14 Jun 2022 13:49:23
Hi Ed's, do you reckon we'll ever see anyone else other than us and the zombies competing for the league? Even when one of us has a poor season we're still clear of the rest of the league. Would Aberdeen, Heart, Hibs etc have the resources to compete at some point?
{Ed007's Note - I don't think anyone outside us and the Old Firm FC are capable of winning the league or ever will unless there is a smaller version of a Man City or Chelsea type of takeover.
There is more chance of Aberdeen or one of the Edinburgh clubs challenging Old Firm FC for second place, their whole business model is base on director loans and that is never a good way to run any business long term, without all that "investment" they would definitely be dragged into that group.
I'll never understand why chairmen and owners of other SPFL clubs don't push for FFP Regs to be brought in to even out the playing field.}
14 Jun 2022 15:56:27
Yes Ed.
Let's not forget their one and only 9 in a row. Celtic were an absolute basket case during that and, if memory serves me right, for 7 of those seasons other teams beat us to 2nd place. It's not beyond other teams to get a season of exceptional success but that would have to be coupled with us and OF having a disaster. However, a Leicester only comes around once in a generation.
My contention is that most teams don't try a leg to beat us or the OF and until that changes they have no chance what so ever. The owners/ managers of these teams should all get round a table and vow that whatever else happens in the league the MUST give us a game EVERY game. But then again I believe in unicorns and pots of gold at the end of rainbows.
{Ed007's Note - A point against us is like a win for the smaller teams and could be the difference in a relegation battle or the fight for European places so you can understand why managers play like that but it isn't pretty to watch.
Would extending the league giving us more so called "meaningless" games allow & maybe even encourage teams to play a more expansive game?}
14 Jun 2022 20:22:42
I doubt increasing the amount of teams would have any impact on how most teams set up against us Ed.
I get it if the season is half way through and you find yourself close to the relegation zone - but not from day one. The season just gone for example Rangers lost 3 games - and two of them were against us so that means in the other 34 games only one team beat them. Whatever the rest are doing is clearly not working. Sitting back for 90 mins waiting to get beaten is a total lack of ambition by the other 10 teams. And you are correct - it is horrible to watch. Celtic and Rangers are not invincible and it is very much noted that when teams pressure us (the few that might for 10 mins a game that is) we are not as comfortable as we like to think.
Like I say - the rest should come to an accord where they ALL vouch to give us a game - at least bloody try. If they all do it then it's a level playing field and the details could easily be worked out. I can gaurantee you that if they did that then Rangers would lose much more than 1 game in 34. Imagine the entertainment ( and all the ancillary benefits) that actually trying would generate?
I'm now off to do my family tree to see if niavety is hereditary ED.
{Ed007's Note - I had to Goggle "ancillary" ?
14 Jun 2022 20:54:16
And I had to Google Goggle!
How much more attractive would our league be though Ed? Fans might just come back to these grounds if they thought there might be a chance of being entertained. A better TV package would almost certainly result (A good topic for your podcast Ed as I believe we have a contract of £30m and the EPL have just signed on for £1.6 billion) . Players would progress further and quicker. etc etc.
Dictionary textbook terminology:
Goggle - verb - to not pay your dues, to leave debts unsettled.
Eg. In 2012 Rangers goggled the face painter for £16.
{Ed007's Note - That spelling mistake was a test to see if you were paying attention ? Would more money/better players make managers change their tactics? Look at the Pub League, the smaller teams still pack the defence when they come up against the bigger/richer teams and try and nick something from the game.}
14 Jun 2022 21:22:38
Ffp regs were brought in one team would lose out the rest of chairmen so that as a Biggar gap (wrong as it is ) its thesfa/ spl OMI HH.
14 Jun 2022 21:35:06
Ed - when it comes to sorting problems out in football you'd have better success teaching calculus to a horse than getting coherent arguments from me!
The only way that money would make managers change their tactics is if there was a substantial win bonus for both them and the club for every game. Otherwise, as you allude to, all you get is better paid players doing the same things.
What they need is a manager like Sensei Angelos. In the CL next season WE will be the smaller team (resource wise) but I fully expect Angelos to espouse my ethos. I firmly believe, as history has taught us with Angelos, that it doesn't matter your reputation, it doesn't matter your resources or history, Real, Munich or Juventus, Angelos is comming for you. Angelos is going to have his team set up to get a positive result. We may take a Rodgers hiding or we may get a result. But, all in, I believe we will end up with more points doing that than sitting in hoping to knick a point. I can't wait.
What about you (or other posters) ? Where do the other 10 improve the product and their chances?
{Ed007's Note - Money would help to an extent as let's face it the rest of the league are scrambling about for free transfers and loans - they're looking at what's available rather than bringing in players the management team actually want to bring in. After that I'd look at the coaching at youth levels which is a problem across the board in Scotland, better coaching brings through better youngsters which will improve the overall standard of players.
The most important thing is for clubs to be structured properly with everyone on the same page and a progressive modern manager/head coach that will play attractive football AND be given time to implement the ideas - that's why I said about more teams/games if 2 teams are say midtable but well clear of a relegation fight the managers might allow the game to be played more openly - manager's aren't going to to be adventurous if they know if they are 2 or 3 losses from the sack.
Owners, chairmen and CEO's etc need to take a back seat and realise that they aren't the stars of the show, there's too many clowns running clubs in Scotland who have no serious intention of progressing their club but love the perks that come with being a chairman, with serious investment a club like Aberdeen should be able to challenge for 2nd place.}
14 Jun 2022 22:04:20
Well - I see you just nicked all my ideas Ed!
On a serious note you are bang on. Youth, youth, youth and time, time, time.
I can't for the life of me understand the minnows that run our game not facilitating a vehicle for our youth to develope properly. Whether that is through an established league for them or whatever they are being sold short. What do the minnows that run our game actually do with ALL the money they get in? How much is sitting in a bank doing nowt?
{Ed007's Note - It is unbelievable and unforgivable that we don't have a reserve league mate, why are we paying money to get into the Lowland League? They've turned that league into a joke.}