GLF69: Geoff's view from the seaside.
Blackpool Rock
MOTHERWELLI don't know what anyone else thought when we went into the season with only 13 fit players who had started more than one first team game for us.I was worried sick.No, we don't want to buy anyone just for the sake of it but we need something approaching depth in our squad, especially with Europe on the horizon.Is the difficulty that players we have approached seem to assume that because of our third place and being in Europe that we therefore have a pot of cash to spend?Is it because of Mark McGhee's quality control issues?It would be nice to add players to the squad who are at least the equal of what we have but is adding youngsters from our Under-19 team going against that thinking, and will it do them any good in the long run.We may find that one of our kids can step up but we also run the risk of burning them out, and our squad is so small that we are in a position of relying on them doing a turn for us. Relying on 16, 17, 18-year olds?That would be foolish.
I hope we don't suffer as we did under McLeish where a good season was followed by non-investment (actually, we did invest but it was on John Hendry) and a slide down the table.I don't expect the board to be throwing money at the team but we must at least replace the players who have gone and probably add to the squad to survive the extra UEFA Cup games, even if it turns out to be just two games.We achieved great things last season and that could inspire more fans to attend Fir Park, let's give them another season to remember.Nobody expects us to challenge for the title but more of the same isn't too much to ask and for that we need a bigger squad of players.
BLACKPOOLRelatively comfortable survival in the Championship has been followed by a summer of discontent amongst the supporters down Bloomfield Road way.Thankfully I'd already decided that I couldn't commit so much time or money to my second team.By the time season ticket renewals came out many others agreed about their first team.Prices rose by over 30% as the Oystons sought to make some money from the gullible.Matchday prices went up from the cheapest last year, £18.50, to this year's £28!Of course I would be doing the Oystons a disservice not to mention that they can be bought before the day of the match at a one pound discount.Or indeed to mention that a five pound discount (still a £4.50 rise, remember) is available to fans who sign up for the membership scheme, which just happens to cost another twenty pounds!
Many were unsure if the Oyston masterplan was to try and prove that there are not enough fans to justify the building of the south stand but, after weeks of abuse about ticket prices, they have announced that work will commence immediately and will take forty weeks to complete.Good, just in time for League One next season given that Wes Hoolahan and Kaspars Gorkss departed for a paltry £250K (just who allowed them to insert a clause like that in their contracts) and are replaced by players of lesser quality.Will I ever go to Bloomers again?Maybe when Motherwell play a friendly there.
5% CHARGEAlways nice to be able to do a favour for the Old Firm.Their 5% levy to sell tickets for their away matches will give them some much-needed cash and allow them to catch up with the other SPL teams.Or maybe it'll just allow them to line their pockets a little bit more at our expense.While Falkirk took an admirable stance, and the Edinburgh clubs followed, already there has been notable division in the stance against the gruesome twosome. Motherwell had yet to state their intention at this time of writing but I bet we give in.Dundee United capitulated quickly under the threat from Celtic that they would take no tickets while Aberdeen gave in because of the possibility of crowd trouble.
That's a great shame, here was an opportunity to tell them where to stuff their charge and to put them in their place. Don't be surprised to see this rise to 10% at the earliest possible moment.Surely a move like this should have been discussed at SPL level and voted on by all the clubs, after all if they are charging 5% then all the other clubs should do the same when they go to Glasgow.
Falkirk's decision will see tickets go to local Old Firm fans, there's a contradiction in terms.But it would mean that OF season ticket holders used to having a chance of a ticket for away games will go without and how quick would they be to complain about that.Dundee United should have called Celtic's bluff; maybe the other clubs could have chipped in to make up some of the lost revenue.How many travelling fans would they miss out on?How much of a financial hit would it be?How many of their own fans that wouldn't normally go to a Celtic game would fill some of the empty spaces?Would Celtic really like to play with no support?Sadly we'll never know.
A Hearts supporter quickly set up an online petition.In the first three days, when you would expect an initial surge of support, it gathered a grand total of 1285 signatories.That'll really have Celtic and Rangers quaking in their boots! What fans should be doing is contacting their own clubs and making their feelings known and getting them to put pressure on through the SPL or the SFA who are headed by that well-known neutral Gordon Smith. Oh, forget that.
CREDIT CRUNCHEverybody's talking about cutting back and we as fans are no different.At this moment in time I don't know when I will next be at Fir Park.Fifty quid for a tank of petrol or similar for the train fare before I even consider the cost of the game is a lot to ask.Obviously I've also got to hang onto what little money I have in case a trip to Europe is a financial possibility.It will be the only holiday I get this year so I hope it comes off.
Football clubs have also got to make sure they get enough dosh in to survive.No, I'm not going to go into a rant about players' wages.Clubs have to make money but the more everything goes up the more chance that fans that would turn up are cutting back.It's a fine line and a difficult one for clubs to judge.SPL clubs should be getting together and displaying some radical thinking to attract and keep fans coming to the grounds.Sadly, they are not.
RANGERSSome German teams haven't even thought of which sunbeds they are going to put their towels on and Rangers are out of Europe for the season.It does nothing for the coefficient of Scottish football.Mark McGhee says it is a disaster that big European nights will be missing from Ibrox.But isn't it bloody funny?
If we can hang on til the group stages then we could get decent coverage on telly of our games.Rangers will take a £12m hit.Queen of the South will be in Europe longer than them.Walter's negative tactics got the result they deserved.Even better, the Sunday after our first European game we can rub it right into them at Ibrox that we are still in Europe.
The Gers are not the force they think they are.Even if they did make the UEFA Cup Final last term just look at their squad.It hardly bristles with quality.They're not buying from Harrods even if they are not reduced to the corner shop yet.Of course, we know whose fault it will be for all their woes.Ours!The diddy clubs.GIRUY.
Come On Ye Well
Up The Pool
Geoff Baby
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