New Footy Season 2016/17 ..How's your team doing?

[Marco]

Wouldnt surprise me if it was orchestrated by himself and agent to promote his book. Better performance last night without him in the squad.. total change in attitude and thus a performance to savour for the fans. Shows how i mis shaped apple can rot a barrel.

Yup. He continually seeks to be surrounded by a 'circus'; his idea of the Joey Barton publicity machine, at the expense of all else. I don't think he *really* wanted to play for Rangers in the first place (indeed, he's now claiming Celtic tried to sign him and would've preferred that move), and now he's had a taste of life in the SPL, he doesn't fancy it, and so is engineering his exit.

The bottom line is that in the games he's played, he hasn't shown any real sign of the footballing qualities he undoubtedly has, and for me the desire just isn't there. Like you say, Rangers have played better without his presence and negativity, and they got a good result last night in the cup against Queen of the South, winning 5-0 at home, although the old firm will never get much credit for thumping lower league opposition.

The real test for Rangers will come on Sunday against a buoyant Aberdeen side. If they can win that one, then it could change their season, as it would be a massive confidence boost.

However, whether they can get all three points remains to be seen, especially if Celtic win their game against Kilmarnock on Saturday, thus going seven points ahead of Rangers (with a game in hand), as the pressure will be immense. Rangers failed their last big test badly at Celtic Park, so they'll have to do much better to get anything from Pittodrie.

Tonight, in the same League Cup competition, Celtic struggled to break down a stubborn and very well-organised Alloa defence, but went onto win 2-0, after creating enough chances to win three games of football. An amazing 40 efforts on goal, but only 15 were on target, and most of those saved yet again by an inspired opposition goalkeeper!

Still, we wore Alloa down in the end, and Dembele's second was spectacular. Craig Gordon should've been sent off for an almost Kung-Fu like lunge at one of the Alloa forwards, but the referee bottled sending him off. However, other that that he had a fairly solid game, and for me although Gordon is still prone to making the odd howler, De Vries looks that way almost every time he touches the ball!

Therefore, if it were me, I'd start with Gordon in goal, on Saturday against Kilmarnock, and if he plays well keep him there for the Man City game on Wednesday, but we'll see what BR does. TBH, IMHO, both Celtic's 'reserve' keepers, Belgian, Logan Bailly, and Italian, Leo Fasan, are better (less error-prone) than the so-called 'first choices' of De Vries and Gordon.

Celtic are also badly missing the presence of Leigh Griffiths, who's currently out injured, and for me is the reason why we're not putting teams away as well as we did earlier in the season, as he's such a clinical finisher. If he's fully fit for Saturday, then fine play him, if not I'd save him for the CL match against Man City.

Anyway, another exciting week of football awaits!

Marco.

[struth]

A bit like Utd it seems. The double act of Moyes, then Van Gaal seem to have destroyed the players to the core of any coherent ability. Its going to take some sorting now I think. Glad Gers have(hopefully) got the root out before too much damage is done.....or thats how it seems to me.

[Marco]

We'll see how they get on against Aberdeen, mate. Let's face it, they've beaten 'no-one' so far, and were completely outclassed against Celtic. If Aberdeen do the same to them, then for me, Warburton will do well not to get his jotters, even this early in the season.

Conversely, if Rangers beat Aberdeen, especially as it's away from home, that will be a massive confidence boost for them, and will send out a signal that they have something in their locker. It's a MASSIVE game for Rangers, and a test they have to pass if they're going to be taken in any way seriously this season as title contenders.

Marco.

[struth]

No rush for me that way. Its a new side and bedding in tbh, and almost all playing at a different league level. Dont think Warbs is in any danger of getting the heave ho. They are currently on a tight budget, and winning is not really the target; it is top 4 and a decent progress. Kranjar is coming into fitness now after being injured for a long time, as is the striker. Genuine progress is the aim imo.

[Marco]

That's fair enough, and entirely realistic, but I don't think the majority of Rangers fans would be happy with a 4th place finish, They have rather loftier ambitions, and the press are certainly still treating Rangers as the team they were, before being demoted to the third division, which is the complete opposite of entirely realistic!

A new team bedding in or not (and Celtic are in a similar position with their new manager), if you're Rangers or Celtic manager, the onus is on your team to win every domestic game they play, and to win trophies every year, so you have to hit the ground running.

You simply aren't afforded the luxury of being given 'time to get it right', which is why I think Warburton will be under immense pressure if Rangers don't take something from Pittodrie on Saturday....

Marco.

[Marco]

And just returning briefly again to the JB thing, it's quite clear, no matter who approached who, that Barton would've rather signed for Celtic (as indeed he's intimated before):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37416127

And now that's out in the open, there's no way that the Rangers fans will accept him. The irony is, if he wasn't such a clown off the park, I think he could add something positive to the Celtic midfield and showcase the footballing talents he undoubtedly has, playing for a team he wants to play for. Celtic's style of play would undoubtedly suit him better.

Celtic won't entertain it, though. They simply don't need the grief, and I'm not sure that even Joey could handle the backlash he'd be subjected to in Glasgow of 'doing a Mo-Jo'!

Marco.

[Marco]

After Aberdeen beat St Johnstone tonight, with a last minute goal, this is the draw for the semi-final: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37446719

Aside from the obvious, Morton have done exceptionally well to get this far.

Marco.

[struth]

I saw the draw. another old firm meeting, which was airly obvious. I would have put money on it lol/// no idea when they are played though or where...Hampden I suppose

[Marco]

Yeah, I know. It was destined! The ties will be played the weekend of 22 and 23 October, and yes, at Hampden, where in semi-finals Celtic have a less than wonderful record!

Marco.

[struth]

Utd won the early match I see, by 4 to 1 as the Yanks would say.... apparently a great first half, and a forgettable second lol. still its a badly needed 3 points and out of a slump.
City, Spurs and liverpool all won and stay in top 3; Utd up to 5th for a short while. Going to be a good league this year if City dont run away with it, which I'm not sure they wont. Seems to be playing very, very well.

and for marco i see his side wone by a margin again, so stay well clear in the one horse race.


Think Arsenal are 2 up already in the London derby.