THE Scottish League Cup, the Cinderella competition in senior gootball, takes centre stage this week. Now aged 65, this particular Cinders is hardly going to have Prince Charming chasing after her - she is no Camilla, even the fact that this season's gallant "wee" lower division team taking on the big boys of the SPL in the quarter-finals happens to be Rangers, is worth nothing more than comedy value.
I have long felt, this competition, if it is to have a future, has to be re-cast, totally. I would like to see a return to its original format as a seasonal opener, with mini-league groups, leading to knock-out last eight stages.
But, I would not stop there. I would like to see something like the Olympic football format whereby this competition is basically an Under-23 one, brought in. Make the rules that each club has to field eight SCOTS-QUALIFIED, UNDER-23 players in every game. That way, those few remaining clubs seemingly unwilling to give young Scots a chance, might be forced into action.
I NOTE that the less-talented of the two Ferguson brothers is on the move again, as Barry makes the short trip up the Fylde coast from Blackpool to Fleetwood. At 34, perhaps Barry was struggling to keep-up with such stellar talents as Kirk Broadfoot on the Blackpool training pitches.
Actually, this might be a good move for a player, who for all the furore and headlines which have followed him throughout his career, was, I feel, much-misunderstood.
Guys who know the real Barry Ferguson tell me he cares deeply about the game and is a lot smarter, at least on the field, than he appears off it.
I always enjoyed listening to Derek during his years in management and felt he had/has more to give in this capacity, even though he is one of the more-entertaining talking heads on Sportssound.
At Fleetwood, maybe Barry can find his feet as an elder statesman and begin the sometimes difficult transition from player to coach. I fancy he could be a good one too.
It cannot happen due to the signing ban, but, he'd have been a good buy for Ally McCoist.
I NOTE that the less-talented of the two Ferguson brothers is on the move again, as Barry makes the short trip up the Fylde coast from Blackpool to Fleetwood. At 34, perhaps Barry was struggling to keep-up with such stellar talents as Kirk Broadfoot on the Blackpool training pitches.
Actually, this might be a good move for a player, who for all the furore and headlines which have followed him throughout his career, was, I feel, much-misunderstood.
Guys who know the real Barry Ferguson tell me he cares deeply about the game and is a lot smarter, at least on the field, than he appears off it.
I always enjoyed listening to Derek during his years in management and felt he had/has more to give in this capacity, even though he is one of the more-entertaining talking heads on Sportssound.
At Fleetwood, maybe Barry can find his feet as an elder statesman and begin the sometimes difficult transition from player to coach. I fancy he could be a good one too.
It cannot happen due to the signing ban, but, he'd have been a good buy for Ally McCoist.
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