SO, that's the transfer window closed for another four months; for the remainder of 2011 managers will have to piss with the cock they've got (forgive the profanity - but in Scotland at any rate they do generally piss-about).
It says much for the poverty (in every respect) of Scottish football that there were no 'jings, crivvens, help ma Boab' moments, even during the frenetic final hours, as one club or another pulled a veritable rabbit from the hat with an eye-popping signing. It might well be that you need the sort of silly pocket money sloshing around in England for a club to be so self-indulgent.
I have never been a fan of the window. Certainly it mitigates against the former fashion, whereby a rich club, or a club with an indulgent bank manager, finding itself in trouble in or just above the relegation zone, could perhaps buy its way out of trouble. But, for me, it would be better were transfer activity to be kept strictly to the close season; on midnight, on the eve of the first competitive game of any new season, the window closes - thereafter, you go with what you've got.
Perhaps, if we had the winter shut-down we deserve, it could re-open during that closure, but, again, at midnight on the eve of the re-start, down would come the grilles - if I had my way.
So, who are the winners and losers from this window? Only time will tell, of course. For instance, Celtic's new Moroccan left back might be the business, but he could just as easily flop.
Rangers had already recruited well in advance of the last day shenanigans, spending the final hours off-loading. Messrs Little and Fleck now know, they have to impress during their loan spells, or they have no Ibrox future. Beattie being off-loaded was hardly surprising. On form and talent, he should have blossomed in Glasgow, sadly for him - he didn't.
Clearly, Alistair McCoist has been told from the top: "Go with the kids if we have a spate of injuries". His squad is lighter than Celtic's in terms of numbers, but he has versatility in his squad. Kirk Broadfoot has his critics in Scotland, but, in our domestic league he can play in every position across the back four; Steven Whittaker has yet to find his pre-new contract form, but he too can fill-in on both rear flanks, as a second centre half and as a midfielder; Lee McCulloch and Kyle Bartley can both switch from midfield to defence if required, while, where a big target man was called for, McCulloch could do a job as well.
Maurice Edu is another capable of playing in various roles, as are Steve Davis, Steve Naismith and Kyle Lafferty. Of the kids, Jordan McMillan is a versatile player, as he has shown with Queen of th South - so the lack of numbers at Ibrox ought not, in the purely Scottish context of this season, be a problem to McCoist.
Neil Lennon does have numbers at his disposal. His problem is, too-many of his players are either - unfamiliar with the particular demands of playing for the Old Firm in a domestic context, or as yet unproven. With a highly-demanding fan base, desperate to see an end to Rangers' run of SPL titles, the Celtic new boys will not be permitted the luxury of easing themselves into Scottish football.
On paper, Celtic has the stronger squad and ought to be stronger than last season and capable of over-taking Rangers. On grass, things might become tricky if there are any more St Johnstone-type performances.
I do feel, when push comes to shove, Lennon might regret the lack of a true-green, brought-up in the faith Celtic fan in his squad; a Neil Lennon, a Roy Aitken, a Tommy Burns. Celtic NEED a guy like that, Rangers, in Davis, Lafferty, Broadfoot and McCulloch have several of that type and in the end, they could maybe tip the balance away from a football-wise, more-talented Celtic squad.
After all, the most-important part of a sportsman's being is the six inches between the ears; the part which refuses to countenance defeat and here, I think, Rangers are collectively stronger than Celtic.
You will notice, I do not mention the rest of the SPL. I do hope for a consistent challenge to the Old Firm from Hearts, Motherwell and Kilmarnock. I discount Dundee United, they have sadly been too-weakened by departures to mount a challenge I feel. But, unless Paulo Sergio can work miracles at Tynecastle, and Stuart McCall can keep his first-choice players on the park, I fear another two-horse race.
But, the window is now closed, the clubs have to get on with things - let's go.
I HAD intended steering clear of the fall-out from the Neil Lennon assault case, but, needs must.
I have maintained from the start, attempting to hurry through anti-sectarian law was guaranteed to end in tears. It is a highly-emotive and divisive subject. From what little I know of Scots Law, it appears the case against Watson failed because the Crown Office failed to prove, beyond reasonable doubt, that his actions were motivated by bigotry or sectarianism.
Given that only one witness mentioned any kind of religious bias by the accused and the lack of corroboration - that leg of the prosecution case was always going to fall and with it the assault charge.
Several persons with legal training have maintained that existing law is good enough to tackle such cases, but, the reformers are in charge, so reform we must apparently have. They (the reformers) have fallen at the first hurdle.
Had the Crown Office prosecuted under existing assault charges, it seems likely they would have won; indeed, there is anecdotal evidence Mr Watson would have pled guilty to assault - had the sectarian element of the charge been dropped.
Own goal by the Crown Office then.
Where now for football and for the two clubs (three if you include Hearts) who, apparently have a sectarian element within their support.
Until the clubs bite the bullet and pro-actively root-out the bigots themselves, the law will not leave them alone. Rangers, to be fair, have taken action against a reported 3000 fans, banning over 500; Celtic do not appear to have been so energetic in pursuing the bigots; Hearts are, apparently still in denial.
That's a poor start, so the clubs HAVE to do more. If they do, legislation might be avoided. The ball is in their court, and if they kick it properly football will stay out of the law courts.
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