: Sat Aug 01, 2009 2:53 am  

Can't believe we haven't even started the league season yet and already the poor quality of Scottish football is oozing out. Then Walter Smith claims that the only reason there wont be a British Premiership is because 'the OF would challenge...and they wouldnt want that'. Aye right pal! Mid-table at best in the premiership any day of the week.


As a Hearts fan, of course it wont matter as we'll be out of business in two weeks (that's for you that one Leyther_Matt ) but seriously, i dont know how often you lot take in SPL footy, but it's very poor, and i get no pleasure saying that.

: Sat Aug 01, 2009 6:46 am  

tommy wrote:

Can't believe we haven't even started the league season yet and already the poor quality of Scottish football is oozing out. Then Walter Smith claims that the only reason there wont be a British Premiership is because 'the OF would challenge...and they wouldnt want that'. Aye right pal! Mid-table at best in the premiership any day of the week.


As a Hearts fan, of course it wont matter as we'll be out of business in two weeks (that's for you that one Leyther_Matt ) but seriously, i dont know how often you lot take in SPL footy, but it's very poor, and i get no pleasure saying that.

The thing is how many current Celtic and Rangers players would be still there if they had the 60million or so they would get from joining the Premier League....I'd say very few if any.

Chances are foreign investors would come in and the set ups and finances they have now would be dramatically different.

To be honest I think the rest of Scottish football would be glad to see them go and a more competitive league would result (and I guess that any young player moving to the cash rich Old Firm would raise his old club a decent sum unlike the transfer fees they tend to pay now).

: Sat Aug 01, 2009 7:28 am  

espanyolswan wrote:

To be honest I think the rest of Scottish football would be glad to see them go and a more competitive league would result (and I guess that any young player moving to the cash rich Old Firm would raise his old club a decent sum unlike the transfer fees they tend to pay now).

Yep. Spot on.

: Sat Aug 01, 2009 3:44 pm  

espanyolswan wrote:

The thing is how many current Celtic and Rangers players would be still there if they had the 60million or so they would get from joining the Premier League....I'd say very few if any.

Chances are foreign investors would come in and the set ups and finances they have now would be dramatically different.

To be honest I think the rest of Scottish football would be glad to see them go and a more competitive league would result (and I guess that any young player moving to the cash rich Old Firm would raise his old club a decent sum unlike the transfer fees they tend to pay now).

Exactly (your first point) But its the way they actually think THIS squad would go well in the premiership as it stands. As a club with all the extra £'s, sure, but it will take an 80% change around of personel at the clubs.

Am not sure i agree with the latter though. How much interest would any of the TV companies/sponsors etc give the SPL without the OF. The money coming into clubs from that alone wont compensate any transfer money given if we sell to a EPL team. Also, it may look more competative, but im not so sure id feel that that much of an achievement has been made winning the league without the OF, it takes away a lot of the glory.

: Sat Aug 01, 2009 3:52 pm  

tommy wrote:

Exactly (your first point) But its the way they actually think THIS squad would go well in the premiership as it stands. As a club with all the extra £'s, sure, but it will take an 80% change around of personel at the clubs.

Am not sure i agree with the latter though. How much interest would any of the TV companies/sponsors etc give the SPL without the OF. The money coming into clubs from that alone wont compensate any transfer money given if we sell to a EPL team. Also, it may look more competative, but im not so sure id feel that that much of an achievement has been made winning the league without the OF, it takes away a lot of the glory.

Granted look in Europe Celtic and Rangers rarely compete and would not do so well down South as it stands.

Fair point but better to win a league or cup without the Old Firm than be 30+ points behind and get beaten in the semi final time and time again. The League of Wales is a good example of a competitive league (ok with limited TV coverage but the odd live game and highlights package every week) without needing Swansea, Cardiff etc and each season 3 or 4 teams can win it. The Scottish League would be starting from a much stronger position in terms of clubs and support and with less money coming in surely it would encourage less foreign players and more locals getting a chance which may well benefit the national side as these players would develop in a decent league and hopefully if they moved their club that nurtured them would be properly rewarded in the transfer fee.

It will not happen anyway but its always a decent topic for discussion.

: Sun Aug 02, 2009 7:54 pm  

tommy wrote:

As a Hearts fan, of course it wont matter as we'll be out of business in two weeks (that's for you that one Leyther_Matt )

Never fails, thanks mate Heart of West Lothian for the Division Three title 2010/2011

: Sun Aug 02, 2009 8:20 pm  

The SPL will plumb new depths this season that is for sure. Aberdeen have already embarrassed the nation and things will get worse when John Hughes gives his first interview on ESPN.

: Sun Aug 02, 2009 8:37 pm  

marsh316 wrote:

The SPL will plumb new depths this season that is for sure. Aberdeen have already embarrassed the nation and things will get worse when John Hughes gives his first interview on ESPN.

Nice to see St Mirren got their usual tally from 10 games in one 90 minutes today.

: Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:13 pm  

marsh316 wrote:

The SPL will plumb new depths this season that is for sure. Aberdeen have already embarrassed the nation and things will get worse when John Hughes gives his first interview on ESPN.

I just hope Yogi goes on and waves his payslip, just to remind the Hearts player what it looks like to get paid

: Mon Aug 03, 2009 12:15 am  

Leyther_Matt wrote: I just hope Yogi goes on and waves his payslip, just to remind the Hearts player what it looks like to get paid He'll be going on and waving more than that if his passed record has owt to do with it http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol ... ian-4.html

Leyther_Matt wrote: I just hope Yogi goes on and waves his payslip, just to remind the Hearts player what it looks like to get paid He'll be going on and waving more than that if his passed record has owt to do with it http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol ... ian-4.html