or was the stuttering last couple of months a precursor of what's to come? Livi struggling wouldn't be a huge shock, but the manager completely losing the plot, and no happy ending to the fairy tale with horse's heads being uncovered in beds all over West Lothian could bring the Lions into contention. Motherwell - The steady reliable veterans of the Premiership are like your Gran at family gatherings; friendly, inoffensive, and almost part of the furniture as you know they'll always be there. Until one day you get a phone call and they're dead. If we learned one thing watching Kilmarnock this season, it's that they were shite. Even when Motherwell were having a honking season and swimming in sewage a few years ago, they ended up smelling of roses as they skelped Rangers in the play offs. Again, a poor season and relegation wouldn't be that strong a bid, Well are going to have to come up with a lot more than that to be in with a shout. Rangers - The founders of the competition, and dominant force in its early years appear to be on the rise, and to have left the Banter race firmly in the rear view mirror. But Gerrard being poached, boardroom splits, the taxman finding a dusty old folder that needs looking into.. As a wise man once said; never, ever underestimate a club whose fans celebrate by bottling each other and setting off fireworks in their own hands. Ross County - Galloping up to the front runners from the outside lane with some magnificent early season form. Hiring the same marketing team as Fred and Rosemary West might be the kind of modern thinking which isn't to everyone's taste, but it's been a master stroke in this particular competition. Can County sustain this early season form, or will they fade into the pack? St Johnstone - The Perth Saints look set to dominate Domestic and European football for years to come; but it just takes the manager and one or two young stars to move on and suddenly the garden looks a lot less rosey. On paper, as steady a Premiership ship that you could hope to sail on, Saints look like rank outsiders for this particular trophy. But it just takes the tea lady to punch Gerard's lights out, or a couple of players getting caught injecting heroin down that lane between Tesco and Canal Street, and suddenly the envy of diddy clubs all over the world become a shambles and force themselves into contention. Could this be yet another trophy that ends up in Perth? St Mirren - last and probably least. A lot riding on things this season; can the buddies hold onto their 7th place crown, or will they be forced back down into 8th? It's a tough call, but should make for fascinating viewing. Lower leagues - Could killie or Accies do the Double Slide for a trip to the seaside? Special mentions to Morton, and especially Falkirk who have always been frontrunners in this particular event. Or could there be a surprise newcomer.. would big spending Kelty being relegated straight back to the lowland league be enough to take the title? All to play for. TL;CBA So who's it going to be? Give your predictions for the season ahead...
    25 points
  2. Firstly thank you to everyone that took part, a fantastic response, makes it worthwhile. Sorry for delay in posting scores, sometimes life gets in the way. Anyway the team event first The winners with a whopping 183 points scoring 49 in final round was team Scotland, top effort. @The Hologram @Leeds Saint @Silky Si McFly @jagfox BLM @Snobot @Spring Onion @Ross. @ArmadaleKillie The gallant runners up with 176 points, team Brazil. 45 points this round @WhiteRoseKillie @Eednud @peasy23 @Culter Away @Arabdownunder @The_Kincardine @BigBo10 @Jacksgranda Third place on 170 is France - 43 for this round @Arch Stanton @The DA @Bully Wee Villa @gkneil @JamesP_81 @LincolnHearts @JustOneCornetto @The Captain In fourth place with 169 points and 43 this round is Italy @Helpma @Perkin Flump @alang1993 @Geaky @mathematics @SlipperyP @kingjoey @pleslie99 And finally bring up the rear (insert Kenneth Williams meme) is team Germany. 161 points @Rugster @Salvo Montalbano @Cardinal Richelieu @German Jag @101 @NJ2 @Blootoon87 & bloody Aidan Excellent well done all . Now individual prizes for highest cumulative scores over four rounds Winning a trophy we have @Rugster @WhiteRoseKillie @Arch Stanton & @Eednud on 35 points Well done Now its time for the Rous Cup The final saw @Perkin Flump score a ten, v Rugster a 7 and Arch Stanton an 8 - Well done Perkin old chap In the kirin cup it was german jag 7, P Leslie 7, Kincardine 8 but winning with a nine was @Snobot @SlipperyP please award the following trophies The Hologram x 1 Leeds Saint x1 Silky Si McFly x1 Jagfox x 1 Snobot x 2 - what a show off Spring Onion x 1 Ross. x 1 Armadale Killie x 1 PErkin Flump x 1 White Rose Killie x 1 Arch Stanton x 1 Eednud x 1 Rugster x 1 And that concludes the award ceremony It's time for me to disappear, I have Margot coming round to the hot tub Anyway good night everyone until next time
    16 points
  3. Well, this is awkward. Big fat two year deal for a player in his 30’s who is unlikely to give you 10+ good games a season. ‘Weird’ indeed.
    16 points
  4. I don’t think Johnathon Ross would be happy to announce us.
    13 points
  5. Blair Alston also strolled through last season, but that's because he couldn't run.
    13 points
  6. Announce McManus and take my money
    12 points
  7. Make them home school them. Fuckers would soon change their minds then.
    12 points
  8. Bizarre post. You must have missed the rush of other fans to the Ross County thread when they appointed their new racist, sexist and homophobic manager and the same with us when Dodds was appointed. It's part and parcel of an open forum. Deal with it etc. As for Mckay most ICT fans might not rate him highly but maybe he could do a turn for Falkirk in League 1. After all, we've had our share of duds come to us and been derided by other supporters but you need only look to see what the likes of Donaldson, Rooney and White are up to now to see past form can be turned around. Good luck to the guy.
    11 points
  9. As someone who voted Yes in 2014 and votes SNP more often than not, the Scottish Government can seriously go f**k themselves if they are even considering future lockdowns The country is vaccinated sufficiently and we have done our bit
    10 points
  10. Leitch is a fucking patronising c**t.
    10 points
  11. I assume it's been covered in this thread but what an utterly useless start to the job for Humza. Health Secretary during a health emergency and a week in he's already talking complete shite about the most emotive subject possible, very ill children. Great job!
    10 points
  12. His Nana is very flattered and says thank you
    10 points
  13. 10 points
  14. Yes, I am talking board. I know nothing of their inner workings so can't comment on your interpretation of their behaviour. I do know one thing though. The lack of an Airdrie match report wasn't part of any grand plan from the BOD. It was a mistake from a depressed employee who couldn't face writing it after seeing his team fail again. He did the wrong thing and won't do it again. I know because he's a friend of mine and we discussed it afterwards. Not everything is a conspiracy. Sometimes the simplest explanation is the accurate one.
    10 points
  15. Can sb's mum come and collect him please.
    10 points
  16. St Mirren offered O'Halloran more than he was earning on his last contract, so to not only have him turn that down but take a wage reduction is testament to his loyalty.
    9 points
  17. So the vaccines work for a year, and counting, they smoke the variants, most of the cases are in the age ranges who are currently taking up the vaccines, and further immunity will be gained by however many (it might not be high but its more than the zero anyone previously accounted for) 12 to 15 year olds get it... Im genuinely at a loss why they dont incentivise the vaccines by saying, if vaccine uptake remains high, then this is fucking over in weeks. Not this mewling, patronising, "we're not giving in" pish I hear on the radio, just give it straight. Every restriction gone as long as folk turn up. Thats the target, thats the only reason anyone below 40 is bothering.
    8 points
  18. Still happy despite the fanzone taking away half the grass for him to run about daft in the Green this morning.
    8 points
  19. One good thing to come out of the restrictions
    7 points
  20. Sorry to hear this was how you were feeling mate. I lost my mum a month before first lockdown but tbh I was grateful she lived to a good age and her cancer was swift enough that she missed this last year of shit- show. Christmas was hard but I was fortunate to have the support of family , however I found her anniversary of passing much harder, standing alone in the freezing cold and snow covered graveside. This isn’t possibly much help or use to you mate but hopefully you find comfort and strength as the seasons pass and life can look brighter.
    7 points
  21. Should be working Sunday but managed to get a holiday then found out on Wednesday I was successful in getting a promotion which will be more money and no weekend work. Happy Days
    7 points
  22. Just wanted to know, planning on buying the wee man a season ticket (that he'll never get to use) . It will be a nice thing to have with his name on it, so that when he does get to the age he can go to the games, he maybe takes an interest in Ayr United rather than some random English team or the bigot bros. just because they're the fashionable choice
    7 points
  23. So basically Weans Parents of weans People out working People who haven't been vaccinated yet
    7 points
  24. She's going to announce its a hate crime to say Humza is a lying b*****d.
    7 points
  25. Don’t really get the whole ‘aye he played a lot of games so can’t have been that bad’ stick. Burton O’Brien played over 100 games for us but was of course fucking shite. Sometimes it happens where managers just like certain players and bizarrely give them far too much game time. It’s pretty well known that so far in his career Brad McKay has been shite. That’s why you’ll have fans of Hearts, St. Johnstone, Dunfermline and Inverness as well as opposition fans telling us so. Now he might go on to have a good spell with us but that doesn’t make their opinion any less valid. The exact same has happened with us in the last few years when we’ve punted garbage like James Craigen, John Rankin, Tom Dallison, Joe McKee etc… and they’ve went and done well for their next team.
    7 points
  26. I see it constantly. People in my work are going off for their dinner and logging back on for a couple of hours to keep on top of things. I actively had to lobby to other folk in my own team not to do it last year. My argument being if they need to do that, then we need to argue for another body in the team and that wont be done as long as they are covering up with free labour. Lo and behold, after 2 months of struggling, they asked why we were suddenly falling behind and within 4 weeks another person was started. I steadfastly refuse to work extra if I'm not being compensated for my time. If I need to catch up, I ask for paid overtime. If that is refused then I let myself fall behind. I'm not a fucking charity. My manager does have my mobile number but they've never phoned it in general, much less to ask me to do extra out of hours as they know exactly what the answer would be.
    7 points
  27. Imagine seething at a billboard.
    7 points
  28. Well no, the worst outcome you end up with is that you've picked players due to their youth on the basis of giving them experience, however they actually turn out to be considerably worse than your best players and you have poorer results as a consequence, while young players suffer for being thrown in to get pumped if they aren't good enough yet. There absolutely have been examples of managers not trusting players due to their youth and it's right that that's criticised when it happens, for example Strachan picking Whittaker, Mulgrew and even Craig Forsyth ahead of Robertson when it was already apparent to anyone with a clue that Robertson was comfortably the best left back available to us, even if no one was talking about him becoming world class then. It was appalling management and there was no explanation for it other than Robertson's age. He was clearly good enough and should have been starting every game. That genuinely should have cost Strachan his job, as I sincerely believe we'd have made the playoffs in those 2016 qualifiers without those choices. I don't think anyone's saying that there's no problem here, but it's not as simple as saying 'start capping players at 18' then seeing them all magically turn into world class players by virtue of having 15 more caps than if they'd first been capped at 21. As a general rule nations will cap players at a younger age if they've already demonstrated that they're good enough at that younger age, hence Eden Hazard being capped at 17 because he had already made himself an established first team footballer at a good level at 17, standing out as an excellent player in Ligue 1. On the other hand, chucking Stephen O'Donnell into the Scotland squad when he was 19 wouldn't have been a good idea, because he was getting his first experience of first team football in a side finishing 6th in the Scottish second tier and showing no indication he'd become a Scotland player one day. Kevin Nisbet getting his first Scotland cap at 24 rather than 20 or 21 isn't a failure on the part of any Scotland managers, it's the entirely reasonable and natural consequence of Nisbet's career to date. Calling him up at 21 when he was embarrassing himself as one of the worst players in a Dumbarton team being relegated from the Championship would have been the most ridiculous decision a Scotland manager has ever made. Excellent international players have so many caps having started so young because they'd already made it obvious how good they were at a young age, not the other way round: they didn't become good just because they were capped young to give it a try. Hazard, Kylian Mbappe, Aaron Ramsey - they were obviously already among the best players available to their country as teenagers. Stephen O'Donnell and Callum McGregor were not. There's a risk of baby out with the bathwater here. You can ask if there's a deeper issue with youth development in Scotland that the wrong players are being identified in age grade footballers or if there's a reason some players are relatively late developers, but the solution is not to say that we should just launch everyone who's highly rated at 18 in for a cap and see if they sink or swim. If you get a genuine once in a generation talent like Gilmour that's a different discussion, but we have moved quickly with him - he's been capped at 19 having played only 22 first team games. He's not established as a first team footballer yet but because he looks so good, he's in the squad for a tournament. Same with positions where we're weaker, where Patterson has been given a call up despite having g so little experience as the only alternative was a known mediocrity like Palmer anyway. We had this issue in 2018 qualifying, when fingers were being pointed at Berra and Mulgrew as being too old. We should have had a younger centre back partnership, a bit of succession planning for the future, not old duds like them and others who'd failed before like Russell Martin and, er, Grant Hanley, who was all of 26 years old at the time. It's almost as if players aren't given slack if they're called up as teenagers and are pish at first due to not being ready! It was all very well to say that we should have phased Berra and Mulgrew out sooner with hindsight, but look at the younger centre backs who've been capped since that campaign. When it started Jack Hendry was dossing about in England's League One on loan having failing to get a game for his relegation battling Championship club. John Souttar was looking the inferior player beside Berra at club level. The highest level David Bates had played was the Scottish Championship, where he failed to break into the Raith team and had loan spells with East Stirling and Brechin. Scott McKenna couldn't get a game for Ayr United. So if you said then that we need to throw these older guys like Berra and Mulgrew in the bin to ensure our best young talent gets some experience now so they aren't being capped too late, you want our highest rated young centre backs at the time thrown straight in to stand them in good stead to be solid international centre backs for years to come. You look to the centre backs getting the most games for the under 21s at the time, and you have Jordan McGhee, Zak Jules and Joe Chalmers. Would anyone be better off if we'd given Jordan McGhee two or three caps as a 19 year old? Would it have turned McGhee into a credible international centre back, rather than the average Championship centre back/good Championship midfielder he's become? Would Scotland have had better results by putting an obviously inferior player in the side? No, obviously not. You pick your best players. Where obviously talented youngsters are being ignored due to their age in the way Robertson was even after getting his first cap then that should be called out and criticised, but I think people massively overstate how often this happens.
    6 points
  29. And it's called hypocrisy when you then put a daft wee gay pride badge on your suit with Ross's voting record.
    6 points
  30. People reduced to seething messes by a rainbow flag
    6 points
  31. Absolutely. It's the equivalent of the point guard in basketball, right? The player who takes control of the ball, and gets it to the players in attacking positions. At Hampden, we've seen even fairly average teams boss games with the entire match played through a single player. They are generally the small midfielder who has excellent balance, plays with their head up, and is incredibly comfortable with the ball at their feet. I'm thinking of Rosicky for the Czechs, Hamsik for Slovakia etc. (never mind the obvious Pirlo, De Bruyne, Xavi). What I've always been struck by is how much better the opposition's equivalent of that player is than what we have to offer. Fletcher is probably the player best at it we've had in the last couple of decades, and Brown could also do a role, but his agility and technique didn't quite match. When we've played against the very best teams (Germany, Spain etc.) the difference is even greater, because instead of having to rely on a player like Jorginho, or Modric, the centre backs can step up into midfield (e.g. Hummels), because they are technically strong enough. Then you look at us, and we've had numerous players fail to take control of that role, and our centre halves (until recently) have been an absolute bomb scare with the ball at their feet. Without comparing any other attributes, our current defensive options in McKenna, Cooper, Hendry (perhaps not Hanley) are streets ahead of what we've had in the past. I'm yet to be convinced that Mulgrew was particularly good at that role, unless being comfortable in floating a 50-yard long ball to Fletcher's head is the sole metric being used. The biggest difference we've seen in the last couple of years is the ability of Tierney and McTominay to take on that role from defence. That's hardly a surprise since both players could likely play for any country at the Euros. Your point about playing "on the half turn" is the issue in a nutshell. McGinn and Jack cannot play that role, and McGregor may be the best, but he still loses the ball far too often, without the risk balance of also creating strong attacking opportunities. McTominay probably could take on that role, as his ability to retain a ball under pressure is remarkable, and beyond Adams, is probably the most natural athlete we have (which is odd to say of a lanky 6'4" midfielder). Gilmour may not be the short-term solution (purely on the basis of trust and experience - not ability), but he is undoubtedly the medium/long-term solution, as he's by a distance, the most accomplished Scottish ball-player I've ever seen.
    6 points
  32. Anyone know if the Pfizer has been approved for 12-15 year olds?
    6 points
  33. Basically yes. Providing opportunities for supporters of other clubs to point and laugh. Just being bad on the pitch isn't really enough for most clubs, you have to really earn this title. It's not really a thing other than on here I don't think, first time I heard it was in 'the Banter years' thread to describe rangers' 'journey' through the lower leagues in a parody of 'the wonder years' tv programme. They lost to lots of small part time teams despite having a multi-million £ squad, made ridiculous appointments, tremendous outbursts from fans, the club periodically came out with ridiculous cringey statements, all under the cloud of dodgy financial goings on and much more. Halcyon days. Whilst we all want to see our own clubs succeed, the thing which sustains Scottish football most is the enjoyment derived from the suffering and misfortune of others. It's the lifeblood of the game up here.
    6 points
  34. I agree with a lot of this post, but I think you're over simplifying midfield roles here with the bit I've put in bold. Central midfield roles aren't just 'defensive 'or 'creative' anymore imo. In many successful teams Europe wide in the last decade or so, the deepest midfielder isn't primarily a defensive ball winner, and doesn't get forward enough to create many chances. Their role is to always provide an out ball to the defense, and to progress the ball through the oppositions first line of a press or block either through incisive passing to the final third or the occasional dribble. At the risk of being unfairly called out for using buzzwords again: the 'deep lying playmaker role'. See Pirlo when at Milan, Cazorla at Arsenal when he got moved deeper, McGeouch at hibs 17/18, Jorginho in the current Chelsea side. All these players played as the deepest player in the midfield, staying back during attacks and always close to the defense, even though they all had a much more aggressive ball winner next to them who would generally play higher up (Gatusso, Coquelin, McGinn, Kante). Just cause a midfielder plays deep doesn't make them 'defensive' in my eyes. MacGregor is nearly always the deepest midfielder for Scotland, even when he plays with Jack. He's played this role well for Scotland in some games, and in others it has ended up with a lot of sideways passing and no real urgency or incision, but at times I think this had been due to a lack of movement or options in front of him. He's definitely had some poor games playing this way for Scotland, but I'm not sure who else I'd trust in that role - I don't think Jack, McGinn, or McTominay have the agility and balance to constantly be playing on the half turn when under a high press, nor the composure to always retain the ball and usually pick the right pass when under pressure. I think Scotland's most balanced double pivot is McGregor with one of those 3 players, depending on the opposition and if McGinn or McTominay are needed to play elsewhere. When McGinn and McTominay were the double pivot recently we really struggled to progress the ball through the midfield from defense, and resorted to lumping it to Dykes even more than usual. I think Gilmour will take over this role from McGregor, hopefully soon as I think he is a real talent, but not sure he is ready yet so think it will be McGregor playing it each game in the Euros.
    6 points
  35. People who work over and above their contracted hours for no additional compensation should not be trusted, that's a red flag right there. This is probably the most mental post I've seen on this thread, which is certainly something considering the competition.
    6 points
  36. You could try taking your trolling lies to another forum, for a start. "Wife"
    5 points
  37. Fully sympathise with this view. I sailed through the first lockdown, naive in the belief that it could never happen again. When the second was announced before Christmas it felt like the whole world has collapsed in on me and mentally it never really got any better till towards coming out this one when the outlook became more optimistic. I honestly don’t think we will have another lockdown (nor should we) but it makes me a wee bit anxious nonetheless. This from someone with a generally don’t bother about anything and get on with it attitude.
    5 points
  38. I didn’t mean to start the Ali Crawford rumour btw. I just had a total brain fart with Robbie’s name.
    5 points
  39. Why? Why would you do this?
    5 points
  40. This is a bit more reassuring. Yes we have entered a third wave but we are not planning any further shitting of the bed as we feel the vaccine will ultimately win out seems to be the tone here.
    5 points
  41. Dumbarton sign Eoghan Stokes. Formerly of Airdrieonians. By mid-August we should have completed the entire player-swap with the Diamonds.
    5 points
  42. 10 for Friday, a couple of fluky guesses and I almost refused to answer Q6 since none of the choices is correct.
    5 points
  43. Ten for Friday. Number nine was a total Jack the Ripper for me, along with the fake money and Young People's Music.
    5 points
  44. it's your classic panda falling out a tree compilation
    5 points
  45. 10 out of 10 for Friday. Three of the four options for Question 9 would be technically correct, which is of course the best kind of correct
    5 points
  46. Due to COVID I haven’t seen my missus in Ohio for nearly 15 months. This morning a top boy from Royal Mail delivered a package from the US embassy with my passport and shiny K1 visa in it. Looking at flying out next week, then getting married a few weeks later
    5 points
  47. Strange conversation this morning discussing not only N’Golo Kante’s outstanding performance last night, but also his excellent footballing ability, work ethic and generally being a good person. Colleague 1 - “he still drives about in a second hand mini that he got when he’s at Leicester, seems pretty down to earth” My boss - “probably because he’ll send most of his money back to his village, a lot of them do that” Me - “a lot of who do what?” My boss - “African players, they send their money back to the villages and stuff” Me - “Eh, I’m pretty sure N’Golo Kante is from Paris” My Boss - “you know what I mean” That was the end of that conversation.
    5 points
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