What’s that smell? Aha, it’s Scottish football

monty wrote:L.R.D I wasn't suggesting it was a good move just articles last week were linking Ferguson to Zenit because Advocaat still likes him as a player http://www.soccernews.com/zenit-interested-in-ferguson/16802/

He obviously doesn't realise he is not the same player after all those injuries. But if Rangers get a good fee for him they'd have done well, because he's really not that good at all, Mendes has comfortably outperformed him this season.

Hey I know monty. Sorry if it came across that I thought you were advocating a move to Zenit for Ferguson. Nobody in their right mind would do that - unless you have a hard on for Ferguson like Adovcaat does. Weird.

Think he will end up at somewhere like Stoke or Birmingham. Then he'll come back and play for Motherwell or Hamilton. I think that's guaranteed.

Yeah no problem. ah hadn't actually thought about Birmingham good shout. McLeish was willing to take a chance on Boyd who has the same bad attitude. What price on a Boyd and Barry double swoop

Ferguson and MacGregor banned for life from Scotland squad and dropped by Rangers. Ferguson has been stripped of his Rangers captaincy as well.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/apr/03/barry-ferguson-allan-mcgregor-banned

Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor banned for life by Scotland• SFA says duo will never play for national team again

Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor have been banned for life from representing their country, the Scottish Football Association has confirmed. The duo were dropped by manager George Burley for last week's World Cup qualifier against Iceland after a late-night drinking session in the team hotel.

The players were then photographed making V-signs to photographs while on the substitutes bench at Hampden Park, and it is this behaviour that has led the SFA to make their decision. Rangers have also announced that Ferguson, who is club captain, and McGregor have been suspended for two weeks without pay.

"Following on from the events of the past week – and specifically the last 48 hours – the Scottish FA has today confirmed that Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor will no longer be considered for international selection by Scotland," a SFA statement said.

"The decision was taken following further discussions today between the national team manager and the Scottish FA chief executive.

"This action has been taken in the best interests of the squad, the fans and the country. Everyone is determined to qualify for the World Cup and we must ensure that nothing is allowed to distract us from this goal."

Both Ferguson and McGregor have issued apologies and said they are 'disappointed' that they will no longer be able to represent their country.

"I deeply regret what happened last weekend and the events during the last week and apologise wholeheartedly for the embarrassment caused to Scotland, Rangers, both sets of supporters and my friends and family," Ferguson said.

"I have always considered playing for Rangers and Scotland an honour and a privilege and nothing will change that and I am bitterly disappointed by the announcement that I will not be selected for Scotland again."

McGregor added: "I was absolutely delighted to be selected for Scotland last weekend and I am deeply sorry over what has happened since then. We all make mistakes in life and I am very disappointed to have let Rangers, Scotland, my family all the fans down. I am also desperately disappointed that I will not be selected again for Scotland at this stage in my career."

This is so staggeringly stupid it beggers belief. Surprising that SFA have acted so swiftly and decisively - if Terry and Rooney did this would English FA do the same? I doubt it.

Apparently the two went on an 8-hour bender at their hotel and were spotted by guests coming for lunch the following day

They were interviewed by Sky Sports News and apparently McGregor acted like a tit, almost bursting out laughing about being banned and possibly playing his last game for Rangers.

Ferguson was more apologetic.

McGregor's fiancee once said she'd slash the face of any girl that approached McGregor. Nice!!

Who will get the Scotland captaincy now? McManus and Fletcher surely have to be the leading candidates.

Fulham, Zenit and an Arab team are all reported to be interested in Ferguson.

Scotties.

Whats the name of that fella who seemed to ref all the old firm games every season? Probably retired now..got hit with a coin once.

probably hugh dallas

Thats the one. I knew a scottish poster would help me out.

Cheers.

Rangers put themselves in a good position to win the league by beating Celtic at the weekend, but they've fooked it up by drawing with Hibs last night.

Novo should have scored twice (absolute sitters) and it looks like they had a legitimate goal chopped off.

Title has swung in Celtic's favour now, but I still expect them to both drop points in their remaining games.

Could come down to goal difference. Would love to see a one-off game between them to decide the league title.

Cheers

ps Whoever loses the league is seriously fecked because of the way qualification for the CL group stages changes next season. It's going to be more difficult for the Scottish runner up to qualify for the CL.

Team that wins league gets automatic qualification to CL group stages. Rangers need the money so imperative for them to win the league over Celtic. Think they are very seriously fooked if they miss out on the CL next season. Expect guys like Mendes, Davis, etc to leave if they fail to qualify.

Hopefully it will go to the last day and somebody will bottle it spectacularily so that we can have a good laugh at them.

Murray wrote:Hopefully it will go to the last day and somebody will bottle it spectacularily so that we can have a good laugh at them.

Lets hope it will be Rangers

If somehow both the Old Firm were deducted 10-30 points(whatever it is) and someone else won the SPL, that would be great

Ade wrote:If somehow both the Old Firm were deducted 10-30 points(whatever it is) and someone else won the SPL, that would be great

chhhhhhYEAHHH and if Ac Milan were somehow relocated in Scotland, the SPL would be better too!

Another bizarre injury picked up at Rangers.

The Rangers manager Walter Smith today confirmed Kirk Broadfoot suffered burns after an egg exploded in his face. The Scotland defender was inspecting two eggs he had just poached in his microwave when one of them blew up and squirted scalding hot water into his face.

The 25-year-old was treated at hospital for scalding to his cheek after the incident on Sunday but was otherwise unhurt. He is expected to make a full recovery. Smith said: "He's got some facial burns but he should be okay."

The former St Mirren full-back, who joined the Ibrox club in 2007, is currently out injured with a foot problem.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/may/15/kirk-broadfoot-egg-explosion-rangers

already posted that in the Scottish egg thread

Ivan Lendl once tried to 'cook' an egg by laying it in his hotel microwave too, also resulted in an explosion.

Burnley, Lokomotiv track Riordan


Lokomotiv Moscow and Burnley have made enquiries about the availability of Hibernian forward Derek Riordan.

The 26-year-old has scored 11 goals for the Easter Road side this season after moving back to the Edinburgh outfit from Celtic last summer.

He has already been linked with both clubs in the past.

Championship outfit Burnley, who play in the promotion play-off final against Sheffield United, failed in a £400,000 bid for Riordan in 2007.

And Lokomotiv had a bid accepted for the player in 2006 during his first stint with Hibs, but he rejected the move as he did not wish to move overseas and team-mate Garry O'Connor made the switch to Russia alone.

Kaiserslautern, Cardiff City and Rangers all made offers during that time for the forward, who has been capped once for Scotland.

But he eventually joined Celtic in January 2006 for a cut-price £170,000, with Hibs anxious not to lose him for nothing when his contract was due to finish that summer.

Riordan failed to become a first-team regular with the Scottish champions and publicly aired his disappointment at not being given more opportunities by Celtic manager Gordon Strachan.

It was during that troubled time that Burnley made their initial approach, but he eventually returned to Easter Road on the final day of last summer's transfer window.

Hibs manager Mixu Paatelainen told BBC Scotland that he was unaware of any interest in Riordan.

"I must be honest, that is the first time I have heard about that," said the Finn. "I don't read fans' websites or gossip columns or anything like that."

Off-field behaviour has at times seen the forward hit the news pages, but Riordan was again on the back pages on Wednesday, when his fine opening goal prevented Rangers returning to the top of the Scottish Premier League table after a 1-1 draw.

And Riordan has promised he will be going out to similarly thwart his former club, who visit Easter Road on Sunday and presently lead Rangers on goal difference.

"Celtic and Rangers are battling for the league, so obviously there is more pressure on them than us," he told Hibs' website.

"But it doesn't interest me about other clubs - I'm happy as long as I'm playing well and scoring goals for my team.

"It doesn't make a difference to Hibernian if Celtic win the league or not. We will be going out to win the game on Sunday."

Riordan believes his partnership with Steven Fletcher can be the undoing of Celtic on Sunday after the pair combined for his goal against Rangers.

"Steven and I have a great understanding up front," he said.

"In terms of movement and passing, I read his game well and he reads mine well.

"Obviously, I played with Garry O'Connor in the past and I think our partnership is up there with that one.

"I really enjoy playing alongside Fletch."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/8051907.stm

More incompetent refereeing today, one of our players gets sent off for being headbutted.

Hibs make Celtic trip too, impressive. They've stole points from both old firm teams. THings look bright for Rangers again.

Congratz Hibs

Celtic's turn to bottle it today

Rangers lead the table by two points going into the last round, Celtic have +1 better GD than Rangers.

Celtic vs. Hearts
Dundee United vs. Rangers

This has been doing the rounds...

Rangers go to Dundee United this week where they look likely to win the
SPL. Dundee United could only give Rangers 5000 tickets and these were
sold out almost instantly. There were a lot of disappointed Rangers
fans. So......

A new poster signs up on a Rangers forum and makes a few non-descript
posts. No one pays him any real attention. He then starts a thread
saying;


Quote:

If you want tickets for next week's title decider away to Dundee
United, read here...

Since the away allocation for Rangers fans of 5 thousand is long sold
out.

Tickets for the home end is the only solution.

But as we all know, if your not on Dundee United's official
club/supporter database then you won't even be able to buy tickets for
the home end.

Here's what to do..

Phone up the club shop. And ask to buy a pair of Dundee United kit
socks.

Don't even mention tickets for Sunday. They might become suspicious.

Then when they take your sock order, personal details and process your
payment your details will then be stored on thier system.

Give it a few hours until there's a shift change, phone up again and
order your home tickets for the Rangers match and because of your sock
order, you will be on their system and you will get your match tickets.
It's perfect lads.

Turns out, there's no such database and all these Rangers fans have
ended up with hundreds of pairs of Dundee United socks and no match
tickets. The poster was an Aberdeen fan.

Unfortunately it's not true

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/8063657.stm

Rangers won the SPL title. They beat Dundee Utd 3-0, whilst Celtic drew 0-0 with Hearts at Parkhead. That cheating bastard Lafferty scored one of the goals too.



Aberdeen finish well in fourth spot but their manager Calderwood resigns.

Damn, you'd have thought any Scottish side that had Samaras on their books was sure to win the SPL.

borocooper wrote:Damn, you'd have thought any Scottish side that had Samaras on their books was sure to win the SPL.

No goals in their last two games the fans aint to happy(Samaras rarely got in ahead of JVOH who is awful). Strachan will be going for sure. And Lafferty did what happens in leagues all over the world every weekend it was just highlighted so much because it doesn't happen in the SPL, no big deal IMO.

Celtic

That was the worst Scottish season ever, at least we're getting a new manager next season.