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 Click to continue reading...

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. Click to continue reading...

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. Click to continue reading...

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. Click to continue reading...

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. Click to continue reading...

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 Click to continue reading...

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" Click to continue reading...

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. Click to continue reading...

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 Click to continue reading...

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. Click to continue reading...

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. Click to continue reading...

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. Click to continue reading...

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. Click to continue reading...

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. Click to continue reading...

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. Click to continue reading...