SPL Discussion Thread

**DmanDmythDledge** · 06/12/2006, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by Hibs4Ever

Levin named manager of month

John Collins never lost a game with Hibs playing some superb football. Strachens team won every league game and qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League.

Dundee United losy to bottom of the table Dunfirmline.

So Craig Levein was an obvious choice

That is an absolute joke! How are the winners chosen?

**eirebhoy** · 10/12/2006, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

but the reason I like him is probably the same reason Andy Reid is now my favourite player. They're passing ability and intelligience.

Here's an extract from the Sunday Times just to back up my point on Naka's intelligence:
“We’ve not had enough time to work with the players because of the midweek matches, and also the weather’s restricted us on the training field. Seriously, it also depends on the intelligence of the players, I only have to tell (Shunsuke) Nakamura once and he picks it up.” Smiling, the manager refused to elaborate on the slower members of his squad.

It really shows up the Scottish media tbh. RTE and Sky pundits all reckon Naka is Celtic's best player. Ruud Gullit and Jamie Redknapp rave about him every week. Brady called him a genius after the Benfica game. He has got more praise in a couple of months from pundits outside of Scotland than he has from Scottish pundits since he joined Celtic.

I'd be worried if you don't appreciate Naka's class.

**geysir** · 13/12/2006, 2:03 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

I'd be worried if you don't appreciate Naka's class.

Your devotion to all things Naka has got you to the stage where you are now talking to yourself

**drinkfeckarse** · 13/12/2006, 2:23 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Your devotion to all things Naka has got you to the stage where you are now talking to yourself

**eirebhoy** · 14/12/2006, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by geysir

Your devotion to all things Naka has got you to the stage where you are now talking to yourself

One of the most intelligient players in the world imo.

He could play blind folded.

Actually on that point. On Sunday he had the ball in midfield and passed it out wide without looking expecting Wilson to be there but he wasn't. 10 minutes later he did the exact same thing and Wilson ran onto it. At least he didn't feel he had to look around the 2nd time.

It'd be fantastic if he learnt the English language.

He deserves to have definitely 2, maybe 3, SPL player of the month awards in his time at Celtic but has none. I just find that a bit strange. The media don't give him half the credit he deserves. At least Celtic fans recognise his talent.

1, Nakamura 32
2, McGeady 31 (latest MOTM)
3, Naylor 17
4, Miller 10
5, Boruc 9
6, JVoH 6
(-) Gravesen 6
(-) Lennon 6
(-) McManus 6
(-) Sno 6
11, Telfer 5
12, Wilson 4
13, Jarosik 3
(-) Riordan 3
15, Beattie 2
(-) Maloney 2
(-) Pearson 2
(-) Petrov 2
(-) Zurawski 2
20, Caldwell 1
(-) O'Dea 1 (New Entry)

Actually, Owlsfan should look at that and see how poor Maloney has been this season compared to last.

**osarusan** · 17/12/2006, 4:31 AM

Did anybody see McGeady and Lennon having a shoving match after the final whistle at Dunfermline? Seperated by other Celtic and Dunfermline players.
What was it all about?

**eirebhoy** · 28/12/2006, 3:35 PM

Naka's clips from Tuesday's match:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RA03Oxs4WE

He said he saw a chip like that on Youtube and wanted to try it out himself, seriously.

**RogerMilla** · 28/12/2006, 4:20 PM

time to get him watching all the nike ads then !!

**eirebhoy** · 30/12/2006, 12:23 PM

Half time at Fir Park and finally Setanta viewers are getting to see Naka at his best. He's still getting the usual battering though.

**eirebhoy** · 01/01/2007, 3:02 PM

Just announced that Barry Ferguson is transfer listed and has most likely played his last game under Le Guen.

**drinkfeckarse** · 02/01/2007, 12:07 PM

I don't think he's officially been transfer listed but they have had a huge falling out.

Rangers official statement says that PLG has chosen to drop him for todays game against Motherwell and installed Gavin Rae as captain. Some reports are saying he has been installed as the official club captain while others are suggesting it's just for todays game.

Ferguson has been riled by PLG in the past few weeks and this has been coming. I think this might be one occasion though where the manager might go before the player. The fans see Ferguson as one of the only one's currently showing the grit and skill required to help Rangers out of their predicament.

Considering how poor they have been under Le Guen and the fact that a lot of the fans are disallusioned with him, this might just be the straw that broke the camels back.

**drinkfeckarse** · 04/01/2007, 1:53 PM

.....as I predicted in the SPL thread after the Barry Ferguson fallout.

**drinkfeckarse** · 04/01/2007, 2:07 PM

Actually I wouldn't be surprised if Le Guen had engineered all this himself to give him an easy exit in order to take up the PSG job.

**joeSoap** · 04/01/2007, 2:10 PM

possible, but what manager wants to work for a club where he can be easily undermined by a player and dictated to by fans?

The Rangers board have been spineless on this one. They obviously believed LeGuen was the man for the job, yet have been dictated to mob rule and a scumbag of a player.

By this rationale, the next Rangers gaffer will be chosen by Barry Ferguson and the fans, not the board.

**drinkfeckarse** · 04/01/2007, 2:42 PM

There is that way of looking at it Joe but I honestly think it was a dangerous move by him regardless.

I think it's very obvious that he under rated the Scottish League and has been badly shown up for it. He signed below par foreign players and tended to discourage battling qualities which in this instance, was exactly what Rangers required.

By doing that to the one player the Rangers fans felt was trying, was either brave (or stupid depending which way you look at it) or clever. It's anybody's guess as to whether it was a ploy.

It's fair to say that not many people abroad will follow the Scottish league so if he left now, then he could always use "the players undermined me and didn't follow orders etc" line and he would still have his reputation relatively intact.

**galwayhoop** · 04/01/2007, 3:07 PM

i think he was just waiting to get rangers back to second place in a two horse race before leaving.

**Pauro 76** · 04/01/2007, 3:38 PM

Weird goings-on with captains in the SPL. Steven Pressley being ousted, Barry Ferguson and Neil Lennon rowing with his own players!

**pete** · 04/01/2007, 3:41 PM

Could be difficult for Rangers to attract good foreign manager when one player can dictate to the club like that.

**renovater** · 04/01/2007, 6:40 PM

just goes to show old favourite Barry ferguson has player power on his side which in fact has the club where it is today. second best. lets not use the Paul le guen as the scape goat.
the manager must always have the right to manage even it means when some players are under performing.
Any how the new man will sort him out one way or another.

**eirebhoy** · 10/01/2007, 10:52 AM

Naka play vs Killie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFlRWpiGoys

8 goals and 15 assists this season. I can only imagine how many assists he'd have if we had a really top striker.

Most of Zurawski's goals were set up by Naka.