Wales v Scotland – Obliged to watch on TV because of SFA points sytem

Posted in Friendlies, Tartan Army with tags , , on October 18, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier

The SFA recently announced that Scotland will be travelling to Cardiff for a Wales v Scotland friendly on 14 November. And it looks like I won’t be going:(

I won’t be in Cardiff for two reasons. One, I have tickets to see The Airborne Toxic Event in Oxford. And two, I don’t have 4 away points. That’s right, the SFA are only offering tickets to anyone who has accumulated 4 points over the last 10 away matches.

4 away points! That’s a joke! How many fans have 4 away points? I have none. None at all. And as long as anyone in my position has no chance of even applying for an away ticket thousands of us are trapped in a zero-point rut. And it could easily be solved.

The SFA say that the points system is designed to reward the most loyal fans. Fine. I broadly agree with that. However, some means has to be available to provide opportunity to those who would loyally follow Scotland abroad if given the chance. Something like a point or half point for loyally attending home games? That’s not rocket science and I’m sure it would be difficult to administer. So, SFA, how about it??

Meanwhile, I need to find a Scottish or Welsh pub in Oxford that will be showing the game. Anyone have any suggestions?

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Japan v Scotland – Was it worth getting out of bed?

Posted in Friendlies, Scotland Squad, Tartan Army Abroad on October 11, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier

I almost wish I’d stayed in bed. Getting up on a Saturday morning to see Scotland lose 2-0 is not my idea of time well spent. And to have opened the scoring (for Japan!!) is even worse. An excuse is that we were missing a number of our best players. True enough. But Japan were not exactly fielding their best squad.

The game seemed to really drag.  As for the Scotland squad, the did try, but they didn’t merit Burley saying that  ”they were excellent”. Not one shot at goal (the Japan goal!!) and, as a result, nothing to show for it. Then the own-goal. Well, you all saw it. I was just glad when it all ended.

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Scotland World Cup ambitions end

Posted in World Cup 2010 with tags on September 10, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier

It happened again. Scotland are out of the World Cup.

We made our way to The Three Kings in West Kensington. The pub was absolutely heaving with fellow Scots looking to see our team secure a chance of qualification. And we all know how it ended – typically!

Scotland played their socks off. The scoreline didn’t do them justice, but it was too little too late. Had the y payed that well against Norway at Hampden, or even in Oslo, we’d have had at least a couple more points. But no, again it was a last match scramble that went the wrong way.

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Brown and McFadden keep Scotland’s World Cup hopes alive

Posted in World Cup 2010 with tags , on September 5, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier

Scott Brown celebrates

Scotland celebrate taking the lead against Macedonia

Scott Brown and James McFadden have helped keep Scotland’s World Cup qualification hopes alive. With two second half goals they have kept Scotland in sight of next year’s World Cup finals.

By a strange twist of fate I watched the match in a pub in Knebworth. There was some other nonsense on TV elsewhere in the pub, but it seemed that football was being given precedence over anything else and, as it should be, that meant the Scotland game was being shown on the big screen.

I was the only Scot there, but it seems a few local Englanders were also interested. It turned out they had bet money on the outcome. Most had bet on  a draw. Normally that would annoy me but after Norway’s first win in the competition I can’t say I blame them for doubting a Scottish win. A few others had more faith in the home team. Anyhoo, to cut a long story short, I am happy to say those betting against recent form ended the day richer.

Next match, am off to Rob Roy’s in Paddington. Another 2-0 result will do just fine:)

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Norway destroy a dire Scotland

Posted in Scotland Squad, Tartan Army Abroad, World Cup 2010 with tags on August 13, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier

“That’s the bloody worst performance I’ve witnessed. I am literally sickened!!”

That’s what my brother texted from the stadium in Oslo. And I have to say it runs parallel with how I felt last night – robbed of 2 hours of my life by a Scotland team that didn’t deserve better than the final score.

I was at the Rob Roy in Paddington with a couple hundred other fans. The atmosphere was one of optimism and expectancy. Norway are far from the best team in the world, so Scotland had a fair chance of a point or three. Unfortunately, the team either didn’t agree or didn’t care. And Norway took full advantage. Strangely the pub started to empty 20 minutes into the second half, and I blame noneof those who left.

As a closing comment here is what one of my friends said shortly after the match “They should be hung, drawn and quartered. Burley needs to take the high road!!”. Harsh, but fair?

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Burley names Scotland team for Norway

Posted in Scotland Squad, World Cup 2010 with tags , on August 4, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier

Scotland Coach George Burley has realeased the names of his 23-man squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifier against Norway in Oslo.

Goalkeepers Neil Alexander and Jamie Langfield join the squad, along with Burnley defender Steven Caldwell, Preston North End’s Callum Davidson and Rangers pair Steven Whittaker and Steven Naismith.

Goalkeepers
Neil Alexander, Rangers
Jamie Langfield, Aberdeen
David Marshall, Cardiff City

Defenders
Darren Barr, Falkirk
Christophe Berra, Wolverhampton Wanderers
Gary Caldwell, Celtic
Steven Caldwell, Burnley
Callum Davidson, Preston North End
Alan Hutton, Tottenham Hotspur
Jamie McAllister, Bristol City
Steven Whittaker, Rangers

Midfield
Graham Alexander, Burnley
Scott Brown, Celtic
Kris Commons, Derby County
Darren Fletcher, Manchester United
Paul Hartley, Bristol City
Shaun Maloney, Celtic
James McFadden, Birmingham City

Forwards
David Clarkson, Bristol City
Steven Fletcher, Burnley
Ross McCormack, Cardiff City
Kenny Miller, Rangers
Steven Naismith, Rangers

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Public Sale of Scotland v Macedonia and Scotland v Holland tickets opens today

Posted in World Cup 2010 on July 31, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier

The end qualification leg of World Cup 2010 is drawing near. For those able to go (not me:() tickets are now of sale to the general public for the last two matches, Scotland v Macedonia and Scotland v Holland. Tickets are available from £25 to £35 from the sources below:

Telephone: 0844 481 1818 (10.00 am to 9.00 pm on 31 July, then daily from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm)

SECC Box Office: Monday to Friday (10.00 pm to 6.00 pm) Saturday (10.00 am to 5.00 pm)

Hampden Museum Shop: Monday to Saturday (10.00 am to 5.00 pm) Sunday (11.00 am to 5.00 pm)

As I said before I won’t be going. I moved jobs and ended up with 5 fewer days holiday. The result is I won’t abe able to travel up to Glasgow for these matches!!! Instead I’ll be in the Rob Roy with a few other London Scottish.

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Scotland v Norway and Scotland v Macedonia tickets for sale

Posted in World Cup 2010 on June 16, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier
We'll be coming

We'll be coming

Tickets for Scotland v Macedonia and Scotland v Norway are about to be made available to the Scotland Supporters Club.

I just received an email from the SSC. They’re letting us know that seats for the last two home qualifiers will be on sale from 22 June to 17 July. Being Scotland’s last two games in this stage there should be a lot of interest in these games. Holland have run away with the group, but Scotland are well placed to claim a second position play-off spot. It’s not certain, but a good couple of results in these matches could see us into the that desired position.

I’ll be goingto the Macedonia game. The Norway match will be the one of most interest. However I’m totally stuffed for holidays so won’t make it to Hampden that night. No worries though about watching it. I’ll be in the pub with everyone else watching Scotland to victorious end. I can’t wait. Tickets will be ordered on Monday:)

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Japan v Scotland friendly organised. And more?

Posted in Friendlies, Scotland Squad, Tartan Army Abroad with tags , , on April 20, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier
scotland_with_kirin_cup

Scotland with Kirin Cup

It seems almost certain now. A Japan v Scotland friendly will take place on Saturday 10 October. And there is talk about a second match near Japan on the 14th (South Korea??). So, should I go?

Am totally up for it, but it’ll be no mean feat. It’ll totally bust the bank. Say that, it could be well worth it. Japan will be cool to visit and the last time the Scotland team went there they came home with the Kirin Cup. So a good game could be on the cards. I’ll just have to check my bank account after the fixture is confirmed.

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Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor – Should they be banned?

Posted in Scotland Squad, Tartan Army, World Cup 2010 with tags , , on April 16, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier

I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s been paying attention to the debacle concerning the banning of Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor. What a nonsense! To my mind its another example of the SFA hindering the team’s chances of World Cup qualification. Banning is too extreme a punishment and serves only to disadvantage other players’ efforts.

OK, to be fair, I was away on holiday when the incidents happened. So, I had a little bit of catching up to do. But, from what I gather Ferguson and McGregor were a couple of diddies and DID desereve to be punished. However, how does anyone gain, now or in the future, by the SFA banning them from internationals for life? By excluding these two players the team has been significantly weakened, playing into the hands of our opposition.

And it seems this is a common view. Hamish Husband, speaking for the Tartan Army, said that Scotland fans would welcome Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor back to the Scotland team if they apologised. And more interestingly, George Burley is has distanced himself from the ban. He stated “The Scotland manager doesn’t decide who’s banned,” and went on to say “I stress, I didn’t ban them. The Scottish FA board as a whole decide these matters. I’m not on the board”.So, it seems, to me at least, that the SFA hierarchy are intent on a decision widely unsupported outside their offices.

What now? Unfortunately my faith inthe SFA isn’t great, so I don’t forsee any resolution. It may require someone’s resination, or even worse Scotland failing to qualify, to  show the decision to be ill-considered. Hopefully it won’t come to either.

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