SPL Discussion Thread

[Junior]

Rangers lose. Celtic win. All change again.

Hibs won and Dundee Utd/Motherwell took a point off each other.

Next week;

Celtic at home to Aberdeen (who beat Rangers this week albeit at Pittodrie)
Rangers away to bottom placed Falkirk
3rd placed Hibs play 5th place Motherwell at home.

P GD PTS
1 Celtic 13 13 27
2 Rangers 12 12 25
3 Hibernian 13 10 25
4 Dundee Utd 12 8 23
5 Motherwell 13 3 20
6 Aberdeen 13 0 18

Dundee Utd and Rangers have a game in hand, though its against each other, so it will be interesting to see if Dundee Utd could win that and keep right in the mix (Its at Tannadice).

[Acornvilla]

Hibs won and Dundee Utd/Motherwell took a point off each other.

Next week;

Celtic at home to Aberdeen (who beat Rangers this week albeit at Pittodrie)
Rangers away to bottom placed Falkirk
3rd placed Hibs play 5th place Motherwell at home.

P GD PTS
1 Celtic 13 13 27
2 Rangers 12 12 25
3 Hibernian 13 10 25
4 Dundee Utd 12 8 23
5 Motherwell 13 3 20
6 Aberdeen 13 0 18

Dundee Utd and Rangers have a game in hand, though its against each other, so it will be interesting to see if Dundee Utd could win that and keep right in the mix (Its at Tannadice).

i watched the match between dundee and rangers that was posponed due to the rain a few weeks ago. dundee were very good but rangers had one chance and scored so it will be a very close game come on sean dillon

Hibs should beat motherwell so it will be close up until christmas atleast

[Junior]

Team P GD PTS
1 Celtic 14 16 30
2 Rangers 13 14 28
3 Hibernian 14 12 28
4 Dundee Utd 13 9 26
5 Motherwell 14 1 20
6 Aberdeen 14 -3 18



Top 4 all won.

McGeady had a good game for Celtic, including a nice assist proving he does have a decent final ball in him, just needs to deliver it more often! Mowbray and team mates very public in their appreciation of Aidens qualities in this weeks media.

Stokes scores a couple for Hibs, bringing him to 5 this season (4 in the league).

Celtic away at Fir Park (live on TV 12:30 Sat). Should result in a Celtic win and see Motherwell drift away from the pack. Though Fir Park has been a terrible pitch for as long as I can remember and especially at this time of the year. I havent seen what its like at the moment, could have a bearing though.

The other 3 all play against bottom half of the table sides. Rangers at home to St. Johnstone, Hibs away to Killie and Dundee Utd away to Hearts.

Good chance of the top 4 all winning again.

The Dundee Utd v Rangers replay then takes place on the following Tuesday.

[OwlsFan]

I watched the Motherwell vs Celtic game. Very entertaining game. Lovely goals by both McGeady and the sub who came on (name eludes me).

I see the Forfar manager is in trouble for singing "loyalist" songs in Spain. WOnder what the Rangers fans were doing in an Irish bar ?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...ic/8411000.stm

[spudgunn007]

I watched the Motherwell vs Celtic game. Very entertaining game. Lovely goals by both McGeady and the sub who came on (name eludes me).

I see the Forfar manager is in trouble for singing "loyalist" songs in Spain. WOnder what the Rangers fans were doing in an Irish bar ?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...ic/8411000.stm

Marc Antoine Fortune is the lad your looking for. Thought Celtics 3 goals were top drawer. Very good result considering the run of form Murderwell are having

[Junior]

I watched the Motherwell vs Celtic game. Very entertaining game. Lovely goals by both McGeady and the sub who came on (name eludes me).

I see the Forfar manager is in trouble for singing "loyalist" songs in Spain. WOnder what the Rangers fans were doing in an Irish bar ?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...ic/8411000.stm

Fortune (formerly of West Brom) - great couple of first touches - inspired substitution as they say!! He's been either woeful or injured since arriving - hopefully that does his confidence the world of good.

Top 2 won, 3rd and 4th drew.

Another goal for Stokes this weekend (see below from 3:15) - Quick freekick and a nice finish with his right peg. Hibs unbeaten in 11 SPL games.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/8410847.stm

[Junior]

Rangers go top with a 3-0 defeat of Dundee Utd.

[ArdeeBhoy]

I see the Forfar manager is in trouble for singing "loyalist" songs in Spain. WOnder what the Rangers fans were doing in an Irish bar ?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...ic/8411000.stm

Like their Tan cousins they're pretty hypocritical when it comes to it....

[OwlsFan]

Rangers go top with a 3-0 defeat of Dundee Utd.

Surfed between that game and Birmingham vs Bolton. Dundee were very disappointing from what I saw of them. Soon to be a two horse race again unless Hibs get something against Rangers over Christmas.

What has happened to Willo Flood these days? Is he still at Celtic?

[Junior]

Surfed between that game and Birmingham vs Bolton. Dundee were very disappointing from what I saw of them. Soon to be a two horse race again unless Hibs get something against Rangers over Christmas.

What has happened to Willo Flood these days? Is he still at Celtic?

Flood is still at Celtic. Hasnt featured much under Mowbray (or indeed under Strachan who signed him). Looks like he'll be heading out on Loan in January with a permanent move in the summer.

Recent comment here> http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...771292,00.html


EDIT: > Though he may actually feature in the game against Rapid Vienna on Thursday (Its a dead tie with Celitc already out of Europe - This is more than likely on TV though I havent checked yet.)

And, following Saturday' s win at Motherwell, manager Tony Mowbray said: "Next Sunday (against Hearts) is my main focus, not Thursday."

Venus sees sense in rotating the squad, with Paul Caddis, Pat McCourt, Niall McGinn, Chris Killen, Willo Flood and Koki Mizuno among those likely to be given a chance to catch the manager's eye.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...ic/8410752.stm


With regards to the teams outwith Celtic and Rangers sustaining a challenge, last nights result and also Hibs 4 draws (rather than wins) in their away games are making it look more likely that the split will start to take shape now.

Found this analysis on SkySports regarding teams still in with a shout at Christmas...

Non "Old Firm" teams with 29 or more points after 15 games

Hibernian have twice before had more points than the 29 they have currently at this stage of the season: in 2000/01 when they were in second place after 15 games, eight points ahead of Rangers, and in 2005/06 when they were in third, again eight points ahead of the 'Gers.

The other teams in the list are Hearts in 2005/06 and Livingston 2001/02, though only the Jam Tarts have ever managed to break Rangers and Celtic's dominance of the top two places.

With an away fixture at Pittodrie coming up this weekend, the key for Hibs to reinvigorate their season will be to improve their stuttering away form:

Team Season Wins Draws Losses For Against GD Points Final Place
Hibernian 00/01 11 3 1 30 9 21 36 3
Hearts 05/06 11 3 1 31 10 21 36 2
Hibernian 05/06 10 1 4 28 17 11 31 5
Livingston 01/02 8 5 2 23 11 12 29 3
Hibernian 09/10 8 5 2 22 10 12 29 -

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...774990,00.html

[Junior]

Rangers thump Motherwell 6-1. - Any minor thoughts of Motherwell hanging in there for a bit longer a clearer put to bed - they havent won in 6 games now.

Hibs win 2-0 away against Aberdeen. A tough fixture. Stokes scored another brace. The first a well taken goal the second a tap in from a few yards out.

Dundee Utds game at Hamilton was called off because of snow (a freak snow storm meant it was called off 15 mins before KO). Levein openly states he wants to manage Scotland, "Be it now or sometime in the future" He is having talks with the SFA next week. SFA have been publicly stating the high pedigree of applicants for the job and I know Levein is probably the best likely Scottish manager but does the SFA statement imply that they have some highly thought of foreign coaches? I would have thought so.....

Celtic away at Hearts tomorrow....

[OwlsFan]

Celtic struggle to a 1-1 against the bottom team. Something wrong at Celtic Park.

[rambler14]

Celtic struggle to a 1-1 against the bottom team. Something wrong at Celtic Park.

Have you been trapped in a cave since Tony Mowbray took over because it's been blatantly obvious that Celtic are struggling since at least September.

[EAFC_rdfl]

the constant wumming in this thread is yawn, to say the least

[OwlsFan]

Have you been trapped in a cave since Tony Mowbray took over because it's been blatantly obvious that Celtic are struggling since at least September.

Yes, but the question is why? Did Strachan get out because he knew what was around the corner or is it just Mowbray who I thought would be a good manager but then again might be too early to judge.

the constant wumming in this thread is yawn, to say the least

Learn a new word everyday - well not quite everyday but I had to look up the internet for this one.

In any event, it's not wumming. I think it is a topic worth discussing what is going wrong at Celtic.

[EAFC_rdfl]

Yes, but the question is why? Did Strachan get out because he knew what was around the corner or is it just Mowbray who I thought would be a good manager but then again might be too early to judge.



Learn a new word everyday - well not quite everyday but I had to look up the internet for this one.

In any event, it's not wumming. I think it is a topic worth discussing what is going wrong at Celtic.

exactly, strachan is a cute hoor, whatever celtic fans say about him. he knew that the squad didn't / doesn't have enough quality so he jumped ship on a high, even though he was getting plenty abuse from the fans. Mowbray has not improved that squad IMO. He also has little money to improve it. Injurys aren't helping him either though.

[gustavo]

the constant wumming in this thread is yawn, to say the least

Use the report button so

[Junior]

Celtic struggle to a 1-1 against the bottom team. Something wrong at Celtic Park.

exactly, strachan is a cute hoor, whatever celtic fans say about him. he knew that the squad didn't / doesn't have enough quality so he jumped ship on a high

A squad Strachan had assembled by the way!

Key issue has been a woeful defence. In particualrly the CB pairing(s).

That is being addressed in this January Transfer Window. Caldwell has gone to Wigan. McManus might still be offloaded. Loovens has been poor but I think will be given some more time improve his form.

Mowbray has O'Dea back from his loan spell and two new signings in 19yr old Rogne (Norwegian U21) and Hooieveld (26 yr old, Dutch guy).

Obviously it remains to be seen whether these new options will shore up the leakey defence.

Up front. Lack of clinicalism (is that even a word?) McDonald has been dropped to the bench, probably the more clinical of all our strikers, though doesnt fit the style of play that Mowbray is trying to introduce.

Fortune/Samaras - lots of effort, some good goals though mainly lots of terrible misses, most notably in the recent Rangers game, where Celtic battered Rangers for 90 minutes and missed chance upon chance. Midfielders are not helping in this regard either with our very own Aiden being as guilty as anyone.

Plus points for me. McGinn looks to be coming on very nicely and creating and scoring from the wide position.

Crosas and N'Guemo are forming a decent CM partnership (N'Guemo has been at the CAN with Cameroon so far in January).

I think there will be more activity in the transfer window. Maybe McDonald out and another striker in.

Maybe even Aiden off to the Premiership, though it is going to take a 12-13m bid to get him imo and probably wont happen.

[Stevo Da Gull]

Rangers' title now you'd have to think. Exciting race for second though. Hibs win at parkhead tonight leaves them 2 points behind Celtic and if they can avoid injuries between now and the end of the season then it could be very close. 'mon the Hibs!

[rambler14]

Rangers' title now you'd have to think. Exciting race for second though. Hibs win at parkhead tonight leaves them 2 points behind Celtic and if they can avoid injuries between now and the end of the season then it could be very close. 'mon the Hibs!

It's been Rangers title for months. Celtic are rubbish.