Football (Soccer to those across the pond)

[pyan]

Yes...but I would have thought he'd learnt his lesson. The authorities don't take kindly to sectarian gestures or other expressions of religious bigotry in football these days...

[Wybren]

You'd think, but if he is anything like the young footballers over here, he has more dollars than sense and dont learn a thing. Some league clubs over here have introduced Minders for their playes to make sure they dont get into trouble. Our Soccer players though, seem to be pretty well behaved since they introduced the A league to try stop the racial violence happening between clubs.

[pyan]

Originally Posted by Wybren

You'd think, but if he is anything like the young footballers over here, he has more dollars than sense and dont learn a thing.

I think 28 is a bit old to still be regarded as a young player, though...

[Wybren]

For our team it is not too old, we have older players (Craig Moore, Charlie Miller and Danny Tiatto are all in their 30's)

So we will see, I think football in general is cracking down on non acceptable behavior.

[Sephiroth]

I'm terribly sorry about Bob Malcolm, Wy. He's a tool (and watch you don't turn into the Huns Veterans, there, crikey!).

We were linked with him early in his career, but I'm very relieved that we didn't sign him. And he's not the type of player I'd want at United (either on or off the field). Still, I hope you have no bother with him.

Originally Posted by pyan

The authorities don't take kindly to sectarian gestures or other expressions of religious bigotry in football these days...

Would that this were true. There's certainly been a lot of lip service paid to sectarian problems up here, but unfortunately, very little else. Every time Rangers and Celtic fans come to Tannadice, we have to listen to their bile, both inside and outside the ground, and for all the talk of stamping it out, our authorities exist primarily to keep the Old Firm happy.

Until they start docking points and/or making them play behind closed doors, it will never change.




Oh, and Lenny, the guy Fletcher that you've signed is a reasonable prospect, but nothing to get excited about, I would say. He's not a prolific goalscorer, for one thing...and while he's one of the better young Scottish players, that isn't really saying much, considering the state of our youth development right now. I hope he can flourish in the Premiership, for the sake of the national team, but I have my doubts, and I don't envisage him being a mainstay of your team this coming season.

He'd be a good Championship player, without a doubt. But I wonder how he will cope against the defences of the better Premier teams.

[Wybren]

After reading about him, I am very surprised they signed him, to tell you the truth. I think they may have thought they a good'un in Charlie so they'd take a chance on this fella. Charlie one an award here last year too, Best international player or something like that.

[Sephiroth]

Yeah, but Charlie's got more ability in one toe than Bob Malcolm does in both feet. ^_^

Charlie could have been a top-notch player, if he'd had the right attitude when he was younger. For all his shortcomings, I always enjoyed watching him in tangerine, and by the time he'd joined us, his attitude was much better.

Bob Malcolm is a brute.

And Craig Moore is a far better defender than him.


Oh, and the Willie Wallace guy you were on about is a 'Lisbon Lion' (one of the Green Bigots' European Cup winning team from 1967), which is why they all have their knickers in a knot about him.

[Wybren]

Charlie is Awesome to watch, even when just returend from hernia surgery. He looks good in tangerine He says he is playing to win today, says he hates loosing to Celtic and is not planning on doing it today.

I wonder how much time Flood will be on the bench today...

Interestingly this match is called "Roar against Racism"

[Sephiroth]

"Roar against Racism, but Celtic Indifferent to Sectarianism."

Chas is still an Orc at heart, and I'm sure he'll be desperate to put one over on the team he hates.

And Flood must have a tough backside by now; hopefully he can give Zaluska some tips on removing splinters.............

[Wybren]

Bloody Turncoats!! They were in a good team and then they get blinded by the shiney and leave to warm benches.

Well from his interview it looks like he is very keen to kick butt, and I think Moore mentioned that he has a tendancy to lay the boot in occasionally too.

Interestingly though, even if minority of their supporters were to urinate in our bovrils, I dont think it would amount to anything as we are so appathetic to religion here it's not funny.

[Sephiroth]

Well, 'the shiney' IS football these days, much to my chagrin. I wish I wasn't *just* old enough to remember when it wasn't the be-all and end-all, and then I wouldn't be so down about it. But it has contributed to the stock of my beloved Terrors falling from European contenders to also-rans in a diddy league. Grrrrr!


I suppose you're right. Most Australians might not even get the references in their songs.

I wouldn't have thought there will be that many of them, anyway. Some ex-pats and some hangers-on, but that'll be about it.........

Think yourself lucky. You do NOT want to see what it's like here after we play them (or before, for that matter), and the same goes for the other lot.

[Wybren]

Yes, it is pretty sad, we have that problem with the league over here. Soccer doesn't have such a problem as most of the players in the ALeague are just stoked to still be able to play for a paycheck I think.

Yeah, Most Aussies either wouldn't know what they are on about or know but dont care.

From the boards there are quite a few local Celtic supporters, and I think there are a few coming from Glasgow to see the match, but they have put in some rules for the supporters - Only the team flags and the Aussie, Scottish and Irish flags are welcome, no offensive or derogatory banners etc.

I take it I should plan the trip to Dundee for when United are playing Motherwell or Aberdeen then?

[pyan]

Hang on a year or two, and you might see them playing Ace's Jags...

[Wybren]

Hmm so If that happens Ace would be really happy cause they got bumped up a league

[Sephiroth]

*waggles finger at Py*

Been there, done that. Not keen on revisiting Firhill, thanks. Unless they get promoted, of course -- maybe that was what you meant?


I'm glad you've given them rules, Wy...but don't expect them to obey! As for the Irish flag nonsense, that's part of the problem right there, although you can't exactly stop them from doing it. It's done purely to antagonise the opposition, though (as is the case with the Orcs and their Northern Irish flags).

To be honest, there's a 'good' atmosphere at the OF games, because we hate them both every bit as much as they hate each other (but it's a healthy hate, not a poisonous, bigoted hate... ), and there's always a big crowd. Otherwise, I would say Aberdeen, or perhaps Hearts. Hibs at a push. And the Dundee derby more than anything, despite them being a lesser team in a lower league (as usual).

Who are Motherwell, exactly? ;p