I should probably wait with this update until later today, once United and Hibs have their game out of the way, but I've got a spare hour in my otherwise hectic schedule, so let's go for it.
It's great when someone far more knowledgeable than you does you a favour and writes a cracking article about the Scottish game, saving you the hassle of having to do it. Rob Marrs over at Left Back In The Changing Room has completed his Scotland XI, sticking two fingers up at the experts - and Lorraine Kelly - over at STV. His greatest ever lineup looks like this:
Leighton, McGrain, Nicol, Hansen, McNeill, Bremner, Johnstone, Souness, Dalglish, Law, Cooper
Not sure about Cooper, and I'm not sure about Hansen either, but I can't argue with the rest. Then again, I'll be honest with you, I know very little about many of these players because I've never seen them actually play.
My first awareness of Scottish international football came on a school trip to Chester (stay with me here) somewhere around 1981, when myself and a few other classmates where chased around the famous Chester Zoo by a bunch of English kids, all wearing that horrid Admiral strip the English had in those days, because one of us was wearing a Scotland strip and they didn't take to us belting out BA Robertson's "We Have a Dream" (the single especially created for the occasion of Scotland's Spain '82 campaign) in the general direction of the elephants.
It was a trip doomed to fail - I would later be falsely accused of stealing girls underwear - but it did make me realise that being different got you noticed, and that if something could antagonise a group of people as much as the colour of your football top and the accent in which you spoke, then perhaps it was something worth investigating.
On my return to Aberdeen, I remember buying the official SFA guide to the Spain World Cup from the RS McColls on Seafield Road (now a rather dowdy petshop, but once the place where I bought my Panini stickers), that had a picture of Kenny Dalglish on the front and David Narey on the back, and which contained profiles and line-ups of teams I never knew even had a football team. New Zealand, for example.
Speaking of David Narey, his famous toe-poke against Brazil, the one which only enraged one of the greatest Brazilian teams ever into thumping us 4-1, is still my favourite Scottish goal of all time, better even than Bremner's mazy run through the Dutch defence.
Anyway, I digress.
At the time, Aberdeen where massively successful whereas the Scotland side was not, which is perhaps the reason why I lost interest in the national team, and which is probably also the reason why I have nothing to contribute to the "Greatest Scottish XI" argument. Thanks goodness for Left Back In The Changing Room then eh?
The big story of the past week has been the removal of Tony Mowbray from his job at Celtic, brought about by a heavy defeat by St Mirren which ultimately brought to an end what the Times called "a wretched, quite abysmal season, by far his club's worst in ten years".
With Neil Lennon now in temporary charge and beginning his time in charge with a convincing 3-1 win over Kilmarnock, there's been no end of support for the new gaffer, most notably from club captain Scott Brown who reckons Lennon would be a 'great choice' as next manager.
Of obvious concern is Lennon's lack of managerial experience at this or indeed any level, prompting no end of speculation on a more experienced and ultimately permanent manager. Top of the list are names such as Paul Lambert and Mark Hughes. Lambert has built up a good reputation at Norwich, pushing The Canaries to a commanding 11-point lead over Leeds United in League One, but he seems unlikely to move north, preferring the riches of the Championship to the relative riches of the SPL.
Mark Hughes is another name that's been mentioned often in the past few days. Hughes is a good manager, but he's affa pricy and with uncertainty around Zola at West Ham continuing, he may prefer to hang on and stay in the Premiership.
Although ...
Roy Keane, like his namesake and current Celtic player Robbie Keane, has never hidden his admiration for Celtic, and with his career at Ipswich on the rocks, he may well be another possibility. His managerial record, not to mention his managerial style is patchy and unorthodox, but he's the sort of disciplinarian no nonsense hard-man that Celtic need to get themselves back into contention for next season.
Oh, by the way, did you know that Rangers are only four games away from clinching the 2009/10 SPL Title? Apparently, if the Gers beat Hamilton and Aberdeen, then they can take the title against Dundee United on the 14th April. First though, they have to get past St Johnstone, a formality no doubt for the rampaging Rangers who ... oh.
Alas poor Dundee. Another defeat, this time at Dunfermline, coupled with Inverness Caley's win against Ross County sees The Dee now four points behind Terry Butcher's side. For a while it all seemed so promising: loads of money, a killer strike force and a great manager. Then, a few dud results against Airdrie later and suddenly you're staring a(nother) very expensive season in the First Division full in the groin. What a gip.
S'laters!
31/03/2010
Mince and Tatties 05
Labels:
Airdrie,
Celtic,
Dundee,
Mince and Tatties,
Rangers,
Ross County,
Scotland,
SFL,
SPL
29/03/2010
29.03// The Monday Ballbag
Now, I'm not wanting to blow my own trumpet or anything, but my predictions so far this season have not been too wide off the mark.
That is, until now. If there was ever a weekend where we made a complete burach of our predictions, it has to have been this one.
Of the 21 games played this weekend, we correctly predicted (using the time-honoured method of sitting in front of an opened newspaper, closing the eyes and bringing down a sharpened pencil on the fixture list) only nine games taking place across the country this weekend. Nine in twenty-one folks, that's the sort of record that would get you fired, so it would.
Particularly poor this weekend where my First and Second Division efforts. The only game I got right there was Inverness Caley's win over Partick Thistle, and Stirling Albion's win over Cowdenbeath.
Elsewhere, I'm ashamed to admit I bet against my own team, Aberdeen, but could you blame me? Here's us on the cusp of a record-setting run of bad form, with Aberdeen playing a St Mirren side fresh from an historic 4-0 victory over Celtic (the heaviest Celtic defeat by a non-Old Firm side for 51 years, it says here).
I was surprised to see St Johnstone not score in a game, as they go down 1-0 to Hamilton Accies. Saint's scoring record has been phenomenal all season, and Saturdays result is only the fifth time in this campaign that Derek McInnes' side has failed to score (the others coming against Hibs, Kilmarnock, Celtic and Rangers, a record to be proud of, no?)
Ross County played their part in helping rivals Inverness Caley to the top of the table in their 1-1 draw with Dundee, the team that had been leading the Division since December last year. I'd predicted Ross County would win, mainly because Dundee would be desperate and thus prone to being caught on the break by an on-form team, while Ross County would be playing with the confidence of a team possibly heading for Hampden and/or Europe. But a draw is how it panned out, a valuable point gained for County and a valuable 2 points dropped for Dundee who had been leading the game through a second-half Ben Hutchinson goal.
Like the SPL, the Third Division is pretty much over, with Livingston taking a commanding lead - some thirteen points, they're now only two victories away from guaranteed promotion - over nearest promotion contenders East Stirlingshire. I'd backed the Shire to win against eight-placed Stranraer, so you can imagine my surprise when I checked the scores at half-time to find Stranraer leading 2-0. It took a last minute goal from Andrew Rodgers to earn a draw.
And for some completely daft reason I tipped Elgin, bottom of the Division and a team without a win since February, to beat third-placed promotion chasing Forfar, a team some twenty-four points ahead of them. Somewhat predictably to anyone but me, Forfar won 2-0.
Next week, Inside Left's predictions will be brought to you by Tilly, my next door neighbours cat. She'll do you a grand job, so she will.
Of the results I did get right: Neil Lennon gets off to a winning start as caretaker-manager of Celtic. A nice 3-1 win over Kilmarnock will have pleased the fans, some 41,000 of which were on hand to see Celtic maintain their 10-point trailing gap over Rangers. The crowd, though not exactly a full house was up some 10,000 from Mowbrays last home game on the 20 March when Celtic beat St Johnstone by a roughly similar score.
Dundee United continue their excellent season with a healthy 3-0 win over fourth-placed Motherwell. Hibernian get back to winning ways as they beat bottom side Falkirk 3-1, and Rangers continue to make Jim Jefferies' return to the maroon half of Edinburgh a living misery as they trounce Hearts 4-1 at Tynecastle.
Upcoming Fixtures
The SPL continues to graple with the winter weather chaos, meaning there's going to be a few mid-week games between now and the end of the season. For example, Rangers will have played three games in seven days when they welcome Hamilton to Ibrox on Saturday; they'll face St Johnstone first however, tomorrow evening in Perth. Spare a thought for Hibs who, Like Rangers, will also be in action three times this week, but face a heavier schedule than Walter Smith's side. Following Saturday's win, John Hughes' men will play Dundee United on the Wednesday, culminating with the visit of Celtic at Easter Road on the Sunday.
Highland Football League
In a particularly low-scoring week in the Highland League (only 28 goals scored in eight games), the talk of the weekend was over another controversial refereeing display by whistler Cammy McKay in the game between Turriff and Clachnacuddin. Amongst other things, McKay sent of three players (not unusual in itself for the Highland League), but it was the reason for Clach captain's Gordon Morrison's dismissal that got the Inverness side's manager Iain Polworth all in a tizzy:
As he explain later to the Press & Journal.
Quite right. The full story is here.
Results
some text goes here.
That is, until now. If there was ever a weekend where we made a complete burach of our predictions, it has to have been this one.
Of the 21 games played this weekend, we correctly predicted (using the time-honoured method of sitting in front of an opened newspaper, closing the eyes and bringing down a sharpened pencil on the fixture list) only nine games taking place across the country this weekend. Nine in twenty-one folks, that's the sort of record that would get you fired, so it would.
Particularly poor this weekend where my First and Second Division efforts. The only game I got right there was Inverness Caley's win over Partick Thistle, and Stirling Albion's win over Cowdenbeath.
Elsewhere, I'm ashamed to admit I bet against my own team, Aberdeen, but could you blame me? Here's us on the cusp of a record-setting run of bad form, with Aberdeen playing a St Mirren side fresh from an historic 4-0 victory over Celtic (the heaviest Celtic defeat by a non-Old Firm side for 51 years, it says here).
I was surprised to see St Johnstone not score in a game, as they go down 1-0 to Hamilton Accies. Saint's scoring record has been phenomenal all season, and Saturdays result is only the fifth time in this campaign that Derek McInnes' side has failed to score (the others coming against Hibs, Kilmarnock, Celtic and Rangers, a record to be proud of, no?)
Ross County played their part in helping rivals Inverness Caley to the top of the table in their 1-1 draw with Dundee, the team that had been leading the Division since December last year. I'd predicted Ross County would win, mainly because Dundee would be desperate and thus prone to being caught on the break by an on-form team, while Ross County would be playing with the confidence of a team possibly heading for Hampden and/or Europe. But a draw is how it panned out, a valuable point gained for County and a valuable 2 points dropped for Dundee who had been leading the game through a second-half Ben Hutchinson goal.
Like the SPL, the Third Division is pretty much over, with Livingston taking a commanding lead - some thirteen points, they're now only two victories away from guaranteed promotion - over nearest promotion contenders East Stirlingshire. I'd backed the Shire to win against eight-placed Stranraer, so you can imagine my surprise when I checked the scores at half-time to find Stranraer leading 2-0. It took a last minute goal from Andrew Rodgers to earn a draw.
And for some completely daft reason I tipped Elgin, bottom of the Division and a team without a win since February, to beat third-placed promotion chasing Forfar, a team some twenty-four points ahead of them. Somewhat predictably to anyone but me, Forfar won 2-0.
Next week, Inside Left's predictions will be brought to you by Tilly, my next door neighbours cat. She'll do you a grand job, so she will.
Of the results I did get right: Neil Lennon gets off to a winning start as caretaker-manager of Celtic. A nice 3-1 win over Kilmarnock will have pleased the fans, some 41,000 of which were on hand to see Celtic maintain their 10-point trailing gap over Rangers. The crowd, though not exactly a full house was up some 10,000 from Mowbrays last home game on the 20 March when Celtic beat St Johnstone by a roughly similar score.
Dundee United continue their excellent season with a healthy 3-0 win over fourth-placed Motherwell. Hibernian get back to winning ways as they beat bottom side Falkirk 3-1, and Rangers continue to make Jim Jefferies' return to the maroon half of Edinburgh a living misery as they trounce Hearts 4-1 at Tynecastle.
Upcoming Fixtures
The SPL continues to graple with the winter weather chaos, meaning there's going to be a few mid-week games between now and the end of the season. For example, Rangers will have played three games in seven days when they welcome Hamilton to Ibrox on Saturday; they'll face St Johnstone first however, tomorrow evening in Perth. Spare a thought for Hibs who, Like Rangers, will also be in action three times this week, but face a heavier schedule than Walter Smith's side. Following Saturday's win, John Hughes' men will play Dundee United on the Wednesday, culminating with the visit of Celtic at Easter Road on the Sunday.
St Johnstone v Rangers (Tue)
Hibernian v Dundee Utd (Wed)
Motherwell v Falkirk (Sat)
Rangers v Hamilton (Sat)
St Mirren v Hearts (Sat)
Hibs v Celtic (Sun)
Kilmarnock v Aberdeen (Sun)
Highland Football League
In a particularly low-scoring week in the Highland League (only 28 goals scored in eight games), the talk of the weekend was over another controversial refereeing display by whistler Cammy McKay in the game between Turriff and Clachnacuddin. Amongst other things, McKay sent of three players (not unusual in itself for the Highland League), but it was the reason for Clach captain's Gordon Morrison's dismissal that got the Inverness side's manager Iain Polworth all in a tizzy:
As he explain later to the Press & Journal.
“We will probably be appealing Gordon Morrison’s sending-off for making a gesture in joke to his best mate, a loyal disabled supporter who travels with us on the team coach. Gordon had fired the ball over the bar. When he was running back he heard his pal shout some words of advice to him about what to do with his next shot at goal. It was a joke gesture but the referee spotted it and sent him off. I think a wee bit of commonsense would have gone a long way."
Quite right. The full story is here.
Results
Brora 0-5 Deveronvale
Buckie Thistle 1-0 Nairn County
Cove Rangers 5-0 Strathspey Thistle
Formartine Utd 2-2 Forres Mechanics
Fort William 2-4 Keith
Inverurie Locos 2-0 Huntly
Rothes 1-1 Lossiemouth
Wick Academy 0-3 Fraserburgh
Turriff 1-1 Clachnacuddin
some text goes here.
26/03/2010
26.03// The Scottish Fitba Weekender
Wow, what a week in Scottish fitba.
Celtic lose (another) manager, Rangers' dreams of a domestic treble are crushed in the last minute at Tannadice and Dundee's self destruction in Division One took another step nearer to completion as they drop two points against Queen of the South while Caley where busy trouncing Airdrie, the team whose costly victory over Dundee cost Jocky Scott his job.
The action continues unabated this weekend with a full program on the Saturday, leaving the Sabbath day free for Sabbath-esque activities, whatever that constitutes for you. Inside Left will spend his day painting walls and possibly watching the paint dry, putting him in the right frame of mind to watch the Aberdeen v St Mirren reruns on Sunday evening.
The game of the weekend may well be at Pittodrie where Aberdeen, now certain of their future as a bottom-six side for the remainder of the season, take on a rampant St Mirren, fresh from sorting out Celtic and no doubt still smarting from losing out on silverware against a Rangers five-a-side team (note: joke).
I twittered the other day if Mark McGhee would also be getting the sack (bundled out in the boot of his own lease-car, typical AFC style) should St Mirren do an unlikely double and pump Aberdeen like they pumped Celtic. Perhaps a few weeks ago he might have, but McGhee is safe for now, so the Dons should see this as a practice game, a pre-season fixture, but with bigger and less friendly crowds.
Perhaps the game of the weekend is at Tynecastle, where Rangers come to town hoping to keep their lead over the rest of the hoi-polloi to nothing less than respectable 10 points by beating an indifferent and limp Hearts side.
Or possibly it's to be found at Parkhead, where Celtic 'legend' Neil Lennon has taken over the reins and thus immediately lining himself up for his by now annual "kicking in by some neds down a Glasgow alley". Wouldn't it be funny if Kilmarnock's Chris Maguire (really Aberdeen's Chris Maguire, the same Chris Maguire who scored once in 21 appearances for Aberdeen and four in eight for Killie) scores again to beat Celtic (like he did back in February), causing the Celtic Board to spring into action to fire Lennon so that Henrik Larrson can have a go at coaching a team?
Hamilton taking on St Johnstone is only for the purists, while Falkirk against Hibs will be important for both teams, as both are desperately looking for points to ensure survival and/or European football next season.
The SPL game of the weekend then is the tussle between Scottish Cup semi-finalists Dundee United and non-finalists of any kind, Motherwell. Craig Brown has made Motherwell a tough team to beat and has certainly turned around the club following the desperate second season with McGhee and the contractually-challenge Jim Gannon (who, incidentally, has left Peterborough for reasons to do with not liking the town, or something). Dundee United are another team exceeding expectations this season and with a chance of silverware still very much on the cards (assuming they get past Raith Rovers), it's all coming up tangerine on Tayside this season.
Here's how we see it going:
Aberdeen v St Mirren (draw)
Celtic v Kilmarnock (home win)
Dundee United v Motherwell (home win)
Falkirk v Hibernian (away win)
Hamilton v St Johnstone (draw)
Hearts v Rangers (away win)
Division One
The First division remains interesting, with all eyes on Dingwall and Partick. A win for Ross County against Dundee, coupled with a win by Caley Thistle in Glasgow would see a new leader in Division One. Caley - and to a certain extent Dunfermline - have done very well to close the gap on Dundee, taking advantage of the Tayside club's defeats by continuing to win consistently and so set up a real challenge for promotion. Realistically, any team from first to sixth still has a chance of making it to the SPL, so every game is a six-pointer. Unless you're one of Airdrie v Morton, or Raith v Ayr, in which case you're basically cannon fodder for the other teams. Especially Airdrie who are going down quicker than John Terry's underpants.
Airdrie Utd v Morton (away win)
Partick Thistle v Inverness (away win)
Queen of South v Dunfermline (draw)
Raith v Ayr (home win)
Ross County v Dundee (home win)
The Scottish Second Division
Alloa look odds-on to win promotion, but whether that will be automatic or via the play-offs remains to be seen. They're five points clear of Cowdenbeath and eleven points clear of Stirling, so at least a play-off spot is guaranteed. Something else which is guaranteed is Clyde's relegation to the Third Division. The Bully Wee are 13 points off a play-off spot, all in all marking a sad end to a pretty sustained period of misfortune, not helped by the fact the Broadwood club has to release nearly every player (bar one, I think) at the start of the season to ensure survival.
From a north-east point of view, it's a shame to see Peterhead falling behind. The Blue Toon where one of our tips for promotion this season, but lying six points of fourth spot, it doesn't look like they'll make it this year.
Arbroath v Alloa (away win)
Clyde v East Fife (away win)
Dumbarton v Peterhead (home win)
Stenhousemuir v Brechin (draw)
Stirling v Cowdenbeath (home win)
The Scottish Third Division
Livingston looks set for instant promotion, which is really all you'd have expected this season, what with them playing Third Division football with a First Division squad 'n all. They're eleven points clear of East Stirlingshire, once Scotland's worst football team and the topic of a very humorous book. Montrose have worked wonders in recent weeks to catch up with Elgin City at the bottom of the table. Montrose only won their first game of the season at the end of January(!), since which they've gone on to claw some points back and are currently enjoying a three-game unbeaten run.
Forfar, Queens Park and Berwick make up the chasing pack for the three play-off places.
Albion v Annan Athletic (home win)
Elgin v Forfar (home win)
Montrose v Berwick (draw)
Queens Park v Livingston away win)
Stranraer v East Stirling (away win)
Right, that's it. If you're away to a game, have a good one, I hope you win, unless you're a St Mirren fan, in which case I hope you have a thoroughly miserable day.
Celtic lose (another) manager, Rangers' dreams of a domestic treble are crushed in the last minute at Tannadice and Dundee's self destruction in Division One took another step nearer to completion as they drop two points against Queen of the South while Caley where busy trouncing Airdrie, the team whose costly victory over Dundee cost Jocky Scott his job.
The action continues unabated this weekend with a full program on the Saturday, leaving the Sabbath day free for Sabbath-esque activities, whatever that constitutes for you. Inside Left will spend his day painting walls and possibly watching the paint dry, putting him in the right frame of mind to watch the Aberdeen v St Mirren reruns on Sunday evening.
The game of the weekend may well be at Pittodrie where Aberdeen, now certain of their future as a bottom-six side for the remainder of the season, take on a rampant St Mirren, fresh from sorting out Celtic and no doubt still smarting from losing out on silverware against a Rangers five-a-side team (note: joke).
I twittered the other day if Mark McGhee would also be getting the sack (bundled out in the boot of his own lease-car, typical AFC style) should St Mirren do an unlikely double and pump Aberdeen like they pumped Celtic. Perhaps a few weeks ago he might have, but McGhee is safe for now, so the Dons should see this as a practice game, a pre-season fixture, but with bigger and less friendly crowds.
Perhaps the game of the weekend is at Tynecastle, where Rangers come to town hoping to keep their lead over the rest of the hoi-polloi to nothing less than respectable 10 points by beating an indifferent and limp Hearts side.
Or possibly it's to be found at Parkhead, where Celtic 'legend' Neil Lennon has taken over the reins and thus immediately lining himself up for his by now annual "kicking in by some neds down a Glasgow alley". Wouldn't it be funny if Kilmarnock's Chris Maguire (really Aberdeen's Chris Maguire, the same Chris Maguire who scored once in 21 appearances for Aberdeen and four in eight for Killie) scores again to beat Celtic (like he did back in February), causing the Celtic Board to spring into action to fire Lennon so that Henrik Larrson can have a go at coaching a team?
Hamilton taking on St Johnstone is only for the purists, while Falkirk against Hibs will be important for both teams, as both are desperately looking for points to ensure survival and/or European football next season.
The SPL game of the weekend then is the tussle between Scottish Cup semi-finalists Dundee United and non-finalists of any kind, Motherwell. Craig Brown has made Motherwell a tough team to beat and has certainly turned around the club following the desperate second season with McGhee and the contractually-challenge Jim Gannon (who, incidentally, has left Peterborough for reasons to do with not liking the town, or something). Dundee United are another team exceeding expectations this season and with a chance of silverware still very much on the cards (assuming they get past Raith Rovers), it's all coming up tangerine on Tayside this season.
Here's how we see it going:
Aberdeen v St Mirren (draw)
Celtic v Kilmarnock (home win)
Dundee United v Motherwell (home win)
Falkirk v Hibernian (away win)
Hamilton v St Johnstone (draw)
Hearts v Rangers (away win)
Division One
The First division remains interesting, with all eyes on Dingwall and Partick. A win for Ross County against Dundee, coupled with a win by Caley Thistle in Glasgow would see a new leader in Division One. Caley - and to a certain extent Dunfermline - have done very well to close the gap on Dundee, taking advantage of the Tayside club's defeats by continuing to win consistently and so set up a real challenge for promotion. Realistically, any team from first to sixth still has a chance of making it to the SPL, so every game is a six-pointer. Unless you're one of Airdrie v Morton, or Raith v Ayr, in which case you're basically cannon fodder for the other teams. Especially Airdrie who are going down quicker than John Terry's underpants.
Airdrie Utd v Morton (away win)
Partick Thistle v Inverness (away win)
Queen of South v Dunfermline (draw)
Raith v Ayr (home win)
Ross County v Dundee (home win)
The Scottish Second Division
Alloa look odds-on to win promotion, but whether that will be automatic or via the play-offs remains to be seen. They're five points clear of Cowdenbeath and eleven points clear of Stirling, so at least a play-off spot is guaranteed. Something else which is guaranteed is Clyde's relegation to the Third Division. The Bully Wee are 13 points off a play-off spot, all in all marking a sad end to a pretty sustained period of misfortune, not helped by the fact the Broadwood club has to release nearly every player (bar one, I think) at the start of the season to ensure survival.
From a north-east point of view, it's a shame to see Peterhead falling behind. The Blue Toon where one of our tips for promotion this season, but lying six points of fourth spot, it doesn't look like they'll make it this year.
Arbroath v Alloa (away win)
Clyde v East Fife (away win)
Dumbarton v Peterhead (home win)
Stenhousemuir v Brechin (draw)
Stirling v Cowdenbeath (home win)
The Scottish Third Division
Livingston looks set for instant promotion, which is really all you'd have expected this season, what with them playing Third Division football with a First Division squad 'n all. They're eleven points clear of East Stirlingshire, once Scotland's worst football team and the topic of a very humorous book. Montrose have worked wonders in recent weeks to catch up with Elgin City at the bottom of the table. Montrose only won their first game of the season at the end of January(!), since which they've gone on to claw some points back and are currently enjoying a three-game unbeaten run.
Forfar, Queens Park and Berwick make up the chasing pack for the three play-off places.
Albion v Annan Athletic (home win)
Elgin v Forfar (home win)
Montrose v Berwick (draw)
Queens Park v Livingston away win)
Stranraer v East Stirling (away win)
Right, that's it. If you're away to a game, have a good one, I hope you win, unless you're a St Mirren fan, in which case I hope you have a thoroughly miserable day.
25/03/2010
The Old Firm Fall (update: along with Mowbray)
This is becoming an all too familiar picture.
Perhaps the BBC took it from one of Celtic's games against Aberdeen this season, or from the games against Rangers, Kilmarnock, Hibs, Dundee United, or either one of those costly draws against Falkirk.
That Celtic lost to St Mirren is one thing, the scale of the defeat (4-0, not enough to be officially termed a "rout", this one falls under the "comprehensive" category) is quite another.
That defeat keeps the gap between Celtic and Rangers at 10 points, but Rangers have two games in hand over the Parkhead side, making any hope that Celtic will have had of catching up with their arch rivals pretty much a moot point (though as we said earlier this week, Caley are about to overtake Dundee in Division One, finally overcoming a bigger deficit than Celtic face currently).
The virtual vultures are circling again, getting lower and lower with each passing week and each passing gaffe. Mowbray is refusing to talk about his future at the club, even though most of the rest of the press are not so coy. The warning sign will come when the dreaded vote of confidence comes along, something that current West Ham (and possibly future Celtic manager) Gianfranco Zola will probably know only too well.
Sacking yet another manager - it would be the fifth SPL manager to lose his job and the tenth managerial change overall in Scottish football this season - is such a good idea remains to be seen.
I worry that the trigger-happy Boards and Directors, buoyed on by equally trigger-happy fans are only making the task of creating a solid foundation on which to build for better futures just that bit harder.
With every sacking comes a financial penalty (lengthy contracts to be paid off, other clubs compensated and so on), a stability hit (new manager means new players and tactics) and a feeling of having to start from scratch again. The expectations of the Board and the fans never change, but as we know, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is a successful football club built with a never-ending changing of the guard.
Truly successful teams are built upon steady foundations. Witness Aberdeen and United in the early 80's, Rangers during their nine-in-a-row run (Souness for the first three, Smith for the remainder), Celtic in the 60's and 70's, all examples of teams with a steady hand on the tiller. Would any of these teams been have as successful had they chopped and changed managers after a poor result as often as their modern-day counterparts are now doing? I'd hazard a guess that they probably wouldn't.
Rangers' glee at Celtic's misfortune will have been dampened somewhat by their own exit from the Scottish cup, thus denying Walter Smith another treble. The 1-0 defeat to Dundee United, for whom David Robertson scored in the last minute to put the high-flying Arabs into the semi-finals where Raith Rovers await them.
Raith, for their part will probably have mixed feelings about this result; financially speaking, a Rangers win would have been better, with even a half-filled Ibrox earning them more than a full Tannadice could ever do.
Whether Raith have an easier fixture against United than they would have done against Rangers we'll never know, but I reckon they'd have had a good a chance as any, Rangers plodding on this season without really playing particularly well. But as I often hear said, the mark of a true champion is the capacity to keep winning when you're not firing on all cylinders, something Rangers could certainly be accused of this season. It also helps that your nearest rivals are making such a shite of their season.
The SPL is done and dusted for me. Rangers will win the title, Celtic will self-destruct if Mowbray leaves, United will finish third, the rest some way behind. Falkirk, for all their fighting spirit since Pressley took over have left it too late, to be replaced by any one of three, maybe four teams.
The real excitement - if not the quality - is to be found in the lower divisions, and the possibility of an all First Division Scottish Cup final ever is an indication that there's more to Scottish football than meets the eye.
Against that backdrop, it is a shame that our top two teams continue to take the limelight, though not always in a positive way.
Perhaps the BBC took it from one of Celtic's games against Aberdeen this season, or from the games against Rangers, Kilmarnock, Hibs, Dundee United, or either one of those costly draws against Falkirk.
That Celtic lost to St Mirren is one thing, the scale of the defeat (4-0, not enough to be officially termed a "rout", this one falls under the "comprehensive" category) is quite another.
That defeat keeps the gap between Celtic and Rangers at 10 points, but Rangers have two games in hand over the Parkhead side, making any hope that Celtic will have had of catching up with their arch rivals pretty much a moot point (though as we said earlier this week, Caley are about to overtake Dundee in Division One, finally overcoming a bigger deficit than Celtic face currently).
The virtual vultures are circling again, getting lower and lower with each passing week and each passing gaffe. Mowbray is refusing to talk about his future at the club, even though most of the rest of the press are not so coy. The warning sign will come when the dreaded vote of confidence comes along, something that current West Ham (and possibly future Celtic manager) Gianfranco Zola will probably know only too well.
Update: Hold the press: he's been sacked. Or walked away. Or is it "by mutual consent"? Neil Lennon will take over, making him an even bigger target for every malcontent ned around the Greater Glasgow area than he has ever been.
Sacking yet another manager - it would be the fifth SPL manager to lose his job and the tenth managerial change overall in Scottish football this season - is such a good idea remains to be seen.
I worry that the trigger-happy Boards and Directors, buoyed on by equally trigger-happy fans are only making the task of creating a solid foundation on which to build for better futures just that bit harder.
With every sacking comes a financial penalty (lengthy contracts to be paid off, other clubs compensated and so on), a stability hit (new manager means new players and tactics) and a feeling of having to start from scratch again. The expectations of the Board and the fans never change, but as we know, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is a successful football club built with a never-ending changing of the guard.
Truly successful teams are built upon steady foundations. Witness Aberdeen and United in the early 80's, Rangers during their nine-in-a-row run (Souness for the first three, Smith for the remainder), Celtic in the 60's and 70's, all examples of teams with a steady hand on the tiller. Would any of these teams been have as successful had they chopped and changed managers after a poor result as often as their modern-day counterparts are now doing? I'd hazard a guess that they probably wouldn't.
Rangers' glee at Celtic's misfortune will have been dampened somewhat by their own exit from the Scottish cup, thus denying Walter Smith another treble. The 1-0 defeat to Dundee United, for whom David Robertson scored in the last minute to put the high-flying Arabs into the semi-finals where Raith Rovers await them.
Raith, for their part will probably have mixed feelings about this result; financially speaking, a Rangers win would have been better, with even a half-filled Ibrox earning them more than a full Tannadice could ever do.
Whether Raith have an easier fixture against United than they would have done against Rangers we'll never know, but I reckon they'd have had a good a chance as any, Rangers plodding on this season without really playing particularly well. But as I often hear said, the mark of a true champion is the capacity to keep winning when you're not firing on all cylinders, something Rangers could certainly be accused of this season. It also helps that your nearest rivals are making such a shite of their season.
The SPL is done and dusted for me. Rangers will win the title, Celtic will self-destruct if Mowbray leaves, United will finish third, the rest some way behind. Falkirk, for all their fighting spirit since Pressley took over have left it too late, to be replaced by any one of three, maybe four teams.
The real excitement - if not the quality - is to be found in the lower divisions, and the possibility of an all First Division Scottish Cup final ever is an indication that there's more to Scottish football than meets the eye.
Against that backdrop, it is a shame that our top two teams continue to take the limelight, though not always in a positive way.
24/03/2010
SPL grounds, Google Street View style!
While the rest of you where out enjoying Scottish Cup action or otherwise meaningless SPL games, Inside Left, his season well and truly over and slightly overstimulated on strong coffee and blue Smarties spent a pleasant evening ground-hopping Google streetview style.
→ Aberdeen
I could have got you panoramic views of the overly expensive and really not all that nice Dick Donald Stand, formerly known as the "Beach End", or even Inside Left's own beloved South Stand, but for any Aberdeen fan worth their weight in 1983 Gothenburg memorabilia, the Merkland Road entrance is really the only way to enter the stadium. Passing under the granite façade through some of the narrowest turnstiles in Western Europe, you can sense the history. Don't be put off by the "family stand" signs: the Merkland has a fair proportion of junior gynaecologist amongst its membership judging by the terminology shouted at the home team, especially these days.
→ Dundee United
I've never liked Tannadump; you can't fucking park anywhere, the away end is tucked away in some stupid corner where you can't see anything and whenever I've been there to see Aberdeen play we always lose. Interesting but true fact: like my match predictions, perhaps it's the way I pick them, but I've never seen Aberdeen win at Tannadump. Terrible record so it is, and a terrible record to go with a terrible stadium.
→ Hearts
The first time I ever went to see Aberdeen away at Hearts, a 2-2 draw in 1988, Jim Bett and Tom Jones (taking a break from touring) scoring for the Dons, I was dead impressed with a stadium that's so cunningly hidden from view when walking down Gorgie Road. You'd almost miss it if you're looking the wrong way. Once you get inside it, and the place is buzzing Tynecastle is easily one of the best grounds in Scotland if you ask me.
→ Hibernian
Ah, Easter Road. Back in the bad old days of soccer casuals, a trip to Edinburgh - and in particular a trip to Easter Road - was always fraught with danger. There's been many a time that we'd be chucked out of pubs by the local constabulary straight into the path of several hundred rabid and often well armed Hibs fans. Edinburgh is where I learned how to run. It's also the only stadium I've come close to being thrown out of.
→ Falkirk
I've never been to the old stadium, and I've never been to the new one either. Judging by the Street View, it looks like being one of those stadiums that you find in every town planner and Chief Constable's wet dream, to wit: out of sight, out of mind. What a dump. And it's brand new anaw.
→ Celtic
Oh, and speaking of dumps. Actually, that's not fair. The new Celtic Park is rather grand, a shining example of what modern football stadiums should be like. Back then (and I'm talking the mid 80's) you generally looked forward to trips to Glasgow because Aberdeen used to win more often than we do now, making up for the fact that it was a desperately unpleasant and intimidating place to go. Celtic Park (or is it Parkhead, I never know what to call it) has lost of a lot of it's charm since the refit (like Hamdpen) but it was always a better place to go than across the river to Mordor. Speaking of which ...
→ Rangers
Ah now, here's a stadium. Yes, those spanky stands everywhere are nice and all that, but the Main Stand, designed by Archibald Leitch is one of the few remaining examples of classic stadia construction in Britain. It certainly is something to keep your mind off the urine and other assorted bodily fluids and solids raining down on you from the top deck of the Broomloan Stand while your team is being slaughtered on the park. Quite why they put away supporters in the downstairs part of a two-tier stand is beyond me, but sure, what do I know.
→ Kilmarnock
I'm sure I'm not the only Aberdeen fan who realises, usually just as you're passing Cumbernauld, that that Third Division fixture in Elgin might have been a better idea rather than driving all the way across Scotland to Rugby Park. I mean, you really want to love your football to even bother. Still, once you get there try the pies, they're very good. Usually better than the football on display. It's a nice stadium now, but it wasn't always.
→ Motherwell
Not a bad wee ground. Away supporters are housed in the South Stand, a strange doo-dah which from any other angle looks like a large stage, what with those floodlights holding up the roof. It looks so out of place with the rest of the stadium (it's too large and square and boxy). Otherwise a nice ground, but shame about the pitch,which always manages to looks like the North Lanarkshire Young Farmers have just had their annual Tractor Pull extravaganza on the pitch the previous evening.
→ St Johnstone
It's been a while since I've been there (a Scottish Cup fixture in 1987, Aberdeen winning 1-0) so there's not much I can say about it. Judging by the Street View, the entrance looks nice. Lots of parking too, possibly.
→ St Mirren
I've not been to the new ground yet. Even Google where too early to take their wee picture of the ground, in which the new stadium looks more like a DIY superstore than a stadium. Instead here is a picture of the old ground which is a "proper" stadium, unlike that nonsense at Falkirk. Or St Mirren's new stadium.
→ Hamilton
The Spice of Life stand. Yes. It's true. Bad name, dull stadium. Like St Mirren Park, the back of the main stand at New Douglas Park looks like the regional headquarters for a small to mid-size furniture chain.
→ Aberdeen
I could have got you panoramic views of the overly expensive and really not all that nice Dick Donald Stand, formerly known as the "Beach End", or even Inside Left's own beloved South Stand, but for any Aberdeen fan worth their weight in 1983 Gothenburg memorabilia, the Merkland Road entrance is really the only way to enter the stadium. Passing under the granite façade through some of the narrowest turnstiles in Western Europe, you can sense the history. Don't be put off by the "family stand" signs: the Merkland has a fair proportion of junior gynaecologist amongst its membership judging by the terminology shouted at the home team, especially these days.
→ Dundee United
I've never liked Tannadump; you can't fucking park anywhere, the away end is tucked away in some stupid corner where you can't see anything and whenever I've been there to see Aberdeen play we always lose. Interesting but true fact: like my match predictions, perhaps it's the way I pick them, but I've never seen Aberdeen win at Tannadump. Terrible record so it is, and a terrible record to go with a terrible stadium.
→ Hearts
The first time I ever went to see Aberdeen away at Hearts, a 2-2 draw in 1988, Jim Bett and Tom Jones (taking a break from touring) scoring for the Dons, I was dead impressed with a stadium that's so cunningly hidden from view when walking down Gorgie Road. You'd almost miss it if you're looking the wrong way. Once you get inside it, and the place is buzzing Tynecastle is easily one of the best grounds in Scotland if you ask me.
→ Hibernian
Ah, Easter Road. Back in the bad old days of soccer casuals, a trip to Edinburgh - and in particular a trip to Easter Road - was always fraught with danger. There's been many a time that we'd be chucked out of pubs by the local constabulary straight into the path of several hundred rabid and often well armed Hibs fans. Edinburgh is where I learned how to run. It's also the only stadium I've come close to being thrown out of.
→ Falkirk
I've never been to the old stadium, and I've never been to the new one either. Judging by the Street View, it looks like being one of those stadiums that you find in every town planner and Chief Constable's wet dream, to wit: out of sight, out of mind. What a dump. And it's brand new anaw.
→ Celtic
Oh, and speaking of dumps. Actually, that's not fair. The new Celtic Park is rather grand, a shining example of what modern football stadiums should be like. Back then (and I'm talking the mid 80's) you generally looked forward to trips to Glasgow because Aberdeen used to win more often than we do now, making up for the fact that it was a desperately unpleasant and intimidating place to go. Celtic Park (or is it Parkhead, I never know what to call it) has lost of a lot of it's charm since the refit (like Hamdpen) but it was always a better place to go than across the river to Mordor. Speaking of which ...
→ Rangers
Ah now, here's a stadium. Yes, those spanky stands everywhere are nice and all that, but the Main Stand, designed by Archibald Leitch is one of the few remaining examples of classic stadia construction in Britain. It certainly is something to keep your mind off the urine and other assorted bodily fluids and solids raining down on you from the top deck of the Broomloan Stand while your team is being slaughtered on the park. Quite why they put away supporters in the downstairs part of a two-tier stand is beyond me, but sure, what do I know.
→ Kilmarnock
I'm sure I'm not the only Aberdeen fan who realises, usually just as you're passing Cumbernauld, that that Third Division fixture in Elgin might have been a better idea rather than driving all the way across Scotland to Rugby Park. I mean, you really want to love your football to even bother. Still, once you get there try the pies, they're very good. Usually better than the football on display. It's a nice stadium now, but it wasn't always.
→ Motherwell
Not a bad wee ground. Away supporters are housed in the South Stand, a strange doo-dah which from any other angle looks like a large stage, what with those floodlights holding up the roof. It looks so out of place with the rest of the stadium (it's too large and square and boxy). Otherwise a nice ground, but shame about the pitch,which always manages to looks like the North Lanarkshire Young Farmers have just had their annual Tractor Pull extravaganza on the pitch the previous evening.
→ St Johnstone
It's been a while since I've been there (a Scottish Cup fixture in 1987, Aberdeen winning 1-0) so there's not much I can say about it. Judging by the Street View, the entrance looks nice. Lots of parking too, possibly.
→ St Mirren
I've not been to the new ground yet. Even Google where too early to take their wee picture of the ground, in which the new stadium looks more like a DIY superstore than a stadium. Instead here is a picture of the old ground which is a "proper" stadium, unlike that nonsense at Falkirk. Or St Mirren's new stadium.
→ Hamilton
The Spice of Life stand. Yes. It's true. Bad name, dull stadium. Like St Mirren Park, the back of the main stand at New Douglas Park looks like the regional headquarters for a small to mid-size furniture chain.
23/03/2010
The First Division Dilemma
There is perhaps some comfort to be had for Tony Mowbray as his Celtic side continues their at-first-glance pointless chase of runaway leaders Rangers.
Most pundits will have told him that trailing the Ibrox side by 10 points and with 10 more games to the end of the season, the chances of overhauling that lead is nigh-on impossible. But Mowbray - and indeed Walter Smith - need only look 90-odd miles east to see that sometimes even the largest leads have a habit of disappearing like snow before the sun.
Most pundits will have told him that trailing the Ibrox side by 10 points and with 10 more games to the end of the season, the chances of overhauling that lead is nigh-on impossible. But Mowbray - and indeed Walter Smith - need only look 90-odd miles east to see that sometimes even the largest leads have a habit of disappearing like snow before the sun.
19/03/2010
The Weekender: Four(ish) to Follow
It must be the dreech weather, the endless rain and the fact I was drookit by the time I got into work this morning which explains the lethargy I'm feeling. Never mind though, there's plenty to keep the fingers glued to the keyboard so time I got my type on as it's a positively Gala weekend of football in Scotland.
We've got a New Firm Derby and an Edinburgh Derby this weekend, not to mention the Diddy Cup Final on Sunday and there are plenty of other things to write about (the imminent collapse of Andrew Ellis'take-over bid for Rangers and Gordon Mackay's take-over of Stirling Albion to name but two).
Unfortunately, the Glorious Workers Collective For The Benefit Of Making Money For Our Shareholders (i.e, my "job") requires me to be slightly more curt with this weekends Weekender than I'd like to be, so today I can only cough up a (slightly predictable) Four(ish) to Follow.
We've got a New Firm Derby and an Edinburgh Derby this weekend, not to mention the Diddy Cup Final on Sunday and there are plenty of other things to write about (the imminent collapse of Andrew Ellis'take-over bid for Rangers and Gordon Mackay's take-over of Stirling Albion to name but two).
Unfortunately, the Glorious Workers Collective For The Benefit Of Making Money For Our Shareholders (i.e, my "job") requires me to be slightly more curt with this weekends Weekender than I'd like to be, so today I can only cough up a (slightly predictable) Four(ish) to Follow.
18/03/2010
Sod it, let's just stick with McGhee
Just flitting through my Google RSS feeds, it struck me how many times under-pressure Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee has been in the press lately. Every hour another story pops up with the latest in a series of press statements made to shore up his own position, one which, if the Aberdeen fan's forums are to be believed, is getting more tenuous by the minute.
Mince and Tatties 04
In the absence of anything original from yours truly, here's what the other Scottish blogs have been speaking about these past days.
The topic of SPL reconstruction has been dug up, dusted off and dressed up in a nice suit for our pleasure once again. We have our own ideas here at to what to do about it, most of which will be largely unpopular and not even desperately original, but, like Gavin Saxton over at twohundredpercent points out, a league of 16, 18 or even 42 teams will not improve things, because the problem with Scottish football is not its league setup, rather the wide gulf between the haves and have-nots , and the fact there's too many teams for Scottish football to support, but that's another discussion altogether.
The topic of SPL reconstruction has been dug up, dusted off and dressed up in a nice suit for our pleasure once again. We have our own ideas here at to what to do about it, most of which will be largely unpopular and not even desperately original, but, like Gavin Saxton over at twohundredpercent points out, a league of 16, 18 or even 42 teams will not improve things, because the problem with Scottish football is not its league setup, rather the wide gulf between the haves and have-nots , and the fact there's too many teams for Scottish football to support, but that's another discussion altogether.
16/03/2010
More losers in Europe?
It's not often I take heed of anything Craig Brown has to say, but his ire at the decision to allow the losing Scottish Cup finalists into Europe got me thinking.
I'm a bit hazy on the ins-and-outs of the UEFA rulebook, but as it stands this season (and remember this is a UEFA rule, not an SFA one, so for once we can't blame them) the losing Scottish Cup finalist goes into the Europa League, at the expense of the team in fifth place in the league if - and only if - either one of Raith or Ross County make it to the final.
Furthermore - and this is where Brown sits up and takes notice - this means that Hibernian, the team currently fifth, or possibly Motherwell, currently fourth but only a point ahead of Hibs will miss out. I think that's how it works anyway - like I said, it's all slightly Byzantine in complexity.
The reason why Brown (and possibly John Hughes, Jim Jefferies and Mark McGhee) is complaining is that a team that qualifies for Europe on the basis of six games and a losing appearance in a final gets qualifying precedence over a team that plays 38 games, including games against the best teams in their division. It's hardly sending the best teams to represent us now, is it?
I'm a bit hazy on the ins-and-outs of the UEFA rulebook, but as it stands this season (and remember this is a UEFA rule, not an SFA one, so for once we can't blame them) the losing Scottish Cup finalist goes into the Europa League, at the expense of the team in fifth place in the league if - and only if - either one of Raith or Ross County make it to the final.
Furthermore - and this is where Brown sits up and takes notice - this means that Hibernian, the team currently fifth, or possibly Motherwell, currently fourth but only a point ahead of Hibs will miss out. I think that's how it works anyway - like I said, it's all slightly Byzantine in complexity.
The reason why Brown (and possibly John Hughes, Jim Jefferies and Mark McGhee) is complaining is that a team that qualifies for Europe on the basis of six games and a losing appearance in a final gets qualifying precedence over a team that plays 38 games, including games against the best teams in their division. It's hardly sending the best teams to represent us now, is it?
Labels:
Celtic,
Champions League,
Craig Brown,
Europa League,
Motherwell,
Opinion,
Raith Rovers,
Rangers,
Ross County,
SPL
Preview: St Johnstone v Aberdeen
It's been a while since Aberdeen took to the field, but tonight the lads get a chance of a nice runaround against a team that for most of the season has been below us in the league but which, largely through our own fault rather than their outstanding form, now find themselves above us, if only by a single point.
A combination of early Cup exits has meant we've not had too much to write about since our last exploits against Hamilton Accies on the 6th March. About the only thing worth mentioning about the game, other than the game marked Zander Diamond's 200th appearance for the club (and what a way to celebrate, scoring the equalizer on 75 minutes) and the fact that the Dons where dismal was the low number of away supporters. According to some reports, only 450 turned up for the game, compared with last seasons fixture where we filled the away end at New Douglas Park.
It's a(nother) sign, if one where needed, of the dissatisfaction with the current situation at the club. At the risk of depressing myself and the general readership I'll not go into it again. If I was to take one positive out of it, it would be that the point salvaged at least means we still have a small chance of making into the top six.
Admittedly it's an outside chance, but with Hearts losing on Saturday to Motherwell the gap between ourselves and sixth place remains only(!) seven points. We have two games in hand (this one tonight and Dundee United on Saturday) to claw back that difference, with the game on Saturday being interesting as Hearts are at home to Hibs in the second Edinburgh derby game of the season. Wins for Hibs and Aberdeen would certainly put the seagull back amongst the pigeons, and if St Johnstone would be so kind as to lose to Celtic at Parkhead on the same day, we'd only be 1 point of sixth place, and a hope of at least achieving something this season.
Our run-in, post the United game, includes a tricky away fixture at Ibrox, but after that, we've got St Mirren, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone (again) before the league splits, games where we could "easily") salvage our season. Aside from Hearts, St Johnstone have probably the trickiest run-in to come, having to play Celtic, Dundee United and Rangers again before the end of the season, as well as Falkirk who by that time (if not already, hopefully) are going to make every game tough for their opponents as they fight for SPL survival.
Bizarrely enough (call it Karma), for a while I thought our biggest rivals for the sixth place is Kilmarnock. The Ayrshire side have done well to claw themselves back from the brink. Six points of the bottom may not seem much, but until the 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Rangers back on the 9th, the gap of 11 points (and only four games, meaning they'll have to beat Celtic, Aberdeen and Hearts, unlikely somehow) has put them out of contention.
The last time the two teams met in Perth was back in February 2002 with Aberdeen inflicting a narrow 0 - 1 defeat upon the Saints in a Scottish Premier match. A full form-guide is here (albeit somewhat confusing and unpleasant on the eye) but in summary: Aberdeen have not lost in Perth since 2000, so if the form guide is anything to go by, it's a safe three points for the Dons.
How do I see it? It's going to be another tricky, clenched-arsed game, but what game isn't these days? I reckon the Dons will pull it off - don't ask me why, the planets are aligned or something. A narrow 1-0 win.
A combination of early Cup exits has meant we've not had too much to write about since our last exploits against Hamilton Accies on the 6th March. About the only thing worth mentioning about the game, other than the game marked Zander Diamond's 200th appearance for the club (and what a way to celebrate, scoring the equalizer on 75 minutes) and the fact that the Dons where dismal was the low number of away supporters. According to some reports, only 450 turned up for the game, compared with last seasons fixture where we filled the away end at New Douglas Park.
It's a(nother) sign, if one where needed, of the dissatisfaction with the current situation at the club. At the risk of depressing myself and the general readership I'll not go into it again. If I was to take one positive out of it, it would be that the point salvaged at least means we still have a small chance of making into the top six.
Admittedly it's an outside chance, but with Hearts losing on Saturday to Motherwell the gap between ourselves and sixth place remains only(!) seven points. We have two games in hand (this one tonight and Dundee United on Saturday) to claw back that difference, with the game on Saturday being interesting as Hearts are at home to Hibs in the second Edinburgh derby game of the season. Wins for Hibs and Aberdeen would certainly put the seagull back amongst the pigeons, and if St Johnstone would be so kind as to lose to Celtic at Parkhead on the same day, we'd only be 1 point of sixth place, and a hope of at least achieving something this season.
Our run-in, post the United game, includes a tricky away fixture at Ibrox, but after that, we've got St Mirren, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone (again) before the league splits, games where we could "easily") salvage our season. Aside from Hearts, St Johnstone have probably the trickiest run-in to come, having to play Celtic, Dundee United and Rangers again before the end of the season, as well as Falkirk who by that time (if not already, hopefully) are going to make every game tough for their opponents as they fight for SPL survival.
Bizarrely enough (call it Karma), for a while I thought our biggest rivals for the sixth place is Kilmarnock. The Ayrshire side have done well to claw themselves back from the brink. Six points of the bottom may not seem much, but until the 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Rangers back on the 9th, the gap of 11 points (and only four games, meaning they'll have to beat Celtic, Aberdeen and Hearts, unlikely somehow) has put them out of contention.
The last time the two teams met in Perth was back in February 2002 with Aberdeen inflicting a narrow 0 - 1 defeat upon the Saints in a Scottish Premier match. A full form-guide is here (albeit somewhat confusing and unpleasant on the eye) but in summary: Aberdeen have not lost in Perth since 2000, so if the form guide is anything to go by, it's a safe three points for the Dons.
How do I see it? It's going to be another tricky, clenched-arsed game, but what game isn't these days? I reckon the Dons will pull it off - don't ask me why, the planets are aligned or something. A narrow 1-0 win.
12/03/2010
Arse has collapsed, again...
Right, so, that's that. That's the season drawn to a close with a Maurice Edu header in the 92nd minute.
They are 13 points clear, haven't lost a game in 4 months and we cannot pull our fingers out. Despite Robbie Keane. Keano rocked up on loan, and has been scoring regularly for us, but I don't think a 6 month stint would have been enough to see us through. Maybe if he'd taken the Spurs boys to Dublin in the summer, we'd have gotten him all year, and he'd have made a Larsson-esque contribution to the season.
As it is, we've got Mogga, and his particularly dour brand of football. After spending the first half of the season bedding in (forgiveable) and trying to get a set of comparative cloggers to play sexy football, he'll be spending the second half trying to persuade Keane to stay and apologising for flogging half the squad to Middlesborough.
They are 13 points clear, haven't lost a game in 4 months and we cannot pull our fingers out. Despite Robbie Keane. Keano rocked up on loan, and has been scoring regularly for us, but I don't think a 6 month stint would have been enough to see us through. Maybe if he'd taken the Spurs boys to Dublin in the summer, we'd have gotten him all year, and he'd have made a Larsson-esque contribution to the season.
As it is, we've got Mogga, and his particularly dour brand of football. After spending the first half of the season bedding in (forgiveable) and trying to get a set of comparative cloggers to play sexy football, he'll be spending the second half trying to persuade Keane to stay and apologising for flogging half the squad to Middlesborough.
12.03// The Scottish Fitba Weekender
With only 3 SPL games this weekend and a pretty decimated Division One card, I was planning a proper meaty weekender - a real Ashvale Jumbo fish supper of a preview if you will - full of witty and razor sharp insights, hints of social commentary and one positively littered with the words that no football pundit can do without, namely "crisis", "gash", "it's all over", "maybe Rangers should consider joining the Belgian Jupiler Pro League" and "Christ, what's the point of it all".
At any rate, that was the plan until my suspicions at the lack of league action got the better of me and I suddenly find out that the Scottish Cup is on this weekend which means like, loads more games and stuff for me to have to write about. Marvellous.
At any rate, that was the plan until my suspicions at the lack of league action got the better of me and I suddenly find out that the Scottish Cup is on this weekend which means like, loads more games and stuff for me to have to write about. Marvellous.
11/03/2010
Mince and Tatties 03
The trouble with running a blog and having to take compulsory family holidays is that while your correspondent was working his way down the slopes in an Elvis-esque way (by which I mean a fat sweaty guy wearing a jumpsuit and ornate scarf, all the while high on painkillers following a comedy fall in the car park on the morning of the first day), the world of Scottish football moved on without me.
And if you thought finding out anything about Scottish football was a complete bastard here in Holland, trying to find out who won the game between Peterhead and Dumbarton whilst atop a mountain somewhere in the middle of Germany is next to impossible.
So it was that in more or less complete ignorance I returned home, frustratingly unaware of anything that had transpired while I was gone. And yes, ignorance is bliss and all that, but for someone running a blog, ignorance is fatal. But, truth be told, having been away from the laptop for as long as I have been, it has been refreshing to have a break from the pressure of getting Inside Left into the number 87 spot in the Scotblog awards for next year.
Aye, I was getting used to not having to spend my evening researching articles for the site (no really, I don't just make this shit up, some real actual research takes place) and apathy was starting to set in, so it is with some degree of Herculean effort that I dragged myself back behind the keyboard and back onto these pages. So to quote Bill Hicks "it's great to be here wherever I am, I always like it when I'm here".
Spoiler: most of what you are about to read is pretty old hat. Apologies in advance...
And if you thought finding out anything about Scottish football was a complete bastard here in Holland, trying to find out who won the game between Peterhead and Dumbarton whilst atop a mountain somewhere in the middle of Germany is next to impossible.
So it was that in more or less complete ignorance I returned home, frustratingly unaware of anything that had transpired while I was gone. And yes, ignorance is bliss and all that, but for someone running a blog, ignorance is fatal. But, truth be told, having been away from the laptop for as long as I have been, it has been refreshing to have a break from the pressure of getting Inside Left into the number 87 spot in the Scotblog awards for next year.
Aye, I was getting used to not having to spend my evening researching articles for the site (no really, I don't just make this shit up, some real actual research takes place) and apathy was starting to set in, so it is with some degree of Herculean effort that I dragged myself back behind the keyboard and back onto these pages. So to quote Bill Hicks "it's great to be here wherever I am, I always like it when I'm here".
Spoiler: most of what you are about to read is pretty old hat. Apologies in advance...
Labels:
Aberdeen,
Dundee,
Hamilton Academical,
Hibernian,
Levein,
Mince and Tatties,
Rangers,
Scotland,
SPL
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)