The Official Scottish Football Thread

[Driver101]

Groat said:

Humza! Humza! Is that really you??

That one goes way above my head.

I just find it odd after your strop before, and not having any activity in this thread for years, you only come back to have a go at Celtic.

You didn't want to answer any questions or enter the discussion last time and were never coming back.

I'm sure we'll see a bit more of you for a little while.

[DocJock]

Driver101 said:

Algarve said:

Driver101 said:

The Celtic side is far better than Rangers and shouldn't be struggling.

Thats just delusional. We're top of the league, we've played you off the park the last 3 times we've met. And we're looking like being the only Scottish team still in Europe after the group stages.

You should be better than us with that multi year disaster we've had to go through, but right now you aren't.

Driver101 said:

Celtic never let Forster go. He was on loan. His transfer fee and wages are way beyond a Scottish club's finances.

Forster seemed keen to stay with Celtic from what I remember, and Southampton clearly didn't want him. You can dress it up how you like but it looks like Celtic decided they didn't want to pay the not unreasonable price being asked and let him go.

Maybe £40k+ a week wages was too much... if you do win 10 in a row then the board were right and you didn't need to spend the money. If we win the league? Not keeping him is going to look like a horrific mistake.

Driver101 said:

Not sure about the reserve striker jibe when both Celtic and Rangers are forced to buy reserve players from strong leagues, or players from lower leagues.

Its not a jibe at all, just how the game is. I didn't know anything at all about Itten or Roofe before signed them. I'd have rather keep McGregor than sign an entirely unknown striker if that were my two choices though. And its perhaps less important for us to keep McGregor since we've actually got a backup keeper who knows what he's doing

It's not delusional at all. It's mostly the same team that has comprehensively thumped Rangers and beat teams far better than Rangers for long enough. It was clear going into the last few Celtic v Rangers games that Celtic were not only out of forum, but depleted with injuries. When Rangers won at Celtic park, another game they didn't dominate and got breaks, Celtic's performances increased dramatically. The same has happened season on season when it was Aberdeen who were close until later in the season.

If Celtic and Rangers are both playing 100% the Celtic team is a good step up.

Rangers never dominated the game at the weekend. Celtic were awful, but Rangers were not much better. Celtic have looked as equally slow, poor and disinterested against other teams this season, but never has so much praise been heaped on the other side. Rangers didn't stop Celtic playing and they hardly offered anything themselves.

Usually every Celtic v Rangers game ends up with the reporting of how many times Morelos should have been sent off and his poor conduct. Last weekend he did little and got involved in many petulant incidents that should have seen him sent off again. This time he was praised for getting involved. It's weird the turn in reporting. Praise and encouragement is off the scale.

Rangers have been unbelievably lucky this season so far. Everything has gone in their favour. That's from dodgy penalties, offsides and being the about the only team to survive totally unscathed by Covid so far whilst their opponents have been depleted.

Forster wasn't keen to stay with Celtic. He was offered the best deal Celtic could afford and wouldn't get back to Celtic. Clearly he was waiting on other offers as he was connected to big English clubs. When he's on form he's one of the best keepers in England. That's why Southampton rewarded him with a £90k per week contract. Who is going to leave the English premiership at the prime of their career to come to Scotland? He should be in the Southampton team just now, but will get a move somewhere else in the league.

From what I read Roofe was a good English championship player. Just unreliable with injuries. Itten looks like a donkey when I've seen him. Really poor touch, awareness and slow.

Barkas does look as if he's struggling a bit. He's not as bad as some people are making out. He was to blame for Rangers' goal and he has looked a bit soft at other times. He was getting the blame last night which is unfair. He's a bit of a scapegoat in a team where the entire squad is vastly underperforming.

Lennon is dragging Celtic back just now. It does feel like he's reached his point now. The players aren't playing for him. His tactics and player selections are all wrong. He's under huge pressure and he is fighting back making stubborn decisions. It doesn't help him when his stubborn decisions end up being the wrong ones. He looks lost and his interviews are poor.

Rangers keep having false dawns every season and Celtic have a crisis every season, but still win at a canter when it matters. Just a few games doesn't change much, but football is a really fickle world.

Driver, you really do view the world through green-tinted specs man.

On paper, with both 1st elevens available, Rangers are the better side overall. Guys like douard and Frimpong are great, but too many Celtic players are just not as good as they were.
Results this season back that up.

[Driver101]

DocJock said:

Driver, you really do view the world through green-tinted specs man.

On paper, with both 1st elevens available, Rangers are the better side overall. Guys like douard and Frimpong are great, but too many Celtic players are just not as good as they were.
Results this season back that up.

It's players that have been good for years that have dropped off a cliff this season. It's not one or two players, it's the entire team. Even Edouard and Frimpong are playing poorly at the moment.

There will only be 1 point in it if Celtic win their game in hand and that's after losing to Rangers.

It is Lennon that has lost the team.

[Anonymous-poster]

abzmike said:

As far as I recall Forster wanted to go back to Southampton.
And congrats to Rangers for apparently having qualified for the knock out stage after a -ahem- penalty, and a lob of the goalie from 50 yards in the last minute. Decent result but it’s still October.

Don’t let facts get in the way, the mistake was letting Gordon go assuming Forster would sign because he is every bit as good if not better than the new guy!

[Anonymous-poster]

Driver101 said:

DocJock said:

Driver, you really do view the world through green-tinted specs man.

On paper, with both 1st elevens available, Rangers are the better side overall. Guys like douard and Frimpong are great, but too many Celtic players are just not as good as they were.
Results this season back that up.

It's players that have been good for years that have dropped off a cliff this season. It's not one or two players, it's the entire team. Even Edouard and Frimpong are playing poorly at the moment.

There will only be 1 point in it if Celtic win their game in hand and that's after losing to Rangers.

It is Lennon that has lost the team.

Will it really be only 1 point with all the histrionics going on I imagined they were 13 points clear and had won a Tr3ble Tr3eble and were 2/3rds of the way to a Q4udruple Tr3ble.

[abzmike]

Saturday 24th Oct

Kilmarnock 15:00 Hibernian - 0:2
Motherwell 15:00 Ross County - 2:0
St Johnstone 15:00 Dundee United - 1:1
St Mirren 15:00 Hamilton Academical - 1:2

Sunday 25th Oct

Aberdeen 12:00 Celtic - 1:2
Rangers 15:00 Livingston - 6-0

Don't know why we're bothering, apparently the league is over anyway...

[Driver101]

Anonymous-poster said:

Will it really be only 1 point with all the histrionics going on I imagined they were 13 points clear and had won a Tr3ble Tr3eble and were 2/3rds of the way to a Q4udruple Tr3ble.

It was only last season that Rangers were gushing after winning at Parkhead before collapsing. It was only the season before Rangers fans were super confident they had qualified from their Europa group and Celtic were out. It then ended up the other way around.

It was only a month ago the same players were written off and widespread calls for Gerrard to be sacked. Perspective has been lost and the falls from grace forgotten again.

I'm not sure why last night has triggered such a response. Beating a Belgian team is a good result and it was a once in a lifetime goal. The backlash towards Celtic after that result I do think is really odd. It's not just on this forum that people have jumped out from nowhere.

That'll be the calm chat on here of European coefficient over for a while.

[Driver101]

Kilmarnock 15:00 Hibernian - 2:1
Motherwell 15:00 Ross County - 2:1
St Johnstone 15:00 Dundee United - 1:0
St Mirren 15:00 Hamilton Academical - 1:0

Sunday 25th Oct

Aberdeen 12:00 Celtic - 1:1
Rangers 15:00 Livingston - 2-0


St Mirren have had their fourth outbreak of Covid. Nothing has been said of their game is going ahead yet.

Motherwell also have another confirmed positive.

[DocJock]

Driver101 said:

Anonymous-poster said:

Will it really be only 1 point with all the histrionics going on I imagined they were 13 points clear and had won a Tr3ble Tr3eble and were 2/3rds of the way to a Q4udruple Tr3ble.

It was only last season that Rangers were gushing after winning at Parkhead before collapsing. It was only the season before Rangers fans were super confident they had qualified from their Europa group and Celtic were out. It then ended up the other way around.

It was only a month ago the same players were written off and widespread calls for Gerrard to be sacked. Perspective has been lost and the falls from grace forgotten again.

I'm not sure why last night has triggered such a response. Beating a Belgian team is a good result and it was a once in a lifetime goal. The backlash towards Celtic after that result I do think is really odd. It's not just on this forum that people have jumped out from nowhere.

That'll be the calm chat on here of European coefficient over for a while.

Nobody has 'jumped out' to criticise Celtic. They have (rightly imo) disagreed with your statement that "The Celtic side is far better than Rangers...". I'm always behind Scottish teams in Europe...even the Jambos should they ever get there again. It is mainly Celtic and Rangers fans who don't seem to be able to give credit to the other side when it's merited.

[JuniorD]

Fraser Foster is on £70k+ A week

I think (could be wrong) that Duffy is also a £50k player, which is amazing as he appears to be a complete donkey. Just seems that if you play a couple of seasons in the EPL you just can’t shake that hefty wage off

But Duffy follows in illustrious line of useless , expensive, marquee big shots that Celtic seem to like to take on for big money for a season but who do fk all... Graveson, Roy Keane, Dion Dublin, Ljunberg, Ian Wright, Juninho. Reading that back can’t believe I’ve put Duffy in the same list :haha:

[Algarve]

Hindsight I know.. but giving Forster 3-4 million a season in wages would have immediately paid itself back with champions league qualification I think. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7xXyqtZ17M. I think he'd have saved one of those.

So he'd have cost you nothing and you'd have had him to go for 10 / 9.75 in a row and break the record.

I would have given Forster the entire amount of money you paid for Klimala

[Scrubs]

Driver101 said:

Aberdeen 12:00 Celtic - 1:1

Do they not have a horrendous record against Celtic both home and away? Can see McInnes carrying out his usual bottle merchant tactics and Celtic will have a comfortable afternoon.

[abzmike]

Algarve said:

Hindsight I know.. but giving Forster 3-4 million a season in wages would have immediately paid itself back with champions league qualification I think. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7xXyqtZ17M. I think he'd have saved one of those.

So he'd have cost you nothing and you'd have had him to go for 10 / 9.75 in a row and break the record.

I would have given Forster the entire amount of money you paid for Klimala

Two weeks ago Klimala as the only fit striker avialable and he's scored a couple of important goals.
Forster is a good keeper, with some amazing performances particularly in Europe, but he was not immune to gaffes. Barkas is a decent keeper - who has been poor for a couple of goals - but shonky defence cannot be saved by any keeper, and it's not as if Celtic are shipping dozens of goals. Most goals against them this year have been through poor defending.

[Driver101]

Algarve said:

Hindsight I know.. but giving Forster 3-4 million a season in wages would have immediately paid itself back with champions league qualification I think. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7xXyqtZ17M. I think he'd have saved one of those.

So he'd have cost you nothing and you'd have had him to go for 10 / 9.75 in a row and break the record.

I would have given Forster the entire amount of money you paid for Klimala

The first shot was fierce and into the side netting. I highly doubt any keeper would save that. It was a freak result that other players have to take the responsibility for.

If it was as simple as throwing big money at players to guarantee success then everyone would do it. It would be financial suicide for a Scottish team to spend that kind of money on one player and ps off the rest of the squad.

Depending on what source you believe Southampton wanted somewhere between £6-16m before considering his huge wage packet.

[m996tt]

Massive plaudits to Rangers win and Roofes goal is, without doubt, the best goal I have seen,
most people seem to agree which is great to see

[Helicopter123]

Kilmarnock 15:00 Hibernian - 1:2
Motherwell 15:00 Ross County - 1:1
St Johnstone 15:00 Dundee United - 0:0
St Mirren 15:00 Hamilton Academical - 0:2

Sunday 25th Oct

Aberdeen 12:00 Celtic - 2:1
Rangers 15:00 Livingston - 4-0

[Driver101]

Arbroath v Hearts is on the BBC Scotland channel tonight.

[hongkongdonkey]

Not much between the teams in Saturday's games. Motherwell haven't played for a while and my be rusty and Hibs should probably edge out Kilmarnock. That said, I wouldn't be surprised if they were all draws. Rangers should be comfortable at Ibrox especially since Livi won't be able to play their number one keeper. There is always the danger of a European hangover but with players returning from injury and the team being on fire at the moment I can't see past them. Huge pressure on Celtic this weekend. Although Aberdeen don't normally do well against them, their form is good at the moment and they have the chance to go equal with them on points. Celtic players look lost at the moment, low on confidence and some just uninterested. The manager is caught between a couple of systems and it will be interesting if his ego means he perseveres with it. They haven't had much chance to work on the game so a real chance of an upset.

[Algarve]

abzmike said:

Two weeks ago Klimala as the only fit striker avialable and he's scored a couple of important goals.
Forster is a good keeper, with some amazing performances particularly in Europe, but he was not immune to gaffes. Barkas is a decent keeper - who has been poor for a couple of goals - but shonky defence cannot be saved by any keeper, and it's not as if Celtic are shipping dozens of goals. Most goals against them this year have been through poor defending.

Sure the Tims defence is awful but the big difference is there isn't a high end defender that left before this season that the board could have kept if they wanted to. If the defence is going to leak like a sieve I'd at least want the best keeper possible to try and contain the mess.

Klimala might have scored a couple of goals but he's looked awful in the process. Maybe he'll come good in the long run but if we're judging them on what we've seen so far... he's a miserable failure as a Celtic signing.

Driver101 said:

The first shot was fierce and into the side netting. I highly doubt any keeper would save that. It was a freak result that other players have to take the responsibility for.

What about the second one?

Driver101 said:

Depending on what source you believe Southampton wanted somewhere between £6-16m before considering his huge wage packet.

lol, a convenient excuse. More delusions if you think Southampton would demand £16m for a keeper nearing the end of his contract, who's on £70k+ a week and not even first choice they'd have been glad to empty your biscuit tin and see the back of him.

[Driver101]

Algarve said:

abzmike said:

Two weeks ago Klimala as the only fit striker avialable and he's scored a couple of important goals.
Forster is a good keeper, with some amazing performances particularly in Europe, but he was not immune to gaffes. Barkas is a decent keeper - who has been poor for a couple of goals - but shonky defence cannot be saved by any keeper, and it's not as if Celtic are shipping dozens of goals. Most goals against them this year have been through poor defending.

Sure the Tims defence is awful but the big difference is there isn't a high end defender that left before this season that the board could have kept if they wanted to. If the defence is going to leak like a sieve I'd at least want the best keeper possible to try and contain the mess.

Klimala might have scored a couple of goals but he's looked awful in the process. Maybe he'll come good in the long run but if we're judging them on what we've seen so far... he's a miserable failure as a Celtic signing.

Driver101 said:

The first shot was fierce and into the side netting. I highly doubt any keeper would save that. It was a freak result that other players have to take the responsibility for.

What about the second one?

Driver101 said:

Depending on what source you believe Southampton wanted somewhere between £6-16m before considering his huge wage packet.

lol, a convenient excuse. More delusions if you think Southampton would demand £16m for a keeper nearing the end of his contract, who's on £70k+ a week and not even first choice they'd have been glad to empty your biscuit tin and see the back of him.

What a strange discussion. It's a weird argument and you're now making insults and digs that you never before. You've let a few results go to your head.

He's not nearing the end of his contact. He signed a five year deal three years ago. He's on £90k per week according to many sources. It's not a convenient excuse to say Southampton want a good transfer fee or his huge wages aren't a problem. He is totally unaffordable to a Scottish club.

He was linked to singing with top 4 clubs in England and will end up with another big deal. At the end of the day he didn't want a permanent move back to Scotland. End of the matter.

Remember that Jordon Pickford is worth £30m+ in the English market.


Klimala is a young guy finding his feet. He has more league goals this season than Morelos, Itten or Roofe for very little game time. An average of 96 minutes per goal. Kent is 229 minutes.

I can't miss the irony of a Rangers fan calling for Celtic to spend way beyond their budget for players and making insults about finances.

Time to move on.

Edited by Driver101 on Friday 23 October 21:18