tom_widdows

Northern Ireland leaving it late. So long as they can avoid defeat in both their last games they are through. However anyone ever head of a player receiving 2 yellow cards for 2 separate fouls during one 'advantage'? Seems thats what happened at Windsor Park tonight. Bloody Portuguese scoring in the last minute in Albania too. 1) Croatia -P7 GF14 GA5 Pts12 2) Hungary -P7 GF6 GA4 Pts12 3) Albania - P6 GF7 GA 3 Pts 11 4) Russia - P6 GF9 GA3 Pts10 5) Ukraine - P5 GF6 GA5 Pts9 6) Ireland - P6 GF6 GA5 Pts9 7) Israel - P5 GF7 GA11 Pts7 8 ) Turkey - P6 GF7 GA8 Pts6 9) Estonia - P5 GF2 GA5 Pts6

Not Yet Scotland win last 2 games (poland home, Gibraltar away) and Irish fail to win their last 2 games (Germany Home, Poland Away) = 3rd place for Strachan's glorious failures Then we can win one leg 1-0 and lose the other one by 2 or 6 goals as is traditional

1) Croatia -P7 GF14 GA5 Pts12 2) Albania - P5 GF7 GA 2 Pts 11 3) Hungary -P6 GF5 GA3 Pts11 4) Russia - P6 GF9 GA3 Pts10 5) Ukraine - P5 GF6 GA5 Pts9 6) Israel - P5 GF7 GA11 Pts7 7) Ireland - P5 GF5 GA5 Pts6 8 ) Turkey - P6 GF7 GA8 Pts6 9) Estonia - P5 GF2 GA5 Pts6 Wales guaranteed a playoff spot but given their last game is a home match with Andorra I think its safe to say they have qualified outright Dutch in real trouble of missing out completely after a hammering in Turkey which gives the turks the 'head to head' advantage. Turks still to face iceland (h) and Czechs (A) whilst the dutch have Kazakstand (A) and Czechs (H). Noregians now guaranteed a playoff spot and have pushed the Croats into 3rd place Qualified Teams so far France, England, Czech Republic, Iceland

1) Albania - P5 GF7 GA 2 Pts 11 2) Hungary -P6 GF5 GA3 Pts11 3) Russia - P6 GF9 GA3 Pts10 4) Norway -P6 GF5 GA8 Pts10 5) Ukraine - P5 GF6 GA5 Pts9 6) Netherlands - P6 GF10 GA6 Pts7 7) Ireland - P5 GF5 GA5 Pts6 Israel - P5 GF7 GA11 Pts6 9) Estonia - P5 GF2 GA5 Pts6 Estonia slipping in ahead of slovenia with 3 games to go although the slovenians have an easier run in. Estonia will surely need to beat them in Maribor on Tuesday to have a chance of staying there. England the first team to qualify for the finals from the groups (yawn)

11 years ago Northern ireland broke the record for the longest run without scoring a goal. They were 124th in the world at the time and when they eventually scored they were 3-0 down at home but the celebrations were like they had won the game. A re-building process started with Lawrie Sanchez, Nigel worthington and currently Michael O Neil (with Jimmy Nichol assisting). Their squad does not have any big names. 5 ply their trade in the SPL (2 of their 3 goalkeepers included) They have 7 players who currenlty play in the english premiership but only one plays for a 'big club' However they are 1 win away from their first tournament in 30 years. Just 4 years ago Wales were ranked 117th in the world. They were in danger of dropping into the pots with san marino etc. They hadnt reached a major tournament since 1954 and the closest they had come to qualification for any had been back in 1993 and 2003 when they blew it on their own patch. Yes they are fortunate to have one of the most expensive and talented footballers in the world to work around but the rest of their squad doesnt really have world class talent. Good solid players it would appear most of which ply their trade in the english lower leagues (Like NI 2 of their Goalies play in the SPL). I seem to recall the old welsh teams basically relying on Ryan Giggs to drag them through. It appears they have learned you cannot rely on one man to get you through qualification so get a team together who the superstar can play off and yer laughing Lets look at Scotland Last tournament was 1998 and the last time we were even close was losing heavily to the dutch in the euro 2004 playoffs. The current Scotland squad like the Welsh and Northern Ireland mostly ply their trade in the english leagues however we have more EPL players than our smaller neighbours. The only scottish based players in the squad play for one club. A club with players I would suggest are more interested in champions league football than representing their country. Cast your minds back a few years and where did most if not all of the scottish based players come from. The gruesome twosome. We had incidents such as McCulloch, Boyd, Ferguson etc turning their back on the national team and the fans. Far more interested in high club wages and champs league football to give a fuck about the national team. We came close to reaching euro 2008 but bottled it against the fucking georgians. We even came close to reaching the playoffs for south africa except Kenny Miller managed to hit the collapsed dutch keeper instead of the entire empty net from total of 8 yards out, Perhaps the problem is the Scottish national team has never really hit absolute rock bottom. Even with the 4-6-0 debacle our lowest FIFA ranking ever is 88th and we usually managed to finish 3rd in qualifying groups containing 'big teams' so there was always an excuse even though our fuck ups usually came against teams like the Faroe Islands. The cracks are always papered over and the same sort of people are still allowed to continue having influence. How Mark McGhee got involved and in the past the likes of Alex Miller says it all. That's not even mentioning our current u19 coach's attitude that height it more important that playing talent. Of course a scrappy 1-0 win over the germans (or even a draw) and the cracks will be papered over again.

Updated 3rd place qualifying table now looks like this (games against bottom teams removed) 1) Albania - P5 GF7 GA 2 Pts 11 2) Hungary -P6 GF5 GA3 Pts11 3) Norway -P6 GF5 GA8 Pts10 4) Switzerland - P5 GF9 GA4 Pts9 6) Netherlands - P6 GF10 GA6 Pts7 7) Russia - P5 GF7 GA3 Pts7 5) Ireland - P5 GF5 GA5 Pts6 8 ) Ukraine - P5 GF3 GA4 Pts6 9) Israel - P5 GF7 GA11 Pts6 Upshot is this Northern Ireland will qualify on Monday if they win at home to Hungary. A draw will guarantee them a playoff spot Wales will qualify on Sunday if they win at home to Israel. A draw will guarantee them a playoff spot England will qualify tomorrow if they beat San Marino (Slovenia cant overtake them on the head to head) and then there is Scotland Fail to beat the Germans on Monday along with ireland beating Georgia in Dublin and automatic qualification is gone. To get a playoff spot the following would have to happen Scotland beat both Poland and Gibralter Ireland fail to beat the germans Draw with the Germans along with ireland beating the Georgians and automatic qualification is still possible but the following would have to happen Scotland beat both Poland and Gibraltar Ireland fail to beat the germans but beat the polish away from home Beat the germans and fuck knows what could happen....shergar might do a lap of honour on the back of Lord Lucan?

Well Germans being ruthlessly efficient for once this campaign Northern Ireland 1-0 up on the might Faroes

Air Singapore all the way

jesus fuck watching scotland reminds me far too much of pretty much most of the aberdeen teams of the pre mcinnes era. I know very little about tactics so can someone explain the logic of bringing on a defender when you are a goal down midway through the second half and then putting on a goal-poaching striker with 10mins to go but taking off possibly the one player who will be able to create an opportunity for him?

Really need to get to half time without conceding again. 2-0 and I say it is over (and not just this match)

Updated 3rd place qualifying table now looks like this (games against bottom teams removed) 1) Albania - P4 GF7 GA 2 Pts 10 (Why they are 3rd when they have a better record than Denmark?) 2) Hungary -P5 GF5 GA3 Pts10 3) Norway -P6 GF5 GA8 Pts10 4) Switzerland - P5 GF9 GA4 Pts9 5) Scotland - P5 GF6 GA5 Pts8 6) Netherlands - P6 GF10 GA6 Pts7 7) Russia - P5 GF7 GA3 Pts7 8 ) Ukraine - P5 GF3 GA4 Pts6 9) Israel - P5 GF7 GA11 Pts6 Current Teams in qualifying positions France, Iceland, Czech Republic, Wales, Belgium, Slovakia, Spain, Poland, Germany, England, Switzerland, Romania, Northern Ireland, Austria, Sweden, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, Denmark, Albania

Had the turks not lost a last minute equaliser to latvia they would have been 2 points ahead of the dutch now

and sent off

Welsh apparently ranked 9th in the world. First time they have ever been above Englandshire Wales - 9th England - 10th Scotland - 31st Northern Ireland - 41st Eire - 51st Depending on results both Wales & Iceland could qualify for the finals next week

Dean Jones - 84 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_jgxxNsqyg

van Dijk offski http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34115519 Also David De Gea's move to Real Madrid Collapses http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34108093

2478 According to AFC Heritage That old stand must have had its safety certificate updated.

Yon Tic off to Amsterdam, Istanbul and Molde

Just spoke to the ticket office and apparently there will be cash gates tomorrow Seems sections of the Jackie Husband Stand (closest to the open end) have also been allocated.

Have a look at the current planning and building regulations for new sports stadiums & stands.

Slightly on topic Just seen the plans Partick submitted to redevelop the open end of Firhill. 350 seater stand with flats, officers and retail https://publicaccess.glasgow.gov.uk/online-applications/files/8A6D92FA32A4656BDE707C194B4E36EE/pdf/14_02744_DC-ELEVATIONS_AS_PROPOSED-3150545.pdf Actually larger than the previous scheme they had rejected by the council back in 2011

No idea if I can go. Would have been a last minute rush out of the Office had there been a cash gate. However 1825 tickets available - 1758 apparently sold. The pull of the big red machine is strong these days.

Less than 70 tickets left according to the site. Well that's me out then

I would like to go given its the closest fixture to me however work appears to be blocking the path. Anyone happen to know if there will be cash turnstiles on the day or have Partick also adopted this 'all tickets must be purchased in advance' bullshit?