Firstly, may I offer apologies to those who take the time to browse my blog for the lack of activity over the past few weeks, but my internet connection has been down and I’ve had a hell of a rime trying to get it back up and running. Don’t get me started on Virgin Media. Although, amidst my offline purgatory, imagine my delight when I see the architect of all my troubles, Richard ‘Bee Gee’ Branson, crashing into a wall and ripping the arse clean out his trousers while attempting to bungee off a hotel for some publicity stunt. That’s Karma for you, Richard.
Anyway, back to the football. It’s been an astonishing few weeks for the Scottish game but I feel nothing I say regarding the national side will enlighten anybody so let’s just say it’s going to be a cracker at Hampden against the Italians and it seems the whole nation can’t wait.
On the domestic front, the league is shaping up nicely and Rangers’ 3-0 steamrolling of an impotent Celtic side last weekend must have left Hoops fans disgusted. Their lack of invention allied to an unforgivable lack of fight poses a number of questions, and I don’t think Rangers will have as easy an Old Firm win for a long time.
Strachan’s big names are not performing when it matters. Nakamura, Donatti, Hesselink and Brown have, for me, been largely disappointing. I know it seems odd to be writing this when Celtic sit top of the league, but I suspect there’s a lack of confidence at Parkhead at the moment. Whereas, over in Govan, Rangers seem to be growing as a team and look capable of going on a decent run.
I think the run-up to Christmas will prove decisive in the outcome of the league this year. Celtic, as they have shown in recent years, may respond to the Old Firm and Euro defeat in the best way possible and go five games unbeaten. Rangers, conversely, have been known to follow up great Euro nights with lacklustre domestic form. Only time will tell. However, on current form and confidence, I stick to my original prediction that Rangers will win the league.
Random Irritations:
The absence of Derek Riordan in the Scottish game, particularly when it’s patently obvious he is good enough to be involved at Parkhead.
The refusal of the Scottish press to pursue Strachan on this matter.
Mark Hateley’s inane and embarrassingly partisan column in the Daily Record.
Friday, 26 October 2007
Wednesday, 3 October 2007
We're on top of the world...
Has there been a better time to be a football fan in Scotland over the past twenty years or so than now?
Tonight, Celtic completed a remarkable treble which has seen the national team beat France, Rangers humble Lyon and Celtic beat AC Milan.
There's now a belief in the country that we can compete with the best at both national and club level. If we can maintain that mentality then we may just end up at the Euros next year. I'm loving every minute of it and the games can't come quick enough. Bring on Barcelona, Benfica, Italia et al. The sooner the better.
And another thing...
I hope one drunken nutter doesn't get Celtic hammered by UEFA. What more can the Old Firm do to contain individuals hell-bent on causing trouble?
Rangers were fined for a similar incident last year, let's hope Celtc only get the same.
As for Dida, he should be banned for life. Feigning serious injury in light of recent deaths on football pitches is despicable. I wonder what guys like Gattuso think about him. Not a lot, presumably.
Tonight, Celtic completed a remarkable treble which has seen the national team beat France, Rangers humble Lyon and Celtic beat AC Milan.
There's now a belief in the country that we can compete with the best at both national and club level. If we can maintain that mentality then we may just end up at the Euros next year. I'm loving every minute of it and the games can't come quick enough. Bring on Barcelona, Benfica, Italia et al. The sooner the better.
And another thing...
I hope one drunken nutter doesn't get Celtic hammered by UEFA. What more can the Old Firm do to contain individuals hell-bent on causing trouble?
Rangers were fined for a similar incident last year, let's hope Celtc only get the same.
As for Dida, he should be banned for life. Feigning serious injury in light of recent deaths on football pitches is despicable. I wonder what guys like Gattuso think about him. Not a lot, presumably.
Friday, 21 September 2007
Fortune favours the brave?
Celtic's dismal away form in Europe continued this week as they were humbled by the excellent Shakhtar Donetsk. The blame on this occasion must lie with Strachan whose starting formation suggested he had never seen the Ukranians play before. By starting with two wide men and just two in the middle of the park, his team were flooded by the diamond formation employed by Shakhtar, and it was only when Hartley was moved into a holding role that the tide was partially stemmed. This sort of naivety is inexcusable at Champions League level, particularly when Strachan's been culpable before, as in Benfica, Artmedia, Copenhagen. Interesting to note this was a point not put to Strachan by any Scottish journalists after the match. Yet again they seem reluctant to ask the difficult questions, for fear of falling foul of Strachan's particularly precious nature. This is surely doing the readers/listeners/viewers/fans a dis-service?
While Strachan's tactics could be considered bold while ultimately foolish, over at Ibrox, Walter Smith's starting line-up against Stutgart was met with with groans of disappointment by the home support who viewed it as negative in the extreme. A 4-5-1 formation at home in the opening match of the Champions League, with no recognised wide men and very little pace, did little to instill excitement. I was actually at the match and the delight of hearing the Champions theme was soon replaced with exasperation as Rangers failed to do anything for the first hour. Then Stuttgart scored and Rangers finally came to life. Some inspiration from a few individuals, notably Hutton, earned Rangers the win and I would say the victory was earned despite Smith's defensive tactics. Stuttgart were poor and if Rangers had a second striker I'm sure they would have scored earlier. I can't imagine any team at home in the Champions League on opening week went out so defensively, but some would argue that Smith's ploy was vindicated with the win. Again, the media went predictably overboard, citing this as a night of glory at Ibrox. Certainly the result and its nature were exhilarating and Rangers are off to a great start, but for two thirds of this match they looked devoid of ideas, mainly due to the manager's methods.
And another thing....
Aberdeen fans are a disgrace. I may be biased, but the fact the club had to cancel a chatered flght for the vital away game in Ukraine against Dnipro due to lack of interest from the so-called Red Army, gives me justification. They think they deserve better than third or fourth place each year in the SPL yet can't even fill a plane for a rare European adventure. Pathetic.
While Strachan's tactics could be considered bold while ultimately foolish, over at Ibrox, Walter Smith's starting line-up against Stutgart was met with with groans of disappointment by the home support who viewed it as negative in the extreme. A 4-5-1 formation at home in the opening match of the Champions League, with no recognised wide men and very little pace, did little to instill excitement. I was actually at the match and the delight of hearing the Champions theme was soon replaced with exasperation as Rangers failed to do anything for the first hour. Then Stuttgart scored and Rangers finally came to life. Some inspiration from a few individuals, notably Hutton, earned Rangers the win and I would say the victory was earned despite Smith's defensive tactics. Stuttgart were poor and if Rangers had a second striker I'm sure they would have scored earlier. I can't imagine any team at home in the Champions League on opening week went out so defensively, but some would argue that Smith's ploy was vindicated with the win. Again, the media went predictably overboard, citing this as a night of glory at Ibrox. Certainly the result and its nature were exhilarating and Rangers are off to a great start, but for two thirds of this match they looked devoid of ideas, mainly due to the manager's methods.
And another thing....
Aberdeen fans are a disgrace. I may be biased, but the fact the club had to cancel a chatered flght for the vital away game in Ukraine against Dnipro due to lack of interest from the so-called Red Army, gives me justification. They think they deserve better than third or fourth place each year in the SPL yet can't even fill a plane for a rare European adventure. Pathetic.
Tuesday, 18 September 2007
Let the games begin....
Tonight sees the start of this year's Champions League and Celtic have a tough game in Donetsk. I had a dream last night that they would lose 4-1 and, as unrealistic as this sounds, I had to put a wager on it as the dream was so vivid. The bookies must love it when folk like me dream about football.
As for Rangers tomorrow, Ferguson's fitness is crucial as the team look devoid of ideas without him, as Saturday's embarrassing defeat to Hearts showed. The Old Firm need to win their home games if they are to progress to the last 16 so Rangers need to go out and be positive as anything less than a victory will be met with disappointment.
For anyone who was wondering, the reason I haven't blogged in a fortnight or so is that I've been in France on holiday. It felt gloriously surreal to be sat in a Brittany gite with my old man watching Scotland beat France on their equivalent of BBC 1. Magnifique.
What made it even sweeter for me was that days earlier I had stumbled into a pub in the village I was staying in to buy pizzas and was met with the Gallic glare of about ten seriously pished Frenchmen of various ages. There were two boys who looked about 16 slumped over a table with goblets of luminous green liquid in front of them. I thought for a minute I was back in East Kilbride.
Anyway, the pub soon ascertained I was Ecosse and were only too happy to tell me how France would destroy us and laughed mockingly as I hastily left with pizzas in hand.
Oh what a grin I had on my face on the Thursday night walking by that same pub.
As for Rangers tomorrow, Ferguson's fitness is crucial as the team look devoid of ideas without him, as Saturday's embarrassing defeat to Hearts showed. The Old Firm need to win their home games if they are to progress to the last 16 so Rangers need to go out and be positive as anything less than a victory will be met with disappointment.
For anyone who was wondering, the reason I haven't blogged in a fortnight or so is that I've been in France on holiday. It felt gloriously surreal to be sat in a Brittany gite with my old man watching Scotland beat France on their equivalent of BBC 1. Magnifique.
What made it even sweeter for me was that days earlier I had stumbled into a pub in the village I was staying in to buy pizzas and was met with the Gallic glare of about ten seriously pished Frenchmen of various ages. There were two boys who looked about 16 slumped over a table with goblets of luminous green liquid in front of them. I thought for a minute I was back in East Kilbride.
Anyway, the pub soon ascertained I was Ecosse and were only too happy to tell me how France would destroy us and laughed mockingly as I hastily left with pizzas in hand.
Oh what a grin I had on my face on the Thursday night walking by that same pub.
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Glasgow awaits...
What a game that was.
If tonight's match was a sample of what's to come at Celtic Park on Champions League nights this season then the fans are in for a treat.
End to end action, fighting players, goals, missed penalties, sending-offs and a penalty shoot-out. What more could you ask for? Well, a victory, that's what, and Celtic deserved it for me tonight. They had the better chances and McDonald and Nakamura alone could have bagged a double. Spartak were better technically but you need more than skill to cope at this level, as Rangers also showed last night.
It's been a fantastic week for the Old Firm and I think the excitement will continue in the next couple of days with last-minute transfer activity. Both squads still need strengthening to make a real impact in the CL and now the playing staff have done their bit, the chairmen should honour their own role.
It's only hours now until the draw and this is what football's all about. Bring on your Barcelona, Manchester United, AC Milan, Chelsea et al.
Glasgow awaits.
If tonight's match was a sample of what's to come at Celtic Park on Champions League nights this season then the fans are in for a treat.
End to end action, fighting players, goals, missed penalties, sending-offs and a penalty shoot-out. What more could you ask for? Well, a victory, that's what, and Celtic deserved it for me tonight. They had the better chances and McDonald and Nakamura alone could have bagged a double. Spartak were better technically but you need more than skill to cope at this level, as Rangers also showed last night.
It's been a fantastic week for the Old Firm and I think the excitement will continue in the next couple of days with last-minute transfer activity. Both squads still need strengthening to make a real impact in the CL and now the playing staff have done their bit, the chairmen should honour their own role.
It's only hours now until the draw and this is what football's all about. Bring on your Barcelona, Manchester United, AC Milan, Chelsea et al.
Glasgow awaits.
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
One down, one to go ...
So Rangers are back where they should be following a brave defensive display in an extremely hostile atmosphere. It certainly wasn't pretty, but nobody attached to the club will care about that.
Red Star flattered to deceive and deserved to go out. Unfortunately for them, they don't have a team to match their support.
Undoubtedly Rangers will need to improve if they want to make an impact in the group stages, but this result should allow Walter Smith to strengthen further, with a creative attacking midfielder the priority in my opinion.
Celtic, too, should be playing Champions League football every season and tomorrow's return leg against Spartak promises to be a cracker. I think both teams are capable of scoring goals and Celtic's defence will need to be at their best.
What an achievement it would be for both the Old Firm to reach the Champions League. Just picture it - Tuesday night: Rangers v Man U at Ibrox. Wednesday night: Celtic v Liverpool at Celtic Park. And so on for the whole of the winter.
I anticipate many great mid-week trips to the pub. Bring it on.
Red Star flattered to deceive and deserved to go out. Unfortunately for them, they don't have a team to match their support.
Undoubtedly Rangers will need to improve if they want to make an impact in the group stages, but this result should allow Walter Smith to strengthen further, with a creative attacking midfielder the priority in my opinion.
Celtic, too, should be playing Champions League football every season and tomorrow's return leg against Spartak promises to be a cracker. I think both teams are capable of scoring goals and Celtic's defence will need to be at their best.
What an achievement it would be for both the Old Firm to reach the Champions League. Just picture it - Tuesday night: Rangers v Man U at Ibrox. Wednesday night: Celtic v Liverpool at Celtic Park. And so on for the whole of the winter.
I anticipate many great mid-week trips to the pub. Bring it on.
Thursday, 23 August 2007
Stadler and Waldorf?
Was Gordon Strachan right to challenge an over-zealous official for accusing one of his staff of alleged gesture-making?
Over the past few days we’ve had people falling over themselves to voice their view on the ‘disturbing scenes’ (that’s how the Record put it). And, as is usual with these things, very little sense has broken out.
We’ve heard rumblings of ten match bans; we’ve had every manager in Scotland, it seems, claiming fans need to look at themselves; columnists are bemoaning the ‘state of our game/nation’ and anyone who has ever worked with Strachan in any capacity has been dragged out to talk of his fiery nature. Nothing new there, then.
Then today Strachan breaks his silence on the issue and in doing so delivers his most scathing criticism yet of some of the Celtic support.
“Most people I meet are encouraging and pleasant but when it comes to some of the criticism I have to say to myself, 'Is it Hugh Keevins? Is it Jim Traynor? Or is it Stadler and Waldorf sitting behind a goal somewhere?”
Firstly, this is yet another example of Strachan’s assumption that anyone critical of his tactics/managerial ability/attitude could only ever be a drunken yob or a blubbering buffoon who knows nothing about the game. It couldn’t possibly be a decent, intelligent fan with genuine concerns.
However, the most disturbing aspect of this quote is that fans are being judged against the twin zeniths of critique that are Hugh Keevins and Jim Traynor! Don’t make me laugh. Simply becauise these two happen to write for the Daily Record their opinion has greater merit than the thousands of fans who eloquently debate football every day at work, at home or, whisper it, in the pub!
I think Strachan should realise it’s the fans who pay his wages, it’s the fans who will carry on longer than him and it’s the fans who can decide his fate. Nobody should put up with vile personal abuse but I believe that to be the minority. If Strachan believes it’s only drunken yobs who criticise him then I believe that’s a particularly misguided and dangerous delusion.
Over the past few days we’ve had people falling over themselves to voice their view on the ‘disturbing scenes’ (that’s how the Record put it). And, as is usual with these things, very little sense has broken out.
We’ve heard rumblings of ten match bans; we’ve had every manager in Scotland, it seems, claiming fans need to look at themselves; columnists are bemoaning the ‘state of our game/nation’ and anyone who has ever worked with Strachan in any capacity has been dragged out to talk of his fiery nature. Nothing new there, then.
Then today Strachan breaks his silence on the issue and in doing so delivers his most scathing criticism yet of some of the Celtic support.
“Most people I meet are encouraging and pleasant but when it comes to some of the criticism I have to say to myself, 'Is it Hugh Keevins? Is it Jim Traynor? Or is it Stadler and Waldorf sitting behind a goal somewhere?”
Firstly, this is yet another example of Strachan’s assumption that anyone critical of his tactics/managerial ability/attitude could only ever be a drunken yob or a blubbering buffoon who knows nothing about the game. It couldn’t possibly be a decent, intelligent fan with genuine concerns.
However, the most disturbing aspect of this quote is that fans are being judged against the twin zeniths of critique that are Hugh Keevins and Jim Traynor! Don’t make me laugh. Simply becauise these two happen to write for the Daily Record their opinion has greater merit than the thousands of fans who eloquently debate football every day at work, at home or, whisper it, in the pub!
I think Strachan should realise it’s the fans who pay his wages, it’s the fans who will carry on longer than him and it’s the fans who can decide his fate. Nobody should put up with vile personal abuse but I believe that to be the minority. If Strachan believes it’s only drunken yobs who criticise him then I believe that’s a particularly misguided and dangerous delusion.
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