Good Result - Terrible Game

CUP finals are the exception to the purist's view - that it matters not who won or lost, but how you played the game. No, when it comes to a final - just win the bloody thing, by any lawful means.

 

So, we would be churlish to say anything other than: "Congratulations" to Aberdeen, following this afternoon's League Cup win, at the expense of Inverness Caledonian Thistle. It certainly has been a long time coming, the return of the real feel good factor to Furryboots city.

 

That said, I found it difficult to watch a game, which again emphasised the paucity of talent and organisation within Scottish football these days.

 

Mind you, this is no recent phenomenon. Last week, in a second-hand book shop in Kilmarnock, I happened upon the late Bob Crampsey's excellent biography of Jock Stein, written in 1986, a year after the Big Man's death.

 

In the book Crampsey mentions the fall-off in talent in Scotland between the glory days of 1967 and the Lisbon Lions and Stein's departure from Celtic a decade later, and the even-greater fall-off between Stein departing Parkhead for Elland Road, then Hampden, and his too-early death eight years later.

 

Now, we look back on the squad Stein took to Spain in 1982, even the slightly less-stellar cast he took to Mexico four years later as the fag end of a golden era for Scottish football. Yet, if Stein and Crampsey could see this wasn't the case - we should be perhaps thankful they are no longer around to see the depths to which we have fallen today.

 

Sure, we have hope of better days ahead under WGS, but, until we have complete root and branch reform, Wee Gordon and his successors are being asked to fire fight with inadequate and out-dated equipment.

 

 

 

SPEAKING of inadequate and out-dated - no, I have little new to say about events around Rangers. I still see another huge car crash coming down the road at speed.

 

The Rangers Way of the past 30-years has been shown to be unfit for purpose, but, still, that's what Ra Peepul seem to want. More heartache to come.

 

 

 

I SEE, too, suggestions that all will soon be well around Kilmarnock. Sorry, but, I've seen this DVD before and I don't believe it.

 

Mind you, Billy Bowie, the local businessman who is emerging as the latest white (or should that be blue and white) hope to put the old club on an even keel and set it towards a happy and prosperous future.

 

Well, Billy is well-qualified for the task; his company moves a lot of shite around Ayrshire.

 

 

 

IN THE interests of balance, I should perhaps wonder, what is going on at Somerset Park, where they are suddenly scoring goals for fun and looking more and more likely to be involved in the end-of-season play-offs.

 

I went into wee Jim McSherry's excellent pub, the Wee Windaes in Ayr last week for one of their wonderful value pub lunches. One of the great ladies of Scottish football, Faye MacLeod, Ally's widow, was at the next table and it was such a joy to chat to her.