Scottish fitba!

[Super_horns]

Dundee United 0-5 Ayr United in the Championship. Ouch

Lad got 4 goals to make it 26 for the season .

Sure the Old Firm clubs will be taking note !

 

[rudebwoyben]

Lad got 4 goals to make it 26 for the season .

Sure the Old Firm clubs will be taking note !

He wasn’t able to break through at Aberdeen before he joined Ayr but it looks like he’s ready for the SPL now.

 

[Leo]

Lad got 4 goals to make it 26 for the season .

Sure the Old Firm clubs will be taking note !

He wasn’t able to break through at Aberdeen before he joined Ayr but it looks like he’s ready for the SPL now.

Lawrence Shankland...a died in the wool bluenose. Lot of Rangers fans (me included) are hoping that we go for the lad either in January or at the end of the season. He is banging in the goals and would be a great back up in the squad. Wouldn't cost a lot.

 

[Leo]

Well after a hard but well earned 0-0 draw against Villareal on Thursday, where we had Candeias again wrongly sent off, Rangers came away from Tynecastle with a 1-2 win. Another player, Scott Arfield, was adjudged to have committed a red card offence when challenging the Hearts keeper for a 50/50 ball. I actually didn't see that incident so honestly can't comment...thing is, Arfield is most certainly not a dirty player. Rangers 2nd, and as it turned out the winner, was slightly offside but was given and had the pundits whinging like bitches....after seeing video replays note! Makes a change for us to get the benefit of the doubt (or so it seems recently) but you have to take the bad with the good. But not Craig Levein, oh no. Ref was 12th man, Morelos should have been off, fouls not given etc etc etc. Dry your eyes Craig! Now I don't give a fuck whether he is brought to book by the authorities or not BUT.....(and it's perhaps just Gers fans) when you consider the slaughtering Steven Gerrard received for his comments after the Aberdeen game first game of the season and more recently the notice of complaint issued to the club for comments about Willie Collum when he ludicrously sent off Candeias for 'blowing kisses' at Anton Ferdinand during the game at St Mirren, a decision totally backed by the SFA....makes you think eh?

 

[Super_horns]

Clearly doesn't have very high expectations if he proud of his players for not scoring against 10 at home for over half the game...

Sounds like the sort of comment a manager would make when playing you guys at your peak rather than now when Hearts are meant to be fighting with you for probably 2nd place.

BTW Should he not be saying 13 men as he blaming the ref and assistant!?

 

[Leo]

Clearly doesn't have very high expectations if he proud of his players for not scoring against 10 at home for over half the game...

Sounds like the sort of comment a manager would make when playing you guys at your peak rather than now when Hearts are meant to be fighting with you for probably 2nd place.

BTW Should he not be saying 13 men as he blaming the ref and assistant!?

Just to be clear SH, for all the difference it makes, Arfield was sent off early 2nd half mate. However, as for Hearts fighting for 2nd place, after their great start to the season their balloon has burst for the time being and they haven't won in 5 I believe.

I don't recall in what context but he did actually, at one point, say they were playing against 13 men (he actually should have amended it to 12 after Arfield was sent off but perhaps arithmetic isn't his good point). Levein has form for whinging but then I suppose you could cite that against most (if not all) managers but you can bet your fucking boots that if his team had got a winning goal under these circumstances he would be smiling from ear to ear.

 

[Super_horns]

Ah fair enough - sounds like the usual sour grapes tbh.

Like you say had they drawn or nicked the game even nothing would have been said.

The "offside goal" didn't seem very clear cut at the first look which for now is the only chance the officials have to get it right/wrong...

I do hate it when pundits and managers say "having the tape/x number of replays" its clear (or sometimes still not very clear!) the decision was right/wrong.

Then they moan about VAR being used to help get correct decisions and there are still debates.

 

[Leo]

What a chance wasted last night after that display at Tyncastle at the weekend. Lost 0-1 to Aberdeen but once again we had a player red carded....Morelos (again) for a 2nd yellow. Steven Gerrard really must sit down with this lad and spell it out to him that enough is enough. Gerrard has stuck by him since day one because the lad does have a goal scoring talent but he is of no use to the team if he is regularly giving refs the opportunity to card him. Btw....Aberdeen also had a player sent off. Can't comment about the game as I didn't see it, suffice to say I'm a tad pissed off with the result and a little bit more with the red card. Could have been a great opportunity to extend our lead over Celtic as the only drew 1-1 with Motherwell. Hey ho....on to Dundee on Sunday......Salty, will you be watching ?

 

[rudebwoyben]

Arfield's red was certainly justified. His challenge was reckless and dangerous and it was clear that the Heart's keeper had the ball in his hands before Arfield decided to slide in.

 

[Leo]

Arfield's red was certainly justified. His challenge was reckless and dangerous and it was clear that the Heart's keeper had the ball in his hands before Arfield decided to slide in.

can't argue with that....still haven't seen it though. However from I have seen of him this season he certainly isn't a dirty player as in the type to deliberately put in a bad challenge.

 

[Railway Blue]

What a chance wasted last night after that display at Tyncastle at the weekend. Lost 0-1 to Aberdeen but once again we had a player red carded....Morelos (again) for a 2nd yellow. Steven Gerrard really must sit down with this lad and spell it out to him that enough is enough. Gerrard has stuck by him since day one because the lad does have a goal scoring talent but he is of no use to the team if he is regularly giving refs the opportunity to card him. Btw....Aberdeen also had a player sent off. Can't comment about the game as I didn't see it, suffice to say I'm a tad pissed off with the result and a little bit more with the red card. Could have been a great opportunity to extend our lead over Celtic as the only drew 1-1 with Motherwell. Hey ho....on to Dundee on Sunday......Salty, will you be watching ?

Celtic missed a pen and had a goal ruled out before the late equaliser.

 

[Leo]

Celtic missed a pen and had a goal ruled out before the late equaliser.

knew about the penalty but not the ruled off goal. Doesn't make any difference anyway, all teams will be in a similar position at some point or another during the season.

 

[SALTIRE]

Get in, a great win last match and an unexpected point today against the Gers. May scrape out of this relegation battle yet.

 

[Leo]

Get in, a great win last match and an unexpected point today against the Gers. May scrape out of this relegation battle yet.

And tbh Salty it was a truly well deserved point yesterday especially with Dundee going down to 10 men. Regards that decision, it was certainly a yellow & I was surprised to see the ref flash a red but when I saw the replay it was certainly a bad/reckless challenge on Candeias....but a red ? Not sure....seen them given but also seen just a yellow. As for the game....an appalling display from Rangers....no imagination in midfield. I was struggling to accept this was the same team who have done so well for most of this season. McGregor apart, the defence was terrible and up front Lafferty was totally deprived of service apart from the ball to him for the incorrectly chalked off goal for offside. What a fucking howler from a linesman who was at least two yards behind play when Laff scored. Lafferty was actually behind the ball when he stuck it into the net ffs! The linesman simply guessed and you can't be doing that. Nowt to do with the ref in this instance....a bad, bad decision by an incompetent linesman. Considering we dropped 3 points against Aberdeen and two against Dundee, if we had won both (which I seriously thought we would) we would be sitting top. Bugger!

 

[SALTIRE]

And tbh Salty it was a truly well deserved point yesterday especially with Dundee going down to 10 men. Regards that decision, it was certainly a yellow & I was surprised to see the ref flash a red but when I saw the replay it was certainly a bad/reckless challenge on Candeias....but a red ? Not sure....seen them given but also seen just a yellow. As for the game....an appalling display from Rangers....no imagination in midfield. I was struggling to accept this was the same team who have done so well for most of this season. McGregor apart, the defence was terrible and up front Lafferty was totally deprived of service apart from the ball to him for the incorrectly chalked off goal for offside. What a fucking howler from a linesman who was at least two yards behind play when Laff scored. Lafferty was actually behind the ball when he stuck it into the net ffs! The linesman simply guessed and you can't be doing that. Nowt to do with the ref in this instance....a bad, bad decision by an incompetent linesman. Considering we dropped 3 points against Aberdeen and two against Dundee, if we had won both (which I seriously thought we would) we would be sitting top. Bugger!

I believe you are on the same points tally now as the same time last season under the Portuguese fella. Things stalling a bit under Gerrard at the moment, though if you get through on Thursday in the Europa, then I'm sure some positivity will resume.

 

[Redpelt]

And tbh Salty it was a truly well deserved point yesterday especially with Dundee going down to 10 men. Regards that decision, it was certainly a yellow & I was surprised to see the ref flash a red but when I saw the replay it was certainly a bad/reckless challenge on Candeias....but a red ? Not sure....seen them given but also seen just a yellow. As for the game....an appalling display from Rangers....no imagination in midfield. I was struggling to accept this was the same team who have done so well for most of this season. McGregor apart, the defence was terrible and up front Lafferty was totally deprived of service apart from the ball to him for the incorrectly chalked off goal for offside. What a fucking howler from a linesman who was at least two yards behind play when Laff scored. Lafferty was actually behind the ball when he stuck it into the net ffs! The linesman simply guessed and you can't be doing that. Nowt to do with the ref in this instance....a bad, bad decision by an incompetent linesman. Considering we dropped 3 points against Aberdeen and two against Dundee, if we had won both (which I seriously thought we would) we would be sitting top. Bugger!

I expect the teams consistency will continue to dog the manager throughout the season, however I think he has worked wonders with the squad available to him but it still lacks quality in key areas and that much is more than evident ,Gerrard will no doubt attempt to add further improvements in the next window' possibly a glut of loans from Liverpool' to rectify the situation but until then he will have to rely on instilling even more fight and being heavily reliant on the conviction which has no doubt took them this far.

 

[Railway Blue]

Who'll still be standing in Europe after tonight's matches. It could be both, either or none!

 

[Super_horns]

Looks like Celtic are just going to get through despite losing tonight thanks to a late Rosenborg goal in Germany.

They'll be toasting the Norwegians in the east end of Glasgow!

 

[rudebwoyben]

They were very lucky as Salzburg outclassed them for the first 85 minutes.
Salzburg’s second goal was farcical. I’d never seen anything like that before.

 

[Super_horns]

What happened to Hearts between the 70th and 80th minute!?

Gave away a penalty, had a man sent off and let in 4 goals.

Fair play to Livingston though.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Hearts just self-destructed in that time, although the second yellow was a tad harsh. It was refreshing to see a ref give a penalty for a goalie clattering into an outfield player when challenging for a high ball as they all often get away with it.
In fairness, Livi could have been a couple of goals up at half-time. They have just kept doing what they’ve been doing all season, playing without any fear or any sense of being inferior to the other SPL teams. It’s amazing that 8 of the starting XI were playing for the club in Scottish League 1 two seasons ago. And none of their goals last night came from long throw-ins!

 

[Leo]

Can't honestly say I'm overly disappointed in Rangers dropping out of the competition. Given what we have been through, to actually have a decent team compared to previous is a bonus. The fact that we had so many qualifiers, then to go into the last Group stage game with every chance of still qualifying lifts me a great deal and all credit to Steven Gerrard for what he has done overall. Rangers are still that wee bit short of midfield quality (I still maintain that Arfield & Jack should be the mainstays in there) and but for that we could have continued in Europe because believe me Rapid Vienna are no better than us and it took a pish clearance from McGregor to score. Can't blame the man cos he has been outstanding all season. All ifs and buts mind you. Shit happens, not going to dwell on it....Hopefully we can get stronger in the league now!

 

[Leo]

Another good three points yesterday, especially with Celtic losing at Easter Road.... a well deserved win for Hibs who played excellently, but a few more goals would have been a bonus against Hamilton who by all accounts were never in the game. But on the other side of the coin if a team has so much possession I for one am expecting more than one goal.....and Steven Gerrard recognises this going by his comments post match. Anyway, we have to capitalise on Celtic's misfortune and beat Hibs on Wednesday at Easter Road....not an easy task but at least Morelos should be back (I think).

 

[Leo]

A 0-0 draw at Easter Road saw us going back to 2nd spot with Celtic winning 3-0 against Motherwell. I haven't watched my recording of our game yet but by all accounts it was a very good game. St Johnstone in Perth tomorrow which we really have to win as Celtic should take care of Dundee at home today.

 

[SALTIRE]

Just make it end...

 

[Leo]

Just make it end...

That's the problem with following two teams Salty....with one you're on a high and the other a low....so you're like a fucking yoyo with your emotions.

 

[Leo]

A struggling, ugly win away to St Johnstone (1-2....Morelos with a double). First half was appalling with a mode of play that in no way was the gaffer's instructions and he was not happy whatsoever. Grezda hooked at halftime with Middleton coming on then shortly after the restart Coulibaly who had also been ineffective in midfield was replaced by Lafferty so resorting to 2 up top & an obvious difference was to be seen. Morelos is a petulant character but by fuck he can bang the goals in....problem is we seem to be relying to much on him. As I said in a previous post I'd like to see Shankland from Ayr signed in January for a decent back up.

 

[SALTIRE]

That's the problem with following two teams Salty....with one you're on a high and the other a low....so you're like a fucking yoyo with your emotions.

Had a terrible run of fixtures though in the last few weeks. Hopefully they can start to pick it up once more when they play the other dross, or the top boys take more points off them.

 

[Leo]

A disappointing 1-1 home draw against Hibs on Boxing day (and to lose the goal so late on...aaaargh!) means today's game at Ibrox against Celtic is immense. I was a lot more confident earlier in the season but the team has gone off the boil imo recently. If Rangers play as well as they have shown then they can get a result but that depends on which team turns up. Making not a prediction..................#fencesitter.

 

[Super_horns]

Only one team in this ATM but at 1-0 Celtic have a chance if they wake up ..