WHEESHT, it's a secret, but, Scotland's women's team, despite their last outing gubbing by an excellent team of mesdames from France,are doing rather well at the moment.
Anna Seignoeul's young ladies have reached the play-offs for the EUFA European Championships, a feat which proved beyond Craig Levein's squad of honest triers. They may be unseeded in the play-offs but I would not write-off their chances of getting through, and, given the lack of resources, encouragement and media interest in their feats thus far, they have done really well to get this far.
Add the fact that Kim Little was one of the stars of Team GB's brave Olympics effort, and there is a lot going-on, and going well, in Scottish women's football just now. Only, don't expect our mainstream media mastadons to be paying too-much attention to this.
The thing which I feel helps explain how well the women are doing is simple, they started from a place where they didn't have a century of baggage and "history" to deal with. That traditional check on Scottish ambition: "Ye canna dae that son, it's aye been dun this wey", didn't apply to women's football. And the distaff division of Scottish football is all the better for it.
MEANWHILE, Celtic got their Champions League campaign off to a middling start, with a home draw naw fitba, against Benfica. At least, they didn't lose. However, if we assume that Barcelona will win Group G, a fair enough assumption I submit - then Celtic are engaged in something of a dog fight for the second qualifying place, or the Europa League place.
That Europa League place should be the bottom line - I don't see that much between them, Benfica and Spartak Moscow; however, right now, I cannot see them winning more than three points - from three home draws. Better Celtic squads than this one have fared badly on the road.
I would normally fancy Celtic to beat Spartak at home, however, with wee Aeden McGeady surely fired-up to put on a show in front of his ain folk, the Moscow side just might get the draw. It will, however, be interesting and I wish Celtic all the best.
AT LEAST, Celtic are still operating at the level they should be at. What about poor old hard-done-by Rangers, losing to Queen of the South? I am not surprised in the least. What was over-looked by the Lap Top Loyal, in previewing the game was that the Doonhamers are also a full-time side. Whereas much of the two nights per week training regimes of Rangers' SFL3 opponents is given over to fitness work, 'Magic' Johnston and Sandy Clark have the time to work on team shape and tactics, which paid off as they overwhelmed Rangers in midfield.
When your midfield creativity comes from Lee McCulloch and Ian Black, plus a couple of kids, against a well-organised side, you've got problems, as Ally McCoist now knows.
Being an Ibrox Ikon kept John Greig in a manager's job he wasn't cut-out to do for a couple of years longer than it should have, on his record. In today's success NOW culture, Ally will not be so-tolerated. The clock is now definitely ticking on him.
WELL done wee Pat Fenlon, for telling Kenny Shiels to "shut up". I have a very soft spot for Kilmarnock, but I feel the whitterings of "media darling" Shiels are growing increasingly wearisome.
Yes, he's good post-match "copy" for the mainstream media and today's post-match quotes-driven style of covering football. But, for me, he's not a very good manager. That said, he's probably good enough for the low-grade league which is the SPL.
AGED 65, I am putting the boots back on next week. One of my mates, who is even older than I am, told me last week of a new initiative, "Slow Football" being run on a Tuesday in Prestwick. It is called Slow Football, because you have to be at least 55 to get a game.
I have got the membership details and I will be there on Tuesday.They say nothing beats playing, I hope that's true - time will tell.
Good post... again, spot on oul son.
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