Scotland may be sitting top of their group in Euro qualifying but there is an anthem problem.

Paul Wilson asks the question that if Manchester United fans have to buy tickets to Carling Cup games then shouldn’t United field a top class team. Buried in the piece Wilson also takes to task people who quote Bill Shankly’s “matter of life and death” comment. Wilson’s right – the vast majority of people quote Shankly as if he was serious which he clearly was not.

My favourite Shankly quote was from the late Emlyn Hughes. Hughes told a story that Shanks loved  training and joined in all the time. One day Shankly turned round to Hughes and says to him "When I die I want to be the fittest man to ever die."

The evolution of Roy Keane.

Brian Glanville identifies the elephant at Stamford Bridge.

The challenges facing Celtic and Rangers in the Champions League this week.

Gabriele Marcotti on the much maligned Filippo Inzaghi.

Patrick Barclay says that Dean Ashton should be the man to replace Michael Owen.

Duncan Castles with the latest happenings at Stamford Bridge.

For followers of the FA Cup.

An  interesting and informative website created by a regular blog visitor www.billsportsmaps.com  Something obviously close to his heart. Check it out.

I received an e mail last week taking me to task. Apparently I have yet to publish my Champions league picks. So here goes – Group A, Liverpool and Porto; Group B, Valencia and Chelsea; Group C, Real Madrid and Werder Bremen (would not be surprised if Lazio qualified); Group D, Milan and Benfica; Group E Barcelona and Rangers (bring on the “are you on crack McMahon” e mails); Group F, Manchester United and Roma; Group G, Inter Milan and PSV; Group H, Arsenal and Sevilla.

Just a reminder that if you have questions you would like my take on, then the best idea is to post them on Monday’s Speakers’ Corner Blog. If they are posted any other time then there is a very good chance that I will miss them. I try my best to keep up but sometimes questions slip through the cracks.

And finally Winnipeg Thistle lost their Winnipeg Old Timers crown after losing 2-1 to Portuguese in the final on Sunday. A lack of polish in front of goal cost us dearly. It was a great game and I am glad to say that I am at the stage in life that I prefer to play in a good game and lose, than play in a bad one and win. To all the players and officials that make it possible for old guys like me to continue to kick a ball and love it a massive THANK YOU.

A couple of Saturday' s back another outdoor season came to an end. The Winnipeg Thistle - yes a stereotypical name I know - did the double for the first time that I can remember. For most of the last 12 seasons we have either won the regular season or won the play-offs.

This season we did the double - eventually winning the league by a couple of points on the last day of the regular season and then going through the play offs and winning the final 2-1 over Olympia.

However, I have an admission to make because I know I will get hammered by the boys if I don't mention it. I missed a penalty at 2-1 - it was a dreadful strike and it made for a very nervy last 10 minutes.