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Re: Scottish football
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Posted:
Wed Jul 05, 2017 4:01 am
by rich1uk
when you think scottish football cant get any lower, a result like this happens
one of my best mates in edinburgh was a big rangers fan, used to go to his place to watch the games and to see them fall this far is quite staggering
Re: Scottish football
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Posted:
Wed Jul 05, 2017 7:35 am
by yuppie
There seems to be talk that Rangers have money problems again.
Also sold their best winger to Forest for very little, but still keep hold of many of their older players. I have mentioned it before, but they had the chance to change the Rangers ethos and actually concentrate on some youth when they started again in Division 3. But once again they went for over paid older players.
They are reaping what they sowed again.
Re: Scottish football
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Posted:
Wed Jul 05, 2017 10:14 am
by Aidan11
Even Total Network Solutions (now called The New Saints) got through to the next round.
Rangers plumbing new depths.
Re: Scottish football
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Posted:
Sat May 12, 2018 7:37 am
by budgetmeansbudget
Nice of bt sport to show the Scottish Premiership play off semi final over two legs for the three hundred or so of us who are interested.
My Scottish team, Livingston (nee Meadowbank Thistle) thoroughly deserved to progress to the final against either Ross County or Patrick Thistle for a place in the Scottish Premiership
The side is currently managed by David Hopkin, probably best remembered for playing for Leeds and Crystal Palace. If he does get them back to back promotions he is very likely to be offered a better job elsewhere next season.
Livingston have been in the Premier League before, have won the Scottish League cup and qualified for Europe after they merged with Meadowbank Thistle back in the nineties and joined the Scottish League.
But like a lot of Scottish Clubs have hit financial problems in recent times, and nearly went bust once or twice. They even harshly got penalised a two division relegation a few seasons back, but have managed to climb back up and have a chance of getting back to the top tier next week.
Re: Scottish football
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Posted:
Sun May 20, 2018 5:25 pm
by budgetmeansbudget
Back in the Premier League, beating Patrick Thistle 3-1 on aggregate.
Smallest budget in the Championship but the best manager and team ethic.
David Hopkin will be strongly sought after by bigger clubs.
Re: Scottish football
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Posted:
Mon Oct 01, 2018 9:00 am
by budgetmeansbudget
Lose to Celtic on the first day of the season, Kenny Miller the manager leaves having been in the job for five minutes, 6 games later third in the table after being undefeated since. Massive favourites for relegation at the start but looking like they might do a 2001/2 season when they got promoted to the premier league and finished third and qualified for Europe.
Big up to Livingston nee Meadowbank Thistle.
Re: Scottish football
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Posted:
Wed Oct 03, 2018 2:19 am
by Alviro Patterson
budgetmeansbudget wrote:Back in the Premier League, beating Patrick Thistle 3-1 on aggregate.
Smallest budget in the Championship but the best manager and team ethic.
David Hopkin will be strongly sought after by bigger clubs.
Slow on the uptake, David Hopkin recently became the new Head Coach of Bradford.
Results have been slow since his appointment (one league win v AFC Wimbledon and a JPT win v Everton U21s) though this is down to poor management at board room level. Players have been recruited by the joint chairman and head of scouting over the summer whilst no permanent manager was appointed. Eventually a head coach was appointed from within (Michael Collins who is basically the footballing equivalent of Andrew Gale but has done coaching in his spare time when not playing football). Pre-season preparations were poor, opening friendly against Farsley Celtic was abandoned due to a hard pitch and a fitness coach was only appointed during July only, although a new fitness coach eventually got brought in around late August.
Collins (unsurprisingly) got the sack after six games. I just hope Hopkin gets a fair chance because he is not working with his own players and can't bring his own men in until January (unless if they are without clubs).
Re: Scottish football
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Posted:
Wed Oct 03, 2018 8:16 am
by budgetmeansbudget
He struggled at Livingston to start with and they got relegated to div one, so you need to stick with him.
With little in the way of resources he essentially played kids and moulded them into a team which had masses of energy and team spirit as well as ability. He then took them to back to back promotions to the premier.
As you say he has to be given time.
Re: Scottish football
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Posted:
Mon Oct 15, 2018 4:55 pm
by Alviro Patterson
If Hopkin fails to succeed at Bradford it will be down to incompetence above coaching level and a divided fanbase. The modern style of head coach and a chief scout doing core recruitment of players has not gone down well with supporters. The sacking of Stuart McCall after the January transfer window was badly timed, even though City never went outside the top six. McCall himself received no backing after reaching the playoff final the previous season and had little influence on players coming in or out.
I like the owners idea of incorporating youth into the first team as a way of going to the next level and generating income through a player sale. Had Bradford won promotion in 2017, we'd probably go straight back down again given the squad was ageing and lacking quality in certain areas, along with being financially dwarfed against other Championship clubs with bigger revenue streams.
But League 1 is not a division for continental style operations and managers should be left to run all aspects of first team football. By all means have a remit on bringing in some Under 23s to supplement a full squad, but let the first team manager decide on which players to sign.
Re: Scottish football
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Posted:
Mon Oct 15, 2018 8:30 pm
by budgetmeansbudget
I've been following your results this season purely because of Hopkin.
Been a struggle for him so far, but hoping he can start to turn things around as the season progresses.
Re: Scottish football
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Posted:
Sun Dec 16, 2018 2:36 pm
by Alviro Patterson
David Hopkin certainly turning things around at Bradford, recently starting to score goals freely including yesterdays 4-0 win against Walsall.
The improved form has co-incided with changes at boardroom level, former owner Julian Rhodes has returned to the club as an interim Chief Executive whilst chairman Edin Rahic has left the club. Majority owner Stefan Rupp (who has been a silent partner whilst Rahic ran the club) is looking to be more involved, whilst giving full support to Hopkin and Rhodes.
Just retaining League 1 status would be an achievement by Hopkin - when he has no transfer window to bring players in, the club has been in such a mess from pre-season and a mounting injury list. Some shrewd signings in January (wingers and a left back), then Bradford will be climbing up the table for sure.
Re: Scottish football
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Posted:
Sun Dec 16, 2018 8:19 pm
by budgetmeansbudget
Good news, i thought he would, similar pattern to his time at Livingston so far.
Unlucky not to win last Saturday as well, as i think you had the lead on 3 occasions, but got pegged back each time.
You and Pompey are the two teams I watch out for in League one.
Re: Scottish football
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Posted:
Sun Dec 23, 2018 5:32 am
by Alviro Patterson
Trying my absolute best not to get carried away, but David Hopkin is etching himself into Bradford City folklore. Today's 2-0 win against Scunthorpe means the Bantams are out of the relegation zone, on goal difference.
The job is far from done, but there is new found confidence now that Hopkin has free reign. Having looked at highlights I actually believe Hopkin has found a style of football suitable for a relatively narrow Valley Parade pitch. I am not sure where the claims of Hopkin being a long ball mercenary, but Bradford look so proactive in the 18 yard box not even Parkinson or McCall dared to commit a large number of bodies forward.