Who didn’t see that coming?
Another glorious failure to add to a long list of sporting disasters.
While I’m still on my #BoycottTheWorldCup mission being on social media means it’s difficult to avoid any talk of the tournament. So when I opened Bluesky and was faced with a barrage of criticism for the dubious tactics of Steve Clarke and annoyance at a 3-0 drubbing by an average Brazil - yes an average Brazil could beat most teams but this latest incarnation is a mere shadow of the great Brazilian teams we watched in our teens - I knew we were, unlike Jeffery Donaldson, coming home. And rather like the “great and the good” of the Loyalist community of the occupied North much talk was of how we all knew there was something dodgy about the man but we all said nothing.
The man of course being Steve Clarke, and his dodginess being his woeful tactics. Scotland scored one goal at the World Cup and that was a deflection (I’m sure there’s room for another Donaldson/Loyalist joke here but that’ll need to wait). We just aren’t very good and despite the hype, the dare to dream attitude of the Tartan Army reality bites hard and it’s homeward bound.
I note with interest Charles Windsor asking Scotland fans to cheer on England. Further evidence, as if it’s needed, that the English monarch really doesn’t live in the same world as the rest of us. True, some Scottish Rangers fans are there supporting England but this is simply Stockholm syndrome in action and proof if needed that “Care in the community” (one of Tory Blair’s policies) failed miserably and there’s a case for reopening asylums. But the majority of Scots would rather cut out their tongues than ever wish England well.
Now don’t get me wrong they have some great players with at least one “stolen” from Ireland in the form of Declan Rice (currently injured, we wish him well). It’s not and never has been the England team but instead the English media. Sky News would be on 24hr “England win the toughest World Cup ever in history says some road sweeper called John from Scunthorpe” watch, and Skinner & Baddiel would be on 24 hours a day on most radio stations across these islands. It’s a horror of unimaginable proportions. Subjected to continuous footage of the winning goal like a scene from “A clockwork Orange” before we knew it our kids would be sounding like cockneys and singing “rule Britannia”. No, if they could keep it in the bubble that is Englandshire, fine go on win it but it wouldn’t and couldn’t be. And that’s why those of us tenuously holding on to our sanities couldn’t bear England win the World Cup. Next up for England are the DR of Congo, a land they decided not to invade on their round the world empire building “exploits”, instead leaving it to the Belgians under their king Leopold to massacre ten million plus people. Again while I won’t be watching I wish the Congolese well and hope to see them in the last 16.
In other news Celtic have signed “set piece coach” Ross Grant from Hearts so I guess that’s something to cheer about. Providing they hang on to the likes of Engels then hopefully he can fine tune their skills and we will see more opportunities created from what is fast becoming an integral part of the modern game.
The friendly between Shelbourne and Celtic still goes ahead on July 7th in Dublin and tickets are still available at time of writing from Tolka Park, an ideal opportunity for young fans who aren’t able to travel to Glasgow to see their heroes close up and perhaps photos and signatures. With a six pm kick off it’ll still be light when the match finishes and just about the perfect treat for the kids.
So that about wraps it up for now of course. As the season approaches, hopefully we’ll have signings to talk about, pen put to paper and contracts signed until then let’s continue to speculate.
Til next time ….
🐼 Gary Robertson is the TPQ Scottish football correspondent.
🐼 Gary Robertson is the TPQ Scottish football correspondent.
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