GLF 54: GB tells it as he sees it from the back of the main stand.
A View From The Press Box
OUR MANAGER - Big Tel must be doing something right at Fir Park, as he seems to be linked with every job that becomes available, Hearts,Scotland ( ! ), Plymouth,Rangers( even though McLeish is still in the job ! )etc etc.It has even now passed on to Maurice Malpas who has been linked with Inverness CT (not a job big enough for Terry himself obviously).
While in some ways this is a bit of a back - handed compliment it does become a pain in the arse every time a manager leaves that our gaffer is linked with the job.If I believed in conspiracy theories I would say it’s a plot to de-stabilise our club and see us down at the bottom of the League where we belong.
But I don’t and I see it as a positive and as long as Terry is happy here why should we worry.Although I suppose we need to accept that some time in the future that a “ bigge r” club will come along and be more appealing than our humble little club.It may even be that some day he could be sacked if we hit a bad run……
It's also good to seethe good work at Fir Park is being recognised in wider circles with Terry featured in FourFourTwo magazine, where will it all end.
It’s not just the manager but the young players that the media want to move on, with Steven Hammell constantly being linked with Celtic.Once again this means we are doing something right,and long may it continue as this is how the club will stay in existence after all…..
SCOTSPORT - sorry but it has to be mentioned again !I wish they would finally pension off Archie McPherson, his Monday night ramblings make no sense and his commentaries on the Champions League nights are just baffling as you wonder what game he is watching !!!
Even the studio experts leave a lot to be desired, any current player they have on has to watch what he says for fear of upsetting any future opponent or getting an SFA fine.The journos and Andy Walker seem terrified to tell the truth about the Old Firm.They struggle to tell us what we know about Camara and Juninho,good enough for the SPL but never going to help a Champions League campaign.That’s not what the unwashed want to hear so we won’t tell them that…..
Come on STV stop insulting our intelligence-and I haven’t even mentioned the dynamic duo that is Sarah O !!!
PETROV IS A CHEAT! - this was the “ shock ” headline that stared up at me from my Daily Express two days after the 1-0 home win over Shatar Dhonesk. This time the accusation was not from a Scottish based player but from one of the Ukrainian players who had suffered a second yellow after Petrov made a meal of a challenge.
This surely shouldn’t have come as a surprise to any football fan in Scotland who has seen Petrov win dodgy free kicks and penalties the length and breadth of the country.Even to the point of looking at the penalty he “ won ” at Fir Park four days before this after he had collided with Phil O’Donnell.On reflection, and watching the TV pictures, it was probably a pen but you can’t help view any incident with Petrov with suspicion.
The only way to stop this is for our excellent referees to clamp down on his behaviour, bear their teeth and show him a yellow,this is the only way he would think twice.Given he plays for one of the big two that is unlikely as it's easier for them to book the players of provincial clubs for diving.
IAN MCCALL - I need to get this off my chest !!Three years ago I was interviewed on Off the Ball and went on record to say that the then Airdrie manager was the man to replace Billy Davies.Three years on I am glad he wasn't selected ( although I was never impressed by Black's efforts either ! ).
I for one am glad to see his United side sitting at the bottom of the SPL table as we entered November.I am sick of his myopic view of games that bear no relation to what actually happened during them.He has also adopted the actions of a condemned man,every defeat is now somebody else's fault, mainly referees......
Every team gets poor decisions from refs,they just seem worse when you are bottom of the League.Maybe he should have a look at some of the rubbish he has signed,and some of the good players he has let go.I would also suggest he has signed good players and wasted them,eg Derek McInnes has gone from a Premiership player being picked for Scotland and now looks like a first division player.
I hope that the current financial conditions at Tannadice means that Eddie Thomson can's afford to sack him as this could spell disaster for a team,it's manager and supporters who think they are bigger than they are and still believe they are the team they were in the '80s.Maybe they should wake up and smell the coffee and realise they are also - rans like the rest of us and need to work for the right to be an SPL side at all - they have no divine right to a top League slot.
Graham Barnstaple
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