Most friendlies are futile.
These days they serve only as an excuse to increase market share, sell some shirts and as a welcome boost to your Air Miles. England's game against Brazil for example, played in Doha, the capital of that football powerhouse Qatar, while a nice run-out for everyone probably had more to do with pressing the flesh then kicking the ball. It also indirectly led to an injury to Frank Lampard, who suffered a thigh strain as a result of having to sit in the cramped conditions of England's private jet for the flight to Qatar. It also resulted in a subsequent legal claim by Chelsea, reported to be around the €900,000 mark.
So, most friendlies are risky at best, futile at worst. Scotland's friendly against Wales was another exercise in futility. What was meant as the latest in a series of games that would allow George Burley a chance to (re)asses his squad turned into a complete shambles. We lost the game to a second-string Wales side, but along with the three goals we lost, we also lost whatever credibility we had and, two days later, our manager.
Burley losing his job had been on the cards ever since it became obvious we would never qualify for the World Cup following the 3-0 defeat in Amsterdam. All it really needed was that final push over the edge, which came in the shape of a defeat in Japan (following two near-death experiences on the journey over) and that defeat in Cardiff, a defeat which possibly proves the exception to the rule that friendlies are futile...
Right, enough about the futility of Scottish football: on with the action!
The Weekend SPL Fixtures
There's no stand-out fixtures this weekend, but it does give us a chance to asses, in a different light, three of the contenders for the vacant Scotland post.
As football pundit and alleged St Mirren supporter Chick Young has been saying in nearly every interview he's done this week, the leader in the clubhouse (phrase © Chick Young) is Craig Levein, manager of Dundee United. He welcomes Celtic to Tannadice, and he could probably no have wished for a better time to play the Hoops.
Celtic are top of the table, but they're finding the going tough at the minute. The 3-3 against Falkirk was a turn-up for the books, and their European campaign has taken the shine of Mowbray's appointment. I was surprised to see that Celtic have recorded only two wins since October in all competitions (and those wins where against Hamilton and Kilmarnock), so clearly all is not quite going according to plan at Parkhead.
Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies - whom we're backing for the job - is in action against a former Scotland manager when he takes his troops to Ibrox. Rangers can leap-frog Celtic with a win tomorrow (Celtic don't play until Sunday) but they'll have to work hard for it, like they've done all season against teams from the lower half of the table. They've struggled past St Mirren, St Johnstone, Motherwell and Hearts; the previous encounter earlier this season with Killie ended 0-0. Killie continue to surprise everyone by still being in the SPL all these years, a sign perhaps that Jefferies is the sort of miracle worker Scotland need right now.
Somewhat bizarrely - or not, given the ongoing football comedy that is Hearts - Jambo's manager Csaba Laszlo has said he'd be interested in the Scotland job, which shows you just how bad things at Hearts must be.
Earlier on in the week, club owner Vladimir Romanov was quoted in a Scottish red-top (I forget which one, and I'm too lazy too look it up) as saying that former Hearts manager George Burley was given the Scotland job as a 'reward' for the damage he did to Hearts in 2005 and, which (and stay with me here) Romanov claims maintained Old Firm dominance.
The fact that Hearts where top of the table after 10 unbeaten games by the time Burley was sacked, and the fact Hearts finished second that season would suggests that Romanov is quite, quite wrong in his assertion. Still, if getting the Scotland job is a 'reward', one can only imagine what would have happened to Burley if he managed to win the league during his spell at Tynecastle. A contract extension perhaps, surely something much worse ...
Anyway, Hearts take on St Johnstone . In summary: a team that cant score against a team that cant stop conceding. This has high-scoring draw written all over it.
Elsewhere, Aberdeen travel to Motherwell on the back of their first win in, like, f*cking ages - the 2-1 win over St Johnstone seems a lifetime ago now. For McGhee it's another chance to pit his wits against his former employers. Back in September when these two sides met at Pittodrie I wrote this up as a grudge match, but the game itself was gash (0-0) and the only notable action came from the Motherwell fans who shouted some pretty nasty things at their former manager.
Motherwell are four points ahead of Aberdeen in the table and have, like Aberdeen been a bit inconsistent: they've held the Old Firm to two 0-0 draws this season, beat Dundee United at Tannadice and Hearts at home, but then go and lose 3-0 to St Mirren. Motherwell have better players though and a better manager, so I'm going to predict a win for the Steelmen.
Another side to have beaten Hearts at home are St Mirren, who take on high-flying Hibernian. The Buddies have only won twice at home this season, furthering the notion that their new stadium is somehow cursed (rumours abound about the stadium being built on an ancient Indian burial ground). We don't see St Mirren winning this weekend either: Hibs are on a decent run of form, being six games unbeaten.
Falkirk take on Hamilton, which is about the only thing you can say about this game really. Well, that and the fact that Falkirk did very well to get that 3-3 draw with Celtic two weeks ago and they've managed to sign Pele. Not the Pele obviously, he's too busy selling little blue pills, but 31-year old former West Brom, Southampton and now free-agent Pele. He should give the Bairns a boost, but still, it's going to be a long hard season.
A win for Hamilton, coupled with (unlikely) wins for Kilmarnock and St Johnstone could see Falkirk marooned at the bottom of the table.
Our Predictions
Here's how we see it going this weekend. Agree with us? Think we're talking tatties? Let us know with a comment!
Dundee United v Celtic 2-1
St Mirren v Hibernian 0-1
Rangers v Kilmarnock 2-0
Motherwell v Aberdeen 1-0
Hearts v St Johnstone 2-2
Falkirk v Hamilton 1-0
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