Another international break and it all went a bit medieval. After being slain in a distant land we
embarked on a spot of regicide. So it's bye, bye George and hello .... ? God save the king, whoever
he might be.We don't know. Walter Smith and Mark McGhee have already said they don't want the job.
Jim Jefferies won't talk about it, Craig Levein is hotly tipped but United are extending a half
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It was a contrite and regretful Gordon Smith that broke the news of George Burley's departure. Or
was it? Interpreting for the cynical:The decision was taken after a meeting with the board of
directors and, subsequently, the national coach. The board was in unanimous agreement. The rest of
them agreed with my decision.
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It did not take Chick Young long. In his obituary of George Burley's reign as national team boss
the great oracle of our game points out that a new manager means a new chance for Kris Boyd, Allan
McGregor and Barry Ferguson.Fair enough. A new broom and new beginnings. No manager taking the job
should have his hands tied.
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And so George Burley's reign ended as we knew - and in his heart of hearts he must have known - it
would. The sheer inevitability of his sacking was blatantly obvious at around 3.30 Saturday
afternoon.In truth it has been inevitable throughout a 14 game reign that never looked like
building momentum.
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It's funny the things that play on your mind when you head to the hills for a week to enjoy some
much needed rest and relaxation.One question kept flickering through my mind. What is the point of
Gordon Smith?His tenure at the SFA has coincided with a dismal downturn in the national team's
fortunes. Boozing players and a manager with only the grudging support of his employers.
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Bad news follows bad follows worse.That's the season so far.So, as a special treat, some good news
and heartfelt thanks to the youngsters:Azerbaijan U21 0 - 4 Scotland U21JAMIE Murphy, scorer of a
last-gasp winner in Scotland's previous qualifier at home to Belarus, continued his impressive form
with a double as Scotland moved to the top of European Under-21 Championship Qualifying Group 10
with
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Once more, with a little less feeling.That probably sums up another abject Scottish performance as
well as anything could.This was bad, bad, bad. Scotland were humiliated again by Wales. The
question remains: how many of these performances can we endure before a change is made.Before the
game George Burley justified his selection of a full back, Danny Fox, because "he'd worked ever so
hard"
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You might have noticed that I often link to books that are listed on the Scottish Football Blog
Bookshop.This is my own Amazon aStore. It doesn't make much money but I'd like it to be useful as a
library of decent football books.So feel free to let me know of any books that you think I might
have missed.
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As football remembered the fallen over the weekend, one of the most poignant acts of remembrance
came at Tynecastle.13 Hearts players volunteered to fight in 1914. The McCrae's Battalion website
takes up the story:In August 1914 Great Britain went to war with Germany. As eager young men
flocked to join Lord Kitchener's volunteer army, professional football became the target of a
vitriolic
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You may have noticed that some of our footballers have been sporting moustaches recently.This is
not some bizarre tribute to the perfectly groomed Graeme Souness but part of Movember, an annual
campaign to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer.Danny Fox, Gary Caldwell, Paddy McCourt,
Kris Boyd and Allan McGreggor have already signed up.
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I remember when I was young.I remember it always being sunny with quick witted street urchins
running happily on the car free streets performing footballing miracles with tennis balls.Actually,
I don't.I do, however, remember our old sage Craig Brown. How he would puff his chest out with
pride when talking about the sudden availability of "young Alistair" or "young Paul.
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They hate being lumped together. Which is as good a reason as any for writing about them
together.And, yet again, it's an article that I don't really want to write. Another article about
how the sections of idiots that both Rangers and Celtic have in their support are making numpties
of us all.On Wednesday night Rangers fans got involved with police in Romania.
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Reading Leo McKinstry's excellent biography of Sir Alf Ramsey (of which more later) I've been
struck by Ramsey's long standing loathing of the Scots.It's not unusual to hear ex-Scottish
internationals talk about how much beating the Auld Enemy meant to them, with Denis Law and Pat
Crerand both lingering on this in their autobiographies.
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Rushed this week as I prepare to host a dinner party. Middle class excess and all that. Still I
hold on to the fact that I'll always be more Morrison's Value than Bullingdon Bertie. Such small
moral victories keep us on the side of the righteous.On football matters I have been a bit detached
this week.
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4-1, 4-1. Not only Walter Smith's most likely formation for tonight but also the defeats Rangers
have suffered in their last two European games. The perceived wisdom is that it's a formation that
works better away from home. As it's the formation that will be in use against Unirea Urziceni
you've really got to hope that's the case.
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