And I was at Tannadice watching this. Now I realise it is very unlikely to ever happen again but I was there. What great memories. But oh so long ago. BTW we won 1-0 and then went to Spain and beat Barca 2-1 in the return leg.
It's unbelievable how much things change. Aberdeen beat Real Madrid in a European final and Dundee Utd knock Barcelona out. Fast forward thirty years and Rangers are getting knocked out by a team from Luxembourg and Celtic lose in Gibraltar.
Yes Conan how things do change. You seem to have forgotten (then maybe not) that Iceland beat England not so long ago. Anyway well done in your pathetic attempt to discredit Scottish football. No real need for it. But you failed.
Discredit? It doesn't need to be discredited. Both Conan's examples are true. Scottish football is one of the worst fully-professional leagues in Europe. Kane Hemmings looked ordinary in the middle of League One but was a regular goalscorer up there. Liam Lindsay was in the team of the year last season, but his body is made of 45-degree angles judging by his distribution as a Barnsley player. Shocking league.
That things have changed? I thought it was fair comment mate. I grew up watching Scottish teams do well in European competition, your side included. I too think it's amazing how much things have changed. I didn't read Conan's message as having a dig in any way, just an observation on the enormity of the change to Scottish football.
Jay I do not need anyone to enlighten me on how bad a state Scottish football is in. The thread was started as a good memory for me and I thought I'd share it with the board. It looks tike the real football minded people enjoyed it. Funny how United v Barcelona turned into how poor Celtic and Rangers have been in Europe. Yes there was a dig there. IMO.
I'm not trying to enlighten you and I'm really struggling to see why you view what either Conan or I have said as a problem in any way. I think what's happened to Scottish football is worthy of discussion. The Scotland national side always used to be decent, always qualified for the world cup. Club sides were good, did well in Europe and it wasn't all about the two Glasgow clubs either, there was yourselves and Aberdeen and the Scottish Premier was competitive. There were some very good players that came down from Scotland to play in the Premier League and lots of Scottish managers. It all seems to have dried up and I've no idea why. Your post was a reminder of what it used to be like and I think it's natural to ask why it isn't anymore.
Jay Lots of folk here ask the same question but answers are few. To me investment in grass root football or lack of it could be a major factor. Certainly the lack of money throughout the game has a lot to do with it. Unfortunately our game is driven by only 2 teams. They have the bulk of the money and support. League very unbalanced which does not help for good football. You are right about the National side. As a young lad I loved watching Billy Bremner, Joe Jordan, Ian Ure, Alan Gilzean, Charlie Cook all top class players playing at the top in England. Now we have players who play in the Championship at best and they only play because they have a Scottish grannie. I gave up caring about Scotland years ago. really don't care. And as for the league game well that has taken a right nosedive. I really do not have any real answers other than money has ruined the game I love.
It's the lack of talent coming through that's the really concerning factor. Although I think England is suffering the same thing. The English national side never used to win anything, but we used to be competitive. And we could console ourselves by claiming to be unlucky (Penalties, the hand of God and more penalties). Now we're just sh*te. And tediously dull too.
It is obvious Jay that the influx of foreign players to the English game has had an effect on your international side. You cant get a chance to bring English players through. I read last week that its 20 years ago that a premiership club last put out a side with 11 Englishmen in it. And that was Aston Villa.