Barry Ferguson anybody...??

[Ontario Arab]

Seriously I like TFC but comments like that are just nuts. Do you really think TFC are significantly better or even just better than St Mirren, I don't? TFC are a new club but they have finished last and second last in their MLS group the past two seasons. After what I seen on Saturday St Mirren would give TFC a game.

Agreed some of the comments about the spl are just way off the mark...its almost comical. To put it in perspective Im pretty sure TFC (who I love btw) would have a difficult time with some of the bigger first division sides.

[Beach_Red]

Seriously I like TFC but comments like that are just nuts. Do you really think TFC are significantly better or even just better than St Mirren, I don't? TFC are a new club but they have finished last and second last in their MLS group the past two seasons. After what I seen on Saturday St Mirren would give TFC a game.

Yeah, but after last Saturday, how do you think Seattle would do against St. Mirren?

Any idea what St. Mirren's payroll is, by the way?

Last week I saw a show called The Full SPL for the first time and one thing I noticed that MLS and the lower teams in the SPL seem to have in common is lots and lots of empty seats at the stadiums. Is that usual for those games?

[Ontario Arab]

Having watched the SPL for three years now, I think you're the one who doesn't know what he's talking about. It's an apples and oranges comparison, firstly, in style of play. Then beyond Celtic and Rangers, and occasionally Motherwell or Aberdeen, that league is absolutely no better than MLS. More disciplined and mature in its playing style, maybe, but with poorer, slower athletes in general.

And MLS's history is rife with guys who had long and succesful years in Scotland but were mediocre at best over here. Some have gone the other way; Kenny Deuchar was pretty mediocre for RSL, but he's playing in the SPL now. Tam McManus played at Hibs, Dunfermline and Dundee, but stunk up the joint frequently at Colorado.

I guess the same applies to Beckham then as he has regulary stunk up the joint for LA so that must mean that MLS is superior to the EPL and Seria A then....or is it possible that he just doesnt have any talent around him in LA......as for poorer slower athletes I think you d better look at our roster first before talking nonsense pal. I would also imagine that there would be all kinds of ex MLS players playing in Scotland if they are better than the locals. BTW Deuchar and McAnus cant cut it anywhere hence ending up on a transatlantic flight in the first place......get your facts right. Back to the main topic tho......Fergusson has lots left in the tank and is the type of player who you can count on to come up large when it counts.......was merly suggesting that if he sneaks off to the OZ league without anyone here even making an inquiry then thats kinda nuts.

[torontocelt]

Yeah, but after last Saturday, how do you think Seattle would do against St. Mirren?

Any idea what St. Mirren's payroll is, by the way?

Last week I saw a show called The Full SPL for the first time and one thing I noticed that MLS and the lower teams in the SPL seem to have in common is lots and lots of empty seats at the stadiums. Is that usual for those games?

Well Seattle looked like a decent team but TFC were very poor so it is difficult to say. Seattle were well organized though and you always stand a chance if you have organisation in your team. Certainly in Ljungberg they have a player who is still very talented, way above anything st mirren could offer. It is difficult to say but on their day St mirren have proven against the old firm that they are capable and recently St Mirren beat Celtic 1 - 0 a week after being beaten by Celtic 7 - 0, that says a lot about their players mentality as most people would have thought that mentally they would have been beaten before a ball had even been kicked. On what I seen last week I would think Seattle would win the match, I just dont like how some TFC supporters come across as being arrogant when they have nothing to be arrogant about. I could understand it if a Man U fan was being arrogant about st mirren but not a TFC fan, in short you have to be able to back it up if you are gonna talk trash about another team and Toronto fans are a long way off being able to do that.

With regards to the empty seats, its well documented the old firm have basically gobbled up the majority of football fans throughout scotland, they are not just supported in Glasgow. On top of that a lot of Scots people support English teams. Many of the tickets for SPL teams are quite expensive and there is a recession on so there will be empty seats. Also there is 40 teams in Scotland which is way too much but many of them have long histories so they dont want to fold or merge. The structure in Scottish football isn't great but for a league which is in a country with a population of only 5 million it is pretty decent, just not as glamourous as our English cousins product.

[Bars92]

Having watched the SPL for three years now, I think you're the one who doesn't know what he's talking about. It's an apples and oranges comparison, firstly, in style of play. Then beyond Celtic and Rangers, and occasionally Motherwell or Aberdeen, that league is absolutely no better than MLS. More disciplined and mature in its playing style, maybe, but with poorer, slower athletes in general.

And MLS's history is rife with guys who had long and succesful years in Scotland but were mediocre at best over here. Some have gone the other way; Kenny Deuchar was pretty mediocre for RSL, but he's playing in the SPL now. Tam McManus played at Hibs, Dunfermline and Dundee, but stunk up the joint frequently at Colorado.

Yeah and George Best played for San Jose

[druid]

Yeah, but after last Saturday, how do you think Seattle would do against St. Mirren?

It could go either way. Both teams would be well organized well defensively. Seattle will have better "stars" but the average squad player would be a little better for St Mirren. Seattle might offer a little more in the way of attack.

Any idea what St. Mirren's payroll is, by the way?

I'd guess it would be a little under $2M CAD.

Last week I saw a show called The Full SPL for the first time and one thing I noticed that MLS and the lower teams in the SPL seem to have in common is lots and lots of empty seats at the stadiums. Is that usual for those games?

Yeah. When Celtic or Rangers come through their fans will take up as much as half the Stadium but all the money pouring into the EPL hurts the Scottish game quite a bit. Celtic and Rangers being so far a head of the other teams also warps the league quite a bit.

[RedLion]

Barry is done.

In his day he was a very good football player and more importantly a great servant to Rangers but its passed him. I watch Rangers every week and he just isn't the player he was. Injury after injury have taken their toll...and his attitude has hampered his ability to be truly marketable. He got homesick playing in Blackburn...a car drive away. How's he going to handle Russia or Australia or North America?

This Scotland incident is a get out of jail card for Walter Smith. He now see's what Le Guen saw two years ago. The only downside for Rangers is both he and McGregor's stock is falling quicker than the TSE!

Rumours are neither will ever wear the Light Blue again...this guy was a God in Govan and it sounds like he's being tossed to the side of the road...Sir Minty and Walter know.

I have to agree.
Barry's done. It pains me to see the way he's going to finish his Rangers and Scotland career - I'll be absolutely amazed if he's back at Rangers next season. As many people are saying, the whole debacle is giving Walter an easier way to make the difficult decision.

At his best, Barry could hold his own against any competition and he's been a loyal servant. It sickens me that this is how it's going to end.

Anyway, in response to the OP, the answer is a definite No.

[RedLion]

^Think I depressed myself with my last post, so, looking on the bright side

AGREED....

FERGUSON WHO..???
WHO THE FUCK CARES
WE'VE GOT EDU......

[James Oliphant]

Wow...Hoops and 'Gers fans agreeing. Never thought I'd see the day.

[Toronto_Bhoy]

Last week I saw a show called The Full SPL for the first time and one thing I noticed that MLS and the lower teams in the SPL seem to have in common is lots and lots of empty seats at the stadiums. Is that usual for those games?

Scotland is a nation of about the same population as the Golden Horseshoe…barely 5 million people. There just isn't the population base to sustain the price of tickets.

Many teams in the SPL (St. Mirren, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Falkirk, Hamilton…Hibs and Hearts are about 70k) are within a 50 km radius of Celtic Park or Ibrox…competition for smaller clubs is extremely difficult…

Think of it this way, if the NHL put 8 franchises (in hockey mad Southern Ontario) between Oshawa and Niagara Falls what would you guess attendance would be?

Just a thought…

[Beach_Red]

Scotland is a nation of about the same population as the Golden Horseshoe…barely 5 million people. There just isn't the population base to sustain the price of tickets.

Many teams in the SPL (St. Mirren, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Falkirk, Hamilton…Hibs and Hearts are about 70k) are within a 50 km radius of Celtic Park or Ibrox…competition for smaller clubs is extremely difficult…

Think of it this way, if the NHL put 8 franchises (in hockey mad Southern Ontario) between Oshawa and Niagara Falls what would you guess attendance would be?

Just a thought…

I appreciate all the answers to my questions, guys.

There was a time in Canada when many more pro and semi-pro hockey teams were supported and there were a lot more leagues but most died out in the 60's when the NHL expanded and games got shown on TV a lot more.

Of course, the teams in Scotland have been around a lot longer and they still get a few games a year against the Old Firm, so that makes a big difference. Chances are if the Sherbrooke Saints could have played a few games a year against the Canadiens they might still be around.

[Ontario Arab]

Yeah and George Best played for San Jose

Is that Mr Feeney on your avatar..lol. Good player. TFC would love to have him. The poor wee lad has food poisoning today...ie a hangover....lolloloollllll fucker.

[Ontario Arab]

Well Seattle looked like a decent team but TFC were very poor so it is difficult to say. Seattle were well organized though and you always stand a chance if you have organisation in your team. Certainly in Ljungberg they have a player who is still very talented, way above anything st mirren could offer. It is difficult to say but on their day St mirren have proven against the old firm that they are capable and recently St Mirren beat Celtic 1 - 0 a week after being beaten by Celtic 7 - 0, that says a lot about their players mentality as most people would have thought that mentally they would have been beaten before a ball had even been kicked. On what I seen last week I would think Seattle would win the match, able to do that.I just dont like how some TFC supporters come across as being arrogant when they have nothing to be arrogant about. I could understand it if a Man U fan was being arrogant about st mirren but not a TFC fan, in short you have to be able to back it up if you are gonna talk trash about another team and Toronto fans are a long way off being

With regards to the empty seats, its well documented the old firm have basically gobbled up the majority of football fans throughout scotland, they are not just supported in Glasgow. On top of that a lot of Scots people support English teams. Many of the tickets for SPL teams are quite expensive and there is a recession on so there will be empty seats. Also there is 40 teams in Scotland which is way too much but many of them have long histories so they dont want to fold or merge. The structure in Scottish football isn't great but for a league which is in a country with a population of only 5 million it is pretty decent, just not as glamourous as our English cousins product.

Cheers mate....and before any shit starts I LOVE MY TFC....but the trashing of other leagues and teams who have been around for a long long time a lot more than 3 years HAS to stop....for one it looks ridiculous to people from other continents who happen across this board....CMON TFC....

[Ontario Arab]

Hate to cast up an old thread but seems like he,ll be off to Spurs then in the summer.....good enough for EPL but not good enough for MLS...funny thing that...lollol