craig

Hard to disagree with any of your predictions Pete - good work. Off topic but I cannot believe that I have been in this shitty office from 8am till almost midnight !

I was thinking about the "SPL factor" yesterday too Gribz - but I am not convinced that it would be too significant - only reason I say so is because Hutton has now performed incredibly well against Stuttgart, Lyon, Barcelona and of course France - so he has been up against some of the world's best and come through with flying colours. There will no doubt still be some of that "he only plays in Scotland" mentality - but given the standard of opposition he has faced in Europe and his first couple of internationals I think teams will be taking note of those performances first and foremost.

I think in this PC-gone mad world that people are too quick to jump onto the "racial stereotyping" bandwagon. As far as I can see the only potential mistake Gribz made in his initial post was that his statement was a generalisation rather than saying that the attitudinal problems were of Poles Gribz had encontered - we are far too quick to see it as racial stereotyping in my opinion. I don't think you said too much wrong Gribz - and I think that if one was to read your post again you would find that it was intrinsic in your post that you meant the Polish people you had encountered.

You may be right that we missed a chance Pete - but, to play devils advocate, had we opened up more there is every chance we would have been sitting with 6 instead of 7 points which could be the difference between being in the CL knock out stages and the UEFA ones. We looked better going forward in the last 20 minutes but had we have been more open for 90 we simply could have taken a mauling. At the same time you are also right in that we could have won - we just won't ever know. But if that one point means qualification then I am happy enough for the tactics that brought about the point. And, besides, we can wait till we get them in the final before we open up and beat them 3-2...... :fish:

Aye, please do Andrew :fish:

Sorry man, I wasn't doubting what buba posted - just that UEFA were even considering this ! I agree, I honestly don't think he is much of a player - as young Fraser said, a one trick pony IMO. But yeah, if he got SPL POTY then no reason he cant get this too !

Gotta love Gersnet - despite there being obvious differences in opinion on this thread all was dealt with in a respectful manner. Boruc is a tit - not because he is Polish though, just because his actions are reprehensible.

Even if Celtic use the excuse of mis-representation Boruc then STILL has a case to answer. Just why DID he refuse to shake Rangers players hands. Not that I care a jot about the BS excuse that Boruc, and Celtic, will come up with !

After the last round of games when we compared our result against Lyon to their result against Milan.... do you think we should compare results this time around. Who do we all think had the better result in the CL this week - Rangers or Celtic ? :fish: hahahahaha GIRFUY Celtic !!

No you don't Jon - you have no idea what you mean :fish:

You are so excited at Celtic being bottom of their group that you can't even put their name in above. Yeah, I wasn't sure how the positions would be but I did know that Celtic would be bottom. But they are definitely in the shit now !

Just watched those goals again and every one of them was a decent, or very good, goal !

Celtic are in for a rough ride now in the CL. Their group will currently be.... Milan on 6 points Shakhtar on 6 points Celtic on 3 points Benfica on 3 points If they don't beat Benfica at Parkhead they will struggle to get into even the UEFA cup - not necessarily a good thing as they will have more time to concentrate on the SPL.

Talking to yourself again Pete ? MON BENFICA !!!!!!!!!

Did you place this as a bet Gav ? 1-0 to Besiktas right now......

I agree Cammy - I think the true test of Arsenal this season will be how their squad holds up with injuries and suspensions. They don't seem to have too much strength in depth but, having said that, they have done pretty well without their recognised top striker (RvP). Being a gooner it is easy for me to say I also would like to see them win the EPL and CL

And it makes me chuckle every time Cammy posts about them calling them "Celtc" - retards that they are !

Re your first paragraph that sounds like a lot of shite - Nakamura for European POTY ? Someone is on some strong dope (Pete, you supplying again ???). Re your 2nd paragraph, far too early to make that judgement - but if they were handing out awards right now he would walk away with the title.

But surely TGFITW are better at these displays than us..... :fish:

Not true Fraser. If we were to beat Stuttgart but get beat from Barcelona and Lyon we would have 10 points. Barcelona would have at least 10 having beat us in the Nou Camp. If Lyon win their remaining 3 games then they are on 12 points. Barcelona would top us on head to head. The "3 points from 3 games" synopsis only works if we beat Lyon.

none of us will complain if that point is the point that sees us safely into the last 16. Another way to look at it is that Barcelona could reasonably be expected to win all of their group games so if we are the only team to take a point off them then we are 1 point ahead of the other 2 teams already and given that we have also beaten the other 2 teams it puts us in a strong position. Lets not forget that Barcelona went to Stuttgart and won reasonably comfortably so taking a point is a great result. The performance may not have been to some people's liking as you always would prefer that you go out and attack teams - however, we have played with a solidity in the CL with that 4-5-1 formation this year and we almost snatched a goal near the end - sometimes making yourself hard to break down brings the other team onto you and opens things up at the back - seemed to me we had some pretty decent chances ourselves and with a bit of luck could have been celebrating a win last night (but likewise could have lost too given the possession Barca had).

If Benfica win tonight Celtic could very well have to beat them in the return leg because that group would be very tight. Shakhtar are a surprise but having spent 40 mill in the summer they should be good and I can actually see them coming to Parkhead and getting a result too.

Yep, Neville's age and their lack of natural replacement is what made me think Man U too.... how funny would it be if Man U bought Hutton just 18 months after PLG brought Bardsley in on loan to replace Hutton, given that Bardsley was apparently Neville's "heir in waiting" ? I agree about the contract, within reason. Hutton is deserving of a new contract for sure - he isn't just a young player anymore, he is a key member of our team and a full international too who looks like he will only get better. We should give him a lucrative contract because the way he is playing if any team does come sniffing then if he is on a long contract it should take a very sizeable bid to force gers to sell him.

Funnily enough...... This is taken from a VERY POOR rumours website so I wouldn't read too much into it. "Massive news– Following the outstanding form of Rangers and Scotland right–back Alan Hutton, both Chelsea and Liverpool are locked in a bidding war to sign him. Chances are Hutton would prefer Liverpool because of the uncertainty at Chelsea at the moment, but there may even be interest from abroad. "

http://www.gersnetonline.net/vb/showthread.php?t=5159