Football Focus

[Bluerevolution]

Well I was there when we were sh*te

[maxxi]

when? (come on, I had to).

Re ManC fans - I took a friend (a Man City supporter - from Manchester) to Upton Pk when they got promoted in 2000. He was unwise enough to celebrate (surrounded by claret and blue) when they went ahead but good natured enough to sit and take the flack as the Irons went on to win 4-1 - as were the rest of the away mob (blue moon etc) so I don't begrudge the real fans a bit tub thumping.

[Parkdrive]

???? Wrote:

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Bizzarley met a West Ham fan Born

> and Bred in Altricham once.

I've got a mate who was born and bred/still lives in Abingdon Oxfordshire who has ALWAYS supported Abingdon Town and WEST HAM. Work that one out.

[Parkdrive]

Just caught Dalglish reacting indignantly to comments made by QPR winning goal scorer, that Liverpool looked tired in the midweek game. He really needs to get a grip, not the behaviour of a "king" more like a court jester.

[Atticus]

Totally agree with RD re human nature, however it must irk the year in year out supporters who suddenly find themselves jostling for cup tickets. BR, reckon you'd have filled that pub a few years ago? Again, agreed with the fact that almost every city fan I know is from Manc or its surrounds. Don't really know what my point is here...

[Atticus]

Re. Daglish, I know of a few Kopites who are now wishing Rafa was still in charge. Daglish has the demeanour of a man under pressure, which is fair enough.

[Mick Mac]

Dalglish will be hard to move on, given his history. Bit early I know but will have to happen sometime.

[Bluerevolution]

Atticus Wrote:

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> Totally agree with RD re human nature, however it

> must irk the year in year out supporters who

> suddenly find themselves jostling for cup tickets.

> BR, reckon you'd have filled that pub a few years

> ago? Again, agreed with the fact that almost every

> city fan I know is from Manc or its surrounds.

> Don't really know what my point is here...

It's taken me 3 years of networking to get the numbers we had-average figure is 20-30 Blues

[Otta]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Dalglish will be hard to move on, given his

> history. Bit early I know but will have to happen

> sometime.

Unless, given a bit of time (something that all managers should be given), he turns things round.

[red devil]

I'm sure Dalglish will be given another season, afterall he's got 1 cup in the bag and a good chance of winning another. The owners don't strike me as knee-jerk types, and look to be in it for the long haul. I would've thought a new ground was top of their 'to do' list.

[Atticus]

In the US, the owners have been quite brutal in the past, sacking coaches without a thought. I'd be surprised if Daglish gets another season as it looks unlikely he'll bring champions league football to the club.

[Otta]

I'd be amazed if he doesn't get another season. I think their plan is long term, and they want to develop players.

I could be wrong of course.

[Jah Lush]

I agree with Otta and Red Devil. Liverpool are in a similar position to where Spurs where a few years ago. They have a rebuilding job to do. Dalglish has already bagged one cup this season and there is every chance he could bag the FA Cup as well. I'm sure their league form will improve next season.

Err... as I write this they are 2-1 down at home to Wigan. Not good enough for them. I'm sure the fans won't be happy about that.

[Otta]

Another stunning home display at Anfield.

[Alan Medic]

I'm pleased for Wigan though. I'd like to see them stay up as I like their manager for the style of football he wants to play. Not sure who else I'd like to stay up as they are all fairly uninteresting clubs to me. But if Blackburn do, they I'd have to say well done to Steve Kean. He has taken some flak.

[Mick Mac]

Otta Wrote:

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> Mick Mac Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Dalglish will be hard to move on, given his

> > history. Bit early I know but will have to

> happen

> > sometime.

>

>

> Unless, given a bit of time (something that all

> managers should be given), he turns things round.

You will notice that I did not comment on Dalglish's performamce. Its just a point worth bearing in mind that if you install a legend then unravelling that decision can be difficult.

[Parkdrive]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17500931

Is this the same man that chastised an upstart QPR player for claiming Liverpool were tired? There's no pleasing some people!!

[Parkdrive]

Just for you Jah and all the Spuds fans out there.

http://www.freesound.org/people/WIM/sounds/12705/

[Mick Mac]

The dog days of the autumn must seem so distant to him now, but to fully appreciate the feat of management that Lennon has performed in bringing Celtic to the brink of the title, it?s no bad thing to go back a while to a time when he was on the edge of something very different. In October and November, Celtic played a dozen matches in all competitions and managed to win only four of them. They got horsed by Rangers at Ibrox, they got turned over by Hearts at Tynecastle, they were 3-0 down at half-time against Kilmarnock and got booed when drawing 0-0 at Hibs. That was 29 October and the atmosphere at Parkhead was turning hostile. Lennon lambasted his players in the aftermath of the soul-less stalemate with Hibs and you really wondered if he was beginning to lose control of his fate.

Even a month later, things were grim. On the evening of 5 November, Celtic were 15 points behind Rangers in the SPL table. True, they had a few games in hand but even the best-case scenario ? two wins reducing the gap to nine points ? wasn?t one that lowered the temperature of the Celtic fans all that much. It wasn?t so much a case of ?We?re all Neil Lennon? at that point, more a case of ?We all used to be Neil Lennon, but enough is enough?.

The turnaround has been dramatic, an epic run of consistency. In the period from December to February they played 17 games in all competitions and won 16 of them, the one they didn?t win being a draw away to Udinese in the Europa League. You could argue that getting a point in the home of a top Italian side was the best result of the lot of them.

In their last 27 domestic games they have lost only once, against Kilmarnock last Sunday.

Neil Lennons transformation of Celtic since early autumn will be complete today and the icing on the cake would be winning the title at Ibrox.

[red devil]

I never thought I'd see these words in the same sentence...Peter Crouch, goal of the season :)

[sakwhita]

There will be no title party at Ibrox today.

Demolished.

[sakwhita]

Hmmmm... Funny old game!

Not demolished but well beaten.

Went to sleep for the last 5...

[Mick Mac]

Lots of talking points but Rangers started brighter and wanted it more than some of the celtic players. Lennon could not handle the big decisions going against Celtic on the other hand Ally McCoist shook the hand of every Celtic player and that was well received. Rangers had to win today for the sake of pride. Celtic restored some pride late on and I think that was down to kris Commons who for me should always start ahead of Ki.

[SCSB79]

Oh my I enjoyed that.

Ally McCoist is class personified. He may not be the best manager The Rangers have ever had but I'd not want anyone else in the hot seat right now.

As for Lennon, I'll leave it there.

[Mick Mac]

Lennon will get his first title and its thoroughly deserved. Ally is a good guy and a rangers hero but this year the spoils go to Lennon. Hats off.