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  1. So long as those arms are not in an unnatural position.
    36 points
  2. It's only 90 minutes from Glasgow to Dundee, but a lateish pitch inspection might screw up the dickheads arriving from Belfast. What a shame
    34 points
  3. The goalie was absolutely fine today. More than fine actually made a few really decent saves.
    32 points
  4. This comment was posted in "The Herald - McDiarmid memo" today My apologies for the tangent – but in the absence of a game last weekend to look back on I’d like to climb on my soapbox. “THERE WILL BE GOALS, THERE WILL BE DRAMA, THERE WILL BE... VAR!” Those were the literal words that introduced BBC Scotland’s flagship Scottish football radio show a couple of Saturdays ago. That’s right, top billing given to a roundly hated piece of technology, despised by people in the stands but loved by pundits for whom it provides endless hours of controversy and tedious talking points without any requirement for research, insight or even really paying attention to the games they are covering. Sportsound was the soundtrack to Saturday afternoon for me in previous years. The build up to every game, the team news, the anticipation building as you drove to the game or got on the supporters’ bus. Open All Mics was a great innovation – allowing up to the minute updates from every game as an alternative to a live commentary game. Now it is a rabble. A complete shadow of what it once was. The format barely changes week on week. An introduction touching on any of the week’s controversies – often topics that have been done to death online, in the news and on podcasts and other radio shows throughout the past seven days. Then an extended interview with either the Rangers or Celtic manager, depending on which one is playing that afternoon. Then a brief tour round the rest of the Scottish Premiership grounds and maybe one or two in the lower leagues collecting the team news, by which time 3pm is upon us and the frequencies split to a live commentary of whichever Old Firm side is playing, or Open All Mics. Inevitably, you mostly choose Open All Mics, and very quickly wish you hadn’t. Genuinely – a few weeks ago a large period of time was taken up with those appearing on the show talking about their Gladiator names. The nadir was when one said another would be called “The Tadger”. The kind of banter you’d get from an old boy in the pub that you try your best to keep away from. Shortly after one contributor at a Championship game was slapped down by Willie Miller for trying to give an actual update on their allotted match. You’ll then be treated to Pat Bonner failing to identify any of the players on the park that don’t have a connection to Celtic, while you try in vain to get any real sense of what is happening at your team’s game, or indeed any other. The issue, for me, is that there is a core of contributors who are wannabe controversialists, and others who are essentially having their season tickets to their team paid for by the BBC. There is a complete lack of insight, and if you’re not interested in VAR decisions being given top billing every week it is a tough listen. It is understandable that the Old Firm are given prominence – at least to some degree – but I also feel its an insult to the intelligence of Rangers and Celtic fans that the producers seem to think they’re incapable of listening to a show with a broader remit than those two clubs. There is a format there that works. Find the formula that fits it and they’ll be on to a winner.
    30 points
  5. At a time when almost everything at the club is going well and where we all want it to be heading, I don’t get anyone trying to bring it down unless they care about themselves or their roles before the football club they claim to support/care about. You’re either with us or against us. Simple as that. We all love a moan or a critique when it’s merited but at this stage of the season and how this one is going, just enjoy yourselves FFS, life is way too short.
    29 points
  6. Why didn't the SPFL investigate Rangers not making it to the last game on time? Why didn't they investigate Rangers when they delayed our previous fixture by an additional 30 minutes after already having the game delayed 30 minutes due to fan behaviour? Why is this game, probably the most logical cancellation out of the lot, the one to be investigated and not say the Aberdeen call off which happened 45 minutes before kick off? The SPFL are either corrupt as f**k and dance to the tune of the OF or they're incompetent as f**k and dance to the tune of the OF. About as shambolic as the state of our pitch.
    27 points
  7. Look how fucking happy they are. Love this team
    26 points
  8. This is an email that I wrote into St Johnstone a month ago. It was passed on by the SLO to the CEO and Board of Directors. I haven't heard anything back since - but here's a look for anyone who is interested. Hopefully it covers enough general points that will resonate with all supporters. --------------------- When the horrors of the global pandemic struck four years ago, many feared for the immediate future of Scottish football and its professional clubs that were instantly faced with an existential crisis during the harsh reality of lockdown. Gratefully, our game and its beloved institutions survived that dark time, but we are in the midst of a far subtler emergency that I believe has the potential to be destructive to St Johnstone FC and other equivalent sides across the country. The devastating impact of COVID was unavoidable, but the introduction of VAR was entirely self-inflicted and will surely prove to be more damaging in the long-term. Supporters rallied around their clubs during the pandemic, buying season tickets without any hope of actually using them. Fans then made their way back into grounds with renewed enthusiasm once restrictions were lifted. Just last year, SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster said, when championing crowds per-capita: "Attendances in Scotland have significantly outperformed other countries of a similar size for some time now, and the financial importance of gate receipts to our clubs was starkly underscored during the pandemic, when matches were played behind closed doors." He wasn't wrong. But that progress will be irretrievably lost once those very same supporters who backed their clubs to the hilt turn their back on a game that no longer resembles the one they grew to love in the first place. And it didn't have to be this way. Scottish football injected itself with poison in 2022 when 41 of 42 SPFL clubs voted for the introduction of VAR. This was despite seeing the years of controversy that have beset far larger and better-funded leagues and competitions. But clearly, the SFA desired it to ensure their referees would remain eligible to officiate in UEFA and FIFA tournaments alongside a keenness to appear to be in vogue with other major national associations across Europe. And the clubs must have rather fancied it too - hence a willingness to both vote for and agree to fund the operation of a system that has ripped the soul from the game. This could have been avoided - had those same clubs asked supporters for their thoughts in the first place. But, true to form, fans were ignored and excluded from the conversation. Who asked for this? Did any regulars in the stands at McDiarmid Park cry out for the introduction of VAR? We were never once consulted - and it was the same case at every other club across the league. Perhaps because they didn't want to hear the likely answer. During the second-leg of the playoff final against Inverness Caledonian Thistle, two years ago, when Premiership status was in the balance, I rationalised the prospect of relegation to a friend by declaring that at least we wouldn't have VAR in the Championship. Seeing VAR play out on TV for years was enough evidence for me that it would be disastrous in Scotland - but experiencing it inside grounds has only reinforced how much of a disease this is for football as a spectator-sport. Why does it exist? We're told that it improves decision-making and cuts out obvious refereeing errors from the game. And maybe it does - to an extent. The SFA just last week stated: "89.3% of on-field decisions are considered correct by Referee Operations, increased to 97.6% when including VAR interventions." That's an improvement of a miserly 8.3.% - but at the cost of many thousands of pounds for each club in the Premiership and the antagonising of an entire customer base. I must say, that doesn't sound like a particularly great deal. We only have to look at our own games this season - and especially during recent weeks to see how little impact VAR has made when it comes to making "correct" decisions. Mistakes are still happening - because officials are human. Other calls are subjective and debatable - because that's the nature of football. When you think about it, that sounds just like how the game was anyway. The only difference is that we have that same situation but with the added expense for clubs and the absolutely horrific experience it offers supporters inside grounds. And that's the key point. Forget about whether decisions are right or wrong, it's the impact on fans that makes the continuing existence of VAR truly unforgivable. Football is special for two reasons. Its simplicity and the emotion it generates. VAR fundamentally compromises both. It negatively impacts the speed and spontaneity of the game. There used to be no greater thrill and joy than seeing your team score a goal. But that has been diminished by the knowledge that someone in a booth in Glasgow may just find a reason to chalk it off. No incremental increase of "correct" decisions can justify that. And it won't improve, either. That much is clear. Recently, the Premier League’s Chief Football Officer Tony Scholes admitted: "Where the VAR experience is poor is the in-stadium experience for the supporter. It’s nowhere near good enough. We know it’s not. It affects supporters’ enjoyment of the game, and we know it needs to change." This comes from the most lucrative league on the planet that has all the resources and facilities - and even they can't get it right after five years. If they're unable to find a workable solution, what chance has the SPFL Premiership got? VAR cannot be reformed. It can't be fixed. Compared to the likes of the Premier League, which is a made-for-TV product, Scottish football is primarily an in-person spectator sport. Why did clubs - St Johnstone included - decide that wasn't worth protecting? You have fans in stadiums spending hundreds of pounds a year for season tickets or anything between £25 and £30 for a matchday ticket left in the dark during games and paying for an experience that is demonstrably worse in every way than it was 18 months ago. How can that be tolerated? SFA Head of Referee Operations, Crawford Allan spoke about the need for VAR as there is so much money at stake at the top-level of the game. Will that include the funds lost when attendances and season ticket sales plummet as fans walk away from a sport that continues to hold them in contempt? That is exactly what will happen - and it should terrify anyone who cares about the health of St Johnstone and other clubs. But it doesn't need to be this way. VAR only exists due to the indulgence of the clubs who pay for it. The first club who stands up and questions why we're actually doing this will earn itself kudos with its fanbase and the wider public. But it's not just a way to curry favour with supporters - it's becoming essential to ensure our club and the game remains healthy. I implore the board at St Johnstone to take that step. Moreover, what I believe is now a minimum requirement for Saints and all clubs is to address their supporters on the future of VAR. Clubs neglected to communicate with fans before it was introduced. That was a failure. Not doing so now that we've all had to live through its presence would be an even greater dereliction of duty. Heads cannot be buried in the sand because this will not go away. Until this glaring reality is confronted - the only future will be continued frustration, emptier stands and lower revenue. The game will be weaker. St Johnstone FC will be in a worse place for it. And for supporters like me - for whom going to the football and following Saints has meant everything for decades - the depressing prospect of being forced to walk away from that relationship will only become more real.
    24 points
  9. Thought the fans were terrific on Saturday Also outnumbered the home support and came within 2 of Hamilton's Falkirk 629 QotS 607 Hamilton 631 (plus 131 from Stirling) Their collapse in attendances after just 1-2 years down here once again highlights the loyalty shown by our support, continuing to turn up season after season whilst being served utterly woeful performances under various previous managers. Makes it all the more sweet now and we certainly deserve to enjoy it
    24 points
  10. Absolutely delighted it’s been called off after all the glory hunting bears have started travelling.
    23 points
  11. Scullion literally walks over and offers him onto the pitch for a fight then spits back at the guy. He's not some poor wee guy caught up in a situation, he goes over purposefully to start an altercation and by the end of it he's spat at someone. He'll be hammered for it and rightly so. "How many of us would turn and walk away?" is emotional nonsense, spitting on someone is assault whether you were spat on first or not. You're not carrying out "self defence" by spitting at someone 6 feet away. Both fan and player have fucked themselves and I find it mad folk are excusing it.
    23 points
  12. Would also like to know why there is no 'investigation' into the sectarian bile and offensive chanting everytime either one of them appear.
    22 points
  13. A pleasing TEN for Monday. Knew 8, guessed the actor and country.
    22 points
  14. if Mastermind had a specialist subject of random shit I am appying, Wednesday - 10 The Comedy - 9 I fell at the tenth question of the comedy, 19 right in a row before that, away to apply for The Chase
    21 points
  15. Tuesday thanks to good guessing for internet and Charlemagne https://quizoftheday.co.uk/2547
    21 points
  16. I’m trying to enjoy a relentless canter to the title and this guy wants to go on about the foundation. Off you pop son, you’re spoiling the fun
    20 points
  17. I'd suggest to the Bonnyrigg fan that, if he doesn't want spat at by a Clyde player, he should simply not spit at the Clyde player. Vile stuff all round. I feel like everyone would've been far more supportive of Scullion just lamping him and taking the ban for that.
    20 points
  18. They just use me for the bigger jobs. Uncle Andrew takes care of the touch ups.
    20 points
  19. @Keithgy get this troll emptied
    19 points
  20. Hope Dundee can put petty rivalry to one side and take advice from their tangerine neighbours on making rangers fans tickets invalid for the rescheduled fixture.
    19 points
  21. Brockville is over 20 years gone. I am bored now with the nostalgia, it is selfish IMO of our generation to continue to go on about it. The vast majority of the Ultra’s were never there. My youngest son, who goes home and away, went to one game there. He is bored listening to talk about the 90’s. I would suggest he is not alone. I, like loads of my generation, have fond memories of the old place but it is nothing more than that for me now. The present is where we are at and this is the most relentless team I have witnessed at the club in my time. Granted at a lower level but we have never steam rolled a league like this ever. The only season that came close was Yogi’s promotion season in 2003/4. All comparisons of how it used to be are not relevant any more. Teams, manager and ownership. Time to look forward. I am delighted for the younger fans to finally get reward for their loyalty. They will now have their hero’s, Morrison, Henderson, Lang and Spencer like I had in Gibson, Crunchie and Stainrod. Time to savour the next 7 weeks. It won’t happen again in my lifetime.
    19 points
  22. RUPE’S ENGAGEMENT CUP FIRST ROUND DRAW @Helpma v @Arch Stanton @senorsoupe v @The Captain v @BaSeDG0DSA1NT @D Angelo Barksdale v @velo army @Aubrey Maturin v @The DA v @Cardinal Richelieu @German Jag v @Jacksgranda @mathematics v @Ronaldo Jeremy v @SlipperyP @Bully Wee Villa v @scottsdad @JustOneCornetto v @djchapsticks v @101 @peasy23 v @ArmadaleKillie @gkneil v @BigBo10 v @NJ2 @Leeds Saint v @JamesP_81 @TheGreenElves v @Salvo Montalbano v @Rugster @The Hologram v @MEADOWXI @Duszek v @specsaver v @pleslie99 . @Snobot v @kingjoey @Eednud v @Ross. v @Spring Onion First Round questions will be posted tomorrow or Tuesday
    19 points
  23. The first half hour we looked like rabbits in the headlights on the verge of shipping a bucketful of goals, MacIver's miss then reversed the momentum for a good half hour when we actually looked like the better team. Once again Bartley's tactics brought about our downfall though. Rather than go with a back 7 as predicted he went with no defence at all and a midfield 9. Why on earth have the backline playing on the edge of the halfway line? Sheer stupidity and negligence. Even Brydon said as much at half time! McKay totally at fault for the second goal. I'll be happy if he never dons Queens socks again. Despite the scoreline I actually thought Connelly, Logan, Todd and McClelland played well. Stone couldn't be faulted for any of the goals. Good luck to Falkirk next season. Too good for this division, and if you keep this squad together must be in with a shout for top four in the Championship next season. You've suffered for too long.
    19 points
  24. Great effort from fans of both clubs today, 8468 with 2481 travelling down from Paisley
    19 points
  25. Huge moment for fans of football club seething statements.
    19 points
  26. Big fan of the Dunfermline players going round the crowd. Thats how you build a connection with your fans, especially with the younger ones. Good effort.
    18 points
  27. A full house for Wednesday, just 1 guess. 6 for the comedy.
    18 points
  28. It’s a pretty sad indictment of our nation and our football landscape that any engagement/interaction or pride with or for our military forces or heaven forfend a charity that supports veterans is seen as “Rangersy” and therefore unionist by association. The Black Watch have significant emotional and historic ties to the city of Dundee and this area so I don’t see any issue with it and take pride that my club have made strong likes with a worthy charity that will benefit the lives of many. I’d be equally happy if it was a children’s charity, a cancer charity etc. I’m not overly political and I’m not at all religious, and I don’t always agree with the things our military are sent to do, but that should be no barrier to people receiving support if it’s needed.
    18 points
  29. We’re getting a Aberdeen-United play off final aren’t we.
    17 points
  30. Mate give it a rest eh, the damage will be paid for and we don’t need to bring up all this, we have humbled them on the park this season and we should be focusing on thistle tomorrow, there’s a few decent posters on this thread and they are people like us who support their local team instead of OF . Every team has Fannie’s
    17 points
  31. I honestly can't decide if some of our supporters (and one on here in particular) are actually on the wind-up or are actually as thick as they seem. We are nowhere near good enough to think we have a right just to turn up at Hampden and beat Queens Park. We played reasonably well and were the only team that looked like going on to win that match on Saturday. Bur for another great performance by a cracking young goalie, we would have won. There are far more positives to take from that game than there are negatives. As Duncan said on the podcast, if we'd drawn away to Thistle then beaten QP, nobody would be accusing us of having "shat it"". We were 4 points behind United a week ago and are now level on points having kept 3 clean sheets in a row (including 2 away games against teams with 2 of the best strikers in the league). All in all it's been a great week.
    16 points
  32. VAR is shite but I’m too lazy to do anything about it.
    16 points
  33. Good opportunity for him to cement his place in the team.
    16 points
  34. Helped by having at least two of those questions only a week or so ago... ten.
    16 points
  35. Put my money where my mouth is to be a true fan? I'm a season ticket holder, Sons Trust member, club corporate sponsor, the club's nominated builder, had my wedding at the stadium and have spent two decades throwing money at DFC. There's MY money. Now shut YOUR mouth, p***k.
    16 points
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