The Lotw Review 06/07

So it’s over. The final bell has tolled, last orders have been shouted and fat Senga fae Alloa has sung her last sash. Wie us having nothing bar Big Brother to look forward to over the coming months- ah hoose full of wannabe WAGS, every 13 year olds wie raging hormones dream- and spending time in the garden then the last post and chorus of LOTW, this season, has to be a review.

The league was won, at a canter, until recently, as was the Scottish Cup which had a few scary moments and we were a 120 seconds from going oot. The icing on the cake was qualification for the CL last 16.

So it’s probably Europe that this season will be best remembered for. That night against Man Utd was a perfect game. It had everything that you want as a fan. Tension, excitement and elation. Naka scored and it was like hanging on in a cup final. 10 mins from the Holy Grail.

We were like Indiana Jones getting chased by that big baw and nearly so nearly getting caught. I’ve spoken so often aboot how CP reacted when Arfur saved that pen from Saha. The place shook so much a tsunami-hit Greenock. I still get goose pumps thinking aboot it.

The game before against Benfica, oor performance was so guid it should be framed and mounted in the Tait gallery. It was a European performance from what looked like a mature European team. It was played at pace and directness with bucketfuls of gallusness. It gave us hope we could replicate that kind of form all the time.

How wrong could we be. Oor away form in the group stages was shocking apart from Manchester. It wisnny until oor trip to Milan did the team seem to grasp how to defend away from home in Europe and oor manager seemed to guess how to set his team up.

We got a lot of kudos for oor performances in Europe this year. We were difficult to overcome at home and oor performance against Milan in the San Siro gave us hope that wie better players in the midfield area’s and bit of pace upfront we may start nicking things away from home.

The domestic fair was a mixed bag. Well, it only really became a mixed bag after we won the bloody thing, which was in November or August when we trampled PLG rejuvenated 2-0 at CP. A game both KM and The Grav looked like players.

After defeat at swinecastle in the second game of the season, the hoops went 28 games unbeaten. A run that went roond the hooses twice and where we also gained the knack of going a goal doon and coming back either to win or draw.

Who can forget Hearts at CP when, Scotland’s numero uno palmed the baw into the back of the net or the second half salvage job that the hoops performed at Easter Road? Salvage jobs became the norm, Tynecastle as well 1 doon at halftime- as the team showed they had grit, determination and no shortage of talent to come through this period unbeaten.

It tailed off towards the end. Performances and legs got weary and defeats were more forthcoming than victories. But I’m a fan so I have already forgot aboot that part. Also this has been oor worse domestic performance against r*ngers for many a year. That has too change next season. 1 win, 1 draw and 2 defeats is poor against a poor r*ngers side.

The cups. We gave up the CIS trophy after a defeat on pens against Fawkirk. A game, which both teams didnae deserve to lose. We have played worse this season and won. The Scottish Cup nestles in CP again after a run, which saw us beat Dumbarton, Livi, Inversenkie, ST Johnstone and Dunfermline. 4 lower division teams, if ye count Dunfermline.

The game against Inversenkie was the highlight. We were so poor in that game another exit was staring us in the face wie 120 seconds to go. Upped popped oor reformed h*ns to save the day and probably cemented their place in the Cup Final 11. So Celtic, so us, in the Scottish Cup. The other games were played at the time where grind and grit was getting us through games so they were all instantly forgettable.

It’s been a great season. As GS say’s 3 trophies won, if ye count the CL and discount the last few months, which we will. So as is now the norm in these situations I’m going to go through the Double winning team…

Arfur Boruc- The Pole in the goal has become the best Celtic goalie since Simpson. In his two short years he has shown ability between the sticks that we thought that them across the river only were privy to. CL nights were his best moments but domestically he kept us alive wie saves late on in games when we were hanging on to 1 goal leads.

Perfect season then for Arfur? Nae, he sold two goals against the h*ns which I will hold against him. But he gets extra points for being as mad as a brush and for his own personal flag day.

Rating 9

Lee Naylor- Journeyman from Wolves we cried. Maist natural left back we have had in decade we cried by the time November came aboot. He has an engine, he likes a tackle, he is ok on the baw and like any player wishing to endear themselves to the hoops support wears his heart on his sleeve. His interview when he signed summed up the guy. He was overwhelmed to have joined us. He couldnae stop smiling. A smile that was as broad as anyone the day we won the league.

He tailed of towards the end but who didnae?

Rating 8

Mick McManus- Played for a few months wie an injury that others would have succumbed too. He was like a bear wie his right foot stuck in a trap. In Europe I thought he would be weak. He proved me wrong. His performances in the CL were, while not faultless, and were guid enough to make me think he will do a job for many years to come.

Distribution has been poor this season and he has looked shaky the last few months but I’ll put that doon to his partner in crime. Also oor lack of clean sheets means his rating is not higher.

Rating 7

Elvis- Now never loved Elvis. Always thought he was an average centre half who had a non descript career but always shone in average SPL teams. Apart from a monumental performance on his return to swinecastle he has done nuthin to change ma mind.

In fact he know pays for playing for Celtic as when he used to man handle BBJ or Sutty he would get away wie it. Now he gets pulled up for it regular. Distribution poor lacks pace but in times of siege defending he is ok. Cup final was a game for him to forget.

Signed only because Balde broke his leg and makes Balde look decent. Are we hoping Gretna is looking for a Braveheart?

Rating 4

Gary Caldwell- another “dodgy” signing when he was announced. Some saw a baw playing centre back not seen since Stubbs others a bombscare. During the course of the season we saw both. Injury robbed him of continuing his guid form and on his return his rusty ness and lack of mobility was exposed at full back.

Apart from that game in Lisboa I canny remember him having many howlers at CL level or domestically- he annoyed Jim Jeffries, which is always a plus- and maybe it’s no coincidence that we stopped playing fitba through the middle when he got injured. Will GS see him as a midfielder or 1st choice CB remains to be seen?

Rating 6

Bobo Balde- Never really seen much of Bobo in what could be his last season gracing the hallowed turf of CP. 6 games was his lot as Caldwell, Mick and injury all took it’s toll. I feel GS has already earmarked the £30,000 a week for elsewhere.

He done nuthin wrong when he did play, the usual failings were there but he was just Bobo.

Rating 5

Darren O’Dea- Young guy, big future. Debut at left back then shone at CB in the league and CL then struggled at LB for the last two games. GS seems to have a tendency to play guys who are not full backs at full back. Anyway, a CB who scored a few goals and snuffed oot Inzaghi and Gillardino in Milan are not to be sniffed at.

Will be aiming for Elvis zoot suit next season.

Rating 7

John Kennedy- Faultless display on his return against Killie, followed up wie two rusty looking ones in the final two games. Still looked better than Elvis had done though for the few months before that. Next season can’t come quick enough for him.

Again, will be aiming for Elvis zoot suit next season.

Rating 5

Mark Wilson- injury blighted season where his promise has been blunted wie lacklustre displays, which have been mostly due, we hope, to returning to soon from injury. Showed determination playing 35 mins wie a broken foot at Old Trafford but that knackered his season.

Rating 4

Paul Telfer- never thought the adage we’re going to miss you when yer gone would apply to the Telfmiester but it does. When he was gone we saw that he did nuthin wrong while he was there. A player who knew his limitations but was steady, unspectacular and reliable.

His last game was against AC in the San Siro. He wasn’t outplayed and he played as if he was facing Grimsby in the Simod Cup. He just sank to his knees had a wee look around him at the final whistle and left quietly.

Rating 7

JJPD- Looks ok. Scored a cup final winning goal. Unsure aboot him defending but he looks the part going forward. Solid cover for next season in the SPL only. Don’t think he has enough in his locker to be 1st choice.

Rating 5

Aiden McGeady- Oor Macca’s love child started off great then faded quicker than an evicted Big Brother contestant. Infuriating habit of disappearing in big games. His form up until the New Year was great, he has improved from previous seasons, has added the knack of scoring goals to his game, not enough mind you, and is the most natural talent we have produced in decades. Still lacks the final baw and maybe awareness of the game in general. On his day though he is a joy to behold.

Tommy Burns said he has the talent to do whatever he wants. When he starts doing it in big games then we have a player as long as he keeps progressing. I fully expect him to better next year.

Rating 7

Derek Riordan- Unfairly a bit part player, but when called upon his natural eye for goal shone through. His goals record is guid and for a while the glamour for him to be JVOH strike partner reached biblical proportions. He knows the support love him, see the cup semi final, but does oor manager love him?

Questions have been asked aboot his temperament, attitude and the fact that he might be struggling to adapt to being at a big club. After the last game of the season, GS had a go a certain players. The week later Deek was an unused sub in the cup final.

Could Deek’s Celtic career be coming to an end?

Rating 6

Jiri Jarosik- Now, here’s the enigma. Jiri was a centre midfielder who only played once or twice as a centre midfielder. In both games, I can remember, he done well. He has been used as a winger, in the hole and a centre forward. He never impressed in any.

He will now be used to recoup monies spent on Scott Broon. Not a failure just misunderstood by the manager.

Rating 2

The Grav- Blue chip baldy who has shown flashes of play making ability. Blue Chip baldy who has shown all the signs of a dug chasing a polly poke in the wind full of Tizer and Caramac. Either guid or bad never in between. Another who will be visiting estate agents doon sooth very soon.

Not misunderstood, just no very guid most of the time.

Rating 3

Neil Lennon- Final season, a season too far for some. His performances in Europe showed his worth his performances against lesser SPL teams showed what he lacked. Lenny is a dinosaur in the modern game. His position as a defensive mid is a role for athlete’s wie speed of thought and a range of passing far above Lenny.

Still all the pro’s in the know say he was a leader; an integral part and he will be missed. Sure he will as the away fans will have nae one to boo. He bowed oot a winner but a subbed one. Say’s it all.

Rating 6

Paul Hartley- Oor Zico, dummied the H*ns and joined us in Jan. He has never reached the heights of his last couple of years in a Hearts jersey and looks mair like Paul Hartley of Hibs. Needs a decent pre-season and an explosive start to next season or we will begin to doubt signing players from the SPL is worth the bother or that his guid few season where just flukey.

Rating 3

Evander Sno- Built like a boxer tackles like a flyweight Jessie. Some fantastic performances, some dodgy but that’s to be expected from a 19 year old rookie. Again, the two games against Milan made him. He didnae look oot of place those nights and it look like he had learned from his rabbit in the headlights performance against Benfica away.

Rating 6

Naka- “turning Japanese, I’m turning Japanese I really think so…..” so we were this season. The man produced the best 25 minutes performance I have seen since Lubo against Dundee Utd in December. He scored the goals that won us the league and qualified us for the CL last 16. He can change games wie a flick of his Beckhamesq left boot.

He was more prominent this season than last. He is the only un-droppable in the team. When we look back on this season we will remember Naka…

Rating 10

JVOH- Injury has probably robbed us of making a decent judgement on the big man. His legs and hammies seem as delicate as a china tea set. Before he was caught wie a dose of the Phil O’Donnell’s he was a perfect focal point. When he returned he came into a struggling team, lacking ideas apart from lumping aimless baws up to him.

His goal record speaks for itself. Next season we hope to see the early version of him and not the Phil O’Donnell one. Oh and if he gets a decent strike partner

Rating 7

Kenny Miller- unfortunately oor doubts aboot him where confirmed. Every second touch was a tackle and he lacked a killer instinct in front of goals. In a season when we didnae create many chances the fact that Kenny needed 15 chances to score 1 he was doomed from the start.

He had a purple spell, scored in Europe and against his former employers he also kept us in the cup. His fantastic work rate willnae make up for lack of goals. But he was oor best player in the cup final. Enough to save him though?

Rating 4

The Beats- Play, score, injured for two months. Touch that sometimes-matched Kenny’s. He has ability I’m sure of it. Just he will need to take his injury prone hammies elsewhere to prove it. Just to inconstant to make it at the top level. Will be seen at CP playing for Motherwell in 10 years time…

Rating 3

Magic- The pole who scores the goals was sadly absent this year. The quickest he has moved since Jan was when he was jumping around on the podium when we collected the league trophy and when we collected the Scottish Cup. He would have been the perfect foil for JVOH if he wisnny injured.

Played well against Benfica at home and eh….i canny think of any other game he played well, oh he scored the winner against the sheepies at home. Eh, that’s it.

Rating 2

Forza The Hoops

The Lotw Diary- A Doumbe Double???

It was a where were you moment? Maybe, not quite up there wie the shooting of JFK but one you will remember, if only for the oddness of it all. When Jean Joel Perrier Doumbe joined the ranks of such luminaries as McGarvey, McAvennie and Miller wie the worst winning goal since the 2005-cup final and one that ranks alongside the deflected effort in the 1980 riot cup final.

Now, while Dunfermline have been getting bummed up like they were Brazil 1970 by sum quarters, the bottom-line is they never had a shot at goal in the whole 2nd half. Which is amazing considering that Jim McIntyre that world-class journeyman was giving Elvis a torrid time. Elvis had his worst game in the hoops, which is saying something.

But I suppose the meeja have to dress the showpiece end of the season up. Hampden has a reputation of throwing a party and the DJ’s choice of tunes reflected this. “Song 2” by Blur was looped for the teams coming oot and Slim Shady’s “Lose yourself” got the same treatment before the presentation. Both were meant to be fore brooding and build the tension and expectation up like a John Barrie musical score. Both failed to do their joab. Both like the meeja coverage can be accused of trying to hard.

As the game wore on and the hoops took control there was only ever going to be one winner. We were keeping the baw, being patient and for the 1st time in months the expectation of us scoring was at ease wie oor support. Well, some. The Irish fella who wanted GS sacked for taking off Lenny was quickly shouted doon and told to behave.

For me Lenny going of was the watershed moment. A moment that changed the game. The Pars weren’t troubling us and the baw needed to get moved quicker from the middle through the channels for the beats pace to exploit a creaking backline. Enter Gary Caldwell to do just that. Sometimes it didnae work and his baws failed to reach their targets but at least instead of going sideways the baw was now travelling forward doon the channels for the wilder beats to charge onto.

This tactic is something we have been looking for. Something we hope will be there next season.

We won. We partied. We danced to the Pogues and the Frattellis. We celebrated saying cherrio to team 2 and hoping for better fair performance wise next year. We wish the same yield of two trophies and a guid run in Europe mind you!!!

Overall, we do deserve the double. 28 games unbeaten during the season is testimont to a team better than the rest. Over the last few months it has been poor but as I said on Friday we won’t remember that in years to come. Nostalgia and selective memory loss will see to that.

Player ratings and blurb aboot how I think they done…..

Arfur- Looked guid in the new top and didnae get his new shorts dirty. So a 6 out of 10 for that.

JJPD- Match winner, look uncomfortable in the 1st half. Looks ok going forward, defending I’m not to sure aboot. Could be a guid squad player will do well in the SPL but Europe I don’t know. 7 out of 10 mainly for the goal and having the guts to be in the opposition pen box wie 4 mins left.

Elvis- Terrible. Bit part player next season surely? 0 out of 10. ok, then 1 for turning up.

Mick-Elvis gave Mick- a torrid time. But he was solid and Mick like. 5 out of 10.

Naylor- great run and shot in the 2nd half. Crossing poor, looks tired to the jack in the box of earlier on. 5 out of 10.

McGeady- Never in the game. Again failed to show up when the chips where doon. One decent run and cross but the pars defender had to take him oot his pocket so he could collect his medal. 3 out of 10.

Paul Zico Hartley- eh, had a decent game for me when Lenny went of. Tracked back well but still has to do more. 5 out of 10.

Lenny- Correct decision to take him off. Disappointed as he would have been the change worked so he can’t complain. 4 out of 10.

Naka- quiet, tidy on the baw looks a shadow of his former self. 3 out of 10.

KM- Was oor best forward. Pace troubled the pars back line and he was tidy in possession. Should have scored when he injured himself. Scary thing is he maybe done enough to get kept on next season. 7 out of 10.


JVOH- Big man done nuthin bar chase scraps all day. Nae service but when he did get service he was well marshalled by Bambi and Skint Wilson. Questions remain aboot his ability and whether is he is worth the price tag. 4 out of 10.

The Beats- surprising choice instead of Riordan. But, KM was troubling the Pars backline wie pace so GS went like for like. His directness gave us purpose but I couldnae help thinking that he was looking at Burchill and seeing a similar career path..6 out of 10

Caldwell- as I said in the blurb thought his forward passing and baw retention ensured that there was going to be only one winner. Quicker mover of the baw than Lenny but long term future in that role? Unsure. 6 out of 10

GS-Nae rating for the manager, as i find it hard to give a manager a rating, but credit where credit is due. He called his subs right. He picked a team and bench that showed guts. Says a lot when Jaro and The Grav are nowhere to be seen. Ballsy decision to replace Lenny.

His team was set up to win the cup by being capable of grinding oot a result. There was no attempt to recapture form, or to attain fast flowing fitba. He trusted the 13 he put on the park to do just that. What that say’s aboot the rest of them then we will find oot in the next two months.

Forza The Double Winning Hoops

The Lotw Diary- Lisboa, Seville and Hampden.

This week will be a time when we wallow in what us Celtic fans love. Nostalgia, history and myth. It’s a week when we will look back at the greatest EVER Celtic team and we will remember them as if they were still pulling on the Hoops.

The Leoes de Lisboa shaped the Celtic Football Club we know today. That team and Jock Stein made the Hoops world famous. Right, we had won one off competitions before that really we shouldn’t have won and oor Irish lineage would always mean that we would have supporters all over the world but on the 25th May 1967, bhoys became men in the eyes of the fitba world.

As soon as all Hoop fans were auld enough in ma generation yer faithers would tell you aboot the Lions. It’s almost as if you need to know the story of these guys to get a grasp on how special the club is. The lions are the starting point of oor modern day history. You start in 1967 then you got back and get told aboot Wullie Maley and the foundations of the club.

It’s a great place to start. A team from Glesga becoming the 1st team to bring home the big cup when all of Britain, well England, wanted it to be Man Utd. In that game a young side, only 2 were over 30, had 39 shots at goal. They were gallus. They had flair. They had spirit. They had the “Celtic Way”

So Simpson, Craig, Gemmell, Murdoch, McNeil, Clark, Jinky, Wallace, Chalmers, Auld and Lennox we salute you and RIP the dearly departed.

Now talking aboot ma generation, mid seventies onwards, we realised early doors that wie the changing financial climate that Celtic ever reaching another European Final would be a long shot. May 20th 2003 UEFA cup final Paul Lambert lead the Hoops oot in the searing heat to face an up and coming Porto team.

It was something I never thought I would see. It was something the Celtic family thought they would never see again judging by the amount of fans that turned up in that beautiful city. I laughed this morning when Mike Parry was talking aboot the biggest movement of people since the 2nd world war due to an estimated 40,000 Liverpool fans going to Athens. Nice, for Mr Brazil to point Seville oot to him.

The run to that final I often imaging to being like what it must have felt in 1967. The tension, excitement and general disbelief that us, the selliclk, were conquering Europe. In that run to Seville I imaging the emotions I felt when Henrick scored in Boavista then realised there was 10 mins to go to be the same as listening or watching the game from Prague when a draw would see the hoops through and they were getting battered.

I also imaging when we equalised for the 2nd time in Seville it must have felt like that in Lisboa when Tommy Gemmell equalised. That’s the over-riding emotion that I remember from that game is after the delirium of the 1st goal, I ended up on the deck under a pile of bodies, the second one was meet by, great celebrations don’t get me wrong, but muted compared to the 1st.

The reason being, we believed that Henrick’s second was only prelude to the main event. The Pearl and Dean adverts before the main feature. We believed we were going to win. Right, I haven’t watched the game since the real time events in the stadium. The road to Seville DVD gets switched off before the final.

But I believe that we had with stood all Porto and threw at us and they were a spent force. They’re tactics after that goal changed to the cheating, play acting bassa’s we just like the lions had a spirit that oor better opponents just couldnae handle.

We all know what happened. The final whistle went and I have never felt more complete as a Celtic fan. “We love you Celtic” rang oot from the stadium drowning oot the Porto fans.

We lost the battle but we conquered Europe again.

This week ends with us competing in a competition that we hold dear and also a competition that we usually causes drama, excitement, sometimes heartbreak, joy and it plays a massive part in the Celtic folklore.

Ma 1st memory of Hampden was the 1985 final. The turnstiles had been renewed at the Celtic end and had broken-down. The polis, in traditional Glesga wisdom decided to open the gates, for short periods of time then close them; letting a stream of people in. it was bedlam. I was crushed against a wall, FaitherG was screaming at the polis to let us in.

Next thing I knew, I was howked of ma feet by a big polisman, glad to say the only time I have been lifted by the polis, the crowd parted like the Red Sea and I was in the ground. At the top of the stairs, faither turned round and said, “You still got ma fags?” as he gave me them for safe keeping in the crush!!

No, thought for ma wellbeing the bassa!!!

Anyway, ma first Hampden experience lived up to what I had been told aboot the hoops in the Scottish Cup. Goal doon and two late goals to win it. From ma view point, planked on a cross barrier, I remember Provan’s free kick being awarded and faither grabbing me saying he scored from this position last week. I remember the bear epitomising what the bear was aboot charging doon the wing and crossing in for the winner.

Ma love affair wie Hampden in May had begun and it has never waned.

Now, for me to complete a double, the double, is special. For any player to be a member of a double wining team is a badge of honour. No matter what has happened to oor form recently there is surely enough Celtic minded Bhoys in the dressing room that have memories of famous Cup victories from their childhoods.

Enough for them to know that if they win a place in the history of the club is ensured. This week, wie all the lion’s things going on, the privilege for them to be playing in the Hoops should hit home. Even some of the foreigner chappies will know. Read that JVOH knows his history very well.

Looking back, if we complete the double and coupled wie that the qualification for the last 16 of the Champs League then in years to come oor grand weans will wonder what we were moaning aboot. But the fact is we willnae moan.

We will tell them aboot Naka’s goal against Man U and Killie, aboot the team finding that Celtic spirit and keeping the potential European champions at bay for 180 mins wie a young side wie a core of Celtic minded men. We will celebrate the guid and forget the numerous bad. But that is years doon the line and that is if only we complete the double.

This week, wie the celebrations celebrating the birth of Celtic, as we know it I have had a premonition. Aiden McGeady will score and inspire the hoops to a cup victory. Why do I think this? Well it just seems right in this special week.

Forza The Hoops

The Lotw Diary- On The Fringe Of A Cup Final

So I’m not going to try and comment on a game I never saw. In fact I never even heard it. Radio Tuechter decided in their wisdom that they would broadcast one game and that was from the Granite City. Setanta decided that the game wisnny even worth showing highlights off after the main event, which was qualification for the privilege to get tanned from a team of Latvian minnows.

So I’m driving blind. Can only go wie what I have read. So here goes, end of season game, surprisingly entertaining, Barney looked guid, Grav can get a taxi the now to the lower reaches of the EPL, will the real Paul Hartley please stand up and we lack that killer instinct in the last third.

Lacking the killer instinct? Story of the season. Lack of pace in the midfield? Story of the season. So nae need to go over them. Team two won’t see another pre-season but they still have this season to finish off. And is anyone else worried that they may struggle? I for one are not counting ma chickens. In fact I’m worried that the fox may eat ma chickens before Saturday night.

So yesterday, GS gave the fringe players the chance. A chance to fight their way into the reckoning for a Cup Final spot. Aye right, I have always said that injuries apart GS knew his cup final 11. The players also knew this. So why did we maybe expect the players to pick up the baton and perform? The fringe ones, on the park, knew they would be either picking splinters oot their behinds on the bench or sitting in the stand suited and booted.

We have entered the same situation as was MON forte. GS has the ones he trusts and the others will maybe get the nod, here and there when injuries and suspensions hit. Maybe this has something to do wie the manager being let doon badly by some this season.

For a manager to expect players who huvnae been getting a game when the club has been freewheeling doonhill recently to pick themselves up for a meaningless match in the hoop of maybe, just maybe sneaking a cup final spot is just sheer folly.

Again, the players should have professional pride they should know that cup finals don't come round every year and passing up the chance to maybe starting in one, makes me question attitude. But professional pride should have kicked in to the mainstays over the last few weeks. It didnae. The mainstays have made us question them and hope for a successful end to the season rather than expect one.

Professional pride should have also kicked in when the fringe players realised that they weren’t just playing for a cup final jersey they were playing for their futures and some should be looking over their shoulders and be as anxious as I am regarding ma phone not ringing to give me cup final tickets. A taxi is a comin and it’s been upgraded to a seven seater.

So, from yesterday who were the fringe player’s wie hopes of maybe playing next week? And who are now packing their bags, IMO mind nae rumours or whispers only ma opinion, and looking at summer holidays packing boxes and moving hoose.

JJPD- The guy has done well recently. Done well without being spectacular. Likes a tackle and is comfortable on the baw. Expect him to be replaced by Caldwell for the CF before not getting a contract. A life in the fizzy pop league beckons.

JFK- Mair hope than anything here that he may have sneaked in instead of Elvis. Pre-season is massive for him as the CF has come to soon and GS’s insistence that Elvis is a player means that he gets the nod to add his “experience” to the CF line up. If only he could add talent.

The Grav- Hope he has rented accommodation wie a big plasma screen, as I think that’s the only way he will see the cup final. Estate agents doon sooth are probably being called today wie him looking to buy. Tommy it should have been great. Instead you have been more Tommy Cooper than Tommy Gravesan.

O’Dea- Never a left back but see JFK for the Elvis problem.

Barney- never really had any chance did he?

Beattie- never really had any chance did he? Maybe he should get used to Easter Road’s surroundings. After KM’s last ooting he is now shootie in for a starting 11 slot but only because The Beats performances or non-performances have made him the better option. If only Craig could stay on his feet long enough to shootie in. If only magic would wake up from his slumber.

Riordan- Scored, looks dangerous and compliments JVOH well. Probably booked his place on the bench and also probably ensured he will get game time. Strikers need to score. Derek does where others don’t. But does the future look guid when KM is above you in the pecking order?

So the cup final team picks it’s self. Those who didnae perform or turn up at Ibrox- 2nd half team- get the chance to redeem themselves. I will travel mair in hope than expectation. It’s been that sort of season.

Forza The Hoops

The Lotw Diary- The signing of Broon leaves this malcontent wie not much to moan aboot…

For a board malcontent like maself, whom since the infamous “sack the board” wars of the early 90’s disnny trust chief exec, chairmen or anyone in power, then the fact that they are signing £4.5 million cheques and thus showing some signs of ambition leaves me wie not much to moan aboot.

Yer arse, Mrs G disnny call me Victor for nothing so here goes. I think we have paid £2.5 million pound too much for Scott Broon. Hibs have played us like a fiddle and got over the odds for a player wie it all still to prove. I really do feel once Hibs had courted the bidding the war then we should have withdrew oor interest and let him go to Boro or Everton. Bottom line is once the price started rising or friends over the Clyde weren’t going to be interested so by us not signing him then it wisnny strengthening them.

There you go I feel better. But we have signed him and I am pleased we have signed him. It just shows how the market place has changed. The last promising young midfielder we purchased from a Scottish club we paid well under a million for. Now, we are paying over 4 for the same potential. We also paid over the odds for a 31 year old from a Scottish Club in the winter.

I’m sure GS will admit that he has paid over the odds for him, but once the EPL clubs flexed their muscles then the price was always rising. We offered over £4 million for both Thomson and Broon in the winter. We boiked at paying £2million for Thomson alone, which maybe shows you what one was the more highly rated by those suits in the know.

The signing has once again fired the focus on oor friends on the south west of the city. 3 signing targets have now joined the Hoops. Skippy, Hartley- who was on his way to Murray Park to sign, oh and yes he does look like John Greig- and now the saviour of der h*n midfield Broon.

If they thought they got one over on us wie Thomson, I think we have proved that they are miles behind now. I wish it didnae come doon to us gloating over the fact that we have mair money. I wish we had proved on the park- esp the last two derby games- that we we’re miles ahead on the field, I wish we could have played attractive fitbaw to make the doubters who have called us the worst Celtic team ever to win the league eat their words.

Money disnny buy success and as it has been proved can easily disappear as quick as we land it. We require an infrastructure, which ensures that when the massive spends are not an option we have faith in oor scouting, youth system and coaching staff. Even when you have the ability to have a massive spend if you don’t have faith in your infrastructure then see King Kenny and Digger Barnes dream team.

But, that’s a worry for another day. Last night like vultures circling oor pray we gathered round the radios to, hopefully, listen to Derek Johnstone resigning for his claim the Broon going to ra gers was a done deal. Nae danger, the big gallot stuck to his guns, mentioned gentleman’s agreement- highly illegal them are they no?- and went on to say that his pal, Wally, will get better than Broon for less. In this he was backed up by Hugh jump the dyke Keevins another who panders to Murray’s flute.

It was siege mentality radio, one which proves once and for all that Radio Clyde is nothing sort of a r*ngers party political broadcast, fronted by fools. I will never listen to that station again. In fact this morning I changed the office radio from Clyde to the lesser evil real.

So with Lawell signing big cheques will the Hoops now buy from the top end? If we are willing to pay £25,000 a week for potential surely we will be willing to pay that for proven ability? If we are willing to shell out big bucks on potential then again the same rule should apply.

A £6 million fee for a Bellamy type should no longer be boiked at. A few million for a Komas or Barton should no longer be frowned upon. These fees and wages will all be negated by departures. The books will balance.

Got the new Celtic Leoes de Lisboa tastic merchandise catalogue through the door yesterday. Aye, want me to spend money but not gie me tickets the urchins. But I digress, the photo on the front has the Lisboa team alongside the current Celtic team. The current team has some faces missing, Lenny apart, I mean he widnae want to get left oot the photo shoot, so is it a pointer to the future?

The players included are, Lenny, Magic, Mick, JVOH, O’Dea, Sno, Wilson, Naka, Tommy G, Arfur, Mark Broon, Elvis, Deek, Aiden, Hartley and the Beats. Those missing, apart from JFK, widnae be missed if a taxi was forthcoming.

Forza The Hoops.

The Lotw Diary Celtic 2 Sheepies 1

One thirty on Saturday, we are standing in the boozer waiting on the late supporters bus. The reason the bus is late, is due to the fact oot of 24 season ticket holders and 35 members, there is only SEVEN of us waiting to go to the game. We sent oor 33 seater back to the depot and were awaiting a smaller mode of transport.

Talk was off in all seriousness going to Airdrie to watch the Albion, hopefully condemning the nice beastie boys to life in the 2nd division. The younger ones thought this was a great idea, us, older, maybe wiser but ones who had the unfortunate pleasure of going to the old Broomfield were thinking slightly different.

Decision was takening to go to CP, if the game was pants then pub at half time. We would go in but the mood was after last week’s no-show why should we show up. Right, Lenny’s last game at CP but the only reason most decided to go to game was the fact that we were told he wisnny playing. We thought the changes would be rung wie a new broom in charge for a game.

As the bus neared CP, the news that there had been a dramatic u-turn and Lenny was playing filtered through. Now, who exactly run’s the team? The fact of the matter is Lenny wisnny playing; the board sold the game as Lenny’s farewell and due to this told the management to play him. Now, wie rumours abound that players are being bought for potentially brand exploiting and not fitbaw ability this decision, not taking by the fitbaw side, but by the financial side makes you, again, question the backbone of oor management.

The board say all the time that GS, never complains and is an esteemed man. Nae wonder it seems he panders to their every wim.

Anyway, the team list was read oot and the feeling of interested in the game faded. Kenny Miller wie JVOH. Rioirdon for McGeady. Nae rest for Naka, JJPD getting another chance to impress, JFK returning to his rightful place instead of Elvis and Lee Naylor getting the chance again to re-gain early season promise. Nae exciting changes. The usual suspects getting a wee run oot.

Now, I have heard it was a guid game. I only saw one half. In the one half that I saw nothing was different. Maybe a bit more energy was shown but the slow pace, lack of creativity and lack of edge was plain to see. I’m probably just scunnered right enough. It’s taking me longer to forgive these players for last week and the general apathy that has meet this season has caught me like a North Sea fisherman catching illegal cod.

The guid oot the 1st half was this. Oor Zico, became the Zico like Paul Hartley last seen annoying the living daylights oot of me in a maroon jersey. His lung bursting runs into the box and creativity were what we paid guid money for. His set up play for the second goal- saw it on setanta- was great and it was nice to see him finally look like a player.

JJPD made a mockery of ma Mo Camara comparison. Composed on the ball, pacy and sure of his own ability the bhoy looks like he could do a job for us. He is a better option than Caldwell- who will return at RB for the Cup Final- and also could be decent back up at RB for Wilson. In fact, he may make that spot his own if Willo’s loss of form continues at the start of next season. Will he get a contract though?

JVOH showed again he is a goalscorer who will frustrate and please with equal measure. He spent the 1st half making Russell Anderson look like a player but scored a poachers goal. Making Russell Anderson look like a player is worrying as oor manager has a tendency to buy players who play well against us- see Elvis and Hartley- no matter how often we bleat that they are coo’s.

I left at half time. Went to the pub to find the pub jumping wie other like-minded fans. Most I spoke to all the felt the same as me. While glad for the league, the performances of the players recently have made us think they are unworthy of oor effort in supporting them. That will change of course. The week of the cup final will see us remember the guid things they have achieved this season. Mind you, a wee victory against a struggling Hibs side coupled by another improved performance will do that as well.

And also a wee look at the results yesterday, wie them getting beat, Man Utd losing and Liverpool drawing wie a relegated shows that end of season apathy is just not a Celtic trait.

Forza The Hoops

The Lotw Diary- Friday

Wie wee Gordie now on hospital leave, it puts, us, the doubters, in a strange position. While we were all wondering how he would pick up the troops after the trampling under the foot of the wilderbeasts last Saturday. The wee man has slipped us a shimmy and left the team in the capable hands, hopefully, of Pendry and Burns.

Now I think it’s shocking that a man that gets paid a fair amount of wonga a season can decided to bring forward his operation at a critical time. Critical as the team have a Cup Final to prepare for and, lets not beat aboot the outback here, are ten pailfull of wilderbeast dung at the moment on the park.

Is it any wonder that the team have been unprofessional over the last few weeks when we see decisions like this being made?

Anyway, how can we mump, moan and berate his team selection if he is not there? If the two in charge decide to go wie the usual suspects instead of throwing in a few Kaiser Sosa’s then who can blame them? They’re only organ grinders to GS’s monkey.

Surely he will have had a breakfast meeting, power lunch or brunch wie his cohorts and told them what to do, who to play, who not to play and that they need to give Kenny a game cause we are trying to get cash for him? Oh, and that Hartley needs a medal and the Grav only gets paid if he plays so he is to get kept on the bench?

Suddenly the thought of spending the afternoon in the London Road Tav seems unattractive. The thought of seeing how the mice play when the cats away is appealing. Wonder if TB is franticly phoning Paulo, Jorge and Thom asking if they fancy a run oot. Wonder if he is dusting doon his blueprint of 4-1-5 systems and pinning it on the board?

Years of working under, cautious managers for want of a better word, like Vogts and Strachan and also his wisdom, due to his advancing years, that the 4-1-5 system was entertaining but sheer folly at times has, probably, dulled his mindset like the grey has dulled his ginger barnet.

The fact that he is presiding over a team, who died in a muggy night in Milan and are Kaka’d will mean a cautious, softly, softly approach, which should breed confidence rather than re-capturing the spirit of 96. And also that the sheepies need a result and will be up for it.

Only one thing is guaranteed tomorrow. Neil Lennon will play. Well, I say play; he will be on the park so we can say cheerio to him, if you believe the PR hype. I’m sure really if you asked Neil he would never have wanted his last home game to be sparsely attended and meet wie general apathy.

Well, you and yer mates have made that rod for yer own backs Neil. You have been unprofessional and when the fans see you not caring less, not entertaining why should we bother turning up? Off course most will turn up, we have paid for the game, but I’m sure Lenny is mair looking forward to the cup final farewell than tomorrow.

Mind you, apart from the Ghod of Larsson, all farewells of the MON stalwarts have been muted to say the least. Saint Martin of O’Neill’s cup final was the worst in living memory mainly due to coming on the back of the worst day in oor history.

Comparisons from that season to this can be made however tedious they maybe. But we won the cup that day. Maybe an omen? Poorly performing team wins poor cup final to give a stalwart one last hurrah?

That’s to be worried aboot later though.

Forza The Strachan less Hoops

The Lotw Diary- Thursday. The Entertainers.

So the Hoops fans have spoken and oor choices for player of the year and young player of the year say a lot for the mindset of us. It’s says a lot of what we look for in players when the pull on that famous jersey. We don’t look for them to hide or not be brave, we look for them to be creative to be entertaining and we want a manager, which allows these players to flourish.

For all that has happened recently, one thing canny be denied. GS has allowed flair players to play a big part in his Celtic’s teams. In fact such a big part that when these boys have shot their bolt the others have been found wanting in the creative department. It’s no surprise to me that oor team has stopped creating and scoring while Naka and Aiden have been struggling.

We have relied on individual brilliance this season to dig us oot of holes. Mistakes, both on and off the park have been glossed over by a wee shimmy, a killer ball, the baws to take on that man or that we have a man who can hit a free kick for fun. That’s why Naka and Aiden have been awarded.

Aiden has flourished as a player this season but is still blighted by the inconstancy of a 20 year old, the look of Frank McAvennie’s love child and the dress sense and hairstyle of a ned wie too much money. The fact that he accepted a diamond bracelet for his prize as young player of the year award makes me even more worried. What’s next? Him shacking up wie some actress from River City to become Clydesides own posh and becks? Oh, the modern day fitbawer.

As Tommy Burns said Aiden could be whatever he wants to be in the game. He is a natural talent, the most natural we have produced but while his hard work this year has smoothed over his rough edges his tendency to let the big games this season by pass him- Milan, Old Trafford, Ibrox- is something he has too work on. Until he becomes gallus, consistently, on the big stage then work still has to be done.

Unlike Naka. Apart from Ibrox he has handled the hustle and bustle of the Scottish game better this season than last. He has also been more creative in all games, until recently, even though the manager insists of not playing him in a free role, a role in which I think we would see more from him. In the CL he took to the stage like a duck to water. Right, he struggled against Milan, nothing to be ashamed off, but his goal against Man Utd will live long in the memory.

He has been braver this year. Even when he fades in and oot of games he never hides. Something him and Aiden have in common. A few weeks back Aiden was having a mare against the saints of Perth but never once did he not demand the ball or seek to get rid of it quickly when it came to him. Naka is the same. This epitomises the Celtic baw player spirit. A spirit and talent, which while unable to shine in every game it, will never hide.

It’s been a spirit in the Celtic entertainers since 1888. It’s a spirit the fans love and almost demand. We demand to be entertained. We want entertainers. Wonder if GS will take note of the fans choices when drawing up his transfer list.

Forza The Celtic Way.

The Lotw Diary- 3 Days and Calming

When you think of Celtic, you think of bravery, you think of leaders and great skill and artists. Celtic’s history is littered wie players who where brought up the Celtic Way and it’s only recently that a foreign element have grown to love the club through firstly money then the passion we as a support have.

We always have had players whom Celtic was a way of life before they fulfilled all oor dreams by pulling on the hoops. Sometimes the weight of the jersey was too much for them and especially in the early 90’s it was too great for their limited ability.

Fitbaw changed and over the last 15 years, since Fergus, we have become a buying club. Oor modest spends were no more with us taking advantage of revenue streams unseen in oor history. When the market went pear shaped and we had to doon size one of the plus sides of this, for me, was the turning to young players and Scottish players to see Celtic through.

The fact we already had a youth system in place, which was geared to producing players of not SPL but CL quality meant that money would be saved. It has been saved, yes and we have produced players now that are termed 1st team regulars and also we have signed players from the SPL and Scottish internationalists.

This is what makes Saturday debacle so galling. We had players from a Celtic background and Scottish players whom know what it is aboot. Instead it was left to a Pole to have a show of defiance and an English left back to epitomise the fabled Celtic spirit.

Mick, Caldwell, McGeady, Lennon and Hartley are all Celtic men. Maybe their Celtic-ness has been diluted over the years through not watching the club while progressing their own careers but the feeling they should have pulling on that jersey should bring back childhood memories of the jungle. The fact none of them crunched through an Adam, Hutton, Novo or Fergie- something EVERY ONE of us would have done- is a disgrace.

They knew how we would be feeling.

Miller and Pressley know the score as well. While not being Celtic minded they know the importance of the game. To be hassled oot the game wie nothing but Scottish graft and harrying is nothing sort of disgraceful when over half the team know what this game is aboot and over half the team have the Scottish traits that are making the meeja think the h*ns are great.

The game wasn’t a great advert for Scottish fitbaw. In fact if it wisnny involving ma team I would have switched over after 15 mins it was that poor. Maybe that’s the doonside of bring in players wie a Scottish trait, lack of quality but usually us Scots don’t mind that as there is usually effort.

When you get none, sometimes the road to Damascus seems long and the vision of a mostly homegrown Celtic-minded team mixed wie foreigners is sheer folly. Maybe they just haven’t got the same mentality that was expensively assembled by Saint Martin of O’Neill.

Maybe again I’m just scunnered by the attitude of the modern day fitbawer….

Forza The Hoops

The Lotw Diary- 2 Days After The Embarrassment

Well, I did predict it. I didnae want it to happen but I did predict it. Soulless, charlatans and dare I say it cheats? Plenty of the hordes gave the darkside 32 hard earned pounds to witness a team that couldnae give a stuff aboot us. Yes, it was meaningless game in the grand scheme but it was a pointer to the failings and the mindset of the modern fitbawer.

I don’t mind losing. In fact it’s part of the game. I want champagne fitbaw but I know that disnny happen all the time. I know that sometimes the best teams get beat. Hey, the wee fella always has the chance. But getting beat withoot an ounce of effort and professional pride, getting beat making the same mistakes over again and getting beat so easily, so meekly, so cudnae gee a flying monkey in really what is the only important game in the meaningless ones left is not on.

Nostalgia is something. And while it gives you a rose tinted view of the past on Saturday it was one of the worst Celtic performances I have seen in all ma times watching glesga derbies. I’ve seen poor players gie a lot more for the hoops than the 11 on the park on Saturday. Champions? On paper, yes in the heid nae just pampered modern day rich big egotistic loons.

When all of us were getting it tight on Saturday night, the players where probably oot on the lash spending the win bonus for winning the league. For them that’s job done. They have done their bit. Professional pride? No interested that disnny make them money. Winning a game at ipox when the job is done? No interested again the win bonus is neglible compared to winning the Scottish Cup.

While the h*ns were embarrassing us wie their embarrassment of the future, oor players didnae care what we felt. It’s just another example of the every expanding chasm between the players and fans. The fact the club treats us as consumers only add to the disposable image we have.

Makes you wonder why do we bother? We make these guys, rich and heroes only for them to cheat us. We have won the league the Scottish cup is now not looking like a formality. That was the most galling thing aboot Saturday. Dunfermline has hope due to the ineptitude of the management to raise the player’s game and the players taking their eyes of the baw.

Yes, I understand leg weariness, loss of form and yes I understand that we done the hard work months ago. But a bit of effort eh? Or will that cost another 5 grand a week?

Maybe, I’m just scunnered wie the mindset of the modern fitbawer.

Forza The Hoops

The Lotw Diary- Friday

The day after the day before. A day after working in the middle of the range rover, 4x4 to take the weans to school belt, where plus four and golf trous are the leisure wear off the popular, old retired sergeant majors, ex polis and school teachers and worst of all posh students I have come to the conclusion the world has gone mad. Dumb down, defo anyway but no matter the brains ye canny buy common sense.

The last line can relate to the twats in UEFA who, again, missed a trick to punish the wrong doers. Are they really serious in their fight against offensive chanting and racism or are they just given it air time while air brushing it under the carpet? Anyway the ruling means the SFA and the SPL can let them away wie murder now and any noises made will be as valid as a local council ballot paper.

Tomorrow, we enter the home of the bigoted. A place that thrives on hate. If you take the hate away you are left wie nothing. You lose the heritage of the institution and yer left wie a rudderless beast. A place were ma offered ticket was quickly turned doon as I don’t need to go there. I don’t want to gie them £33.00 to fund their fun and games. In fact, it’s the 1st time that I have turned doon a ticket since i took the vow, lapsed the next time we played them, that I would never return. I don’t feel the need.

Is it because it’s a meaningless fixture? In ma time unfortunately I have been to many meaningless gelsga derbies. Early 90’s every one from Jan, or sometimes earlier, was meaningless. Thing is the Hoops used to make a habit of winning the meaningless and giving us false hope for the following season.

I remember on such game at Hampden when we humped the fabled greatest r*ngers team ever 3-0 wie goals from Paul Byrne and Rudi Vata. Met Frank Bruno that day who looked strange in a bright pink British Knights shellsuit. Did we take any hope from that game? Of course we did. Any port in the storm we took as a marker for the following season. But it didnae happen. On Saturday we will hear aboot markers and pointers but the fact of the matter is both teams won’t resemble the 11 that run oot tomorrow.

So how can you get a marker when the teams playing won’t be the same next year? R*nkers will sink further into Scotland B territory and hopefully the Hoops will replace Petrov, Maloney and Hartson. If we do that then I’m confident NO ONE will get near us again domestically.

So is there more at stake for them than us. Yes. As they retreat back to traditions of thuggery they will see this as a chance to play a Hoop team wie the eye off the baw looking at a wee date in May. Expect crunching illegal tackles, unpunished like sectarianism in Europe, to be the order of the day, as the Hoops might not fancy getting injured or suspended.

No derby game is meaning-less and I would love nothing more than the Hoops to have been fired up this week, training buzzing and Lenny cajoling his team-mates to give him one last hurrah at the place he has had so many hurrahs. Fact is I can’t see it happening. Yes, at 12.30 tomorrow I will want to see them flying into challenges and hammering home their superiority for this season.So lets put the tail between the legs of the dogs so called revival for this season but don't be suprised if we don't.

Forza The Champions

The Lotw Diary- Wednesday

Do you know that a prominent, respected author named Kevin Sampson, whom works include the cracking story of Tranmere hoolies in the 80’s “Awaydays” and a story aboot a band, which sounds a bit like the Verve “Powder” started a campaign last year to re-claim the KOP.

It’s aim was to re-claim the Spion Kop and return it to traditional values. The breaking point for the author was a CL game when the fans were to busy singing aboot Man Yoo, asking the visitors who they were and asking if they could sing a song for them. He was annoyed that the KOP had been reduced to the Sky induced sub culture of the Murdoch inspired Sky generation Soccer- AM-itis.

Sounds depressingly familiar eh?

After last night I don’t think the guy has much to worry aboot. While the game was pish, the entertainment came in the tension and of course Jose getting papped oot on his arse, the Liverpool fans were immense from start to finish. So guid we maybe should give them YNWA back.

The Jungle Bhoys are trying to do the same thing at CP except I think politics and traditional values are hindering their quest. I mentioned there banner display on Sunday, failing due to apathy and late comers, that’s a viable excuse but the majority of the time some canny be arsed holding up the bit of card and the traditional value of the hoops support turning up 5 mins late is alive and well.

What hinders the Jungle Bhoys is the fact that at the revamped CP there is no longer a Jungle. The KOP is still there, the traditional meeting place is still alive, unlike CP where the traditional Jungle has been replaced wie heated seats and it’s no longer the back of yer legs being warmed by some bearded galout peshed on special brew relieving himself.

As usual the Celtic support have split into two factions. The JB’s have a foe in the Green Brigade whom seems more political in their choice of songs and mair witty and gloating in their banners. While CP will never be the same again, CL nights remind me that on oor night we can back the team as well as anyone in Europe.

Domestically we seem to pre-occupied by goading oor rivals, singing songs aboot hating r*ngers and seeing how far we can push authority by oor choice of ditties. It’s almost un-Celtic like. We should be backing oor team wie songs that inspire the current crop no matter how crap they have been playing.

At Ipox on Sunday instead of rubbing the bear’s noses in it, fun as it maybe, we should show the team that we are backing them and we are thankful that they are wearing the hoops. Forget the rebel and the folk songs- well not this land is your land as we can put that in context by saying it’s a song welcoming all nationalities in the Celtic team- sing Celtic songs that celebrate current and past players.

We could learn a lot from the Liverpool fans. Link is posted below to the reclaim the kop site.

http://www.reclaimthekop.co.uk/cgi-bin/main.pl

Forza The Hoops

The Lotw Diary-Tuesday

Listening to phone in talk based Radio stations, reading weblogs, websites and message boards confirms one thing aboot the modern day fitbaw fan. We are all really a bunch of malcontents, greeting faced loons whom are never happy.

In this day and age of mass media coverage the forum of grief is rife as success disnny sell papers or get hits but gloating at someone’s misfortune or moaning aboot yer team does. As Ocean Colour Scene said “there’s no profit in peace” and this reflects the fitbaw, reporting environment.

Maybe, it is because of the money involved in today’s game. The fact that yer club can spend shed loads of money on a right back who will be terrible then leave for sod all after a couple of years gets on peoples wick. Maybe, the fact that yer teams financial results are just as widely reported as a defeats or victories. Maybe it’s the fact that we are all nerds and Champ Manager has us believing we can do the job.

Money has dressed up the game to be this all singing all dancing shebang that you get yer kicks for free. Fact of the matter is money has developed a fear factor in teams, managers and chairmen. Greed is good said Gordon Greco but not in fitbaw terms. Greed in fitbaw can mean nae entertainment.

Last night, I listened to pundit’s lamblast a touted England manager for playing basically rough round the edges fitbaw, typical British hoof and rush game. When it was put out to the greater public for debate not one Bolton fan phoned up to back there manager, in fact their silence lead me to make the assumption that they were quite glad their successful manager had left as the fair on show was poor.

What happened was that you had Everton, Newcastle, Fulham fans coming on lambasting their clubs for not being entertaining. One Man Citee fan who last won something around the same time as r*ngers one the phone ranting he widnae go back to Eastland’s in Allyerdice became the manager.

Now the vast majority want Man Utd to win the EPL due to the fact that they are bloody entertaining and while us hoops want to see Jose smug grin wiped off his coupon. I would watch Arsenal everyday of the week, as there is always the chance they will come up wie the fabled perfect game. Yes, they have won sod all but I don’t hear many of their fans complaining. Well you do but I for one widnae be complaining.

Tonight you have a CL semi Final contested by two of the richest clubs in the world and the chances of it being entertaining are slim to none. Last weeks game between the two was as guid as a bottom six-spl game except some bottom six spl teams try to play fitbaw. In contrast to the other semi final that was brilliant due to both teams attacking flair players.

While not being the most attractive fitbaw the end of the 1st division in Scotland was entertaining. Two evenly matched teams going for it hammer and tongs until the 93rd minute. Now questions maybe asked what Gretna will bring to the party, bar another visit to Carfin, but no one can deny that both teams who where vying for that title didnae play attractive attacking fitbaw in the most high pressure of situations.

For 90 mins last night listening that phone in, I was for once in tune wie kindred spirits. I was pleased to hear that some middle of the road EPL clubs were sick to death wie win at a costs or the don’t get beat mentality.

The program made me believe that eventually the dwindling crowds, revenue and interest will force chairmen to revaluate their business plans. That being entertaining will put bums on seats. Maybe the greed is good mantra will change the game for the good for once.

But it has a hell of a long way to go.

Forza The Champions.