# SDMB FOOTIE FOCUS: February **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 2, 2004, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-february/227178 "2004-02-02T12:34:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-february/227178/121 "2004-02-26T11:29:27Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > I’m not arguing over the general standard of the SPL Owl, just that of one particular team in it. > > “Langer” is Cork slang and can mean quite a number of things depending on the context, most commonly a drunk. According to this site (which has tickled me) Dublin is full of them. [www.peoplesrepublicofcork.com](http://www.peoplesrepublicofcork.com) And football is the closest thing to a completely free market. The fact that rich clubs aren’t banging on the doors at Celtic implies that there’s nothing there they want, apart from the manager. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-february/227178/122 "2004-02-26T11:40:29Z")
Just as well for us that they aren’t. We can keep the players we want to keep and surprise them by beating them in European ties. As I said, suits us just fine. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-february/227178/123 "2004-02-26T11:40:59Z")
To lob in a couple of denarii, Celtic beat Liverpool with better football, which they consistently reproduce on the odd occasion I have seen them on ITV2 in the CL or stuffing the Hun on the Beeb. They would be challenging Liverpool for fourth place, or at least be lower-mid table. Ranking them alongside Cardiff does them a disservice: the technical quality of their football is easily comparable to what Spurs, Villa and Fulham display week in week out. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-february/227178/124 "2004-02-26T11:54:30Z")
That’s pretty much what I was trying to say. However it is a fact that most of the clubs that hang around the middle of the table get relegated eventually, which is a bit of a worry. Still, we’ll never know. (at least i hope not, Scottish clubs should play in Scotland, although I’d be up for letting them in the league cup to liven it up a bit). Celtic are also great for testimonials and friendlies as they always fill the stadium. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-february/227178/125 "2004-02-26T12:00:40Z")
But Liverpool just lost to Pompy in a Cup competition as well . . . it’s proof of not a lot. Also the Jocks have the worst case of small nation-itis in the known universe – of course they’re going to raise their game more than a Prem team in a Cup match; they treat it likes it’s life or death, poor sods. Different story over 38 league games, or several qualifying rounds against non-English opposition. One year of getting past the starting gate in the Champs League is hardly enough to get worked up about – take bottom of the Prem Leeds, when were they semi-finalists ? Celtic should do reasonably well in the Prem because they get 50,000 at home - be rather sad if they didn’t. But Sunderland blew it, and Man Citeh, and severla others ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-february/227178/126 "2004-02-26T12:16:36Z")
> [@London\_Calling](#): > > of course they’re going to raise their game more than a Prem team in a Cup match; they treat it likes it’s life or death, poor sods. Different story over 38 league games, or several qualifying rounds against non-English opposition. What about several _proper_ rounds against non-English opposition in the UEFA Cup? > [@](#): > > Celtic should do reasonably well in the Prem because they get 50,000 at home - be rather sad if they didn’t. But Sunderland blew it, and Man Citeh, and severla others The difference is that in the EPL, our name would be a much bigger draw for top class _players_ than Sunderland’s or Man City’s is. _sigh_ we go over this far too often. It’s not going to happen anyway. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-february/227178/127 "2004-02-26T12:31:10Z")
If you’re talking about small nation-itis, you should really look at the People’s republic of cork link that owl included 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-february/227178/128 "2004-02-26T13:23:00Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > The difference is that in the EPL, our name would be a much bigger draw for top class _players_ than Sunderland’s or Man City’s is. > > _sigh_ we go over this far too often. It’s not going to happen anyway. I wouldn’t put anything past the chairmen (and one bird) of the EPL and/or G14, especially if it looks like the telly money might be going down. And of course there is always that old chestnut - The Atlantic League. Away from this topic: I like the cut of that chap Murinho’s jib. It is fun watching Man Utd crumble before one’s eyes. Fergie out in the summer if they win nothing? That would make the merry-go-round VERY interesting. And compleetely off topic: London Calling (and any other london based chaps); Stop whatever it is that you are doing at the moment and RUN, don’t walk down to the Venue in Leicester Square and get yerself a ticket to “Round The Horne Revisited”. You won’t be sorry - best thing I’ve seen in years. Better even than the ballet! ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-february/227178/129 "2004-02-26T15:06:07Z")
> [@](#): > > “Round The Horne Revisited”. Barry Horne, of Norwich and Wales? Incidentally, shout out to **One And Only Wanderers** in case he is coming down to Cardiff for the final on Sunday. Some good pubs are The Rummer Tavern (nicely Olde Worlde), the Glassworks (Budvar on draught) and the Toucan Club (tres cool - my funk band used to play there). ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-february/227178/130 "2004-02-26T15:14:37Z")
You don’t recommend The Borough? ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-february/227178/131 "2004-02-26T15:28:22Z")
Of course, the Borough is one of several classic city pubs on or around St Mary’s St (City Arms, Goat Major etc.) A must for lovers of tasty, heavy bitter from the Brains brewery over the river from my house. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-february/227178/132 "2004-02-26T16:24:12Z")
News just in (from a colleague of the wife’s at the Express): The syndicate that were Leed’s apparent last hope have pulled out. Administration now looks a racing certainty. Does anyone know if this would open them up for vulturing - ie the transfer window would open for them as a “special case” and we could get Robinson right away? Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-february/227178/133 "2004-02-26T16:29:21Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > Does anyone know if this would open them up for vulturing - ie the transfer window would open for them as a “special case” and we could get Robinson right away? > > Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch. Clubs in Administration are still liable to transfer market rules, unless Leeds are prepared to terminate his contract (usually recommended by administrators to reduce the wage bill, and a course of action Leeds are unlikely to take given the fact Sullivan is one player guarenteed to raise a nice cash figure in a transfer window.) ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-february/227178/134 "2004-02-27T12:27:38Z")
Loathe though I am to bring up scotland again…here is some news (that may be of interest to the irish folk).\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\> The BBC has lost the rights to live Scottish Premier League football to Irish broadcaster Setanta. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-february/227178/135 "2004-03-01T14:07:03Z")
[March already](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=242565), doesn’t time fly. Leave a note for the milkman. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-february/227178.md?page=6)