Livi must go slowly to survive

I'm not one for giving lengthy match reports for mediocre football, I leave that to my colleague. Needless to say that Livingston notched up another win with a last-gasp Andy Halliday header against Montrose and the standard of refereeing has meant that my blood pressure is yet to settle. We will certainly win the title in the next week. But where next?

I for one will not be celebrating the title with much vigour. With the players that we had and our full-time status intact, a comfortable championship was a minimum expectation. That we have done so is a credit to the players and fans, who have not deserved the poor standard of opposition we have had to endure this year. But, we were guilty of gross mismanagement and naivety to put our trust in a man who must now be so far beneath our contempt - the relegation, although unprecedented, was probably what was merited for the men in suits. No matter how much we complain (and boy have I had a good moan this year), we cocked up.

So let us learn from mistakes of the past. Instant SPL football is not the solution, it would be unsustainable and we would implode again, probably for good this time. Let us continue the good work of the youth system and produce outstanding talents with futures in the Scotland national team. So what if we have to sell them on in the end, as long as they leave their mark on Almondvale, I will be happy. It is like being given a second chance at life - do not overspend, do not aim too high too quickly but have a long-term vision and get there with prudence and style.

I do feel for other clubs in Division 3 - East Stirlingshire or Forfar would have cantered to promotion this year had it not been for the SFL's decision (although YouTube footage of Dick Campbell singing Derry's Walls does not endear him to me). All I ask is that they get off our case now. Yes, we mucked things up but that was a previous administration and merely paid for being over-ambitious. But that is no reason for Paul Martin and others to lead a witch hunt and try and kick our players six feet in the air every game - these guys are just honest pros who have stuck by a troubled club, credit to them. We are a friendly club trying to put financial troubles behind us.

Minimum expectations for next year: playoffs and at least 8 points off Dumbarton. But we can win that league too if things go our way. And if we get the players' wages in on time. 1st division football is the long-term goal - I'll be there no matter what. Congratulations boys on a job well done - the hard work begins now.
RM

Eagles and Redskins get it wrong

To paraphrase Ron Burgundy, Washingston was "a bad choice". Not necessarily for new Redskins QB Donovan McNabb but for both his new franchise and his former employers the Philadelphia Eagles. Here is why:

The Eagles were keen to trade McNabb, that much I have made clear before. It's fine to trade him to Oakland or Buffalo or someone who you're not going to be seeing much of year in year out. But our NFC East rivals? Not a great plan. McNabb will come right back at the Eagles with a vengeance twice in the 2010 season and will look to show them that they made a mistake in trading him. Their offense will do fine led by Kevin Kolb, but he needs time to bed in and so the playoffs cannot be taken for granted this year, as they have been previously in the McNabb/Reid era.

The problem that the Redskins have is that McNabb is no Brett Favre. He will not play until the manly age of 40. He is too injury prone and does not have the single-mindedness of his Vikings counterpart (who now will inevitably retire solely because of this blog). At best, the 'Skins will get two good years out of McNabb. They already have a stop-gap QB - his name is Jason Campbell. Like McNabb, Campbell does the offense more good than harm but will not lead them to Superbowl glory. Better to start afresh with a guy like Colt McCoy (my colleague will choke when he reads that!) Expect the Redskins to hit the playoffs in 2011 but nothing much more. So essentially, the two rivals are cancelling each other out, paving the way for Dallas and the Giants in the division.

In terms of where this leaves the draft, both teams should look at their offensive line, Washington to protect their new prize asset, Philly to protect the inexperienced Kolb. The 'Skins had better hope that the Detroit Lions take a DT, leaving them free to take Russell Okung, as Anthony Davis and Bryan Bulaga are much less attractive prospects in the tackle position. The Eagles need cover at C/G with Jamaal Jackson out with an ACL and Nick Cole showing he was not up to the task in what turned out to be McNabb's swansong vs the Cowboys. Maurkice Pouncey awaits.

I promise I will write about a different NFL story soon!
RM

The County Scene - Week 2: Weather Warning for ECB

First of all, the most important news in English cricket today - the death of the great Sir Alec Bedser at the age of 91. Not only did he possess 236 Test wickets, he was an integral part of the great Surrey team of the 1950s and served as an England selector for well over 20 years. He was regarded by Sir Donald Bradman no less as the greatest medium-fast bowler he ever faced. RIP

Now, to a review of the week's action. Durham trounced the MCC by 311 runs in Abu Dhabi, the sub-continental style pitch assisting their twin spin attack of Ian Blackwell and young Scott Borthwick, who finished the match with 8 wickets, although he did his all-rounder tag no favours by ending up with a pair! Scotsman Kyle Coetzer and Aussie Michael di Venuto both hit tons for the champions as Durham made the best of the batting conditions. The pink ball was given a "7 out of 10" rating by Keith Bradshaw of the MCC, meaning it will be at least a year before we see it in the international arena.

So, from the desert to cold and wet England, where 6 counties were beginning their campaigns with university warm-up matches. Except poor old Derbyshire and Lancashire did not get off the ground on account of the weather. This calls into question the ECB's decision to start the season so early - I've stood in the field for 75 overs in April before, bowling only 10 of those (an accomplished 2-39 if you must know) and it's bloody freezing! They have removed a one-day competition to "free up" the calendar but all they have done is extend the remaining competitions, thus negating their own ideas! Expect rain delays in the next couple of weeks! The remaining 4 matches were mostly unremarkable and, of course, weather affected. The main highlights were Steve Davies' unbeaten 122 on debut for Surrey and Ryan ten Doeschate's remarkable all-round performance for Essex. From 124-7, he lifted his side to 318-8 with 106 not out, following up with 3-28 and a swift 81(73) in the 2nd innings. Mind you, he will face tougher opponents than the universities of Leeds and Bradford!

Finally, as promised - the Championship preview. To my mind, much depends on how your overseas player performs. However, this will be subject to change this year due to the IPL, meaning that many teams have players for the first few weeks of the season, to be replaced by others currently in India. Take my Somerset boys for example - Murali Kartik is currently playing well for the Kolkata Knight Riders - he will be available in May. Until then, we have the relatively tame seamer Damien Wright - not the sort of man to get you breakthroughs on the road that is the Taunton wicket. Yorkshire have even more troubles - Daryl Tuffey had his hand broken by Mitchell Johnson in a recent Test match so he will be unavailable as an early-season replacement for Ryan Harris - who is to be rested by Cricket Australia until the end of May. There have been various other deals done but there is only so much I can expect a reader to take in. Here then are my predictably incorrect predictions for the 2010 season:

Div 1 winners: HAMPSHIRE - I didn't want to say Durham again so I've gone for Dimi Mascarenhas' men - the Rose Bowl track tends to produce fair results and I reckon Sri Lankan spinners Rangana Herath and Ajantha Mendis will be too good for most county batsmen. Nottinghamshire a close second

Div 1 relegation: YORKSHIRE and ESSEX - as I've already said, Yorkshire are not a settled team and may regret taking all the experience out of their seam attack with Matthew Hoggard. A lot rests on Ajmal Shahzad and new skipper Andrew Gale. Essex look a little young to compete at this level, although it could finally be the year for Billy Godleman after his move from Middlesex. I can't see a bowling attack of David Masters, Chris Wright and Maurice Chambers taking 20 wickets consistently - a lot depends on the availability of Danish Kaneria

Div 2 promotion: SUSSEX and SURREY - Sussex had a freak year, not helped by the weather at Hove. With Monty Panesar, they should bounce straight back. Surrey have spent the summer shrewdly investing in good English talent - they will want to turn around a miserable few years and see that Mark Ramprakash continues his golden autumn.

Expect the unexpected and a lot of rain - reports and key player profiles to come next week
RM

Manchester United Vs Chelsea: A defence of Dimitar Berbatov

Watching Match of the Day, Berba recieved an entire segment of 'analysis'. He was picked out and criticised for his every move by messrs Hansen and Lawrenson. The main point they made using the footage was that Berbatov was not around the areas that his teammates were playing high balls into. In other words, he was not moving exactly where the currently injured Wayne Rooney would have moved. This has annoyed me enough to go get my laptop and start writing on a Saturday night.

Their criticism was insultingly petty, basically suggesting that Wayne Rooney is able to make something out of every ball and that Berbatov, when given the same balls Rooney can create chances with, cannot do so and is thus is a useless clogger. This is just derogatory to Berba, a player you'll probably guess I do quite like.

Berbatov is not Wayne Rooney. He does not have the same skillset as Rooney, does not move in the same manner as Rooney and thus cannot be treated as like for like. Surely, instead of picking on Berbatov, we should bring up the point that his teammates played through the entire game as if it was Rooney up front, never once adjusting their style to suit Berbatov's skills.

There were several occasions when Berbatov did recieve the ball in a way which he enjoys i.e. ball to feet 20 yards out, and on each occasion he went out and created good opportunites for his team. This was barely touched upon in the MOTD coverage.

Wayne Rooney is a unique and precociously gifted player. He can score from anywhere. Berbatov is a very gifted striker, but he cannot do all the improbable things Rooney can do. Perhaps his teammates should actually think about this before they lump difficult ball after difficult ball towards the space Berbatov never usually stands in.

GM

Fix of Division 2 action

Just a quick post here; I feel I need to do something, yet my World Cup previews are quite time-consuming, so I'll leave them for now and do a little ditty on my football team Dumbarton, henceforth The Sons.

I spent this afternoon at Forthbank in Stirling to watch us take on Stirling Albion, a club who may not get much mention a few months from now as they may not exist. Coming into Stirling, you encounter a 'Save the Albion' banner draped across the side of the road. It would seem though, that this is about the only thing the campaigners have bothered to do. Certainly, the home attendance did not seem in any way increased, or come across as anything other than apathetic- no banners, protests or even rude songs directed at the chairman in sight.

It is a sad fact of life that most of the lower league Scottish teams are practically operating day-to-day. It struck me when I discovered, as a small shareholder, that a couple of years back, Dumbarton were the only Second Division club to operate in the black. In a league where there is no real talent to sell on, and little in the way of crowds and commercial opportunities available, survival basically comes down to having an astute and prudent board. I suppose having a rich man as owner is an option. How did that work out Gretna?

Dumbarton are in the black because we get solid attendances and rarely actually get the chequebook out and buy anybody. Perhaps we sold it...

Stirling today will be happy of our strong away support boosting their gates, as well as the atmosphere we created("Beanie, you still have the hair of a latent homosexual", directed at ex-Sons hero Ian 'Beanie' Russell being a particular highlight). Our away support is comfortably the best in Division 2, and must be up there with the best of the entire lower leagues.

In terms of football, this was actually a decent game. First half, both teams looked sharp- Stirling playing some incisive through balls along the slippery pitch, the Sons demonstrating some decent counter attacks and overlap moves out wide. In typical Sons fashion, we opened the second half by defending progressively deeper into our own half, until the inevitable shot from 20 yards flew past our 5'1" keeper.

From then on, our SPL quality frontman Dennis Wyness showed, for the first time, some quality. His previous pacelessness...well, remained. But he ran on to a lofted lobbed ball and beautifully and delicately scooped it over Stirling's big booted, also about 5'1" and probably 12 year old goalie.

Soon after, a good sustained Dumbarton attack, follwed by a baffling lack of commitment by said keeper, led to Wyness latching onto a driven and seemingly inoccuous cross to place the ball home. And at 2-1, we actually did some decent defending for once and closed the game out. Marvelous.

A win that moves us closer to being able to be denyed a playoff spot on the final day instead of the penultimate match. But hugely satisfying nonetheless. While I don't wish at all for any team to go out of business, Stirling's fans certainly didn't strike me as caring much, and at the end of the day Albion do occupy one of the playoff spots above Dumbarton...

GM

April Fool!

Yesterday saw the usual spate of April Fools stories in the sporting media. My personal favourite came courtesy of the mighty John Beattie on the BBC Sport website under "Cheating Scots handed Wooden Spoon". It showed how Dan Parks had used a laser kicking tee during the Calcutta Cup match, blinding an England fan behind the goal and leading to the Scots being docked Six Nations points. This also featured secret footage of Scotland "captain" Al Kellock and an interview with the man himself, who played the guilty schoolboy role very well! Link here:http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8598828.stm

Our own football teams produced a couple of beauties as well. Dumbarton claimed to have signed Arsenal Ladies' star Julie Fleeting, which would have helped a team currently reliant on donkey David Winters for goals. Meanwhile, the news out of Almondvale was that we had secured a friendly against Barcelona for the end of the season, aided by a long-term friendship between boss Gary Bollan and Thierry Henry. The financial boost was said to be "going a long way to securing Robbie Keane on a long-term loan." Stories that Keane was a big Meadowbank Thistle fan while growing up in Dublin are yet to be confirmed.

When you throw in the Guardian's story of Gordon Brown starting an election campaign showcasing his hard-man image, it's heartening to see that for just one day a year, the media can stop taking themselves so seriously!
RM