Our manager stayeth(for now)

Very satisfying to get it right up the jambos who were dancing about thinking they had pinched our manager only for him to say "roon ye, I'm staying where I am!" You'd have to be mental to work over in Little Lithuania with the chairman interfering and calling all the shots. Just hope we keep playing the way we have been and we reap the reward of improving his contract before he moves onto bigger things at a less bonkers club!

Backwaters of europe here we come!

Been rather quiet here on all fronts, but not had a great deal to say all season about Motherwell FC and here we've only went and qualified for europe for something like the 4th time in our history. If anything there has been to much going on to write about, from the dramatic turnaround in fortunes on the pitch, to tragic loss of a player also on the pitch, the dreadful state of the pitch itself and a bundle of call offs it seems quite appropriate that after our vital 2-1 win over Aberdeen at the weekend our Main stand and the pitch itself was struck by lightning cause both to be flooded. Fortunately only some carpets are needing replaced, our improved drainage making the pitch flooding a not to considerable problem for a change.

There isn't a rollercoaster yet built that could give you the same upss, downs, thrills and spills it has been that dramatic a season. Finishing 3rd is a well deserved reward at the end of it all, would like to think we can build on that but I understand all to well how Scottish football works and our own stature within it.

Woken up into a twisted nightmare of a world!

Well I knew yesterday really but point holds not my idea of a great signing, the guy seems to be a complete fud and not sure he even that much of a player to even think about putting up with the baggage. If he does well most people will at least bite there tongue but a pretty unpopular signing nonetheless.

football last night

The kind of game that makes you question your sanity for bothering with it all, humped out of cup to lower league opposition at home displaying all the resilience of a patch of snow with grit thrown on top of it, melted away with minimal resistance. It was almost a certainty, every other time we have a half decent draw in the next round of the cup waiting for us we have blown it is as well I shouldn't be surprised.

Football tales

Is there a worse thing in the beautiful game than getting whacked in the nadgers with the ball? Three times now in the last 6 weeks I've been hit in the most delicate of areas, one time so hard I was felled to the ground. Given I play football at least twice a week, usually three times and very occasionallly four times you might think it's part and parcel but I can't honestly remember such regualarity of ball bashings ever. I would go back years to the last time I was unfortunate enough to get hit even once and it has been on the same monday night fives each time. Indeed and I might be mistaken but it's close to every second week over the last six weeks or so. If it happens again in a fortnight I'm gonna have to start playing the other week when I'm not due to get hit in the plums.

On the plus side my 11's team has won it's last two games, after a rather nightmarish start to the season losing four out of the first five games. A 9-1 demolition of local rivals Airdrie was nice but no real boost as they are pretty rancid(apparently there manager jacked it right after the game, can't blame him getting gubbed so badly by our team on recent form) but on saturday there we went down to Ayr and won 4-2. We only had 11 players and considering we had slumped to a 6-1 home loss to them a few weeks prior it made for a hugely satisfying victory. Even more so as from 3-0 up at half time less than 10 minutes into the second half we were only 3-2 up but we held firm and grabbed a fourth to seal the win. Only downside for me was an Elphias Shivute(think Forrest Gump) moment running down the wing at pace and sort of forgetting to stop as a heavy touch meant i ran all the way out the park rather than as intended driving into heart of 18 yard box with only one defender to beat.

Glorious failure, it's been a while...

..since last we met. Having towards the end of the Craigie Broon era and almost the entirety of the Berti Voghts era been used to plain old failure the events of last saturday followed in the best traditions of Scottish football. We threw away a cheap goal, fought back level had the Italians on the ropes and then to rub salt in the wound a nonsense refereeing decision gave them the free kick from which they scored and undeserved winning goal.

It was only when I saw the highlights later that on that it dawned on me just how good a chance McFadden had to put us in front, in fairness he was havingto slide in on a stretch in soaking wet conditions but coming onto his stronger foot I'd have put my house on him turning it home. As it was a draw probably wouldn't have been enough but you can't help but think France might have buckled in Ukraine, Ukraine are a good team albeit with not a lot to play for against a team of Frances undoubted class only needing a point. Though if that late goal had been an Italian equaliser rather than a winner it would be infinitely more frustrating and the sense of injustice doesn't bare thinking about.

As for injustice I try to resist the forces of paranoia but some of the decisions that didn't go our way over the last three qualifiers beggar belief. Forgetting the ukraine game as we won anyway and we also got a bit lucky with a decision ourselves the stonewall penalty we were denied in Georgia looks to have proven the most costly. Though we didn't really merit much from that game and you can't argue that the best two teams haven't went through.

Where did it go wrong. I think away games in Ukraine and Georgia are the ones we can't entirely say no regrets, or we did our best. I think in the Ukraine we were far to negative, now maybe they just outplayed us on the day they are as I said a good team but their biggest weakness is a slightly dodgy defence. We needed to show more ambition, from what I remember we started on the back foot and played for the draw. Ukraine are good but no Italy or France and in Italy we had a go and were unlucky to an extent.

As for the Georgia game alhough not helped by injury and suspension problems we got suckered into believing they were going to be a soft touch, they did field two 17 year olds and one 16 year old and trumpeted this fact in the build up. We went 4-4-2 and flung in an unfit Darren Fletcher who toiled noticeably, in hindsight we should stuck with the 4-5-1 formation with couple of the midfielders given licence to get forward and said you come on and break us down and we'll try and nick one. As even now one more gleaned point would still give us that fraction of hope for Ukraine doing us a favour. As it was all three Georgian youngsters played well, the striker and creative mid very well and we despite the stonewall pen denied and a couple other decent chances missed were largely frustrated and outplayed on the night.

Still no point getting to down in the mouth, relatively speaking we are still resurgent, most of the squad has their best years in front of them and we'll be in pot 2 for the forthcoming World Cup qualifying draw. Only downside is I think only group winners go through but it should make a play off a reasonable target rather than a hopeful dream and least an outside chance of winning group.

Scotland

Come 5pm on saturday it'll be a cup final atmosphere, after months of triumph and occasional tribulation it is all coming down to one game. If we win we go through if don't then we well probably don't but like England qualification for the Euro 2008 finals would be out of our hands.

Needless to say even getting this far is some achivement and if our slightly over arrogant neighbours down south had down so well in such circumstances they wouldn't be getting half the stick they will get should they fail to qualify themselves. If we don't make it then it is because we've been pipped at the last by two of Europe's and the worlds best footballing teams in France and Italy.

We have just to beat Italy on our own patch to upset the odds and knock out the current World Cup holders. A team expert at digging out results when it needs them we can but hope we play out of our skins and they fall short of their best and with luck histroy will repeat itself as the previous time Italy won the World Cup in 1982 they then failed to qualify for the European Championship finals in 1984.

We haven't been at a major finals since 1998, having prior to that not missed a WC finals between 1974 and 1990 and making the Europeans also in 1992 and 1996. Ok we haven't ever done all that well when we got there but this time more than any just getting there will be as great an achievement for the Scottish National team as anything in it's history. I've everything crossed we can do it, we have a no bad team that are playing with believe and with guts. One more push and they can look forward to lifting Scottish football right out the doldrums and finally putting to rest the fact that we've never gotten past a group stage at a major finals.

Just so long as we get there though everyone will be happy.

I wanna play football soccer....

...football soccer the greatest game of all.

That is the main lyric of the cheesiest song I have ever heard in my life, it plays a lot in the menu screens of the latest Pro Evolution Soccer incarnation. I fear it may slowly drive me mad over the next 12 months, if anyone spots me singing it just shoot me no warnings it would be a mercy.

Anyone that knows me will know of my love of the Pro Evolution Soccer series of football games. I have been playing since it was International Superstar Soccer Pro on the original Playstation. I didn't buy the SNES versions which I believe were meant to be pretty good. Anyway PES 2008 is out and I've been play the X-Box 360 version with added glossy shiny next gen trimmings.

I have some reservations, yes initial impression is that the main game is true to the spirit of the series and that is one of the most important things. I'm still getting to grips with using a 360 controller over the PS2 one, but I can't help think it's a little rough around the edges. The much trumpeted improved AI I don't see many signs of yet, how it interprets some passing options is a bit shaky. Not dreadful, it is possibly just that one has to take even more care to things like your players body shape and what foot he is using than before and that when fully acclimatised to the new version these things will not happen. There is still a lot of promise and it is infinately better than the bodged 360 version of PES6 which I had the misfortune to even play at all.

Other less important but still annoying grips include the editing system, it is quite frankly poor. In theory the amount one can shape the players face should allow great flexibility but in reality I find a lot of the players just end up looking rather similar. In previous versions one could use this build face option or choose one of many different stocked images. It was fairly easy usually to find someone that looked a bit like who you were trying to imitate and get a reasonable likeness. What would be ideal would be allowing ayou to choose from a list of templates and then aloowing you to use the tools provided to tweak these images into something a bit closer to desired effect.

The choice of templates for strips is also smaller, about 12 basic designs to choose from. To edit in a Motherwell team I had to use something that was like a 1950's throwback. That said the abilty to scan in images and use them could drasticaly improve this aspect, I haven't yet investigated how to utilise this side of the editing process.

The harshness of some of the referees is also beyond a joke, cards a flying for next to nothing. Red cards for slightly late challenges with player in corner. The new dive option I approve of as it is part of the game but ref books you for it 95% of the time, which I would object to if real refs were only so consistent. But in reality play should just be waved on more often. You can't seem to choose the referee and the number of stadiums seems to have been reduced. Like the classic teams maybe more can be unlocked as you achieve success in cups, but the PES shop has been done away with for straightforward rewarding of success.

Every new one takes some time to get used to and it is more positive than negative so far, I'm sure once mastered the game a bit better these minor niggles will seem trivial. One improvement is the replays seem to be a touch longer incorporating just that bit more of the build up to goals. Mind you on the downside the first showing of any replay is strangely jerky and annoying, only for goals once you get to the bit where you can control it can you truly enjoy the repeat of your masterful play.

Some days it is just not your day...

...and playing football last saturday proved it.

It is a bit of a transitional period for Fir Park Corner at the present, a few players have left and a few new ones have joined. Mostly without any great loss in quality, although our first choice keeper and pacy striker have been sorely missed. Arguably wee joe our nippy forward hadn't been at his absolute best the past season but his speed was phenominal and he was always a handful. Farmer our keeper also kept us in many a game so it is no real surprise we are struggling a bit.

Saturdays result was truly dismal though, a 6-1 reverse to an in form Ayr team that we'd thrashed not but a couple of months previously. First goal we lost had a hint of offfside but not one you could complain about greatly with no linesman you tend to benefit from marginal decisions at least as much as suffer from them, and it was a reasonably well worked move. Second goal however was a lack of marking at a free kick. We then pulled one back with a very tidy goal ourselves, a good through ball from our left back and composure in box from midfielder who'd got on the end of it. We then got hit by the sucker punch counter as we pushed for the equaliser. In at half time 3-1 down but by no means feeling like we were out the game.

We started the second half fairly well but we lacked a cutting edge up front and itcame back to haunt us as a very definately offside looking goal left us 4-1 down and looking out of it. Still we kept plugging away and looked to have pulled another back from a good header from a inswinging free kick only for it to be ruled offside. For once I can say with certainty it absolutely wasn't as I was right in line with our scorer and had watched both our runs in behind the defence after the ball was struck. This was the moment that probably ended our slim chance of getting something. A fifth on the breakaway which I have to hold my hand up to giving away possession, I had the chance to have a shot from the edge of the box and at 4-1 down I cna't for life of me think why I didn't but as I received the ball I saw a run from a forward in good position and tried to dink it into his path, didn't hit it cleanly and a defender lunging to block an expected shot deflected it away and they romped clear to score. Soon after this I had to limp off, my old boots were more worn out than I thought and the studs on my left boot had started poking through my insole and cut into sole of my foot and had been getting worse as game went on. I still managed to see a comedy moment as useless fat defender kicked the ball to opposition striker for an easy sixth to pile on the humiliation. By this time it was only pride that was taking a beating now.

League is already a write off for this season, in terms of any hopes of winning it after being runner up last two seasons it's all but getting a settled team and building for the next couple. Our new additions if we can get them all playing regularly will soon get us back to level we were, it's just not going to be to easy in the short term it seems.

Back from holiday again

Hence the complete lack of postings lately. Good time had, fortunate timing in that football wise I missed Motherwell getting beat and returned in time for Scotlands win over the Ukraine. Weather was about perfect hot but not unbearable during the day and warm/cool at night.

Didn't do a whole lot, chilled out at pool/beach and read some books. I'll maybe list the books later.

Was back in time for headlines about how the tories are now anything up to 9 points ahead in the opinion polls. Not that I care greatly I find both major parties little more than different puppets on the different hands of the same person. But the swing apparently from a couple of weeks earlier is well into double figures. I like to think I'm quite open minded, flexible to new ideas and so on but what sort of idiots are continually changing their minds about which party they'll apparently vote for with such ease given the recent swings to and fro.

I find it almost impossible to believe the tories have changed at all, compassionate conservatism my arse. If David Cameron whilst touting his green credentials had the remotest sincerity about them he wouldn't have been on a private jet or whatever to head north up to the artic or wherever he went for the photo op about to show concerned he was over global warming and he wouldn't have chosen to cycle to work whilst having his suitcase and papers and what not driven behind him in a big car.

And New Labour is hardly any better so sorry if Iwasn't on the edge of my seat over the will there won't there be an election, what difference will it make? Not a fucking lot would be the answer. It's the differnece between getting mugged and left shaken and getting mugged and the mugger being kind enough to at least hand back enough for bus fare home.

and as for the Lib Dems I did vote for them last election, and they've been sliding in the polls. Is it the fault of the now ex leader Menzies Campbell, well maybe but I can't say I've noticed a whole deal of difference between him and any of the previous two in that relatively speaking politically completely anonymous. As the third party with nil chance of power they only get headlines if they are infighting and/or the other two are having a relatively quiet time, or when one of them appears in public with a cheeky girl. But to be honest Charles Kennedy and Paddy Ashdown may well give a better account of themselves in parliament, not that many people watch that but well you really only heard about them for respective drink problems and extra marital affairs, unless the name Paddy pants down came about for some other reason. It seems so far back in mists of time now that I'm assuming that's how that nickname came about.

Truly sickening...

...just got wind of this petition in an email. Sheffield Wednesday are suing there own fans!

Stunned

I spent most of last night and this morning making odd sighing noises of surprise and bewilderment at the superb result last night. It's hard to get my head round, I don't think I've ever witnessed Scotland do something as incredible as winning a meaningful qualifier against a team as good as the French in their own backyard.

To be honest we're still miles away from qualifying, but if we do keep it going and make it to the finals you have to say whiles it's been a hell of an achievement just to get there if we can get there from this group you have to believe that the team is capable of winning the whole fucking tournament. I'd caution against silly season optimisim but if and it's still a big if, if we get there I'd hope the players believe in themselves and do themselves justice. Look at what Greece managed at the last one.

I'd still happily settle for us just getting there and doing our usual out after the group stages, certainly if we get a decent WC qualifying group to look forward to after.

Racism rears it's ugly head

Although from talking to people and perusing messageboards about the only bugger who heard it was the steward who reported it. It's the second time this calender year as well we've had these sort of allegations and it's a total red neck.

The first time was a bit more clearcut, in a cup game against St. Johnstone a section in the Main stand were quite clearly heard, this section of fans were of the sort that don't wear any colours and prefer Burberry and Stone Island attire. They were so obvious and yet the stewards and police chose to do fuck all about it.

This time it's emanated from the Main stand again, although the source seems to be one of the more regular patrons. I don't know if anyone was singled out, but if the steward heard it he must have a fair idea of where it came from as it certainly wasn't from a large body of people.

We all now get tarred with the same brush whilst any muppet in a crowd of well several would be pushing it but a few thousands can make the rest look like complete fucking dicks.

On a lighter note though, I did hear what sounded like a potential racial slur last night, however it was either proof that the racist mindset truly is thick or a rather off the wall attempt at humour. A Hearts player lying prostrate and timewasting as we are chasing the game is targeted with the following abuse, "Away back to the country you came from," rather shocked look about at this seemingly racist outburst only to see that it's being aimed at Scottish internationalist Robbie Neilson. He does look a bit like Greystokes Lord of the Jungle but even so the shout seemed beyond surreal.

In answer to my last post...

...two goals in the last 5 minutes says it can, superb!!

So it wasn't a demolition job but more positives than negatives so far. We'll do better this season than last that is for sure, just a matter of by how much. Top 6 or better be hard work and require a good dose of good fortune. 7th is my current prediction, could still use a couple of new faces.

So far so good...

...can it continue?

With largely the same bunch of haddies as last season we won first game of the season with an organsied display that was night and day compared to the performances at the same ground the previous season. Looked significantly fitter, more organised and willing to play football through the midfield passing the ball about and not treating it like a hot tattie and hoofing it into corners.

Long way to go to proof of having turned the corner but initial signs are good. Tomorrows game at home to ICT will be another good measure of how we are doing. They have traditionaly been awkward opponets for us at Fir Park, something like 1 win in 6 visits for ourselves. They tend to be big, pyhysical, in your face, sit back and try and hit you on the break. If we can dictate the game and come away with 3 points tomorrow and I'll be more than willing to believe we can be top 6 material this season, with a bit of luck and certainly not likely to be in any sort of relegation mire.

I suspect unless some more new recruits can be brought in 7 or 8th will be more likely but we should a least be contesting it until the death. A couple of good cup runs would also more than make for a good season.

Sectarinism in Scottish football.

I think we can agree that it tends to revolve around Rangers and Celtic. Yes I have seen a notable section of Hearts fans sign sectarian pish. I hear Killie fans sing a version of Hallo Hallo, although to be honest if they sign the phrase 'up to their knees in fenion blood' I couldn't be 100% certain. I have heard Motherwell fans in the past sing that, though not in at least ten years.

These two clubs are the ones that are most predominately associated with being a protestant and a catholic club respectively. Times they may be a changing and on the whole large sections of their support might be putting a lot of that hatred behind them. I dunno, incidents in hospitals on evenings of old firm games say there is still a considerable problem.

But with regards to latest controversy about singing of certain songs which are deemed offensive. Surely it is not any problem to deal with that? With police, stewards, CCTV and many fans willing to stand up and say that certain individual and groups are singing offensive songs why is it not the simplest procedure to have them banned?

50/60000 fans watch these two clubs week in week out, every match they play in Scotland is an all ticket affair. At games away from home where it's generally conceded the worst elements seem to come out there is generally more demand than there are seats available. Both clubs as far as I know have a balloting system, they hold the details of fans and supporters associations who recieve tickets or certainly could. Should their fans step out of line it should be a simple matter to track who purchased the ticket and ban them, for life if they should be a repeat offender.

If both clubs are serious about the problem of sectarianism within their support, a problem which is more than just a problem for two football clubs to deal with, rather than just paying it lip service they should be doing exactly this.

Football tonight

First game in three weeks tonight. Had a really good time on holiday but it's not exactly a good time to run around chasing a ball when a cool day is still 35 degree heat. So rather than get the holiday blues I look towards the positive and biggest one is being able to play football of an evening. 7 aside game tonight outdoors, it's a warm evening by Scottish standards but a bit overcast the now with chance of rain**, nigh on perfect conditions. Had a wee work out at the gym yesterday and felt quite good, so hopefully I'll not be blowing out my arse after ten minutes :-)

Also I renewed my season ticket today, am cautiously optimistic about the new season ahead. It's a strange thing I find loyalty to a football club, theres not a lot of sense in it at times. So I tried to think about why I do it and why it should matter so. Reasons I could think of are as follows.

1. I like football.
2. I am not good enough to play it at a professional level(loooooooow end of the amateur game)
3. I like to watch people that are good at it playing football (there is something of a contradiction there given team I support)
4. I was taken to watch Motherwell as a young lad.
5. I went with and still go with friends(albeit different ones now), so there is a social aspect.
6. Tribal affiliation. Whilst not madly proud of my wee part of the world where I live, I very much define myself by what I'm not(a glory hunting follower of the bigot brothers)
7. A small part mental illness. Shared I might add with majority of football fans.
8. It's more than just something to do. Sure it can fill a saturday but so could a good lunch and a visit to the pictures for about the same price. But it beats sitting about house all day when the weather is pish. Probably the best argument for winter football as lets face it our rare nice days in summer be somewhat wasted watching the SPL or lower leagues.
9. Probably related to the mental illess point but a good result/performance does strangely make you feel better.*

* There is a Bill Hicks comment about how people liked the Gulf War back in the early 90's as it made them feel better about themselves. He suggested a bit of exercise and a better diet. I can't hep think that the mental effect of seeing you football team of choice win is no more admirable than a sense of wellbeing as your armed forces routing a foreign enemy. My diets not bad and I do exercise already, I don't think he had any more suggestions either.
** As I write this eh it has started dumping down with rain. heavens opened style! It has slowed to just torrential now. I don't mind playing in it but I do hope it stops long enough to at least get there dry.

Baws

Last game of football for a while and had a bit of a mare. A bad start when I realised I had left my usual shinpads and boots elsewhere and had to make do with my mouldies. I don't like them on a hard astroturf surface, feel like tottering on high heels until you get used to them again and it is easier to go over on ankle. And with no shinpads for last game before holiday not ideal. Didn't stop me going in hard on guys twice my size so I can't say that had an effect. When you start playing like you are trying not to get hurt is when you'll most likely get hurt so I don't believe in being timid, well with the odd excemption of jumping out the way like a girlie when a well struck shot is heading my way about face height.

What did have an effect was that I felt my dinner churning about for at least half the game, not good. I had it my usual time, no idea why I felt it. A few heavy touches early on hit the confidence before a fine first time oppurtunistic strike flew into the net to at least help salvage some dignity. I did have some other positive contributions, including help set up a couple of goals and the odd decent defensive block but it was very much an off night. Timing and touch were off, generally sluggish.

On the plus side it was 6 v 7 and despite being below par and in the team of 6 we won by about 3 goals in the end. My team mates must have been on their game tonight, thank god mondays game of 5's was considerably better or I'd be off on holiday in a state of anxiety about my poor form. Not being a naturally gifted player confidence is a big thing and when you have it you are ten times the player than when you start doubting yourself. Still I'll be hitting the gym tomorrow and that will make me feel a bit better, though it's hardly enjoyable. Feeling in quite good shape lately so not managing to bring out a bit more tonight was doubly disappointing.

Mark McGhee

I had almost forgotten to comment on our new manager.

Well as you know I wasn't to pleased we sacked our old manager, albeit he was close to the last chance saloon even for me. Whats done is done and we move on. So what do I think of the new man?

Basicaly I'm about as happy with this appointment as I have been with any manager, in fact definately more so. I liked big Terry Butcher but he had to win me and the rest of hte support over. Every other manager we've appointed I have had reservations with. Alex McLiesh, Billy Davies and Eric Black were inexperienced, first jobs as manager and the first two hadn't even coached and well it showed. I still don't rate Eck but both of them have went onto bigger things but they either didn't make enough of what they had(Davies) or they ruined the best Motherwell team I've ever seen(McLiesh). Of the rest Kampman was an unknown quantity and Malpas as former assistant manager followed in the tradition of 90% of former assistants and didn't seme to manage to put his own stamp on the job.

Of the names linked with the job most none had the experience of McGhee, Owen Coyle seems to be doing ok with St. Johnstone but his first job and not really done anything. Gary McAllister an ex Well player again little management experience, Luc Nijholt also not got that much experience though as a former hero at Fir Park had the most emotional pull. Outside names were a return after 9 years out of club management for Tommy McLean and Joe Miller. The latter gave me nightmares at the prospect.

Early bullish talk andsigning targets linked with McGhee is all encouraging, the general support seems lifted and there is a small buzz about the place. Which if some decent signings(on paper at least) fall into place soon will soon turn into almost electric atmosphere given the sense of relief most people feel towards the change.

But I know better than to get carried away. So far we have one concrete new face in and while on paper Simon Mensing as a big physical centre mid isn't a bad idea as we have been notroiously lightweight in that area, he's not going to suddenly make us a force to be reckoned. We still need a good 4 or 5 new faces in to give the squad a boost. Although it does seem like with a new man in charge a lot of seemingly jaded players might have some impressing to do.

So on the whole, optimism is in the air I hope it lasts beyond the first couple of games of the new season.

All time greats....

This next post might just prove to people that I clearly have to much time on my hands. As a huge fan of Pro Evolution Soccer series I tend to do a degree of editing. The games biggest weakness in relation to say the FIFA series of games is its limited licsencing regarding real teams and players. It's improved now but if I want to play as Motherwell I need to put them in myself, this I do as a matter of course every year.

What I do like though and I don't know if FIFA has this as well is that it has Classic teams, Brazil, Argetina, Holland, Italy, Germany, France and England teams comprised of legends, Pele, Maradona, Cruyff, Beckenbauer et al. Again the names are a bit mangled and it takes a fair bit of work to work out who is who. But I like to fix it so they have their real names. I edit in a Classic Motherwell team as well so I can play with Tommy Coyne, Dougie Arnott, Willie Pettigrew, Davie Cooper and others. Though given the other classic teams are international teams I finally got round the other day to do a Classic Scotland. Team is as follows:-

Jim Leighton

Sandy Jardine Colin Hendry Alan Hansen Danny McGrain

Jimmy Johnstone Billy Bremner Graeme Souness Jim Baxter

Denis Law Kenny Dalglish

With another full XI of reserves including Willie Miller, Alex McLiesh, Davie Cooper, Archie Gemmell, Joe Jordan, Asa Hartford, Maurice Malpas, Tom Boyd, Gary McAllister, Eric Caldow, Andy Goram, Ally McCoist.

That to me looks like a no half bad team, though I was a bit unsure about the right backs. I couldn't think of a truly outstanding candidate I was familiar with. Indeed a few choices were obviously based on reputation. Is there a better Scotland team than the one above?

For my next edit I fancy doing a rest of the World XI, fae relatively wee nations not given a classic team of their own, likes of Eusebio, Hagi, Michael Laudrup, Stoichkov, Valderama, Puskas, Best and so on. Anyone can think of world class full backs in particular from relatively diddy nations I'd like to know of them.