I REALLY worry at the thought processes of some fans – (always assuming they are capable of rational thought). I managed a wry smile on Ne'erday, when I chanced upon a Celtic group page on Facebook. Those members of the Family who read the page were absolutely wetting themselves at the news, “Sevcovians are raging at their club's lack of activity during the January transfer window.”
This follows speculation that Rangers will not be doing much business this month, because they don't have the money. Celtic meanwhile, ended 2021 by signing three new Japanese players – I suppose this could be deigned a “Tora, Tora, Tora” moment down Parkhead way.
However, let's throw a bucket of ice-cold water on the celebrations. I pen these words on 1 January, 2022.
The window has just opened, it does not close until one minute to midnight, on Monday, 31 January
Most significant deals are done towards the end of the window
A lot can therefore happen over the next 30 days.
As things stand, Rangers are six points clear of Celtic at the top of the table, after 20 of the requisite 38 games. Rangers have won 16, drawn 3 and lost just 1 of their games thus far, for 51 points. Celtic have won 14 games, drawn 3 and lost 3, for 45 points.
Rangers have collected points at the rate of 2.55 per game, scoring goals at a rate of 2.15 goals per game, while con=ceding 0.7 goals per game.
Celtic have collected points at the rate of 2.25 gpg, scoring at a rate of 2.10 gpg and conceding 0.6 gpg. In every measurement, except goals conceded, Rangers are ahead of their rivals.
Therefore, in spite of changing managers mid-season so far, Rangers have the better record.
If they continue to accrue points at this rate, Rangers will end the season with 97 points, overtake them and lift the league title, Celtic will need to win 2.79 points per game, or, to put it another way, they will have to win 53 of the 57 points which are available to them between now and the final game. Or, to put it yet another way, their performances will have to improve by a smidgen other 30% EVERY game.
Rangers don't really have to change anything, merely continue to be as-efficient as they have been thus far. The pressure is firmly on Celtic, to up their game and overtake them.
There will be three further Old Firm games this season. Should Celtic win all three, the chances are, they will go on to win the league. If they cannot win all three, then they will need Rangers to drop more points against “the diddy teams” than they themselves do.
Things will get interesting when hostilities resume, but, there is definitely more pressure on Celtic, to hit the ground running and claw back Rangers' current advantage.
And, of course, if the rumoured Nathan Patterson to Everton transfer does happen, this will add something between £10 million and £16 million to the Rangers' war chest.
Small beer in English Premiership terms, but, in Scottish terms, this does give Gio van Bronckhorst wriggle room, should be feel he needs to augment his squad.
Mind you, selling Patterson endorses the view, Rangers, like Celtic before them, have realised the reality of 21st century football – since they play in what is, in commercial terms, a football backwater – the Old Firm, for all their great history, are no longer major European clubs.
Their future is in bringing through and selling-on young talent, such as Kieran Tierney and Patterson, whom they then sell-on to clubs, probably with less-distinguished histories, but playing in bigger leagues.
Yet, if/when, we finally get an NFL/NBA/NHL-style European football league, with their rivalry and fan bases, any such competition would want them on-board. Getting the two clubs into such a competition – provided it was properly organised and managed - could be the salvation of Scottish football.
ONE OF the true stalwarts of Scottish Fitba was recognised over the Ne'erday Holiday, when it was revealed that Henry Dumigan is Auchinleck's Citizen of the Year.
Henry Dumigan with a familiar trophy - the Scottish Junior Cup
This honour is richly-deserved, since Henry has, for most of the past 40 years, been Secretary of Auchinleck Talbot.
To those not from God's County, the significance of being the local junior team's secretary will be unknown. The fitba team secretary carries major prestige and with it massive pressure in Ayrshire. He's the man who has to liaise with the several different characters on the committee, keeping them more-or-less heading in the same direction.
He has to keep it real with the team manager, deal with the complaints of the supporters and generally keep the many plates spinning across a long season. It's a thankless job, even at Talbot, by common consent just about the best-run team in Scotland.
Henry learned from among the best, his mentors were Davie Loy, who was still involved with Talbot in his tenth decade and the late Malcolm Donnachie. He has been luciky too with the managers he has worked with, such as the legends that are Willie Knox and current incumbent Tucker Sloan.
He has had to sign for and look after over 70 trophies and deal with an increaisng work-load as Talbot has evolved from a successful Junior club, to a successful non-league senior one.
And, even before he receives his Citizen of the Year trophy, he's got the small matter of organising Talbot's Scottish Cup clash with Hearts, at Beechwood Park, later this month.
However, I have no doubts, Henry will tackle this task with the same quiet efficiency he has shown over the years in matters Talbot. Former SJFA Supremo Tom Johnston, and Henry's opposite number from Cumnock Juniors, past SJFA President George Morton tried for years to get Henry to become involved in the minefield of SJFA politics, he has always refused – for Henry, Talbot comes first and last.
Congratulations Henry.
No comments:
Post a Comment