i would welcome the old firm to join the premiership, as they could generate some serious money to spend on world class players, rangers took 250,000 fans to the uefa cup final, the largest movement of fans anywhere in the world, we,re certainly big enough, but i can't see it happening, the logistics , and the policing would be a nightmare.

100,000...the numbers were grossly over exaggerated.

I'm undecided about it. The idea of Celtic and Rangers playing in the English Premier is appealing, but they would both have to start at the bottom and work their way up.
As for the policing I don't see a problem with United v. Celtic.
Celtic fans have been visiting Old Trafford for decades and without any violence.
In fact the relationship between the two sets of fans is cordial to say the least.
Don't even ask about the reception Rangers would get the next time they visit Manchester.

If it was up to me...I'd say no. Not because of the potential for trouble, but simply because it would be unfair to the clubs who have been building for years to break into the top places.
Clubs with less revenue than Celtic and Rangers. Clubs like, Villa, Spurs, Everton etc. There inclusion would have the potential to ruin these clubs.
Celtic and Rangers would suffer too because if they think they'll break into the top 4 and qualify for Europe...think again!

If the Old Firm join the Premiership, doesn't that pretty much sound the death knell for professional football in Scotland?

I couldn't realistically see logistics or policing being a problem over the course of a season.

the biggest sporting event in scotland,(rangers- celtic) is played on a sunday morning at 12.30, this is at the behest of the police, nope can't see it, it's actually bores me now, as when there's no column inches to fill the back pages, this gets wheeled out.

well didn't think so, here's what you will be missing, what other team do you know that has it's own supporters bands, nearly every rangers supporters club in scotland has members in bands...

I've never really understood why Rangers & Celtic dominate scottish football so much.

I know Dundee Utd & Aberdeen came close in the 80s but why are Hearts & Hibs not challenging? Edinburgh is a pretty decent size city you'd think it would be able to support a couple of reasonably successful football teams or at least one.

A bit hypocritical here. ^
You post a vid complaining about Celtic fans chanting sectarian songs and follow it up with a vid of a Rangers fans flute band.

"Hello, hello. We are the Billy boys.
Hello. hello. You'll know us by our noise.
We're up to our knees in Fenian blood,
Surrender, or you'll die.
We will follow King Billy"

References to the Battle of the Boyne and killing catholics is a shade hypocritical dontchathink?

the battle of the boyne was between catholics and protestants, which the catholics out numbered the protestants 4-1, a couple of tactical blunders resulted in protestants winning, the song derives from there, the catholics where there to kill protestants as well, but for celtic not to respect one minute for men who gave there all was sickening, they are anti british, don't really see them selves as scottish, so they cling to this ****ing idea the irish they are the gypsy kurds of europe





http://www.musicbanter.com/members/g...qe5kid9da3.bmp

Have you any idea how bigoted you sound?

just another day in glasgow, keeping it real,

So any ideas what team Capello will field today? I'd like to see Bent start but it's hard to know what part he's gonna play in his plans and whether he's there to make up numbers and sit on the bench. Some reports i've read contain a quote from the man himself hinting towards Bent and Rooney to start though.

Goalkeepers: Ben Foster (Manchester United), Robert Green (West Ham United), Joe Hart (Birmingham City).

Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Manchester City), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Gary Cahill (Bolton Wanderers), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Huddlestone, Jermaine Jenas (both Tottenham Hotspur), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner, Ashley Young (both Aston Villa), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City).

Forwards: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe (both Tottenham Hotspur), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).

From the squad (that's still left) I would probably start with this:


I only select Crouch and Bridge because of their experience as I think Bent and Warnock are playing better in their respective positions at the moment.

Anyone else a little heartened by yesterday's performance?

Okay, so we sucked going forward and lacked the unpredictability/creativity that a Lampard/Cole/Gerrard would provide. Defensively I thought we were fairly comfortable and despite Brazil's pretty passing, I was never really concerned that they were going to score with every attack. It took a couple of lapses to let them in. Brazil had a few chances later on when hitting England on the break but that's to be expected given the energy-sapping heat (it won't be like that during the WC)

Anyway couple of thoughts on players
Foster - solid, looked confident. Distribution poor
Jenas - Potential but lacked vision going forward. Really noticed how much we missed Lampard
Wright-Phillips - Had a couple of moments but not international quality. 5th choice for me on right-side
Milner - Worked hard but no final ball. Would like to see him on the right though.
Bent - Tough times. No decent service and haven't seen a greater lack of understanding between two strikers in a long time

I thought Bent did his job but neither Rooney or Bent were getting any real service and there was little attacking threat at any point. I don't remember their keeper being worked hard very often at all.

I felt the midfield was very, very weak. Jenas had a poor game and i dont think he has what it takes at that level. Wright-Phillips is dangerous but just like Lennon and Walcott doesnt have much of a final ball which is why Beckham is still key for the World Cup for me, maybe not to start but to have on the bench for sure. Milner i felt worked hard.

Foster has lots of potential but is prone to mistakes and isnt ready yet. I don't think he had a solid game at all, had he been tested more frequently i think he would have conceded more. James and Green have to be considered as Capello's #1 and #2 at this point as far as im concerned.

All in all i dont feel theres much to worry about and really i think that result had to be expected. There wasnt much to get excited about but i dont think there was much to get overly worried about either. I think in a way it was encouraging that that side could avoid getting beaten by much more and once you bring Lampard, Gerrard, Ferdinand, Terry and a few other regulars back in it could have been a different story.

Shit clubs with even shittier fans, I can't understand why they haven't abandoned the game entirely and simply fought to the death at Parkhead live on Pay Per View.

I'm THAT fucking disgusted by the Celtic display disgracing the British dead

bunch of Cement heads, hope they go bankrupt

"I am not a cheat, and anybody in England who knows me will tell you that" (Thierry Henry, 2006)

Seriously he should hang his head in shame. I feel so sorry for the Irish tonight but hey failed to take their chances and paid the ultimate price.

Watch FIFA brush this one under the carpet as a major officiating (yet another) error has led to one of the big teams qualifying for their major money spinner.

Hand of Frog anyone?

Absolutely shocking decision. How that hasnt been spotted and that goal has been alllowed to stand is beyond me.

Without coming across as some idiot who believes in conspiracy theories, It's nothing short of shocking and I thought that the play off draws were particularly kind to the bigger teams as well. The amount of money swirling around football does make you wonder sometimes.

I know what you mean, i always find myself stopping and thinking about what im about to say in situations like this because i want to make sure i choose my words carefully and avoid coming across as something i dont want to be.

Of course there is every chance that tonight Ireland outplayed a far bigger and better opposition, took them to extra time, looked the better and more dangerous side and then....well, the ref has just showed complete incompetence, which happens, and made a bad call. I just dont get how its possible for a ref at this level to make that mistake though, there was 2 handballs in the box one after the other and if you watch Henry goes for it again. The handball was no mistake. Everyone in the stadium must have seen at least one of those handballs apart from the ref and his assistant.

If it hadnt had been so blatant, it would just be a bad call. It would suck, but thats life. With something like tonight it does set me off wondering, even though i know that makes me sound as though im looking for something that isnt there.

Anyone with eyes saw a blatant hand ball.
Anyone with a sense of fair play has to be left wondering how that goal stood.
All eyes on FIFA?

I'm sure Platini will let this one slide somehow. If the boot was on the other foot though....

He at least should comment.
If he does his remarks will be interesting.
If he doesn't...his silence will speak volumes.

Haha I love this...

FIFA website

They don't even mention the incident and these spineless hypocrites govern our game?!

Thats the silence i think we were all expecting. There cant have been a match report anywhere in the world that didnt even mention that Henry handled the ball, even if they were to put a different spin on it.

If ever you could define getting away with murder in football terms, that handball just takes the biscuit. It's a disgrace that the playoff draw was seeded in the first place as well. FIFA's excuse for a match report's an absolute joke as well.

Footballer narrowly escapes red card for farting in referee's face


Footballer Levi Foster got a yellow card – for farting in the ref’s face.

He was having his boots checked before kick-off when he broke wind.

Outraged match official Bunny Reid threatened to send him off until an apologetic Levi talked him into just a caution – as both sides burst out laughing.

The game ended in a 5-0 win for AFC GOP over Portsmouth Sunday league rivals Apsley House – with windy Levi named Man of the Match.

Levi, 30, admitted: “I had a curry the night before.”

:laughing:

Thats classic. Made me laugh anyway.

I bet the name Windy Levi sticks with him for life now. :laughing:

Other news;

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen called on Fifa, football's world governing body, to order a replay, saying he would raise the issue with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at a Brussels summit.

But France's Prime Minister Francois Fillon responded that the Irish government should not interfere in footballing decisions. BBC.

I bet he fucking did!

French Slap Down Irish After Hand of Gaul

11:43pm UK, Thursday November 19, 2009 SKY NEWS


France has warned the Irish government not to interfere in the escalating row over whether the two countries' World Cup qualifying match should be replayed.

With the controversy threatening to become a diplomatic dispute, the French prime minister Francois Fillon said Fifa, the international football body, should not be pressured over the incident.

WAR!!!

good to see walter smith ruling himself out the scotland job, as he's the only manager at this momment to guide the teddybears through these challenging times, and there could be a potential buyer for the club, glasgow born rangers supporter dave king, a very rich buisness man now residing in south africa, even my grannie was pleased...





http://www.musicbanter.com/members/g...830-875082.jpg

^ Any excuse to post Day Today clips.

BBC Sport - Football - Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal

3 points from Arsenal? Yes, please :D

You've made a habit of taking points off the top 4.
I called this at work yesterday. :D

Yeah a good win for you but again a chance for Villa to capitalise on this sort of result and they failed to do so.

Watched the Man U V Everton game earlier. Everton deserved to be beaten- utterly negative and it's no wonder that the top 4 generally stay as they are when teams perform like this.

I don't know what's wrong with Everton these days.
Moyes must be tearing his hair out.

Unfortunately we have seemed up for the big games, but prone to terrible performances against the likes of Burnley and Birmingham.

They do have a few injuries but even so if you play like that you deserve to be beaten. Valancia had one of his best games for Man U but Owen still looks painfully short. Fletcher is quickly becoming an essential cog in your team and a vastly improved player. Evra had a great game too.

I'd have Moyes take over from Ferguson when the time comes. What he's done at Everton is amazing given what he's had to work with.

On United;
The youngster Oberton looks like he needs a few games to settle down a bit.
He oozes talent, but he seems reluctant to unleash it.
Owen needs more games too.
And Fletcher just gets better every season. He's maturing nicely.

Ouch. Bet Bulldog isnt a happy man.

I found the result quite funny to be honest which, considering they're a traveling troupe of clowns masquerading as footballers, you could argue makes for a job well done.