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"Oh great", Iain sighed, slumping in his chair, "another feature on the Lisbon Lions. How exciting."
His face told the story just as well as his sarcasm, another day, another Old Firm cup final derby, and another load of drivel on his television. Whatever happened to the football? Not that he had ever known anything else. Celtic won the damned European Cup when he was a baby, and even before then there was other nonsense to pollute the lives of those in the West of Scotland. Sectarianism, and it's blatant, but not-to-be-spoken-of, use by Rangers and Celtic to make money were the root, and the success of the clubs merely perpetuated it. Of course there was an element of co-dependence - without successs the Sectairanism and glory-hunting would fade away, and without the Sectarianism the success would fade away. One perepetuated the other, and it was sickening to observe from the outside.
Of course now there was little about the club's playing staff that was local. How could the hoardes identify with no-name Norwegians and random inept Spaniards? What was there to tie the clubs to their support any more? Oh yes, Sectarianism. And trophies, or the chance of them. So sad, so inevitable, and this was the business he had chosen to make a living from? This was the environment in which he had opted to operate? How utterly, utterly desperate, how totally, completely, constant.
No. He couldn't let it be so. But then wiser and braver men had failed. Even fleeting success, such as that enjoyed by Aberdeen and to a lesser extend Dundee United in the eighties had failed to put a stop to the hatred, a stop to the vitriol. Even a European trophy had failed to do this, so how could he, as the manager of a pretty average, if predominently Scottish, First Division side, hope to even dent this inpenetrable shell of hate? It couldn't be done, at least he couldn't see how. No, this task was beyond his talents.
The same outrage burned in his eyes and in his heart fairly regularly, and each time he had to accept the same bitter truth, and each time it tore a little of his soul away. All he could do was his best in his job. He could win trophies, perhaps, maybe even achieve European success, but it would be superficial, unsatisfying. Still, this was his charge, this was his task, he had chosen his path some time ago, and there was nothing football could do about the matters that troubled him. He just had to win as many games as he could, try not to lose the others, and see where it got him.
[This message was edited by Peacemaker7 on 20 January 2004 at 16:40.]
01-10-2004, 10:50 AM
More Old Firm Pish (Lisbon Lions, I guess) Post #2
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Raptor:
You're not taking this on with Ayr are you? :eek:<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Now that I would like to see - c'mon HD, go for it :thup:
01-10-2004, 05:39 PM
More Old Firm Pish (Lisbon Lions, I guess) Post #4
I should start with the skeletal facts. We are currently working with a first team squad of 20 players, with a further seventeen on our books and available for selection should we need them, 2 of whom - Aaron Black and Iain Fulton - are on loan at Elgin City. We are, regrettably, £248 per week over the wage budget the board set down at the start of the season, though efforts are being made to move on players who are earning good money and not contributing to the team effort. Nonetheless the £120,000 brought in from Olympique Marseille for Ludovic Roy not only covers the £34,000 we spent on players, but also leaves us in a solid financial position.
The First Team Playing Staff:
In goals we have two players in on loan, David Marshall from Celtic and Graeme Smith from Rangers. Although the latter is three years older I have opted to start Marshall in our games this season, and I stand by that decision. Rangers have been in contact to express their disappointment at Smith's inaction, but I feel that we need both at the club. We are not contributing to the wages of either player.
In defence I have been playing young Willie Lyle at right back. He is a product of our own youth system, and although just 19 has been a solid and consistent performer. At left back I've been using Allan Dempsie who we have brought in on loan from Hibernian. We are not contributing to his wages either, and he has played well. In the middle I have started with Mark Campbell and Marc Smyth, although Campbell is currently injured. Both have played well, and David Craig is an able deputy at this level. Mick Dunlop and Robert Burgess are also available to deputise, and both are versatile players.
In midfield I've brought John Rankin in on loan from Ross County, and would urge the board to find the funds to make this a permanent deal in the summer. He has played well on the left and is a real prospect. We are contributing £250 per week to his wages, and Ross County are following his progress. Circumstances have forced me to play Kevin Gallacher on the right side of midfield. He's a talented player, and his experience is valubale, but he's not a right sided midfielder. Scott Chaplain and Steve Ferguson are playing very, very well in the centre - much to the chagrin of Dougie Ramsay, who has had to settle for a spot on the bench of late. Stuart McGrady provides us with options on both sides of the park.
Up front we have benefitted greatly from the experienced head of Craig Brewster, and I thank the board for sanctioning this purchase. Stephen Whalen is his established partner now, and he too has found the net with acceptable regularity. I have high hopes for Alex Williams, he will prove to be a very good signing for this club, whilst Graeme Brown and Stewart Kean are capable deputies.
The Bell's Cup:
Our run in this competition was disappointingly short as we lost in the first round at Inverness Caledonian Thistle by one goal to nothing. This was our first competitive game after six friendlies (1-1-4) and I feel a shorter pre-season would help next time around.
CIS Insurance Cup:
We started out with a very hard-fought and well-earned away win in Dumfries, 2-1 over Queen of the South, at the start of September, and our Second Round game three weeks later saw us entertain Airdrie United, and comprehensively defeat them by three to nothing. Upcoming is a Third Round trip to SPL side Livingston, and we will be approaching this as a game we feel we can win.
Tennent's Scottish Cup:
Our participation in this competition has not yet commenced.
Bell's First Division:
After nine games, one quarter of our scheduled fixtures, we are proud to sit in first place in the division after five wins and four draws. Most remarkably we have conceded just one goal in this period, in a 1-1 draw at Brechin City, and scored fourteen goals of our own. We are two points ahead of both Clyde and Brechin City who each have seventeen points at this stage. My only concern is that we have managed to drop eight points despite only the one goal lost. This is something we will look to remedy in quarter two. Our most notable result came in the ninth and most recent match when we won 7-0 at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Statistics:
Craig Brewster is the team's top scorer with eight goals in all competitions, followed by Stephen Whalen with five. Scott Chaplain has four including a hat-trick in the 7-0 demolition of Inverness, whilst Graeme Brown and Allan Dempsie have a single goal each. In my view Brewster, Chaplain, Marc Smyth and David Marshall have been our most consistant performers, with Steve Ferguson although worthy of a mention. I am a little concerned with the form of Kevin Gallacher, and there is a boy in the reserves called Mark McColl who I am tempted to try out on the right wing. Dougie Ramsay is another potential option for this role.
Assessment:
This quarter has provided a solid base for the season. We will look to build on what we have achieved over the next couple of months and report back halfway through the season.
SM: So, Craig, eight goals and top of the league. Are you happy with your decision to step down a division at this stage of your career?
CB: Obviously I have to be. I really am enjoying this season, and I believe we can go back to the SPL where a club of this stature belongs.
SM: Pre-season Ayr were amongst the favourites for relegation, and now you're at the top and unbeaten. Is the first quarter an aberration, or are you really valid contenders to go up?
CB: To be fair, the team has changed a fair bit since we were given that label. The kids from Rangers and Celtic are pushing each other for the goalkeeping position, and Allan Dempsie has been very solid at left back. John Rankin on the left of midfield has been a sensation, and may be the single biggest reason we're doing so well.
SM: Yourself aside, of course!
CB: I think my role is overrated. I just stick away the tap ins. If you look at Scott Chaplain's hat-trick at Inverness, after the penalty rebound he's hit a couple of peaches that got voted first and second in the goal of the month competition, and he hit another like that a couple of weeks earlier, and Stevie Whalen's done a power of work, and scored the difficult striker's goals. It's really easy to play well with that kind of support, you know that if you miss one then somebody else will score sooner or later.
SM: You say that, but draws, and in particular 0-0 draws, have been a sticking point thus far this season for you?
CB: That's talked about too much outside the club. We're not concerned about it.
SM: Finally Craig, how about your future, you've indicated that this may be your last season in the game?
CB: Yeah, at the moment that's how I'm thinking, but we'll see how it goes. If we get promoted then I may just fancy one last crack at the top flight before I retire back to Greece.
01-12-2004, 12:53 AM
More Old Firm Pish (Lisbon Lions, I guess) Post #9
We've covered the squad already and due to the transfer window regulations there were no moves during the second quarter, so I'll get straight on to the competitions.
CIS Insurance Cup:
We put up a good fight at Livingston before losing 3-1. This game showed me that if we are able to secure promotion this term we will be in for a rough ride next season. We made £20,000 from the defeat, plus our share of the gate money.
Tennent's Scottish Cup:
We have been drawn away to SPL side Motherwell in the Third Round. This tie will take place in January 2004.
Bell's First Division:
Our record over the past nine games was five wins, three draws and a single defeat in our last game in Inverness. Whilst I am obviously devastated to lose our unbeaten run, and particularly to a side we hammered on our own park, the table still looks good for us with a five point gap to our nearest challengers, Clyde. Whilst we sit first we remain aware that ten wins from eighteen games is barely over a fifty percent win ratio, and we will look even to improve on this over the second half of the season, bearing in mind that a win and a defeat are worth more points than two draws.
Statistics:
Marc Smyth was called up to the Scotland under 21 squad earlier in the month, and we are all proud of him. It was a tough decision to make as he is eligible for Northern Ireland, but he has seen sense and opted for l'Ecosse. Stephen Whalen has picked up most of the goals of late, though Craig Brewster still leads our charts on 11, Whalen has 10 and Scott Chaplain six. Remarkably our keeper David Marshall has a goal to his credit, a wind assisted clearance that helped us to a 2-1 home win over St Mirren.
Assessment:
We're doing fine, and I am now confident that - steering clear of injuries and suspensions - we will be able to win this division. That is now our stated aim.
This was our busiest quarter in terms of the number of matches, so straight on to the action.
Tennent's Scottish Cup:
We put up a good performance in drawing 0-0 at Fir Park in the Third Round, and again in the Somerset replay, drawing 1-1 before eliminating our SPL opponents in a penalty shoot-out. This victory left us in optimistic mood for a rematch with Livingston, who had earlier eliminated us from the CIS Cup, this time at Somerset. In a dramatic match we led through Brewster, but looked set for a replay until the same player grabbed an injury time winner to put us in the Quarter Finals. The draw paired us with Brechin City, seemingly our easiest match of the tournament so far. Sadly it didn't turn out that way, and we lost 2-0 at Glebe Park, ending our participation in this competition.
Bell's First Division:
Our record over the past nine games was five wins, two draws and a pair of back-to-back defeats at home to Clyde and then at Falkirk. We now have an eight point lead over Clyde, with Queen of the South a further four points adrift. The bottom line is that twenty points - six wins and a draw - from the final nine matches will guarantee the championship we crave. Disturbingly we have yet to register six wins in a single quarter, but points dropped by our rivals will ease us closer to our target.
Statistics:
Craig Brewster picked up the goalscoring burden once again in this quarter, moving to 16 goals in all competitions. Stephen Whalen is on ten and Scott Chaplain on seven. Alex Williams has begun to play more and has registered five goals already. Marc Smyth now has two under 21 caps to his credit, and David Marshall has broken into that squad at just 18 years of age. We have agreed Bosman deals to bring in eleven players, two goalkeepers to replace the two loanees we will not have next year - Craig Nelson and Myles Hogarth - with a work permit pending on a third I'm excited about - a veteran international of the highest calibre. Further, two defenders with SPL experience - Emmanuel Dorado of Livingston and Eric Deloumeaux of Aberdeen - four midfielders, two of whom are playing in the SPL now, and two of whom are from this division - Lee Makel of Livingston and Jarkko Wiss of Hibernian, Steve Bowey of Queen of the South and Andy Millen of Clyde in a primarily coaching role. Finally we've tied up three strikers, one international, one proven goalscorer and an SPL player - Gilles De Bilde, Martin Cameron and Alex Burns. All will be useful next season, particularly as Craig Brewster is set to retire, and we will lose John Rankin and Allan Dempsie when their loans expire. I'm very optimistic that if we are promoted we will be able to stay in the division.
More Old Firm Pish (Lisbon Lions, I guess) 
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