craig

Away ye go Gribz - you are too angry to see sense right now. Papac was one of our best performers today, dealt with everything. Davis got pass marks for me too. Boyd - on the fence on whether to give him pass marks or not. Missed a very good chance early in 2nd half that would have won us the game, his link up play was decent and he won a few headers - but as has been said, the service to him was awful Mendes flatters to deceive sometimes. At times looked good but also wasnt influential. He came too deep and didnt dictate anything.

Unless of course he has been requested to retract the statement as the article suggested it was pretty much a done deal. Could have been asked to deny it to ensure that no other clubs nips in and steals him from under our nose.

Nope, they are already on 2 in a row

email address Cammy ?

So is the agenda against Burley or Smith (due to Smith's leanings ? Or both as, I believe, Burley is a Rangers fan too?) I dont think that Boyd was innocent but I don't think that he handled it that poorly, which was my original point. If we can only take Burley's comments at face value ("Iwelumo was a bigger aerial threat and Fletcher was more mobile") then we should also take Boyd's comments at face value ("If I am not getting an opportunity for my country then I should free up squad space for someone who might") and, if looked at in that vein, neither was out of line with what they did. Again though, this is a flogged dead horse. At the end of the day all that should matter is "Would Scotland be stronger with Boyd in it" ? Answer, as of now, is undoubtedly yes.

That statement from Burley though makes me cringe too. He wanted to impose an aerial threat on Norway given the sieze of their CB's yet he started the match with McFadden up front and us playing plenty of high balls up there IIRC. So why, if he wanted more of an aerial threat, did he not start with Iwelumo or even BOYD as Boyd is reasonably tall and actually does win his fair share of headers. Burley said more than you state above BD because he most definitely brought WS and his team selection into it. We either choose to believe or not believe what Burley said about his selections post-game - you and I are on opposing sides of the fence as to whether we believe or not. Sure Fletcher maybe has more moevement than Boyd but at the time Fletcher was not performing well at all IIRC. You may be right about horses for courses - but at international level we dont exactly have a plethora of strikers who will score us goals on a regular basis. Was a vital WC tie the right time to give Fletcher and Iwelumo their debuts ? Not for me, but had Iwelumo scored we would be saying it was a master-stroke. Would I have put Boyd on before either of them ? 100% absolutely - he has proven for his nation that he can score at that level, something neither of the other two can lay claim to.

Whilst I agree BD, the statement from Burley to the same also contradicts itself does it not ? Had Fletcher and/or Iwelumo played in bigger games at the time ? I doubt it. Also, just because he is dropped fromt he biggest games that doesn't mean he isnt the best striker who was available. Is he a better striker than Fletcher and Iwelumo ? I doubt we even need to begin debating that one. and lets not forget that, at the time, Fletcher was going through a rough patch - yet Burley felt he was a better option than Boyd ? Incredulous IMO. Either way, I am merely thankful that Burley, by not playing Boyd, fired a rocket up Boyd's arse and Rangers are the thankful recipients for Boyd's much improved overall perfomances, whilst still banging in the goals.

WS was playing Boyd in all games except the big ones. This is the point that Burley laboured on - he said something along the lines of "if Walter is not playing Kris in the big games then there is a reason for that". So Burley's excuse was that as Boyd wasn't playing in the BIG games for Rangers then he wouldn't be getting picked for Scotland. Now, that statement may be true - but to then give Fletcher and, worse, Iwelumo a chance to score a VITAL goal for the country before a proven international goalscorer was stupidity on the part of Burley, IMO. Neither Fletcher nor Iwelumo have played at the level Boyd has, so I can actually see why Boyd would be frustrated by it.

How anyone can be a bigot for merely stating their opinion (actually..... is it an opinion given that someone testified same under oath ?) that an individual knew that someone else had perpetrated a crime is beyond me. There is not, nor will there ever be, anything bigotted about that. Either way though I really do wish we would get away from the whole BJK thing - it is cringe-worthy at best and embarrassing (yes, THEY should be embarrassed that he did nothing but it is embarrassing that we have stooped this low too). It is unfathomable to me that George Galloway, or ANY other MP, sees this issue as fit to raise in the Commons when the country is headed into a recession worse than many of us have ever seen in our lives. Note to George et al - SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE YOU FOOLS.

It's all mind games. Boyd will be one of the first names on the teamsheet. We definitely can beat them with 4-4-2 and we are the home team so should be going for the jugular !

I havent seen much of him but sounds like he would be a very good acquisition - so long as we can keep Bougherra so that they become the CB partnership.

So what ? Does that mean he handled it poorly ? Not in my opinion.

I am pretty sure that his statement didnt end there and he clarified himself by saying that if he wasnt being quoted then he may as well free up a squad spot for someone who might have a chance of playing time.

I dont think that Boyd handled it that badly. He was overlooked for both Fletcher and Iwelumo. He took the stance that he was unlikely to be getting a game in the foreseeable future so decided to concentrate on club football. I just dont see that he handled it that poorly.

Have you watched the 2nd half or have you just watched the highlights ? It was all Liverpool at the start of the 2nd half but once Adebayor was sent off Arsenal were the better team. Then Liverpool had another good spell with about 15 mins to go. Far from only one team in it. Take your Liverpool tinted specs off about Adebayor too. I won't deny that he could have been sent off for it but I thought it was very harsh. He was in no way trying to come over the top of the ball and going for the player. He was coming over the top of the ball to then shield it from the player. And your whole "he followed with his arm" statement is nonsense IMO - he didn't attempt to hit the player with his arm - he was shielding the ball and balancing. Actually, the full back could just as easily have been booked for going to ground like a sack of spuds on what was no more than minimal contact.

Disagree Pete - the ball for both goals were very similar. The difference for me was that Keane had no-one between him and goal whilst RvP had two players around him, his first touch was excellent, his 2nd which changed direction was the ONLY touch he could make to even get a shot off and then the shot itself was very classy too. Not taking anything away from Keane's goal though, cracking finish.

He did dive but that could easily have been given because Gallas came across him. Adebayor shouldnt have walked IMO. The ref was woeful. Two decent goals. I thought Keane finished his excellently but I thought RvP's was the better goal, the way he brought it down, changed direction and then slotted home was sublime.

Howard Webb has been awful.

Leeds lost 3-1, Wycombe won 1-0 I see you keep up your "1 team lets me down" mantra Gribz. Unlucky bud, that was nearly an excellent bet

I assume he didnt say that ? Pretty funny though.

too funny - what a splendid idea - you loan me, then when the crisis hits I can loan you. A self-perpatuating cycle.

Agreed, I think we also have to consider the context in which he is speaking. Seems he is thanking everyone at the club for looking out for him after his mother passing.

I am somewhat surprised that The Donald didnt offer his services in the first place. This craziness would never have been where it is at if Findlay was still at the club, in my opinion.

6 months ago maybe - but these financial markets are killing me..... plus, the wife wont stop spending. Down and out in Bermuda loyal

I just hope the one team that will inevitable bust your coupon isnt Rangers !