* coughs *

Ahem - Dundee United thank you very much.



And, for that matter, how is the league a "farce"? OK, so the SPL is not the strongest league in the world but you can only do the best you can with what you have.

People call it a diddy league as only two teams can win it, then call it a farce when other sides are making it more competitive. You cannot have it both ways.

As for the English Prem? There are only 3 teams (out of 20) that have a realistic chance of winning it (the same three teams that have dominated it for the last fifteen years or so) 3 from 20 is less of a ratio of 2 from 12!!!

SKY money and decent foreigners have made the Premiership a better league and the English need to remember this.

I don't think United cried too much when they got knocked out of the Carling Cup.

To clubs like Celtic and Rangers it really is not a priority, as proven when the Huns lost at home to St. Johnstone last year and hardly anyone noticed.

The fact that Hibernian and Livingston have won it in recent times says it all!

This sums up Scottish Football in a nutshell

Totally amateur

[urlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_cups/7072638.stm[/url

The cousins of Billy will be upset with that turn of events.

Classic quip.

Still can't resist the sectarian bull Dave, shocking.

No, its a league run by the two Glasgow clubs, if they don't want anything it doesn't happen, the rest of the league is scared they'll run off to the EPL.



The big two losing to Second division standard teams doesn't make the SPL competitive mate

Are they? Despite the fact that the Premiership clubs voted 20-0 against them joining? Despite the fact that they are not allowed to join anyway? What a load of garbage you spout.





Despite your apparent complete ignorance of the subject, I assure you that the SPL IS getting more competitive these days. Hearts split the Old Firm two seasons ago, Aberdeen nearly did so last year, more teams are capable of competing with the Old Firm, performances in Europe are getting steadily better with the Old Firm fairing better in the CL and even Aberdeen making the group stages of the UEFA Cup.

For too long the Old Firm have been spending too much compared to the rest of the SPL and now their spending power is reduced, they have been forced to play more home grown players which has resulted in the League being nowhere near the two horse race it has been in the past and the National side has clearly benefitted from it also. I am sure one of the factors in an improving national side is the fact that the league is more competitive these days.

Doesn't mean the rest of the SPL aren't scared they'll take their ball home.



Dragging the Old Firm down to their level does not equal competing mate

It is interesting you say that then. My team (Dundee United) have now beaten Rangers the last three times we have played them. It appears then that they have now been dragged down below our level. Clearly we are FAR more competitive, or else they would be beating us all the time.

I accept that the SPL is not exactly the best league in the world but it is getting better. You can only work with the tools that you have been given and it appears that the league is moving in the right direction.

Again though, as for "dragging the Old Firm down to our level?" Again, such a comment suggests that you do not have a clue what you are talking about. The Old Firm are both now feeling the pinch from years of spending silly money on rubbish players. Consider the money wasted by Celtic on.......

Brattback, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Scheidt, Balde, Juninho, Keane, Tommy Johnson, Ramon Vega etc etc and, also Rangers on......

Flo, Emerson, everyone Le Guen bought, Rozenthal, Prodan, Kuznetzov, Konterman, Porrini, Amoruso, Kanchelskis, Salenko etc etc (the list goes on)

Nowadays because of spending folly they cannot afford to spend big, as they have wasted so much in the past and the debts are rising, so naturally they will soon start moving back towards the pack. Quite how the remainder of the SPL can be at fault for the complete folly of the Old Firm management of player purchases is beyond me?

Huns?



Oh dear. Shoot me down for my bigotry! I'll be burning protestants next!

This is the thing i hate about supporting celtic and scottish football in general.

When i used to be a cook, i work in a well known hotel in stretton in warrington, and there was a scottish waiter there who supported rangers who discovered that i was a catholic and i supported celtic.

I was then subjected at first to what i thought was banter, until it descended into sectarian songs about catholics and finians (Unsure of the spelling) being killed at the battle of the boyne.

It got worse, till eventually i had to report it.

So i just think sectarianism is out of order.

Rant Over.

Top marks to mystic eddie, couldn't put it better myself - the SPL is beyond recognition from a couple of years ago. Sure, Rantic are always most likely to win the league, but that's not exactly unique when compared to the rest of Europe. Unlike the Premiership, the gap in the SPL between the leaders and the rest is certainly getting smaller by the season.

To be fair I have encountered the same thing. I too am a Celtic fan who has been singled out ironically in the catering industry where foul and abusive bullying seems to be thought of as acceptable. I never reported it. With a family from West Coast Scotland used to being persecuted for their "colours" I learnt to deal with it (clearly in a non violent way). never underestimate the power of a word. Calling someone a biggot usually shuts them up. Even when they clearly are - they hate being called it and it shuts them up. And never use a biggoted expression back to them as they expect you to.

I didn't lower myself to their level.

I said i don't mind banter, but this is going too far.

Then one day i'd had enough and reported him.

I still haven't been told why the use of the word 'Hun' is supposed to be sectarian, when both sides use the expression, and it is meant to be merely a word to describe 'the enemy'.

Next time I call United 'the rags' I will assume that the Big G will be on my case for being a 'bigot'.

Always believe in Rob Jones...!

The United and City Banter is different to celtic and rangers dave. In my time, it has never got past just banter/stick.

More often than not in old firm games it goes past that.

Bit like calling a Celtic supporter a Tim then?

Enjoyable game today i thought

Was at the derby today, thought it was a good game and maybe a draw was a fair end result. It's a pity our hard work from the first half was un-done by a sloppy start to the second but still keeps our unbeaten record for this season against the Yams in tact and we've moved upto third. When Benji's back and gets going I'm sure we'll see even more of an improvement.

My third game of the season, hope to be at the Falkirk game in December and Motherwell one in January. I may even have a season ticket next season if things go to plan.

Also todays Hearts fans really did look the part of Rangers fans without the bus fare.

I've no problem with being called a Tim. Why should I?

Big suprise Celtic are walking away with it already, only just into November



When will Scottish football change



Watched the Derby yesterday was a good game thought Hibs, thought Pinilla should have buried the chance he had though.

Three points is hardly walking it and when you have a, quite frankly shocking, record of no clean sheets in 31 away games, nothing is guaranteed.

I would wager that East Stirling have never done that!

[url=http://www.eaststirlingfc.co.uk/index.htmlLet us know to save me lookin'[/url