3 belgians fans went to Armenia, one with the team and 2 travelled independantly

there is a further aspect to the scotland tickets allocation.

there exists a phenomena of "points harvesters". fans who apply for tickets at away games, then dont travel, instead passing on the allocated ticket, but bagging the points and improving their points rating, enabling them to get priority tickets for the next glamour tie.

to counter this, the SFA now request proof of travel (airline stubbs, hotel receipts etc) before allocating points. indeed at some away games, the member has to turn up in person, at the ground in the days/hours before the game - with their passport - to collect tickets (and the all important points).

just think how much demand we could generate if we had a winning team...

"just think how much demand we could generate if we had a winning team..."

Personally I don't see that a winning team matters that much to the travelling "Tartan Army". Their willingness to applaud losing teams to the rafters has, in my view anyway, been a contributory factor in allowing the acceptance of mediocrity. I'm not saying they need to get on the team's collective back but they need to learn to slip quietly out of a stadium with 5 minutes left of a dour defeat. It is the respectful way to send the message to the players. To many fans it seems that being the Tartan Army is enough. It has become about them as much as the team. Partly (just partly) why the team is crap.

i agree and think (or maybe I hope) that the longer the barren run of non-qualification goes on, the more match-attending supporters will tire of mediocrity. Certainly I wasnt the only one storming out of the Amsterdam Arena last year immediately following the third dutch goal on the basis that "i'm not here to stand by, watching us collapse to another embarrassing defeat".

there should always be a balance in life, and there is some merit in staying to applaud your team's efforts. however, the burley team wasnt fit to lace the boots of the mcleish team of 2 years previously, despite being comprised of essentially the same players.

Just to say I like the cartoon.

anyone who has been to a scotland away game (kbmac clearly not) would be able to attest that mediocrity is hardly applauded to the rafters. the TA are among the biggest crtitcs of managers and the team. maybe we dont boo and leave early - but then i suppose our best players dont tell the fans where to go directly into the camera after the game.

as for leaving early - at most away games (including lithuania) you weren't allowed to!

you couldn't have written it really. wish i had left before the end tonight kbmac.

Sammy

You are correct that my impressions of the Tartan Army are not first hand impressions as I have not been a travelling supporter for many, many years and it is generally difficult to get tickets for good matches at Hampden although I do go to some home games when I can. I admit to being an armchair critic so any views I express can be treated as such. (My 16 y.o. son is heartily sick of listening to my moaning about the national team. He hopes to make his travelling debut with the TA this campaign with two of his older cousins if he can get a ticket.) I am happy to be corrected in this instance and hopefully always. It is the impression that TV tends to convey.

As for last night the late winner was welcome if undeserved. My contact at the game said he was in too dark a place to celebrate. Craig Levein clearly not so. Onwards and upwards.