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A week away from the blog.
I'd like to explain my absence with exciting tales of derring do. But I can't. The most excitement
I got was watching Hibs beat Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup, nailbiting to the end.
No, I've been away largely because I couldn't be arsed for the last week.
So Hibs decide to say farewell to Victor Palsson, the young Icelandic player they signed from
Liverpool this time last year.
Contract terminated with immediate effect.
Or contract bought out in a mutually agreeable way to free up some wages for what is, at this stage
in the transfer window, a rather slow-burning rebuilding job at Easter Road.
Day seven of the SPL advent. A trip to the frozen north to see how Inverness are coping this SPL
season.
I find Terry Butcher something of an engima. In the past I've - not altogether seriously but not
completely in jest - derided him as a bit of an incompetent.
The sort of chap that the Scottish managerial merry-go-round should really jettison for the greater
good of the game.
Today's SPL Advent calendar throws up not a nugget of cheap chocolate but a Stewart's bridie -
current SPL basement dwellers Dunfermline.
The road to the SPL is not paved with gold.
On their return to the top flight Dunfermline find themselves bottom of the league. They've taken
only four points at home in a miserable run that has seen them fail to win at East End Park.
Per the offal: "Fulham FC can confirm that Keanu Marsh Brown has today left the Club by mutual
consent."
Never played a minute for the first team, but was on the bench for those memorable wins over
Shaktar, Juventus; a few other random Europa Games. Had a pretty productive spell at MK Dons the
second-half of last season, and even played a part in the Dons' playoff run.
It took 68 words for Hibs to dispatch of Colin Calderwood.
Even that seemed needlessly verbose, the gist was simple:
"Thanks. Goodbye. We live to find another boss."
A taciturn end to a joyless reign. Consider the contrast to July when Rod Petrie - hardly a
prolific wordsmith - devoted 434 words and the logic of a one-eyed statistician to a celebratory
love letter in support of the manager.
Monday night football.
When I was a slip of lad approaching drinking age Monday night football used to be a thing of
wonder.
(Drinking age, kids, used to be more of a general guide than a rule. Don't live as I lived. It's
bad for you.)
We'd gather around what we then thought were big screens and be stunned as Newcastle and Liverpool
served up seven goal thrillers and Sky's hype levels left our skies and bothered Martian moons.
Jock Stein speaks to GOAL! magazine in November 1964.
Transcript:
JOCK STEIN
Master Tactician
By Alun Cameron
£10,000!
That is the sum Hibs are reputed to be asking for their "return" friendly against Real Madrid. Hibs
earned the right to command this fee on that night a few weeks ago when they not only defeated but
thoroughly outclasses the team which is generally considered to be one of the world's greatest.
Jock Stein speaks to GOAL! magazine in November 1964.
Transcript:
JOCK STEIN
Master Tactician
By Alun Cameron
£10,000!
That is the sum Hibs are reputed to be asking for their "return" friendly against Real Madrid. Hibs
earned the right to command this fee on that night a few weeks ago when they not only defeated but
thoroughly outclasses the team which is generally considered to be one of the world's greatest.
Four games in the SPL today.
But I'm distracted by Sir Alex Ferguson's upcoming 25th anniversary as manager of Manchester
United. A phenomena. From Govan.
The SPL didn't even exist 25 years ago. We must have had football though, whatever they try and
tell us.
Must have had it because I'm sure Alex Ferguson left a top flight Scottish club to take over a top
flight English club 25 years ago.
Carlos headed home the game-winning goal for RangersSeveral U.S. internationals put their name on the scoresheet this past weekend, some contributing
to important results.
In Scotland, Carlos Bocanegra got his first goal for Rangers, the U.S. captain netting what turned
out to be the game-winner with a trademark header.
Maurice Edu and Carlos Bocanegra are slated to start for Rangers who take on Dunfermline in
Scottish Premier League action.
1961. Scotland continue to just about hold their own the world stage. But not when it counts. The
Sixties have dawned on the back of two chastening World Cup experiences. The decade will go on to
swing but its major championships are denied a tartan tinge.
In November 1961 Scotland travel to Belgium for a World Cup qualification match against
Czechoslovakia.
The third and final part of a random collection of players I'll be keeping my eye on as this SPL
season progresses. Today a player each from St Mirren and Dunfermline.
Nigel Hasselbaink, St Mirren"If football was played in the air," an old sage of Easter Road once
told me, "then Paul Fenwick would be Pele.
The third and final part of a random collection of players I'll be keeping my eye on as this SPL
season progresses. Today a player each from St Mirren and Dunfermline.
Nigel Hasselbaink, St Mirren"If football was played in the air," an old sage of Easter Road once
told me, "then Paul Fenwick would be Pele.
Dunfermline and St Mirren brought the first round of games in the new Scottish Premier League
season to an end on Monday with fans already witnessing some early season drama over the
weekend.
Jim Jefferies' Hearts managed to pull off a surprise in Saturday's early morning kick off by
holding champions Rangers to a 1-1 draw at Ibrox.
Part two of a completely scattergun selection of a dozen players whose progress I'm keen to track
in 2010/11 SPL. St Mirren and Dunfermline will follow tomorrow.
Sean O'Hanlon, HibernianThe returning Ivan Sproule and Garry O'Connor have left Sean O'Hanlon's
arrival at Easter Road somewhat overshadowed.
We're now tantalisingly close to the SPL's opening weekend. July isn't yet out but already the
sense of anticipation is growing.
The churlish prediction for the season ahead would be that "it can't be as bad as last time." But
this being Scottish football we know that's not true. It can be every bit as bad.
We're now tantalisingly close to the SPL's opening weekend. July isn't yet out but already the
sense of anticipation is growing.
The churlish prediction for the season ahead would be that "it can't be as bad as last time." But
this being Scottish football we know that's not true. It can be every bit as bad.
In the not too dim and distant past I used to work for a health charity in Midlothian.
I'll admit I wasn't straight from central casting. The only way I become a poster boy for health
and fitness is if you need someone to pose for the "before" section of your "before and after"
pictures.
I'm not one of life's joggers, teetotallers or carrot chompers.
Outwardly benign, really rather malevolent.
Inviting your enemies round for a house party is a nice gesture. Until they realise that most of
the guests have only turned up to celebrate your achievements.
Cruel that.
Spare a thought for Falkirk's fans. Off the pace in the First Division title race, financially
suspect, offloading players here, there and everywhere and stuck with a divisive manager for
another season.
Pittodrie. A cold (I suspect it was cold, it usually is) October afternoon in 1998. Scotland are
enduring one of their periodic clashes with the Faroe Islands.
A 2-0 lead, the goals from Craig Burley and Billy Dodds, had lasted from the cusp of half time
until the 79th minute.
At that stage Craig Brown chose to introduce our latest forgotten Scotland player.
A sell out crowd. A long standing local rivalry. The final derby of a long, tense season.
To the winner, perhaps, the championship.
Welcome to Scottish football's Easter weekend. Welcome to Fife.
Dunfermline v Raith Rovers for a place in the SPL. It's not how many people would have imagined
this season's First Division title race turning out.
Ayr United v HibsThe Sky Sports cameras will be at Somerset Park tomorrow night. Not, I think, to
savour the surroundings or in anticipation of a cracking game of football.
No. The Honest Men are hosting Sky because they scent an upset. The vultures are circling ready to
feast on the corpse of Hibs' season.
