Comments on: EVERY OTHER SATURDAY: Barry Ferguson Won?t be Having Nightmares About Gravesen

By: Fraser

Fraser — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 08:03:07 +0000

Also, and I hate to look pedantic here (but I am) if Barry Ferguson’s league honours aren’t worthy of inclusion ( which I’d argue - it’s a tough league to win) then Gravesen ain’t exactly going to eclipise him is he? It’s as much as he can do to match Barry’s record, unless you’re willing to wager Celtic will do something extra special in Europe.

I never at any point said that Ferguson was a better player than Gravesen - just that he has nothing to fear from him and that he has done more in the game. That’s just a fact - “show us your medals” as they say.

As for Ferguson’s international record - Bertie Vogts was hardly his fault eh?

Let’s put it this way, Walter Smith rates him as the best Scottish midfielder - he’s said as much and that’s good enough for me.

I suppose the upcoming Old Firm game will begin to give us some answers.

By: Fraser

Fraser — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 19:32:40 +0000

So European club level is meaningless then? You’ve argued your way out of a point there I’m afraid. If Gravesen fans can point to his World Cup and Euro Champs experience why can’t Ferguson fans point out his experience in the CL for Rangers?

As I’ve been forced to point our more than once, Ferguson didn’t exactly get a chance to shine in The Premiership did he? A small matter of a snapped kneecap for the majority of time there.

Even if the SPL is a 2 horse race ( and what, the Premiership isn’t a one horse race?) you still have to beat the other horse. Ferguson led a team to the treble against a Celtic team that included Larsson, Petrov, Hartson, Sutton etc and was managed by Martin O’Neil - while injured. That’s more than Gravesen has ever done in my view, but that’s all it is of course - just my view.

As a Rangers fan I recongnise and respect Gravesen as a player but as I pointed out at the very start of the column, I’m pretty sure a guy like Barry Ferguson will be relishing rather than worrying about the challenge.

No Dig at Hamburg by the way, I just popped them in there to be factual.

By: Owen

Owen — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 13:09:30 +0000

Im sorry, this article is just ridiculous. The basic premise seems to be that because Ferguson has won a lot of Scottish league honours (a 2 horse race at the best of times, with any impact on a European level being fleeting and inconsistent) that he can claim to be better than Gravesen. Now im not even going to go into an argument about who’s the better player, thats a very relative-view debate, but the rationale being used here is a bit like comparing apples and oranges. By this formula, someone who’s won 10 titles in a row at Racing Tsiblisi in the Georgian League (ok, i admit to making that name up, but u get the point) can claim to be the greatest player in the world. The only way u can compare players are in like for like situations. At an international level Gravesen has played in World Cup and European championships with distinction, Ferguson hasn’t. At a Premiership level, Gravesen has far outshone Ferguson. At a european club competition level ferguson has a bit of an edge given last year’s success, but other than that there ’snothing. Overall i know where my money would be given the opportunity to sign either player. And whats with the sly dig at SV Hamburg btw, they’re in the Champions League and Rangers aren’t mate.

By: RFCno1Scotty

RFCno1Scotty — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 17:25:10 +0000

a would just like to post in response that it was a good article to read, to say Barry Ferguson would be fearing anyone when he’s been at the biggest level of football playing against the likes of Parma, Bayern Munchen is rediculous by others thoughts.

Barry Ferguson is not going to fear anyone. As for last season, Barry Ferguson was injured, he played the full season on an ankle injury that turned out quite a mess. If thats how Barry Ferguson performs with an ankle injury he’s certainly going to be a threat on any side when 100% fit.

Be Great to see Barry back 100% fit raring to go, and with the full support behind him, we’ll see Barry back at his best. Besides, he’s only going to be an addition to the strongest team on paper in Scotland.

By: Fraser

Fraser — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 16:19:01 +0000

Couldn’t agree more Hammertime - PLG is our biggest and best signing when you boil it all down.

Of course Celtic fans should be happy about getting in quality players - but they seem to have forgotten it’s been at the cost of losing Petrov and Hartson, who were both proven entities.

By: hammertime

hammertime — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 15:12:45 +0000

Amazing that 15 post later there is till no sensible comment added to the piece. I really don’t see how anyone can argue about Ferguson’s credentials. My worry about him is his return to fitness as he has never seemed truely free from injury since he went to Blackburn and had a horrible injury to his knee. I think he is what is missing from the team so far this season. With such an array of youth on display the team needs someone who has been there in the SPL and knows what its all about with teams fighting for every blade of grass when they play Rangers. Prso is the only veteran in most line ups so far so the addition of Ferguson might just bring the extra cutting edge to the play. As for the ‘big’ Celtic signings - too early to tell if they will strengthen or weaken the team from last season but would not grudge Celtic fans their excitement. Me - I’m happy as PLG is with the team Rangers have but also have the patience to wait till they reach their peak which may not be this season. A wee run in UEFA could be great for the younger players in the team and hopefully speed up their development.

By: Alan Hylands

Alan Hylands — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:15:51 +0000

Well said Fraser, and in particular Barry Ferguson and the threat of Thomas Gravesen in the SPL this season.

Let’s try and stay on topic here folks.

By: Fraser

Fraser — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:14:06 +0000

Lets not try to turn this into a holier than thou slagging match eh “Finbar”? Let’s try to stick to football.

By: Fraser

Fraser — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:09:35 +0000

Well the column is called “Every Other Saturday” - I thought that might have given it away…

By: laughable

laughable — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:07:51 +0000

ah right .. if its from the perspective of a rangers fan then fine .. im all for “supporters views” as opposed to sanitised journo’s views ..

BUT it should be “flagged as such” dont you think?

that would probably have been a wise move ..

else people have to assume its a standard journo piece .. and would question the content for leaning towards/favouring an RFC supporters point of view.

If there was a huge banner at the top saying this is an RFC page then fine …. but there isnt.