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Scottish Premier League Update

Ali Hannah on the latest from the Scottish Premier League, August/September 2009

Celtic | Rangers | Scotland

Scotland

Gordon Smith, the SFA chief executive, would like to spare George Burley the sack and hand him another qualifying campaign, although he admitted yesterday that the future remained uncertain for the Scotland manager.

Smith's instinctive view is that Burley is a decent manager, who has not suddenly turned impotent in his 19 months with Scotland, and that he should be allowed another go at taking the team into the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. The wider SFA apparatus, however, may feel differently, with George Peat, the SFA president, believed to be more jaundiced about Burley's prospects.

The Scotland manager will meet his SFA superiors next week to discuss the future, but Smith and Burley, whose paths in football have criss-crossed for more than 35 years since their shared roots in Ayrshire, both want to proceed with the present arrangement.

Meanwhile, various SFA officials, speaking in private after the 1-0 defeat by Holland on Wednesday, expressed a range of opinions on Burley's future.

Smith admitted that the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign had been both a disappointment and a failure. "Like every Scotland fan I'm terribly disappointed that we have not made it to the World Cup. We desperately wanted to be there but it hasn't worked out for us," he said. "The table doesn't lie - we didn't get enough points to make it to the play-offs.

"That being said, there are a lot of positives to be taken from the way the team played in the last couple of games. Hopefully this will have an effect on those players who will be representing us in forthcoming campaigns."

As for the specific issue of Burley's future, the SFA chief executive urged - as if there is any chance of this - a time of calm and reflection on the matter. "There will be discussions with George Burley next week to review the way the campaign has gone," Smith said. "But I feel that this is a time for measured and considered reflection. I've always insisted that we would review matters once we knew whether we had qualified or not.

"Our next competitive match is in September 2010, so there is no need to make any statement regarding George Burley's future until we have had a discussion with him on how he regards the events of the last year, and what his plans are for going forward, and for the development of the Scotland team.

"Everyone wants to see us qualify for major championships. We have a year to go before we set out on the road to Poland and Ukraine. We will do everything we can to make sure that campaign is a success."

For his part, Burley repeated again yesterday that he wished to stay on in the job and try to steer Scotland to the next big finals. This may yet prove to be wishful thinking, depending on the mood of the SFA over the next few weeks, but Burley appears revived after his team's recent performances against the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Holland.

"I want to continue as manager of Scotland," Burley said. "I think we have something to build on. I have been the national manager for a year and a half, which isn't long, and I'm looking forward to more games to come. I want to do this job to the best of my ability."

Darren Fletcher, the Scotland captain, believes that Burley should get another crack at taking Scotland into a qualifying campaign. "We did not do the manager justice in this campaign," Fletcher said. "He has taken loads of criticism. Even before a ball was kicked, there was criticism.

"George has had a long, tough campaign, but he has gained a lot of respect from the lads and has not let it affect him. He has been been bright, and vibrant, and has taken the criticism and shielded the lads.

"You have seen, especially in the last two games, that the boys have been desperate to do well for him. Hopefully, under George, we can start the Euros well and give ourselves a good shot at qualifying."

Meanwhile, Terry Butcher, the Scotland assistant manager, believes that Celtic midfielder Scott Brown is Scotland's Gazza. Brown played alongside Paul Gascoigne as England reached the semi-finals at Italia '90 and sees no reason why Brown, inspirational and infuriating in equal measure, should not be mentioned in the same breath as the former Newcastle, Tottenham, Lazio and Rangers midfielder.

Like Gascoigne, Brown is prone to rushes of blood to the head on the pitch and eccentric behaviour off it (while a member of Scotland's Under-21 squad a few seasons back, he revealed that he had been banned from imbibing fizzy drinks).

"The pair are very similar the more you look at it," said Butcher. "Both players live for football and when they go on the pitch you can see that they love the game. It means everything to them.

"Scott is a phenomenal character, just like Gazza. He's not as mad as Gazza yet, that may come, but he's an exceptional talent who you're glad to have in your team. He's the type of player you always want to be on your side because if he's against you he causes you problems. Like Gazza, he doesn't cause his own team problems, though, which is good.

"Gazza would work his socks off and Scott does the same. Scott's knuckled down, listened to people and learnt a hell of a lot.

"The only dissimilarity with Gazza is Scott's off-the-field antics are nowhere near what Gazza's were: perhaps he's not as hyperactive as Gazza but on the field there are lots of similarities.

"If he adds goals to his game, like he did on Saturday, then the comparison would be even closer.

"Gazza was a bit different with his manipulation of the ball and his ability to go one-on-one but Scott certainly works as hard as him."

"Scott plays to win and he wants to win desperately. He can be a volatile character - as we've seen in the past - but he has a measured way about him now that's very impressive. He does his talking where it really matters."

Celtic Roundup

Arsene Wenger has blamed pressure brought about by the Scottish FA and David Taylor, UEFA general secretary, for the decision to charge Eduardo with simulation in Wednesday night's Champions League qualifying tie against Celtic.

The Croatia international won his side a penalty midway through the first half when he fell to the ground despite there appearing to be no contact with Artur Boruc, the Celtic goalkeeper. He then converted the spot kick and Arsenal went on to win the match 3-1.

Eduardo's actions were condemned by the Celtic players after the match and the following day Gordon Smith, the SFA chief executive, called on UEFA to punish the player retrospectively. UEFA's control and disciplinary body will now examine the case on September 1 with the player facing a possible ban for one or two Champions League group matches.

Wenger accused UEFA of staging a "witch hunt" against his player. "I find it a complete disgrace and unacceptable," he said. "We won't accept the way we have been treated in this case for two reasons.

"I believe that you can debate whether it was a penalty or not. For me it's a witch-hunt that we see and not an objective judgement of a case. This charge implies there was intent and a desire to cheat the referee.

"Having watched the pictures again there was nothing conclusive. It singles out a player in Europe to be a cheat and that is not acceptable. UEFA has taken action that is not defendable."

Wenger felt Scottish influence had resulted in this particular incident being placed under the microscope, and feared that it created a dangerous precedent.

"There is a complete lack of logic in this case. Why? Because people have reacted emotionally.

"This case has been ruled by the media and emotionally by Scotland, by the Scottish FA and by Scottish people working at UEFA Taylor who think this case is a bit more sensitive because they have more influence there.

I've fought my whole life against cheating and I've seen some obvious cases where UEFA didn't intervene. On and off the pitch things have happened where no action was taken. But now the existing rules of football have been changed just for one case so we will from now on challenge every single decision that is made in Europe by the referees.

"This is the first time since I've been in football that the judgement made by the referee is not accepted by the football bodies. Usually a situation that has been assessed and judged by the referee can't be touched again.

"They've opened the door to every single decision made by a referee can now be challenged."

Tony Mowbray was wary of joining the growing throng queuing up to criticise Eduardo. "I think UEFA will do what they think is right," the Celtic manager said. "They have probably seen the profile of the game, played between a English and Scottish team and beamed all over Europe, and maybe see it as an opportunity for them to highlight something they want to stamp out.

"They've got to make a decision whether, in their opinion, it was simulation. And if they think it is and have charged him then they may use this opportunity to make a point. It's not my decision. The referee thought it was a penalty and UEFA have looked at it and thought there was some simulation there and they will deal with it themselves.
"There are a million things we need to stamp out the game, but I'm not a policy maker, I'm a football coach. I'm wary of appearing to be telling Eduardo this or that. I'm not going to say that, let UEFA make those decisions.
"Football managers have to be very careful in condemning other players as I could be sat here after Sunday's game after one of my players has dived, I would hope not deliberately. I try to live my life with integrity and honesty and I'd like to think any penalties we are given are worthy penalties, and any that were given against us were honest decisions from an official."
Danny Fox, the Celtic defender, was glad to hear of UEFA's decision. "It is good to set examples of players like that, no matter what type of player or profile you have," he said. "It sends a message out to every other player that diving is classed as cheating.
"I think it diving happens a lot, especially in European football, but it is a man's game and you can't be cheating your fellow professionals. I was brought up to train and play hard and there is nothing worse than seeing the cheating we saw on Wednesday night."

Rangers

Martin Bain, the Rangers chief executive, has praised Sir David Murray for helping to change the face of Scottish football. Murray announced his retirement as Rangers chairman on Wednesday after 21 years, and Bain said his legacy was unrivalled.

"He absolutely did change Scottish football - he brought the likes of Paul Gascoigne and Brian Laudrup to Ibrox and the fans have enjoyed everything that David has brought them in terms of calibre and quality throughout his 20-year period," said Bain. "David's contribution was outstanding and he will be a loss as chairman. I think his contribution to Rangers has been second to none."

Bain said Rangers' position among the second seeds for the Champions League group stage draw - effectively ranked among the top 16 sides in Europe - had drawn jealous glances from other clubs.

"That was a great accolade and a lot of other clubs were looking up to us and being a bit envious," he said. "We are a big, big club and we believe this is the stage where we should be. Our target should be to entertain our supporters, to do our best and for our players to compete in the manner they can. We showed when we got to the UEFA Cup final last year ago what can be achieved in Europe when you put your mind to it and we will certainly do that."

Bain added: "There is obvious quality in the group - Sevilla were UEFA Cup winners twice in the last four years, and we have played Stuttgart twice before so we know they are strong."

Meanwhile, Pedro Mendes says Murray's departure will not affect performances on the pitch this season.

"He was the man who signed me and I had a very good relationship with him.

"It was only last night that someone rang me and told me he was leaving so I don't really know what's going on. He has been here for so long and has done a massive job for Rangers. Players like myself who signed last year only had one year with him. I don't think it will affect us whatsoever performance-wise."

As well as Sevilla and Stuttgart, Rangers will also play Romanian champions Unirea Urziceni in the Champions League group stage.

Jerome Rothen, the only player the club brought in during the transfer window, is desperate to make an impact at Ibrox.

The Frenchman signed from PSG on a loan deal for the rest of the season and Rothen is keen to show his new army of supporters what he can do. "I am really looking forward to starting this new chapter of my career. I am proud to have joined a great club with a great history and when I make my debut it will be an exciting moment.

"One of the reasons I signed for Rangers was the chance to win medals and I think the team has made a very good start in the league.

"It was always my intention to leave Paris St Germain and I wanted to come somewhere where there was a chance to win the league."

While the prospect of winning the league is something that excites the Frenchman greatly, so to does the opportunity to strut his stuff in the Champions League.

And Rothen hopes it could open the door for a return to the French national squad if he catches the eye of coach Raymond Domenech.

"I hope playing first-team football for Rangers can help me get back into the French squad," he said.

"Coming to a club like Rangers and playing regularly in the Champions League can only help as it is probably the most watched competition in the world."

Rothen has used the last week to familiar himself with his new club, but he says he is already aware of how talented a squad Smith has at his disposal.

He said: "I faced Rangers in the summer and I was pleasantly surprised. They like to play passing football and that is a style that suits me.

"I already know quite a lot about the players and it is a strong squad the manager has here.

"I know Pedro Mendes, who I played against in the Champions League final and who is a very good player, and I've also heard of Madjid Bougherra, Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd."

Rothen has also revealed how he snubbed a move to the English Premier League to sign on at Ibrox. "I had been at Paris for five years and this was a great opportunity for me to have a new adventure abroad. "Blackburn came in first but they don't have the same ambition and from a sporting point of view it was important that I come here.

"It is a very exciting time in my life and the next ten months will be a great challenge for me.

"I'm just looking forward to playing my first game and then taking things from there."

Ali Hannah

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