The new season is upon us with many new faces and difficult-to-pronounce names gracing the Scottish game. Sadly some things never change and Scotsport is one of them.

You would have thought after the mauling the show got last season that the powers that be would have done something to try and resurrect the show and it's ailing reputation. Unfortunately not.

Tonight's show was the first of the new 2005-2006 season and here are some of my many observations on tonights effort:

1. Archie MacPherson has a go at Nacho Novo for his English. How many languages do you speak Archie?

2. Andy "Whapper" Walker: "It's essential for Scottish football that our best clubs are in Europe". What he means is that the "provincial" clubs he spoke so 'highly' of last season should be grateful if Rangers and Celtic can manage to stay in Europe before Christmas. And there's me thinking that Hibs got into Europe on merit through a high league position.

3. The Competitions. Once again Scotsport persists in what is an illegal competition/lottery. They fail to offer what is known in the comp world as a "NPN" - No Purchase Necessary route. If the closing date for the "Dream Ticket" to the first Old Firm game* of the season is next Sunday at midnight then why not allow postal or e-mail entries, as they are legally obliged to do? I took this matter up with the Institute of Sales Promotions last season (who in turn took it up with Scotsport/SMG) and I shall do so again. SMG in their arrogance and ignorance chose to ignore the ISP. (*And why didn't they offer a "Dream Ticket" for the Edinburgh derby or is that game not big enough?)

4. Stilian Petrov "earns" yet another penalty for Celtic but no discussion as to it's validity or replies to confirm it.

5. John Hartson's use of the elbow from kick-off. He gets away with the same "aggression" that Mixu used to get constantly booked for.

6. What's with the musical chairs? One minute Whapper's on one end and then he's on the other side. Which brings me neatly onto...

7. Why so many advert breaks? Why not just show us more football, especially from outside the Old Firm.

8. The first 45 minutes of the show was spent on the Old Firm and the rest, minus countless advert breaks, was split between the other four games.

9. Walker's Watch? Like the Starsky and Hutch movie, it was utterly pointless and just a little bit patronising.

10. Whapper: "(Hearts are) ...my tip for third". What are his qualifications for saying that? Oh yes, I forgot, he's an idiot.

11. Why are the badge graphics still so badly out of focus? Are they trying to be "arty" because all they do is make me think that my eyesight is getting worse. With a bit of luck one day I won't be able to watch the bloody programme.

12. The set resembles the Secret Garden from Big Brother, with the audience comprised of twenty Eugene clones.

13. Once again, like so many times last season, the Hibs highlights were shown last. Unless we play the Old Firm we usually have to wait until after midnight to see the smallest of highlights.

14. A small look at Scott Brown's sending off (no replay of the dubious first yellow card) yet nothing on the Livingston sending off at Ibrox, which I personally thought was rather harsh. It was certainly no worse than Stephen McManus's challenge on Jim Hamilton at Fir Park, which was tantamount to an attempt to get a WWF contract.

15. Sarah O ( O as in "Oh my god she must be breaking those teeth in for Desert Orchid, it's no wonder she can't speak properly") and her pronunciation, especially of Falkirk. And don't even get me started on JulieAnne. I'm all for regional accents but you might aswell get a Norwegian on because I'd have more chance of understanding them.

16. Hugh Keevins looks like Eddie the Eagle's dad. And speaks like him too.

17. That Jim Delahunt has really let himself go...

Car crash telly of the highest order. I'll stick to Street Crime UK 4 or Bid TV in future...ok, maybe just one more week!!