Strachan: Premiership is dire

Gordon Strachan reckons Celtic would be competitive in the Premiership because some of the games at that level are "dire".

The Scot managed Coventry City and Southampton in the Premiership and feels there is not too much difference in standard compared to the much-maglined Scottish Premier League.

Celtic are 15 points clear already in the SPL table and able to focus primarily on reaching the next round of the UEFA Champions League with Manchester United coming to Parkhead on Tuesday night.

The Red Devils, one of Strachan's former clubs, are top of the Premiership but Strachan has little time for those championing the English elite as the best league in Europe.

"We know the SPL isn't the same as the English Premiership," he stated. "But there's not that great a difference.

"We'd be competitive in the top half of the Premiership.

"I think they give themselves too many pats on the back for being the best league in the world.

"It's alright at times but I've seen some dire games there as well."

rai de Hunter wrote: "It's alright at times but I've seen some dire games there as well."

Many of them involving Coventry or Southampton no doubt.

rai de Hunter wrote:
"I think they give themselves too many pats on the back for being the best league in the world."

That couldn't be more true.

Obispo wrote:

rai de Hunter wrote:
"I think they give themselves too many pats on the back for being the best league in the world."

That couldn't be more true.

I agree completely.

The problem for Strachan is that he says Celtic would be in the top half of the league, but at the moment they are probably the only Scottish side who wouldn’t struggle to stay up if they were put in the Premiership. I don’t agree with him saying there isn’t much of a difference.

Surely Celtic would make the top 5 or 6?

I'm not sure what he's saying to be honest? Is he trying to get across that the current celtic team in general would be top of the premiership or that Celtic as a club would compete at that level.

They've certainly got the fan base and stadium to compete at the top of the premiership and the extra revenue that would receive in terms of TV and sponsorship deals, if they were in the premiership, would enable them to buy top class players like United, Arsenal, Chelsea et al.

Within 2-3 seasons Celtic easily has the base to compete for the title. Whether they would or not is another matter.

...Their current side wouldn't though. Atleast I don't think so.

I don't think so... mid-table, maybe top half.

But after a couple of seasons, with their share of the increased Sky money, they'd be pushing for CL places.

He doesnt really say it is dire, he says some games are dire, but every league has dire games, his teams were horrible to watch from what i remember.
He has been caught up in all the anti english anti prem feeling in scotland, the spl is miles away only two teams are any good, but they keep comparing themselves to the epl. Celtic are no better than tottenham imo

Aye, I'd put them around Spurs/Blackburn's/Newcastle's/Everton's/Bolton's level.

One of five teams competiting for 5th spot.

Newcastle?

Cos they're good.

We've good management there still a top 8 or top 6 team.

7th last year and the seasons only a third of the way through.

With good management alot of teams can be top 6-7 in this league

Parks knows what he's talking about...after all Newcastle have better midfield depth than Man. Utd.

Is the Premiership grossly overrated as a league? Yes


The rest is easy phrases and bluster.