Staggering Into View

The end of The Open golf championships and the Tour De France normally means one thing, it’s not long until the Football season starts to remind us that winter is on it’s way.  At least this summer there was no endless sagas hogging the back pages when there were other things to report.

Instead the build up to the start of the season has been bubbling along in the background – with Le Tour and the Ashes garnering headlines & plaudits.  Indeed, the only time Scottish Football seems to have broken into the news was with the merger between the Scottish League and the Scottish Premier League finally being ratified. In the finest traditions of Scottish Football thought, the ability to turn a golden opportunity into shit has not been wasted – as the new body (don’t laugh now, The Scottish Professional Football League) has appointed Neil Doncaster (above) as it’s Grand Fromage.

On the field, things may be looking up.  Scotland had their best result since beating France when they won in Zagreb in June, while last week St Johnstone eliminated Norway’s Rosenberg from the UEFA Cup.  We will see whether this represents a genuine upturn in international results, in the meantime the new league season begins this weekend.

Celtic start as huge favourites to retain the championship that they won pretty much at a canter last year.  They have however lost both Gary Hooper and Victor Wanyama, both to lower ranking English Premier League sides.  While Hooper’s goals will be missed domestically (and Wanyama’s presence in midfield will be missed more in Europe) the departure of both won’t really impact on the final destination of the Scottish Championship.  However, in the event of a big shock, who would be best placed to capitalise.

 

Champions-elect Celtic perform a guard of honour for League Cup winners St Mirren

Motherwell may have lost Ranolph and last years Scottish Player of the Year Michael Higdon, but have brought in Vigurs & Lawson as well as two familiar names to the Tartan Army – James McFadden & Stephen MacManus.  Not good enough for the championship, but good enough to finish best of the rest.  Aberdeen, Dundee United & St Johnstone have new managers coming in, so will start with squads not entirely to the liking of McInnes, McNamarra & Wright’s liking.  Whoever gets their squad to bed down quickest will finish just behind Motherwell.

Of the others, Ross County may fall down the table as a result of second season syndrome, but will be there or thereabouts for a top six place, probably fighting it out with the teams mentioned above and Inverness.  If I’m being honest though, any four of Aberdeen, Dundee United, Inverness, Kilmarnock, Ross County or St Johnstone could finish in the top six such is the much of a muchness of the middle of the top flight. With one team going down and a play off place, the places at the bottom of the league will be interesting.

Favourites to go down will be Hearts, who start on minus 15 points.  It will be such a tall order for Hearts to claw back the 15 points with such a depleted squad.  That’s not to say that Hearts predicament is impossible, just that it’s highly unlikely that they will overcome this obstacle.  Fighting it out to avoid the playoff places will be Hib’s, Partick Thistle and St Mirren.

Having lost their goal scoring talisman – Leigh Griffiths – Hibernian find themselves looking for someone to step into the void that has been left.  If last week’s Europa League tie is anything to go by, the omens are not good for the Scottish Cup finalists.  I rather suspect that Partick Thistle will find life much more difficult in the top tier of Scottish Football, though how much trouble they will find depends on how much of a promotion bounce there is. As for St Mirren, while some of last season’s League Cup winning side have moved on, key will be whether St Mirren strengthen in the key areas in defence and in defensive midfield areas.  Having said that, the fact that Paul McGowan is staying for next season will be a boost for the Bud’s – now all Lennon needs to do is to play him in his optimal position (in the playmaker position behind the striker).

For the first time in three or four years, the Scottish Football season does not start on the back foot.  However the arrival of BT Sport on the scene has reminded us firstly how far behind the English Premier League the newly merged Scottish Professional Football League is, and secondly how badly those behind the scenes have failed Scottish Football.  We may have a new league body (with names which bear an uncanny resemblance to the names given to the English Football League’s divisions) but the likes of Neil Doncaster and Stuart Regan remain at the top of our game.

In the meantime, it falls to the footballers to build on last season’s successes.  I think that Celtic will win the championship by a smaller margin than last year and will reach the group stages of the European Cup.  Picking who goes down with Hearts though is a close call, I think that Hibernian might be in for a hard season this year.  With that, let the madness commence…

It Starts Again...

(sigh) Football, here we go…

It doesn’t feel as if it has been 10 weeks since Hearts put Hib’s to the sword in the 127^th Scottish Cup final to put the top hat and tails on a memorable end to a poor season.  Part of that is down to the implosion that has seen Rangers liquidated and the company set up from its ashes rightly forced to start life at the bottom of the “professional” food chain.  The consequences of this has filled the front and back pages of the Scottish Media while Euro 2012, The Tour de France, Wimbledon and now the Olympics have been going on. 

The fight to ensure credibility for Scottish Football (no sporting integrity here in this blog) seems to have been going on for most of that period with Regan & Doncaster intent in ensuring that Newco Rangers start as high up the chain as possible, but for only “altruistic” purposes (ie retaining as much filthy lucre from sponsors as possible).  Since the clubs (it has to be said pushed by the various fans groups) voted for Newco Rangers to start in the Third Division, the sky has not fallen in.  Oh and both the SPL and the SFL have voted to keep taking the Murdoch shilling with yet another reduced television deal with BSkyB (and ESPN), despite it being shown that the SPL are not getting value for money from their television deals.

In the meantime, the on pitch business is about to get back into the centre stage…  in so much as the start of the SPL season can be centre stage in the middle of the Olympics.  The collapse of Rangers leaves Celtic as the biggest team left in the SPL.  They will start as huge favourites to collect the Scottish Championship in May next year.  For the first time in about 20 years though, the big question will be who will finish second.  Motherwell finished third last season and have only added Ramsden from Bradford, however they look as if they have kept most of their first team from last season. 

With the exception of St Mirren, Motherwell are the only side not to have lost players who performed for them last season.  Dundee United have lost Kenneth, Swanson & Robertson, but have brought in Millar from Falkirk.  In sharp contrast, Hearts have lost pretty much half of their Scottish Cup winning side and their manager Paolo Sergio.  Coming into the top six could well be Aberdeen, who have added Hayes (from Inverness) McGinn (from Celtic) as well as the experienced Gary Naysmith.  With the experienced Brown/Knox partnership at the helm, Aberdeen could find themselves pushing up the table.

Tactical genius Billy Dodds seems to think that St Mirren will finish ninth, If we can get scoring, I suspect that we will finish a good deal higher than that.  I kind of think that our lack of firepower at key moments will see us finish just outside the top six, and well out of trouble.  There are others that will be less fortunate.

Dundee probably start as favourites for the drop, due in no small part to this summer’s outbreak of boardroom politics.  Three weeks is not a long time to prepare for a season, and this will count against them.  Ross County’s relative inexperience may well count against them, but unlike Dundee they have had time to prepare and do have momentum in the shape of last season’s form to take them away from any immediate danger of relegation.  Inverness, Hibernian and Hearts also should be too savvy for the drop.

It is possible that Celtic could be Champions elect by Christmas and that Dundee be dead men walking by the same timescale.  I suspect that while Dundee could well be adrift at the turn of the year, I think that Celtic will not be out of sight until the spring.  While the off the field politics will of course rumble on, the resumption of play will be a welcome relief from that politicking for fans of Scottish Football.  Whether Scottish Football has reached rock bottom is another matter, and one that will be answered in time.

Heading For The Sunlit Uplands....

126th Scottish Cup Final, Hampden: Motherwell 0, Celtic 3

 Celtic won the 126^th Scottish Cup Final by overcoming the tactical problems set out by Motherwell, and in the end creating the quality of chances that their superior use of the ball provided to them.  The win was built on Ki-Sung Yeung’s 32^nd minute thunderbolt.  Further goals came in the shape of an own goal from Motherwells Steven Craigan and a free kick from Charlie Mulgrew. This win extends Celtic’s record to 35 Scottish Cup wins, is Celtic’s first win in this competition since 2007 and halt’s Celtic’s trophy drought stretching back to the League Cup of 2009.

The game was played in constant torrential rain, the first rainy final since 2005.  As a result a lot of first half was not good.  Celtic had a chance within the first minute when Hooper had a shot that hit the bar, but Hooper was flagged offside.  That apart the first half hour became bogged down in a midfield battle.  Celtic’s Majstorovic was booked for showing studs in a challenge, as was Motherwell’s Lasley a couple of minutes later.  Hammel was clattered by the Celtic captain Scott Brown, who was booked.  Then Ki was booked for a challenge on Lasley, replays showed that Lasley had not been touched by Ki.

Motherwell had been good in depriving Celtic of space, but the first lapse from Motherwell cost them a goal.  Celtic moved the ball down the Motherwell left, the ball came infield to Ki-Sung Yeung who took a touch   before unleashing a shot that flew past Motherwell keeper Randolph.  A crackerjack of a shot, we have been lucky to see goals in the last three cup finals that have been great Hampden moments.   That goal was another one.  Within five minutes, we nearly had another.  Motherwell recovered, and broke forward.  The ball came to Galvin Gunning, who’s shot hit the bar.  The ball fell into space, had a Motherwell player been there, they would have had an excellent chance to score.

Ki's Goal 32nd Minute

For a season blighted by issues surrounding the standard of refereeing, it would be a surprise if we didn’t get one controversy.  Instead we got two as both Celtic’s Majstorovic and then Motherwell’s Craigan escaped bookings when both players handled the ball. Majstorovic handled at the edge of his area, and escaped a second yellow.  Craigan wafted the ball away with his hand.  Unlike Majstorovic’s offence, no free kick was awarded, I suspect that the referee may have been unsighted as subsequent replays showed that Jennings may have obscured the referees view.  The fates would have a much crueller punishment for Craigan,

The second half started brightly as Celtic pushed for a crucial second.  An Izaguirre cross was deflected away, while another cross fell to Hooper, who’s close range back heel was parried away by Randolph.  Samaras then drove into the penalty area only to fluff is chance, despite Hooper being in a better position.  Samaras did not have a good game, he looked disinterested most of the time.  Had he been engaged, Hoopers cross into the box midway through the second half into might have been met by Samaras.  At this point Motherwell were starting to get back into the game, so a second goal would have sealed the game.

Though Motherwell came back into it, they lacked quality possession and crucially someone to provide a bit of creative guile, to be the foil to John Sutton (who was tireless upfront).  This also meant that as the game opened up, Celtic began to get better quality chances.  Commons really should have scored when Brown put him through (pass of the day that one!) and he sped past Randolph only to have Hutcheson clear his shot.  That second goal was coming.

It came with 15 minutes to go.  Substitute Stokes passed to Commons who had ran into the box at an angle.  Commons passed back to Mark Wilson, whose shot took a deflection of Stephen Craigan and into the back of the net, despite the attempts of Hutcheson.  Game over.  To add insult to injury, Celtic claimed a third.  Stokes was fouled by Craigan just outside the box, Charlie Mulgrew hammered home the resulting free kick.

For Celtic, this will be the “what if” season.  What if they had won the League Cup in March, what if they had avoided defeat in Inverness three weeks ago.  I had questioned the logic of Celtic bringing in a rookie manager in the shape of Lennon, considering that rookie managers often fail (Graeme Souness excepted).  Lennon has shown that he is capable of being a good manager.  Yes he is annoying and irritating when talking about referees.  But deep down, we would like our own managers (and I am talking to those of us who don’t support one of the Old Firm) to be as combatitive as Lennon has been.  It will be interesting to see if he can take the next step, which is winning the championship and progress in European competition.

For Motherwell, they would like some managerial stability.  Stuart McCall is the third Motherwell manager in two seasons, Motherwell fans will hope his appointment will be longer term than Jim Gannon & Craig Brown’s tenors were.

So goodbye season 2010/11.  Not one that will be looked back with any joy & pride in future years, and one that leaves a very bitter aftertaste.

Last Shot At Glory For This Year

Saturday sees the last chance for football silverware in Scotland as Celtic and Motherwell take part in the 126th Scottish Cup final.

26 May 2007: Celtic's Last Scottish Cup Win

Celtic are favourites to win, having beaten Motherwell on Sunday 4-0 and having come so close to winning the Championship.  Celtic have had a very mixed season.  Their manager, Neil Lennon, has formed the basis of a good Celtic team, one that came within a point of the Championship.  However Lennon has become the most controversial figure in Scottish football.  The controversy surrounding refereeing in the aftermath of the first Old Firm game and a game at Tannadice (stoked lest we forget not by Lennon but by Celtics Chairman & Chief Executive) led to referees going on strike. The controversy obscured the fact that a debate on refereeing standards was overdue.  Lennon also became embroiled in touchline arguments at Tynecastle and against Rangers.

That Celtic came so close to the championship was unseen by myself, but their achievements this season should have been greater.  They lost the mental battle against Rangers in the League Cup, and could not summon enough mental strength to come back from 2 down at Inverness.  The one thing Celtic could do with next season to usurp Rangers is more mental toughness.  We will see if they have any reserves left to win what would be their first Scottish Cup win since 2007.

Facing Celtic will be a Motherwell side that have shipped goals since their semi-final win against St Johnstone last month.  It might be that Motherwell, under rookie manager Stuart McCall, are keeping themselves for Saturday.  One suspects that Celtic might still be favourites even if this were the case.  That’s not to rain on Motherwell’s parade, its just fact.  This will be their seventh Scottish Cup final, and history has not been kind to them against Celtic. They contested the finals of 1931 and 1933, Celtic winning both times (4-2 after a replay in 1931 and 1-0 in 1933).   

Motherwell next reached the final in 1939, beating Celtic 3-1 in the quarter finals, only to lose 4-0 to Clyde in the Final.  Their next final was in 1951, and yes it was against Celtic, losing 1-0.  Motherwell made the final the following year, and with Celtic exiting at the first round, had grounds for optimism.  On the 19 April 1952, Motherwell broke their duck and won the Scottish Cup for the first time, beating Dundee 4-0.

18 May 1991, Motherwell 4, Dundee United 3

It would be 39 years before Motherwell would appear in another Scottish Cup final.  When they did, they broke another hoodoo. In the Semi Final they were drawn to play Celtic at Hampden.  The first game finished 0-0, but 6 days later they eased past 4-2 making it a non Old Firm final with special resonance. The first time that two Scottish cup finalists were coached by brothers – Jim McLean was still managing Dundee United while Motherwell were coached by Tommy McLean.  Wednesday was the 20th anniversary of that final, which went down as one of the best Scottish Cup finals played.  Motherwell won 4-3 after extra time.  However any nostalgia is tinged with sadness as Davie Cooper & Phil O’Donnell, who played that day, are no longer with us.  Paul McGrillen & Jamie Dolan, who did not play but were in the squad, also died young.

Celtic are the clear favourites for this game.  However if Motherwell can shackle the Celtic forwards, frustrate them and most importantly score first, I think they will have a chance.  I’m not sure that Celtic perform at their best under pressure – as we have seen against Rangers (in the League Cup) and at Inverness.  The first goal will be the key factor.  I think that Celtic will win 2-0.

The Irresistable Forces Meet....

While the destiny of the championship will be decided today.  The protagonists will face teams determined to make their own mark on the championship, teams who have been here before.

Rangers have won Championships at Tanadice, at Easter Road and even at Parkhead, but I am not sure that they have won a championship at Rugby Park.  Kilmarnock, who had an fantastic first half of the season before the departure of firstly Connor Sammon and then Mixu Pattelainen, stand in their way today.  Whether this is some sort of omen or not, but Kilmarnock have been involved in two of the closest championship races of all time.  In 1965, they won the championship from Hearts by beating them 2-0, a Kilmarnock win of 3-1 or 4-2 would have seen Hearts win the championship through the now disused count of goal average.  More recently Kilmarnock lost 4-0 to Celtic at Rugby Park, who lost toe championship to Rangers by one goal (Rangers won 6-1 against Dunfermline).

Should Rangers falter, Celtic will be waiting in the wings.  However their opponents Motherwell are scrabbling for form and might not want to give too much away ahead of their next meeting in next weeks Scottish Cup Final.  If Celtic are looking for inspiration, they could always think back to the events of 22 May 2005.  Celtic were leading the championship with 3 minutes left, Motherwell equalised and then scored a winner to leave the championship heading towards Easter Road, where Rangers had beaten Hibernian.  Both Lennon & Thompson played at Fir park that day, and will spend some time reminding his players of that day. Helicopter Sunday, as the day was dubbed, was the most dramatic last day turnaround since Hearts lost 2 goals in the last 10 minutes at Dens Park to spark celebrations among the Celtic fans at Love Street.

As I said previously, I hope that both Kilmarnock and Motherwell play a part today, and don’t get caught up in the hype.