By Chris Wright

Just Sir Alex Ferguson and Falkirk striker Farid El Alagui sharing a moment outside what appears to be an air-raid shelter...

Pies says: "Sir Alex's smile begins to fade as a fifteenth consecutive game of 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' ends in a draw"

You say?

And then there were two Scotsmen! While we were still wrapped in all the controversy and tension from the Valencia fiasco it seems like the Timbers FO was able to quietly get the third designated player deal all wrapped up in a nice little package. In an abrupt press announcement today, the Timbers announced that Kris Boyd will join the team as the third designated player, joining the likes of the Los Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls as having used all three spots.

Falkirk face Celtic in a semi-final knowing that Kilmarnock lie in wait in the final.
It's the 1997 Scottish Cup all over again. History doesn't repeat itself, does it?
Mind you, Falkirk don't have the best of records in the league cup. They qualified for the second final back in 1947/48 and promptly lost 4-1 in a replay against Second Division East Fife.

"No, we're the underdogs."
Ayr v Kilmarnock. An Ayrshire derby in a league cup semi final and nobody wants to be favourites.
No surprise there. Derby games are different. Derby games in cups carry an extra weight. Make it a semi final and you've got a hell of a game on your hands.

A few drinks this evening and the chat got round to the Ayrshire derby being played out at Hampden tomorrow.
Ayr United v Kilmarnock.
An outing of Ayrshire's dirty linen at the national stadium. The Jerry Springer "I Married A Horse" episode writ large. An incestuous family feud settled in a national competition.

Dipping into the SPL for transfer targets is always a gamble and while a player's record may look good north of the border, moving into the premiership will always represent a tougher challenge. If you need any evidence of that, you could always contrast Gordon Durie's scoring ratio after he'd moved from White Hart Lane to Ibrox.

Another week spent dodging ever more dire warnings about the state of Scottish football.
This time everything's got a lot Grimmer with Aberdeen losing a lauded protégé to the mysterious land of riches that some people call England.
Highly rated youngster leaves Aberdeen area to chance his arm in England?

Fare ye weel, Davie Weir.
The Scottish Football Blog has often been facetious about the Methuselah of Scottish football.
Unfair that. Davie Weir was playing at the highest level in Scotland in his 40s and I'm often too lazy to play dominoes in my 30s.
Perhaps unsurprisingly Weir and Rangers will part company this week.

"We paid our wages on time," say Hearts.
"Naw. You didnae," say the SPL.
A prize to whoever identifies the voice of reason and truth in the parcel of rogues contributing to the latest farrago over Hearts and the saga of the paid/unpaid wages.
As it stands Hearts are to be charged "under SPL Rule A3.

Last November I held the Scottish Football Blog's first - perhaps only - blogathon.
One post an hour for 24 hours with topics chosen on Twitter and by fellow bloggers.
All in aid of two fantastic charities: Alzheimer Scotland and the Homeless World Cup.
24 hours, a few energy drinks, too many cigarettes and 17,000 words later and I was done.

By Chris Wright

Ex-Premier League referee and Rangers supporter Jeff Winter has had his personal website suspended after several of his blogs (posted during a Christmas trip to Australia and New Zealand) containing incredibly offensive anti-Catholic jibes were circulated by journalists including Gab Marcotti on Twitter yesterday.

New SPL TV deal Good or bad for Scottish football? is a post from: Just Football

by William Heaney

Not surprisingly, the news that Sky and ESPN have extended their deal to provide coverage of the SPL has been well received within the Scottish football community.

The two companies have been the league's main broadcasting partners since 2009, when they came to the rescue after Setanta's collapse.

If there's a better way to celebrate your birthday than with a trip to Cowdenbeath's Central Park then I'm not sure what it is.
Obviously seeing your team winning on said trip would be something of a bonus but that's in the hands of Pat Fenlon and his less than merry band. Drink shall either dull the pain or intensify the joy.

By Alan Duffy

That's it, keep it on the ground son, you're rubbish in the air

Scottish football is often criticised for its lack of technical quality and while this view is often unfair, Aberdeen's Robert Milsom did little to silence the critics on Monday in the Dons' 2-1 win against Dundee United.

By Alan Duffy

That's it, keep it on the ground son, you're rubbish in the air

Scottish football is often criticised for its lack of technical quality and while this view is often unfair, Aberdeen's Robert Milsom did little to silence the critics on Monday in the Dons' 2-1 win against Dundee United.

A rather anaemic press release on Rangers' website seems to have set the Twitter world all a-flutter.
The club will join with STV to explore "commercial" opportunities.
Two businesses, each negotiating their own challenges in a changing world, form a vague union that they hope will end profitably for both.

So Lee McCulloch is free to play for Rangers tonight.
How can that be? Wasn't he red carded against St Mirren on Saturday?
That he was. For flinging an elbow. I've seen more heinous crimes on a football pitch. But I'd also say that the red card was justified.
Opinions, of course, are like certain anatomical features.

Day nine of the SPL Advent. Motherwell, the success story of the season so far.
What were we to expect from Motherwell this SPL season?
Stuart McCall's arrival to replace Craig Brown raised more of a shrug of the shoulders than a cheer last season.
But he impressed in taking the team to the Scottish Cup final, an achievement that raised intriguing possibilities about how he'd fare with a close season behind him.

It was only a tiny step forward, but those that have been campaigning for the return of terraces in the form of safe standing had a rare reason to be cheerful yesterday with an announcement from north of the border, that the Scottish Premier League is to trial a pilot that may see the return of standing at matches in the near future.

Day seven of the SPL advent. A trip to the frozen north to see how Inverness are coping this SPL season.
I find Terry Butcher something of an engima. In the past I've - not altogether seriously but not completely in jest - derided him as a bit of an incompetent.
The sort of chap that the Scottish managerial merry-go-round should really jettison for the greater good of the game.

Liverpool have entered the race to sign Dundee United midfielder Scott Allen in the January transfer window, according to The Daily Mail.
Reds boss Kenny Dalglish is keen to sign the Scotland under 21 international, but will have to fight off interest from Rangers, Celtic and West Brom. Rangers' boss Ally McCoist believed his side was the favourite for the player, but Liverpool's interest leaves Allen's future up in the air.

Day five of our SPL Advent. Peace and goodwill to all me. It's a time for stout Hearts.
Somebody suggested that I could fill every day of this SPL Advent writing about Hearts.
And so I could.
The stories just keep coming.
On Thursday we got the news that the club had paid the players their November wages.

By Alan Duffy

Yes it's a goal from practically the half-way line and yes it demonstrates impressive vision and technique from the goal-scorer. However, in this case, Ryan Jack's long-range goal for Abderdeen in their 2-1 win against St Johnstone is a rather tame affair, all things considered.

Day two of our Scottish football Advent calendar. Celtic lurk behind today's window.
Was it really just a few weeks ago that all hope was lost and Neil Lennon's job prospects looked bleaker by the match?
Celtic teetered as Rangers thrived, the SPL gap was getting bigger and the Parkhead title challenge was being written off.

My dad is certainly two things, he is a Glaswegian, and he is a football fan. Nothing strange I know, but his club of choice baffles some, he comes from a family of Celtic fans, but for some reason in the 1960′s he adopted Clyde as his team. This rubbed off on me, and along with my brother we all follow the Bully Wee as well as Newcastle.

In the run up to Christmas the Scottish Football Blog is taking a daily look at the season so far for the 12 SPL clubs.
And what they might hope to find in their stockings.
Alphabetically at least Aberdeen are number one.
Woe seems to hang over Pittodrie like a particularly clingy North Sea haar at the moment.

Sone Aluko got banned for diving.
Garry O'Connor got away with diving.
Ergo the new disciplinary procedures in place at the SFA are ridiculous and hellbent on making a mockery of the Scottish game. At best.
At worst the new procedures have been all but designed to penalise one team above others.

At some point in the not too distant future the seemingly never ending round of discussions on the ifs, buts and polls are going to turn into the real thing.
The SNP government in Scotland will unleash the referendum campaign proper.
The Scottish Football Blog has its own views on Scottish independence.

By Chris Wright

Celtic spanked St Mirren 5-0 at Parkhead in the SPL yesterday, with 18-year old Dylan McGeouch wrapping up proceedings with his first ever goal for the Bhoys (on his second appearance) despite having only been on the pitch for eight minutes - charging 80-yards up-field before sliding a neat shot inside the post from the edge of the box.

Last weekend saw the Scottish Football Blog's 24 hour blogathon.
24 hours, 24 posts, 16665 words.
And so far over £840 raised for Alzheimer Scotland and the Homeless World Cup.
Time for some belated but heartfelt thanks. Sorry if I've missed anyone out, I'll try and catch everyone on what promises to be a lengthy follow Friday list on Twitter today.

Football loves its phrases. We speak of a player getting stuck in and having good feet for a big man, while saying his form is poor as he's gone off the boil. Some squads play Route One football and others just run about. The sports lexicon is thick with these and many other sayings that at times can remind us in short order what message is attempting to be conveyed a little Richard Keys banter if you like and on other occasions cause us to grind our teeth slightly at their overusage again, a little Richard Keys banter if you like.

Football loves its phrases. We speak of a player getting stuck in and having good feet for a big man, while saying his form is poor as he's gone off the boil. Some squads play Route One football and others just run about. The sports lexicon is thick with these and many other sayings that at times can remind us in short order what message is attempting to be conveyed a little Richard Keys banter if you like and on other occasions cause us to grind our teeth slightly at their overusage again, a little Richard Keys banter if you like.

At the risk of sounding a terribly stuck-up know-it-all it is rare I come across something in football where the statistics genuinely shock me. However, I read an article a few days ago that shed some light on an issue we all know is there but somehow we tend to look over.

Spanish football is beautiful.

Here it is then. The end.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed here and on Twitter.
Thanks to everyone who had donated to Alzheimer Scotland and/or the Homeless World Cup.
OK.
It's been quite a 24 hours. I've confused myself with some of the debating angles I've taken.

As I mentioned in the last hour I've been bowled over by the support I've got from tweetsport.co.uk
So it's a real treat to welcome Eilidh Donaldson of that parish as our final guest debater of the Scottish Football Blog blogathon.
Thanks again Eilidh - @tweetsportcouk
What a way to welcome Sunday's daylight.

Occurs to me that anyone chancing across the blog might wonder what the Nora Batty is going on.
Well, I'm rambling on about football and a few mates are joining me here and there. But we're doing it to help out Alzheimer Scotland and the Homeless World Cup. If you can help please do. The links to do just that are all over this page.

Earlier Scott Johnston and I debated the Old Firm leaving Scottish football. As a wee bonus here's Stewart Weir (@sweirz) with his take on the issue:
It's usually an argument made by those who don't support the Old Firm.
But if Celtic and Rangers (in alphabetical order only) departed Scotland and went elsewhere, Scotland wouldn't have the Old Firm.

Absolutely delighted to welcome blogging legend and French football's main man Andrew Gibney to the party this hour.
Indefatigable, Andrew can be found all over the internet including The Mirror's football blog and, nominated as one of the year's best new blog, French Football Weekly.
Follow him @AGibneyFtbl
Here's Andrew on relegation issues in France and England:
From years of following Scottish football you get drawn into a malaise of comfort-ability.

Welcoming Laurie Dunsire this hour. A Hearts fan. This blogathon is inclusive to its bones.
Laurie writes for the excellent Scottish Football Forums
And follow him @lauriedunsire
I'll let Laurie explain what this hour has been about:
Aidan Smith, Hibs fan and sports journalist, carried out an unthinkable challenge when he became a Hearts fan for a whole season, something which he documented in his book, Heartfelt: Supping Bovril from the Devil's Cup.

So it's 8pm. And I'm still going strongish. Big kicks this hour to all my mates at the Hibs Club for the support - financial and alcoholic - they've given this venture. More than just a club and going strong since 1955.
This suggestion came in from @thecoldend in the last hour.
Does Scottish football need a pyramid system?