Get back... get back... get back to where you once belonged.

Sooooo, it's been altogether far too long. Or not long enough, depending on your viewpoint. The last four months have been eventful, that's for sure. Two holidays, a new xbox, a summer with no football, a new season of fantasy football and much much more has transpired since the last post in April. I'll be back blogging regularly again so do stay tuned for my usual mix of random thoughts on stuff what does interest me.

First up. Scotland vs Holland tonight at Hampden in World Cup Qualifying. A win is almost certainly required if we are to secure a play-off spot. The country is buzzing again after a decent second-half display against a not bad Macedonia side and whilst victory over the Dutch might be somewhat far-fetched given that they are ranked 3rd in the world at the moment but stranger things have happened in football and especially to the Scottish national team so we shall see. It's a huge blow not to have the talismanic McFadden available after the yellow card debacle just before half time on Saturday and one does wonder who amidst the side can cause problems for the Dutch defence. We shall see... 'Mon the Scotland!

In other news, today sees the release of Beatles Rock Band and I have to say I am wetting my pants in anticipation. Plastic instrument-based karaoke has never been so good! :) I expect to spend a lot of my free time with this for the foreseeable...

Britain's got (some) talent

Right. I don't watch much TV, let's get that down right from the get-go. It's mainly because most of the stuff on there is utter tripe but also partly because I prefer my entertainment to be much more interactive than sitting there just absorbing what you're given. If I had my way, I wouldn't even have a TV in the house, so much do I dislike the damn thing. Other than to relay the images from your games console, they really are the devil's devices. OK, a bit harsh perhaps but you get the idea.

There are a few programmes, however, which inexplicably draw me in. I can probably count them on one hand. One in particular, however, utterly fascinates me and I can't quite put my finger on why. It's Britain's Got Talent. Now, I normally detest these types of shows, your X-Factor and pop Idol types, with a passion. This one however, I just cant stop watching. Perhaps it's the car-crash potential. When you see someone like The Singing Souls it's like you just have to rubber-neck. There's something deeply psychologically wrong about it all...

Of course, the producers know how to emotionalise pretty much anything through the magical forces of music and editing but I have to confess even this steely Scotsman was dabbing at his eyes when I heard Susan Boyle, or even the little guy from this week's episode. Inexplicable, I say! What despicable forces are at work here? I would also like to point out that the whole "oops I picked the wrong song" bit from the little kid is staged without a doubt. Still, cracking voice though.

Of course, the highlight of Saturday's show, for me, was undoubtedly Darth Jackson. This was that weird combination of a complete car-crash, cringeworthy moment followed by hilarity as he breaks in to part 2 of his routine. I shall leave you with a video to remember him by. Can't wait to see what he does in the next round. HOW did he get through exactly?? I wonder what he planned for part 3 that he is so peeved about at the end. "Who's Bad"??

Embedding disabled on this one, so clicky!

Roll on next week.

Some people are on the pitch...

Scotland 2, Iceland 1. Not amazingly convincing but it really is the result that counts at the moment. Job done. I think qualifying for the Finals is still something of a long shot because if you look at some of the teams currently in second place in the other groups... Well, let's just say, I wouldn't fancy our chances over 2 legs against too many of them... We don't play another competitive international now until August so attentions can once again turn to domestic matters (and fantasy matters!)

Big week in fantasy land. Only 8 rounds of fixtures left and following the disaster I had last time (curse you Gerrard and curse you no clean sheets for Man Utd and Chelsea) I find myself again with a lot of ground to make up. I've studied the fixture list quite extensively looking for opportunities to milk every last point I can in this run-in so hopefully I can make it back into 4th (or even 3rd) before the end.

The 'Well are at home to Aberdeen tomorrow in what is yet another must-win game. With Dundee Utd and Hibs facing each other at Tannadice (draw please!) it's a chance to move into the top 6 again and close the gap to the European places in preparation for the split. Hopefully McGhee has had the lads working hard this week as not too many of them will have been off on international duty (Clarkson is the only one I can think of off the top of my head, as Craigan didn't figure for Northern Ireland due to an injury). 3 points please lads. Nothing less will do.

Shearer takes over at Newcastle. I have to say I really didn't see that coming. I mean, obviously if you cut him open his blood is black and white but he has always stated he'd move when the time was right, both for him and for Newcastle. I'm not so sure that time is now. We shall see. It's hard to imagine a club of the stature of Newcastle being relegated from the EPL but when you take a glance at their remaining opponents there's not much comfort to be found for the beleaguered Toon army. Can their next Messiah lead them out of danger?

Friday drinks tonight, undoubtedly, then more drinking tomorrow (in the name of charity) and a haircut on Sunday. Rock. On.

Played some of the new Rock Band DLC last night. A couple of tracks from Offspring (moar plx!) and Get Up (Sex Machine) by the godfather of soul. Funking it up with JB on Rock Band is pretty f'n cool!

Have a good weekend folks.

Massive night for Scotland

It transpired that last week's pessimism concerning Saturday's clash with Holland at the Amsterdam ArenA was absolutely justified and tonight Scotland welcome Iceland to Hampden in what is being billed by all and sundry as a 'must win' game. This is undoubtedly the case as failure to beat the men from the even more frozen north would send the good ship carrying Scotland's world cup qualification hopes crashing into an iceberg and ensure a frosty reception for manager George Burley in Thursday's press. 'Snow joke. I started out well behind Burley but every little new development is serving to drain my confidence of the man who took Hearts to the giddy heights of the SPL summit a few years ago (albeit temporarily) but now seems a little lost in the foothills of the national side. Fallouts with players, notably Kris Boyd, combine with poor results generally to make me somewhat concerned for the future under Burley's stewardship. I'm not sure of the ins and outs of the disciplinary action against McGregor and captain Ferguson but if nothing else it does show the players aren't being kept in control as well as you would like. One thing is for sure; failure to beat Iceland will mean a sharpening of knives amongst the Scottish media pack and to be honest, you wouldn't blame them.

There were reasons for optimism on display in Amsterdam. Ross McCormack was arguably Scotland's best player in his first start and his attacking flair will surely be a crucial part of what needs to be a positive approach to the match against a team we really should be opening up against, especially at home. Hutton and McManus look like they'll be back to shore up the defence and the Celtic stopper will need to contain the attacking prowess of Barcelona's Eidur Gudjohnsen if we're to get the clean sheet that I think we might need to win this match. The tartan army will fill the national stadium again and I really hope they get right behind the team right from the get go and don't get too impatient if we don't score early. I've seen it happen too many times and the jitters of the fans do sometimes filter through to the players which wont help anyone!

'Mon the Scotland!
Kick off 8pm, Sky Sports 2.

Homeward bound

Starting to really look forward to my trip home next week. I miss family and friends of course but it's the little things that you take for granted while you're there that can often be surprisingly important when they're gone. Take square sausage, for example. I used to munch one of these more or less every day. 2 for breakfast at the weekend. Sometimes with fried egg, sometimes with mushrooms, sometimes bacon or potato scone or black pudding, or even some unholy, heart-stopping combination of all of the above. It's no wonder the Scots have such unhealthy cardiology, generally, with crap like this on the menu. But damn! It tastes good. The picture above makes me laugh. It seems the garnish is designed to make it look a lot more fancy than it is!

Usually this is served up on a roll, preferably a Morton's roll. This slightly crispy, slightly chewy bread product is a million miles away from the "baps" we get down in the South. I can't wait to get into Glasgow off the 'plane and go buy one!

Just a shorty today as I'm storing all my bloggy goodness up for later. Ooh aren't you lucky!