ONE
OF the
unfortunate realities of being a football writer is – you have to
park the dreams of fandom: the thought that, just maybe Stenhousemuir
might qualify for the Champions League, and then go all the way to
win it – for the reality of them being a bog standard, part-time
Scottish team, closer to: “won fuck all and never will,” than to
hearing Tony Britton's take on Zadok the Priest blaring out across
Wembley, as the Warriors prepare to face Real Madrid or Barcelona in
the Champions League final.
Stevie Clarke - if Sunday was good-bye, Scotland has chosen well
You
fight back the desire to write that Alfredo Morelos is a bawbag and
Scott Brown deserves a right guid kickin' to report as fairly as you
can, and the Sports Editor's bias will allow. You do it to survive.
But,
in the pub, during the week and post-match, you are just as myopic
and biased as your pal Tam in the looney section of the ground. Which
is why, this week, I will be going out of my way to wind-up a former
work colleague, as guid a man as you will find among the denizens of
North Ayrshire's “Three Toons.” OK, that's a fairly low setting
of the bar, but this excellent operator in the world of journalism,
during a spell working in Aberdeen, fell for the false Gods of
Fergie's Furies and today, thirty-plus years later, he is a committed
Dandy Dons fan.
So,
he will be getting pelters from me this week, after Killie's terrific
Sunday show, in beating the Breengers to clinch third spot in the
SPFL, leaving Aberdeen in fourth spot, and depending on Celtic
beating Hearts on Saturday to hand them a European place. True fans
relish such minor victories.
I
have to say, that match-deciding penalty at Rugby Park was on the
extremely boggy side of “soft,” however, given how many such
awards the Bigot Brothers get over an average season – it was
karma. Maybe the WATP mob will think twice about dissing Willie
Collum in future. Naw, strike that – you cannot use think and
Rangers in the same sentence.
Post-match,
Stevie Clarke gave what can only be interpreted as a valedictory
farewell speech. I am now convinced, some time this week, he will be
on the track at Hampden waving the Tartan scarf as the latest keeper
of the poisoned chalice, as Scotland Team Manager.
I
wish him well, and I am confident he will be a good Scotland boss. He
has the experience, he is the right age and as he has shown at
Killie, he can get a lot out of limited players. Mind you, his job
would be a whole lot easier, if the whole Scottish football system
was fit for purpose, but, let's not expect miracles right away.
If
he does take the Scotland job, Clarke will be able to resume living
in England with his family. He will surely spend more time
checking-out the Anglo-Scots who will form the bulk of his probable
squad, while travelling to check-out the opposition will be easier
from a house closer to Heathrow.
He
can make flying visits north to check-out the Home Scots and liaise
with the SFA hierarchy, the job is workable from an English base.
ASK
ANY retired footballer, or player of any sport at a
half-decent competitive level and they will tell you, just about the
toughest decision they ever had to make, was when to call it a day.
Few get the decision on hanging-up the boots exactly right – there
is always a tendency to carry-on that wee bit too long.
Vincent Kompany
Well
Vincent Kompany didn't say: “That's it,” in the wake of leading
Manchester City to that unprecedented English treble on Saturday
night, but, he certainly got it right in terms of when to call it a
day from English football.
Certainly,
there is a chance City can defend their three domestic honours next
season, and perhaps add the European Cup as well, but, with the
authorities going through the books under the FFP (Financial Fair
Play) rules, and Pep Guardiola maybe looking at his next challenge,
future success is not a given.
Kompany
has the medals, he has the testimonial, he has set up his foundation
– this is probably a good time to move on to his next challenge,
making it in management, back where it began for him, at Anderlecht.
The
Guardian published a very good in-depth profile of Kompany on
Saturday morning. If you get a chance, have a read at it. I already
knew he was a very good footballer, but, read that and you realise,
what a great man he is.
I
think he has all the attributes to be a great manager, I wish him
well on the next part of his football voyage, but, City will miss
him.
I
DID an obituary last week on former FIFA referee George
Smith, who has died, aged 75, after a battle against prostate cancer.
Geroge
was one of those good referees – he was nearly invisible – who
did his job well and without fuss. His legacy is his mentoring of up
and coming referees, particularly in his own Edinburgh area. No
histrionics, no fuss, that was George's way.
George Smith
Of
course, he had the ideal background – he was a civil servant, and
an HR specialist to boot, so, he certainly knew how to be neutral and
get the best out of people.
Nobody
had a bad word to say about him. Indeed, one of his pet hates was bad
words – swear in front of George, you were in bother. He was
clearly one of the good guys. He must have been, as an Edinburgh man,
a devout Roman Catholic to boot, he certainly didn't fit the
stereotypical view of a Scottish referee.
So,
how come, given his background, he got to be the first Edinburgh
referee to take control of an Old Firm cup final, is anyone's guess.
Seriously
though, he will be missed, following 58 years of commitment to
refereeing – the much-maligned good guys of the game.
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