SPL Discussion Thread

**Fingal hoop** · 29/08/2007, 11:13 PM

mcgeady brown & donatti all look very good on the ball

**eirebhoy** · 29/08/2007, 11:48 PM

Can't believe they won that shootout. Spartak wanted the penos. Caldwell is a centre half who felt he owed something to the fans. Naka ran about 5,000 miles and missed a couple of great chances. Jan missed a peno a few minutes previously. Zurawski is an ultimate confidence player who hasn't scored in ages. Riordan is the only player I was confident would score.

I wouldn't have went to work tomorrow if Celtic lost. I couldn't bare it. I'm bloody ecstatic now though and won't sleep.

**Hibs4Ever** · 30/08/2007, 6:52 AM

Celtic very lucky to go through and should've been out by half time from what I've been hearing/reading from media.

Good to see Chris Killens ambitions going to plan.

**RogerMilla** · 30/08/2007, 6:54 AM

thought mcgeady had one of his bets games ever last night , one of the times he trapped the ball and layed off was just a masterclass in skill, one hell of a game would have been gutting to go out in those circumstances, a couple of quid on spartak for the uefa i think...

**Hibs4Ever** · 30/08/2007, 7:25 AM

Originally Posted by RogerMilla

thought mcgeady had one of his bets games ever last night , one of the times he trapped the ball and layed off was just a masterclass in skill, one hell of a game would have been gutting to go out in those circumstances, a couple of quid on spartak for the uefa i think...

Just can't see past Bayern Munich for UEFA Cup

**Stuttgart88** · 30/08/2007, 7:33 AM

Originally Posted by Hibs4Ever

Celtic very lucky to go through and should've been out by half time from what I've been hearing/reading from media.

Really?

I saw Hesselink miss an easy header, McDonald miss a sitter and the Spartak penalty was really harsh. Yes, they missed chances too and Boruc played well but having a good keeper is part of the game.

As the second half progressed I thought Celtic had far more chances to win it.

I have to say that was the most entertaining game I've seen in ages. 2 teams committed to having a go & taking turns to attack. None of this cagey sit back and sneak a goal nonsense. Very little time wasting or nagging at the ref and all the crap stuff that's in the game these days.

Celtic had a good mix of strong players and skillful players. Spartak were a classic eastern European side, technically good, able to find angles that don't exist in our game and they broke with purpose and frightening speed at times.

Zurawski and Hesselink are toothless and aren't good enough in my opinion. I thought McDonald was poor but he's only settling in so jury is still out.

**Hibs4Ever** · 30/08/2007, 7:36 AM

I didn't see game Stuttgart88. Just said what I heard on radio on way into work.

**Stuttgart88** · 30/08/2007, 7:43 AM

I've just read the Times, Guardian & Independent. Times makes out Spartak were all over Celtic and, strangely, that the penalty call was correct. The others make it out as more balanced and that the missing the penalty was justice. All 3 papers said it was a gripping, thrilling and even crazy game that had absolutely everything.

In fairness to Celtic, this was an exceptionally tough draw for them and to get through is a great result for an SPL side.

**RogerMilla** · 30/08/2007, 8:19 AM

Originally Posted by Hibs4Ever

Just can't see past Bayern Munich for UEFA Cup

they are a bit restrictive at 4-1 though H4E , and if ribery gets injured they can whistle for it.

**Stuttgart88** · 30/08/2007, 8:23 AM

I was thinking the same about Spartak. It'll be interesting.

**geysir** · 30/08/2007, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by RogerMilla

thought mcgeady had one of his bets games ever last night , one of the times he trapped the ball and layed off was just a masterclass in skill, one hell of a game would have been gutting to go out in those circumstances, a couple of quid on spartak for the uefa i think...

I don't remember which lay off that was,
McGeady was trapping hail marys, settling the ball onto his big toe, all throughout the game.

Spartak played well, the sending off looked harsh, after that they shored up. It was a nice bit of skill by Hesselink. He could be a good bit sharper also he needs a better poacher beside him.

What has happened to Zurawski, in theory he would be grand to get on the end of a McGeady through pass or a Hesselink knock down.

**paul_oshea** · 30/08/2007, 12:31 PM

not into celtic really but great game in fairness, great to see the reaction afterwards by both players and fans. billy connolly was awful funny. always thought he was a motherwell fan, or maybe just joked about it

**Stuttgart88** · 30/08/2007, 12:42 PM

I thought McGeady was good in parts. Some great passes, great runs, good tackling back but he put in some very poor crosses and lost possession in a stupid place that, I think, led to Spartak's equaliser.

I'm excited by both Ireland and McGeady but both have weaknesses that their club sides can compensate for although I'm not sure the Irish team can fully.

More good big game experience for O'Dea. Didn't notice him much though.

I thought the Moscow bench looked like baddies from a Tin Tin cartoon.

**eirebhoy** · 30/08/2007, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Zurawski and Hesselink are toothless and aren't good enough in my opinion. I thought McDonald was poor but he's only settling in so jury is still out.

Vennegoor is going through a bad patch of form but you're very unfair on McDonald. The jury is completely in his favour so far. He was excellent in the away leg and again on Saturday against Hearts. As well as doing well in pre-season. He's won over the vast majority of fans. In fact, I really believe McDonald is the reason Strachan hasn't splashed out on a new striker. I doubt he was bought as first choice but according to Mark McGhee (who was living with Strachan this summer), Strachan couldn't stop talking about him.

As for McGeady, I was very impressed with him. I don't know what the commentators were so negative for. Those at the game thought he was excellent. I remember the commentators saying "it's just not his night" after about 20 minutes. There was plenty of end product from him.

**Stuttgart88** · 30/08/2007, 12:48 PM

I actually meant that in my mind the jury was out. Last night was my first time seeing him & he didn't impress but I'd heard that he'd been good previously. Probably here!

**eirebhoy** · 30/08/2007, 12:50 PM

Oh right. Get Setanta mate!

**Stuttgart88** · 30/08/2007, 1:01 PM

I'm going to. My missus owes me big time for hour after ***ing hour of Big Brother, Big Brother's Little Brother and all that goes with it.

Last night was BBC Scotland.

**paul_oshea** · 30/08/2007, 1:15 PM

I thought the Moscow bench looked like baddies from a Tin Tin cartoon.

My girlfriends flat mate, kept going "oh look its the polish plumber on the ball again!"

**geysir** · 30/08/2007, 1:17 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

billy connolly was awful funny. always thought he was a motherwell fan, or maybe just joked about it

I think the joke he told at least once was he always thought when growing up that the name of the local team was Patrick Thistle Nil.

It's a wee bit corny though, if its Rangers you get the PR camera shot of Sean Connery and if its Celtic, Billy C or that Faces singer.

**Hibs4Ever** · 30/08/2007, 1:31 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

I think the joke he told at least once was he always thought when growing up that the name of the local team was Patrick Thistle Nil.

It's a wee bit corny though, if its Rangers you get the PR camera shot of Sean Connery and if its Celtic, Billy C or that Faces singer.

Billy Connelly was a big Partick Thistle fan when he was growing up. When he became famous he changed to celtic. FACT