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You only get results like this in the cinch.

See whoever's put that Union Jack up, wanti take it down before I'm sick all over the south stand. Get that so far to f**k.

They havenae struggled this much with "Courts" since oldco in 2012

1. The UK government isn't building the T26, BAE Systems, a private company (which spent some time nationalised in the past) is. 2. The type 26 cost per ship isn't 250 million. The cost of one T26 is about 1 billion pounds. Part of the reason for that being the various delays on the project imposed by the UK government. 3. The 250 million per ship you are quoting is not for the super advanced high end Type 26, but for the low end general purpose Type 31 frigate being built at Rosyth by Babcock. Because the various delays with getting the T26 project going, and the billion per ship cost, the Navy and government were unable to afford to replace the T23 one for one with the T26. Instead the thirteen T23 ASW ships will be replaced by 8 T26 ASW ships and 5 low end T31s. 4. Even at that, the 250 million per T31 (which Babcock got on a fixed price contract to avoid the usual inflation of costs (although it already stretched up from 200 million) doesn't get you a huge amount of capability and is routinely criticised for it's minimal weapons fit and lack of sonar which compares badly in terms of what most countries would get out of that price ticket. 5. Trying to use any military facing project as an example of value for money is fairly laughable. None of the Royal Navy's projects have been problem free since maybe the T23s in the late 80s. The Carrier programme over ran by about a decade and several billion pounds. The T45 destroyer programme got capped at 6 units instead of 12. Most relevant to this discussion was the massive delays and cost over runs in the Astute submarine programme. Because of the gap between the last Vangaurd class Trident missile boat and the first Astute attack boat, the yard had lost a lot of the institutional knowledge and work force required to build an advanced machine like that. Consequently another contractor - the US firm Lockheed Martin - was brought in to provide project management support as well as access to their CAD tools to get the job done. The subsequent boat is extremely capable but the project ended up years late and well over budget so that the 13 Swiftsure and Trafalgar class boats ended up replaced by only 7 Astute class boats. 8. If you want other great examples of UK Government procurement, Google the General Dynamics Ajax. ScotGov could have contracted out to a foreign firm who bash out ferries on a fairly steady drum beat. Instead they chose to try and regenerate a local capability. It was always going to cost shit loads more and mistakes were always going to be made with a combination of poor project management and inexperienced work force. The point is to absorb the costs so that both sides get better at controlling costs of these types of projects.

Well……. 2009 and Mrs. RN#2 committed suicide. I was having a shit time sleeping and found an online bereavement support group that, because I was online at c0200-0500 BST/GMT was full of folks from the Americas and the antipodes. A group of us split off as a friends group to escape the “grief junkies” and friendships grew. I got close to a lovely lady whose husband died around the same time as my wife and it grew from online chat to phone calls to me visiting and the rest. We got married late 2010 and the immigration fun started. Sadly she died before we completed the 2 year spouse visa probationary period so I had to reapply. A shit show, but I have permanent residency and hope to do citizenship next year. Back at the time of moving the only family I had in Scotland was my brother ( and we weren’t close) so there really wasn’t anyone to miss other than a few really good friends. And since my brother died in 2019 that’s one less reason to return. Here I have 3 fantastic stepdaughters (all adults) 2 local to me in Illinois and one in Virginia, and two amazing granddaughters that are close by. My views on Chicago are slightly colored by having taught on the West and South side, which are scary places, but life in the suburbs is pretty great. Thankfully they need “math” [emoji2961] teachers here so I’ve been almost constantly in work. I miss the Dons and decent fresh fish and meat, but I probably miss the sea most of all. Will I ever return? For a visit yes, but not permanently as my family are here now. Good thing is there are a f**k-ton of AA meetings close to me and it doesn’t seem quite as stigmatised as it once was [emoji1303] Never been treated badly, usually I just get lots of compliments on the accent (anyone fa kens me kens it’s nae aat bad) neither too Doric or Caithness, (thank fcuk). Just saving up for retirement now! [emoji1787]

What a great thread. For my part, I moved over here in the summer of 2012 but it all started in January of 2011 when me and Wife #1 split up. She bought me out of the house we had in Alloa and I got myself a nice wee flat above a Ladbrokes in Stirling and booked myself a holiday in Boston. I write a wee bit and had arranged to meet up with some writer friends I'd made online over the years, actually pretty much 10 years ago to the day. One of those friends would go on to become Wife #2. I went back over to see her a couple more times and decided to give it a bit of a go. At the time I worked for an insurance company in Stirling who had a sister company in Michigan. The first time I looked at their job board online, I saw something that was 95% the job I was doing. So I applied, got an interview, and on March 1, 2012, as I was sitting in Morrison's CBC, I got a call from their HR department offering me the job. There then began four months of immigration hell and waiting around and I learned more about applying for a visa than I'll ever need to know again. Like, when I applied for a visa, I wasn't really applying for a visa, I was applying for a petition to apply for a visa. Because the job I did in Stirling was fairly niche, and it was the same in Michigan, we were able to bombard Immigration Services with paperwork describing the positions in glorious terms so they eventually granted the petition. The next stage was a meeting at the embassy in London. On the advice of my Immigration Lawyer, I got suited and booted and jumped on the sleeper down to That London. In those days, you weren't allowed anything electronic in the US Embassy but there was a wee chemist nearby that would hold on to your stuff for a tenner or whatever. That place must've made a fucking fortune. When I dropped off my electronics, I was aware that I had made one mistake, which was wearing a new pair of work shoes that were sawing their way through my achilles as I walked to the embassy. The second mistake was being told at the embassy that my paperwork hadn't been submitted. Someone had forgotten to hit the COMPLETE button on the form. That someone was probably me. So I had to walk back to the chemist, that was also an internet cafe, log on and hit the button. I limped back to the embassy, stood in line again, only to be told that the paperwork wasn't through. So I hobbled back to the chemist where I checked, it was complete, but one of the chemist staff, who were all experts in US Immigration, told me that it can frequently take an hour for the updates to filter through. My shoes were now filling with blood as my razor sharp shoes went about amputating my feet as I squelched back to the embassy, stood in line, saw the immigration officer who confirmed the application was now complete. He asked me three questions: what's your name, what's your date of birth, what company are you going to work for in the US. He stamped a form and my visa was approved. I crawled back to the chemist, retrieved my phone and bought some plasters for my poor feet. A week later, and I was standing in Edinburgh airport saying goodbye to my mum and cousins and as I walked to security, because for four months I'd been just waiting for something to go wrong and f**k everything up, I remember thinking, "Well, I guess I'm moving to Michigan." So the first time I was in Michigan was the day I moved to Michigan, wife #2 joining me from Connecticut a little later, and we got married that September. My new company put me up in a hotel for a couple of months while I found a place to live, eventually settling in a town I'd never heard of, which is where I am now. I became a citizen a couple of years ago and now have two passports which, along with raging misogyny and a violent approach to the preparation of vodka martinis, makes me feel a bit like Jimmy Bond. Nobody tells you how much it costs to live in the US and while lots of things are cheap, there's plenty that's ridiculously expensive. My mobile, Wi-FI, car insurance, health insurance etc are all far more than I expected and for the first few years, money was really tight. And starting again at 38 as I was at the time with no credit makes life a bit more difficult than it should be. Winters are shite here and Summers are hot and humid. But between traveling with work and general wanderlust, I've been to 44 states and visited the graves of 28 former presidents around the country. I've only been back to Scotland three times in the last nine years, and I haven't been back since 2015, when my mum passed away. I've no real family left in Scotland so I don't know if or when I'll be back, and I've made my peace with that. I do miss my friends back home, I miss square sausage which I've tried and failed to recreate a hundred times. I miss Irn Bru. I miss the NHS. I miss Raads kebab in Alloa, Falcone's chippy in Carronshore, I miss getting off the work's bus outside Morrison's Cold Beer with every intention of going straight home and then ending up in the pub until 9. Again. I miss public transport. I miss being able to drive by the house in Carronshore where my family lived from 1950 and which was always my sanctuary and safety net. I miss that last one a lot.

Strategy executed to deliver key metric. But is it scalable?

Rossco McLean getting it up the away support after being hounded for having the audacity to receive treatment after Wardrop stupidly got himself sent off is why we go to these games. Inject it right into my eyeballs.

Rap the pish. Nobody is interested in it from either side.

Exactly, no-one was ever offended by ***. It was in the same category as sheep and arab. It was the need to be offended that became the issue. The constant tit for tat which can then be, miraculously, put aside when they need a joint position. I'm offended by tim, well I'm offended by ***. I support the Palestinians, well I support Israel. I support Ireland, well I support England. I like the Pope, well I like the Queen. On and on and on...

Accies 0 MorTEN(men on the pitch) 1 Pleasing.

Yeah, just like the trophies oldco won without taxes.

To be fair to Gerrard, maybe it gives him some comfort if he thinks he was out thought tactically by James McPake rather than Thomas Courts, esq.

The final league tables are brought to you by Lou Reed - Satellite of Love PFIZER PREMIERSHIP Archie, Archie, @Arch Stanton does the treble. Collecting his 19th league title. @WhiteRoseKillie if he's not winning he's picking up the runners up 26th in total. @Moomintroll keeps up the good work and plays in the Europa Cup along side @Rugster @Salvo Montalbano is in the Mugs Cup, but a playoff between @alang1993 & @The Hologram for the last weekly cup spot. From all corners of the world, thickness brings them together. @Cardinal Richelieu, looks for an alibi. @ArmadaleKillie looks for the proof. @Eednud has the excuse. They all are relegated. WANNA BE CHAMPIONSHIP No helping hand needed as @Helpma is in heaven with his 7th Middle title. He shat it Thursday, he can celebrate Saturday @kingjoey makes it to the top. @The DA sneaks into the last promotion slot. @mathematics has to figure it out in the playoff. @Tynierose got better things to do with his free time. @The Captain, got time to kill. @Ross. has a vacation. The all head to the seaside. There will be a playoff to see who's in the playoff. @JustOneCornetto & @Ronaldo Jeremy will fight it out. LAST CHANCE SALOON SHOOTOUT He back in the room as @101 beaths his way to his 8th Diddy title. Hot on his heels was @JamesP_81 The @LincolnHearts strewths his way to promotion. @Spring Onion comes from west Ukraine to take the playoff spot. He has history @gkneil throws it in the net. No Friday, Yes spoon!! Playoff after Forfar batter the City.

You are welcome, lads.

That was a very enjoyable game. After the last 18 months it was great to have some real needle in a match; fans at both ends seething, managers seething, brawls. All absolutely lovely stuff. The Airdrie fan getting held back by stewards as his head detached from his shoulders anytime Ross Maclean was near being my personal highlight. As other have said I thought we started well enough, but as soon as we lost the goal Airdrie bossed the game. They defended from the front, and I thought that Callum Smith, Calum Gallagher and Gabby McGill all put in very solid shifts. The first goal was a shocker to lose from our respect. We gave Callum Fordyce far too much time to turf a ball into the area, Sam Muir was caught out badly and Callum Erskine got his positioning all wrong to see the ball just loop over him. It was a terrific leap and nice header from McGill, but we really can't be giving him the opportunity to score from there. From that point onwards it looked only a matter of time before Airdrie scored again. It wasn't that they were forcing Erskine into a lot of saves (which was a relief as he looked very uncomfortable), but they were well on top. Rhys McCabe was spraying balls around from a deep midfield position and we couldn't lay a glove on anyone in a Diamonds top. Half-time came at a good time for Dumbarton. No doubt about that. And we actually started the second-half on the front foot. Then we go an concede a daft penalty. I was in the middle of the stand, so won't have had as good a view as those in the home end. But by all accounts it was a fortunate decision from a Diamonds perspective. I've watched the replay back and there looks like being very limited contact. Erskine actually stands up very straight with his hands above his head, and Gabby McGill goes down perhaps anticipating the contact. I couldn't be angry at the decision though, because we played ourselves into trouble. That was a routine ball to deal with and a total breakdown in communication between Muir and Erskine caused the situation. Nobody could argue that Airdrie weren't good value for their lead either. Then came the two moments that changed the game; the introduction of Andy Geggan and the red card. I had said on the stream that we were crying out for Geggan or Paton. Frizzell, Easton and McCabe are all lovely players on the ball. But we needed someone to rough them up; and neither Carsy nor Carlo were doing that. Low and behold four minutes after Geggan arrived all hell breaks lose. Wardrop was walking a tightrope with the challenge given he was on a booking. Maclean had got the better of him quite a few times throughout the game, and exploiting Sam looked our best chance of getting back into things. Imo if Wardrop wasn't already booked then he would've been for the challenge that saw him sent off. Given he was then I fully expected him to get a firm final warning from Barry Cook, with Muzz then likely to hook him ASAP. Sam's a smart lad though. When you're 2-0 up away from home, bossing the game and on a booking there's no point taking the risk. He'll be kicking himself tonight because he took an unnecessary risk. After the big scrap (10/10 for that by the way. Proper fury all over the shop) had cooled down Airdrie looked to lose their heads a bit. Their game management was woeful. They should've stayed compact and kept the ball. But they were far too open, conceded a raft of cheap fouls and just didn't strangle the life out of the game as they should've done. From our part Faz made some drastic changes. He brought off both full-backs, Carlo became a #10, Maclean had a lot of freedom down the left and wee Callum Wilson made a notable difference when he came on. As soon as we got the goal back from McGeever (lovely delivery from Pignatiello) an equaliser felt inevitable. Airdrie made a total mess of clearing their box and Geggan's sharp finish seemed to catch Max Currie by surprise. I was pleased with a point at the end, but Faz and Geggan were both gutted we didn't take all three. And I like that. Overall I thought Ross Maclean was, again, excellent and posed a threat all game. Geggan did exactly what I had hoped he would when he came on; and his experience when Airdrie were going to pot a bit was a huge reason why we took something from the match. We looked like we had a decent range of creative options, and Carlo and Carsy came onto a game when they were moved position. Four points and five goals in two games is a very respectable return - especially given we were without two important players today. We have weaknesses but it's very easy to forget how little time this squad have had together. I was pleased with the style of football we played, pleased with the mentality and spirit about the players and pleased with the changes Faz made. We need to tighten up at the back, but hopefully Boyle and Ramsbottom returning will help with that. As for Airdrie? Well I have no idea. They will score goals. They will ship goals. But one thing is clear, they need cooler heads in a situation like today. I can see them battering a few teams on their day. But I can also seem them taking some hefty defeats. Which is a classic Ian Murray hallmark I suppose.

Second jab earlier today, now off till Wednesday for some birthday celebrations. Have a good weekend all!

Told them to get it tae f**k. Gave me abuse in return. Steward stepped in and moved them.

This may have been mentioned in the thread already but I can’t be bothered reading through it all. After Rangers insistence over the past year that they are concerned about the development of young Scottish talent, it was refreshing to note that in their starting eleven they had 10 non-Scottish outfield players and an up and coming 33 year old Scottish goalkeeper.

Boys obviously checked P&B and shat it x Justice for all x

Just spotted Professor Howieson on Castle Road.

Still don't see the why the Dowds hate. I've never watched a single game he has featured and thought he is absolutely shite, like akeel and dennon levels of shite. Definite potential in there imo. Hopefully a decent style of football and a semi competent coach can bring this out in him.

Berra has been absolutely fine, as much as some folk are desperate for him to be a disaster.

He did he had a great day ,was amazed with the atmosphere at the start . I just spent 20 mins here 20 mins there mixed it up so he didn't get fed up .took his cars with him and sweets that kept him amused .the highlight for him was the panda .and he didn't like that the game had finished and it was time to go home .I think its the start of a love that will last forever.

Most important thing for me; 8 Scots travelled, 7 played in tests and all of them will have gained a lot from it. Price knows he's a top level scrum half; Russell proved he's a game manager and a general of the highest standard; Harris coped very well with brutal physicality and won a test in South Africa; Sutherland belongs at this level and gained a lot of experience; and Mish must have learned that, in these games, he needs to be 100% Mish and not 120% Mish. Duhan played all but the last 20 minutes of the first test. He's big time now. And Hogg... I think that, after this frustration, and after the step forward in the 6 Nations, he will be utterly desperate to achieve something great as Scotland captain. They'll all take that back to the Scotland squad and I'm certain it'll rub off onto their team-mates too.

Deservedly so and nobody could have complained we were hard done by if we lost today. You can both accept Arbroath are a good championship team and complain that your full time players aren't a match for their part time opposition, after all what are they doing with the extra training and nice rest.

The Pars are shitebags and they should have gone bust in 2013.

Well one out of two is little consolation...

Difficult to understand how Sheffield United finished rock bottom of the Premier League last season with Lundstram making almost 30 appearances for them.

Cup Second Round Second Leg results are in. @Moomintroll 7 + 8 (15) @Rugster 8 + 9 (17). 2 late strikes in each leg enough to send @Rugster through. @WhiteRoseKillie 9 + 6 (15) @Tynierose 0 + 0 (0). @WhiteRoseKillie took it easy in the 2nd leg. @The DA 7 + 7 (14) @Culter Away 6 + 7 (13). Very close but Culter’s away and @The DA into the last 8. @Arabdownunder 9 + 6 (15) @LincolnHearts 7 + 3 (10). @Arabdownunder goes beyond the black stump and also into next round. @alang1993 6 + 7 (13) @Eednud 4 + 8 (12). An extremely controversial late score and on goes @alang1993 We wiz robbed !!! @Leeds Saint 7 + 6 (13) @mathematics 5 + 3 (8) @Leeds Saint outnumbered his opponent. @Ronaldo Jeremy 5 + 5 (10) @101 4 + 5 (9) Another very close tie and the 1 point home advantage enough for @Ronaldo Jeremy @gkneil 9 + 9 (18) @The_Kincardine 7 + 7 (14) Even if his first leg 9 had been a 7 @gkneil would have won anyway. Quarter final stuff will be posted tomorrow.

Yeah .you'll no doubt see me chasing him around .think he's quite happy about meeting the panda .and too see ayr score a goal .as hes been shouting goal all morning.

Could pass pies under the fence .give me a shout if any Arbroath fans need anything. H

As regards the French, probably no surprise to learn that I’ve encountered no racism or negative vibes at all. The exact opposite. They’re as big fans of Scotland as you’ll find anywhere, which proved helpful in the past when getting busted for traveling without bus/train tickets. ”Ah, l’Ecosse” the inspector would say wistfully, before enquiring about my interest in whisky/rugby/ghosts. I’ve made a point of lecturing them that, in Scotland, rugby is played exclusively by paedophiles.

Who would've thought the Celtic tribute act would be worse losers than their big team.

Quite gutted after that. It's as good a defensive performance we've had in years. Nditi marking Burke out the game combined with pressure from our other defenders meant crosses were to a minimum which automatically made us stronger at the back. Fair play to AJ who got that part absolutely spot on today. Being so heavy defensively meant we couldn't be as dangerous going forward today but even so we could have grabbed a couple on another day. Roy's cutback and Nditi blasting over being the best chances. We really missed Connolly's closing down today and particularly nearer the end when Killie were getting far too much of the ball and it looked inevitable that the goal was coming. I think AJ's only mistake today was taking McGrory off. I felt he kept our shape well in there today and when Cochrane came on he was more attack minded. Leaving us weaker defensively. The goal was the best move of the game and frustratingly it was one of only two Killie chances. Cowie with a superb save for the other one. No failures today but Nditi was fantastic. I doubt Burke will have a quieter game in the division this season. Thoroughly deserving of his MOTM. Two games in a row we've lost when we've deserved something. That can't go on much longer. I'm not too worried just now given we probably expected to have 0 points right now. If we start to lose these games against teams who'll be down the bottom half with us then the panic will set in. Great to be back and see away fans behind the goal again.

Ooft. Don't supposed title favourites 10 2 win games rather than lose them?

Video Jags killed the radio Pars...

Gerrard out-KPI'd by Courtzo.

I'm always up for reminding "Rangers" of their dual club status, but it seems pointless when there aren't any of their fans there. It's basically the entire crowd bullying Jimmy Bell. On second thoughts, carry on.

Shankland took a bang on his hip yesterday according to Thomas. Presumably as he squeezed into the middle seat on the plane to Belgium.

I am petty and I'd deliberately park there forever, I'd consider buying a shitbox car for £100 just to leave in "his space".

Game day and looking forward to it The noise of the tannoy, the seagulls, the smell of twice cooked chips with plastic cheese that never melts. Bring it on!!!

Yes , they have the 2 major domestic cups in their trophy cabinet and drawing away in Europe with the likes of Galatasaray whilst we are now counting Cove Rangers & Queens Park as our main rivals. Remember we used to be St Johnstone's equal & indeed better than them on occasion. The blame for our fall & this chasm of a difference is squarely on the successive BODs & the MSG - most of whom are still around.

I was going to post a *** Brooke-Taylor joke about Attila the *** in the Jokes thread but I don't think I'll bother now.