If You Know Their History - It's The Same Old Same Old

I FIND myself constantly cheered-up by the reaction to a large percentage of the Celtic Family to any Rangers' stories in the newspapers or online. Right on cue, up they pop to holler their mantra: “Youse is deid, youse deid in 2012. Youse is a tribute act, a new club, youse has won nothin'.”

 

Youse is deid

Human nature being what it is, I would suggest, if the current incarnation of Rangers FC was indeed a new team, and a tribute act – then there would be nothing like the hysteria coming from the Celtic Family. Given their team's current domination of Scottish football, and the huge financial advantage annual participation in Europe gives them, they would be unconcerned about matters across the city.

I mean, they barely mention Partick Thistle – they are not seen as a threat – Rangers are. Sure, they might argue Rangers are a new team with but the most-tenuous connection to the pre-2012 Ibrox club, but, in their hearts they know – it is the same team, and while they are down just now, they are capable of coming back and dominating Celtic again, and, that scares them.

If you don't believe it is the same Rangers, just consider their reaction to Hibs' decision to cut Rangers' ticket allocation for the sides' upcoming collision at Easter Road. Basically this is: “Boo-hoo, s'nofair; We arra peepul and we is entitled tae take ower yer Sooth stand an staun there up tae wur knees in Fenian blood, cos youse need oor cash.”

The trouble is, with this clash having the potential to be a decider for league prize money and European qualifying status, there is a demand for tickets. Hibs fans, who have maybe been a tad indifferent to following the team, suddenly want to be there on the day, and Hibs need some of the South Stand for their own fans.

This has to be good for Scottish football, and, what is good for Scottish football is not always good for the Old Firm. Can we have more of this please.

ANOTHER example of how, this is the same old Rangers, is the story they are about to re-sign Allan McGregor from Hull City.

 Allan McGregor, rumoured to be about to return to Ibrox

Sorry, but, good 'keeper though he is, McGregor is not the answer. Him returning to Ibrox on a “Bosman” would be a good deal for McGregor, but, not for Rangers. What they need is a good YOUNG goalkeeper – to put pressure onto and compete with Wes Foderingham – not a guy on the downward slope looking for a last big pay day.

Even Scott Arfield, at 29, is a short-term signing. Again, a case of a guy looking for that final big pay day in a signing-on fee. What became of Rangers signing young Scottish players from other Scottish clubs – guys with a future. That's what they used to do before Souness and Murray overturned the whole club culture.

And Celtic, by following Rangers down the buy-in route, although, to be fair of late they have done it far better, they too sold-out their club's entire culture.

DOING some research this week, I was looking at football in 1931. A top Hungarian football magazine – and even then, 20 years before Puskas and Co, Hungary were good, did a ranking of European nations and teams.

Matthias Sandelar the star of the Austrian Wunderteam, scoring v Belgium

Austria – via the Wunderteam – were ranked 1, Scotland were at 2, and England at 3 in the national rankings. In the club rankings it was 1, Austria Wien, 2, Arsenal and 3. Celtic, with Rangers ranked 8^th.

Today, Austria are ranked 26^th in the FIFA rankings, Scotland are 34^th and England 13^th. In the UEFA club rankings, Austria Wien are 82^nd, Arsenal are 9^th, Celtic are 46^th and Rangers are 265^th.

That year, 1931, by the way, Austria beat an admittedly second-string Scotland 5-0 in Vienna. The SFA arrogantly thought they could change this side, which beat England 2-0 at Hampden to share the Home International Championships: John Thomson (Celtic); Daniel Blair (Clyde), Joe Nibloe (Kilmarnock); Colin McNab (Dundee), Davie Meiklejohn (Rangers capt), John Miller* (St Mirren); Sandy Archibald (Rangers), George Stevenson (Motherwell), Jimmy McGrory (Celtic), Bob McPhail and Alan Morton (Rangers) to this team: “Jakey” Jackson* (Partick Thistle); Blair and Nibloe; McNab, James McDougall* (Liverpool), George Walker (St Mirren); Andy Love* (Aberdeen), Jim Paterson* (Cowdenbeath), Jim Easson* (Portsmouth), Jim Robertson* (Dundee) and Danny Liddle* (East Fife) – which included seven new caps, and still beat what was then considered the best team in Europe, away from home.

Just a thought, what would that Hampden forward line of Archibald, Stevenson, McGrory, McPhail and Morton be worth today?

I WATCHED last night's Liverpool v Roma Champions League semi-final on TV, and, while a 5-2 first leg lead ought to be sufficient to take Liverpool to the final, you can never write-off an Italian side with home advantage.

This one could still go all the way to penalty kicks in the second leg. What was the Italian manager thinking about, however. for the first time, ever, they were playing: “The cry was no defenders” for an Italian side; the decision to play such a high line was suicidal. Mind you, as Liverpool squandered those early chances at 0-0, I thought, this could come back and bit their bums. But, they got away with it once their forwards, and the marvellous Mo Salah (pictured left) in particular, found their range.

I hope for the same number of goals when Bayern and Real clash tonight.