A nation holds its breath...
Frightening how time flies when you are enjoying yourself. It seems just a heartbeat ago I was frolicking in France as Craig Brown's Scotland chiselled at the coalface of the 1998 World Cup.
A decade ago? Seems just like ten years. Now I wonder if I'll ever be blessed with the task of reporting my country's campaign in a finals ever again.
It won't be long until South Africa kicks off. I bought a can of sweet corn yesterday which had a use-by date later than the final in Cape Town.
The thing is, will Scotland's chances of reaching the first ever finals in Africa?
It could be all over by next Wednesday night if we don't return from Macedonia and Iceland - two contrasting cultures and climates as you could ever hope to visit in just a few short days - with at least a couple of points.
Currently in the former Yugoslavia temperatures are such that you could barbeque a chicken on the pavement. I pray that Scotland's 3pm kick-off will not lead to a similar roasting.
Of course cries from the media that the team should be checking in to their hotel at least a day earlier than the 24 hours before kick-off that is currently the master plan, will be drowned in allegations of the gentlemen of the press seeking another night out in a foreign land.
But it is a cruel jibe that pierces the heart of this hardened reporter and most of his colleagues.
The football comes first. Reach the finals and there will be many nights out to be had in the South African summer of 2010.
Actually I have to confess that I nurse concerns about this campaign. No Barry Ferguson and Alan Hutton to see us off at the start line and no victories yet for the new manager from which he can take heart.
There is a trusted recipe for success here. You must win all your home fixtures and burgle a few points on the road while realistically targeting the runners-up position in the group.
Press the gamble button for the play-off spot.
And under-rate anyone, particularly Macedonia and Iceland, at your peril.
Still, the Tartan Army will enjoy it all, although they'll be a little bemused by the changing price of a nightcap. In Reykjavik the price of a pint is the price of a brewery in Skopje.
And yet despite this cloak of pessimism which lies wearily on my shoulders our little football nation cannot continue like this.
Twelve years in the World Cup wilderness for a country which used to receive a prize for perfect attendance - if nothing else - in five tournaments on the bounce is far too long.
Indeed only the failure to cross the Atlantic to the burger-fest tournament in 1994, when FIFA'S bid to brainwash America crashed and burned, stopped it being seven in a row.
The Good Lord only knows how I pine for such sweet and cherished days...
Kids have been born and raised and are now heading for a secondary education without knowing how a nation weeps with joy and sadness, how a whole country bares its soul when Scotland goes off to do battle in a foreign land.
This is the start of a long campaign. A nation holds its collective breath...if only to cure the World Cup hiccoughs.
Be still my itching pessimism. It is time for the Lion to be Rampant once more.
"Tell them who you are and what you are about," they said. To be honest, there are days when I struggle to remember myself. Forty years toiling at the coalface of football journalism does that to you. But I have reason to believe that I have reached the heady heights of the title of Football Correspondent of BBC Scotland which gives me a renown, in Scottish terms, of somewhere between Alex Salmond and the deep fried Mars Bar.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~04~RS~)
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Chick, any chance of an incisive and informative assessment of Scotland's chances? A prediction of who the key players will be in our campaign? A suggestion on how to go one further than the glorious failure that was the Euro 2008 qualifiers? A critique of the strengths and weaknesses of the upcoming opposition? I mean, your wee jokes about how you enjoy a night on the razzle are kind of worn out now. And re-hashing the 'at the coalface' metaphor only three blogs in?
I suppose the real analysis and insight will come, once again, from the posters here.
The result that beat us for Euro 2008 was the away loss to Georgia. Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of defensive options, so we will need workhorses in midfield, like Hartley, to track back and cover as much as possible. But it is fairly inevitable that we will concede a fair amount of goals. We just need to score more. And there's the rub.
Our real problem is unearthing a reliable goal-scorer. Kenny Miller is an enigma. He has the potential to be both the hero and villain of this campaign. Kris Boyd seems more suited to the role of goal-grabber, but Walter Smith's refusal to give him a regular first team place is problematic. Maloney? Definitely a good option to have in the squad but more of a chance maker than taker. Ditto McFadden.
With any luck Riordan will pick up where he left off at Hibs. The guy is a natural talent who deserved better treatment at Celtic. If his form for Hibs forces Burley into picking him, I think he could turn a few games for us.
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As a mere eleven year old lad I wept at the draw with Yugoslavia in 1974. The '74 team were the the Rampant Lions but alas sent home early.
My heart is stirred looking at the current squad. I do not need to procrastinate about the rejuvenated the 2006 WC campaign miss nor rave about the noble and credible 2008 Euro campaign.
My notes from all of the heartache that is my choice to bear is Scotland must begin an era of rabid attacking football, we know we can defend and rely on goalkeeping now and again - ask Alan Rough - but the object of this beautiful game is to score more goals than the opponent - yes you can call me a visionary or something else - Chick Young if you are sadistic - but most of the early exits throughout history have been due to the dreaded and painful goal difference scenario - even in the modern era of the 3pt win scenario.
I am all for giving Kenny Miller his due but a dual forward atttacking game could be the ticket - let the tacticians figure out how to build a defense to support this strategy and let the scoreline at the end of the day tell the story instead of the would've, could've, should'ves.
One more thing - I am not a coach or a profssional player or a member of the media - I am a fan and nothing else, one of the many, one that has picked up the pieces of a broken heart and crammed them back into the chest cavity and then stand once more, one of the proud and fearless.
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June/July is winter in SA, not summer. There could as many frosty balls as footballs flying around.
But much better blog, Chic... keep them coming!
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Please, no more Chick. Your dismantling of the English language is more depressing than any Balkan defeat of the Scots.
I can't take it any more! Is Scotland's leading commentator on the national game really a linguistic criminal who can't even finish sentences, let alone put together a paragraph without a defiantly terrible drawn-out metaphor?
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As an ex- football fanatic and follower of Scotland, it is probably remiss of me to comment but the current scenario does not give one any heart at all.
After all who wants to be the 'make-weights' of any competition, the boring team who no-one wants to watch? Even when we had star players (and back in the 70s and 80s we had real star players) we still could barely reach the lowly heights of competence.
We have now regressed to a point where we hope our 'work horses' can manage to track back, well that's good then!
We've played fitba' in this country for, oh what, a hundred and fifty years and we're still mince. Never mind, at least the tartan army can have a sesh or two in foreign climes.
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Macedonia will be a very tough game and if Scotland don't play well they will be in for a nasty evening. However, I really can't see them finishing outside the top two. Norway will be a difficult test but such has been Scotland's progress in recent years that I'd expect them to reach the play-offs in what is quite a tough group. If only I could be so confident about England's qualifying hopes.
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The SFA should be in favour of the GB 2012 Olympic team. That will be the only chance for young Scottish players to ever experience tournament football.
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5 - meestasmeeth I sympathise mate. The thing is, we might have started in football earlier than anyone else, but they caught up quick.
I've been in Japan for 20 years, and two sporting scenarios here are worth comparing.
Firstly, the Beijing Olympics saw the Japanese getting spanked in an event they expect to clean up in - judo. The consensus was that Japanese judo hasn't gotten worse, world judo has gotten better. More nations than ever before entered judo, and two African nations got medals for the first time ever. The days when Japan 'owned' judo are well and truly over.
Secondly, I arrived here in 1989 when Japan had no professional football league. Since then, they've twice managed what Scotland has never done - qualification from the group stage of the World Cup.
How did they do it in such a short space of time? Quite simple, really, - they analysed their failures in micro-detail, without bias or favour, and vowed to rectify their failings in the next tournament.
When you watch post-game analysis here, their tactical know-how and analytical skills are superb. They break it down to a level where you can clearly see the problems that need to be solved. Contrast that with Chick and his ilk, the so-called analysis consisting of "the big ginger lad put in a good shift" type of comment, and it is no wonder we have stood still while the of the world has passed us by. We are football dunces.
We know how to change this. The Beijing Olympics proved it - from 36th in the Athens medal count, to fourth in Beijing. That came about as a result of considerable investment by a government embarrassed by our Athens performance.
Scottish football needs the same investment and attitude change. I'm just not sure we have the personnel in place to bring it about.
As for the fourth estate, Chick and the rest with their puerile phone-in forums and superficial commentaries will only serve to fetter any progress we hope to achieve as a footballing power.
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I have to agree with poster number one (and several others).
Mr Young offers no analysis of Scotland's chances, just horribly mangled metaphors and tired jokes about getting drunk.
It reads like it took five minutes to write.
I fear for Scotland in the heat of Skopje against what will be a technically good side, with a top class striker.
McManus and Caldwell were hopeless against Rangers, while Hartley and Brown offered nothing in midfield. And, with Hutton out, our full-backs are a weak area.
At least Kenny Miller will be on a high and Darren Fletcher has started the season well at Man Utd...
Macedonia to win 2-0, with Scotland bouncing back in Iceland by the same score.
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I agree with some of the posters above. Is this blog actually worth using up electricity and bandwith for?
It's banal, tired, cliche-ridden and intellectually valueless. But most importantly, it quite plainly offers the reader not a shred of insight on the subject it purports to describe, i.e. Scotland's impending World Cup Qualifying Campaign. Although, in keeping with the style and content found in most of the author's work, it does manage to mention Rangers, in this case pining for Barry Ferguson.
In utter seriousness, is there anyone in the BBC Sports Department who can write a meaningful and insightful piece on Scottish football which is free of nerve-shredding cliche or a hackneyed, constipated dialogue?
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Chick Young is an icon in Scottish football. Like a few other unsung heroes (John Lambie - for his magnificent comment when his centre half was concussed and didnt know who he was "Tell him he is Pele", said Lambert).
Chick mangles metaphors like no-one else. A prince at reporting, but tell that to walter Smith. Any youtube fan could point you to the walter smith/Chick Young special. Chick once again coming off second best. It is wonderful to listen to his attempts to ask the inciteful question, but e fails more often than he succeeds. From my perspective, Chick is an honest trier with negligible talent, but good comedy value. The truth is, like all other Scots, Chick wants us to succeed and wants to be the one who told you so, but is a bit more worldly wise that your average ned, so therefore looks on the dark side. That way he is either right and happy or wrong and delighted. I for one Chick enjoy your comments, but you are not a patch on the one they call "Fat Eck"
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I was only five when Costa Rica defeated Scotland in WC 1990, but I'll never forget the incredulous faces in Tartan Army...
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Thanks Chic for that breakdown of what scotland will face on saturday.
So anyone elde know about these Macadonians. Mon the english what did you guys make of them? Who are the danger men? fast up front? Skillful play maker.
Have to say Burley has his work cut out for him. I don't think he knows his strongest side particularly up front. Miller boyd mcfadden Maloney. WHo we going to play on Left midfield. Would go for. Gordon back 4 naismyth mcmanus caldwell and mcnaughton. midfield of Mcfadden hartley brown and fletcher up front in the hole miller and Boyd up front.
Boyd should be itching to prove himself to walt and/or get a deal away in January. Miller bags of energy. Mcfadden on left for some trickery is he fast enough?Brown and Hartley to win the ball and push forward. With a bit of craft from fletcher. Will he go for a midfield 5 though?
Mon the Scots.
My sympathies and thoughts also go to Dolans family.
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Chick, i am rather alarmed to hear about your itching pessimism. I think you ae probably in need of an ethanolic rub on the affected areas. Your lack of aspiration is nevertheless infectious. I pity all these young kids who have yet to experience fully and truly your sense of loss in national failure at a major tournament! We have a dream. Keep your itch to yourself.
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The thing is, will Scotland's chances of reaching the first ever finals in Africa?
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What exactly does this mean? As for the rest of your article, it's a joke. Cliche ridden garbage as always with no apparent technical knowledge of either side.
I must say I agree with the poster in Japan, we simply do not analyse our game technically at all, and our grass roots training is pitiful to say the least. Media that spout such nonsense don't help either. They should be pressuring the government into investing into sport instead of harking out the usual cliches.
We have this problem in Scotland - epitomised by the likes of Craig Brown and Walter Smith - of always relying on tried and tested methods. We never want to "push that gamble button" (sorry chick). I like Burley's attitude of more attacking play but thanks to the way our players are developed I just can't see our current crop carrying it off.
You only have to watch a school boys training session and match to see where it is all so wrong. We have 10 year old boys playing on full size pitches. They are already assigned positions. Defenders are always instructed to welly it into row Z. We are taught to hack and abuse players of the other team and match officials.
Football should be taught in small confined places with youngsters, working on technical skills and ball control. Just compare your average Scottish player to his eastern European counterpart. The gap in technique is astonishing and it grows every year. These guys have played on the street since they were kids and by default are in tight environments, probably playing with a tennis ball or something and so naturally develop good ball skills. Scottish kids don't play on the streets anymore since even the poorer kids tend to have a TV or a computer.
This should be combated by academies. Not just training complexes containing 5 astroturf pitches. Serious complexes where kids are rigourously taught technical skills from a young age. Have them play in small 5 a side games to develop close control and eliminate the habit of playing long balls. When they are later in there teens then introduce full size games but force short passing.
I don't claim to be a coaching expert but it makes sense to me.
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Well thanks's for that Chick, another carefully crafted piece of insightful analysis littered with those infamous rose-tinted yearnings for the good old days.
I believe it is your job to conduct an incisive analysis on the nature of the opposition, our strengths and weaknesses we are about to face in these crucial matches, not waxing lyrically and ultimately aimlessly about glorious bygones. For those of us who are not fortunate enough as you are to commit as much time to football, at least give us some expert analysis to clutch onto instead of this banal drivel .
And repeating and re-repeating the "coalface" metaphor is already starting to grate in September, let alone mid season.
Analysis please Sir!
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Plenty of people have pointed out the problems - jumbled reuse of complicated metaphors and harping on about the glory days (and nights) of the Tartan Army.
There is probably a place for easy-reading banter like this (actually, it's not really that easy to read) but I think it is more likely to be inside the back pages of tabloids than a BBC blog.
Keeping with the Smith/McLeish-led revolution on the park, a fresh approach needs to be taken here! If you want intelligent, thoughtful replies, then lead off with perceptive ideas and present them in an attention-grabbing manner.
Yes, the occasional metaphor and heart-warming memory is well worth its letter space, but not too many, please!
It pains me to say it, but our southerly cousins' McNultey (I guess he's from here originally with a name like that!) does a better job firing debate about English issues.
C'mon Chick, hear the roar and rise to the occasion!
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How can anyone be optimistic about Scotland's future when players like Broadfoot are called into the squad. He is the biggest "dumpling" I have seen for years. I hope this is a little "blip" in George Burley's thought process. To date I have been impressed with Burley as a manager but this decision makes me edgy about him.
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Yet again Chick gets it all wrong and gets panned by his audience. Absolutely zero content from a guy who has been 'writing' about Scottish football for 40 years....you think that he would have something more worthwhile to contribute......You are not writing for the Sun Chick. The BBC shouldn't even allow you the privilege of covering the tournament, should Scotland qualify, if you are only capable of this kind of negative, boring, banal reporting. Metaphors and dated nostalgic attempts at humour are not going to impress your readers. What have you actually told us about the up coming fixtures that we didn't already know or feel ourselves? Probable line-up's, head-to-heads etc etc. Nothing. So whats the point of an 'informed' journalist writing a piece and getting paid for it? This is not Fever Pitch Chick.
Correct me if I am wrong, or if I have missed something, but It wasn't that long ago that we were capable of taking on the world champions and having genuine aspirations of beating them. Now we have come back down our media's 'normal' level of pessimism/expectation where they are fearing a double header with Macedonia and Iceland. Come on. If we don't expect to perform and take at least 4 points from this then we may as well pack it all up, wrap up the SFA and throw our weight behind(god forbid) a GB team for the Olympics. Then all the diddy's like Chick Young will be out of a job and we can stop living in a constant cycle of pain and suffering. However I expect like the vast majority of Scotland supporters we do expect to finish at least 2nd in this group and go on to qualify. We definitely have the players, we just need to ensure that we are organised and our 'big' players perform when we need a bit of magic. I expect Burley to carry on from where Smith/MacLeish left off. This is not a change in team as before (after Brown), only management. All the players are the same and predominantly young and play for the Jersey. They will carry the confidence from the last campaign over to this one and I expect them to do well. I for one are behind them.
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Interesting discussion on Scotland and certainly many of the posts are far more analytical and informative than the original blog .
I wonder , however , how the mods can allow Shivam_mufc to write 'england are sh!t' and reject a complaint about it .
Presumably, therefore, 'Scotland are Sh!t too' will be also acceptable ?
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When has Scottish football punditry ever been technical?
Never.
So let's not whinge about Chick Young's largely successful attempts to lighten up our pessimism as Scottish football supporters.
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Hey Chick,
its winter during the WC in SA, and the final is in Soccer City Joburg, not Cape Town.
Next trip on fact finding to SA, ill put you up in my lodge, show you a beautifull country and keep you safe, unlike that big hotel you stayed in for the draw in Durban where the doorman wouldnt let you cross the road, oh and bring your boots theres a great over 35s league.
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@ Millbrook Blue..
Based on both teams last matches I think it's safe to say that both of those statements are accurate.
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Chick, I woudln't worry about Barry Ferguson or Alan Hutton's absence - Barry hasn't played a decent game for Scotland in his life, and we're lucky if we can even get him to turn up once a year now.
As for Hutton, we've got the new Hutton - Kirk Broadfoot. After beating Aiden McGeady once during the game on Sunday, he's supposedly the next Ronaldinho. McGregor is the best keeper in Europe, Davie Weir makes Maldini look average and Deco has nothing on Steven Thompson - we're sorted!
The only concerns can be about the celtic players, who are obviously so gutted about losing on Sunday that they won't be of a fit mental state until at least June next year (according to rangers fans). Perhaps we should just leave them all out the team? - they have got a busy schedule this season, what with the champions league and three domestic trophies to chase...
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I think thesecretalchemist has hit it on the head, I myself wondered how nations such as Japan and Korea played so much better, technically, in the world cup comp, over there and especially after such a short time playing the game. I remember the SFA talking about introducing 'Dutch' style coaching here, decades ago - what happened?
Nada!
You just need to watch any kid's game / coaching session to see what's wrong with our game - wearing all the fancy gear, and snarling like your favourite 'workhorse' is much more important than mastering the basics.
It's heartbreaking to say but 'Banter' and 'Blooter' ( both the drinking kind and the hoof the ba' type) are the only thing synonymous with Scottish football nowadays.
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Hi all, English fan in peace here. I hear what you're all saying about the depth of chick's analysis. For what it's worth, here's mine. Macedonia tend to play a short passing game with one forward, playing 4-5-1 in defensive position moving to 4-3-3 in attacking positions. They tend to counter attack quickly and Scotland's defensive midfielders will need to be quick to close down runners as their one and two touch passing is dangerous. England have also found them to be dangerous from set plays in the past.
I am not so sure about Iceland. They do of course have Gudjohnsen who is adept at making space for himself and others and will need to be tightly marked to control his influence on the game.
Honestly, I think that like England, you are best suited to playing a direct game and using the wide areas of the pitch to try and pull both opponents defensive players out of position. Perhaps with McFadden playing off of a strong target man you will succeed in creating enough to score goals. Having seen how the team played in the 08 campaign, I think that you have every chance of qualifying.
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alan combe and the killie defense have not conceded a goal yet this season. so why is there none of that group in the squad? burley says he is looking to youth and yet craig bryson is overlooked in midfield.
in international terms killie are always overlooked in favour of mediocre championship players who have a couple of decent games followed by a call up.
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thesecretalchemist has a good point. Here in germany, the women's football team has been the be-all and end-all for a good while and suddenly Brazil and a few other countries have overtaken them on the outside lane. From having no real competition (and thus no real possibility to improve) the side has to make a hill start to play catch-up. A bit like the arrogant english side of the 50s.
The only way to play catch-up is to see what the new, improved version does better. Berti vogts, a dreadful trainer but insightful organiser, identified many of the problems that were besetting Scotland. Has any progress been made in youth development since then???
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"The thing is, will Scotland's chances of winning the first ever finals in Africa?"
I can't believe this one passed me by, please do clarify Chick, what exactly do you mean? As you have been "toiling at the coalface of football journalism" as you succintly put it for forty years, you would presumably have checked for any glaring mistakes like these.
Why is Scottish football marred with this all pervasive amateurism.
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Well since my earlier post was removed as I voiced my opinions on the 'reporting' and the respective 'writer' in this article, I'll make this short and say thank to gillsfan1978 for giving some views on Macedonia notably lacking.
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Hey Archiesrightboot
I puzzled over that one too...
I think it's meant to follow on from the previous sentence; ie. will Scotland's chances ever kick off?
Other opinions welcome!
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Hopeless blog, terrible article.
He hasn't even bothered to respond (he's probably gone to Macedonia a few days early to acclimatize).
Can't believe that we're paying for the privelage of reading (and listening to) this guys nonsense.
Come on BBC, can we not do any better than this?
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chick you are a dream to everyone who loves the highs and lows of the scottish football scene, to have people poo-pooing your blog is nothing but small minded stupidity on their behalf. i live in london and look forward to the blog on a weekly basis as i know many others outside of the chosen land do.
to those of you who slate the master in his dipiction of scottish life/football, if you could better lines such as:
(now i cant remember the words off hand, but essentially)
(celtic vs. barcelona)
trying to get the ball off messi and ronaldinho et al was fruitless, had they been playing with a beach ball in a phone box the result wouldnt have changed!
(cant remember the scenario)
there is no place in international football for someone who's second touch is a header!
its easy to criticise not so easy to create, chic you are a legend!
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As my last comment on this article was removed, allow me to express my feeling for this blog in the form of a poem. I'd put money Mr. Young fancying himself as a bit of a poetic writer, so I thought this might be more appropriate:
Fantastic article,
Unbelievable writing,
Cheerful tone,
Kind words from readers,
Insightful analysis,
Not garbage,
Great journalism,
Rich in content,
Unquestionable knowledge,
Brilliant metaphors,
BBC's reputation in tact,
Intelligent and creative,
Scotland's finest -
Having a laugh??!
Hope you like this as much as I liked your ridiculous article.
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Wow...
Heading off to Macedonia in 36 hours and thought I'd get a wee glimpse of either what to look forward to when watching the game in Skopje, or some sort of insight in to the overall campaign ahead.
Instead I'm once again reminded how long it's been since we were at a major event, which we all know only too well, and how much a pint will cost on our travels! (Which I'm sure all us travellers know too!)
In comparison to some of the other bloggers on the BBC website I feel short changed as a Scot!
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I agree with many posters, Chick travels the world on the BBC dime so knows the cost of a pint in Skopje but fails to inform us of the threat posed by either Macedonia or Iceland. 'Mon Chick you can do better than that.
A quick note to "thesecretalchemist" Japan qualify because they play in the Asian Federation. Switch them to Europe they would not have much chance. Much like Scotland, really...
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Well I thought the article was lovely
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HEY everyone let's not go too serious and uptight about a light-hearted article which I enjoyed reading. We will have all the serious talk about players and formations days in advance of the game and then the analysis afterwards, so let's enjoy Chick's blog for what it is. I enjoy the Scottish sense of humour. As one fan said to me in France, after they got beaten: 'looks like we will be home before the postcards once again'.
The one point I do wish to make though is about this misconception that the World Cup Finals of 2010 are being: 'staged in Africa.' Oh! so will there be group matches in Nigeria, Kenya, Cameroon etc? Africa is the continent, and the Finals are in South Africa. It is a bit like saying that the Finals of 2006 were in Europe. I'm sure that the Germans would not have been too happy if this had been the description given to their hosting of what was an excellently organized tournement.
Now Chick what about some thoughts on Mr. Burley bringing in players like Graham Alexander who must be nearer 40 than 30 and has had ratings of 4 for his lack of defensive qualities so far this season, and after nearly 30 games for Scotland has still to make his first serious tackle. And what about the much-maligned Broadfoot who did not exactly enhance his transfer value in the UEFA Cup Final at Zenith St Petersburg?
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As usual, the guy is clueless regarding proper football talk regarding tactics, players etc and continues to talk drivel. I contacted the BBC after Sundays game regarding the continual laughing during Jim Traynors phone in as it sounded like Chick and I'm not an old firm fan so no sour grapes(appologies if it was someone else). I would expect someone who I pay for to make a decent assesment of our team but alas it's the same old playground rubbish . My kids could give you a better write-up.
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Please can someone within the BBC HR department do the needful and either re-deploy or bid farewell to the present incumbent. Another alternative would be to employ a decent and ruthless proof-reader. You know what I'm talking about. It is embarrassing.
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Sorry Chick, I assume I've upset you cos reasonable posts keep getting removed?!! Well there's 10 points available to the first person to spot the hidden message in post 43!! HA!!!
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The censorship here is incredible.
Are the they enjoying playing games?
Who pays their wages anyway?
Don't know what content in my post was unsuitable. Would sure like to know.
I agree with post 51.
It is all embarrassing.
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Chick Young is so predictable and boring. Whether writing or talking, his language
is peppered with dull cliche and medieval religious babble. Does no one at the BBC
check his output? Probably not. I suspect that his superiors probably think it is
all harmless football banter fun. It is appalling and not even mildly amusing (I
assume it is meant to be). The guy is stuck in the 1960's/70's. His obvious
pandering to the 'old firm' does not serve his beloved nation well. Move on or move
out 'chico'. Most of us have moved on.
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Post seemed unsuitable for whatever reason. No swearing etc... so if this is posted, Cheerio to the BBC, a waste of effort posting anything meaningful on the site so wont waste my time and effort again.
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Post 43's poem is spot on.
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Likewise my post was deemed to have broken "House Rules". So bemused by this, I went and read them. I couldn't see how my post contravened them so will give up on this irrelevant rubbish. The replies are the only part worth reading anyway and if half of them are deleted for trying to raise the bar a bit, why bother?
This post probably will be deemed too revolutionary as well.
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PS
At the top of the same page, while Scotland "chiselled at the coalface of France 98" Chick was "toiling at the coalface of football journalism."
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Enough of this negative thinking....we will beat Macedonia and Iceland in our first 2 games, Holland are the real threat to our qualification as I think we can beat everyone else in this group.
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Come on, Chick. You need to do a bit more research on these blogs.
1. The final is played in Soccer City, Soweto which is just outside Jo'burg and not in Cape Town.
2. As South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, it will be Winter when the World Cup is staged there.
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I've just read this thing about the players giving up their bonuses if they don't make it to South Africa.
DISGUSTING.
The SFA charge us £25 to watch the footballing superpower that is NI in a friendly, my Norway ticket was £30, and now they are going to get to keep the players bonus money if we don't qualify - the SFA are a bunch of dirty filthy thieving money-grabbing opportunists.
Commendable attitude from the players, but if they don't make it to South Africa, then get the money to a better cause than Gordon Smith's local San Tropez.
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Wow! Here we go again, my nerves need steadying already, especially after watching Macedonia in the Euro 2008 qualifiers....not a bad outfit! Please take them seriously G.B, a good start is essential.
Iceland could prove even more of a banana skin, we have a few of their players in the local Swedish teams here....and remember Elfsborg's humbling of Hibs? And remember that they are on a roll after their Handball team won a silver medal at the Olympics....Iceland is red hot just now! and it's not just their vulcanic rumblings.
Please let me wake up tomorrow Mr Burley with a hangover worth at least a point....3 and I'll not feel a thing....but a loss could spell a heavy head, as well as a heart broken at the first hurdle.
Douglas
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It was the players idea to forgo their bonus and fair play to them for doing so. It's only in big buisness that you get rewarded for failure. I'm feeling confident today and hope Im still happy come 5pm.
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Keep up the good work Chick, don't let the "doom merchants" ( that all you can get away with on this site) get you down. it's about hope without it there is nothing.
"Good luck Scotland"
Lord Rosebery
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If we'd played in the first half like we did in the second I think we'd have won. No rub of the green though and the referree gave us nothing but hey-ho, we dont look too bad a side.
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Lord Rosebery, the only doom merchandising was from the author of the blog, not from the various replies. Please read before posting and you may understand a wee bit more.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Of the same 'wonderful' quality and insightfulness as Sportsound and 'Your Call.'
Does BBC Scotland really think that what is offered is of more variety and better qualty than what is broadcast via commercial stations?
At least they cover all the SPL games on the web, but the level of analysis and intellect is abysmal. Where are the new Crampseys...???
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"Now I wonder if I'll ever be blessed with the task of reporting my country's campaign in a finals ever again."
Qualify or not - you never should be blessed with that opportunity!!
Well said amc48c especially when you conside the superb standard of other areas of Radio Scotland broadcasting.
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