Excited by East Fife

[Duncer]

I know tonight's league cup "glamour" tie at Ibrox against East Fife is a huge comedown from the nights I spent watching Barcelona, PSV, PSG, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Moan United at the same venue, but I am genuinely excited to be going as it means that at least I still have a team to support.

My sympathies lie with any fan(s) currently facing a similar situation at their own club(s).

[eyethenkyew]

Erm...don't you mean you'll have a "new" team to support? A "newco"? So when did they play such illustrious teams such as above???

[jackthehat]

<<Excited by East Fife>>

Not often you see that sentence written down....

[Duncer]

eyethankyew - same ground, same fans, and read it again; nowhere do I claim it is the same club, just the same venue, but it is!

[HowardKennitby]

I don't know what the long-term effect on Scottish football will be but in the short term one less of the old firm coming here is something that pleases me. Unfortunately, in terms of trouble on the streets, it is the wrong half.

[erin-x]

Hey!! Nothing wrong with East Fife Jack! :)

[Duncer]

Craig, I think that boat has already sailed.

I've said many times that we desreved to be punished, but the SPL clubs seemed to want it both ways. They wanted to appeal to base hatred and bigotry (and I know this doesn't apply to everyone), among their fan groups and vote Rangers out, and I really can understand that, but they also wanted TV rights if Rangers were to be re-admitted to the lower divisions. As with all things in life, you cannot have it both ways.

A season of contrition in an SPL II would have solved all problems as it would have demoted Rangers, allowed them the chance to bounce back, secured the TV deal and brought about a bigger league and an end to the tedium of playing each other four times a season, or more.

[eyethenkyew]

I think that fans of Rangers want to have their cake and eat it - not to mention having other priorities wrong.

First of all, nobody except the hierarchy at Ibrox did anything wrong - it was they who caused all the grief in the first place - not the SFA or SPL who are there to administer Scottish football, including bringing sanctions to wrongdoers no matter which club it is.

Scottish football does indeed need both halfs of the two big Glasgow clubs, but what happened at Ibrox is unprecedented and could not go unpunished. The scope of that punishment is therefore also unprecedented because of the alleged magnitude of the misdemeanours, hence the relegation and other sanctions which, don't forget, came about from other clubs voting on the debacle.

There are also further ongoing investigations which may yet end in further punishment, but that remains to be seen. Rangers fans should vent any fury they have at a certain knighted ex owner to start with - that's my guess.

[Duncer]

eyethankyew, I have stated repeatedly that punishments are merited but, as you clearly state, it was the Ibrox heirarchy, mostly David Murray in my opinion, (and I did have a lot of insight into the club at the time), who are to blame.

The other speculation is, as you say, just that - speculation. It is my belief that EBT's are perfectly legal. The problem arises from how they were set up, but time will tell.

How do Rangers fans want to have their cake and eat it? I wanted the Third Division and have said all along, "Be careful what you wish for". If some clubs go burst, as they are now whining about, then they only have themselves to blame for mismananging their accounts.

I am sick of hearing about the "integrity of football" from clubs who have much to answer for themselves. Why should any organisation that votes a club ot, as it is quite entitled to do, then claim some of their TV rights? That is utterly deviod of any integrity.

[Wharton]

Hiya Duncer
The One And Only Partick Thistle v Falkirk today.
Put your money on a draw; come to think about it, keep your money in your pocket and don't listen to daft Jags fans. C'mon The Blues!! (not Falkirk - you know who I mean).

[Duncer]

Warton - what is your take on the whole Rangers saga? I do value your opinion.

As for Thistle, I've taken a leap of faith and backed them to win Division One. Falkirk are too young and that will lead to incosnsitencies, while Dunfermline are dire( and that's from a Pars supporting colleague). Livi are promising but I'm not sure they are ready yet, so it's over to McNamara's men.

I suspect Linfield will again do well.

[Wharton]

Linfield - certainties.

Scots Ist - Falkirk

Rangers saga - The ones I really feel sorry for are, naturally, the supporters but I'll get back to you on this thread later with some detail (for what it's worth). It's getting late and the old bones are beginning to stiffen up!!

[eyethenkyew]

Duncer,

You only have to listen to any of the Scottish football phone-ins to realise what I mean about 'having their cake and eating it'. Although you do get Rangers fans who are well aware of where the blame lies, there are many callers who give the impression of being in complete denial and would rather blame anyone and anything other than those who have wielded power down Govan way in the recent past.

[Duncer]

In what way do the comments of other people in a different media reflect on the points I am making here?