All Together Now: For It's A Grand Old Team To Support

THE FOOTBALL WRITER who many of us believe to be Right Worthy Master of that most-secretive of secret societies – the legendary Lap Top Loyal – penned, quite probably through gritted teeth, a missive for his newspaper this morning. In this, he suggested, quite correctly and properly, that ALL of Scottish football should be delighted today at Celtic's victory over Rosenborg, courtesy of that stunning James Forrest goal, and the club's progression to the Play-off round of the 2017-18 Champions League.

What might this James Forrest goal be worth to Celtic?

The CL is, as we all know, a flawed concept, based on money, not so-much talking, as screaming at the top of its voice. Celtic are, by a lang Scots mile the champions of one of the founding nations of football, but, for all their comparative riches in their own country, their chances, or the chances that any similar team from one of the smaller European nations might win the Champions League, are very poor.

No, if you perhaps finished third in one of the richer leagues last season, and if you have a billionaire Saudi or Asian owner willing to bank-roll the acquisition of the striker or midfielder who might make the difference, then you have a better chance of winning the CL than genuine league champions from a financially-poorer league. Whaur's your football integrity noo?

It is a very-difficult circle to square, but, I am sure, if the will to make it work could be found, there has to be a formula whereby the true champions of each of Europe's fifty-plus leagues had a better chance to advance to the really lucrative knock-out phases, when the Champions League becomes more like the old European Cup, and the clubs finishing in the minor placings in the big leagues had less of a chance, well, it might be seen as more of a true Champions' League.

The key words there, of course are: “IF the will to make it work could be found”. Sadly, I don't see that will being there inside the European corridors of power in Nyon.

Any way, Celtic are still in there, swinging for Scotland, and will be seeded in the Play-Off round. Hopefully, Aberdeen will come through their Cyprus challenge tonight in the Europa League and, all being well, both clubs can enjoy lengthy runs in Europe, to boost Scotland's sagging European co-efficient.

ELSEWHERE in the same newspaper, one of its few old-school, proper journalists, my old mate Kevin Ferrie, a man who only preserved his sanity by persuading his then Sports Editor to take him off the Sisyphus-like challenge of covering Scottish Rugby to be put on general duties, penned a very-interesting view on the current travails of Heart of Midlothian FC.

Kevin Ferrie - journalist and Dundee fan, well-versed in suffering

The esteemed Mr Ferrie knows all about what happens when hope and expectation clash in sport – he is a life-long Dundee fan, so he is well-qualified to write the piece which bears his by-line today.

I commend his writings to fans of every Scottish club.

BUT, WHAT will happen at Tynecastle? They tried something different with Ian Cathro, but lacked the bottle to see it through. They will now, most-likely, revert to the tried and failed Scottish method, of appointing a more old-school Head Coach.

 Coule Elvis be about to enter the re-building at Tynecastle?

The stenographers are already boosting their favourites – Paul Hartley and Stephen Pressley are seemingly the hacks' favourites. Both are former players with the club, each was once: “the next big thing” in Scottish coaching and management, but, past failures have somewhat tarnished their escutcheons.

In all honesty, there are none-too-many alternative picks out there, so it will be interesting to see what Ann Budge, advised by Craig Levein, does next.

Meanwhile, I am sure Ian Cathro will quickly bounce back, if he reverts to what he does best, coaching young players, who will probably be more-attentive to his teachings.

LET'S be honest, Neymar Junior might be a good player by today's standards, but, he has not yet shown enough to get into anyone of my great age's all-time Brazilian team.

He plays up front, in fact, he would not even make the bench, given my Brazilian side starts with the original Ronaldo partnering Pele in the forward role. Out wide, he will not get past Rivelino or Garrincha.

If Neymar is worth £200 million, how much for these two?

So, how can he be worth £200,000,000? Obviously, the only reason he is worth that is because the management of some daft French team is prepared to pay that much – a sure sign of the money madness which has totally taken over the beautiful game.

If an upper-middling Brazilian talent like Neymar Junior is worth £200,000,000 – what price Pele at his peak?

Football has totally lost its marbles.

NONE of this tip-toeing into a new campaign for the Juniors. Real fitba for the new season began last night, with the first games in the traditional West Region sectional League Cup competitions.

And, nowhere was the kick-off bigger than at Beechwood Park, where Talbot and the Glen reprised the Scottish Junior Cup final, of back in June. And, again, the Glen won, 1-0; does this mean my village side gets Talbot to keep?

But, elsewhere, things did not go so well. Lugar Boswell Thistle, “my team”, opened with a 5-0 home loss to Muirkirk, the team from the village where I was born. Given my maternal grand-father was the first president of the first junior club in Muirkirk, I should be pleased, but, 5-0, at home, nae wonder I am gutted this morning.