Alex McLeish was finally unveiled as the new Scotland manager at a press conference yesterday. He was offered the job a week ago, but the official announcement was held up by negotiations over the length of the contract, with McLeish wanting a deal that lasted until the summer of 2010. He got his way, and yesterday insisted that he intended to honour the contract in full. So, it seems he will be in post for the next 3 ½ years – which might just be a year past his sell-by date.
To be fair to the Scottish Football Association, they have got their first choice for the role. Shocked by the sudden defection of Walter Smith to Rangers, they needed someone who could offer continuity, and hopefully build on the work Smith did to restore the pride of the national team after the humiliation of the Berti Vogts reign. That meant appointing someone Scottish, and with the SFA keen not to pay compensation to prise their chosen man out of a contract somewhere else, the shortlist of suitable candidates was just that – short.
On that basis, McLeish is the obvious choice. Not only is he Scottish, he is an ex-international, having won 77 caps for his country. He also had the best managerial record of any of the candidates on offer, and – crucially – was available.
Yet that last point is instructive. For all his achievements –in particular winning 7 trophies in 4 ½ years at Rangers – his abilities are not universally admired. By his own admission, he had wanted to get back into club management after leaving Ibrox, but the job offers just weren’t forthcoming. Alex McLeish has managed 3 clubs so far in his career, and at each the pattern has been the same – initial success, followed by disillusionment. Motherwell finished as runners-up to Rangers in his first season, before slipping towards the other end of the table by the time he left. At Hibs, he created a swash-buckling, attacking team, that then got stuck in a rut before he left for Rangers. In his first full season there, he won the title back from Martin O’Neill’s Celtic, and won plenty more trophies, but his last season was deeply disappointing.
McLeish is a good man manager and motivator, but a sometimes naïve tactician. Once his initial galvinising affect on a squad wears off, he has been found wanting in setting his team up to get results week-in week-out. And his record in the transfer market is patchy.
It’s possible that these weaknesses won’t matter. The tactics of the Scotland team have been broadly defined by his predecessor, and McLeish has already said that he intends to follow that blueprint. Roughly, it means 4-4-2 against weaker teams, and 5-4-1 against the big boys, underpinned by disciplined organisation and a high work-rate. It’s not pretty, but undeniably effective.
Meanwhile, his transfer record has less relevance in the international context (although an eye for a player, and how they can fit into the team, would be useful). His broader management experience, plus his history as an Aberdeen player, will hopefully mean he is willing to look beyond the obvious Old Firm squad lists, and pick players from other Scottish clubs who can do a job for the national side. With a Scotland B fixture against Finland on 7th February, he has an early opportunity to reveal his thoughts on players on the fringes of the squad.
What is certain, though, is that Scotland needs a fundamental review in terms of its approach to sport, the national game included. There are more young players coming through than there were 5 years ago, although that is down mostly to the serendipitous fall-out from the collapse in SPL TV revenue, which forced clubs to hive off the imports on high wages and promote kids into the first team. There is still a shocking lack of decent facilities across Scotland, and not enough children playing football (or any sport). Of course, it’s not the national manager’s job to rethink Scottish sport from the ground up, but they can prove a powerful advocate for change if they are committed and passionate enough to influence the powers that be. Gordon Strachan identified this as a critical issue when he was in the running to succeed Berti Vogts. There is no indication that McLeish sees his remit as extending this far.
Still in his 40s, there is no doubt that McLeish sees the Scotland job as a stepping stone – make it to Euro 2008, and those lucrative job offers would surely start coming in again. And that might just be the right time for him and Scotland to part company.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Monday, January 22, 2007
“Season-defining” week leaves Hibs chasing the dream, but Aberdeen licking their wounds
As soon as Barry Nicholson scored a last-minute equaliser to set-up a Scottish Cup replay at Easter Road, the pundits started talking about Hibs and Aberdeen having a week that would define their seasons. It was time to see if these two proud clubs – marginalised for years by an acute lack of resources compared to Celtic and Rangers, and now contending with a Hearts team operating outside the normal rules of financial prudence – could make this season one to cherish.
Aberdeen is an oasis of top-flight football in the North East, illustrated by the fact that matches against Inverness Caledonian Thistle – a club based 80 miles away – represents the closest they get to a regular derby match. Aberdeen have yet to lose to Caley in the SPL, but they came mighty close this time, relying on a last gasp goal from Steve Lovell to rob a point from a game they should have lost.
Hibs big week didn’t start until Monday night. They were away against Kilmarnock, a team who have proved a big thorn in their side in recent years, which made it all the more surprising when John Collins decided to give debut starts to three 19 year olds from the academy – Lewis Stevenson, Kevin McCann and Ross Campbell. It was a big, big gamble, but it paid off, with Hibs surviving a fairly turgid first half and then scoring twice through Ivan Sproule and Steven Fletcher.
Then came the Cup tie on Thursday night, with Barry Nicholson again instrumental as he opened the scoring against Hibs. But that was as good as it got for Aberdeen – 2-1 down by half-time after poor defending from corners, they then fell apart at the beginning of the second. Abdessalam Benjelloun, Hibs’ Moroccan striker, has talent, but has struggled at times with the pace of Scottish football. Inexplicable, then, that twice Aberdeen held off him rather than closing him down. And twice Benji, as he is universally known, exploited the space to punish his opponents.
Jimmy Calderwood is the kind of manager who heads every ball and contests every decision from the touchline, but he is not blinkered, and was fulsome in his praise of Hibs at the end of the game. He was somewhat less impressed with his own team’s efforts, though, bemoaning their uncharacteristic defensive lapses. He tried to talk positively about the rest of the season, but his admission that “the dream is over for another year” betrayed his dismay at being out of the Cup.
It is Hibs, though, that dream about lifting this trophy more than any other club. They have not won it since 1902, a record that stands as one of the biggest burdens to carry in British football, and an easy source of mockery for rival fans. They now go on to a 4th round home tie against Gretna, who they spanked 6-0 in the League Cup earlier this season. That won’t stop their own fans having kittens as the game approaches, however.
Following the mid-week replay, both clubs were back to league business at the weekend. Or should have been: Aberdeen’s visit to Motherwell was cancelled because of the poor pitch, which probably pleased Calderwood, who had bitterly complained that the match had not been moved to Sunday to give his team more time to recover from the Hibs match. Motherwell refused to reschedule because it would have cost £30,000, claimed club secretary Stewart Robertson, which “is a lot of money; it could pay a player’s wage”. And no, Premiership fans, he is not talking about their weekly wage. Still, re-arranging the fixture will cause less of a congestion headache for Aberdeen now.
Hibs did play their fixture on Sunday but wished they hadn’t, getting spanked 3-0 by ICT, who were probably still smarting about their failure to beat Aberdeen the previous week. Talent and consistency win you prizes in football, and while Hibs have plenty of the former, they lack the ability to perform week in, week out. Centre back Chris Hogg had a real nightmare. Hibs have scored more goals than anyone else apart from Celtic in the SPL this season, but have conceded more than any of the teams above them.
Both these clubs can still have successful seasons. Aberdeen remain in the chase for 2nd place, while Hibs can see a road to Hampden opening up ahead of them. Their real defining moments are yet to come.
Celtic 5-1 St Mirren
Kilmarnock 1-0 Dundee Utd
Dunfermline 0-1 Rangers
ICT 3-0 Hibees
Motherwell p-p Dons
Hearts 1-0 Falkirk
Aberdeen is an oasis of top-flight football in the North East, illustrated by the fact that matches against Inverness Caledonian Thistle – a club based 80 miles away – represents the closest they get to a regular derby match. Aberdeen have yet to lose to Caley in the SPL, but they came mighty close this time, relying on a last gasp goal from Steve Lovell to rob a point from a game they should have lost.
Hibs big week didn’t start until Monday night. They were away against Kilmarnock, a team who have proved a big thorn in their side in recent years, which made it all the more surprising when John Collins decided to give debut starts to three 19 year olds from the academy – Lewis Stevenson, Kevin McCann and Ross Campbell. It was a big, big gamble, but it paid off, with Hibs surviving a fairly turgid first half and then scoring twice through Ivan Sproule and Steven Fletcher.
Then came the Cup tie on Thursday night, with Barry Nicholson again instrumental as he opened the scoring against Hibs. But that was as good as it got for Aberdeen – 2-1 down by half-time after poor defending from corners, they then fell apart at the beginning of the second. Abdessalam Benjelloun, Hibs’ Moroccan striker, has talent, but has struggled at times with the pace of Scottish football. Inexplicable, then, that twice Aberdeen held off him rather than closing him down. And twice Benji, as he is universally known, exploited the space to punish his opponents.
Jimmy Calderwood is the kind of manager who heads every ball and contests every decision from the touchline, but he is not blinkered, and was fulsome in his praise of Hibs at the end of the game. He was somewhat less impressed with his own team’s efforts, though, bemoaning their uncharacteristic defensive lapses. He tried to talk positively about the rest of the season, but his admission that “the dream is over for another year” betrayed his dismay at being out of the Cup.
It is Hibs, though, that dream about lifting this trophy more than any other club. They have not won it since 1902, a record that stands as one of the biggest burdens to carry in British football, and an easy source of mockery for rival fans. They now go on to a 4th round home tie against Gretna, who they spanked 6-0 in the League Cup earlier this season. That won’t stop their own fans having kittens as the game approaches, however.
Following the mid-week replay, both clubs were back to league business at the weekend. Or should have been: Aberdeen’s visit to Motherwell was cancelled because of the poor pitch, which probably pleased Calderwood, who had bitterly complained that the match had not been moved to Sunday to give his team more time to recover from the Hibs match. Motherwell refused to reschedule because it would have cost £30,000, claimed club secretary Stewart Robertson, which “is a lot of money; it could pay a player’s wage”. And no, Premiership fans, he is not talking about their weekly wage. Still, re-arranging the fixture will cause less of a congestion headache for Aberdeen now.
Hibs did play their fixture on Sunday but wished they hadn’t, getting spanked 3-0 by ICT, who were probably still smarting about their failure to beat Aberdeen the previous week. Talent and consistency win you prizes in football, and while Hibs have plenty of the former, they lack the ability to perform week in, week out. Centre back Chris Hogg had a real nightmare. Hibs have scored more goals than anyone else apart from Celtic in the SPL this season, but have conceded more than any of the teams above them.
Both these clubs can still have successful seasons. Aberdeen remain in the chase for 2nd place, while Hibs can see a road to Hampden opening up ahead of them. Their real defining moments are yet to come.
Celtic 5-1 St Mirren
Kilmarnock 1-0 Dundee Utd
Dunfermline 0-1 Rangers
ICT 3-0 Hibees
Motherwell p-p Dons
Hearts 1-0 Falkirk
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Rangers stake their claim for 2nd place
So, that's it then. With the title already decided - Celtic seem welded to their 17 point lead - it seems that the battle for 2nd place, and the chance to qualify for the Champions League that goes with it, is a done deal too. Their ill-advised flirtation with fancy continental ways abandoned, Rangers celebrated the return of Walter Smith with a 5-0 rout of Dundee Utd.
Well, maybe. But there is still a long way to go, and the table tells the true story of the season: there is only 6 points covering the 4 clubs in 2nd to 5th. None of the clubs below Celtic have really imposed themselves this season, and a strong run could put any of them in contention. If Rangers are to pull away from the chasing pack they will need a consistent run of results, and consistency has not been their strong point.
True, Smith is taking steps to change things around. As if to underline the new direction at Rangers, every one of those 5 goals was scored by a Scottish player, with Barry Ferguson - restored to the captaincy - getting the fifth, and tapping his armband in celebration.
His first moves in the transfer market have been to strengthen a shambolic defence, bringing in Andy Webster and David Weir on loan - both canny moves. Weir, of course, was persuaded to return to the Scotland national team by Smith, and so although old, is bound to do a job for the club. Webster injured himself in training and will be out for a few weeks, but should be pushing for a starting place on his return, so long as his disappointing spell at Wigan has not dented his confidence too much.
But, much as it takes two to tango, it takes two teams to make a football match, and Dundee Utd were awful. Craig Levein had achieved an impressive upturn in results since taking over from Craig Brewster in October, but they came to an end with a 5-1 tanking from Falkirk on New Year's Day. He was happy to see that as a blip, but the Rangers game had him spitting blood.
"Far too often Dundee Utd lose by scorelines that are unacceptable", he fumed, his Presbyterian ire raised by his side's poor workrate. "People who don't want to do things properly, who don't want to fight to the end, are no good to me. I will just get rid of them". Rangers were gifted a win, then, but they won't have things so easy in other games, and the squad need to prove they have the desire and commitment necessary, week in, week out, to turn things around.
As for the rest of the challengers, Aberdeen needed a last-gasp goal to share the points with Inverness, and the shallowness of their squad is starting to show. Brewster - formerly a player manager with Inverness - and Jamie Smith are both out for at least a month, and the goals could dry up.
Hearts lost against Celtic, again, and had to witness Stephen Pressley captaining the opposition. For anyone who remembers Celtic in the 90s, their resilience is something to behold, and the key reason they are so far in front. Valdas Ivanauskas yet again showed his decision making in the heat of battle is suspect with a poor substitution, but Hearts have arguably as much talent as Rangers. As always, though, they need to decide what their best team is, or they will chop and change their way out of contention.
Meanwhile, Hibs stayed in the chase with a win over Kilmarnock, but Killie are in a dire run of form at the moment and slipping off the pace. Hibs will badly miss their striker Chris Killen, who snapped his Achilles tendon in the cup tie against Aberdeen last week.
With 2 weeks to go until the transfer window shuts, how much money are Rangers going to spend to make that second place theirs?
Well, maybe. But there is still a long way to go, and the table tells the true story of the season: there is only 6 points covering the 4 clubs in 2nd to 5th. None of the clubs below Celtic have really imposed themselves this season, and a strong run could put any of them in contention. If Rangers are to pull away from the chasing pack they will need a consistent run of results, and consistency has not been their strong point.
True, Smith is taking steps to change things around. As if to underline the new direction at Rangers, every one of those 5 goals was scored by a Scottish player, with Barry Ferguson - restored to the captaincy - getting the fifth, and tapping his armband in celebration.
His first moves in the transfer market have been to strengthen a shambolic defence, bringing in Andy Webster and David Weir on loan - both canny moves. Weir, of course, was persuaded to return to the Scotland national team by Smith, and so although old, is bound to do a job for the club. Webster injured himself in training and will be out for a few weeks, but should be pushing for a starting place on his return, so long as his disappointing spell at Wigan has not dented his confidence too much.
But, much as it takes two to tango, it takes two teams to make a football match, and Dundee Utd were awful. Craig Levein had achieved an impressive upturn in results since taking over from Craig Brewster in October, but they came to an end with a 5-1 tanking from Falkirk on New Year's Day. He was happy to see that as a blip, but the Rangers game had him spitting blood.
"Far too often Dundee Utd lose by scorelines that are unacceptable", he fumed, his Presbyterian ire raised by his side's poor workrate. "People who don't want to do things properly, who don't want to fight to the end, are no good to me. I will just get rid of them". Rangers were gifted a win, then, but they won't have things so easy in other games, and the squad need to prove they have the desire and commitment necessary, week in, week out, to turn things around.
As for the rest of the challengers, Aberdeen needed a last-gasp goal to share the points with Inverness, and the shallowness of their squad is starting to show. Brewster - formerly a player manager with Inverness - and Jamie Smith are both out for at least a month, and the goals could dry up.
Hearts lost against Celtic, again, and had to witness Stephen Pressley captaining the opposition. For anyone who remembers Celtic in the 90s, their resilience is something to behold, and the key reason they are so far in front. Valdas Ivanauskas yet again showed his decision making in the heat of battle is suspect with a poor substitution, but Hearts have arguably as much talent as Rangers. As always, though, they need to decide what their best team is, or they will chop and change their way out of contention.
Meanwhile, Hibs stayed in the chase with a win over Kilmarnock, but Killie are in a dire run of form at the moment and slipping off the pace. Hibs will badly miss their striker Chris Killen, who snapped his Achilles tendon in the cup tie against Aberdeen last week.
With 2 weeks to go until the transfer window shuts, how much money are Rangers going to spend to make that second place theirs?
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Smith finally confirmed at Rangers, as Scotland lick their wounds
No surprises, then.
After a week of speculation, Walter Smith finally announced himself at a press conference, dressed in the club suit and tie of Rangers, confirming what everyone already knew - that he was the man to try and rescue the club from the indignities of this season and rebuild its reputation. Meanwhile, across Glasgow, the Scottish Football Association instigated legal proceedings against their former employee and the club.
The extraordinary truth is that Rangers and the SFA have still not agreed a compensation package for Smith, who had 18 months to run on his contract, and yet the announcement went ahead anyhow. As a statement of intent, it is a brutal one: when asked about the situation, the Rangers chairman, David Murray, simply said that the amount of compensation requested by the SFA was "unrealistic". Although he expressed hope that the issue can be resolved amicably, he was unapologetic about putting the needs of Rangers above anything else.
But beyond the level of compensation, there is another issue at stake. Smith quite clearly started working for Rangers before resigning from his position as Scotland coach - meaning not only that Rangers tapped him up, but that Smith was then in breach of contract. His new first-team coach, Kenny McDowall, gave the game away first, before Ally McCoist confirmed as much. "There was no hesitation at all, as soon as the manager asked me to come back I agreed", he said, when unveiled as assistant manager on Tuesday. So Smith was already working as the Rangers manager, when the SFA had refused permission for the club to speak to him. The SFA have described these relevations as "interesting". You bet they have.
It is likely that a compromise will be reached before the matter reaches the courts - frankly, the SFA can barely afford an expensive legal battle, and they could do without the distraction when their main priority is finding a new coach. Furthermore, while there is the possibility of further sanctions, it is unlikely the SFA has the appetite for the fight. Docking points or banning them from European competition would be bold assertions of authority, but realpolitik will intervene to ensure that the SFA does nothing that damages the interests of one of its biggest members, thus effectively sweeping the affair under the carpet. This will suit the short term interests of the parties involved, but a precedent has been set that chips away at the basis of the professional game.
What, for example, is now to stop a similar situation occuring between clubs, where a manager simply swaps employers by walking out on one contract and signing another? And while it might seem fanciful to suggest the same could happen with players, with individual registrations still controlled by national associations and FIFA, this seems to be the way the game is headed, with the rules bent to suit the needs of the bigger clubs. Perhaps Rangers will hold a press conference tomorrow to announce the signing of Scott Brown - and when Hibs complain that he is still their player, simply dismiss the quoted transfer fee as "unrealistic". Contracts are surely designed to allow all parties, regardless of their relative wealth, status or power, equal treatment, but they are becoming increasingly easy to circumvent.
Smith, meanwhile, after a cordial but hardly contrite performance at yesterday's press conference, clearly feels that criticism of his move has been unjust, and has tried to pin the responsibility on the SFA, saying that the risk of getting sacked in November if Scotland failed to qualify for Euro 2008 was a key factor in his decision. Apparently, his old bosses had not pushed him hard enough to sign a contract extension, even though - by his own admission - he had told them he was in no hurry to agree a new deal. He also has expressed surprise that the SFA are not showing him more gratitude for turning around Scotland's fortunes. None of which changes the fact that he has walked out on a clear commitment.
Still, what's done is done, and the Smith/McCoist double act, honed over the past 2 years, now faces a new challenge. It is not hard to see the reasons for success at international level, because their personalities do seem complementary. Smith is like your dour uncle - interested in what you've been doing, but you need to be on your best behaviour at all times. McCoist, meanwhile, is the mischevious older cousin, who's a bit naughty, but always fun. It just remains to be seen how it translates to the daily routine of club management, rather than the intermittment nature of the international set-up. McCoist has spoken about this being his dream start in management, but - at the age of 44 - he's not exactly a quick starter. Most of his contemporaries who went into coaching have around a decade's experience by now. Smith, meanwhile, is 58, and taking on a stressful and all-consuming job. Experience is great, of course, but the job will also require large reserves of energy.
Meanwhile, the search is on for a new Scotland manager. The SFA have indicated they will go for a home-grown appointment again, and such is the shortage of available talent that Graeme Souness has been spoken about in some circles as a front runner. If that's the case, Scotland really are in trouble.
After a week of speculation, Walter Smith finally announced himself at a press conference, dressed in the club suit and tie of Rangers, confirming what everyone already knew - that he was the man to try and rescue the club from the indignities of this season and rebuild its reputation. Meanwhile, across Glasgow, the Scottish Football Association instigated legal proceedings against their former employee and the club.
The extraordinary truth is that Rangers and the SFA have still not agreed a compensation package for Smith, who had 18 months to run on his contract, and yet the announcement went ahead anyhow. As a statement of intent, it is a brutal one: when asked about the situation, the Rangers chairman, David Murray, simply said that the amount of compensation requested by the SFA was "unrealistic". Although he expressed hope that the issue can be resolved amicably, he was unapologetic about putting the needs of Rangers above anything else.
But beyond the level of compensation, there is another issue at stake. Smith quite clearly started working for Rangers before resigning from his position as Scotland coach - meaning not only that Rangers tapped him up, but that Smith was then in breach of contract. His new first-team coach, Kenny McDowall, gave the game away first, before Ally McCoist confirmed as much. "There was no hesitation at all, as soon as the manager asked me to come back I agreed", he said, when unveiled as assistant manager on Tuesday. So Smith was already working as the Rangers manager, when the SFA had refused permission for the club to speak to him. The SFA have described these relevations as "interesting". You bet they have.
It is likely that a compromise will be reached before the matter reaches the courts - frankly, the SFA can barely afford an expensive legal battle, and they could do without the distraction when their main priority is finding a new coach. Furthermore, while there is the possibility of further sanctions, it is unlikely the SFA has the appetite for the fight. Docking points or banning them from European competition would be bold assertions of authority, but realpolitik will intervene to ensure that the SFA does nothing that damages the interests of one of its biggest members, thus effectively sweeping the affair under the carpet. This will suit the short term interests of the parties involved, but a precedent has been set that chips away at the basis of the professional game.
What, for example, is now to stop a similar situation occuring between clubs, where a manager simply swaps employers by walking out on one contract and signing another? And while it might seem fanciful to suggest the same could happen with players, with individual registrations still controlled by national associations and FIFA, this seems to be the way the game is headed, with the rules bent to suit the needs of the bigger clubs. Perhaps Rangers will hold a press conference tomorrow to announce the signing of Scott Brown - and when Hibs complain that he is still their player, simply dismiss the quoted transfer fee as "unrealistic". Contracts are surely designed to allow all parties, regardless of their relative wealth, status or power, equal treatment, but they are becoming increasingly easy to circumvent.
Smith, meanwhile, after a cordial but hardly contrite performance at yesterday's press conference, clearly feels that criticism of his move has been unjust, and has tried to pin the responsibility on the SFA, saying that the risk of getting sacked in November if Scotland failed to qualify for Euro 2008 was a key factor in his decision. Apparently, his old bosses had not pushed him hard enough to sign a contract extension, even though - by his own admission - he had told them he was in no hurry to agree a new deal. He also has expressed surprise that the SFA are not showing him more gratitude for turning around Scotland's fortunes. None of which changes the fact that he has walked out on a clear commitment.
Still, what's done is done, and the Smith/McCoist double act, honed over the past 2 years, now faces a new challenge. It is not hard to see the reasons for success at international level, because their personalities do seem complementary. Smith is like your dour uncle - interested in what you've been doing, but you need to be on your best behaviour at all times. McCoist, meanwhile, is the mischevious older cousin, who's a bit naughty, but always fun. It just remains to be seen how it translates to the daily routine of club management, rather than the intermittment nature of the international set-up. McCoist has spoken about this being his dream start in management, but - at the age of 44 - he's not exactly a quick starter. Most of his contemporaries who went into coaching have around a decade's experience by now. Smith, meanwhile, is 58, and taking on a stressful and all-consuming job. Experience is great, of course, but the job will also require large reserves of energy.
Meanwhile, the search is on for a new Scotland manager. The SFA have indicated they will go for a home-grown appointment again, and such is the shortage of available talent that Graeme Souness has been spoken about in some circles as a front runner. If that's the case, Scotland really are in trouble.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Scottish Cup Third Round
The Rangers story has managed to overshadow everything else, so we love fitba feels duty bound to report on the big Scottish Cup week, when the SPL clubs joined the fray. Traditionally, of course, the third round fixtures take place over the same weekend, but for some unfathomable reason the Aberdeen-Hibs game was scheduled on Wednesday night instead. As the Dundee Utd-St Mirren game has been postponed, and the Aberdeen-Hibs game ended in a draw, we're going to be here for a while yet.
Both those clubs are desperate to win the Cup, of course, as it would vindicate their seasons (and, in Hibs case, cut out more than a century of pain since they last lifted the trophy). Whoever gets through has a home tie against Gretna.
Last season winners Hearts beat Stranraer, and face Dunfermline in the next round after they dumped Rangers. Killie were also embarassed, after getting beat 3-1 by Second Division Morton, but the other SPL clubs are all safely through.
Heroes of the round, though, were Highland League club Deveronvale, who beat Elgin 5-4 at the weekend. If there was any romance in the world they would have drawn Celtic at Parkhead in the next round, but instead they face Partick Thistle at home.
Both those clubs are desperate to win the Cup, of course, as it would vindicate their seasons (and, in Hibs case, cut out more than a century of pain since they last lifted the trophy). Whoever gets through has a home tie against Gretna.
Last season winners Hearts beat Stranraer, and face Dunfermline in the next round after they dumped Rangers. Killie were also embarassed, after getting beat 3-1 by Second Division Morton, but the other SPL clubs are all safely through.
Heroes of the round, though, were Highland League club Deveronvale, who beat Elgin 5-4 at the weekend. If there was any romance in the world they would have drawn Celtic at Parkhead in the next round, but instead they face Partick Thistle at home.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Rangers: it's 1991 all over again
No manager, out of the title race, out of the CIS Cup, out of the Scottish Cup, a divided and dispirited squad, and a chairman who wants to sell up. Rangers Football Club is in a mess, alright.
Predictably, the crisis at Ibrox has dominated the Scottish sports media over the weekend, fuelled by a lacklustre defeat at the hands of Dunfermline, a team who (up until Sunday) couldn't beat an egg. Another piece of silverware gone.
Everyone seems to agree that Walter Smith is going to be announced as the new boss on Monday, which gives the story an added dimension as we wonder what will happen to the Scotttish national team, who currently top their Euro 2008 qualifying group thanks to Smith's astute management. He is predicted to head a new management structure variously comprising Ally McCoist, Ian Durrant and Stuart McCall, a set-up that could only be more true blue if Gazza was brought in as fitness coach. Rangers are recoiling from their failed experiment with a continental coach and are turning to the old boys network to run the team and recruit some more Scottish players. In fact, David Murray has said there will never be another foreign manager again.
If the predictions are right, and lure of Govan proves too strong, Smith should forget about continuing the Scotland job part-time. Walking away from his contract is bad enough; the SFA shouldn't compound the problem by leaving a man in charge who cannot give the job the whole-hearted commitment it needs.
Opinion on Le Guen's brief time in charge is split. The majority view is that he was rubbish and deserved to go. Several stories have claimed that he wanted out, either because he was lining himself up for the PSG job, or simply because he'd had enough grief and didn't have the bottle to carry the job through.
There is a sizeable minority of Rangers fans, though, who regret that his attempt to reform the club from top-to-bottom have ended prematurely. Arsene Wenger, after all, had indifferent results early in his Arsenal career, but maintained the unshakeable faith of his board. Paul Le Guen, it seems, did not. His sacking of Ferguson seemed a provocative last act, to find out how much support he had. His chairman, horrified by the divisions in the dressing room and the lack of progress on the field, had lost his belief. The transfer window had brought things to a head - a journalist in France has claimed that PLG was not promised the funds he needed, and quite clearly his plan to offload Ferguson was not met with approval either.
Smith, however, will get more backing - Andy Webster has already joined on loan, after a disappointing 4 months at Wigan, but apparently injured himself in training and will be out for 4 weeks. Other than him, all the usual (Scottish) suspects have been linked to Rangers - Scott Brown, Paul Hartley, Russell Anderson. That's probably £4m.
How Murray must despair at his predicament. £4m is peanuts in the Premiership, but money that Rangers simply don't have - it will be coming out of Murray's own pocket, at a time when he really wants to cut his losses and get out of the club. While foreign investors are snapping up Premiership clubs left right and centre, Rangers have been openly for sale for over a year without any progress. Even the £50m dowry that Murray put in to pay off the debts has failed to attract any attention for the Scottish bridesmaid.
Meanwhile, they have a season to salvage, and the irony of the radical change in direction towards the homeland is that there is only one trophy left to compete for - the UEFA Cup. And it was lack of success in Europe that persuaded Murray to let Walter Smith go last time. But that was then, when domestic trophies were easy and progress in Europe seemed elusive. Now Rangers are still involved in a European competition after Christmas for the 2nd year in a row, while still humiliated by Celtic at home. How times have changed.
Predictably, the crisis at Ibrox has dominated the Scottish sports media over the weekend, fuelled by a lacklustre defeat at the hands of Dunfermline, a team who (up until Sunday) couldn't beat an egg. Another piece of silverware gone.
Everyone seems to agree that Walter Smith is going to be announced as the new boss on Monday, which gives the story an added dimension as we wonder what will happen to the Scotttish national team, who currently top their Euro 2008 qualifying group thanks to Smith's astute management. He is predicted to head a new management structure variously comprising Ally McCoist, Ian Durrant and Stuart McCall, a set-up that could only be more true blue if Gazza was brought in as fitness coach. Rangers are recoiling from their failed experiment with a continental coach and are turning to the old boys network to run the team and recruit some more Scottish players. In fact, David Murray has said there will never be another foreign manager again.
If the predictions are right, and lure of Govan proves too strong, Smith should forget about continuing the Scotland job part-time. Walking away from his contract is bad enough; the SFA shouldn't compound the problem by leaving a man in charge who cannot give the job the whole-hearted commitment it needs.
Opinion on Le Guen's brief time in charge is split. The majority view is that he was rubbish and deserved to go. Several stories have claimed that he wanted out, either because he was lining himself up for the PSG job, or simply because he'd had enough grief and didn't have the bottle to carry the job through.
There is a sizeable minority of Rangers fans, though, who regret that his attempt to reform the club from top-to-bottom have ended prematurely. Arsene Wenger, after all, had indifferent results early in his Arsenal career, but maintained the unshakeable faith of his board. Paul Le Guen, it seems, did not. His sacking of Ferguson seemed a provocative last act, to find out how much support he had. His chairman, horrified by the divisions in the dressing room and the lack of progress on the field, had lost his belief. The transfer window had brought things to a head - a journalist in France has claimed that PLG was not promised the funds he needed, and quite clearly his plan to offload Ferguson was not met with approval either.
Smith, however, will get more backing - Andy Webster has already joined on loan, after a disappointing 4 months at Wigan, but apparently injured himself in training and will be out for 4 weeks. Other than him, all the usual (Scottish) suspects have been linked to Rangers - Scott Brown, Paul Hartley, Russell Anderson. That's probably £4m.
How Murray must despair at his predicament. £4m is peanuts in the Premiership, but money that Rangers simply don't have - it will be coming out of Murray's own pocket, at a time when he really wants to cut his losses and get out of the club. While foreign investors are snapping up Premiership clubs left right and centre, Rangers have been openly for sale for over a year without any progress. Even the £50m dowry that Murray put in to pay off the debts has failed to attract any attention for the Scottish bridesmaid.
Meanwhile, they have a season to salvage, and the irony of the radical change in direction towards the homeland is that there is only one trophy left to compete for - the UEFA Cup. And it was lack of success in Europe that persuaded Murray to let Walter Smith go last time. But that was then, when domestic trophies were easy and progress in Europe seemed elusive. Now Rangers are still involved in a European competition after Christmas for the 2nd year in a row, while still humiliated by Celtic at home. How times have changed.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Le Guen loses everything on last throw of the dice
Paul Le Guen claimed last month that the role of captain was more important in Scotland than in France. He wasn't joking. Who wears the armband - and how they behave - is starting to define the 2006/7 SPL season.
Back in October the Hearts captain, Steven Pressley, went public with his concerns on the way the club was being run, and left a month later. Kevin Thomson is no longer skipper at Hibs after boss John Collins finally became exasperated with the ongoing transfer saga surrounding the player. Aberdeen know that hanging on to Russell Anderson is critical if they are to enjoy a successful season. And now Barry Ferguson's demotion - and expulsion from the squad - has triggered the latest sensational events at Ibrox.
Barry Ferguson, of course, is the golden boy at Rangers, the self-professed boyhood fan who wants to be buried in a light blue jersey. He is one of those players who - like Alan Shearer was at Newcastle - embody the club and is essentially untouchable. Just how untouchable Le Guen has just found out to his cost.
After a nervy, somewhat fortunate win against Motherwell on 2nd January, Paul Le Guen explained why he had dropped his skipper. It was one of those interviews that journalists die for. Used to trying to coax titbits of information out of tactiturn football men, the BBC's Chick Young could hardly get a word in as Le Guen passionately defended his actions.
"I have been patient", he said, speaking of the pressure he felt he'd been under for months as Ferguson had continually undermined him. "This is not a whim. I have good guys in the team, and the team is always more important than one player." He then emphasised the point: "Rangers are more important than Paul Le Guen. Even more important than Barry Ferguson."
That last statement was devastating. In Le Guen's eyes, Ferguson had not been acting in the best interests of the football club, and for that reason he had to be dropped. The timing was no coincidence - the opening of the transfer window was "the right moment". If that was designed to make Ferguson feel uneasy, he then acknowledged that his own position was "precarious". There was no doubt what Le Guen was saying - either Ferguson went, or he did. This was his final gamble.
We now know what happened next. Barry Ferguson and his agent John Viola met with the Rangers Chairman, David Murray. Murray then met with Le Guen. Rangers then issued a statement: Le Guen had agreed to leave his post "in the interests of the club".
Le Guen made many mistakes during his 7 months at Ibrox - the briefest reign of any Rangers manager. While he did not have a huge transfer budget, what he did have appears to have been spent poorly, on squad players who seem ill-suited to the rigours of Scottish football. He was then unnecessarily stubborn in selecting these players when it was clear they were struggling. Choosing Leitzi ahead of McGregor, for example, seemed more like desperation to prove that bringing another goalkeeper to the club wasn't a waste of precious resources. He struggled to get his tactics right, and against Inverness on Boxing Day it was clear that Rangers still couldn't defend. Yes, he had injury problems, but his squad still underperformed.
He remained dignified in defeat, though, accepting the pressure that came with the poor results and deflecting much of the criticism from his players. (The charmless Barry Ferguson, meanwhile, had been more than happy to blame other players for lacklustre performances). And Rangers' progress in the UEFA Cup was perhaps a flicker of what Le Guen could bring to the club, given enough time. But overall results have been way below expectations, and he will now need to try and rebuild his damaged reputation elsewhere.
Le Guen's appointment ultimately represents a failed gamble for David Murray, too, and he will be deeply wounded by the events of the past few days. Somehow, Rangers need to rebuild from here, but after a generous financial settlement with the outgoing management team, there is even less money to play with. What is more, if Barry Ferguson now stays at the club, any new manager will know that they are not the real boss.
Back in October the Hearts captain, Steven Pressley, went public with his concerns on the way the club was being run, and left a month later. Kevin Thomson is no longer skipper at Hibs after boss John Collins finally became exasperated with the ongoing transfer saga surrounding the player. Aberdeen know that hanging on to Russell Anderson is critical if they are to enjoy a successful season. And now Barry Ferguson's demotion - and expulsion from the squad - has triggered the latest sensational events at Ibrox.
Barry Ferguson, of course, is the golden boy at Rangers, the self-professed boyhood fan who wants to be buried in a light blue jersey. He is one of those players who - like Alan Shearer was at Newcastle - embody the club and is essentially untouchable. Just how untouchable Le Guen has just found out to his cost.
After a nervy, somewhat fortunate win against Motherwell on 2nd January, Paul Le Guen explained why he had dropped his skipper. It was one of those interviews that journalists die for. Used to trying to coax titbits of information out of tactiturn football men, the BBC's Chick Young could hardly get a word in as Le Guen passionately defended his actions.
"I have been patient", he said, speaking of the pressure he felt he'd been under for months as Ferguson had continually undermined him. "This is not a whim. I have good guys in the team, and the team is always more important than one player." He then emphasised the point: "Rangers are more important than Paul Le Guen. Even more important than Barry Ferguson."
That last statement was devastating. In Le Guen's eyes, Ferguson had not been acting in the best interests of the football club, and for that reason he had to be dropped. The timing was no coincidence - the opening of the transfer window was "the right moment". If that was designed to make Ferguson feel uneasy, he then acknowledged that his own position was "precarious". There was no doubt what Le Guen was saying - either Ferguson went, or he did. This was his final gamble.
We now know what happened next. Barry Ferguson and his agent John Viola met with the Rangers Chairman, David Murray. Murray then met with Le Guen. Rangers then issued a statement: Le Guen had agreed to leave his post "in the interests of the club".
Le Guen made many mistakes during his 7 months at Ibrox - the briefest reign of any Rangers manager. While he did not have a huge transfer budget, what he did have appears to have been spent poorly, on squad players who seem ill-suited to the rigours of Scottish football. He was then unnecessarily stubborn in selecting these players when it was clear they were struggling. Choosing Leitzi ahead of McGregor, for example, seemed more like desperation to prove that bringing another goalkeeper to the club wasn't a waste of precious resources. He struggled to get his tactics right, and against Inverness on Boxing Day it was clear that Rangers still couldn't defend. Yes, he had injury problems, but his squad still underperformed.
He remained dignified in defeat, though, accepting the pressure that came with the poor results and deflecting much of the criticism from his players. (The charmless Barry Ferguson, meanwhile, had been more than happy to blame other players for lacklustre performances). And Rangers' progress in the UEFA Cup was perhaps a flicker of what Le Guen could bring to the club, given enough time. But overall results have been way below expectations, and he will now need to try and rebuild his damaged reputation elsewhere.
Le Guen's appointment ultimately represents a failed gamble for David Murray, too, and he will be deeply wounded by the events of the past few days. Somehow, Rangers need to rebuild from here, but after a generous financial settlement with the outgoing management team, there is even less money to play with. What is more, if Barry Ferguson now stays at the club, any new manager will know that they are not the real boss.
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