I see the England band might be in trouble for accompanying the fans in anti IRA chants last night. Fine - just a shame they didn't do something to them years ago on the grounds of being a nuisance.
Actually, I quite like Flower of Scotland. It winds England teams up no end. I don't know if England's footballers were inspired by its offensive, racist lyrics but I know that if I'd been in that line up last night, it would have given me even greater gee-up to stick one to the Jocks. Of course, professional sportsmen shouldn't need that sort of motivation to give of their best, but anything that encourages an extra one or two percent to the performance is welcome. Flower of Scotland achieves that and more, I reckon. On February 14 next year, Scotland's rugby union team will come to Twickenham for the Calcutta Cup match. No doubt the Scottish players and fans will sing Flower of Scotland with gusto and the England players will listen intently to phrases like "Proud Edward"...... "Sent them homeward".... "to think again"..... I hope it needles them. I hope it totally pisses them off. England's rugby team aren't doing too well at the moment, but they've got a pretty good record against the Scots at HQ. Scotland have only recorded four wins since the fixture moved there in 1911. Adopting THAT song as their national anthem isn't likely to enhance their chances of making it five. If results since 1985 are anything to go by, it will most likely be the Scots who are sent homewards to think again.
I only seen the second half, but we can play better than that. We did play well in small patches, Roberston's goal for example, to which England had no answer. Robbo sycthed them on his own (assist from Russell?) Under Strachan we're trying to play by stroking the ball rather than hefting it up to the front. We're getting better at it. Not our best game under Strachan, but has to be said we got pumped. Any thoughts that the England side were not up for this friendly have been shot down in flames. They were well up for it and wanted it. They got it. Fair dues.
I'd be very surprised if a single player in the England football squad had a clue what Flower of Scotland is about*. *Except maybe the goalie who plays for Taig FC.
*about sending them (English) homeward (to England) to have a bit of a rethink about their (English) occupation of a region where flowers grew (Scotland) That's ma guess. Even back then the "no voters" were sookin English cock and spunking over Westminster's petticoat.
As I said at the time: the scotch pulled it back to 1-2 and were 16-1 to win, I had a punt on that. The system does accomodate the odd momentum based wager.
You know what it's about, I know what it's about but do you or anyone else think that Rooney, Wilshere, Welbeck, etc would know?