Well Said Craig Burley

CRAIG Burley - Ah kent his faither, Ah played in the same schuil team as him. Hell, Ah ken him, and his Uncle Geordie. Craig, according to his old school PE teacher, Bill Baillie: "Had star quality, even as a 12-year-old". He was always going to make it in football.

But, while admiring his merits as a player, I must admit, I never saw Craig, or his good buddy Billy Dodds ever making it as media pundits, so, kudos to both. Craig has travelled a long way from what we locals dub: "The People's Socialist Republic of Craigens" to his current gig in the good ole U S of A. He's not the first from these airts to Go West, he will not be the last, and I am happy for him, the boy has done well.

So, I was pleased to see him, today, telling it like it as regards Sunday's "Old Firm" semi-final at Hampden. As Craig said, with the honesty which has been his watch-word since he first dipped his toes in the shark and piranah-infested media pool: "This will be shite".

Of course, it is likely to be shite; two poor teams, from a poor league, playing on a poor pitch. But, it might well be exciting, and, in any case, so long as their side wins, The Greatest Fans In The World and Ra Peepul will not be demanding their money back, because they were not entertained.

Sure, some of the purists among TGFITW will perhaps have a moan if they don't get at least one stunning goal to celebrate, as for RP, as long as the Rangers Tribute Act wins, even if through the time-honoured means of a dodgy penalty - they will unleash their battle hymns at volume 11.

Craig Burley

Craig Burley's take on things got me thinking. We  live here on this wee rocky upper 40% or so of a wee island off the coast of mainland Europe, where we are brought-up to believe we are: "The Master Race in football" (Alex Ferguson); "The Greatest Wee Nation God Ever Put Breath Intae" (various Scots); "The Best Small Nation On Earth" (Jack McConnell).

We reflect with pride on the many achievements and inventions which have been credited to Scots down through the years. We laud Robert Burns, Billy Connelly, Andrew Carnegie and Adam Smith, to name but a few Scottish icons. We take pride in the part Scots played in the formation and management of the great British Empire, and of how the sons and daughters of Scots, many driven from their homeland by the Highland Clearances and the perditions of  the uneven rewards of the Industrial Revolution.

We point to "Clyde-built" as the epitome of shipbuilding greatness, we speak with pride of how Scottish-built railway engines worked across the world - then we stay at home and allow ourselves to be Cinderella to our Ugly Sister - England.

There is a huge world out there, and, just occasionally, it takes an intervention from a Scot who has gone out into that bigger world and prospered, such as Craig Burley, to remind us, what a wee, backward, insular nation we can be.

I cannot think of a single tactical innovation produced by Scottish football, since Queen's Park invented the passing game back in the 1860s. The likes of Bill Struth (the pivot centre-half), Jock Stein (Total Football) and Andy Roxburgh (Pressing) have adapted and polished devices throught up by others. The "Dalgleish Turn", for instance, is I think a subtler, more-efficient move than the "Cruyff Turn" from which Kenny adapted it - but, real football innovation,don't look here.

Mind you, if some Scottish coach was to come up with something entirely new and ground-breaking, he would instantly be assailed with cries of: "Naw son, ye canna dae that, it's aye been done this wey".

 

And, in damning "The Greatest Club Match In The World" with faint, indeed no praise, Craig Burley is simply following a long line of Scottish football media men: Hugh McIllvaney, Patrick Barclay, Sam Leitch etc, who went out into the wide world and realised, the auld certainties they had learned at their Grannie's knee, didn't wash in the bigger wider world.

By the way, can anyone tell me which sides are playing in the other semi-final? I assume there is another game, Dundee United v Hibs, I think. It's just, I haven't seen too-much written about it, or heard or seen a lot about in in the broadcast media.

WELL done Atletico Madrid, in knocking-out Barcelona to reach the last four of the Champions League. I think it is fair to say, Atletico and Manchester City are the two "shock" sides in the last four, and I await tomorrow's draw with interest.

I must admit, I fancied PSG to beat the "Noisy Neighbours", so, fair play to City for seeing them off. They really are putting pressure on United, who eased their troubles slightly by beating West Ham on Wednesday night to reach the FA Cup semi-finals.

Present Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini, left, and his replacement from next season, Pep Guardiola, above.

Should City go all the way in Europe, what a leaving present from manager Manuel Pellegrini, dumped in favour of Pep Guardiola. Anyone for a City v Bayern final? 

THIS being a European Week and with the Bigot Brothers' Sunday meeting getting the big build-up, Tuesday night's SPFL Championship encounter, which finished in a 2-2 draw, between Falkirk and Hibs rather passed without comment.

Yet again, Hibs blew a big game, and, after their comeback from two goals down to snatch a draw, you have to make Falkirk the favourites to finish second in the Championship, and thus have the easier path through the play-offs.

Since I fear Kilmarnock might be the Premiership team drawn into this end-of-season survival battle, I think I will become a temporary Falkirk fan. I fancy our chances more against the Bairns than I do against the HIbbees.