Wednesday 30 April 2014

England

As expected the return of the Scotland England fixture will continue with a visit from the Auld Enemy in November. Surprise or shock should be muted as last year's visit to Wembley was seen as a success with a really good competitive game and even more importantly the two sets of fans mingled with some enthusiasm. Extra revenue for the 2 respective FAs, surely not?
Many of the Scots in London were able to experience the traditional Trafalgar experience & whilst they could only gape in awe at the size of the ground and appreciate the good value for money that a national stadium costing many many millions that  is stuck in London within the M25 & not in any way easily accessible for Londoners never mind the rest of England.
There is a real prospect that the game will be played at Celtic Park due to the unavailability of Hampden. Whilst Wembley holds 90,000 these days that figure is dwarfed by the 149,000 plus that Hampden held on 2 occasions for games held in the 1930's. 52,000 is of course more than enough to accommodate Queens Park, Scotland friendlies and all semi-finals.
A visit from our friends south of the border is another matter & Hampden holds no great emotional
bond for me these days & the prospect of a 60,000 crowd would let more fans in. Dare I say a better atmosphere & other than a wee section for away fans a better view of the pitch.
I was honoured to have been part of the fans game last August with Scotland deservedly winning 6-2. We all got on famously, & why not?
We will have to ensure that there will be a good Scottish welcome for our visitors, as warm as we treat all football fans in Glasgow.
I travelled to London last year as cool as a cucumber. The game meant little more than part of the rebuilding of our battered team. When we scored I was again a young lad with bell bottomed trousers celebrating Kenny Dalglish's 1977 winner. Does the England game mean a lot to a Scotsman?
You better believe it.

Thursday 17 April 2014

Barry


Barry Ferguson former Rangers & Scotland captain was interviewed on Radio Scotland this evening & thoughtful as ever reflected on a nearly great career. His first managerial job is the temporary boss of a sinking Blackpool & I wish him well. No doubt he will soon be looking for a new club & may land back home in Scotland.
He was a boyhood Rangers fan & followed his brother in wearing the blue of Ibrox. When younger he was struggling to get a game & seemingly asked his best pal if there was a vacancy at Celtic.
The Captain of Rangers job came eventually & he had a career not without its controversy & he was the major factor in seeing off the hapless Paul Le Guen, a well respected foreign coach hounded out of Ibrox.
For many Barry's defining moment was not the Italy goal and captaining Scotland in an exciting campaign including a double over France, no drinkgate in Loch Lomond & his lack of judgment following.
I was called often that week by the media to damn him & in the end I called for some form of punishment, however Walter will have chastised him more than any angry quote I could muster. He was banned by fax.
Drink & fitba, surely not? The first Scottish footballer to disgrace himself?
Archie Macpherson writes a first hand account of the shenanigans at oor 1974 World Cup camp. Scotland Captain Billy Bremner & sailor extraordinare Jimmy Johnstone appear at the team hotel drunk & singing. Argentina '78......
But they were different they were well, not Barry Ferguson.  Modern day footballers live by different standards, but we continue to eulogise Jinky , Bremner & the king of booze, Jim Baxter.
Barry will with a bit of luck be a good manager, maybe not of Rangers, but then again.
He claims that many want him to fail. Those who remember Loch Lomond.
I remember a really classy player, he played at Wembley '99. He captained the last Scotland squad to play well in the qualifiers.
Good luck Barry. Be a good manager, give us some good Scottish lads with technique as well as passion.

Wednesday 16 April 2014

The Hearts

The trials & tribulations of the hearts fans may just be drawing to a close, for now. The mad spending of the mad chairman has wreaked & that cannot be a bad thing however to what purpose?
Tynecastle is a great arena for atmosphere & requires a new main stand. Years of overspending on the playing staff has resulted in some cup success but no custom built club & training facilities.
The future must surely lie in creating a modern Scottish football club with a modern footballing style, raising kids to play the modern way. Coaching in the European style where a brand of football can be instilled in the youths and carried onto the big team.
Will fan ownership demand this? Will there be a clear strategy for the future; modern football?
The club have yet to leave their period of administration however the fans have a lot to ponder for the future of the Heart of Midlothian.


Hamish