Must have been a hard decision for the lad. One of the biggest clubs in the world, Champions League regulars, huge fanbase, winners of the European Cup, steeped in history and glory. Or Manor Top Rape Apologists and their charge to the League One playoffs, which they'll inevitably lose. Bet he stayed awake agonising for hours on end!
Far from one of the biggest clubs in the world. Enter the champions league through one of the easiest leagues in the world to win, before being eliminated pretty quickly. Past history means nothing unless you are a Leeds fan still banging on about the 1970s. I think the decision for him would have been closer than you think.
Yeah, since the year 2000, they've only: knocked Barcelona out of Europe; beaten them in a Champions League game; got out of the group stages at least twice; reached a UEFA Cup final. They must be tiny. I can see Sheffield United easily emulating that, just as soon as their Saudi prince's cheque clears. (And no, I don't care about either them or Rangers before that's thrown at me.)
We came from behind to win at Anfield and beat Chelsea with a clean sheet, a team that for years we were the only team to beat them in normal time in the FA Cup. Any side can up their game for the occasional special match. It's better to look at how they play all the time. If he goes to Blunts and gets them promoted he will be playing in a bigger league than the SPL. Just about every match at that level is bigger than trips to the likes of Inverness and Hamilton.
They aren't but i'd rather play in League 1 followed by possibly the championship next season, rather than the SPL.
But what about the CL? They generally make the group stages so it's half a season of CL football. They have occasionally made it to after Xmas too.
The thought of Millwall, Brentford or Bournemouth at home on a week-night must be a greater pull for any aspiring high-level footballer than Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or PSG.
But what about the cold wet and miserable mid weeks when Hamilton, Inverness and Ross County come calling at Celtic Park with their 150 fans?
The consolation would be: this time next week it's Bayern in front of 60,000, and I'll put insignificant Hamilton, Inverness or Ross County away easily enough on my way to the title.
I can't discuss Sheffield United in any rational way because I am blinded with hatred for the dirty *******. It's the same for you with Celtic, I am guessing - so you and I have done well not to end up having a virtual fight in the BBS car-park. With lengths of lead pipe.
Use that "C" word to me again and I promise to hunt you down and kick the **** out of you. Ach that is what happens when we support small teams mate. We are just part of the conveyor belt of talent for the bigger teams. But we will rise above it, brush ourselves down and find new and better talent to take Gary's place. I do not wish him well by joining that scummy lot, I would have preferred he joined an English side so as not to damage us in the future. At least my club did not sell him to them but he is their through freedom of contract and maybe he now realises he might not be as good as he thinks he is. But I now totally expect him to be regular in the Scotland team. Not that he has improved but because of the club he will be playing for.
