build up to the Scottish Cup Final that certainly had me nodding in
agreement and questioning what our priorities will or should be in our
2003/04 campaign. Basically 'the other ginger ones' contention was that
like all managers, like all people in fact, Alex McLeish has made mistakes
throughout his career both as a player and a boss, but what makes our
present manager so special is how he has responded to them.
At Motherwell and Hibs McLeish honed his man-management skills, training
routines and transfer instincts and caught the eye of the Little General,
at The Rangers he has proved himself a winner. Perhaps the most glaring
and costly error made this year was the catastrophic exit from European
competition to the joiners, accountants and brewers of Zizhkov. There is no
doubt that the games saved for the players have helped us to domestic
triumph however the costs in terms of prestige, experience and money are
fast becoming clear to all Bears.
Perhaps the only crumb of comfort for our seperated brethern as they
cheated, robbed and bhegged there way round western europe, was the fact
that irrespective of finishing the season with nothing other that the grey
and green hoops and a suitcase full of memories, the big boys playground,
the real European bunfight was always open with the 2 CL places on offer
this year.
With both Amoruso and Artur Numan offski, the potential back 4 of Ross,
Khizanishvili, Moore and Ball looks pretty raw especially in terms of
european experience and nous. The possibility of a seeded place in the 3rd
qualifying stage also appears to be hanging from a thread thinner than a
midges baw hair. I would therefore contend that the money men and
powerbrokers must budget for a UEFA run, hopefully until after Christmas,
the fans must set there sights accordingly and the management and players
must focus all energies on securing our new world record 51st domestic
title.
Let us not forget that the television contract for the Champions League ends
after next seasons competition and that Sky, amongst others, will be bidding
for the rights to screen the whole kahuna - every game. That, people,
means mega bucks for the team that gets that guaranteed entry spot into the
Group Stages. With the format of the CL altered to take away the 2nd Group
Stage a good group performance opens up lots of possibilities!
However, the premise of this article is that next season, domestic
continuity and any improvement on this years Euro run should be our only
expectation, it is the Holy Grail of the guaranteed group place upon which
all our attention should be focused. I for one believe the current 3 year
plan being implemented by Bain/McClelland and actioned by McLeish is based
upon this and it could well be the only thing we have to thank our old mate
Martin for.
Immortal7