Barcelona, here we come!
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You’re currently reading “Barcelona, here we come!,” an entry on FatEck.co.uk
- Published:
- 02.20.04 / 3pm
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- News
You’re currently reading “Barcelona, here we come!,” an entry on FatEck.co.uk
I’m not sure if you were looking for the answer to who scored v Dunfermline in the 83/84 Scottish cup tie but it was McAdam & McCoist.
cheers
John
New Quiz
And if yea cannae get it yer a diddi.
Question: What will Rangers win this year?
Answer to follow.
The UEFA Cup?
McCoist….that’s what I meant to say…not Parlane…McCoist…it was a typo…..
Eck,
Looks like ye got to see some decent football for a change! A six goal thriller and no Nuno Capucho to get the rage-ometer soaring!
Rangers curse strikes again
RANGERS new boy Jean-Alain Boumsong is likely to be ruled out for several months after fracturing an eye socket in a horror clash at the weekend.
Fat Man,
Hope you have a nice trip ya tool!!! Here’s to a Hun in Europe after Xmas - what a novelty! Sure McPish could learn a few tricks from you Big Man!!!
I hee, heee just read, hee,hhe I’m so sorry for this but I heard that hee, hee, oh come on now stop it, get yourself together OK hear goes. I just heard that Egil Ostenstad say’s he’s knackered, whit fur????? Do any Teddy Bears offer an explanation, I mean a serious one. Think how he’d feel if he had scored three goals.
Harry, perhaps big Egil’s tired from giving all these interviews explaining why he’s tired from giving all these interviews, etc, etc, etc…
Seriously, being a Rangers striker has been a tough job since the day Super Ally retired. Only Mols has come close to filling his boots (before he got injured). Each one has been hailed as the new McCoist, and that has been too much for all of them to bear. celtic will soon find the same problem once Hensick leaves. Fatson and Sutton, although occasionally effective in a crude, basic kind of way, will be no substitute for the 30 - 40 goals a season your mob will lose, and should they actually (shock, horror) go out & sign a replacement, then he will be under immense pressure to perform immediately, or suffer the same fate as Anderson, van Vossen, Miller, Ostenstad, Gayle, Salenko, Flo, etc.
Stuart, one common thread with most of the strikers that you mention is that they haven’t been given an extended run in the team. Ally wasn’t the greatest when he started but was given time and turned everyone around. Van Vossen, Miller, Ostenstad and Gayle can all have claims that they were never given a proper chance in the team. Perhaps they just weren’t good enough, and we don’t see them at training, but are we as a club guilty of writing off strikers too quickly?
Derek
At last a post that can be discussed. The problem with players coming to either side of the great divide in Scotland, is that they must perform right away, if the manager inserts them and they bomb, it could cost them invaluable points in the race for the league. On the other hand if the manager weans them gradualy, then the media climbs all over him, “if he’s good enough to buy, he should be good enough to play”. In other countries, the Auld enemy for example, no matter how well the top three or four teams play, there’s always a chance of a middle of the pack team or even a lower team catching them on an off night, and so a point lost early on are not as crucial. Until there is some sort of parity in the SPL it’s a gripe we’ll need to live with
Charles,
True, can’t argue with you on that. Perhaps with the current financial plight these attitudes may change, as the old firm, particularly Rangers, can’t go out and buy a replacement if things aren’t working out as has happened in the past.
Derek/Charles
Have to agree with your posts. With the OF, there is always the proessure on strikers to perform immediately, with no settling-in period and no leeway for loss of form/fitness. There are also the twin pressures of being expected to score barrowloads against all the other non-OF teams (the wisdom of this is that none of these teams can be any good since they can’t spend any money) and also new strikers usually have an illustrious predecessor to whom they will be compared (e.g Thornton - Brand - Stein - Parlane - McCoist or Chalmers - Dalglish - Johnston - Larsson). these are all examples of players who had the ability (and luck) to be successful, but there are plenty of others who perhaps were not given the opportunity to make an impact, such is the pressure for immediate success at the Old Firm. Although this can bring out the best in some players, it could also be argued that it also holds back both clubs, as players are rarely given enough of an opportunity to settle in and are sold on or dropped too early, only to prove to be successful elsewhere.
As for the rest of the league, we still have the problem where the OF are so much bigger than everyone else that even where one side is having a poor season, they are still guaranteed to finish no lower than 2nd in the league. This lack of competition hampers the OF (who tend to find it difficult to raise their game for European ties) and also the rest of the teams in Scotland, who consistently lose their young stars to the OF or English Premiership, as these players realise they will never attain success with their current clubs. Personally, I don’t see the new Setanta tv deal helping this situation, as most of the matches to be televised will involve the OF (naturally enough, as Stanta want the biggest possible audience & these are the 2 biggest teams), so the OF will be allocated the largest share of the cash. All this deal will do is (hopefully) prevent any more clubs from sliding into administration, but will still not allow them invest sufficently to close the gap between themselves & the OF to be able to compete consistently for honours.
Is the only answer for the OF & Scottish football in general for Rangers & Celtic to leave for the premiership or a European league? If so, then we may all be disapponted, as this prospect seems further away than ever. Can anything be done to improve standards at non-OF clubs whilst keeping the OF within the framework of Scottish football?
Stuart,
I reckon the non-old firm teams’ standards will drop even more. 3 have gone into administration with more to follow. The banks will not lend any more cash to the clubs, so they will have to do a Thistle and live within their means, by breaking even, at least, each year. We could end up with 10 Partick Thistles and the old firm. This will have a knock-on effect for the old firm and drag them down further as well. Celtic, enjoy Europe will it lasts. It could be a while before you are competing at this level again.
I also don’t see the Setanta deal saving many non-OF clubs. 68% of
Derek
My God, 10 Partick Thistles - I knew things were bad, but not that bad!
Seriously, I was hoping for (rather than expecting) a more optimistic tone in any replies than I was able to adopt. I think that the whole of Scottish football will shrink, including the OF, but the gulf between the OF and the rest will remain at it’s current level. For example, whereas 5 years ago Rangers & Celtic could spend
Stuart and Derek.
To try and lift the gloom on the past couple of posts, give this scenario a wee thought. While admitting your point about monies going to th OF, the lack of coverage on the rest of the SPL “MAY” force the real football fans(before you jump on me, I count all non OF as real fans) out to see their teams live, this would give the smaller teams a steadier income and therefor better planning for the future. As long as we must play in the backwater SPL then a viable opposition is desired, and we must admit needed.
Sorry to change all the niceties here but I’d love that Tube TED to answer this posting I made on the previous topic now that we’re odds on to make the next round.
Of course I’m asking this on the back of last nights win, but that was the point I was making to the sectarian bigot previously.
TED.
Compare the overall standings of Rangers to Celtic and you
another spinless performance. Surely now you can see the need to get rid of this gleekit fool. Allow this piece of shite to stay in the job and we’ll get murdered by Celtic next week. And get rid of that fat McLelland too - he’s quoted as saying that 2nd place is good enough for Rangers. The guy is not a Rangers man. They’re both losers.
SIXTEEN, SIXTEEN.
Jimmybob whit dis spinless mean?
Seriously though twenty points won or lost and the league is mathematicly over, on the issue of the McClelland statement, why fire someone for being honest, if the rest of you huns would wake up and smell the Roses like we’ve been telling you then you’d realize your prediciment instead of trying to indicate our perceived problems.
Math test
1)4×4=
2)4 squared =
3)square root of 256 =
4)And the pies de risistance, when is a point not a point
Answers
1) sixteen
2) sixteen
3) sixteen
4) when it means hee haw
tick tock, tick tock,
yer mince man, think about your worst nightmare, Celtic put you out of your misery on Sunday and end your Cup run and then clinch the league at Ipox, castle greyskull, middle earth, the kingdom of mordor all before the split.
Where are you TED
Harry,
“pies de risistance” - is that when they have been left out for a few days? Maybe that’s what happens when Azure do your catering.
I’ve read where Crapucho was out on the town with some of his first-team mates.
Brings up a couple of questions, firstly, what first team? And how can he have any mates when you consider his past performances. Unless of course you consider the fact that apparently he was flashing? I’ve seen him a number of times this year and flashing is not a word that springs to mind.
Wee Eck may have made some mistakes this year but persisting with p*sh like him compounds them, he’s talking about dropping some of the team who played on Sunday, aye right, he’ll go for damage control and field his most experienced side so as not to be embarrassed
To be honest Celtic games aside I wish him a modicum of success, that being the case he may stay longer and therefore we
Castle Greyskull - isn’t that where the goodies live?
When was the last time a story was written about Rangers, and in that story the word “GOODIES” apeared
C’mon TED ya scumbag reply to your previous posts if you’ve got the gumption.
PS where’s the rest of ye.
Harry,
It was you, by mentioning Castle Greyskull, that implied that Rangers were the goodies. I’m happy to go with that assertion.
I was also a bit confused by the reference to middle earth??? I think I know what you are trying to imply but your analogies need a bit more thought.
Timahoy, I’m here…talking about anything bar the footie, mate. :-)
Derek.
My sympathies, I realize it doesn’t take much to make you happy, as long as it’s nothing to do with football.
Analogies!! you should have him on right wing, at least he might keep his drawers on.
It has been reported that on another hun site Mordors army are comparing Ostenstead to Crapucho and argument is ongoing as to which is better.
I don’t want to rub it in but have you looked at the weather forecast? It’s official, Ibrox is the coldest place in Scotland, SIXTEEN BELOW.
After Sunday, I’m just going to insult those celtic fans who read the posts on this site, rather than talk about the Rangers “performance”..
Timahoy - You or Charles could start a fight in an empty room - or the trophy room at Celtic Park, as its’s otherwise known…
Harry - 16 is also the average IQ of your average celtic fan, it’s 2 years younger than you need to be to watch some of the x-certificate stuff meted out by the parkned butchers on unsuspecting footballers and is also the number of months since Rangers scored at celtic park, so we’re due a couple on Saturday!
Stuart, surely you now agree its time to get rid of McLeish and McLelland?
Jimbob,
Why McClelland? He doesn’t have any power. If he left all we would get is another Murray yes-man. He may say offensive things and act in an offensive manner, but replacing him won’t solve any of our problems (although it would bring a smile to my face).
Stuart, 16 is also Harry’s age in 4 years time.
Stuart.
Now what did I do to warrant this last verbal tirade. I purposely resisted the windup temptation of the last few days, not because I feel sorry for you but because there’s not much fun in it anymore. The last I looked, my view was on the merits of Setanta broadcasting the SPL games. To accuse me of starting an argument in an empty room is off the wall, it is, I’m telling you I don’t care what you say you’re wrong I’m not going to argue with you anymore because you’re wrong. Eh! was I just arguing with myself?
he said 2nd place was good enough - thats explanation enough. The team he put out yesterday was assmebled at a cost of several million pounds - it should have easliy have been good enough. I sadi the same aboout the team put out against Aberdeen. McLeish is failing badly - i see berg has now taken a pop at him (terribel timing but i can’t disagree with what hes said) - they guy has lost what little he had.
Jimbob
What team would you have picked on Sunday?
If I was picking the Rangers team for next weekend (Ghod forbid),I’d play the following players (injuries permitting) in a 4-4-2: Klos; Ross, Moore, Berg, and Ball. Burke, Khizanishvilli, Ricksen and Rae. Arveladze and Thompson. They might get beat - depending upon how many saves Klos can make they might even get pummelled - but at least some of them might show a bit of fight.
If I was picking the Rangers team for next weekend (Ghod forbid),I’d play the following players (injuries permitting) in a 4-4-2: Klos; Ross, Moore, Berg, and Ball. Burke, Khizanishvilli, Ricksen and Rae. Arveladze and Thompson. They might get beat - depending upon how many saves Klos can make they might even get pummelled - but at least some of them might show a bit of fight.
Charles, you’re still in that empty room (or the annual meeting of the Alex McLeish Fan Club, as it’s otherwise known). And you don’t fool me - the only reason you haven’t been on here winding us up is because you’re saving it for NEXT weekend - go on, admit it!
Jimbob, I’m trying really, really hard to think of defences for McLeish, but as each week goes by with no improvement in performance or even a shuffling of personnel (so that we can at least blame some different players), it’s becoming more & more difficult. I think the next 6 days will be the making or breaking of McLeish as a manager. He has to somehow motivate a side of non-triers who (apparently) have little or no interest in winning matches to defeat a record-bresking celtic side at celtic park. He is limited in terms of who to bring in, as he could be justified (as he himself said) in replacing all 10 outfield players, but realistically this will not happen. However, he does have to drop the worst offenders, namely Ball, Crapucho, Emerson & Mols. He could also toy with dropping Arteta & F de Boer to the bench.
What he has to do is show the fans that he can at least provoke a reaction from this rabble - anything better than a 2 goal defeat will at least show some progress from the last OF match - but even thinking this shows how low we have sunk. Some of this is due to the financial situation and the personnel who have left as a result, but McLeish has to shoulder a large part of the blame, as his signings have (Zura & Berg excepted - & he’s now managed to alienate 50% of his decent signings!)not been good enough (whatever the financial restrictions) and he also seems unable to change the course of any match with substitutions or changes in tactics. In short, his biggest failing is in failing to impose his authority on the squad as a whole, by rewarding substandard performances and lack of commitment with an extended 1st team run (stand up, Ball, Crapucho & Lovenkrands), by failing to weild the axe with those who consistently fail to perform and by standing by impotently (thought I’d use a word many celtic fans will recognise!) whilst the team goes through the motions month after month and providing little or no indication that he is capable of halting this decline.
All this is a long-winded (so unlike me!) way of saying that it all comes down to the Scottish Cup game at celtic park. I hate to judge a manager on one match alone, but McLeish has painted himself into this corner by his own failure to show how he plans to improve the situation. If his only solution is to sign replacement players, then he needs to get the chequebook out and sign another 15 before next season. He has to show that he can make the most of the resources at his disposal, and maximise the performance level from some of the less talented individuals, in the same way that (choke, I can hardly bear to say it) Fartin o’Feel has done. If Rangers lose (again), play badly (again), fail to score against celtic (again), concede soft goals (again), fail to keep a clean sheet against celtic (yet again - for the 20th match in succession), play with no hunger or commitment (again), then we will know that nothing has changed since the start of this season. This may be a season of transition, but surely this means getting rid of the dead wood and building a base for future success. If Rangers produce the same kind of performance on Saturday as they have done consistently week in, week out since the 1st OF match, then it will prove that McLeish & the players have learned NOTHING - and that will be the time to start thinking seriously about who will be McLeish’s replacement for next season.
As for team selection, I’d go with Klos, Zura, Moore, Berg, Ross, Ricksen, Arteta, Rae, R de Boer, Arveladze & Burke. I know that a lot of people don’t like Ross, but I think he’s showing far better form than Ball at the moment so deserves his chance. If Burke’s not fit, then play Thompson. Mols, Ball, Emerson, Crapucho, Nerlinger & Lovinpants can clean the toilets after the match - that’s the only way any of them would prove to be of any use at celtic park….
Stuart,
Curses and gadzooks, yiv got me.
No sorry mate I’m serious when I say there’s not much fun in it anymore although a pelter next week would help.
If I were McLeish, I’d bench at least half of the team that failed to turn up on Sunday, and I’m sure he would too if it wasn’t an OF game and in that case I’d do what I think he’ll do and thats put out as much experience as possible.
At the start of his tenure at Ipox I thought he’d given Rangers a wee bit of a dig that had been missing during wee hitlers reign, unfortunately (for you lot) that was a mistake on my part and like I said months ago, Rangers have capitulated as no other Old Firm team has done in the past.
I’ve heard the complaints about the players who have left, lets be honest, McCann hardly played, yer dutch left full back, Arthur Numan, was on the treatment table as often as the two De boers and big Ammadidi had as many detractors at Ipox as at Paradise. Now this brings us to Bazza, who I think was a good SPL player no more, no less. However if he is the main difference to the team that’s putting on a show in Scotland now, then all I can say is “Ye wiz robbed” because if he could make this lot a good team, then he’s Laudrop, Gazza, Henrik and big Pierre all rolled up in one.
For Sunday to avoid embarrassment you should field this team. You could play 4×4x2 or 3×5x2 or 4×5x1
Kloss
Kloss, Zura, Zura, Kloss
Kloss Zura, Kloss, Zura
with Kloss and Zura up front, I know its damage limitation but what’s a man to do?
stuart, your comments are eloquently put, if a little long - winded; quite simply I don’t see the next 6 days as being the make or break for McLeish, Henning Berg’s remarks today have sealed his fate as far as I’m concerned. His authority is now being openly questioned by a senior player in public at the most crucial stage of the season - how long has it been questioned in private? It hurts me to say it but this would NEVER happen with O’Neill. Lack of respect in the dressing room would certainly help to explain our dire efforts on the park.
That said I’d be staggered if there isn’t some improvement on the last OF game,of course they’ll be, but it still won’t save us from losing the game and shouldn’t save alex from losing his job. We’re 16 points behind with 2 OF league games still to play!!!! No manager should stay in such circumstances; we don’t need to wait til the end of May - hes not a good enough manager; sack him now and give the new man some time to settle in.
Stuart,
I think that the Rangers fans could accept Rangers losing (again), play badly (again), and fail to keep a clean sheet against celtic (yet again) but what they will not accept is playing with no hunger or commitment, and that is why there has been so much criticism. I can’t remember a Rangers team with less fight. However I also can’t remember a Rangers manager who has had less to play with, and I’m still reluctant to put the blame fully at McLeish’s door, although he’s not making it easy to defend him. It’s particularly difficult as I fully support Berg’s comments.
My team would be:
Klos; Ross, Berg, Moore, Ball (reluctantly, or perhaps Vanoli); Burke, Ricksen, Arteta, Rae; Thompson, Arveladze (or de Boer). We have to beef up the midfield with Ricksen and Rae, we need a bit of width with Burke. We need Thompson’s harrying ability and we need aerial ability at the back, so no Zurab. Wouldn’t feel comfortable playing Ross on the left against Celtic.
Charles, got to diagree with your summation of the players leaving. Numan did play a lot and was always able to keep Agathe under control somehow. McCann perhaps did not always play and was inconsistent but did give cover as width on the left where we have none now (and therefore nobody to give Agathe problems) and he often came in and gave match winning performances (eg last game of last season). Amo had a lot fewer detractors than you imagine. Player of the year 2 seasons ago? What would I give for an Amo on Sunday?And you don’t think Barry would make a huge difference to this team??? How much of Rangers did you watch last year? He was the main reason why we won the league last year. He carried the team single handedly from October-February. I’m not saying that we would win the league with him this year, but there would be a totally different team on the park with him there.
Here’s something for Rangers fans to ponder on - Rangers are 6 points better off in the league at this stage than they were in the 94/95 season (with Laudrup, Hateley and McCoist). How many Rangers fans calling for McLeish’s head were shouting for Walter Smith to get sacked that season?
And to think that exactly 5 months ago McLeish was the best thing since sliced bread. How fickle are we?
i cannot accept these excuses for mcleish - rangers don’t compare themselves with ten years ago, thats irrelevant - whether we like it or not we can only judge ourselves next to the scum across the city and frankly it doesn’t compare well. Eck had a team out there that cost an awful lot of fans money ricksen 3.5 mil, Ball
It’s not the fans’ money that bought these players.
“We don’t lack talent on the park” - LOL. Are you sure?
I agree that it’s off the park that we are found wanting, although I would aim a majority of the blame at areas other than at the manager’s door.
Do you consider that the sqaud we’ve got isn’t good enough to beat the likes of Aberdeen and Dundee United?
There WAS enough ability in the side to beat either of them - its McLeish who is not doing his job. I know its been tougher for him since last season, but the decline in perfromance has been too severe to be explained away. Its in adversity that you find out whos up to the job - much as people are reluctant to admit it, he isn’t up to it. I wish I was wrong, but its been obvious for months.
Here, we’re going to Barcelona too! What a coincidence!!
Good job.
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