'Boyd is no Larsson'

[J_RFC87 762]

Another pish Scotsman article

THE EXPECTATION is that it won't be long now, possibly only a matter of weeks depending on the number of times Walter Smith and the opposition combine to offer him the on-field opportunities.

But, all things being equal, few would bet against Kris Boyd leapfrogging Henrik Larsson at the summit of the all-time SPL scoring charts.

As the league restarts following the international hiatus, the Rangers player recommences his quest for a place in the history books. Bettering Larsson's tally will fool no-one into regarding him the better player, says Billy Dodds, but it would safeguard for posterity Boyd's credentials as a goalscorer.

Dodds is ranked ninth in the standings himself and says that Boyd and Larsson cannot be compared when it comes to their all-round ability but the one area where the Scot does measure up is when it comes to the instinctive finishing of chances in the domestic domain.

"Boydy is an out and out goal-scorer who does work hard to try to add other aspects to his game but Larsson could do everything," says Dodds. "He had awareness, pace, the ability to bring others into play, he could get in behind the defence and was a natural goalscorer. He had the lot but there are not too many like that, especially playing in the SPL."

Which is why he thinks it would be such an achievement if Boyd were to surpass the tally of 158 goals accumulated by the Swede in his 186 SPL outings (the 16 goals from his first season with Celtic don't count as they were scored in the old Premier Division).

Already, Boyd has played 275 games, so the ratio will not be equal to the player who finished top scorer in the league in five of the six years he competed in the SPL. The only year Larsson failed to better the rest was in 1999/2000 when he missed eight months with a double leg break. But Boyd himself has been a model of consistency in that respect. Three times in the past four seasons he has taken the plaudits as top goal scorer.

His self-imposed Scotland exile means he is fresh for the fight and, just ten goals from equalling Larsson, he will be rubbing his hands given the next sequence of matches. First up it's Kilmarnock next weekend. The club where he learned his trade and earned 63 of his SPL goals. Since leaving them, though, he has found them just as helpful in his ascent up the SPL charts, netting 13 goals in 13 league meetings against them. "We know all about him and what he can do and how to get close to him. But knowing that does not make him any easier to play against," concedes his former boss at Rugby Park, Jim Jefferies. "Even although we know what to expect he still manages to get the ball in the net. He has still done us a fair few times but we're not alone, he has done most teams in the SPL a fair few times."

In fact, the striker can look at six of the matches Rangers face between now and the end of the year with some relish. Between them the teams involved have accounted for more than half his SPL tally, with Dundee United and Motherwell in particular surely sick of his penalty box interventions. Of the clubs lined up to play Rangers between now and the turn of the year, only Hibernian and St Johnstone have thus far prevented Boyd rattling in a tally above double figures against them.

"There is no doubt what Kris is all about," says Jefferies. "He knows himself that he is no Larsson. He was an exceptional player and brought so much more to the table than Kris does but the one area where you could argue that he is equal to Larsson is scoring goals. He loves scoring goals and has that bit of selfishness and luck that the most prolific strikers have but it is not all down to luck. The more chances he gets, the more goals he gets. He gets a bad press but, maybe a bit like Ally McCoist, Kris gets himself into the positions to score and he takes his chances. You could see that in him at a young age and at training he was always shooting from all over. He just wanted to score goals and when he is taking that into matches and winning his team points you can't argue with that. What makes him better than most is his technique. He has great technique in front of goal.

"He can hit it first time, and you can see that by how many goals he scores on the half volley or volley, and sometimes to get that chance he is having to adjust his position at the last minute and he is very good at that. Which means he can convert a chance so quickly and gives defenders very little time to get close to him or get a tackle in."

Describing him as a great lad, the other thing Dodds and Jefferies agree on is how keen Boyd will be to supersede the former Celtic player at the peak of the all-time scorers list.

"We all know that all the very best strikers love to claim everything, whether they got the last touch or not, and the best ones always want to finish top of the scoring charts," explains Jefferies. "Bettering Larsson would not make him a better player than him but that won't matter. Strikers thrive on confidence and this would be brilliant for Kris's confidence."

"Larsson was a class act," stresses Dodds, "but these days, look at the other strikers in the SPL, when it comes to getting goals time and time again, Boydy is in a league of his own. What people don't realise is that he is a very thoughtful lad and he works very hard to improve on other areas of his game and if you compare the player he is now to the player Rangers bought, he has improved. He will never be the complete striker but he scores goals that win games and that's what Boydy loves. He will be desperate to get this record and get his name in the history books but, if he does, it will be a long time before anyone can beat it. In fact, I'm not sure anyone will. It is such a tremendous target."

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/footb...s-no.5825490.jp?

how much can one article suck off Henrik?

[Muff 245]

And who said he was to begin with?

Billy Dodds is a complete and utter

[kplfishtank 4,745]

cant wait till boyd beats his record to see if we get a four page pullout of all his goals like rebel and sun done for larsson

if he does then he is a better goalscorer and thats a fact

[GeneralCartmanLee 313]

and billy dodds is no journalist.....

[Emerson 2]

Billy Dodds talks mince. 3-0 down to Wales yesterday :"We can still win this if we get the next goal..."

[McBoyd 355]

Gets the ball, scores the goal

[Guest The Brown Brogue]

Erm have I missed something here? That article is just as complimentary to Boyd as it is to Larsson.

What exactly is the problem with it? Or is it just another example of whats sadly becoming the norm on here of looking for things to complain about that aren't even there?

[Guest The Brown Brogue]

Billy Dodds talks mince. 3-0 down to Wales yesterday :"We can still win this if we get the next goal..."

Did he say that? He was quite the opposite when I heard him talking on the radio and was in fact very scathing of the performance.

[colly1873 15]

i don"t understand goals win games boyd has vastly improved his game i think!!!

and when he beats that record he should be shown for what he is the best goalscorer in scottish football!!!

fuk larrson fuk sellic fuk em all!!!!!

[Bazza 21]

cant wait till boyd beats his record to see if we get a four page pullout of all his goals like rebel and sun done for larsson

if he does then he is a better goalscorer and thats a fact

[Barca1972 0]

It would be tragic if anyone convinces themselves that Boyd outscoring Larsson will make him superior in any aspect.

There are alot of pathetic people on here. (yes I know I'm one of them but at least I'm not delusional)

[BoltonLoyal 2]

It would be tragic if anyone convinces themselves that Boyd outscoring Larsson will make him superior in any aspect.

There are alot of pathetic people on here. (yes I know I'm one of them but at least I'm not delusional)

Surely it will make him superior in the amount of goals he scored in the SPL?

[bluepeter 5,627]

It would be tragic if anyone convinces themselves that Boyd outscoring Larsson will make him superior in any aspect.

There are alot of pathetic people on here. (yes I know I'm one of them but at least I'm not delusional)

Surely it will make him superior in the "scoring goals in the SPL" aspect?

Edit: damn you BoltonLoyal!

[kplfishtank 4,745]

It would be tragic if anyone convinces themselves that Boyd outscoring Larsson will make him superior in any aspect.

There are alot of pathetic people on here. (yes I know I'm one of them but at least I'm not delusional)

it will make him a better goalscorer is that hurting you?

[Dietspam 733]

cant wait till boyd beats his record to see if we get a four page pullout of all his goals like rebel and sun done for larsson

if he does then he is a better goalscorer and thats a fact

I dunno about that. Larrson could score against anyone in the world. I'm not so sure Boyd could.

[kplfishtank 4,745]

cant wait till boyd beats his record to see if we get a four page pullout of all his goals like rebel and sun done for larsson

if he does then he is a better goalscorer and thats a fact

I dunno about that. Larrson could score against anyone in the world. I'm not so sure Boyd could.

its an SPL goalscoring record did Larsson play against different teams ?

[BoltonLoyal 2]

It would be tragic if anyone convinces themselves that Boyd outscoring Larsson will make him superior in any aspect.

There are alot of pathetic people on here. (yes I know I'm one of them but at least I'm not delusional)

Surely it will make him superior in the "scoring goals in the SPL" aspect?

Edit: damn you BoltonLoyal!

Sorry BP

Hate all this pish about players doing what where and when. If George Best were starting out today he'd be worth a kazillion in the transfer market, such was his superiority ability wise to almost anyone on the planet.

Boyd scores goals, that maybe all he does, but he does it! I dunno what some folk expect a striker to do

[Dietspam 733]

cant wait till boyd beats his record to see if we get a four page pullout of all his goals like rebel and sun done for larsson

if he does then he is a better goalscorer and thats a fact

I dunno about that. Larrson could score against anyone in the world. I'm not so sure Boyd could.

its an SPL goalscoring record did Larsson play against different teams ?

I'd say the SPL was a much higher standard then than it is now. But that comment above said that he would be a better goal scorer. He's not.

[AlCapone 7,678]

It would be tragic if anyone convinces themselves that Boyd outscoring Larsson will make him superior in any aspect.

There are alot of pathetic people on here. (yes I know I'm one of them but at least I'm not delusional)

I kind of agree with that, While I cant stand Larsons attitude towards diving and cheating to compare Boyd to him is off the mark. Can anyone see Boyd playing out his career at Man U and Barcelona.

While Boyd deserves credit on his goalscoring record he aint the player that the diving Swedish cheat was. I aint no lover of Boyd but he does also deserve positive recognition of his goal scoring record.

Tin helmet on !!!

[stuartmccallsfall 4]

cant wait till boyd beats his record to see if we get a four page pullout of all his goals like rebel and sun done for larsson

if he does then he is a better goalscorer and thats a fact

I dunno about that. Larrson could score against anyone in the world. I'm not so sure Boyd could.

its an SPL goalscoring record did Larsson play against different teams ?

I'd say the SPL was a much higher standard then than it is now. But that comment above said that he would be a better goal scorer. He's not.

Are you Britney in disguise? Youd say the SPL was a better league when..........what? When Hearts and Hibs and Aberdeen where buying in multi million pound players. The SPL is a shite league. Are you trying to say the Asrin is a better player because in your opinion he scored in a better league than Boyd?? FFS I knew I should have stayed in my kip today.

[Dietspam 733]

cant wait till boyd beats his record to see if we get a four page pullout of all his goals like rebel and sun done for larsson

if he does then he is a better goalscorer and thats a fact

I dunno about that. Larrson could score against anyone in the world. I'm not so sure Boyd could.

its an SPL goalscoring record did Larsson play against different teams ?

I'd say the SPL was a much higher standard then than it is now. But that comment above said that he would be a better goal scorer. He's not.

Are you Britney in disguise? Youd say the SPL was a better league when..........what? When Hearts and Hibs and Aberdeen where buying in multi million pound players. The SPL is a shite league. Are you trying to say the Asrin is a better player because in your opinion he scored in a better league than Boyd?? FFS I knew I should have stayed in my kip today.

Yes the SPL was better then than it is now. If you can't see that then aye, go back to bed. I'm saying Larrson was a better goal scorer because he did it at the highest level. Boyd cannot do that.

[dummiesoot 16,266]

One aspect mising form all the arguments is; we all know Larsson wasa more rounded and complete players but when he was at his peak the press were asking when the OF would win a game by 10-0 in the SPL because they regularly humped everyone, Boyd has played in some shite teams with shite service, Larsson played with guys who could cross a ball and create.

[Barca1972 0]

It would be tragic if anyone convinces themselves that Boyd outscoring Larsson will make him superior in any aspect.

There are alot of pathetic people on here. (yes I know I'm one of them but at least I'm not delusional)

it will make him a better goalscorer is that hurting you?

Aye man. How can Ghod strike me down with such terrible suffering within weeks of the glorious news of the papacy's visit to these GREEN shores, especially after my 50 hail marys every day and my heated iron cross chastity genital purse that helps prevent me from touching myself in Lucifers region. Now Boyd is gonna surpass THE KHING HOF KHINGS in the SPL scoring charts! Next we shall see unspeakable horrors such as the permanent imprisonment of intergenerational relationship campaigner and good catholic bHoy, Gary Glitter and a refusal to rename remembrance day as BRITISH IMPERIALIST GENOCIDE day, or maybe Andy Goram will show up at the Aiden Macanespie tribute dinner brandishing a union jack painted M4 Carbine and Paulo DiCanio's eyes displayed on a chain made from Jorge Cadette's mullet/fro swinging from his uber-prod neck, oh please heavenly father, strike down Boyd with Bubonic Plague in the legs and better yet in his Satanic area to prevent him from passing on his heretic Calvinist genes.

I better go watch my betamax cassette of the Republics footballing highlights and cry over my Henrik Larsson " Mhagnigicent Sevhen " cup and saucer set as a smiling picture of Saint Thomas of Burns looks down over me, a willing, child friendly smile upon his face.......shit....nearly blew my cover.....BIG JOCK KNEW, OH BIG JOCK NEW.

kpl you can suck on my L-Shaped flacid cock.

[gronaldo 38]

One aspect mising form all the arguments is; we all know Larsson wasa more rounded and complete players but when he was at his peak the press were asking when the OF would win a game by 10-0 in the SPL because they regularly humped everyone, Boyd has played in some shite teams with shite service, Larsson played with guys who could cross a ball and create.

This is true and I don't really agree with the idea that the SPL was any better in Larsson's time - obviously Celtic and ourselves were better, but the rest of the SPL, who players like Larsson and Boyd play the majority of the time, had some seriously awful sides during that period. I don't think if you transported that Celtic team into the SPL today they'd be beating Hibs, Hearts, Aberdeen and the like 6-0 the way they did back then. Since then there's been a period of consolidation where the supposedly "bigger" SPL sides, like the three mentioned, have got a more solid foundation and they no longer fluctuate wildly from decent to dismal every year.

Anyway, I don't think there's any question that Larsson was a better player than Boyd, but I don't see the point in that debate. It's like pointing at McGeady and saying he's not as good as Brian Laudrup - everyone knows this to be the case, so what's the point in bringing it up?

[kplfishtank 4,745]

It would be tragic if anyone convinces themselves that Boyd outscoring Larsson will make him superior in any aspect.

There are alot of pathetic people on here. (yes I know I'm one of them but at least I'm not delusional)

it will make him a better goalscorer is that hurting you?

Aye man. How can Ghod strike me down with such terrible suffering within weeks of the glorious news of the papacy's visit to these GREEN shores, especially after my 50 hail marys every day and my heated iron cross chastity genital purse that helps prevent me from touching myself in Lucifers region. Now Boyd is gonna surpass THE KHING HOF KHINGS in the SPL scoring charts! Next we shall see unspeakable horrors such as the permanent imprisonment of intergenerational relationship campaigner and good catholic bHoy, Gary Glitter and a refusal to rename remembrance day as BRITISH IMPERIALIST GENOCIDE day, or maybe Andy Goram will show up at the Aiden Macanespie tribute dinner brandishing a union jack painted M4 Carbine and Paulo DiCanio's eyes displayed on a chain made from Jorge Cadette's mullet/fro swinging from his uber-prod neck, oh please heavenly father, strike down Boyd with Bubonic Plague in the legs and better yet in his Satanic area to prevent him from passing on his heretic Calvinist genes.

I better go watch my betamax cassette of the Republics footballing highlights and cry over my Henrik Larsson " Mhagnigicent Sevhen " cup and saucer set as a smiling picture of Saint Thomas of Burns looks down over me, a willing, child friendly smile upon his face.......shit....nearly blew my cover.....BIG JOCK KNEW, OH BIG JOCK NEW.

kpl you can suck on my L-Shaped flacid cock.

that was quite funny till the insult at the end but im big enough to handle that

on a side note i would see a doctor about the shape of your cock