Scottish Football Season 2010-2011

[Ray Nolan]

No better time to kick off the Scottish Football thread for season 2010-2011 with Celtic crashing out of the Champions League at the first hurdle against the might of Sporting Braga 4-2 on aggregate.

Hopefully there's plenty more of that to come this season!

 

[Duncan Disorderly]

I think the performance of Scottish clubs in Europe in general has been terrible so far, except for Motherwell.

I can't see Rangers doing great things either.

The uefa co-efficient will be taking a hammering and over the past few seasons the european places over this time have been handled in the wrong fashion. Clubs like Gretna, Queen of the South and Falkirk should never have had a uefa cup spot simply for being runners up in domestic cups.

The league is so poor in terms of Scottish players compared to the eighties and I hope Craig Levein's overhaul of youth development fixes this.

I expect the SPL to be more boring this season than it has been in the past few years with Celtic to walk all over Rangers unless the latter fixes their lack of squad numbers ASAP.

I hope the SFA has a good look at expanding the number of teams in the competition because I don't think there is much of a gap between teams like St Johnstone and Dundee/Falkirk/Ross County/Dunfirmline.

 

[moomba]

I hope the SFA has a good look at expanding the number of teams in the competition because I don't think there is much of a gap between teams like St Johnstone and Dundee/Falkirk/Ross County/Dunfirmline.

I think theres a fair argument to be made for going the other way and reducing the number of teams, theres just too much crap in the top league and that can't help those sides that do make it to Europe.

 

[Mr_Bojangles]

This might be because of the World Cup just being two months ago but I really can't be arsed with the new SPL season at the moment. Both Celtic and Rangers are shit and will be exposed in Europe and a majority of the other clubs in the top flight are just dross. Even both sets of fans are hardly getting excited about Old Firm games now which are nothing like the end to end derbys of even 5 years ago. Just having a whinge, might be because of the crapness of Celtic, might be because the league has been dying a slow death and it's time for the big clubs to go to England or form an Atlantic League to arrest the massive slide.

 

[bullish23]

This might be because of the World Cup just being two months ago but I really can't be arsed with the new SPL season at the moment. Both Celtic and Rangers are shit and will be exposed in Europe and a majority of the other clubs in the top flight are just dross. Even both sets of fans are hardly getting excited about Old Firm games now which are nothing like the end to end derbys of even 5 years ago. Just having a whinge, might be because of the crapness of Celtic, might be because the league has been dying a slow death and it's time for the big clubs to go to England or form an Atlantic League to arrest the massive slide.

Exactly how I feel as well. Sad its gone this way.

The Australian election also has the same feel to it.

 

[Deledinho]

Old Firm being shithouse is exactly why I'm looking forward to this season. They're vulnerable and it makes things interesting for the rest of us. Not only that, we've had our most normal close season since Vlad took over and are starting to look like a proper club again. I still think they'll finish 1st and 2nd but hopefully if all goes well we can give them a decent shake. I might be getting a bit ahead of myself, but I'm happy with the signings (other than Paul Hartley going to Aberdeen rather than back to us) and we have some stability about us, so we'll see.

Oh and before I forget, Hibs out of Europe before the league's even started.

 

[Duncan Disorderly]

I think theres a fair argument to be made for going the other way and reducing the number of teams, theres just too much crap in the top league and that can't help those sides that do make it to Europe.

These days I think there is always going to be crap in the top league in Scotland until there is reform at academy level.

There also needs to be a re-think about how european spots are allocated. The cup runners up shouldn't get an automatic european place, it should go to next best in the league IMO. This would solve some of the issues about poor quality teams getting in the top division.

My arguement to increase the number of teams in the top division is more about making the league more interesting by spicing it up a bit.

 

[Ray Nolan]

I would like to see the SPL extended to 16 teams, it suffers from the same problem as the A-League in that the teams play each other too often. Clubs like Falkirk, Dundee, Partick Thistle and Dunfermline are certainly not out of place at SPL level, I think having clubs like these there would certainly create more interest.

Nice to see that Rangers have finally signed someone after 2 years, I think James Beattie should do well at this level and is a good replacement for Boyd. I fancy him to do better against the top 6 clubs than Boyd as he'll put in a helluva lot more work than Boyd did.

First Round of games kicks off shortly:

Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Celtic
Rangers v Kilmarnock
Aberdeen v Hamilton Academicals
Hearts v St. Johnstone
St. Mirren v Dundee United

Sun
Motherwell v Hibernian

 

[Ray Nolan]

Inverness CT 0-1 Celtic

Cracking goal from Northern Ireland's ( ) Paddy McCourt to win it and then he injured himself colliding with Shaun Maloney in the process.

Police reports should make for some interesting reading after the game though given the disgraceful carry on by the Celtic support for large parts of the game.

I'm sure the press will have the brooms out though, sweep, sweep!

 

[robbieando]

This might be because of the World Cup just being two months ago but I really can't be arsed with the new SPL season at the moment. Both Celtic and Rangers are shit and will be exposed in Europe and a majority of the other clubs in the top flight are just dross. Even both sets of fans are hardly getting excited about Old Firm games now which are nothing like the end to end derbys of even 5 years ago. Just having a whinge, might be because of the crapness of Celtic, might be because the league has been dying a slow death and it's time for the big clubs to go to England or form an Atlantic League to arrest the massive slide.

Replace "crapness of Celtic" with "not much above crapness of Rangers" and the above basically sums up my feelings on the whole League. What went on money wise at the turn of the century is biting us back on the arse and its really no surprise to see us become a selling club regardless of our position. The League isn't worth playing in.

Well back to the grind Rangers beat Killie 2-1 at home

 

[Deledinho]

Typical Hearts game. Disallowed goal, Saints down to 10 men, dominate play and it still finishes 1-1. Not the end of the world, a point's a point I guess.

 

[Port85]

Great goal by P.McCourt.

Watched Rangers vs Kilmarnock. Was an ok start to the season, nothing particularly noteworthy. Naismith played in the middle with the absence of Davis, which was a surprise. Did a decent job, took his goal well. Beattie looked lively in the first half, forced a good save from the Killie keeper Bell, should scored in the 2nd half.

 

[Ray Nolan]

Thought it was an OK performance for Rangers on the opening day. Davis missing certainly stifled the creativity from midfield, apparently he picked up a bug when away with Northern Ireland in Montenegro in midweek. Beattie did OK given he looked considerably underdone, needs some games and training under his belt. He should've bagged that one on one, when he's match sharp he'll put those away. Lafferty had a good game, especially as he's being played out of position on the left. The main worry is the lack of depth on the bench, we really need to make a couple more signings before the window shuts. I can't see Jelavic or Smith coming at this rate either.

 

[Mr_Bojangles]

Great goal by P.McCourt.

Watched Rangers vs Kilmarnock. Was an ok start to the season, nothing particularly noteworthy. Naismith played in the middle with the absence of Davis, which was a surprise. Did a decent job, took his goal well. Beattie looked lively in the first half, forced a good save from the Killie keeper Bell, should scored in the 2nd half.

He's a great player, he just needs to give up the smokes (allegedly) and he might last more than 60 minutes. Maloney also looked like someone who wasn't completely crocked too which was a nice change.

Police reports should make for some interesting reading after the game though given the disgraceful carry on by the Celtic support for large parts of the game.

I'm sure the press will have the brooms out though, sweep, sweep!

Yes...it's all Timmy's fault..

 

[Ray Nolan]

Yes...it's all Timmy's fault..

I note there was nothing in the papers, Provo songs for most of the game yet not a mention.

Rangers fans sing The Billy Boys up there on the first day of the season a couple of years back and it's all over the papers and people are arrested.

The double standards are breathtaking, and all this on the same day where the Celtic fans heroes' injured 3 young children with a no warning bomb in Lurgan.

Classy.

Great goal from Paddy McCourt though, I would love to see him hit that type of form for Northern Ireland, if fit, he's got to be a certainty for Euro Qualifiers if he keeps that up.

 

[robbieando]

Great goal by P.McCourt.

Agreed.

Watched Rangers vs Kilmarnock. Was an ok start to the season, nothing particularly noteworthy. Naismith played in the middle with the absence of Davis, which was a surprise. Did a decent job, took his goal well. Beattie looked lively in the first half, forced a good save from the Killie keeper Bell, should scored in the 2nd half.

Beattie fit in the side well and we just kept on rolling. Certainly don't expect to run away with the League this season, but its going to be a battle if he don't get another Central Defender in to cope with injuries. McGregor has just become our most important player.

 

[Ray Nolan]

Beattie fit in the side well and we just kept on rolling. Certainly don't expect to run away with the League this season, but its going to be a battle if he don't get another Central Defender in to cope with injuries. McGregor has just become our most important player.

I think another central defender is vital as well but it's concerning for me that we're not hearing a lot of talk about anyone for that position - maybe Yohan Benalouane but that seems to have gone a bit quiet lately. I think we really need a winger, particularly down the left. Lafferty is servicable there but much better as a centre forward and for me not a long term option. Beattie will be better once he gets some fitness under his belt and match practice. Hopefully he and Miller can hit it off. I'm not holding out much hope for Jelavic coming, he seems to be after as much cash as he get out of Rapid which given we've offered him 5 times his wage is a bit galling!

 

[belfast_bomber]

Police reports should make for some interesting reading after the game though given the disgraceful carry on by the Celtic support for large parts of the game.

What, you actually do wish your right back was Cha Du-Ri?

 

[Port85]

I think another central defender is vital as well but it's concerning for me that we're not hearing a lot of talk about anyone for that position - maybe Yohan Benalouane but that seems to have gone a bit quiet lately. I think we really need a winger, particularly down the left. Lafferty is servicable there but much better as a centre forward and for me not a long term option. Beattie will be better once he gets some fitness under his belt and match practice. Hopefully he and Miller can hit it off. I'm not holding out much hope for Jelavic coming, he seems to be after as much cash as he get out of Rapid which given we've offered him 5 times his wage is a bit galling!

On Jelavic, he strikes me as a bit of a mercenary **** to be honest. He's not even that good, otherwise he'd have a lot of EPL interest.

On the defence, Weir's (and I love him don't get me wrong) lack of pace means we are defending much deeper than we should be every game. This is probably survivable in the SPL but it Weir is in the Champions League be prepared for more 4-1 type losses.

We definitely need pace out wide to improve our play in the SPL and almost certainly need a defender to help our CL campaign. Winning the SPL should remain the priority though.

 

[jmothecat]

Tell every hun you know, We're at the top of the league and you're no!

Great game on Saturday, Aberdeen actually have a midfield again, and what a difference it makes. Aluko and Pawlett were absolutely awesome and with Hartley in the middle it rounded off a brilliant midfield. Magennis really impressed me up front, looked like Lee Miller but with pace and without the laziness. Folly managed to break up play easily and Howard looks like he could be genuine competition with Langfield for the keeper's jersey. Hamilton tbh looked absolutely shocking and I think we'll get a real test in Perth on Saturday but a great start to the season from a dons perspective. I really hope it doesn't turn sour.

 

[Mr_Bojangles]

Tell every hun you know, We're at the top of the league and you're no!

Great game on Saturday, Aberdeen actually have a midfield again, and what a difference it makes. Aluko and Pawlett were absolutely awesome and with Hartley in the middle it rounded off a brilliant midfield. Magennis really impressed me up front, looked like Lee Miller but with pace and without the laziness. Folly managed to break up play easily and Howard looks like he could be genuine competition with Langfield for the keeper's jersey. Hamilton tbh looked absolutely shocking and I think we'll get a real test in Perth on Saturday but a great start to the season from a dons perspective. I really hope it doesn't turn sour.

In one game for Aberdeen Hartley has equalled his goal scoring efforts for Celtic (3). It only took him 62 games with Celtic.

 

[robbieando]

In one game for Aberdeen Hartley has equalled his goal scoring efforts for Celtic (3). It only took him 62 games with Celtic.

Yeah how many Penalties did he ever take for you?

 

[Deledinho]

I didn't know Sir Paul scored a hat-trick. Why the **** did we not sign him?

 

[jmothecat]

I didn't know Sir Paul scored a hat-trick. Why the **** did we not sign him?

Romanov.

He was only on the pitch for 65 minutes as well. I'm somewhat surprised Aberdeen got three penalties, though I think all three were stone-wallers. Have no idea what was going through the Hamilton defender's head at the time. The first one Aluko was going nowhere and the defender tripped him up. Second one was the only clear chance where Aluko again was about to shoot when he was grabbed and pulled back. Third one Maguire (I think it was Maguire) was running through the box at an impossible angle to the goal and he got taken out. If I were a Hamilton fan I'd be annoyed as the only one of those that would have likely lead to a goal was the second one.

Impressed to see all three penalties converted with ease.

 

[Mr_Bojangles]

Yeah how many Penalties did he ever take for you?

True. Playing a defensive role more than behind the two strikers (when Strachan actually played 2) was another one of WGS's 'quirks'.

Hinkel out for the season He was on his way out by the looks of it anyway I guess.