Our local teams have finished for the season but the football news keeps coming. Courier sports writers Ian Roache, Neil Robertson and Eric Nicolson look back on a dramatic week on and off the pitch.
Q The scenes at Hampden after the Scottish Cup final were truly shocking. What do you think has to happen now to try to ensure Scottish football is never again shamed in this way?
IR: Hibs should and will be punished for the appalling behaviour of their supporters. Talk of over-exuberance is OK when considering the actions of the vast majority of celebratory Hibbies but not when describing the provocation, intimidation and violence of the hooligans who led the pitch invasion. There has to be zero-tolerance of physical attacks on players and coaches, in particular, and I fear the Easter Road club will be hammered, with a fine probably deemed inadequate punishment. Rangers supporters, of course, joined in. Some sang sectarian songs and some let off flares. The worst offenders, however, were those who ran on from the Hibs end and the SFA will be determined to send out a strong message.
NR: The scenes at the end of the game really were a return to the footballing dark ages and there can be no excuses for the behaviour of a substantial minority of fans. The apologists for Hibs point to the fact that the pitch invasion was an outpouring of emotion courtesy of the last-gasp winner that ended their long, long wait for Scottish Cup success however that simply will not wash – contrast the impeccable behaviour of the St Johnstone supporters when they won the trophy for the first time in their history two years ago. Rangers fans were also culpable but to a lesser extent. Hopefully lessons will be learned and taken on board to ensure that this sorry scenario never happens again.
EN: It’s an awkward one for the SFA. It was their ground and their security arrangements. Yes, Hibs will be punished but, as a football club, what could they have done to prevent what happened? Nothing. And is it their fault that idiots have chosen to support them?
Q As for the football, do you think Hibs were worthy winners and deserved to end their 114-year hoodoo?
IR: Hibs definitely deserved it and the manner in which they finally ended their Scottish Cup heartache was as dramatic as it comes. Anthony Stokes provided a touch of class and was a standout man-of-the-match. He did, of course, benefit from some horrendous defending from Rangers.
NR: While the quality of the football was not out of the top drawer, there was no denying the entertainment value of the game. When Rangers went 2-1 ahead, I honestly thought Hibs would crumble but they deserve great credit for the manner in which they came back from the dead.
EN: Around the time Hibs beat St Johnstone in the League Cup semi and knocked Hearts out of the Scottish Cup you could have made a reasonable case to say they were the form team in the country, not just their division. Their implosion was inexplicable. But they were back to their best at Hampden and, if they keep their best players over the summer, the injection of confidence into Hibs won’t be good news for Dundee United next season.
Q Let’s consider that “defending” from Rangers. Did you realise they were that bad at the back?
IR: Having not really seen Rangers much over the campaign, it did come as a surprise to see how poor and disorganised they were. Rob Kiernan, who inexplicably stood off Stokes for the opening goal, had an absolute shocker. I don’t think I have seen a goal quite like that in a cup final before. James Tavernier may have sent over a brilliant cross for Kenny Miller’s goal but at the back he was almost as bad as Kiernan. Manager Mark Warburton has a real job on his hands to sort that defence out for next season.
NR: I was at Ibrox when St Johnstone beat Rangers in the League Cup at Ibrox earlier in the season and while Saints were on fire that night, I was taken aback by how open Rangers were. However, I still could not believe how poorly they defended at Stokes’ opening goal which is ironic considering one of Scotland’s best-ever defenders Davie Weir is assistant manager at the club. Defensive reinforcements have to be a priority for Rangers’ return to the Premiership next season.
EN: It isn’t just the defending I’d be worried about if I was a Rangers fans, it would be the coaching. The Hibs set-piece goals weren’t the most sophisticated training ground moves you’ll ever see but they were plenty good enough to expose Rangers’ shortcomings. Weir should be taking it as a personal insult.
Q Do you think the appointment of Brendan Rodgers as Celtic manager will strengthen the Hoops and make them a credible force in Europe?
IR: Even non-Celtic fans appear to be excited about this one. Ronny who? Rodgers was excellent at Swansea and terrific, up to a point, at Liverpool. Significantly, he seems delighted and honoured to be in the job. However, the European challenge could be beyond him in his first season at least, such has been the gap between the champions of Scotland and even modest continental opposition in recent years.
NR: I think Rodgers’ appointment is a major coup for Celtic. He will understand fully the need to win and to do so in style at the club. Hopefully, he will be given the proper financial backing from the Hoops’ board so that European success is more than just a pipe dream. However, like Ian, I believe Rodgers will need time to put together a squad capable of mounting a challenge in the Europa League let alone the Champions League.
EN: Rodgers couldn’t get to grips with the challenge of European football at Liverpool, so he’ll have to raise his game. I do like the appointment, though. It’s a brave move by him, and manager and club look like a perfect match for each other.
Q As we welcome the quiet and shy Joey Barton to Scotland, will there be fireworks next season from the new Light Blues’ midfielder?
IR: My biggest hope is now that he is focusing on a new challenge at Ibrox we won’t see him on the BBC’s Question Time again. That was a one of the poorest performances from a football player in a long while. Yes, even worse than Kiernan in the cup final.
NR: Barton is what I would describe as a “Marmite” type but there is no denying that he is the sort of colourful character who will light up Scottish football. The first Rangers game with Celtic and his meeting with a certain Scott Brown should certainly be “one to watch”.
EN: It’s been a while since there’s been a Barton-of-old incident. He seems to have matured over the last couple of years. He’s a good signing but central midfield was already an area of strength for Rangers (I could see Jordan Rossiter turning out to be a better long-term signing) and, as discussed above, there are other more pressing priorities.
Q Talking of new arrivals, should Raith Rovers fans at least give new boss Gary Locke a chance to show what he can do?
IR: Locke may not have set the heather on fire among the Rovers fans yet but surely he deserves to be given time. He has just brought in former Dundee United coach Darren Jackson as his assistant so it will be interesting to see how the pair get on.
NR: I was at Stark’s Park on Friday for his official unveiling and he came across really well. Locke was thrown in at the deep end at Hearts and was fighting fires at a club that had gone into administration while he hinted that there were extenuating circumstances behind the scenes when he resigned as Killie boss. He certainly has a hard act to follow at Raith after the job Ray McKinnon did and he deserves time to show he can do it.
EN: My impression of Locke’s Killie is probably different to a lot of others. More often than not, when I was covering one of their matches, they played well. Even if you think it was an overall failure for Locke at Rugby Park, I always think that’s no bad thing for a young manager. Look at Derek McInnes at Bristol City. I think it could be a good appointment.
Q Who do you think will win Champions League final between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid and why?
IR: Being a grumpy old(ish) man, I think it’s a scandal that two teams from the same country, never mind same city, are playing in what should still be called the European Cup final. In saying that, I will still watch it. I think Real will triumph and if so I’ll be pleased for one of my footballing heroes Zinedine Zidane. Diego Simeone just annoys me.
NR: Who will win? A team from the Spanish capital!
EN: It’s not the final I wanted (and it was much better when they played it on a Wednesday night, rather than waiting until after the international summer has started) but Atletico will win.
