G_&_T

I am massively biased in favour of West of Scotland clubs, and reckon this really will come down to Dundee and QP. They play each other in the last game of the season, and I'm hoping it goes right to the wire and Queen's Park get to use 'Greater' Hampden for it. Mouthwatering. Ideally I would have wanted Ayr or Morton to win it, but can't see past Dundee or QP. With five games to go, I just can't see both of them dropping enough points to let the others into the race: Saying that, QP could absolutely drop points tomorrow, whilst Arbroath have won their last two games, so I can see Dundee dropping points there. But Ayr and Thistle just haven't shown the consistency to might a challenge, IMHO.

Hats off to Livingston and Martindale - you have the smallest budget in the league and yet always seem to have a decent season.

What sort of moron vandalises their own stadium? I suppose it got their message out, but there must be better ways of doing that...I think I'll have read of Kickback to see what the Hearts fans think of it.

I'm not sure what the law is in Scotland, but you're 100% correct about statutory rape; it essentially means the victim is unable to give consent as they're too young. So the two could have been in a 'consensual relationship, but the law (quite rightly) does not accept that. The fact is, if he was 17 years old he was technically a child, too, and the age gap was four years - possibly less. Again, I'm making an assumption, but presumably the media have not made it clear what the true nature of the offence was. I find it difficult to believe he forced himself on her and yet was not given a custodial sentence. If that was the case, then it is indeed a shockingly lenient sentence. But I suspect there's more to it.

Probably an aneurysm, I doubt the former, tbh. I said nothing, of course, because I'm never going to change his mind, but it's frightening to think that anybody wants to live in a society like that. I imagine he's the sort who privately rants about what he perceives to be the insidious creep of 'Sharia law' into British society, and in the next breath suggests burglars should have their hands amputated...without anaesthetic, of course.

My first thought when I heard this was that it statutory rape, i.e. the two were in a relationship, and since he was 17 at the time the judge was very lenient. I have no idea whether that's the case or not, but it makes sense given the rape occurred multiple times. Someone at work said that he should be castrated without anaesthetic, flogged to within an inch of his life and then hanged. I raised an eyebrow and he told me that I obviously don't have a daughter. I would need to know all the facts to make a proper judgement, and to be honest I don't care enough to do the research, but I assume there must be some sort of mitigating circumstances. Personally, even the most heinous of crimes don't merit what my colleague suggested. We live in a violent enough world as it is, without the government sanctioning that sort of thing.

This is the BIG Glasgow derby. There's a lot of interest in this game. Most folk I know seem to want a Queen's Park victory - either for reasons of nostalgia, having QP back in the top flight; or because they want someone different to win promotion. Old Firm fans I have spoke to think they will get 35,000 tickets next season, too.

I'd genuinely rather you go up than Dundee, as it's tiresome having clubs yo-yo between the divisions, and there's still a way to go. Also there's the play-offs, too. Looking at the fixtures, Dundee do have some tough games coming up. Away to Arbroath won't be a walk in the park, neither will Raith Rovers, Morton or Inverness. On paper, your only easy fixture is Hamilton at home. Of course, it's technically still in your hands, as you're hosting Dundee in the last game of the season. I'd rather you were confirmed Champions by then, but as a neutral it would be a great spectacle and I hope it's played at Hampden, as it will be like a cup final.

1,600 is just about adequate for the Championship, though it would inevitably mean limiting away fans and big games involving a ticket scramble. It is woefully inadequate for the Premiership, though.

To be absolutely fair to the club, Lesser Hampden was never likely to accommodate a 6,000 seated capacity stadium - and that's before the Royal Box debacle. I simply don't think the plot of land was big enough, unless everything was levelled and the club started again from the very beginning. The east side is tiny and, unless a two-tier structure was planned, was never going to accommodate more than the current stand's capacity. Even without the Royal Box, a 4,000 capacity seated stadium would have been about the upper limit, unless they built a Motherwell style structure behind the north stand, which would cost millions! The club's ambition was to be a third-tier club, but they have vastly exceeded anyone's expectations. I think the only option for the club is to build terracing on the remaining sides; huge terrace at the north end might bring the capacity up to 5,000. If only there was a suitable stadium in the local area, which could host the matches...then these problems would be resolved.

It might not be considered safe for certain fixtures, which are likely to draw big crowds. It is an unusual ground in that folk can watch from outside of the stadium's perimeter.

I believe Queen's Park purchased the land for the present Hampden Park in 1899! I don't think it's the 'bigotry' particularly. I know people who don't want to take small kids to the games because of the anti-social behaviour of both clubs' supporters, which you have mentioned. But for the most part, it costs £30 to see your side lose, and often get pumped by a margin of 3 or 4 goals, or more. I bet if folk thought they genuinely had a great chance of beating them they would turn up in their droves.

If Queen's Park can attract 30,000 for the Old Firm games, at an average of £20 per ticket, then that's £1.8 million. It's what other clubs generate in season ticket sales alone (calculated at 4,500 STs x £400). think with that sort of money they could establish themselves in the top flight and even break into the top-six. It's a no brainer, and I think most fans would jump at the opportunity.

The women's team could play at Lesser...

As a neutral I have to say that if would be ABSOLUTELY ridiculous if Queen's Park played at Lesser in the Premiership, when their historic home is available literally next door. Somebody's already mentioned the safety aspect, and it's pretty obvious folk will endeavour to observe the game if there's an opportunity to do so. But irrespective of that, why needlessly lock out thousands of fans? From a historical point of view, which stadium has hosted more Queen's Park games? That's a rhetorical question, btw. I can see the argument that Queen's Park should be made to play all their games at one stadium, and not switch to Lesser when hosting Ross County, but that's another issue.

This appears to be factually incorrect, given the new criteria:

I'm not a fan of either club, nor was I there - though I would've gone were it not for the Scotland game. However, I always find folk like interesting and amusing, so long as I'm not in their immediate vicinity. It's a fascinating phenomenon, possibly peculiar to football alone, where someone turns up and just shouts like that for 90 mins. Is it displaced anger or frustration? I might be alone, but I think it's part of the game. Some folk seem to go to the football to shout and moan. Perhaps there should be a moaning section (akin to a singing section)? LOL I was at the Airdrieonians v QP play-off final last year, and there was an Airdrie supporter in front of me, right at the front of the stand, who literally threatened to break the linesman's legs, give him a sore face, etc. The linesman must have heard, as often the threats came when he was about two meters away from him. He wasn't alone, either.

I watched the televised game and forgot all about this. Is this the wheels falling of QP's campaign? It'll knock their confidence, losing to the bottom side at home. I predict a nervous finish. The disappointing thing is Dundee getting promoted again. I want something different - Ayr or Morton, please. If not, Thistle.

I think the idea is that Queen's Park's home ground is Hampden, AKA the 'Hampden Campus', and the club can play at either 'greater' or Lesser Hampden.

I'm just looking at the table. Some sides have 16 games to play by the looks of it, given that few, if any, clubs have floodlights, does this mean they will have to play on two consecutive days to complete the season?

That's interesting. Could they be considering a big north stand, then?

I think with the expansion of European competitions, and good old fashioned Scottish weather causing fixture pile ups, we have lost them for good, unfortunately. I do agree that some of my most memorable nights have been at cup replays. However, in this financial climate it's justifiable to think of the cost to the fans of extra games, particularly in the lead up to Christmas and in January.

That's football...evens itself out and all that. How many do you reckon you'll take to Hampden?

I thought you were unlucky tonight, and the penalty miss will obviously sting a lot. Anyway, though it sounds trite, you can now concentrate on the league, which I'm hoping you win.

I would argue that Motherwell are not one of the strongest teams in Scottish football, as evidenced by the fact that they have spent most of this season embroiled in a relegation dog fight. But for their recent form they would be in real trouble. I honestly think Scottish football would benefit from starting the season earlier. I know the close season is short, but players here also have a winter break, which can be extended to compensate them. When our teams play sides who're half way through their season, it puts us at a disadvantage.