Football (Soccer to those across the pond)

[alchemist]

Originally Posted by mosaix

Wouldn't it be good for the third?

Depends...

[The Ace]

Boyle's a ************, but he has a point. Both sets of fans are even worse than him.

Rangers should go into the Third, though, because that's what happens to, 'New,' teams - by the rules they helped to draft.

I just wish they'd take Celtic with them.

[nixie]

Now, now Ace, when we nearly went to the wall a little guy called Fergus McCann saved us. So we are entitled to stay up

Not our fault that those who supposedly care for Rangers didn't put their hands in their pocket.

Seriously they had to to the third, it was the only fair decision. The only thing that worries me is SKY will no longer show Scottish football losing the game revenue and I'll have to watch Celtic online missing half the game as it keeps freezing.

[The Ace]

If Sky show that much bias, we're better off without them anyway.

Just about any media seem to think that the entire Scottish game is Celtic and Rangers. I pay my cable subscription too, and when was a Jags match that didn't involve the Bigot Brothers ever televised ?

What really annoys me is that every back page (and not a few front pages) can talk of nothing else.

When Airdrie went bust, became Airdrie United and were readmitted to the Third, it went largely unreported. The collapse of a football team - even Rangers - isn't the end of the world, and it's about time people started to realise it.

[nixie]

I agree, and have said in the past doesn't matter who they are all teams should be treated the same.

As for Jags, I used to watch all their home games for free as a child. my granny lived about 10 minutes away from Firhill and us kids discovered if we sat on the canal bank we had brilliant view of the games.

[The Ace]

I move for the public execution of any journalist who mentions Rangers in the next month.

[The Ace]

On a lighter note, Scotland is showing just how it feels about a UK team at the Olympics. Hampden is the only venue where they're giving tickets away - after the handouts to schools comes this;

[Aun Doorback]

Hi all,

Just finished reading 'Richer Than God' by David Conn and I recommend it to all football fans. Although it centres on the ups and downs of Manchester City, it also provides an intelligent commentry of how English football has changed so drastically from the days of the people clubs to the modern era, the sky deal, which saw the FA wimp out, and of course the trading of clubs for profit. whether you be a United fan or Chesterfield, its a must read! Cheers

[mosaix]

Charity Shield - Chelsea 2 - 3 Manchester City

It's good to be back going to matches again.

City had the best of the possession for the first half with Nasri, Tevez and Aguero causing problems for Chelsea but it was Torres who scored first, putting Chelsea ahead. I suppose you don't get to be European Champions without learning to absorb pressure and take your chances when they come.

But it was the sending off of Ivanovic shortly before half time that swung the game in City's favour. I thought, as did most of the City fans around me, that the red card was harsh on Chelsea and I haven't seen any replays so I'll just have to say that I felt uncomfortable with Chelsea going down to ten men.

But that's not going to stop me saying that City scored three excellent goals shortly after the start of the second half. Toure, Tevez and Nasri each scored top quality goals.

Credit to Chelsea for not giving up and Bertrand (a new signing?) scored after Pantilimon failed to hold onto a low shot. Any minute I was expecting Drogba to come on and score a couple to give the result to Chelsea but, inexplicably, he's gone - a loss to the Prem.

We lost this game 2 - 3 to United last season and I thought we didn't play particularly well that day but went on to win the Prem. It was before we'd signed Aguero who, for me, was the missing link up front. He works so hard and today played well alongside Tevez.

Tevez looked happy, during and after the match. Let's hope he stays that way because he and Aguero could be a potent strike force this season.

[Ursa major]

Originally Posted by mosaix

But it was the sending off of Ivanovic shortly before half time that swung the game in City's favour. I thought, as did most of the City fans around me, that the red card was harsh on Chelsea and I haven't seen any replays so I'll just have to say that I felt uncomfortable with Chelsea going down to ten men.

That was the only bit of the match I saw. (I was mostly watching the Olympics, so the foul must have occurred between bouts in the boxing.)

At normal speed, the foul didn't look at all bad, but in slow motion, Ivanovic's foot could be seen to be high, and he seemed to catch the City player on the shin with the bottom of his boot. Given that, a red card was a always a possibility, depending on how well the ref was sighted. (Unfortunately for Ivanovic, the ref must have had a good view of the incident.)

[Venusian Broon]

Originally Posted by The Ace

I move for the public execution of any journalist who mentions Rangers in the next month.

But I'm very happy at the moment because at least for one week my team, the mighty bully wee are above Gers in the league. It's been, well at least half a century since that last happened. I think.

(That will soon change of course - but especially after the past two seasons I need all the positives I can get to grind enjoyment out of Clyde's predicament.)

[pyan]

I bet I'm looking forward to next Sunday more than you are, Mosaix. No-one really thinks my Saints will win - but if they do, they've beaten the champions, and if they don't, well, it is our first Premiership match for 7 years...

[mosaix]

Originally Posted by pyan

I bet I'm looking forward to next Sunday more than you are, Mosaix. No-one really thinks my Saints will win - but if they do, they've beaten the champions, and if they don't, well, it is our first Premiership match for 7 years...

The last time I saw City play Southampton was a cup tie, I think. I seem to remember we won 1 - 0. The only remaining City player from that squad is probably Micah Richards.

I'm looking forward both to the match and the start of the season. I always enjoy City playing the promoted teams because they play with a freshness and vitality - just look at how Norwich and Swansea played last season.

I hope we win, it'll be good to start off with three points but I hope Southampton stay up, Pye. Every season there are only ever the same three teams I want to get relegated - who they are will have to stay a secret.

[pyan]

Originally Posted by mosaix

Every season there are only ever the same three teams I want to get relegated - who they are will have to stay a secret.

I could probably guess two of them correctly, but not three - and anyway, all footy fans seem to have an irrational and unexplainable antipathy to at least one other team. One of mine is Tranmere Rovers - yes, they tonked us in a cup-tie years ago, but for some reason I still look out to hope they've lost...



Good start for the Jags, Ace! - and the 'Gers held to a draw by The Blue Toon..

[mosaix]

Originally Posted by pyan

I could probably guess two of them correctly, but not three

Actually, Py, I think you'd be surprised.