GLF 62:Geoff sees things from the shadow of the Tower.
Blackpool Rock
MOTHERWELLJust like my English team our fortunes appear to have improved a little recently.The stonking win over Killie in the league was more than welcome and we picked up a few points and put up better displays against the Old Firm than our one point return deserved.Sadly our inconsistencies were on display pretty quickly with a fairly dismal display against St Mirren that showed us just how important it is that we have a fit and on-form Scott McDonald in the side.t also showed me just how fragile our squad is.When I looked to the bench I saw how limited our options really are.We can't expect youngsters to come on and turn a game; we don't have a Faddy anymore.Our most outstanding youngster has been Mark Reynolds but what will happen to him when McLean and Corrigan are fit again and if/when Murphy arrives in January? That would seem to give us some strength in defence but I worry about our midfield. Lasley has been excellent and seems to have improved Kerr's contribution but, be honest, can you pick two other midfielders from our squad who are ‘definitely' consistent enough to merit a ‘regular' place. Obviously we have O'Donnell to return but just where are we going to play him? Are we going to break up our two central midfielders? I very much doubt it. And as for upfront…
FORWARDS Jim Hamilton being, ahem, given, to Dunfermline has left us with limited options in attack. Scott McDonald has more than earned a starting place but it looks like Calum Elliot is here on a ‘If he's fit he must start the game' deal. Certainly we've seen little to get excited about from a player who burst onto the scene in such style at Hearts. His first touch reminds you of the old joke and his finishing has been poor at best. Maybe, just maybe, he's only a few goals away from his confidence returning and us benefiting. Or maybe we'll just send him back in January and be glad to see the back of him. We already have our own version of Elliot in Davie Clarkson who I begin to suspect may not be able to hold down a regular first team spot at this level. Ross McCormack remains an unknown quantity but we are talking about someone with a lot still to prove. Remember that last season he was farmed out to Doncaster at League One level and managed roughly a goal every four games and I even managed to see him score because one of those came against…
BLACKPOOLAfter a league campaign that could best be described at its start as rubbish the Pool are at last showing signs of coming together and results have picked up considerably with the team climbing to the heights of,ooh,mid-table.Unlike Motherwell,Blackpool have a wealth of forwards to choose from that have all proved consistent scorers at this level.Now that the defence has stopped giving away silly goals (didn't Maurice Malpas make a comment like this) then Pool fans have starting looking for results of teams above us in the table.Pool also launched their new third strip recently.In honour of the Latvian connection to the club (no, not players,just hard cash) the strip is in the colours of the Latvian national team,dare I say,maroon and white with small tangerine inserts under the arms. It looked nice on telly and I was tempted, even though it looked like a Jambos top.Thankfully in the flesh it looks a bit cheap and nasty so I won't be buying it and can't be mistaken for a Cousin of William.
FIFAInteresting to hear that FIFA will propose a limit on the number of foreigners who can play for a club and are also set to give players an official voice in decision-making.If all goes well they intend implementing a six plus five system where six members of each side must be home-grown.UEFA have already brought in rules for Champions League games where each squad of 25 must have four ‘home-grown' players,rising to eight next season.Under UEFA's rules a foreign player schooled at a team's academy counts as home-grown.FIFA's proposal therefore seems more far-reaching and is designed to protect and help national teams.The fact that the players group FIFPRO is involved in talks is a good sign but the biggest stumbling block will be to get the issue past the teams,especially the hugely influential G14 clubs,many of whom are overrun with foreign players.If FIFA are lucky enough to succeed then they will have to take on the might of the European Union who will no doubt throw it out as being against working lives and freedom of choice.Just how would it affect Scottish teams?Looking at the most recent starting line-ups of all SPL teams, no major surprise to find the clubs that would be most affected are Rangers (5 Scottish players started),Celtic (4),Hearts (3) and Hibs (3).All clubs that are doing very well in the league.Wonder what difference it would make to impose these new restrictions.Hell mend them,I say.
PLATINIIn a similar vein Michel Platini has upset clubs and TV companies with his proposal that Champions League places should be limited to three per country.As he says“There are not enough champions in the last 32 of the tournament and that can't be right.”An unbelievably correct statement there.All I can say is that I hope the good Platini gets voted in in place of Lennart Johansson when voting is completed to choose the next UEFA president.Platini also wants to stamp out racism and xenophobia,sporting fraud,illegal betting,doping,embezzlement and corrupt agents.It all sounds too good to be true but too many people would be frightened of Platini in charge and I think we'll be stuck with the same old same old as those in power now protect each other.
BEST! CHANT! EVER! Brighton fans have been treating all and sundry to a wonderfully amusing song.They have in their team a diminutive winger called Dean Cox and it's brilliant to hear a group of grown men chanting the song in his honour“We've got tiny Cox.”
FADDYIt just had to happen didn't it?Sent off against Arsenal for foul and abusive language.How many times have you watched him and seen that red mist descend and wished he would just count to ten and walk away?That seemed to be what's happened this time,he's just gone too far.At the press conference after the game Faddy denied calling the ref a cheat.He actually said “F$*k you, you W£$£er, you stupid *&**, that was a penalty.Oh, and that top looks cheap”.Or maybe I just made that bit up.But then I noted that the ref was Graham Poll who had sent off John Terry days previously in controversial circumstances.Poll's record of three red cards and an amazing 66 yellows already this season makes me wonder if a quiet word in Faddy's ear could have defused the situation a lot better.If referees sent off everyone who used foul language towards them we wouldn't have many players left on the park.Not that I'm saying abuse is correct but sometimes it's better to consider that comments can be made in the heat of the moment.
Come On Ye Well
Up The Pool
Geoff Baby
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