ON A weekend when Storm Desmond was the biggest sporting entity in Scotland, Stenhousemuir were blown out of the William Hill Scottish Cup by Lowland League East Kilbride. Was anyone really surprised?
The long-running closed shop attitude in Scottish senior football has meant, our version of the national knock-out competition does not have the back catalogue of "giant-killing" acts by non-league clubs.
However, I contend, as the Lowland League grows in strength and recognition, and with the bigger Junior clubs now granted entry to the Cup, we will see more giant-killing acts in the future.
Sometime very soon, the best club outwith the SPFL WILL win the end-of-season play-off to knock one of the perennial Division Two strugglers out of the SPFL and into either the Highland or Lowland League.
It may take a wee bit longer, but, I can see some of the perennial junior giants also breaking ranks to join either the Lowland or Highland league, and, when that happens, at long last, we will see a proper "pyramid" in Scottish Football.
I have long held, we have far-too-many "senior" teams in Scotland, and these too-many clubs are paying in too-many divisions.
If we are to get Scotland out of the lower ground floor of European football - just above the "wee diddy" basement nations, we need to make serious changes, to our league set-up and to our attitude. Unfortunately, making the necessary changes will not be easy. Indeed, in some ways, this is a chicken and egg position - do we change the set-up and hope to change the attitudes, or vice-versa?
I WAS pleased to see Hearts are finally, going to modernise the main stand at Tynecastle. For me, the best suggestion for updating the match-day experience at Hearts, was the one which was touted, about a new state-of-the-art ground, (at Sighthill if memory is correct?) which would have provided a modern 20,000 all-seater stadium, to be shared by Hearts and the professional Edinburgh rugby team.
However, conservatism (note the small c) and self-interest put paid to that one. It was clear, Hearts saw their future as being, like their past, in their somewhat hemmed-in Gorgie ground, even though, updating and upgrading the stand, which is the oldest part of the ground, was always going to be a tough one to pull off.
However, Anne Budge seems determined to get the new stand built, and, given that formidable lady's deeds this far since arriving at the club, I am sure she will deliver. I await developments with interest.
LOUIS Van Gaal is a manager who divides opinion. For everyone who is convinced the Dutchman is some kind of managerial genius, you will find someone else who has a lower opinion of him.
In arriving in England, Van Gaal did not exactly pick an easy gig. Given David Moyes' failure to maintain the lengthy Ferguson-inspired hegemony in the Premiership, whoever took over was always going to find himself under pressure.
This season, Van Gaal HAS to deliver some kind of silverware. Now, that in itself isn't that difficult. United are one of just a handful of clubs capable of winning the self-styled "Greatest League in the World". BUT, this is Manchester United, "The Greatest Cub in the World", playing at the "most-atmospheric" stadium in football - Old Trafford: "The Theatre of Dreams".
Yes, United are expected to win games, particularly at home. But, they have to win: "The United Way", with style and panache. "Parking the bus", frustrating the opposition then snatching the only goal of the game on a breakaway; no, no, that will not satisfy "the prawn sandwich brigade" in the more-expensive seats at Old Trafford.
They want, champagne football, flair and elan and to be lifted by super soccer. Aye, the ghosts of the Busby Babes, the Golden Trio of Best, Charlton and Law and the Boys of '92 have left an onerous burden for today's United to overcome.
It's is a sort of more-expensive version of the task facing Ronnie Deila at Celtic. here too, matches have to be won by swash-buckling, high-tempo, attacking football, and anything less leaves the fanatics unmoved.
There is maybe something to be said for the Rangers Tribute Act's way: "Just win, any way you can - it's our entitlement", that's the mantra of Ra Peepul, who know, if all else fails - they will get a late penalty.
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