FOOTBALL GENERALLY

[brian f]

Have you noticed football managers spit a lot and at the same time keep putting hands in pocket.

I'm thinking Benson and Hedges, Embassy Regal.?

[Penny Tray]

Brian,

This is the theory for players. I'm not sure it excuses the managers in respect of whom it might just be a bad habit.

"Footballers, among other athletes, are often seen spitting on the field during a game, GOAL explains the reasons behind it.

Football fans are notorious when it comes to noticing details about their favorite footballers. As such one must have often noticed players spitting on the field during a match. Almost every single player does it and quite frequently too but why?

There seems to be a multifold reason behind it, from scientific to performance building, GOAL explores the factors behind it.

According to BBC Science Focus, exercise increases the amount of protein that is secreted into the saliva, specifically a kind of mucus called MUC5B. This mucus is responsible for making the saliva thicker, thus making it harder to swallow, so the natural response is to spit it out."

[brian f]

Penny Tray

Consider changing the thread to SPORT generally.. as we now have to condense.

The rugby Autumn internationals have been brilliant to watch .. The darts, Mr Tyson and no doubt much more talking points to come.

[Penny Tray]

Brian,

Feel free. I'm never precious about any topic I've raised straying or developing in a different guise. I'm just delighted to see someone posting, and, as you say, there's a lot going on at the moment. Personally, however, I'm likely to stick to what I know about .

[brian f]

That's fine Penny Tray

Good luck to Scotland away to Poland tonight in the UEFA Nations League. Though I still do struggle to understand this competition.

Another thing..The England games were on STV is that correct? and the Scotland games are on You Tube. The mind boggles.

[Penny Tray]

That's fine Penny Tray

Another thing. The England games were on STV is that correct? and the Scotland games are on You Tube. The mind boggles.

Brian,

I think I've seen all England's games on SCOTTISH TELEVISION, including last night's against Ireland, and none of Scotland's. Something's not right.

[brian f]

WoW
Poland 1 2 Scotland

I can't remember watching Scotland when they had so many chances,scoring early then hitting the bar and the post in an entertaining first half.The commentator kept informing us how big that pitch was? Maybe that was the reason the second half fizzled out a bit until injury time when Andy Robertson scored a well deserved winner.A draw is taking place on Friday morning when Scotland will find out the opposition for some sort of play off to keep us in a higher league?

Finally, Well done to North Ayrshire for providing Billy Gilmour, Steve Clarke and young Ben Doak in a great win!!

[Penny Tray]

What a prospect Ben Doak is. It's a long time since I've seen a young Scot with such footballing promise. He also interviews well for such a young man.

Saltcoats has laid claim to Steve Clarke, the manager; Ardrossan (and Stevenston through parentage) to Billy Gilmour, and Dalry to Ben Doak whose mother, father, or grandparents might, I hope, hail from one of the Threetowns

[bonzo]

That was just a great game of football last night, end to end. I'm glad lewandowski wasn't fit as I'm sure he'd have sunk a few of Polands chances.
Doak is a really exciting player, he will terrorise defenders, I read he was bought by Liverpool as the longterm replacement for Sala.
I've been in that stadium a couple of times and the playing surface is huge. Happy hunting ground for us, I think we've had 2 wins and a draw since it opened.

[brian f]

dailyrecord




Scotland have been drawn to face Greece in their bid for UEFA Nations League A survival.

Steve Clarke's men will head to Athens to play Ivan Jovanović's side on Thursday, March 20, 2025 before they host the Greeks at Hampden Park on Sunday, March 23. Greece finished second in a group containing England, on head-to-head goal difference only, and showed how much of a threat they can be after their historic 2-1 win at Wembley last month. Scotland will also be confident after earning seven points from their last three Nations League games, including wins against Croatia and Poland.

In the other League A vs League B play off games, Turkiye face Hungary, while Ukraine take on Belgium and Austria will play Serbia. The Republic of Ireland, meanwhile, will face Bulgaria in their League B vs League C play off.

The Scots will look to stay in with the continent's big boys and can now also look forward to the World Cup qualifying draw in Zurich next month when the long road to to USA, Canada and Mexico begins.

[brian f]

What a joy it was to watch Tottenham Hotspur thrash Man City at the Etihad Stadium 4-0 yesterday.That's five in a row games City have lost now.Everybody is talking about Rodri out through a bad injury but does one man make a team. Maybe Pip should not have sold Palmer to Chelsea and Foden is not the same player as last year? But we'll done to Ange ...Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea should send him a case of best Aussie wine.

Talking about the Aussies, Scotland take them on at Rugby this afternoon and are odds on to beat them.Don't get me wrong I hope Scotland win though I don't think the odds are generous as I watched an impressive Aussie team beat England recently.

[Penny Tray]

I also watched the Manchester City/Tottenham Hotspur match, and shared your joy. A great game.

I'm not a big fan of Pep Guardiola. He's far too intense for me. Some say he's the best manager ever, but if I managed a series of teams which were all in the mega-rich category, with the best players in the world at my disposal, who knows . I wonder if he would have made it via East Stirling, St. Mirren, and Aberdeen, like Sir Alex Ferguson did before continuing to excel at Manchester United.

Unless I'm mistaken, Sir Alex's collection of modest Aberdeen players remain the last team to beat the mighty Real Madrid in a major final - and that was over 40 years ago. That victory still makes me shake my head in astonishment.