Good Luck Brendan - I Think You Will Need It

THE spirit of Jock Stein has not, I not, entirely vanished from Celtic Park. It was a move worthy of the Big Man himself, for the Parkhead club to choose yesterday to announce that Brendan Rodgers has become the 14^th manager of the club (15^th if you count Billy McNeill's two terms in office), in the 38 years since Stein quit in 1978. In the 90 years prior to Stein going, Celtic had had a mere four bosses – Willie Maley, Jimmy McStay, Jimmy McGrory and Stein.

Brendan Rodgers - Celtic's 18th manager 

 

The timing of the announcement nicely spiked Rangers' guns, denying them a free run at the back pages for the morning of their Scottish Cup Final meeting with Hibs. Such small touches are important in the eternal game of one-upmanship and “whitabootery” which is such a big part of the battle for bragging rights in the Second City of the Empire.

It is difficult to forecast how “Buck” Rodgers will do in the Glasgow goldfish bowl. At least, having already operated in the Liverpool one, he will be in some way prepared for the madness which engulfs the Old Firm. He forged his coaching/managerial reputation in youth football, which should be good news for the promising Celtic kids. He did well with the lesser clubs he managed, Watford and Swansea, but, not so well at Reading, his old (playing) club.

He did win more than half his games as Liverpool manager, but, he appeared to struggle in the transfer market there. Well, he will find, he does not have silly money to spend at Celtic. On past form, and on-paper, he ought to be successful at Parkhead. Let's face it, he MUST be successful. I wish him well.

But, he will immediately discover, tough though managing in Liverpool is, that great football city is not quite the mad-house that is Glasgow where the rivalry between Celtic and the Rangers Tribute Act is concerned.

RIGHT, You are a football-loving neutral, sitting down this afternoon to watch the BBC Scotland broadcast of the Scottish Cup Final, between Rangers and Hibs, from Hampden.

What would be your choice for background music as the winning team parades the trophy round the “Old Lady” as Hampden is sometimes romantically described? Would you rather hear the representatives of the Republic of Leith celebrating the end of their 114-year wait with a massed rendition of 'Sunshine on Leith', or would you rather hear Ra Peepul celebrate their “Treble” with the usual medley celebrating being: “Up to our knees in Fenian blood – wearing my father's sash – along the green grassy slopes of the Boyne – as we guard old Derry's walls”? That one at least is a no-brainer.

I have this strange gut feeling, Hibs, after so-many recent near-misses, just might come out on top this afternoon, to end their long wait for Cup success. But, they may have to go all the way to penalty kicks to do this.

TODAY'S other big cup final is the English one, at Wembley, between Crystal Palace and Manchester United. Everything here points to a United win, but, with this 2016 United team, you never know. The talent is there, but, somehow, they do not convince as a Untied team is expected to.

Earlier this week, an English journalist, in a piece on the club, came up with the information that martinet manager Louis Van Gaal INSISTS, his players always take a touch before shooting.

I make no comment on this other than to say: what would the Golden Trinity of George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton have made of such instructions? I don't think they would have paid any attention to the manager issuing such instructions, far less obeyed them.

The Trinity - take a touch: Aye Right boss!!!

TOMORROW'S key action will be the second leg of the SPFL Premiership Promotion Play-Off,between Kilmarnock and Falkirk, at Rugby Park. “Forward though Ah canna see – Ah guess and fear”, is the pre-match view of this particular Killie fan. I am not confident.

FINALLY, one cup final result for you. Auchinleck Talbot are again in possession of the West of Scotland Cup, after they beat Hurlford United 2-0 in last night's final at Newlandsfield Park. As previously mentioned, these same teams will do battle, at Hurlford's Blair Park, on Wednesday night, in what is in effect a West of Scotland Superleague title decider.

Still a hard one to call, but, I think maybe last night's result has swung the mental advantage the way of the 'Bot.