For those who don’t fancy seeing the corruption of our game at the highest level come to fruition, there is an alternative.
For those who don’t fancy seeing matches go on and on and on and on with no end to stoppage time in sight, there is an alternative.
For those who don’t fancy seeing goals chopped off because the video says an attacker’s oxter is the wrong side of a defender’s bum, there is an alternative.
For those who don’t fancy seeing players automatically booked for wearing an
armband that says people should love each other, there is an alternative.
And for all the other off-field disgraces – of which there are plenty – surrounding the Qatar World Cup, there is an alternative.
The alternative is to go out and watch a lower league game in our fine SPFL.
Yes, the weather might not match the sunshine of the Middle East.
But our wee game retains an honesty about it that just disappears as soon as big money gets involved.
Time to shine
I do feel for fans of Premiership clubs because they’ve been robbed of the weekly ritual of going to see their team on a Saturday.
As for folk like me who support wee diddy teams, there’s still plenty to moan about every week.
And this hiatus in top-flight football is the perfect time for our lower leagues to shine.
They can grab the spotlight by showing just how entertaining things can be in the Championship and below.
An early Goal of the Season contender from @Zachrobinson_14 🚀🚀🚀#cinchChamp | @DundeeFC pic.twitter.com/jJ6Pccjk1s
— SPFL (@spfl) September 5, 2022
It’s just a huge shame nobody has bothered to try and televise any of the games – a big missed opportunity if you ask me.
Dundee
For Dundee, this is the ideal time to show they can play a bit.
And the good news is they are doing that already.
Three wins on the spin, seven matches unbeaten in the second tier and beginning to look like something approaching the real deal.
The beauty of all that for Gary Bowyer and his side is they’ve definitely not peaked yet.
I still think there’s a whole lot more to come from this team.
From the existing players and whoever they are able to add in January.
They are approaching something of an injury crisis at the moment but even that I don’t think will derail them too much.
The depth in that squad is beginning to prove its worth.
Other clubs are struggling to fill their bench every week while the Dark Blues have players who can come on and affect the game.
If Zach Robinson is out for some time or Paul McMullan picks up an injury then I’ll worry a little.
But there is little to moan about on the pitch from a Dundee perspective right now.
A breather from Championship duty to take on League One Airdrieonians in the Scottish Cup may well have come at a good time, too.
But, while the World Cup takes over the TV, proper old fashioned futba is still going on across Scotland.
Go check it out – you might just enjoy yourself.
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