Dear WSC
As one of the few people in Scotland, outside of Glasgow, still supporting my own club I feel I must display a hopeless bias against Rangers.It is about time they played in England, as I for one have had enough of them ruining Scotland’s reputation in Europe. As a country we are seen as having limited success with even more limited resources, but every year Rangers go out and make Europe think Scotland are shit. Having seen Hearts lose on away goals to Red Star Belgrade (who were one of the best teams in Europe a few years ago), Aberdeen go out after putting up a good fight (visits to Wales excepted) and Celtic not exactly disgrace the whole nation, we must watch Rangers get stuffed by any team that fancies a go, except Alania Vladikavkaz. Rangers were beaten by Juventus, Ajax, Auxerre and Grasshoppers of Zurich along with another few teams I can’t be bothered naming. Add this to their stunning 1-0 aggregate victory over the champions of Cyprus two years ago and it becomes obvious that Rangers lack the fighting spirit displayed by the Scots in Europe (remember Motherwell v Dortmund?).Secondly, what is this assumption that Rangers would automatically join the Premiership? Any team that plays Richard Gough, Stuart McCall, Erik Bo Anderson and Peter Van Vossen on a regular basis should be playing in the Second Division at best.
Graham DR Lee, Heriot-Watt University
The odd detractor (they're always odd) occasionally accuses WSC of devoting too much space to articles about obscure countries such as Outer Mongolia. This one's for them. Charles Philpott takes up the story
No account of Mongolia would be complete without a reference to Ghengis Khan. There, it’s out of the way now. For, when talking Mongolian football, there will be no story of Mongol hordes emerging out of the East to take the football world by storm, no parallels to the exploits of the Great Khan.
Footballers keep doing things that bother Matt Nation, but in the long term they'll thank him for pointing it out
In an attempt to outline just how difficult it is to be a footballer, Brian Clough once drew parallels between the respective lots of a cameraman and a centre forward. The cameraman, he reckoned, could spend an age perfecting his angles, positions and profiles, but then see the whole lot disappear down the toilet as a result of somebody deliberately knocking everything over just as he reaches for his clapperboard. Similarly, Cloughie’s number nine could spend an equal amount of time perfecting his shooting position (particularly if the number nine in question is Justin Fashanu) and then be brought down in one fell swoop by a carefully-aimed kick to the Achilles tendon.
Having expressed his fears about Derby's new home, Tony Davis returned to check on the progress so far
A crowd of 200 has gathered in foul weather on the edge of an industrial estate on the outskirts of Derby to watch an unveiling. The photographers snap away as the cord is pulled back, local councillors applaud and Rammy the Ram waves his mittens in the air. It’s the foundation stone for Derby County’s new stadium. Rising up in the distance are the framework of two stands, hastily erected to give the visitors something to look at. Owner Lionel Pickering, uncomfortable in the public glare, makes a terse speech matched by club captain Igor Stimac, suspended for that afternoon’s match, “This is to be an exciting time . . . it’s a new ground . . . let’s go and beat Middlesbrough.”
Richard Darn pays tribute to Bradford's HSG stand which would be even better if you could actually watch the game
Got a swish ground yet? New stands, dazzling snack bar menu, toilets with hand lotion? Well, if you’re an Arsenal or Manchester United supporter you’ll probably answer yes. But as a die-hard traditionalist watching my footie in the lower divisions you can keep your corporate-style entertainment and £20 admission fee and just give me a decent view of the game.