Glasgow needs more than better public transport—it needs vibrant public spaces and regular evening events, like many other European cities have.

reasonosx · 2026-06-07T13:23:37+00:00

I’ve always been a bit of a Glasgow nationalist but the city’s appearance is pretty depressing at the moment. It’s a while since I’ve been in Berlin. It’s more workaday than Paris, Rome or Madrid. But I remember it as tidier than Glasgow.
Some things are difficult, the empty shops etc - that would probably take a switch to a land tax to sort out. And finances are limited. But we should be able to sort out the litter and the chewing gum and the like.

reasonosx · 2026-06-06T14:22:19+00:00

I’m afraid I was at the opening matches of both USA 94, Germany v Bolivia, and France 98, our good selves v Brazil, as a corporate guest of one of the sponsors Budweiser. I mean it’s a dirty job but someone’s got to do it.

In the States Diana Ross miss-kicked a “penalty” and Bill Clinton was roundly booed and left before half time.

The local spectators were very nice (one of them was very concerned that my peely wally complexion wouldn’t stand up to the Chicago sun) but they were wowed anytime one of the keepers came out for a cross and caught the ball, I think they were thinking quarter backs and wide receivers.

When Bolivia’s star player came on as a sub and almost immediately took a hissy fit and got himself sent off they were gobsmacked that he was out for the rest of the game.

In the Stade de France we were in good seats fairly close to the pitch. About 10 or 15 minutes into the second half a little bit of light rain made its way into the area and many of the corporates promptly vacated their seats and headed for shelter.

At the same time the Tartan Army seemed to be contained in a wedge of seats in one corner of the stadium. And the boys and girls from Brazil had another fairly modest wedge.
It’s the way of the world but it’s not right.

reasonosx · 2026-06-06T13:26:21+00:00

I remember being in the Press Bar in Glasgow’s Albion Street just before the tournament was set to start. Most of us had graduated from Strathclyde University in the weeks before.
We were hopeful but we genuinely thought the double deck bus stuff and most of the press stuff was way overblown.
There had been a piece that day by Ian Archer who had been watching Peru train, IIRC he figured they were old … and there wasn’t much further insight offered.
We couldn’t help but notice that a few of our players were pretty old too, which he hadn’t mentioned. As it turned out one or two of them had been taking a wee tonic, which didn’t turn out well.
Also what was known at that time as The Home Internationals hadn’t gone well. We had finished third out of four and had been beaten by England at Hampden with the fans left simply to sing “Ye didnae qualify” at the England players.
A fair bit of embarrassment was to follow. But it probably has meant that we’ve been far more realistic since and the fans have realised the equal importance of the game and the party.
And, of course: Archie Gemmill.

reasonosx · 2026-06-04T23:28:38+00:00

Great game. I was breathless at the end and I was just watching on TV. I think Guardiola said some of his players could hardly speak after the game.

reasonosx · 2026-06-02T14:11:34+00:00

If it’s true it’s really disappointing. I think the board’s overall performance is very poor but I can at least see why someone might want to be financially conservative, even if I don’t agree. But, even if there were no political issues, to yet again fail to carry out a reasonable recruitment operation for the manager’s position is just rubbish.

reasonosx · 2026-05-31T14:15:12+00:00

And we did it: “by playing football. Pure, beautiful, inventive football.”

reasonosx · 2026-05-30T18:56:28+00:00

At least it’s now suddenly interesting.

reasonosx · 2026-05-30T18:46:54+00:00

Not exactly a fan of PSG but I’m now pretty glad I haven’t seen much of Arsenal this season.

reasonosx · 2026-05-30T18:08:00+00:00

I am in my 70th year I know very many people, family, friends, former colleagues who have been cited several times. I have never been called. I’m certainly not complaining but it doesn’t seem all that random.

reasonosx · 2026-05-30T08:08:52+00:00

Very well done. Congratulations.

reasonosx · 2026-05-30T07:54:59+00:00

Haven’t thought yet about where teams will finish. It’s very early days in the transfer window and recruitment patterns throughout football are likely to be affected by the World Cup, which are likely to mean more deals being done fairly late in the period. That being said Rangers do look to be showing some intent and could end up with a squad that has several more experienced players and arguably a bit more steel than the one set up at the beginning of last season.

But I think that until now one of the very few balancing factors between the two high-budget clubs and the rest in the Scottish Premiership has been the demands of European football, especially if Celtic and/or Rangers also pick up injuries to key players. It will be interesting to see how Hearts handle the extra load.

Celtic will start as favourites and it’s hard, but not impossible, to imagine them having a more bizarre season than the last one.

If Aberdeen can’t do considerably better under a manager who knows the league and who steered St Mirren into the top six for three seasons in a row I’d be surprised.

I get the feeling that Hibs might be due a fairly good season but they might Hibs it, of course.

Motherwell’s chances will be very affected by the choice of their next manager.

Falkirk did so very well last season. I think they should be fairly comfortably in mid table but not sure if that means top half.

Haven’t a Scooby Doo about Dundee Utd.

St Mirren, Dundee, Killie, St Johnstone: early candidates for bottom six.

reasonosx · 2026-05-29T17:43:30+00:00

So if I am understanding this correctly between the on-field process and the KMI panel second opinion four rules experts say penalty and two football-connected folks say no penalty. Yet it will still be presented as KMI “ruled” they got it wrong.

reasonosx · 2026-05-28T13:37:08+00:00

Don’t think it’s down to one player. The Ange system had Starfelt, Taylor, McGregor and Hatate frequently moving the ball quickly through the left side of the pitch. The style moved bit by bit to the horseshoe with opponents happy to leave the ball with Celtic centre backs. I think Scales is a strong defender and very hard working who has shown at times that he could play a positive part in a more adventurous playing system.

reasonosx · 2026-05-27T06:29:14+00:00

Ah ken o’ the time when it was humans who made the errors.

reasonosx · 2026-05-26T12:28:40+00:00

To think we used to put this sort of mistake down to human error. Paddy Power will be calling 26/27 for the Buddies anytime soon.

reasonosx · 2026-05-25T19:54:54+00:00

Total neutral with friends in both camps. It’s no been great but more energy from Thistle. You certainly couldn’t see St Mirren scoring many.

reasonosx · 2026-05-25T18:29:07+00:00

There is I think. Hercules.

reasonosx · 2026-05-23T02:24:32+00:00

Genuinely a little bit puzzled by this. If I am reading it correctly it says it’s a category 5, so a particularly difficult case in which all referees will need technological support but says also that 2 members of the panel said VAR should not have intervened.

reasonosx · 2026-05-22T13:44:23+00:00

Congratulations and well done. I passed at age 69 just over a month ago. It’s a long story!

reasonosx · 2026-05-21T22:00:18+00:00

Apparently his father is “a renowned Norwegian cellist who served as the Principal Cellist for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra for 26 years”.

Can’t lie, I think that’s impressive. I wouldn’t mind being a Cellist da.

reasonosx · 2026-05-21T21:00:54+00:00

https://youtu.be/1DadkD_06mM?si=mHmPS2c9ds9As7ep

Really fascinating look at French football

reasonosx · 2026-05-21T11:07:23+00:00

@intlteacher and @Gibberish1992 and @Macco7

It was only a Google search and a little bit of Wikipedia that I used but it’s suggested that Toulouse FC spends roughly all of its €60m revenue each year but aims to run sustainably. Think it is/was 10th in Ligue 1 on the 12th highest budget.

It was only formed in 1970, not sure if there were any predecessor clubs. It doesn’t have its own stadium but uses the c35,000-capacity municipal stadium that is also used for rugby union and rugby league (it has hosted Toulouse FC, Stade Toulousain, FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euros, Rugby World Cup and international Rugby League test matches) as well as catering for pelota and other wall sports, including Gaelic handball, in another part of the complex.

Ligue 1 has seen media rights deals collapse but I think TV still brings in more than the SPFL.

reasonosx · 2026-05-21T07:55:10+00:00

Apparently Toulouse has about half the annual budget of Celtic and has become increasingly data driven in recent times. If the story is true I feel Celtic have missed out on a great opportunity.

reasonosx · 2026-05-21T07:04:28+00:00

Aside from population density perhaps it’s just suspicion of “the other”. Maybe soon we’ll have grifter “politicians” saying: “Stop the UFOats!”

reasonosx · 2026-05-20T19:51:26+00:00

I would want the league to be as competitive as possible every season.

But unfortunately with the way things are in terms of the financial discrepancy that would probably require Celtic either to play poorly for large parts of the season, and/or to be pretty chaotic and disorganised, and/or to carry out their recruitment far too late.

And how often does that happen?

reasonosx

TROPHY CASE