The Footie Thread

[PJ87]

Most Scottish teams are honest, decent outfits working hard to live within their means and not sell their soul to whatever money-laden unsavoury regime or individual might happen along with their bling-laden entourage.

I’m happy supporting a diddy not very good team that I can feel proud about and can celebrate whatever success it might achieve through hard work, organisation and togetherness - no matter how small.

Sorry but if the money came it wouldn't be turned down.

 

[Tashyboy]

Fergus McCann was born and bred in the West of Scotland, and in his youth was a Celtic fan who regularly attended matches with his local supporters club. He emigrated to Canada, made his fortune (through golf), and came back to Scotland to rescue his club when they were facing going bust.

He was not the archetypal foreign investor you are trying to portray.

I am not trying to portray any investor be it from home or abroad. What I am trying to portray is a lot of clubs either side of the border are going to struggle unless there is investment. Hypothetically where would Celtic now be without McCann.That’s my point. And fortunately for some clubs there are a few people like amcCann knocking about.

 

[Tashyboy]

The awful (now called lower ability) Rangers made it to a Euro final last season.

Any thoughts on where it’s gone wrong in the last year Ken ?

 

[Swango1980]

The awful (now called lower ability) Rangers made it to a Euro final last season.

Yes, and Greece have won the Euros

Happy for you to disagree though. I'm sure you can find a way to say both Rangers and Celtic have been excellent (opposite of awful) in Europe this year. Splendid display by Rangers last night, they really stuck the knife in to a team struggling for form

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Last nights score doesn’t fully represent the way the game was

Rangers were very good for the first 45 and more than matched Liverpool and could have been up at half time

Second half Liverpool started to control it but rangers still had their chances - with 25 mins to go it was still 2-1 , then you can tell Liverpool stepped up another level and got those goals - but it’s too easy to dismiss Rangers based on the scoreline only

 

[Swango1980]

Last nights score doesn’t fully represent the way the game was

Rangers were very good for the first 45 and more than matched Liverpool and could have been up at half time

Second half Liverpool started to control it but rangers still had their chances - with 25 mins to go it was still 2-1 , then you can tell Liverpool stepped up another level and got those goals - but it’s too easy to dismiss Rangers based on the scoreline only

You are right. Liverpool were lucky last night

 

[Deleted member 15344]

You are right. Liverpool were lucky last night

Was it a conscious decision to see who you can annoy this morning or is it just a natural reaction ?

Rangers and Celtic may have struggled but at least they are there

 

[GreiginFife]

Any thoughts on where it’s gone wrong in the last year Ken ?

They sold their better performing players and replaced them with lesser quality.

I don’t think it’s any more complex than that. Signing a player for £4m that hadn’t played a first team game in yonks and, more puzzlingly, chasing and chasing a player (Yilmaz), paying over the odds (or what they wanted to) and then not playing him. That’s bonkers.

 

[Swango1980]

Was it a conscious decision to see who you can annoy this morning or is it just a natural reaction ?

Rangers and Celtic may have struggled but at least they are there

If Man Utd played in the Scottish league, they'd be there every year. I guess I could say the same for a side like Norwich

Didn't choose to annoy anyone. I simply said Scottish teams have been awful, more specifically played very badly relative to their opponents. It was no suprise to me, and they are out of their depth these days in the CL.

I wanted Rangers to win each round in the Europa league last year, and was disappointed for them when they didn't win. Even in that inferior competition they would have been punching above their weight, but did very very well.

 

[3offTheTee]

If Man Utd played in the Scottish league, they'd be there every year. I guess I could say the same for a side like Norwich

Didn't choose to annoy anyone. I simply said Scottish teams have been awful, more specifically played very badly relative to their opponents. It was no suprise to me, and they are out of their depth these days in the CL.

I wanted Rangers to win each round in the Europa league last year, and was disappointed for them when they didn't win. Even in that inferior competition would have been punching above their weight, but did very very well.

OK I’ll bite:

1. If you did not think that you did not chose to annoy anyone please have a look at the replies.
2. Sometimes, usually, it is a sign of strength to hold your hand up and say “I made a mistake, apologise“ and move on.
3. It is not that inferior Competition, especially when some of the 3 rd place teams from The Champions League come in which may include Barca. Oh and please remind me, Which “Inferior Competition” are Man U. playing in this season?

 

[Swango1980]

OK I’ll bite:

1. If you did not think that you did not chose to annoy anyone please have a look at the replies.
2. Sometimes, usually, it is a sign of strength to hold your hand up and say “I made a mistake, apologise“ and move on.
3. It is not that inferior Competition, especially when some of the 3 rd place teams from The Champions League come in which may include Barca. Oh and please remind me, Which “Inferior Competition” are Man U. playing in this season?

1. My initial post was not meant to offend, I was just saying it like I saw it. The fact that some were offended is not my issue, especially when they may have mis-interpreted the context of "awful"

2. I didn't make a mistake. I stand by my comment that Scottish clubs are awful, relative to the biggest teams in that competition, in terms of ability. I have since explained what I meant by awful, so that people don't think I am saying fans should be ashamed of supporting such clubs. My local team in N Ireland are awful in comparison to other Northern Irish teams, and absolutely horrifically abysmal in relation to CL teams. Fans can still be proud to support them (incidentally, their best player of all time, from the glory days in the 90's, went to Celtic - Paul Byrne)

3. It is an inferior competition. Of course it is. Any CL teams that end up in the Europa League it failed in the CL, and they often then become favourites to win the Europa League. And yes, Man Utd are absolutely playing in an inferior competition. Every Man Utd fan would rather be in the CL than Europa League, because CL is a much better competition with much more quality. But, as all fans have reminded us for a very very long time, and Man Utd fans have agreed with, Man Utd have been extremely poor, even awful, for quite some time. I'm still proud to be a Man Utd fan, proud of what they have achieved and hopeful for the future. Doesn't mean I'm am not often incredibly frustrated, upset or angry with how they have performed at times.

 

[Orikoru]

Are people really offended that he called Rangers awful?? They've conceded 16 goals in 4 games and scored once! Even Plzen have done (marginally) better than that in a group with Barca, Inter & Bayern.

Some people seriously need to relax, it's only football for crying out loud. Nobody dies or gets hurt if someone calls a rubbish team awful.

 

[Orikoru]

Speaking of awful teams... back in mid-September my office set up a sweepstake where we all get a Prem team, and when your team has amassed 11 goals exactly you win the pot (has to be exact, if they go past 11 you have to wait until they hit 22 etc).

I got Wolves. They haven't even scored once yet.

 

[Bdill93]

Are people really offended that he called Rangers awful?? They've conceded 16 goals in 4 games and scored once! Even Plzen have done (marginally) better than that in a group with Barca, Inter & Bayern.

Some people seriously need to relax, it's only football for crying out loud. Nobody dies or gets hurt if someone calls a rubbish team awful.

Exactly.

Rangers = turd when it comes to the Champions League this year

 

[KenL]

Speaking of awful teams... back in mid-September my office set up a sweepstake where we all get a Prem team, and when your team has amassed 11 goals exactly you win the pot (has to be exact, if they go past 11 you have to wait until they hit 22 etc).

I got Wolves. They haven't even scored once yet.

Are Wolves worse than Rangers?

 

[KenL]

Exactly.

Rangers = turd when it comes to the Champions League this year

I think the level of opposition is the clear reason for that. Sold our best player to Ajax.
Napoli have been way better than everyone expected and Liverpool below par for them.

 

[Bdill93]

I think the level of opposition is the clear reason for that. Sold our best player to Ajax.
Napoli have been way better than everyone expected and Liverpool below par for them.

Opposition
Club Budgets
League competitiveness

Plenty of excuses for it - but it is true

 

[4LEX]

Rangers just getting to the group stages was a huge success. Throw in the toughest group possible and you've got the current situation. From the limited action I've seen they've performed better than the scorelines suggest (Napoli and last night). At 1-0 down Liverpool were 2.6 to win the game, even the bookies didn't fancy their chances based on the way the game was going. Rangers were in it until the third goal and then it was a case of being physically drained and Liverpool bringing Salah off the bench.

 

[ColchesterFC]

Rangers just getting to the group stages was a huge success. Throw in the toughest group possible and you've got the current situation. From the limited action I've seen they've performed better than the scorelines suggest (Napoli and last night). At 1-0 down Liverpool were 2.6 to win the game, even the bookies didn't fancy their chances based on the way the game was going. Rangers were in it until the third goal and then it was a case of being physically drained and Liverpool bringing Salah off the bench.

I think Viktoria Plzen might have an argument that they have the toughest group possible. Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Barcelona making up their opponents.

 

[Slime]

I'm not sure how United aren't three or four up at the break.