Hibs party after finally bringing a trophy home

Hibs have won the CIS League Cup, after a thrilling final at Hampden. After years of heartache and disappointment, they have at last won a tangible reward for their efforts. Fittingly, they won the trophy with the brand of passing football that has become their trademark.

The club last won a trophy in 1991 - that was the League Cup too, although it was sponsored by Skol lager back then. Since then, they and every other club in Scottish football have watched as Rangers and Celtic have hoovered up every championship between them, and most of the other silverware on offer as well. But Hibs failed to pick up any of the occasional scraps that were thrown from the Old Firm table.

To be fair, for much of that period they had other things to worry about, such as crippling debt, relegation battles, or managers that had lost their way. Most cup runs had ended prematurely, but in recent years they had got tantalisingly close, before failing once again. It was no great surprise that they were beaten by Celtic in the 2001 Scottish Cup final, but losing the League Cup final to Livingston in 2004 was a real shock. In 2005 and 2006 they were defeated in Scottish Cup semi finals, the latter a traumatic spanking by Hearts. But not this time. Hibernian are the Cinderella of Scottish football no more.

Sunday's 5-1 scoreline was a bit harsh on Kilmarnock, in the sense that history will record this match as a one-sided thrashing, which it wasn't. The first half was fairly even, as predicted by most pundits, with the atrocious weather making conditions difficult and both sides keeping the opposition's strikers quiet and patiently looking for an opening. If Steven Naismith's 20th minute effort hadn't gone just wide of the Hibs goal, the game would have been very different. But Kilmarnock did less well 7 minutes later, when they allowed Rob Jones to get a run at a Hibs corner and bullet the header into the net.

Kilmarnock probably felt aggrieved to go into the break a goal down, but already there were cracks appearing that would become chasms in the 2nd half. The key to the match was that Hibernian used the width of the Hampden pitch much more effectively. While Naismith swapped flanks trying to get on the ball, Ivan Sproule was always available on the Hibs right to receive the ball and run at the opponents. Killie doubled up on him to negate the threat, but this left yawning gaps on the other side of the park. With Hibs' two fullbacks always bright and looking to get forward, they started to dominate possession.

As well as pretty football, Hibs have also developed a reputation for trusting in youth, and they were true to their philosophy here. As well as a 19 year old, Andy McNeil, in goal, they had another teenager, Lewis Stevenson, in midfield. The precocious young scamp even had the cheek to collect the Man of the Match award.

From the sidelines, John Collins was constantly driving his team on. There was no question Hibs were going to try and sit on a one goal lead - they wanted to win in emphatic style. The strikers started coming into the game more as Hibs went for the kill, and Steven Fletcher and Abdessalam Benjelloun got a goal each before Killie scored themselves from a corner. 3-1 down, with 15 minutes to go, Killie had no choice but to attack, but it left them exposed at the back, and they conceded the final 2 goals in the last 5 minutes. It was only then that their loyal fans started leaving in numbers, as the Hibs supporters danced and sang in delight.

If 30,000 supporters belting out "Sunshine on Leith" at Hampden wasn't enough to convince onlookers of how much this meant to the club, the scenes back in Edinburgh made it abudantly clear. As the open top bus carried the trophy and the team through Leith to the stadium, tens of thousands lined the streets to applaud their heroes, and then stormed the stadium to see the cup being brought home. There were chaotic scenes as some fans invaded the pitch and ruined the planned presentation, but this was a spontaneous outpouring of joy. The pubs around the stadium then heaved with punters drinking to their success late into the night.

That's what happens when a club that has been starved of success finally has something to celebrate.

CIS League Cup Final preview

With Rangers predictably coming unstuck against Osasuna last night (the crowd trouble was – sadly – predictable as well), Scottish football clubs are now entirely concentrated on domestic matters. Handy, then, that the first trophy of the season is up for grabs on Sunday.

Refreshingly, given Celtic's runaway lead in the league, neither side of the Old Firm is involved in the CIS League Cup Final. In fact, this is the first year since 1979 that neither Celtic nor Rangers made it to the semi-final stage of the League Cup. Disgraceful and myopic scheduling means that Celtic are playing an SPL fixture on Sunday (was there really no other date available?), but thanks to their loss against Rangers last week, they will not win the title for another week at least. Hopefully, this means the winner of the Cup should enjoy a moment in the spotlight, before being obscured by the Old Firm shadow again.

Least important of the big three domestic competitions it might be, but a League Cup trophy would mean a huge amount to either Hibernian or Kilmarnock. Hampden Park’s 50,000 seats were sold out as soon as they went on sale, a measure of the anticipation from both sets of fans. The Killie boss, Jim Jefferies, has said that winning this one would be even more important than the Scottish Cup he won as Hearts boss in 1998, while Hibs have waited 16 years since their last piece of silverware (Division One trophy excepted).

Finals are often disappointing games, as the tension of the occasion feeds into a cagey approach on the pitch, but this one could be a classic. Hibs and Killie are very evenly matched: they are currently locked together on 43 points in the league. Killie were arguably more impressive on route to the final, especially in the Semi Final where they dismantled Falkirk, but then Hibs overcame an impressively combative St Johnstone. The bookies agree – Hibs are marginal favourites, but there is very little in it.

Both are tidy footballing sides, too, who will want to exploit the wide open spaces of Hampden park. There's a little added spice, too, with Jefferies’ past as Hearts manager – he makes no secret of the joy he takes in getting one over the Jambo’s bitter rivals. As an ex-Hibs player, John Collins needs no lectures in his club’s trophy-starved past.

It would be unfair to characterise Kilmarnock as a one-man team, but their hopes for success probably do rest on the slender shoulders of Steven Naismith. Still young enough not to have worked out yet whether he is a winger or a striker, Naismith’s goals did for Falkirk, and Killie will be looking to get him on the ball at every opportunity. For Hibs, it’s a little more complex – they are a pretty but fragile footballing side, who score lots of goals but have regular defensive jitters. Scott Brown is a certain starter and will be his usual industrious self, but will need the rest of the midfield to click if he isn’t to be chasing down blind alleys all afternoon.

Whatever the result, season 2006/7 will see a club outside the usual hegemony win something worthwhile. And that has to be good for Scottish football as a whole.

The Old Firm are quartered

Celtic are out of the Champions League, and will have watched today’s draw for the quarter finals from the sidelines. Rangers are technically still in the UEFA Cup, but based on last night’s performance, no one is expecting them to come through against Osasuna in the 2nd leg next week. It looks like Scottish involvement in European club competition is over for another year.

It is telling that the mood amongst the Hoops fans is considerably lighter than the despair felt by Arsenal supporters following their exit from the competition on the same night. Partly, this is due to lower expectation – just getting through the group stage is still something of a novelty for a Scottish club. But it is also because Celtic know they will be back next year, with the SPL title now within touching distance, while Arsenal still have a fight on their hands to guarantee a place in next season’s elite competition.

Yet both teams share a very good reason not to be too disheartened – they are both young, and can surely only improve in the next few years. The callowness of the Celtic team was thrown into sharp relief against the veterans of Milan, and in the end experience (and quality) told, as Kaka scored in extra time to settle the tie. Celtic were denied a penalty when Maldini handled the ball inside the area, but then Lee Naylor also got away with an illegal challenge in Celtic’s box too, so the result was a justified one. Celtic had failed to score in the first leg at Celtic Park, and were always second favourites at the San Siro.

Gordon Strachan done a remarkable job at Celtic so far, refreshing an ageing squad with limited a transfer budget and reducing the wage bill at the same time, but it’s surely time to accept that one of his bigger purchases has flopped. Thomas Gravesen was signed from Real Madrid in the summer to add some experience and guile, but was not brought on until an hour had gone on Wednesday night. If he cannot command a starting place in front of the 19 year old Evander Sno, or the technically limited Jari Jarosik, in such an important match, it’s very hard to justify his reputed £40k a week wages. Strachan refutes the rumours that he’ll be off in the summer, but if they can find a buyer, it will happen.

Rangers are also in the midst of a rebuilding programme, and they too will likely be looking to next season very soon. Runners-up spot in the SPL is looking increasingly safe, meaning a qualifying round entry into next season’s Champions League, and they have a few more young players joining in the summer – St Mirren defender Kris Broadfoot being the latest to sign a pre-contract agreement.

They are not out of this season’s UEFA Cup yet, but the 1-1 result against Osasuna flattered them, a defensive mistake by their opponents in the last minute of the game allowing Brahim Hemdani to batter the ball into the net. Once again they played Kris Boyd and Barry Ferguson in a kind of split-striker formation, but Osasuna were much less generous than the Hapoel Tel Aviv in the previous round.

Celtic scare themselves again

Gordon Strachan calls it fear. The reason his Celtic team are sweeping all before them this season is the fear of losing. So strong is this fear that they just don't know when to stop, and their determination and resilience gets them results in matches that they really should lose.

Sunday was a case in point. Really, they should have lost. Inverness Caledonian Thistle took the lead, and were 90 seconds away from booking their place in the semi finals of the Scottish Cup, a place that they would have thoroughly merited. Yet the pressure from their opponents became inexorable, and when Celtic finally equalised through Steven Pressley, ICT looked spent. A minute after that they were in shock as Kenny Miller drove in the winner. It was harsh on the home side but they had been warned. Exactly the same thing happened the last time Celtic came to town on league business, turning the match and scoring 2 late late goals to take all three points.

So, no upset in the Highlands, but elsewhere there's romance and stories aplenty. Hibs overcame a spirited Queen of the South to get through to the semi finals again, and keep alive their dream of ending the longest hex in football - they haven't won this competition since 1902, and don't their rivals like to remind them.

Dunfermline cannot win in the SPL, but in the Scottish Cup it's a different matter. They are into the semi finals after a 2-0 win over Partick Thistle. And St Johnstone have a chance to keep their glorious record in the cups going when they play Motherwell in their delayed tie on Wednesday.

Celtic undisputed favourites, then... but they need to remain fearful of the dreams of others.

Rangers march on towards the promised land

Rangers are through to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup, after an ultimately comfortable victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv at Ibrox. The tie finished 5-2 on aggregate, with Rangers scoring 4 at Ibrox to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the 1st leg.

Yet the result represents so much more than just progress in Europe's second cup competition. In many ways, Rangers have now firmly put the turmoil of the first half of the season to bed. But they have also realised that their much vaunted campaign against bigotry has some way to go.

The one positive from Paul Le Guen's brief tenure was the club's progress in this competition. By parting with their French manager in January, the danger was that the momentum gained in the UEFA Cup would grind to a halt as Rangers focused on rebuilding their domestic reputation. By getting through this round, though, anything that happens from here on in the UEFA Cup is a bonus. Walter Smith has shown that he, too, can cope with the demands of European competition.

More startling, though, is the transformation of Barry Ferguson. When Le Guen instructed his captain to play further up the pitch, where his passing and vision could cause more damage to the opposition, Ferguson openly rebelled, chasing the ball deep into his own half and pulling the team out of shape as he did so. A furious Le Guen dropped him, removed the captaincy, and issued a he goes or I go ultimatum. And lost. When Smith asked Ferguson to do the same on Thursday night, he turned in a Man of the Match performance, plundered a brace of goals, and played with a smile on his face.

Nothing better demonstrates the subtle nuances of football management - it is not simply about getting the tactics right, but also about man management, communication and creating the right atmosphere. Put simply, Smith knows how to get the best out of Ferguson. Le Guen did not.

Their reward is a last-16 tie against Osasuna. It was characterised by the BBC interviewer last night as a "massive tie", but only in the sense that it will test Rangers to the limit. With all due respect, Osasuna do not represent the glamour and prestige that Rangers seek to restore their self-image. If they get through, maybe that will come in the next round, where they would crave an appointment with Newcastle.

Yet Smith will know that further progress is not guaranteed. Rangers have been getting impressive results in the SPL, and the final scoreline here was emphatic, but Hapoel - hardly a "big" team themselves - threatened frequently throughout the game. With a more incisive attack, Rangers could have got punished last night. There is much work still to be done on improving this Ibrox side.

Their is work to be done off the field, too. Rangers escaped sanction from UEFA for the behaviour of some of their fans in the first leg in Israel, who were alleged to be making Nazi salutes. UEFA accepted the explanation that they were, in fact, making Red Hand of Ulster salutes. Not that such a thing exists, at least not in Ulster. The photgraphic evidence (try here: http://i18.tinypic.com/3zu44ec.jpg ) might not be enough to convict, but is a deeply unpleasant sight.

Rangers has a facist, right-wing following, however much of a minority they may be. Pretending otherwise does nothing to banish bigotry and racism from the club.

How much do Scotland's new generation really love the game?

While England were enduring their shambolic defeat against Spain last week, the new Scotland boss Alex McLeish got his squad of 30 together for a training camp. At the same time, he announced a Scotland "B" squad, who played a friendly fixture against Finland. The result - 2-2 - was not that impressive, but that was not really the point. The exercise gave McLeish a chance to look at those players who are pushing for a senior cap.

That meant a total of nearly 50 players training or playing in the national colours last week, and there are yet more who can count themselves unlucky not to have been called up - most notably, Steven Naismith of Kilmarnock. The contrast with a decade ago is striking. Craig Brown's squads became increasingly reliant on an ageing band of players, as he felt the quality to replace them just didn't exist. In fact, Brown typically looked to "Anglos" such as Don Hutchison - who had grown up and played in England his entire career, but qualified for the Scottish team via a grandparent - rather than at home when new faces were needed.

Now, Scotland aren't yet world beaters. But there are lots of reasons to be positive about the future. A new generation of players has come through - roughly defined by Kenny Miller, 27, as the oldest, through to the 19 year old Naismith - who could play together for years to come, and develop as a team. Even Miller might not have peaked yet (Celtic supporters will certainly hope not, because he's had a poor season), while players like Naismith, Derek Riordan and Shaun Maloney still have the bulk of their careers ahead of them. These 3, in particular, have more than youth on their side... they each have plenty of raw talent, and the ability to produce something out of the ordinary, to turn a game on its head. The thought of a Scotland team with that kind of genuine attacking threat is a mouth-watering prospect.

Berti Vogts was this week trying to claim credit for the emergence of this new generation, but the real reason has much to do with the dramatic change in fortunes experienced by Scotland's biggest clubs. The collapse in TV money suffered by the Scottish Premier League 5 years ago meant that clubs were faced with no option other than to dramatically cut costs, meaning high-earning first team players were cut from the wage bill, and replaced by the cheapest option - kids from the youth team. 18 and 19 year olds who previously wondered if they would ever get a chance were suddenly playing for the first team week in, week out. Of course, not all young players can cope with that kind of pressure, but many have thrived on the opportunity.

Encouraged, many clubs in Scotland have since invested in their training and academy facilities, realising that these are not longer optional, but a key element in the business plan. Graduates from the youth set up don't command a transfer fee, but may just earn a profit if another club comes in for them. Meanwhile, wage expectations have tumbled. There will always be a place for foreign players, of course, but the investment in academies is welcome, and will have a long term impact. Even the Old Firm, who - insulated by their huge fanbases - were slower than others to implement reform, are now placing a renewed emphasis on home-grown talent.

The attitude of the clubs, however, is only part of the story. It is the attitude of the players themselves that will really determine how successful they are. It is a question about their level of ambition, and the sacrifices they are prepared to make to excel in their careers.

Garry O’Connor should have been involved with the Scotland set-up last week, but wasn’t, for reasons entirely of his own making. A late substitute in the famous victory over France in October, O’Connor missed the subsequent Sunday curfew at the team hotel, and was ejected from the squad who flew to the Ukraine. He blamed his absence on family problems, but that didn’t really wash with the many witnesses who saw him out drinking in the early hours of Sunday morning. Alex McLeish has hinted there may be a way back for the player, but also that alcohol was the real route of his problems, not a partner struggling to adjust to life in Moscow.

He’s not the only one with a fondness for a tipple. Paul Le Guen was reportedly horrified at the drinking culture when he arrived at Rangers, but rather than persuading his players to lead a more responsible lifestyle, it became a major source of disagreement, with Barry Ferguson organising a piss-up in Newcastle in direct defiance of the (by then) embattled boss. These are not isolated incidents, but part of an endemic culture in Scottish football, and a long line of players – from Andy Goram to Duncan Ferguson – have demonstrated their propensity to drink.

Scotland, of course, is a hard-drinking nation: a combination of the Protestant work ethic, which allows honest award in return for honest work, and a Catholic culture of celebrating with alcohol, means that drink is woven into the fabric of the country. There are many supporters who believe that there is no problem with players drinking, so long as they still “put a shift in” on the park.

Yet all the evidence is that this is not the way to excel at sport, or maximise your performance. The revolution led by Arsene Wenger at Arsenal changed the way his first team there thought about how they lived, and how they behaved away from the training ground. Having talent is no longer enough. Hard work alone is not enough. Living like a professional at all times is now vital if players want to succeed at the very highest level.

So here’s the question. Is this a generation of Scottish players who will be talked about in decades to come, who revolutionised attitudes in their country, and achieved the impossible? Or will they be content to do just enough, and continue to live the lifestyle of their predecessors?

Give us a winter break

The SPL used to enjoy a winter break around this time of the year. It proved to be short-lived. It first got temporarily suspended, to avoid the season running into the World Cup (presumably for the benefit of foreign internationals playing here, because Scotland certainly weren't involved), and then abandoned for good as the clubs voted by a majority to plug the January hole in their cashflow. They didn’t like the grounds being empty while paying players to play.

Much of January proved a persuasive argument for the winter break's return, however. Motherwell had 3 weeks off anyhow, because Fir Park had been unplayable, but even where games have gone ahead the standard of the pitches has been awful. The quality of the football has really suffered as a result, and fans have had to sit through some turgid games.

Compounding the boredom, the SPL couldn't throw up any shock results to enliven a humdrum season. Celtic remain in a league of their own, and seem unable to lose, even when totally outplayed. Inverness pushed them closest, but they missed a bundle of chances at 1-1, and the last minute sucker punch duly arrived. Celtic are now just five victories away from retaining the title.

The transfer window, too, proved to be a damp squib for much of the month, with very little happening. Rangers moved to strengthen their slipshod defence with the, ahem, experienced pair of David Weir and Ugo Ehiogu, and there were a few other bits of business, but not much else. Frankly, it was all a bit boring.

So thanks, then, to Mr Vladimir Romanov, back from his self-imposed silence to liven up a drab winter and make Hearts the centre of attention once more. Things had been going alarmingly smoothly over at Tynecastle, with some players coming in on loan, the team getting the results on the pitch, and Edinburgh Council agreeing in principle to the sale of land to the club to bring the putative stadium redevelopment one step closer.

Choosing the Belorussian magazine Pressball to air his views, meaning that his refusal to talk to the Scottish media technically still holds, Vlad gave an enigmatic interview, a bit like Cantona's famous seagulls and trawler effort all those years ago, but with added menace. Not being the most cosmopolitan of nations, the Scottish media all had to rely on the same translation of the piece to reprint with glee, and we love fitba sees nothing wrong with that.

He started off on his favourite theme, the conspiracy against Hearts. "In Scotland we have to fight not in the sporting sense, but against constant intrigues." One of Romanov's favourite subjects is the "conspiracy" against Hearts - from the referees to the media, they all conspire against a club that dares to challenge the Old Firm. And he's on pretty firm ground, too, if only because there are many fans in Scotland who are quite happy to see someone roughing the Glasgow twins up a bit.

But then he went on. Asked about Stephen Pressley's departure, he said: "There was no conflict whatsoever, there was a banal betrayal. Players sold themselves for the striped shirts they were promised; they decided that these were so valuable that they could allow themselves to behave the way they did." Not a single player, but players. Yup, Vladimir was on the warpath again.

Paul Hartley and Craig Gordon, the other 2 members of "the Riccarton three" who hosted that memorable press briefing at the training ground in October, were left out of the squad against Rangers, and it was now clear that Romanov wanted them out. At long last, the transfer window seemed about to feature some big moves.

Rangers put in at least 2 bids for Hartley, but had them both knocked back. Fulham, meanwhile, bid for Gordon, but rumours abounded that Romanov was trying to flog him to a Russian club. Gordon wasn't keen, not surprising, given that clubs of the calibre of Arsenal seem interested. He knows full well he will have lots of options in the summer, and is under no pressure to leave.

Elsewhere, the bidding finally got going for the Hibs twins, Kevin Thomson and Scott Brown, setting up an intriguing last few days of the transfer window as Rangers and Celtic jockeyed to cherry pick the best talent from Edinburgh.

When it was all done, it's hard not to come to the conclusion that it's the green halves of the cities that have come out on top. Despite Hibs' insistence that the twins weren't for sale, the animosity between Thomson and the manager, John Collins, became so bad that Hibs finally decided on Tuesday 30 January that they needed rid of the destabilising influence in their dressing room. For the first time, they invited clubs to come in for the player, if they met the asking price of £2m. Celtic and West Bromich Albion, who had both made offers for the pair, thought that a bit rich... but Rangers took the bait. Meanwhile, Hibs have held on to Scott Brown - their best player - for the rest of the season, proving that the twins could be separated after all.

Celtic have, in the space of 6 weeks, strengthened their squad with two seasoned, proven players, for a total outlay of a million quid. Steven Pressley is already adding his grit and resilience at the back, while Paul Hartley will add guile and match-winning nous in midfield. Unlike, say, Thomas Gravesen, who might have been good enough for the Premiership, but has still to prove himself in Scotland. It's a big step up, after all. ;-)

Rangers clearly wanted an attacking player, because as well as Hartley, they also bid for Alan Gow of Falkirk and Lee McCulloch of Wigan, yet their bids for all three were dismissed as too low (although Gow has signed a pre-contract and will arrive in the summer). Instead, they paid much, much more for Thomson, who plays much deeper, in the same area of the pitch that Barry Ferguson likes to call his own. It's all a bit odd.

Odder still that Hearts, despite their claimed ambition to challenge the Old Firm, have now lost 2 of their best players to Celtic and refuse to pick one of the best goalkeepers in Britain. With their losses for last year at £5m and total debt now up to £28m, and the likelihood of European football next season lessening by the day, anyone who knows what the plan is please feel free to enlighten us all.

As well as the long overdue excitement in the transfer market, knock-out football returned to take everyone's minds off the dreary SPL "race" and inject a bit of drama into proceedings. The favourites for the CIS League Cup, Hibernian, booked their place at Hampden by labouring past St Johnstone, while Kilmarnock showed who the real favourites should be by dismissing Falkirk 3-0.

Then, last weekend the 4th round of the Scottish Cup saw Hibs safely through again, while Hearts tumbled to Dunfermline and Celtic trounced Inverness Caley. The pitches are still poor, but the Pars-Hearts tie in particular lacked nothing for drama, as a last minute goal from a side that just cannot score in the League put the holders out.

The games will come thick and fast from now on, and hopefully the pitches will get better. And all of Scotland will be watching to see if Alex McLeish can make a winning start as Scotland manager. Incidentally, he's a fan of the winter break as well.