The Scottish Cup draw farce, a rejuvenated Dundee United, Dundee’s chance to trump an out-of-sorts St Johnstone and the ticket pricing row. Courier sports writers Ian Roache and Eric Nicolson discuss the burning issues…
Q That Scottish Cup draw was watching through the fingers stuff, but does the SFA really deserve a kicking for it?
IR: The great Aldous Huxley once wrote: “There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.” The perception a lot of people have is that those in charge of Scottish football couldn’t run a raffle (or a draw), hence the rush to condemn and ridicule.
EN: It certainly made sure the draw was talked about. The bit I don’t get is why they should have a rule that it needed to be re-set. Putting all the balls back in that hadn’t already been drawn would have seemed much more reasonable.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=N2kuHUUXyko%3Frel%3D0%26controls%3D0%26showinfo%3D0
Q The only ‘original’ tie fully drawn was United v Celtic. If you were a Tangerines fan would that have been preferable to a trip to Dingwall?
IR: Do I really need to answer this one? I think last season’s “Mad March” four-in-a-row against the Hoops left United fans scarred for life. A trip to the Staggies is a tough one but you would still pick that against another clash with Celtic.
EN: I actually think it’s almost 50-50 as to which game would be harder. United’s woeful record against Celtic and the psychological damage another possible hammering could do would make Ross County away slightly more favourable, although Stephen Thompson might not say the same given the difference in the money that the respective games would bring in.
Q Dundee (or Dumbarton, of course) have got it tough, though, haven’t they?
IR: Well done for reminding us the Dark Blues still have the Sons to see off. If they do get through then I would fancy them against Killie (remember August 1!) and while Rangers at Ibrox would be the tougher of the two they could still win that. I don’t think either the Light Blues or Killie would be overly-confident of facing Paul Hartley’s men.
EN: There are two bridges still to be crossed but I think it will be Rangers v Dundee at the start of the month. Dundee could well do a St Johnstone and pick Rangers off on the counter-attack, but that’s a debate for another day.
Q Mixu has broken new ground in his time at United by winning two games in a row. Can we call this momentum now?
IR: No, it’s still too early.
EN: United are certainly trying to see it that way, and so they should. I notice Mixu used the word “run” to described their two wins in a row. Three in a row certainly would be momentum, though.
Q Hamilton away will bring some United fans out in a cold sweat, but this is another ‘must win’ game isn’t it?
IR: I would agree it is a must win because the problem United have is that by falling so far behind they have left themselves no room for error. It will be an interesting day in Lanarkshire on Saturday, what with Motherwell playing second bottom Kilmarnock just a few miles down the road at Fir Park.
EN: I’m looking at Saturday and Motherwell on Tuesday night as a package. United need a minimum of four points from the two games for me.
Q Friday night’s derby between Dundee and Saints has the feel of a significant fixture as well, doesn’t it?
IR: Saints’ slump has taken me by surprise, I have to say. I really fancied them to push Hearts for third but they are now without a win in eight matches stretching back to December 5. Dundee look like getting through the season without being consistent but they will fancy their chances at home. It’s boring, I know, but this looks like a draw all the way.
EN: It’s a very significant match because it would be a huge psychological boost for Dundee to go above Saints, especially given they’ve got two every winnable league games after it. On the flip side, an away win would reassert Saints’ credentials as favourites for fourth. Ian’s right, cop-out it may be, but that all probably adds up to a draw like their previous live TV game.
Q At what point does Saints’ winless run become a real worry…..or are we there already?
IR: They will still think they can finish in the top six I do too but the longer it goes on the more concerning it becomes. They seem capable of a dodgy run like this every season.
EN: Tommy Wright is spot on to say that Saints’ league position is absolutely nothing to worry about. They’re exactly where they would have wanted to be at this stage of the season. I’ll reserve serious concern for the day they drop out of the top six, but I’ve a feeling that won’t happen.
Q How far into the season do you see the Premiership title race lasting?
IR: I have been one of the naysayers as far as Aberdeen’s chances are concerned but they have done brilliantly to hang in there. I was cheering them on from my armchair when they beat the Hoops and I would love them to do it but still think Celtic will be at least five points clear in the end.
EN: The SPFL will probably engineer the post-split fixtures so that Celtic v Aberdeen is up first, while it still carries some importance. Celtic would win that and then take the title by eight to 10 points.
Q If you agree that Ronny Deila will leave in the summer, if not before, who will replace him?
IR: The clever money appears to be on Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill but if I were a Hoops fan I would be keen to get Davie Moyes.
EN: I think you can rule out Moyes. He’ll still be looking at England or abroad again for his next career move. I was an Alan Stubbs sceptic but I’m getting more and more convinced about his credentials with every week. I was very impressed by his HIbs team in the League Cup against Saints and even more impressed by the way they came back against Hearts.
And Old Firm week would be entertaining when he starts lobbing his grenades at Warburton. But O’Neill is the name getting spoken about, and he would also be an excellent appointment. There would then be an obvious worry for St Johnstone fans about who Northern Ireland would want to replace him.
Q Ticket prices for fans is a hot issue down south just now. Is it a problem north of the border as well?
IR: Absolutely this is a long- standing bugbear of mine. Too many supporters are priced out of football. My baseline figure would be £10 for adults, a fiver for seniors, students and unemployed, with children getting in free.
If need be, players’ wages and running costs should be reduced in order to make sensible and socially-responsible pricing affordable.
EN: It’s not nearly as big a problem up here, but it’s still to expensive to go to a game. I have more sympathy with our clubs like those in the English lower leagues because money at the turnstiles is still crucial to keeping their heads above water. At the English Premier League clubs it is just pure greed.
Q The SFA arranging a friendly in France just before the Euros is pouring a wheelbarrow of salt into Tartan Army wounds, surely?
IR: Sacre bleu! This reminds me of that painful moment on Bullseye when host Jim Bowen peered at his crestfallen contestants and cried: “Come and have a look at what you could have won…” Younger readers should look it up on YouTube.
EN: We need to play friendlies, of course we do. And, who knows, maybe being in France and seeing the bunting going up will light a fire under our players to make sure they don’t miss out the next time. Blind optimism I think that’s called.