SPL Discussion Thread

**OwlsFan** · 05/11/2008, 11:32 AM

I wonder how important that last minute goal for the Gers last night will be at the end of the season?

**Junior** · 06/11/2008, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by DolansWaistcoat

Good to see Roy O'Donovan get on for Dundee utd and score his first goal for the club in the 2 nil win over st mirren.Hopefully he'll start for them against dunfermline in the cup on tues night.

Did he not get sent off as well and suspended for the Rangers game?

**Junior** · 06/11/2008, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

I wonder how important that last minute goal for the Gers last night will be at the end of the season?

The thing with Rangers (and Celtic for that matter) is that there will be numerous last minute winners/equalisers for both sides over the course of the season - there always is (a fitness thing) they all make a difference!!

**ArdeeBhoy** · 28/12/2008, 1:17 AM

Might one say, er, a Ha?

**Poor Student** · 28/12/2008, 10:15 AM

I can't believe the ground staff saw it fit to pour cold water on a freezing pitch. The conditions messed up the first half making it impossible to dribble or pass.

Rangers were seriously bereft of ideas or inventiveness in a game in which they enjoyed some long spells in possession. In fairness, Hartley, Brown, Robson and the centre halves did well to obstruct Rangers and make it difficult for them but Rangers had a big opportunity with Celtic being totally blunted through the loss of Nakamura, Maloney, Crosas, Donati and McGeady's suspension, not to mention JVOH's barely being available for the bench and Samaras' loss of form. McDonald had his best game since Celtic's 3-2 derby win last year. Excellent striker's goal, he also held the ball well and harassed Rangers' defence and midfield throughout.

Celtic can't afford to be complacent though. Rangers let slip a better lead than this last year.

**OwlsFan** · 07/01/2009, 10:09 AM

Just read that Rangers are �30 million in debt and may have to sell some of their better players (Birmingham have bid for Boyd and Newcastle are interested in Ferguson and ex-Wednesday player Bougherra) and that Murray wants to sell his 90% stake in the club. Chill wind blowing through Ibrox.

**old git** · 07/01/2009, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Just read that Rangers are �30 million in debt and may have to sell some of their better players (Birmingham have bid for Boyd and Newcastle are interested in Ferguson and ex-Wednesday player Bougherra) and that Murray wants to sell his 90% stake in the club. Chill wind blowing through Ibrox.

according to birmingham city statement deal for boyd already done just waiting to clubs to agree on final price.. would be a big blow for them to lose their better players and it may also unsettle some more
chill wind blowing indeed .. but i'm sure the green & white half of glasgow must be happy if above true

**tetsujin1979** · 07/01/2009, 4:17 PM

apparently, a percentage of the fee for Boyd will go to Kilmarnock as part of the sell on clause in his contract

**eirebhoy** · 07/01/2009, 5:50 PM

I'm one of the few that thinks Boyd would score plenty in the premiership. You can't teach the goalscoring instincts he has. There's a lot less risk in buying an outstanding SPL goalscorer than there is in buying a similar player in Holland yet they go for huge amounts.

**Poor Student** · 07/01/2009, 6:00 PM

Murray has been trying to sell Rangers for a few years but no one wants to touch them with a bargepole. He's farmed out a lot of secondary income from RFC to other parts of his business empire and flogged off their merchandising to JJB Sports. All that has made them an even less attractive investment option. The gross overspending in the Dick Advocaat era and their subsequent lack of success since, only winning two of the last eight titles by a narrow margin, has seen them crippled financially. That's even taking into account a �50m rights issue underwritten by Murray invested in the club a few years ago.

**JerseyRed** · 07/01/2009, 6:02 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

apparently, a percentage of the fee for Boyd will go to Kilmarnock as part of the sell on clause in his contract

Aye, they get 20%.

**superfrank** · 07/01/2009, 7:10 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

There's a lot less risk in buying an outstanding SPL goalscorer than there is in buying a similar player in Holland yet they go for huge amounts.

It's too early to judge Huntelaar at Real but it can't be said that Afonso Alves has lit the Premiership alight since joining Middlesbrough. I was impressed with what I saw of him at Heerenveen but you only get glimpses of that now at Boro.

I agree that Boyd is a cracking striker. It's a shame he doesn't get more time on the pitch for both Rangers and Scotland cos he's just a natural finisher.

Then again, Gary O'Connor doesn't seem to have reached the form for Birmingham (in either division) that he had at Hibs.

**OwlsFan** · 19/01/2009, 9:33 AM

Celtic ship 4 again and the lead is down to 2 points. Didn't see the game but do they have major problems at the back. Hope O'Dea wasn't playing

**old git** · 19/01/2009, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Celtic ship 4 again and the lead is down to 2 points. Didn't see the game but do they have major problems at the back. Hope O'Dea wasn't playing

great game to watch .. aberdeen were up for this one .. when celtic equalised for 2-2 70 min you could only see them winning got caught out with 2 set pieces withing 6 mins .. could also all 4 goals were bad defending terrible defending for last 2 goals .. but also celtic had enough chances to score 4 as well ... only hope aberdeen give the same performance against rangers next saturday morning ..

**OwlsFan** · 29/01/2009, 8:57 AM

Saw the penalty shoot out last night. Hard to hope Celtic lose with the huge tricolour visible in the stand but really felt for Dundee United, especially their captain who was devasted when he missed one and Willo Flood who missed No. 12. I am sure there will be conspiracy theories that he did it deliberately but that would be bunkum. Amazing the number of time Boric went the wrong way (approx 90%).

Where was McGeady? Did he get injured as I know he started but I had to turn away for a while and when I came back he was gone?

**old git** · 29/01/2009, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Saw the penalty shoot out last night. Hard to hope Celtic lose with the huge tricolour visible in the stand but really felt for Dundee United, especially their captain who was devasted when he missed one and Willo Flood who missed No. 12. I am sure there will be conspiracy theories that he did it deliberately but that would be bunkum. Amazing the number of time Boric went the wrong way (approx 90%).

Where was McGeady? Did he get injured as I know he started but I had to turn away for a while and when I came back he was gone?

mc geady taken of late in game ... poor game he was having hardly involved at all and when he got ball crowed out or lost possesion easily like a lot of other celtic players .. i'm a celtic fan and felt sorry for dundee as well they gave it everything over 12o mins..

both keepers went the wrong way amazing number of times but then again it is a bit of a lottery .. must admit boruc fairly planted his penalty in top corner.. : it was some shoot -0ut .

**Hibs4Ever** · 30/01/2009, 7:08 AM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Saw the penalty shoot out last night. Hard to hope Celtic lose with the huge tricolour visible in the stand

So if I brought a huge tricolour to a Sheffield Utd match you'd want them to win.....

**OwlsFan** · 30/01/2009, 9:24 AM

Originally Posted by Hibs4Ever

So if I brought a huge tricolour to a Sheffield Utd match you'd want them to win.....

Not sure they have much of an Irish tradition! Speaking of which, is Hibs' (their name apart) Irish heritage a thing of the distant past?

I see the harp is still in their club crest:

**OwlsFan** · 23/02/2009, 9:19 AM

This must be one of the worst scoring runs Celtic have been on for a long time. Finding it very difficult to find the back of the net. Advantage Rangers.