BlackSocksRedTops

5 hours ago, Scott7 said:

Is ‘Gers ok?

Nope. Off to the Tower with you!!

I'm a proud Glaswegian but it should always be Rangers, not Glasgow Rangers. 

7 minutes ago, Gonzo79 said:

2nd in EL group plays a 3rd placed CL group team.

 

Looking at the potential opponents, I'd say it's highly unlikely we'll go any further but you never know (I doubt Barcelona or Dortmund will care much about the EL).

So more money for CL teams that fail. Way to go UEFA

Been really snowed under with work and other things so I haven't paid much attention to our possible opponents in the next round. F**k me...are they all CL teams? How is that fair? 

On 08/12/2021 at 16:21, Gonzo79 said:

It really isn't.  

Agree. London is an amazing city but it is not the greatest city on Earth by a long shot. 

2 minutes ago, CammyF said:

As was shown at the end of 5he game. Patterson has a brilliant future for club and country but has a bit to go to dispose of our Captain and our main attacking threat.

 

Hopefully we can focus on the game, the positives we can take out of it as well as the subtle changes Gio has introduced into the formation, rather than another Tav v Patterson debate.

Agreed. Apologies for bringing it to the fore again. Just feel we are too quick to almost write players off these days. 

1 minute ago, Bill said:

Seriously? You’re comparing someone who hasn’t had a game in ages with someone who’s benefited from playing week after week?

Not comparing directly. Just highlighting that Paterson is far from the finished article. 

1 minute ago, gisabeer said:

It's one game and he had plenty of positives in his game tonight.

Of course it is but Tav is still ur number 1 right back for me.

Congrats to McLaughlin. He is far more assured with the ball at his feet IMO. McGregor would have hoofed 80% of those passes coming back to him tonight.

Just now, Bill said:

I think we’re seeing how positive the change of manager has been. 

So far so good. Barasic looks like his old self and despite a few scares tonight we've looked tighter at the back.

Special mention for Goldson also. As much as he has been poor of late, I feel he has been very harshly criticised in some quarters. He has enough credit in the bank for what he's done for us. Football is too bloody black and white these days IMO.

5 hours ago, 26th of foot said:

Cavaliers and Roundheads.

 

We have to regress ten days or so, to Thursday evening 26th November. It is match day 5 in the Europa Cup group stages. The Jolly Craicsters toting bags of swagger are abroad in Germany, playing Bayern Leverkusen. North Rhine-Westphalia was braced for an invasion of rainbow themed balaclavas atop olive drab puffer jackets. Reinforcing the Green Brigade bridgehead was the Pacific Quay spearhead of Liam McLeod and Pat Bonner. The Clydeside HQ was manned by Big Dick and Tom Anguish of Angst. No Celtic lament is complete without the Blarney Bhoys singing descant.

 

Amid the pyro' smoke, the Irish and Palestinian flags waved, announcing the presence of a Scots club about to strut the very epitome of AngeBall. The arrogant parade was relentless in a stadium barely a third full. Liam and Pat chorused the irresistible nature of Sellik's play. At half time it was 1-1 and Big Dick began with, "wow, just wow". Juranovic had dinked the cheekiest of Panenka penalties to equalise and Big Dick overflowed, "they have never won in Germany, with such confidence that could change tonight". It got better just before the hour mark, the sublime Jota struck to put the Cavaliers 1-2 up. Confidence was coursing both on the field and on microphone.

 

Teutonic efficiency was being effortlessly brushed aside, "it's the movement, it's the movement" hollered Pat. A Waffen SS armoured Division had been stopped in it's tracks by uni-cycling, plate spinning horde of green'n'grey sword-swallowing, ball jugglers. We were told ra Sellik support demanded such an approach to the game and, "Celtic are easy on the eye". The Ride of the Valkyries is a refrain, a constant menace intent upon spoiling the party; and the screaming reached a pitch twice in the last seven minutes. All agreed, it was exasperating, so unfair and, undeserved. The match finished 3-2 to Leverkusen and ra Sellik were out of the Europa Cup with a game left to play.

 

Big Dick checked other Group G results and announced, "Celtic have secured European football in the New Year, they will now play in the Euro-Conference competition". Pat is a lovely man, he is only required by BBC Scotland to talk about ra Sellik, a unique designation. He does not cover other games and sometimes comes across as unworldly, "ah hope the Celtic supporters get a big, attractive name in the draw". Here's hoping Dagenham and Redbridge will suffice? Big Dick then hosted a three way discussion on the rarity of away wins in Europe for Scots teams and the inevitability of endings such as that evening's.

 

The show must go on because another Scots club was participating in the same tournament that evening, the Rangers - Sparta Prague game kicked-off at 8 O'Clock. We were told Rangers could qualify on the evening if, and it was a big IF; Rangers won by two clear goals and Lyon defeated Bronby. As usual, there was NO live commentary, NO updates and, no real discussion. Half-time at Ibrox was 1-0 Rangers and Big Dick announced the score and scorer, then spent the entire 15 minute break discussing Scotland's possible opponents in the next day's World Cup qualifiers draw. The match ended 2-0 Rangers and Lyon scored 3 in the last 20 minutes to defeat the Danes. Big Dick dolefully announced, "Rangers have qualified for the next round of the Europa League".

 

There was no mention of the improved national coefficient, no mention of Rangers position in Europe rising from 216th to 41st in three years, no mention of Rangers Youths already managing two of those Hens teeth away wins in Europe this season, no mention ........................... Ah, life as a Roundhead?

 

 

Bravo sir, bravo 👏👏👏

How anyone can still pay their crooked licence fee is beyond me.

Just now, Gonzo79 said:

Agreed.  Them dropping two points would be fine by me.

 

Can't see it though.

Either way our works done. We welcome the  chase. 

3 minutes ago, Gonzo79 said:

Guaranteed 5-0 win for Nonce FC now you've posted that.

Do they not have a few injuries? Even a draw is as good as a defeat in my eyes.

3 minutes ago, JohnMc said:

Dropping Kent and Davis was fairly bold management, and it worked so credit for that. Also thought it was interesting he left Morelos on after he was booked and the game was won. I can't decide if GVB simply doesn't know his past and how he's refereed differently to others or if he simply has more faith in his professionalism than I do. 

That was a Dundee side in good form going into the match made to look very poor. 

 

I can't claim to be a master tactician but even I can spot the difference in what's expected from our full backs since GVB took control. So much of our attacking play under Gerrard came from our full-backs, they were often our furthest forward players. I felt other clubs were starting to nullify that threat more, they'd figured out how to play us. The last couple of matches has seen a subtle change there, with Tav and Barasic still venturing forward but not all the time and as an addition to the attack, not its mainstay. So far it's worked, I think both Livi and Dundee would have caused us more problems had Gerrard still been in charge, we were huffing and puffing against those types of sides earlier in the season. Interestingly I think Barasic has benefited from this change, but Tav seems more subdued. 

Everyone played well but I thought Arfield was man of the match. I felt he worked exceptionally hard and his running and attacking created space for others to exploit. That said another 3 or 4 were also excellent so I've no complaints with Aribo winning the official award.

 

A 1-0 win for Dundee Utd today would see us go level on goal difference with the team in second place, it seems only a few weeks ago they were miles ahead on that measurement. 

 

Overall you have to give enormous credit to the board and Ross Wilson as well as to Gio and his staff and indeed the players, for the almost seamless transition of management team. I'm not sure all of us fully appreciate how seismic our entire first team management team walking out on mass must have been. 

Agreed. I really feel that Ross Wilson will be our best piece of business over the last few years. He is an impressive individual.

6 hours ago, Bill said:

The Dundee keeper had a really good game

Agreed.  His save in the 2nd half from Sakala was world class IMO

How come we have to change our socks at the slightest clash but Dundee are allowed to play in dark blue against our royal blue strip. Under the lights, these strips are too similar IMO

2 minutes ago, Uilleam said:

Kent injured?

Apologies. Can someone sex this thread up? Tried to post team but doesn't seem to have worked 🤣🤣

Anyway, Fashion Jr starts with Morelos

Thanks in advance!!

Staggering to think that people are debating the penalty. He clearly trips the player in the box. It's clear as day.  

It is also staggering but not surprising that they are calling Celtics offside goal on Thursday "tight". There is at least half a yard or more between their striker and the Hearts defender. That is not "tight" whatsoever.

1 minute ago, Bill said:

Tough MOTM decision.

Arfield or Roofe?

Fashion Jr.

IMO, there is little point in playing 4-3-3 if you're front 3 are not high up the pitch and pressing. 

Our decision making is truly woeful.

Some of our fans also making poor choices. Why would you do that? Mindless pwicks