DOES it not just sum-up the state of Scottish football that the first-ever Scottish Professional Football League Premiership match, should end as "a draw nae fitba"?
Did nobody see it coming, when the computer programme threw-up Partick Thistle v Dundee United, the human element came in and it was decided - that one will do for the opener.
The last team Thistle would want to lose to is that being run by their former McNamara/Donnelly management team. "We cannot let that pair come back here and win", was surely the Thistle mind-set, given, as the new boys, their first priority is to make themselves hard-to-beat.
"We're going to go there and get pelters all night, so the last thing we want is for you guys to lose here", surely came up somewhere in Jackie and Simon's thought processes - result: this one had 0-0 written all over it. Firhill for Thrills was never going to happen.
Last season, Hearts finished with 44 points; since then, they've gone into administration and will start with -15 points. Given they have had to off-load some experienced players, who cannot be replaced this season, in the unlikely event of Heart of Midlothian still being around come May, they will be the hottest of hot favourites to be relegated.
So, even the least-pragmatic of managers will already know, if he sends his team out seeking a draw each game, they are unlikely to be relegated. Similarly, Celtic WILL win the top league, so, there is nothing to be gained by trying the risky business of going for goals by playing entertaining or high-risk football.
Most teams will sit-in, not take chances and look for a minimum of one point - hardly the mind-set our new super soaraway SPFL needs.
But, for as long as the fear factor is in play, that's what we will get and Scottish football will continue to stagnate. It is going to be a long hard season.
NOW we turn, as turn we must, to the permanent embarrassment which is Newco Rangers.
"Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear - tragedy for Scotland", as my old mate the blessed David Francey used to exclaim. Mr Francey was one of the stalwarts of the Microphone Loyal, a sub-sect of the Lap Top Loyal. He'll be poor company for McLaren, Wolstenholme, Moore, Maskell and the other Titans in Broadcasting Nirvana this week.
Chuck Green as a "Consultant" - ye'r avin a larff, as our southern neighbours might say. Boardroom battles, shareholding shuffles. This being Scotland, we must assume, had Armando Ianucci (with that name and background), had any interest in football, he'd bat for the Rangers' opposition and he would surely have had a field day with a sort of The Thick Of It based round events at Ibrox.
Can Peter Capaldi do a Yorkshire accent?
BIG Colin Mcadam died this week. Colin was never a great player, but, he was all heart and he gave me one of my best moments as a journalists.
He had just come off the field following his debut for Irvine Meadow, in a League Cup tie against Kilwinning Rangers at Abbey Park. There to greet him was old team mate Jim Stewart, who asked a one-word question: "Well"?
"Some league this," said McAdam, who had been playing in the centre of midfield for the Medda.
"I've got a stiff neck from watching the ball sail over my head all game, I reckon you could play a season in midfield in this league and never get a touch of the ball".
A better summing-up of junior football you will not get.
Rest in peace Big Man.
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