On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[Sandperson]

Erm, it's a post about football. I would say it has nothing to do with fish..but is very relevant here. :))

[matthew123]

Mick - please keep us informed of further reaction from Glasgow as I'm sure alongside winning the Wembley Cup this can be considered superior to winning the League and Cup double north of the border.

[Mick Mac]

That was last year Matt when a poor Rangers team truimphed over other poor teams.

This is a new season and one trophy so far, closely followed by Liverpools under 19s being sent the same way as Real Madrid and AC Milans kiddies, crying home to their mummies tonight for trophy number two....

[Mick Mac]

LATEST: Manchester City are ready to pay ?150m for Lionel Messi, according to Spanish newspaper Marca. The world record bid would eclipse efforts to sign Kaka and Samuel Eto'o earlier this year and follows reports at the weekend that City were trying to guarantee a first refusal should the Catalans ever decide to sell the Argentina superstar.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1205725/TRANSFER-GOSSIP-Spurs-defender-Villarreal-radar-Manchester-City-line-150m-Lionel-Messi--Tuesdays-stories.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0NrxsADNU

[matthew123]

Think I might sign up to ESPN after all - as well as PL being in HD, they also have some Bundesliga games in HD. They seem to have picked up most of the Setenta contracts although they've replaced French football with Italian.

[Jah Lush]

Mick Mac Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> LATEST: Manchester City are ready to pay ?150m for

> Lionel Messi, according to Spanish newspaper

> Marca. The world record bid would eclipse efforts

> to sign Kaka and Samuel Eto'o earlier this year

> and follows reports at the weekend that City were

> trying to guarantee a first refusal should the

> Catalans ever decide to sell the Argentina

> superstar.

It'll never happen. Messi doesn't want to leave, Barcelona don't want him to leave and if he left the fans who also don't want him to leave would go crazy. And Barcelona are an honourable club that can't be bought (no advertising on their shirts) no matter how much Man City are willing to play for the player. Messi is a God at Camp Nou so it won't happen no matter how much they offer.

[Atila Reincarnate]

matthew123 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Mick - please keep us informed of further reaction

> from Glasgow as I'm sure alongside winning the

> Wembley Cup this can be considered superior to

> winning the League and Cup double north of the

> border.

You have to be joking right, apart from the fact that nobody gives a rats backside about the SPL, you are joking, yes?

[Mick Mac]

Probably true Jah, but never say never. It would be an illogical choice for him to make - but agents always have a vested interest in players moving and can encourage these things to happen.

Nevertheless it shows the ambition of City, in their search for a high profile player.

[matthew123]

He turned Arsenal down when he was schoolboy - so probably has a little bit more honour than some players that have been poached. But never say never - although no chance whilst he is in his pomp.

[Jah Lush]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Probably true Jah, but never say never. It would

> be an illogical choice for him to make - but

> agents always have a vested interest in players

> moving and can encourage these things to happen.

> Nevertheless it shows the ambition of City, in

> their search for a high profile player.

I believe Messi's agent is his father so probably even less chance of that happening.

[Mick Mac]

Ok fair enough but at some point MC may get a big signing. Something big is brewing.

[matthew123]

Everton have turned down Lescott's transfer request.

[Mick Mac]

LIverpool beat Celtic on Pens in final of World U19 tournament

Well done Liverpool youngsters.

[Keef]

Was chatting to my colleague yesterday, she's a big Rangers fan, and is quite torn about the Arsenal, Celtic match up. On the one hand, she said she's never supported Celtic in anything, and it would pain her to do so. However, she said it would be great as a Scot to see Celtic beat a "top" English club...

[matthew123]

3 Days to go!

So far 12 teams have joined the "EDF Super Liga" on

the Barclays Premiership League fantasy football

web site

To create your fantasy team go to:

http://fantasy.premierleague.com/

Once created join the "EDF Super Liga"

The code to join League is 224056-57537

[mockney piers]

Three? I think you'll find it's six days til the Hamlets take in the might of Godalming!!

[Mick Mac]

Keef Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Was chatting to my colleague yesterday, she's a

> big Rangers fan, and is quite torn about the

> Arsenal, Celtic match up. On the one hand, she

> said she's never supported Celtic in anything, and

> it would pain her to do so. However, she said it

> would be great as a Scot to see Celtic beat a

> "top" English club...

Likewise I like to see Rangers win in Europe, as it helps strengthen the image of scottish football, which is weak at the moment as both clubs have financial issues. And its best when Rangers and Celtic are both strong. (Would not want to see Gers go the whole way and actually win a euro trophy though.)

I think Celtic will have a lot of support for this game, being the underdog, and I hope if they do not win that at least they do themselves justice and give Arsenal a bit of a scare.

[matthew123]

mockney piers Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Three? I think you'll find it's six days til the

> Hamlets take in the might of Godalming!!

Same night as Celtic v Arsenal...

[mockney piers]

It's on in the club house with great views of the real match. Beer cheaper than anywhere else too.

Plus I really don't care about that one ;)

[mockney piers]

Ot strictly true, Celtic shirts have a pavlovian response for me after the missus dragged me to a Wolftones gig. As you can imagine it's not a good one. Go on the arse!

[Mick Mac]

Well MP I have never been to a wolftones gig and would never go to one. I support the celtic football team. I have always felt football and politics should be seprate.

I was at a Celtic game on the Saturday immediatley after the Omagh bombing and during the minutes silence someone shouted out a pro IRA slogan. Among 60000 people that was a huge embarrassment for the club. Those people were ejected and banned for life. I feel that since then Celtic have done more than anyone could expect to keep politics out of Celtic Park.

As for the Wolftones, well thats up to you if you want to go to one of their gigs, its not exactly going to be an easy night for anyone who does not think the same way as them. But they are nothing to do with Celtic.

I think its unfortunate that people with strong Irish political views believe that wearing a Celtic shirt in some way brings the two together. It does not.

[Atila Reincarnate]

Here's a thought that I'm sure will provoke a response, but hey ho. I don't think too many people have a liking for the two Glasgow clubs because of the sectarian nonsense that they are associated with. There, now I've said it.

[Mick Mac]

You may be right Atila.

[mockney piers]

Don't get me wrong MM, I blame Celtic not one iota, it's like blaming England when I see a St George flag at an international with the red hand on it (I had to explain this to my American mate when we watched the game at soldier field in Chicago a few years back).

Ignorant wankers was my thought then as it was at the gig (I had no idea what it would be all about btw, not a pleasant surprise), as I said it's purely emotional flashback whenever I see a see of Celtic shirts.

In the end word got round that there were two English lads there (I was travelling around Ireland with my brother and we stopped in at mrs mockers' family pile) and we couldn't buy a drink if we tried the rest of the night. Not to say there wernt some pretty nasty comments either mind.

Anyway, no offence intended, may the best team win :)

[Mick Mac]

No probs MP, it's an association that will be with Celtic for some time I'm afraid, due to some people who seek to associate the poloitcs and football. Celtic is a club set up originally for the Irish immigrants in Glasgow so it will always have a big Irish support and rightly so, but there will always be minorities who let the club down. The club seeks to isolate itself from those minorities, as does Rangers.