However, to me and I suspect to many of you, progress against Kaunus will merely paper over the gaping cracks that are all too apparent in the Walter Smith regime. The apologists among us will point to the fact that we reached the UEFA Cup Final against all the odds and point to the progress made from the Le Guen era. We all enjoyed the European run from a results perspective, if not from the performance side of things and yes results we markedly improved under Smith. The point I would make is that anyone with half a brain would have improved Le Guen's team. It was simply a case of recruiting two centre-backs who could defend cross balls... hardly rocket science, now is it?
The problem with Walter Smith, as I see it is :-
1. His inability to grasp the fact that playing players out of position is, in the long run, detrimental to both the player(s) concerned and to the team in general.
2. His inability to grasp that in the modern game full-backs are vital in an attacking sense, and that by playing Centre-Backs at full back (a recurring nightmare under Smith) it unbalances the whole side.
3. His failure to grasp the fact that football is a simple game, with only two objectives a) To score goals b) To prevent the opposition from scoring.
4. His failure to identify the shortcomings that we there for all to see last season and rectify them in time for the season ahead.
5. His all too apparent liking for signing the "jack of all trades, master of none" type player.
I recall only too well back in 1998 informing an acquaintance of mine with more than a passing interest in the fortunes of Everton FC that in due course Walter would flood his side with centre-backs I gave a time-scale of 6 months, the bold Walter managed it in six weeks!!
For Dave McPherson, Basile Boli and Alan McLaren in his first stint read Kirk Broadfoot,Christian Dailly and Sasa Papac at present. I nearly wept on reading Walter's quote on our new signing form Charlton "He's a centre-half, but can also play in midfield," not unless he's Beckenbuer Walter!!
Our friends across the city, while by no means the finished article, have at least grasped the fact that you cannot ask players to do that of which they are incapable.
It was glaringly obvious, to me at any rate that for the new season we required two full-backs, a creative player in midfield, and at least one genuine wide man...what did we get 3 strikers, who's goalscoring prowess is somewhat less than impressive and a couple of centre-backs(one of whom can play in midfield the other has hardly kicked a ball in 3 seasons). In short we've shelled out the best part of £10m and not addressed any of the areas where we needed strengthened!!
Did he buy the strikers in the hope of unloading Cousin and Darcheville ? If so he thicker than I thought, who in their right mind would buy either of that pair?
Is he content to play centre-backs in the full backs positions again this season.....I think we know the answer to that.?
Does he truly believe Lee McCulloch is the answer to our lack of creativity in midfield?
Does he imagine that a strike force of Miller/Lafferty and or Velicka will produce more goals than one including Kris Boyd?
If any of the above are true then his time is well and truly up.
The Big Cheese