Celtic and Rangers

rcoobc

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Is this true? I mean I’m sure it is among the Irish population here but I’m not sure anyone else really cares a jot about Scottish football in Manchester. Fergie was Rangers also if you’re looking for links. An affection for either side isn’t something I don’t recall encountering.
No one cares about Scottish football anymore

But back when they did, United-Celtic definitely had more of an affinity than United-Rangers.

Firstly there is the religious aspect. Every time this is brought up, people debate this and say United aren't and never were a Catholic club, which is true, but they seemed to have a larger Catholic following. For starts, Manchester City was formed as a St Marks COE church team (All men were welcome to join, regardless of religion). Maybe that explains why the Catholic communities were more drawn towards United? Much was made of Best being protestant, but that much was made of it tells you something in itself. (although he supported a United Ireland football team)

Thankfully all that is resigned to the past.

Then you look at the fact that Manchester United and Celtic were successful at the same time. Celtic won the European Cup in 1967. United won the European Cup in 1968. The two clubs have hardly ever played each other, so there isn't really a rivalry between them.

More recently Henrik Larson was a Celtic Legend and briefly a Manchester United fan favorite.

Then you have Rangers trashing Manchester and stopping United getting a parade for their European double.
 

Chipper

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Is this true? I mean I’m sure it is among the Irish population here but I’m not sure anyone else really cares a jot about Scottish football in Manchester. Fergie was Rangers also if you’re looking for links. An affection for either side isn’t something I don’t recall encountering.
It's not a big thing at all in my experience, but yes, I would say here's more affinity for Celtic of the two. Far more don't care or dislike both.

A lot of it is Irish reds as you mentioned. There's a few other little things but it's mostly that.

When I first started going to United in the 80s I'd see the odd half and half hat with either United/Celtic or United/Rangers. The Celtic ones seemed more popular.

Fergie was Rangers as you say, but I think there's been comfortably more players to have played for United and Celtic down the years than United and Rangers. So if anyone cared about that sort of thing they may end up with a tiny preference for, or have a little bit of respect for Celtic. We've also played them in loads of testimonials as a result.

Sir Matt, while never anything anything to do with them was a big Celtic fan as well. He was also Catholic, and while it's obviously nowhere near as big of a deal in Manchester, if there were a religious divide between United and City it's United who were the more Catholic club at one point.

Perhaps some take a little bit out of Celtic win the the European Cup in '67 before we did in '68?

As already mentioned, Rangers smashing up Manchester didn't exactly go down well. Of course there's some IRA sympathy within Celtic's fanbase and they blew the place up but it wasn't Celtic fans directly doing it. It's often said that the rebuild helped rejuvenate the city centre anyway with some tongue-in-cheek saying they did us a favour. Anyway, back to Rangers, us not getting a parade after Moscow was blamed on what they did by many wasn't it?

Might even be something political in it for some. Manachester like most cities leans left, but there was Engels and Marx here, The Co-operatvie movement too so perhaps more than most, then Celtic being obviously left-wing as well.

Not saying these are great reasons to prefer Celtic, but I do think slightly more do of those that give a crap at all which is the minority by my reckoning too.

If I had to pick one or the other gunpoint I'd probably pick Rangers because of the IRA thing with some Celtic fans who might (moreso in the past) have beef with me just for being English, but I really don't care for either.
 
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Classical Mechanic

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If I had to pick one or the other gunpoint I'd probably pick Rangers because of the IRA thing with some Celtic fans who might (moreso in the past) have beef with me just for being English, but I really don't care for either.
For me I do lean towards Rangers a little. This is because I lived in Scotland for a while and despite being subjected to anti-English bigotry you mention on a fairly regular basis I had a lot of time for the Scottish people, especially Glaswegians from both sides. I think they're among the most characterful people I've encountered anywhere. But if you got a Celtic fan talking on the status of their club in world football the arrogance and delusion was something I'd not experienced before. It just made me root for Rangers that little bit, although I'm only really keeping an eye on proceedings currently to see how Gerrard does.
 

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Last season, Rangers were absolutely battered away to Villareal, despite somehow drawing 2-2. They were fortunate in a lot of their European games, especially away. They weren’t impressive in the qualifiers either against poor teams.
This is inaccurate.

Villarreal were the better team but only had 4 shots on target in 90 minutes. One was a wonder goal. Apart from a great Bacca chance Rangers defended well and scored two good goals.

Rangers were robbed away to Spartak Moscow when Morelos scored for 4-2 and was wrongly chopped off. Excellent draw with 9 men in Russia, won in Croatia against a decent Oisjek side.

Beat Maribor 3-1 at home and finished off the tie with a 0-0 draw. Making it out they played cannon fodder and struggled which is just not true. The only poor result and performance was in Vienna in the final group game.
 

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Just popped in to say you can have them both. Can’t stand going to a Celtic game and listening to 90 mins of songs none of which have anything to do with footballs, certainly don’t take my kids.. Rangers nearly as bad. Media scared to call them out for it so go for the smaller clubs instead. both clubs are poison!
Other clubs in Scotland including Hearts fans are bad as well, just not highlighted by the media as much. Racism towards Morelos recently a prime example!
 

evil_geko

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I really like Celtic, never had problems talking with their fans, don't really understand the hate for them here. Rangers on the other hand is another story...
 

Steve Bruce

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Is this true? I mean I’m sure it is among the Irish population here but I’m not sure anyone else really cares a jot about Scottish football in Manchester. Fergie was Rangers also if you’re looking for links. An affection for either side isn’t something I don’t recall encountering.
I was in Manchester when the old firm where playing and the bar I was in their was literally 4 celtic supporters and 2 rangers. The rest of the bar had no interest
 

Ed9

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Is this true? I mean I’m sure it is among the Irish population here but I’m not sure anyone else really cares a jot about Scottish football in Manchester. Fergie was Rangers also if you’re looking for links. An affection for either side isn’t something I don’t recall encountering.
I know Fergie played for them but did he grow up supporting them?
 

rcoobc

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Irish United fans prefer Celtic because Catholic.

Manc United fans prefer Celtic because 2008.

Everyone else prefers Celtic because Rangers
 

duffer

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I remember as a kid a mate telling me I had to support Rangers because we were Chelsea fans. Being the contrary tit that I have always been, I always rooted for Celtic.

Later, when I got a bit older I found out that the "Blues Brothers" connection is not one born out of friendship and happiness so I'm glad the very young me made that decision.
 

Denis' cuff

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It basically started with Busby giving preference to catholic players. When they were scouted as youngsters, he would assure their parents that they wouldn’t go off the rails and would attend mass. Bear in mind this was in the days when travel was less taken for granted than now and these lads were leaving home from other parts of the British Isles for the first time. He had a perception that they were disadvantaged in employment, generally. Every manager that came after Busby was catholic up to Atkinson, so the trend continued, largely. At club level, there was always a cordial relationship with Celtic that I grew up with, coming from a Manc/Irish catholic family and my dad (and his brothers) was in no doubt where his leanings were, although it helped that he was brought up a walk from the ground and his father worked on the docks in neighbouring Salford. At support level, it was never universally reflected to th same degree as Celtic but there was definitely a strong catholic core (reflected in terrace songs to the tune of Irish songs ie The Irish Ploughboy etc) Really had nothing to do with subsequent ira bombing or Rangers behaviour (which was really a ruse for the bluenose City fathers putting one over United - bias in employerment again?) By this time the trend had all but died out anyway and Fergie’s appointment further reflected that.
 
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Untd55

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The league definitely needs the competition. Celtic have won the last 8 league titles. It must be a bit boring to watch such a predictable league. They might as well have made a second-place cup because Celtic were in a league of their own.

Gerrard seems to have done pretty well with Rangers. Either that or Celtic have gotten worse.
 

MC89

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Good win today, should’ve scored more, great finish by Eddy, Jonny Hayes class again as was Callum.
 

DVG7

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They play each other in the league cup final this weekend, and then again in the league at the end of the month, a huge 3 and a half weeks for both teams.
 

redshaw

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I remember the Celtic catholic links growing in the 80s between United and Celtic, some of the older fans of the time used to mention it but I think it's largely disappeared and religion in England has really fallen off over the last 30 years.
 

DVG7

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Both clubs with good results tonight, and good performances. The further they both go, the better, and if both qualify theres the prospect of them meeting each other next round which will bring a lot of attention on the Europa league, although unfortunately for some of the wrong reasons.
 

KjaAnd

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Both clubs with good results tonight, and good performances. The further they both go, the better, and if both qualify theres the prospect of them meeting each other next round which will bring a lot of attention on the Europa league, although unfortunately for some of the wrong reasons.
Good performance by Celtic?! I was at the match and they were absolutely horrendous. They played against an injury-struck, out-of-form, rebuilding Copenhagen team and got completely dominated in second half. In the first half, both teams were equally bad and just hoofed the ball.
 

DVG7

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Good performance by Celtic?! I was at the match and they were absolutely horrendous. They played against an injury-struck, out-of-form, rebuilding Copenhagen team and got completely dominated in second half. In the first half, both teams were equally bad and just hoofed the ball.
I flipped to the celtic game in the first half and they looked pretty good, the stats would suggest that too. Given their recent plights away in europe, it's a good showing.
 

Spiersey

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Good performance by Celtic?! I was at the match and they were absolutely horrendous. They played against an injury-struck, out-of-form, rebuilding Copenhagen team and got completely dominated in second half. In the first half, both teams were equally bad and just hoofed the ball.
Celtic were miles better first half, should have been a couple clear. Copen had a good spell first 15 of the 2nd half and at the end. 2nd half Copen we’re better side but wasn’t that much in it over the 45. I doubt anyone else watching it has seen the game the same as you did either.

It was a good away performance from Celtic. They should have been out of sight by half time and let Copenhagen back into. Any scoring draw away is good for Celtic.
 

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Celtic were miles better first half, should have been a couple clear. Copen had a good spell first 15 of the 2nd half and at the end. 2nd half Copen we’re better side but wasn’t that much in it over the 45. I doubt anyone else watching it has seen the game the same as you did either.

It was a good away performance from Celtic. They should have been out of sight by half time and let Copenhagen back into. Any scoring draw away is good for Celtic.
Agreed with this assessment. Cracking comeback and result for Rangers last night too.
 

Thiagoal

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I’ve actually been more impressed with Rangers this season whenever I’ve watched Scottish football! Surprised Celtic are so far clear as apart from a couple of players they are bang average
 

EireRed_GS

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God i miss the days where teams dreaded getting Celtic (and to a lesser extent, Rangers) in the CL group stages.

As a kid i loved watching that celtic side with Larsson/ Sutton/Hartson/ Moracvik etc.. Back in the early 2000s or so they were proper dangerous teams who could any day take out the best in europe. Always remember a great game Celtic beat Juventus 4-3. And one game vs AC during the lineup Paolo Maldini looking gobsmacked at the stadium atmosphere.

Its a shame, because the Celtic & Rangers teams of back then would absolutely wipe the floor with the current ones
 
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Gio

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I’ve actually been more impressed with Rangers this season whenever I’ve watched Scottish football! Surprised Celtic are so far clear as apart from a couple of players they are bang average
Rangers have fallen off a cliff over the last few weeks, largely a result of Morelos, Kent and Tavernier all losing form at the same time and the Ibrox pitch turning into a quagmire. The system relies on them to play well, otherwise we're blunt and don't turn over the lower SPL teams with the same ease that Celtic are currently doing.
 

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Rangers have fallen off a cliff over the last few weeks, largely a result of Morelos, Kent and Tavernier all losing form at the same time and the Ibrox pitch turning into a quagmire. The system relies on them to play well, otherwise we're blunt and don't turn over the lower SPL teams with the same ease that Celtic are currently doing.
Aye I'd agree with that. Morelos' form has dropped off a cliff and Kent hasn't been the same since his injury. That being said, I like the impact Hagi has made and that was a mint comeback last night.
 

Gio

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Aye I'd agree with that. Morelos' form has dropped off a cliff and Kent hasn't been the same since his injury. That being said, I like the impact Hagi has made and that was a mint comeback last night.
Yeah. Hagi's been class and just what the team was missing.
 

SilentWitness

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Rangers have fallen off a cliff over the last few weeks, largely a result of Morelos, Kent and Tavernier all losing form at the same time and the Ibrox pitch turning into a quagmire. The system relies on them to play well, otherwise we're blunt and don't turn over the lower SPL teams with the same ease that Celtic are currently doing.
Why does Morelos miss so many sitters? He seems to miss 2 or 3 chances a year that should be guaranteed goals.
 

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Why does Morelos miss so many sitters? He seems to miss 2 or 3 chances a year that should be guaranteed goals.
I dunno if it's maybe just a lapse in concentration at a crucial time but that doesn't really ring true either due to the amount of goals he scores. I wonder if it's just sometimes he thinks the chance is too easy and doesn't finish. He has been brilliant for the most part this season but recently his form has been poor, but there has been external factors outside his game that might be affecting him too.
 

Gio

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Why does Morelos miss so many sitters? He seems to miss 2 or 3 chances a year that should be guaranteed goals.
He's very streaky. 28 goals before Christmas, 1 since. I wouldn't call him a natural finisher - his technique is mostly hard and low, rather than the accurate placing you'd associate with a Robbie Fowler or the consistency in finding the bottom corner that Jermaine Defoe has. He's poor in the air and misses some amount of headers. But he's still relatively young and his finishing has improved a lot over the last couple of years.

Aye he's a really good acquisition. First goal last night was a belter and big Aribo's was some finish too. You a season ticket holder? I go when I can but my cousins both have season tickets.
Not anymore, just get down now and then - was last at the Aberdeen game a couple of weeks ago.
 

evil_geko

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Good performance by Celtic?! I was at the match and they were absolutely horrendous. They played against an injury-struck, out-of-form, rebuilding Copenhagen team and got completely dominated in second half. In the first half, both teams were equally bad and just hoofed the ball.
Come on now, Celtic were miles better.
 

giorno

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I watched parts of the rangers game and they were getting pantsed. Incredible comeback, but what a complete meltdown by braga
 

Denis' cuff

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Love the old firm traditions and banter. History of these two clubs and players they produced was astounding.

The game will be like going to the ballet soon enough with polite applause rippling around stadiums that used to rock and sway with atmosphere.

Online “fans” sitting at their keyboards making judgements of real fans. feck off.
 

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Not anymore, just get down now and then - was last at the Aberdeen game a couple of weeks ago.
My cousins were raging at that game, saying the Dons were not even interested in trying to make a game of it and making the most of time wasting from about the 20th minute. Aberdeen play Rangers like it's their cup final.