The Week In Scotland – The Return After The International Break Edition
Written by David McFarlaneInternational Round-Up
I know it’s a broken down old record playing at this point, but it’s time for Scotland and Craig Levein to part ways. The man simply isn’t cut out for international management, and never has it been more obvious than the shambolic performances against Wales and Belgium.
Scotland lost 2-1 to Wales in a game which in all fairness, Scotland should have easily won. In the first half, Scotland were the better team and Levein seemed to have the tactics and players bang on and we deservedly went into half time 1-0 up after a quality finish from James Morrison. Wales were attacking the Scottish goalmouth but never looked in danger of actually scoring…until Charlie Adam came on. Scott Brown went off injured at half time and just when we needed a defensive midfielder who would shore up the game and quite happily get in about the Welsh players…he brings on Scotland’s answer to Steven Gerrard.
As you would expect, he was worse than a man down and the Welsh midfield overran the team and took control of the game. Despite the increasing pressure,Scotland had a perfectly valid Steven Fletcher goal chalked off which would have settled the game for Scotland, at least in my mind. Wales wouldn’t have came back from 2-0 down. It looked like we would hold on for the victory until the 80th minute…Enter Gareth Bale.
The cheating prick.
He fell over his standing leg in the penalty area…fair enough. But Gareth had the audacity to claim for a penalty…and incredulously, the twat in the middle Florian Meyer gave the penalty! Bale slotted it away to equalise. At this point, there would only be one winner…and in all fairness to Bale, what a goal to win ANY game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vugVQfBEit0&feature=related
The less said about the Belgium game, the better. I turned it off at half time, I simply couldn’t watch it any more. It reminded me of a famous quote:
Stop! Stop!!! He’s already dead…
PS – If you don’t know who said it, stop reading and never darken this website again.
Hearts Didn’t Pay Their Players…AGAIN
This is really beyond a joke now. 12 first team players did not receive their monthly salaries on time yet again. As a result, the club were placed under a transfer embargo and were hauled in front of a SPL committee. It’s believed the wages have since been paid but the embargo has not been lifted, stopping Rudi Skacel from re-joining the Tynecastle jokers for a third spell.
Someone needs to be done about this continued financial mismanagement at Hearts. If I was in charge, I’d dock the club three points every month they’re late in paying their staff’s wages.
Bet they’d get their fingers out and pay their bills on time then.
Where Will Queen’s Park Go?
As reported in the last column, Queen’s Park have effectively been made homeless from November 2013 until later 2014 as preparation for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow continues. Hampden will be turned into an athletics arena for the Games and no football will be played there while it is set up to do so.
It was widely believed they would ground-share with First Division Partick Thistle, but the club are understood to have ditched these plans and instead will play their home games at Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium during the redevelopment. The club have stated nothing has been decided as of the time of writing, and the club could yet go elsewhere.
Charles Green Opens His Mouth Again
Chico got himself in a bit of hot water when he described Aston Villa as ‘useless’ and not worth their Premier League millions.
The Rangers chief made the jibe while talking of a potential European Super League. He claimed big clubs such as Manchester United are fed up subsidising smaller rivals such as Villa and they’d rather play Rangers and Celtic in a new set-up.
He had said:
“How can United’s revenues be £320m and Aston Villa, who are completely useless, get £250m? There will be a European league. Big teams can’t keep subsidising small teams for ten years. Arsenal don’t want to play Southampton or Swansea but ask them if they want to play Celtic or Rangers.”
Understandably, Villa took umbrage to his remarks, and he was forced into an apology.
SPL To Discuss New Voting Structure Change
It wouldn’t like be the SPL to discuss something changing…
The member clubs will consider a proposal to change the league’s voting structure. An 11-1 majority is currently required for major changes but some clubs want all votes to be decided by a 9-3 majority.
However, BBC Scotland reported up to three clubs will vote against the proposal, stopping any major changes. Should the motion be defeated,and knowing how scared Scottish football is of change, it will be, the ongoing discussions over league reconstruction could be halted as a result.
***Did I miss anything? Got something for me to add in next week? Any comments to either please me or destroy my soul? Post below or find me on Twitter @Manky365***
Google+
