The Old Firm go marching on
A Hibs fan, I see, was forced to sit in a bath of beans after pledging to do so if his team re-signed Derek Riordan. "We will never get him back," he vowed. His cynicism, it seems, was blowing in the wind.
Oh ye of little faith.
Expect the unexpected in Scottish football; some of the time.
But not of course when it comes to the Old Firm. I see the natural order has been restored at the top of the SPL, with Glasgow's Big Two leading the pack
In forty years of pounding this beat, wearily, I have been forced to report, it has nearly always been thus.
And before Celtic fans send out the lynching party, "natural order" refers to the pair of them... in either sequence.
It's as disappointing as it is unsurprising.
Kilmarnock turned up at Ibrox as championship leaders with a defence which looked as if it couldn't be breached by a Caribbean hurricane went a goal ahead and Ayrshire imaginations were running riot.
By full time normal service had been resumed and the mouse that roared had fallen for the cheese in the trap.
Meanwhile at Fir Park, the Great Claret and Amber Hope to splice the Old Firm, Motherwell, was laid horizontal by another tempest, this one in green and white hoops.
As for Dundee United, the pre-season forecast of most to challenge Glasgow's happy couple, in the great race they can't even release the hand brake.
Honestly, I'll think about sitting in a bath of beans myself if the Old Firm fail to finish one and two on the rostrum. That's something else for Celtic and Rangers to have on toast.
Meanwhile, while we're having a look at the supper menu, it seems that George Burley isn't everybody's cup of tea.
The guns were loaded for the Scotland manager after a miserable start to the World Cup campaign in Macedonia.
You could have deep fried a Mars Bar in the Skopje afternoon heat but there was too much rest and not enough work or decent play from Scotland.
What followed was an avalanche of criticism, some of it triggered by Burley's curious assessment that Scotland had been "outstanding" in the second half when they were in fact less crap than they were in the first.
It was proven yet again that when it comes to the art form of panic, we are world leaders.
Faithful readers of this column will know that I expected Scotland to struggle in Macedonia and to harvest - at best - two points from their journeys to the former Yugoslavia and then to Iceland.
So I must declare myself content with three in the wake of the heart-stopping win in Reykjavik where we felt for the last ten minutes like a man clinging to a cliff by his fingertips before the rescue by the coastguard, or in this case, the full time whistle.
And so there we are, back on the straight and narrow on the road to Cape Town, cradled safely in the knowledge that if the folk from the fjords don't burgle anything at Hampden next month then those who slaughtered Burley will turn out to be like those who mocked Noah as he built his ark.
Never rains but it pours, eh?
We need the salvation. Rangers and Queen of the South have evaporated from the Scottish challenge in Europe leaving our early season reputation around the world in rags.
I trust Celtic and Motherwell can heal the wounds.
They must be as lively as they possibly can be in their respective European campaigns - full of beans in fact...
"Tell them who you are and what you are about," they said. To be honest, there are days when I struggle to remember myself. Forty years toiling at the coalface of football journalism does that to you. But I have reason to believe that I have reached the heady heights of the title of Football Correspondent of BBC Scotland which gives me a renown, in Scottish terms, of somewhere between Alex Salmond and the deep fried Mars Bar.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~04~RS~)
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Chick
how about less of boring old cliches, and poor attempts at humour and just write about actuall football and tactics for a change.
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I can describe the Scotish football in one word, RUBBISH. HHAHAHAHAHA.
You can never change the pattern, Rangers and Celtics 1st and 2nd, it's just the order changing.
It won't change it in 10 years times, and it won't change it in your lifetime, no matter who is in charge in the Scotish FA.
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Chick
You say this as if the world will come to a grinding halt for Scottish football, as usual, it would always come from you. The world is ending according to a peculiar Chick Young, whom believes in the media hype, and not on the balance of the feelings of Scotland's football fans. We couldn't care less if Rangers were out, or if Motherwell lost 6-0 against Nancy. All we have is to be proud of our perfomances that got us there in the first place....ok, maybe not so much for Rangers and Celtic, but certainly for Motherwell and Queen of South.
Go and join the the minority on the backbench who have given up on supporting Scotland. You seem to do everything in your power to make Burley unsettled as manager of Scotland indirectly.
Try and set off some flares in your house, and see if you are better at that, or writing articles that has no meaning.
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The two biggest clubs in the country finishing in the top two positions? This is disgraceful and must be stopped. Also, I'm sick and tired of Labour and Conservative consistently arguing about who should be in power. Let's stop all of this "Top two" business. Didn't Hearts finish second about three years ago?
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Chick
I am genuienly confused. Your last piece was very critical of Scotland and the result in Macedonia and in fact many of the posters to you to task for over-reaction and excessive gloominess. Yet in todays Blog you state you would have been happy with 2 points over the two games.
It is very well continually bemoaning the dominance of the Old Firm in scotland but I never see any proposals which would try and mitigate this in any way. As one of the Old Firm supporters I want to see my team perform at a higher level in Europe, by definition this means buying better players and so the gap will in all likelihood remain. In effect therefore your piece argues against itself.
Cheers
Norrie
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Dear oh dear Chic. Do you even read the comments the supporters (of Scotland not you) write on this site?
You are an embarrassment to the nation, I don't think you are in a position to criticise Burley, when this article is not "less crap" than your previous attempt.
If Scotland had performed in Iceland as poorly as you write these blogs we really would be in trouble.
Come on Beeb get rid of this man and bring in someone who at least will write something worth talking about.
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Another nonsensical article bursting with 3rd rate cliches. Is this journalism ? Answer is not even close.
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More tripe from Scottish football's most inept 'writer'. "Never rains but it pours...expect the unexpected..." - any chance of a report without a flood of cliches?
What do you think could be done to bridge the gap regarding the Old Firm's dominance? Why did Kilmarnock not manage to get a fifth successive clean sheet? Why have Dundee United failed to live up to pre-season expectations?
Some original thoughts, please. Pick one topic and give us some insight.
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Chick is correct for the one and only time in his life. The natural order *is* Rangers and celtc.
In that order.
Always has been, always will be.
Well done chick. 10/10 at last.
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Chick, were Hearts not second recently. something that would have pleased you 40 yrs ago at Bellahouston Acad.,, before you took up St Mirren.
Also, you have changed tack yet again on Burley...some consistency needed. Why doesn't David Murray get in the neck when Rangers fail in Europe, the same way you lambasted Burley....
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People saying it is always Rangers and Celtic, "ALWAYS HAS BEEN ALWAYS WILL BE" ... you obviously dont pay much attention because Hearts finished 2nd a few seasons ago...
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why is there always so much talk about the old firm always being the only two in contention in the spl .... there are only 12 teams in it and of course they are the stronger of the dozen, the english premier league also has its superior teams although in a league of 20 that becomes a top four with hardly ever any change there also. you only have to look at the major leagues in any europe and you will find that a handful of clubs dominate their leagues. until there is a european league of at least two divisions these teams will always dominate their respective domestic leagues.
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Chic, I read your blogs fairly irregularly, but whenever I do I am always disappointed. I suggest you tone down the 'humour' and try constructing the occasional sentence without a laboured metaphor/simile. A bit of insightful analysis wouldn't go amiss either!
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just like in only an excuse hah uv got to laugh it this guy.
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Joining in with the rest of them in pointing out that Hearts finished 2nd not too long ago. One of your old collegues, Bob Crampsie could remember teams,scorers,the referee and the first name of all the fans. Yet you seem to forget 1 season from the last 4 years!And does anyone ever leave a positive remark on this blog? Maybe bbc glasgow, sorry scotland should take note!
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TheWildBore is spot on.
The references to frying in Skopje and to 40 years' football reporting are rehashed - again.
Much of the rest makes little sense, and where it does, it says nothing.
Chick, please give us some football analysis instead of trying to create a literary masterpiece.
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rangers leaving our reputation in rags? dont think so! fair enough it was a very dissapionting thing to see but what rangers did last season was outstanding considering the team they had plus our european performances before last year give rangers the right to never be in the same sentence as leaving our reputation in rags. also the domestic reputation in europe really isnt "ours" but rangers and celtics and there supporters.
plus as for the boring moan about rangers and celtic being the boring couple at the top! as a scottish football fan we should be happy of the fact that the two teams are that good as it makes our national team better and makes the SPL almost attractive. instead of moaning about it being "as disappointing as it is unsurprising." why dont you concentrate your blog on how we can improve the SPL.
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The SPL is a load of bull, it's either between Celtic and Rangers for the title, and in Europe Celtic can only win at home, where all their decisions go their way, but not this time, UNITED SHALL THRASH YOU HOME AND AWAY!!! COM ON UTD. They wouldn't last 5 games in the premier league.
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The Old Firm dominance in the SPL is really no different than the dominance of a select small number of teams in every major football league in Europe. We can all pick two or three teams from each league and rest assured the league champion will be among these.
The pity is the Hearts came in second a few years back, only to be undone by an owner far worse than any of those being complained about in the EPL.
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do you get paid to write these blogs chick ?
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Chicanory,
Your alternative virtual world is a great on-line experience. Deconstructing the hidden messages within this footballing fable has been massively entertaining for me. Hard to decide whether your world view owes more to Karl Popper (falsifiability) than Steven Jay Gould (punctuated equilibrium). On reflection, I go for the Richard Dawkins option (The Blind Watchmaker, the Selfish Gene etc). You don't actually know what you are doing do you? The randomly mutating phenotype that is your journalism allows you to virally infect our thoughts with nonsense one week, only to rebut the next (see my last prediction Scotland to Win In Iceland). Having re-established the old world order (end of the "new" New Firm -Dundee United , Motherwell -shock horror probe) it only takes the next bad result for one of the "old" Old Firm to give you the next crisis. The question is which one? And the answer, friends, is that for Chick, and this blog, it doesn't really matter.....
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Chick Young treats us all with contempt - he thinks none of us understands the usage of the English language. He thinks he is smart, witty, clever, cool. Simply put, all he achieves is simplistic rhetoric, mumbo-jumbo, blah, blah, blah. What does he actually contribute? Nothing. He opens his gob and spouts unadulterated rubbish. BBC, you should get rid of him. I can't believe that Mr Young - can't call him Chick because that implies a friendly kind of guy, one of the lads, one who wants to ingratiate himself upon us - actually holds down a responsible journalist position with the BBC. Defies belief.
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Smax1000 - very well said. Scottish football should be grateful for the passion and commitment of Rangers and Celtic.
Now how do we improve the rest of the SPL or do we want the standards of the old firm to drop?
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Yawn...
I get more insight into the game sitting in the pub with my mates.
In fact if you were one of our mates you're lack of any substantial opinion or knowledge would be slapped down and we'd send you home to watch the X-Factor with the missus
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This is disappointing insipid childish drivel. Without the functionless pre-digested metaphors it would read as follows:
As a result of his cynicism a hibs fan had to sit in a bath of beans.
I am disappointed but unsurprised that Rangers and Celtic are top.
Killie had conceded few goals until they played Rangers.
Celtc beat Motherwell.
Dundee United have not performed to the level expected by an unnamed person.
I don't think anyone will challenge Rangers and Celtic.
Having summarised this weeks results, i would like to talk about George Burley.
It was hot in Macedonia. Scotland didn't work hard enough or play well.
Unnamed people were critical of Burley's comments after the game.
"We" - By this i think i'm referring to the nation as a whole but actually I mean the first-person singular pronoun "I" - panic and my comments above are proof of this.
I didn't expect us to do well.
I'm content with 3 points from an exciting game. "We" - again I mean "I" - were nervous for the final 10 minutes.
If we beat Norway the unnamed critics - [i'm not sure if i uncluded?] - will like Burley
[Fragment - consider revising]
"We"/"I" - [attempts to stir emotion] do not know how to use a comma and as a result neither of these are sentences
Celtic and Motherwell must be lively in their European campaigns - [i will not say why or how though]
Bad writing
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"It was proven yet again that when it comes to the art form of panic, we are world leaders."
Chic, usually a fan but i seem to remember you weren't exactly telling people to calm down and wait for the Iceland game before judging Burley
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Every time I read Chicks blog I have to have my spine surgically secured back into my body. The cliches are woeful, the jokes are abysmal, the metaphors are terrible and the content is just...nothing! The best part about the blog is the comments left by the other readers.
C'mon Chick when I read about something I have an interest in I want to feel enlightened or that it was worth my while to have read it. I do not want the feeling of nausea, frustration and embarrassment combined into one.
Anyone can write about how bad Scottish football is or how the league is a two horse race. Both those topics are easy, negative and boring. Give me something constructive or positive. There's a thought.
Now pass that bucket...
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wilson athletic are you thick? david murray got slaughtered for not having bought decent players before the kaunus game...a week later he buys several decent players. as for chic, start talking some sense about football and not rubbish about about the old firm always being top when thats always going to be the case, the guy up top was correct in saying we strive to be in europe's elite, so obviously going to get better players, due to champions league attraction. hopefully we can get an 'article' next week.
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It seems I have broken the house rules, but utterly fail to see how despite having read those rules. The BBC return email address does not work, so I would appreciate advice from the BBC as to which item(s )managed to somehow offend.
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Just a suggestion for the people complaining about Chick's blog - perhaps don't read it if you never find it interesting or of value? Personally I love Chick's comments, and find his blog a good read. He might not be posting lists of how to make the SPL a better league and the world a better place, but perhaps that's because, short of giving all his money to the youth systems and/or transfer budgets of all the struggling teams in the SPL and the lower leagues, there's really nothing he can say or do to aid their competitiveness with the Old Firm.
As for our national team, we're one of the most unreliable around. On a good day, we can beat England. On a bad day, we could concede to San Marino.
And I'd love to see a season or two come where the Old Firm don't take first and second place without any struggle, and without it being a complete fluke, as per Hearts. Some competitiveness for more than a top 6 finish would not go amiss from the Scottish game.
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test
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You can always rely on Chick Young to announce to the World something that undiscovered Amazonian tribes will be fully aware of.
In a week when the media FINALLY call Rangers fans to task over the disgraceful Famine Song, Chick Young thinks it's more important to talk about the "natural order" of the SPL.
The least he could have done to gloss over this little nugget from "Scotland's shame" is talk about Hamilton's glorious victory at Aberdeen or what a fantastic talent James McCarthy is promising to be. But nah, not Chick. He'd rather remind us that Rangers are top of the League.
Well done Chick. How you landed this number at the BBC, I'll never know.
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The fact that Aberdeen don't even get a mention on the 'article' speaks volumes.
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It amazes me that people still turn up to watch this rubbish league. Year after year of the same meaningless, tired uncompetitive dribble and still people turn up to watch brutal teams like Motherwell, Hearts, Hibs and Gretna fight it out to finish behind Celtic and Rangers.
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I'm just glad that there wasn't a 'toiling at the coalface' metaphore this week.
How come this particular blog is pre-moderated yet others seldom are....
Is it due to popularity of the author by any chance?
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Chick,
Part two, here, just to see where the 'moderators are 'unhappy'.
Hypocrite springs to mind too, reading your thoughts on the Scotland national team. You should read your last blog, and see where it stands to this one in content, one minute pulling our dreams apart and then, all of a sudden it almost sounds like you're jumping on the Burley band wagon!?
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Wow...not a popular bloke is he? I'm loath to jump on the band-wagon, but those cliches did come "thick and fast" ...not to mention windy.
Anyhoo...any hints on who else is worth reading for an insight into Fitba' in Scotland that an Aussie/Scot might browse?
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Olympic Goat - the fact is, your post said more than Chick did in his entire article - the fact he dares to publish this as a supposed 'expert', which one can only assume he considers himself to be, is an insult to the readers who want insight, analysis, to be told something we didn't know or to at least put a different spin on things. If you can't say anything else about Scottish football, don't get paid to write about it!
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I second the person who said the best thing about this blog are the readers comments - Scostev, you just made me laugh outloud!!!! Hahaha!
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Chic,
Carry on with the cliches mate. You are honest in your reports and summaries. The BBC should renew your contract!!
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53- MuGinlay,
The unofficial sites run by club supporters are the best places for informed pieces on historical and current issues. Scottish scribblers like Chick were once known as 'fans with typewriters.' They are as reliable as a Mars Bar in the heat of Skopje. For Celtic, try Etims. No doubt supporters of other SPL teams can point you in the right direction for their clubs.
46 - pmatson. Do you ever watch a Scottish game that doesn't involve the Old Firm? I live abroad and am fed up with un-informed English gits (and some Scottish ones) banging on about how crap Scottish football is. And yet they have NEVER seen an SPL game. Most of the OF supporters also haven't watched a Scottish game that doesn't involve their team. I'm 'lucky' enough to have Premiership on the TV out here, and most of it is dross. The worst game of football I have ever seen in my life was a Newcastle v Wigan fixture a few seasons ago. Absolutely dire. Is a Hamilton v Dundee United game something worth anticipating? I have no idea. And Chick isn't going to help me with that either. But the SPL is not as bad as people make out, and the EPL not as good.
Anyway, supporting your team isn't a consumer lifestyle choice. At least it never used to be.
Right, I think the posters have established Chick doesn't read these comments (no wonder - how could you not end up depressed?), and we are starved of decent content, so could the posters please provide it themselves? As an exile, I'd be interested in any of the following topics:
1. Who are the young Scottish players to watch out for in the SPL this season?
2. Who do you fancy for promotion from the lower divisions?
3. With the OF and national team all managed by Scots, is Scotland a particularly unwelcoming place for foreign managers (especially in light of the Paul Le Guen and Bertie Vogts experiences)?
4. ANY inside info from supporters of teams like Arbroath, Partick Thistle, Alloa...
5. What tactics and players should Burley deploy in the World Cup qualifying fixtures?
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Chick,
Seriously........., I was speachless for a good 5 minutes. Reading this article is like trying to swim through treacle (feel free to use that one!)
I think you should bare in mind that you're a journalist and have a responability to use the English language properly. Things like simple gramatical errors should not be in your 'work'.
How about a blog on football, on the issues that many other here have posted about:
1. The 'famine song'
2. A run down of Celtic's opponents on wednesday since we know little about them
3. Your thoughts on motherwell's chances in europe
4. Why hasn't Dundee Utd started the season well, especially when they were tipped for 3rd place?
5. Why have Killie done so well, what's the secret?
6. A good result for Hamilton, good to see the new boys doing well?
I could go on, and on, and on, but seriously, can we have something that we can actually discuss?
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What the?
This is just an aimless, cliche filled ramble!
Chick, why don't you stick to one topic, and put some depth into it? I can't believe that you're getting paid for this nonsense.
Other posters have hit the nail on the head - in a week when we've had diplomatic incidents thanks to the behaviour of a group of fans, and Celtic and Motherwell involved in Europe, you choose to completely ignore the former, and then dedicate a few lines to the latter without any attempt to assess how well either of them will do?
Seriously, this is the sort of drivel that anyone with an internet connection could put together in 2 minutes.
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Inappropriate???:
"In forty years of pounding this beat, wearily, I have been forced to report, it has nearly always been thus." Marvelous, at least you no longer have to toil at any coalfaces.
This is one of many interesting quotes from this article. I'd like to address Chick directly, but he seldom - in fact, never - responds to his faithful readers. So Chick, do you feel it necessary to write such over the top, self indulgent, rarely relevant and never insightful rubbish? Do you feel it necessary to mention your "40 years" in the job in every hackneyed article you write? It's surprising, i'll give you that, but we heard the first 4000 times. Why not earn your money and write something that says something insightful about football rather than your own nostalgia? If 40 years is how long it takes to be this bad a journalist then Phil McNulty etc had better quit now. By the way, do you read blogs by the likes of Phil McNulty or Tim Vickery? I think you could learn some valuable lessons. Otherwise, move aside for somebody who will give us something interesting to read.
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Secretealchemist - you are a breath of fresh air. I agree with your request for some decent meaningful insight into the Scottish game. See my comment 6.
Best regards
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test 2
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In reply to the Secret Alchemist (post 59):
1) Take your pick, as there are loads of young scottish players around at the moment who are worth watching. The obvious one is Fletcher at Hibs, as he's the one being talked about most, thanks to Real Madrid's confirmed interest in him (having said that, that in itself doesn't mean much - they would apparently loan him out straight away if they did sign him).
The one that impressed me most in pre-season was Caddis at Celtic who seems like a phenomenal player (he is Scottish isn't he? And more importantly - if he is, does he know that?), but you could just as easily pick any number of players at Falkirk, or Goodwillie at Dundee United who seems to have been a 'potential' for years now. I'm sure there are many others that could be worth a mention as well
2) I cant really see past St Johnstone for the 1st Division title, as they are an SPL team in all but name.
3) The problem that foreign managers face here is the ingrained attitudes. You get someone like Le Guen at Rangers, who I believe, in the long run, would have turned Rangers around. He came in, tried to change the culture of the players. They didn't like it. Who does Johnny Foreigner think he is, coming here with his fancy 'Your body is your worktool, look after it' mentality? After all the team that drinks together, wins together, eh?
Player power forced him out, together with fans who couldn't look beyond the current game. Because Murray sided with the players, he ensured that no decent European coach would ever touch Rangers with a bargepole again.
Berti's problem, I believe anyway, was that he came expecting our players to be like German players, capable of playing any role in the team comfortably. Couple that with a limited grasp of English that served only to confuse players who weren't the brightest in the first place, and it was a recipe for disaster.
Having said that, his reputation was based on Euro '96, and given the players Germany had then, I could have managed the squad and they'd still have had a decent crack at it.
4) No idea, given that I'm a Clyde and Celtic man.
5) I think Burley's got it right. He's trying to turn us into a team that's capable of keeping possession of the ball, and attacking in numbers. There's plenty of people criticising and saying that we're not as good as we were in the last couple of campaigns. My answer to that is 'Did we qualify'? No, we didn't. Passion and hard work clearly aren't enough to get over that final hurdle, and Burley knows that, that's why he's trying to make us play like a more continental side.
I'd like to see Maloney as the first name on the team sheet, and aside from possible dropping Kenny Miller and bringing in Iwulemo from Wolves, there's not much else I would alter. You can criticise the performance in Macedonia and his player choice, but a lot of them were forced by injury, so give him a full squad, and we should be flying with a great brand of attacking football. Having said that, if we try that against the Dutch, we'll get hammered, so George, if you're reading, 4-5-1 against the Dutch, but 4-3-3 against everyone else.
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Chick Young is one of the heavy weights in Scottish sports journalism. When he passes away, I think the most suitable tribute would be for every man woman and child in Scotland to each donate a pound coin to be melted down to create a statue of the mighty chick. We could knock down Wallace Monument to make space for this fantastic statue. He will go down as the Rabbie Burns of the 21st century and all his critics who claim he writing compares to smooth runny excrement will be put to the sword. Lay off him - or else!
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Why can't Chick Young look past the boring Old Firm and realise that there are 12 clubs in the SPL with 12 sets of supporters who want to read a balanced appraisal of what is going on in the whole league. Kilmarnock's achievement in being unbeaten in four matches was noteworthy, but they were, in fact, second top going into Saturday's match. The fact that they went 504 minutes without conceding a league goal (and it was a penalty that ended the run, aye, and from a former Killie player at that) was more notable. But no mention was made, for example, of Hamilton's first win in Aberdeen for 78 years or of the contining development of their young starlet McCarthy. Do Hamilton fans have to wait until their team are playing one or other of the Old Firm before they get a mention?
The trouble with football journalism in Scotland, and Chick Young is part of this, is that FAR too much attention is paid to the Old Firm. They are over-rated, over-hyped and, frankly, the best thing that could happen to the SPL would be if another club (ANY OTHER CLUB) could step forward, challenge, then overcome the Old Firm. Within the last 30 years by far and away the most exciting period in our game occurred when Aberdeen, followed by Dundee United and, too a much lesser extent, Hearts were able to compete and dominate the Old Firm. Why can't you write about that, make points like these and ask the question 'Who is out there who wants to change things?' Wouldn't it be great if, at the start of a season, the bookies couldn't make their collective minds up about who from FIVE were to be labelled Title favourites? That was pretty much the situation by 1986. That is where we need to be going in this country. I personally couldn't give a hoot about the Old Firm, save for when they represent their country in Europe. And I know tens of thousands of SPL and SFL fans feel exactly the same. So lets have some more coverage of ALL Scottish Clubs. What has gone wrong at St.Johnstone for example, the country wants to know! It can't possibly be as dull and irrelevant as some ordinary Rangers player announcing that he won't play for Scotland anymore.
PS. Can someone please tell Chick Young that the fabled 'deep fried mars bar' has no relevance whatsoever in 21st Century Scotland. Modern-day Scots under the age of about 35 wouldn't even know what one looked like let alone have ever tasted one.
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As far as I'm aware, this blog should stimulate debate about football. If so, then someone should read the replies posted above. 20 of the 32 we're allowed to read (that's 62%) are from people who think it fails.
to be continued...
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test3
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I give up - I think the blog wants/needs no more criticism! If the powers don't get the message by now then they never will...
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It's time the media in Scotland (especially the Daily Record, The Sun, et al and the pundits on Radio Scotland) get behind the players and Burley when Scotland are playing.
They are so fast to build the nation up but then faster still when we have a bad performance/result.
Yes, they should report on bad performances but I'm sure Burley realised how vital the Iceland game was without the press building it up as much as they did.
--
And #3 just like the EPL eh? The top 4 will always be the top 4!
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If you think your natural order in Scotland is boring, you should see the English league, it's terribly predictable!
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C Young You seem surprised that the gruesome twosome have been in the top 2 for the last 40 years,infact how many seasons have they missed out on the top5 since 1888 would be more apt here.?
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The penny has finally dropped!
The beeb is extracting the urine!
The debate is whether it's from Mr Young or from all of us who waste a mouseclick getting here... methinks the latter.
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I think throbbinrobin has a great point. A quarter of posts don't even go up, and i know mine had no 'swear words' or anything other than my assessment of the content of this blog and previous blogs by Chick. Unfortunately the blog contains little about football, so what else is there to discuss? Of the lucky few that get their posts on the wall the majority are either complaining or being sarcastic. I think there are a few good posts here by people forced to make their own chat, these include Secret Alchemist and ....the rest of Scottish Football. I can't really be bothered to sum up the maths, but it all makes a point. In addition, i looked at other sports blogs today, and not one post out of a similar number here was withdrawn....mmmmmm, what does that say?
And once again, Chick, go on, reply, if you do i bet you about 50 folk involved in this blog would fall off their chair!
Finally, we are expected to adhere to rules when posting, as stated in the house rules, but i do remember reading that the people writting these blogs have a responsibility to get interesting football banter from the like of us. Moderators force us to keep to our side of the bargin, but can i ask who is forcing Chick to stick to his side?
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Fame, Fame, Fatal Fame, can play hideous tricks on the brain. Chick is just too famous for his own good...I enjoy watching the SPL on setanta. I think the SPL is a really competitive league in terms of 90 mins of football on any given day. Kilmarnock's 1st half performance against Rangers was awesome. They battled all over the field, and their keeper was man of the match for me. Its just Rangers have the strength and a certain natural goal scorer that makes the difference. Celtic were awesome in the 1st half against Motherwell, some great attacking football..but credit to Motherwell for at least making the 2nd half respectable, they could of got a hiding! The other SPL teams just lack strength and depth through the season and also seem to have lack lusture rivalries between their local teams unlike Rangers and Celtic of course. I think a drafting system would only resolve this really..but its not a popular route.
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I have in past editions jumped on your back. Mainly because of your referee attacking. But I enjoy a wee slice of humble pie once in a while and must admit I really enjoyed this weeks column.
But with regards natural order, the same can be said for almost every league in the world.
England same 4 - 20 team league
Holland same 2-3 - 18 team league
Germany same 3 - 18 team league
Greece same 3 - 16 team league
Turkey same 3 - 18 team league
Italy same 3 - 20 team league
and so on so forth. We have a smaller quantity of teams with a disproportionate distribution of fans.
But most countries suffer that fan problem success creates fanbases. A healthy proportion of Man United fans dont live within North West of England not to mind Manchester. In Italy they reckon that 70% of Juventus fans live outwith Turin.
I believe Glasgow benefits from being a football mad town with no other competing sport plus add to that mix a little tribalismn and a healthy collection of regional fans and you have the recipe for full stadiums. And a constant conveyor belt of new additions. More bums on Seats means more dollars in a league starved for TV revenue it is invetible the Old Firm will remain on top financially. So Unless aberdeen, Hibs Dundee United etc find another 35,000 regular paying fans, 'The Natural Order' will continue.
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dem79 (post 27)
Yes Chick gets paid, but at an absurdly chirpy chirpy cheap cheap rate.
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well chick, thank you for enlighting us all to how good scottish football is. I mean how many more people are going to be like yourself and not pay to watch football.
How many kids growing up in Dundee, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and even yourown Paisley will feel they can only support 1 of 2 teams either because they win trophys or through other more sinicle reasons. For those parents who support the so called "wee teams" and whose kids are being constantly brainwashed with old firm propegander, my answer is this, "support Brazil, they win everything and you will have more chance of going to see them in the flesh. " Of course it could never be like the 80s again when United, Aberdeen led the way and old firm crowds were 5000-10000, even for old firm games they were not much better. They thought it could never happen when they invented the premier division but it did.
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Considering Hearts finished above Rangers in the 2005-2006 season and it was only last season Rangers finally managed to mount a decent title challenge for the first time in a couple of years it shows your blog to be complete bunkum.
To say that Celtic and Rangers 1st and 2nd has nearly always been thus in the last 40 years is patently not true either. In that time Aberdeen have had a spell competing with Dundee United at the top of the Scottish and European game and both Celtic and Rangers had extended periods in the doldrums where they languished outside the top 2.
Due to the financial clout of the Glasgow giants and Rangers as well, obviously other Scottish teams will struggle to compete but the same can be said for non-big 4 teams in England and smaller teams in other countries. If you want confirmation look at the Champions League qualifiers each season and it is pretty much the same teams season after season.
Unless a sugar daddy buyer comes in willing to literally throw money away they have no hope of recouping no other Scottish team will be able to compete with the big two as they cannot possibly generate enough revenue to compete. As money becomes more important in the game and bigger clubs cherrypick not only the best opposition players but the best young talent the richer and more powerful clubs will strengthen their positions, blame capitalism!!!
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"Couldn't be breached by a Caribbean hurricane"
Don't you think this is in rather bad taste given recent events????
Mr Moderator should have a word with Mr Young I think, rather than stop people expressing their opinions about ignorant 'sportwriters' using catastrophies as a means to put across more of his ridiculous metaphores!
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Ridiculous and pointless. What he said about killie arriving at Ibrox as championship leaders, theres only been a few games chick, things arent going to stay like that for the season. The overdose of cliches in this was idiotic and to be honest he writes very un-proffessionally, with his hurricane comments and cringworthy thoughts i think he'd be better suited working for The Sun, not a BBC collumist.
Why cant we hear from someone who knows the beautiful game better than the "st. mirren " *cough cough* fan Chick.
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Chic, give it up. You are neither knowledgable, insightful, or funny. I assume you receive a salary for this, well its clearly a misuse of the tv licence fee. Do you not have any pride? As I have commented previously: No-one respects your opinion.
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I would like echo the sentiment of many on here about the poor standard of journalism displayed in this, and other articles, by Chick Young.
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hear no evil,speak no evil,see no evil.
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Chico - your so called blogs make me want to vomit in disgust.
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Keep up the good work Chick, you are a credit to the game, and the BBC are very lucky to have you, i bet they shower you with gifts for this wonderful piece of literature. Your use of the English language is truely amazing, in fact, i will be suggesting to the Queen when i see her next that you be given a knighthood for this fine work. Furthermore, i will work tirelessly to see that these blogs are lined with gold and placed on a silk pillow in the national museum alongside the works of other great Scottish writters like Robert Burns. In fact, we should have a special day in honour of you, let us think, Burns day, cutting into a hot, steaming haggis, i wonder what hot and steaming thing we could cut into in your honour Chick? Any ideas?
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It's the same people moaning week after week, after week, after week.........
Nobody is forced to read Chick's blog.
You know what you're going to get.
Why bother even reading it?
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#97, presumably the reason people complain is that they feel the BBC should be offering a better standard of commentary on Scottish football, for example the issues raised in #61, rather than this drivel.
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Would a letter to the BBC not better fit the bill?
Perhaps requesting a meeting with the head of BBC Sport suggesting other angles for stories, blogs etc.
If it truly is the dismay at the lack of quality journalism from Chick Young then I don't think a protest in reply to his blog is going to get you the results that you want.
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post 98 is correct. Is there no McNulty equivalent in Scotland? maybe find one to run a blog about the real issues, and let Chick continue run his...emm... let's charitably call it 'fun' blog too. Or are two blogs too many?
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Why are so many posts deleted?
Let the people speak!
It's not as if their views somehow Don't exist, albeit in some cosy 'PC' world?
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Sirwonderbairn, I think responding in this way is more likely to be noticed than writing to the beeb. If you are concerned that we're using up valuable blog space that should be filled with real footie banter, then we're on the same side! There's none of that here at the moment! Please join us!
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I feel reading this is like grinding teeth together..everyone that reads this from start to finish deserves some sort of medal
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The Jokes on you lot. Why do you think the BBC employ this bloke?
Its got to be one of the best read/replied to blogs they have ever had.
So, Hearts came second 2 years ago did they? Wow. They must have been popping the champagne corks in Gorgay that day! So, a team who isn't one of the Old Firm comes second, 11 years after the last such team managed a similar feat and thats supposed to signify that the league isn't a two-horse race? Come on.
The idea that the SPL is proportionate in this respect with the EPL or other major leagues is ludicrous.
Consider this. The last time a non-Old Firm team won the SPL was Aberdeen's triumph in '84-'85. Since then only 2 teams have won it. During this period there have been 7 different club champions in the English top flight.
It would be a great league, if only Celtic and Rangers were not in it.
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post 112 - ignorance is bliss!
It is not one of the most replied to blogs because half the posts are not even published - it's just the same folk saying the same thing but perhaps more politely so it gets past the moderators.
I think it is proportionate to other leagues in relation to the money it has, and the big money in the SPL is in europe, and especially in the CL, and if the old firm keep on winning then they get the biggest pot, simple as that. It's not the best but other posts here have shown that that is the case in all the leagues, always the top 2-4 teams fighting it out.
Perhaps you should consider this, since the SPL was brought in to existence in 1998 two teams have one the league. Since 1998 in the EPL only 3 clubs have won the league, so statistically that is pretty similar! As they say, a good statistician can turn anything around - it's all relevant in relation to how you want to look at it.
You have your views, i have mine. But i don't think the SPL would do well without the old firm, it would loose a lot of money from tv and, another team will do exactly what the old firm have done and eventually dominate. Ultimately, you don't get the english complaining that they want man utd et al. out because their team can't beat them anymore!
Furthermore, it's the game that you look forward to if you don't support the old firm, your team coming up against them and winning a point or three! It must feel like xmas, and it is happening more and more because the old firm just can't compete in the market with other top leagues.
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Isn't this just further testament to the old firm being ready and justified in moving to the English competition?? Surely it would freshen up the scottish league and give two of the worlds biggest clubs the weekly competition and tv exposure they've earnt?? My mate thinks this is a step towards a european super league, but i reckon this sort of move within Britain is ok.
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Chickster,
Think about this...
12 teams in SPL
Always 2 teams challenge...
20 teams in Premiership
Always 3 teams challenge...
Its the way it goes, and the SPL ratio is, mathematically, more boring than the Premiership ....apart from Blackburn in 1995, only Arsenal, Man U and Chelsea have won it.
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As a Rangers fan it pains me to agree with those who look upon Scottish football as second class. Even though both of the Old Firm clubs have reached European finals in recent years, the consistency of success is sorely evident by it's absence.
Until something changes (if ever) in the way the game is fomatted in Europe (British or European League or the like), the Glasgow clubs, along with the occasional flurry from one of the others. will continue to be no more than small fish in a large pond. That has been the way since the mid-70's and looks like it will be for decades to come.
Of course this doesn't stop the press and news media from continually bombarding the punters with dubious facts and figures to raise their hopes....sell more papers, keep the ratings on a high...and keep folk like Chick in the standard of living they're accustomed to!
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HOW ANNOYING ARE ALL THE PEOPLE WHO COME ON AND COMPLAIN ABOUT THESE BLOGS?
"You can't write for rubbish", "you don't know how to use a comma"... SHUT-UP.
Why not just discuss the issues in the blog rather than being negative and complaining.
Negative-minded, whinging and boring (the comments - not the blog).
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post #120 - arkolt200, is that you Chick?
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"They wouldn't last 5 games in the premier league."
Aye they would you get to play a whole season before your fate is decided. :)
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The Premier League is nearly always contested by the "Big 4," so what's the big deal? Most countries' top leagues are realistically challenged by only a handful of teams.
At least Rangers and Celtic are unbeatable in terms of derby atmosphere.
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The eloquence of us Scots is never better when denouncing a self imposed literary imbecile.
The sheer strength and depth of loathing can be felt through the screen as Chick manages to unite us Old Firm brothers in a way that not even a pugilistic contest between Pope Benedict XVI and Ian paisley could muster.
The massive number of posts, removed deemed too harsh for our eyes to bear, is remarkable for such an inept and irrelevant old fool who is completely out of touch with reality.
In his own way he is a catalyst for hope and reconciliation as he unites us in our abject hatred of his curious metaphors and banal attempt at jocularity.
So when it comes down to it, I vote chick should stay, not because of his inane tripe, constant drivel and more position changes than a teenager at his first orgy, but because he gives us a focus , a true target we can all hate in equal measure.
I’m just happy I emigrated to South East England, as I don’t have to hear him too!!!
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Chick, money money money. it makes the world go round and thats why the premiership is better than the SPL and Rangers and Celtic are top two. Greed has got the world in the mess its in at the moment football is a reflection of this.
The last man to really take the old firm on now manages the greatest club on the planet, (and I am a Man City Fan) Ferguson the last man to dominate the old firm consistantly, true man management and talent, success without the blank cheque book of the old firm.
The national team are now finding their real place in world football, we are not top 15, we are top 30 and we should realise this sooner rather than later and get back to the natural order of that as well. I think Burley is the best we can get and good luck to him, give the man a chance, afterall who else would take the job?
Manchester City a team I have folowed for 30 years are about to be transformed into the next Chelsea, I hope like many other true City fans that we dont loose out identity along the way.
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Remember the North Atlantic League idea? A great project that should have gotten further than it did. Roughly, it was to be league consisting of the big teams from wee European leagues, something along the lines of The OF, Ajax, PSV, Porto, Benfica, Rosenborg, Anderlecht... They should resurrect this plan and clash with Uefa and Fifa head-on if need be.
The North Atlantic League gives the OF the bigger stage and stronger opponents they crave. The TV money would (eventually) come. A Scottish league without the OF might be cash poorer but quality richer. Scottish TV would not always be able to bid successfully for North Atlantic league rights and so, by default, the SPL would still get TV money.
You'd also find a lot of OF fans putting cash into the rump SPL by going along to see their local teams when the 'big' team is playing away in Portugal or Holland, etc.
It also does away with this horrendous idea of the OF joining the EPL. We let our monarchy and parliament be absorbed by their bigger, overpowering institutions centuries ago; are we going to repeat that mistake with our sporting icons? Have we learned NOTHING in 400 years?
125 - DUNOONDON Alex Ferguson is indeed a study. He started as a Rangers palyer, so no love of Celtic, obviously. But married a Catholic and suffered sectarian abuse at Rangers as a result. His triumph's with Aberdeen were arguably built of a hatred of both sides of the OF. You'll struggle to find many today who hate them both equally, and with such passion. But I'd welcome another Alex Ferguson in the Scottish game, and I say that as a Celtic fan. I have great memories of Aberdeen and Dundee Utd's Euro campaigns in the 80s. They gave you a greater pride in being Scottish than the national team ever did. 'Mon Motherwell against Nancy!
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Haha....
The English it seems don't get the Scottish sense of humour. His job isnt to write about tactics..so let the cliches continue. And the Scottish league is just about as predictable as the English league..which is really a 3 horse race...lets face it!! (ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz) Oops, I feel asleep watching the most overrated league in the WORLD. Lets face it, English football is only decent because of the massive inflx of foreign talent. At least in Scotland it's primarily Scottish players playing week in week out. Hence why our fast improving national team would destroy england home or away. Enjoy the premiership....i'll be switching OFF!
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davieC... (#124) you could have a point there!
akenne20 (#128) if you actually read the posts you'll see they're from Scots who want to read a well written blog about football in their country.
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Chic, you are a loser! Please sack this man, i have seen more accurate reports from Chris Kamara for god sake!
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I had to laugh at Chico on Wednesday night.
During Celtic`s Champions League match,the bold Chico was berating Paolo Nutini for doing the half time draw.
"He`s from Paisley,he said he was a St Mirren fan"shrieked the wee man.
Can you imagine it,someone supporting an Old Firm team and claiming to be a Buddy?
Over to you Chic...................................
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I can't help but read Chick Young's articles for their ghoulish horrors!
"...the mouse that roared had fallen for the cheese in the trap."
The metaphors he comes out with are so clumsy I wonder if he has a magnetic metaphor set on his fridge door that he jumbles about each time he's writing a sentence!
I think I could write better in primary school.
I am applying for a job of sports journalist at the BBC. If Chick Young can hold down a job like this with his staggeringly awful writing, I reckon I'll be Director General within a couple of years!
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Chick, where is your blog post condemning the recent "Ulster Day" at Ibrox?
Or do we have to wait for Celtic to do something bad now, so as not to upset this pathetic balance the BBC have to keep when reporting on the Old Firm?
Take last Sunday as an example. You hijacked the Radio Nan Gael frequency just to provide coverage to both halves. Will the same be happening on October 5th? Of course it won't, because Motherwell are "only" playing Falkirk and nobody in Scotland really cares about either of them, or any other team, because we all, deep down, support one or t'other of the ugly sisters. I heard a rumour that even supposed St Mirren fans support Rangers...
Another example was on the weekend of the Old Infirm Hate-in. On Sportsound on the Saturday afternoon, near-enough the entire hour between 2pm and 3pm was given over to a game being played the following day, despite the fact Sunday's programme was also scheduled to have an hour of build-up. When it came to getting team news from the various other grounds (which in itself was a shock, since it involved acknowledging the existence of other games), Richard Gordon seemed almost apologetic...for leaving the OIH build-up.
And finally, why do we have to put up with the pathetically biased Murdo MacLeod, and Billy Dodds co-commentating on Celtic and Rangers games respectively? When it comes to the OIH, they are always together, yet when it comes to the "diddy teams", no-one is brought in to balance things out.
There's a campaign to show Old Firm Bias The Red Card on the pitch, but how is that ever going to succeed when we have the BBC pandering to the knuckle-draggers?
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