My wife and I are just back from a great holiday in Turkey but I was keeping up with all that’s been happening while we were away.
Before we flew out, I had said in this column that Rangers’ Joey Barton had talked the talk in the build-up to the Old Firm game and now it was time for him to walk the walk.
I managed to watch the game over in Turkey and that just never happened – he looked miles off it during the match.
Barton had a lot to say about Scott Brown beforehand but the Celtic skipper let his abilities do all his talking for him.
My wife and I were watching the game with a lad who was a Rangers supporter and he reckoned there was no way Barton and Nico Kranjcar should be playing together.
To be fair, it is still early days and Rangers boss Mark Warburton is probably still trying to work out his best team and formation.
Of course, it remains to be seen whether Barton will be part of that side after being suspended by the club.
It is a messy situation but I was amazed to see him talking about his boss and referring to him as “Warbs”. Even to this day, I would still call my former managers such as Dick Campbell, Jocky Scott and Martin O’Neill “gaffer” whenever I was talking with them.
There has to be a lot of doubt now over Barton’s Ibrox future but something that is certain, is that Celtic face another incredibly difficult Champions League tie next week against English Premier League pace-setters Manchester City.
Brendan Rodgers’ side took a pasting last week from Barcelona and I think the Old Firm game probably caught up with them.
Barcelona are a truly exceptional side but crucially next week’s game against City is at Celtic Park.
These nights are truly special – even Barca players have admitted in the past that it is the best atmosphere in Europe.
Hopefully, the fans can help the players get some points on board.
Dee need time
Dundee may have only won once in their first six league games but it is far too early to be worried about how their season will ultimately pan out.
I feel a bit sorry for manager Paul Hartley who lost his two star players this summer in Kane Hemmings and Greg Stewart.
Hopefully he will be given some of the money from those sales to add to his squad, with a striker still the priority.
Dundee lost at home last Sunday to Aberdeen and were obviously not helped by the error made by Scott Bain for the Dons’ first goal.
It is the old cliché that if a keeper makes a mistake, the ball invariably ends up in the back of the net and I am sure Scott will still be regretting it.
However, he has been incredibly consistent since arriving at Dens and I am sure he will now be determined to go on a long run of games where he is as error-free as he can be.
Ruthless on Rae
I have a lot of sympathy for Alex Rae following his sacking earlier this week by St Mirren after just six league games.
Managers deserve at least a quarter of the season to turn things around but clubs seem to be looking for instant results these days.
I read Alex Ferguson’s book and really enjoyed it but considering everything that goes on behind the scenes at clubs, I am afraid that management is not for me.
