A Guid New Year Tae Ane An Awe

HERE we are again, standing, uncertainly, on the cusp of another new year, as ever wondering, will 2014 be all we want it to be, or, will it be yet another figurative kick in the goolies?

Of course, for greater Scotland, this may be a monumental year. In this, the 700th anniversary year of Bannockburn, might we finally stop looking over our shoulders and gaze positively forward towards a new, better, freer Scotland? Or will we adopt the classic Scottish stance - Naw son, this freedom's no fur us?

I can only hope Scottish football in 2014 has a better time than it had in 2013. For sure, Gordon Strachan's arrival in the national team manager's job offered some slight hope, but, that said, we've won nothing yet. Much will depend on what sort of draw we get in the European Championship qualifiers, when the draw is made in February. But, between then and the actual commencement of hostilities in the autumn, we still have to endure a World Cup, at which we are in our now familiar place - outside looking in.

We can only hope England over-achieve and reach the quarter-finals, thereby allowing us to play our favourite game of 'Let's All Laugh At England' as their players fail to match the vaunting over-ambition of their press pack.

At the moment, the English media appears to be buying into Roy Hodgson's caution, but, give them a couple of wins and they will again become unbearable, which is when we love them.

THE domestic story of 2013 was, again, the on-going soap opera down Edmiston Drive. II think this one is set to run throughout 2014. The bears in the woods are still restless; the board may have won time, but, the snipers are still out there and, should CEO Wallace win his battle to impose realistic financial management on a club which hasn't known this for nigh on 30-years, well, just you listen to the howls of anguish.

Rangers MUST change their culture, but, by so-doing, it will mean we are in for a longer spell of Celtic dominance. And, IF a new, more prudent Rangers is to emerge, will Super Ally hang around?

I don't see McCoist being able to operate in strained financial circumstances. I cannot believe he will be able to impose the harsh work ethic which, just might, allow Rangers to compete with the better-funded club across the city.

As for Celtic, the pressure is rising for them to go through the Premiership unbeaten and to add the Scottish Cup to this. They appear to be so-far ahead of the competition, nothing else will be acceptable.

They should do this, but, I just wish Neil Lennon would show more faith in his home-grown youngsters, if only to remind his big-name stars, they are not indispensible and maybe add some interest to a boring procession.

Looking ahead to later in 2014. Assuming Hearts are relegated, and I honestly cannot see them making-up their current huge points deficit in the second half of the season; assuming also that Rangers and Dunfermline are the teams to come up from League One to the Championship, then the Championship might well be THE division to watch in 2014-2015.

Whatever happens, 2014 promises to be a better year than 2013 - let's hope so.



MY mate Bill Billy had an interesting take on Neil Lennon's call for his Celtic side to be given more credit. According to the big man: "See, that just shows how jealous of us they are - we canny get credit, so the wee nyaff wants the same for his mob".

I couldn't be bothered pointing-out the difference between credit and a line of credit, as he ranted on about obsessives!!!



FINALLY, a Guid New Year to all my readers - see you in 2014, I hope.