Doin' the SPLit

You. Out there on the right. Get out.

It has been a tough season to follow the SPL. One year after three Scottish clubs remained in Europe after Christmas (a record), and a half-decent domestic race, this season has been positively painful. Hibs gave an early hint of what Europe would look like for the Scottish clubs, falling 4-0 on aggregate to Elfsborg in the Intertoto Cup (RIP) way back in July. Rangers famously fell to Kaunas in the Champions League's Second Qualifying Round. Motherwell also fell at the first hurdle, losing to AS Nancy in the UEFA Cup (RIP). Celtic were the lone Scottish team to notch a win this European campaign, defeating an already-qualified Villareal squad on the last day of the Champions League group stage.

Domestically, the play has not been any more inspiring. As expected, Rangers and Celtic took early control of the first and second spots while everyone filtered to about where I expected. Currently, I put the breakdown of the SPL as two huge clubs, five medium clubs and five small clubs. The seven "big" clubs occupy the top seven spots in the league. That's the SPL in a nutshell this season. There has just been no spark, nothing to note and nothing to watch. If you liked Ligue 1 a couple of seasons ago (no goals, lots of draws), then this is the league for you.

Thankfully, the split is upon us (so I don't have to type it, an explanation is here). No longer do we really have to pay attention to half of the league. There are five more matchdays and then we get to regroup and pray for a better year next time. First, though, we have to survive those last five rounds. Inside, a quick breakdown of the season so far.

1 & 1A Celtic (74 points) and Rangers (73 points)
Here is how non-competitive the league as a whole has been. Neither one of these teams faces the threat of being pipped for second. Rangers are 19 points clear of third-placed Hearts with five games to play. The showdown for these two will be surprisingly early, May 9, in the second of five rounds. Both clubs traditionally ask to avoid playing each other on the last match day, and the SPL agrees. Rangers will host that last derby of the season, and then both clubs hope to not draw a game the rest of the way. Fun, huh?

Celtic should have salted the league away back around the new year, but seemed to get distracted by their large lead at the time and let points slip away. Rangers, of course, are still feeling the ill-effects of the antics of former captain Barry Ferguson and starting keeper Allan McGregor, but word is that gaffer Walter Smith now feels he was hasty in banning the two and will welcome them back to the fold. For a club that seriously needs money, an automatic spot in the group round of the Champions League is something to lose your morals over.

3 Heart of Midlothian (54 points)
I thought this team was done for. I thought that all of the drama that followed this club around would just do them in. It did last season, and this season was shaping up to be no better. Instead, this is a team that overachieved and paid no attention to the multiple times the players went without pay and didn't even flinch when their captain was sold in January. Hearts just kept, well, beating. The club is on a six game unbeaten run in league and could well have that run until the end of the season. Not bad for a club whose leading card-getter (seven yellows) outpaces its leading scorer (six goals). Almost a lock for a European slot, since they would have to drop at least six points to fall to fifth.

4 Dundee United (49 points)
Now this is a team that did not finish the pre-split slate well. United have only won two of their ten matches since the new year and have effectively ceded third place to Hearts. Of course, they had a pretty phenomenal run early in the year. After five matches, United were at the bottom of the table on two points. They took 20 of the next 24 points available to rocket up to third, a position that has been theirs most of the season. It's not too late to move back up, especially if Hearts lose both of their matches to the Old Firm. But they cannot wait until they face the Jambos on May 16 to do so, for that will be too late.

5 Aberdeen (48 points)
It has been a terribly up and down season for the Dons. Twice the club has occupied last place in the league, the last time coming in October with the culmination of a four game losing streak. Then came the steady climb. By mid-January, when Aberdeen stuffed Celtic 4-2 at home (yes, I'm biased), the club was up to third spot. Since then, fifth spot has been home. A home of incredibly frustrating draws. Aberdeen have drawn six of 11 games since that win over Celtic. The Dons do have the bonus of three home games in this five game sprint, but if they don't make Europe (with a top four finish) expect Jimmy Calderwood to be let go, or pushed under a bus by one of the many disgruntled fans in the north.

6 Hibernian (42 points)
Hibernian were gifted a sixth-place finish when Motherwell lost 2-0 at home on the next to last day. Suddenly, yesterday's match against Rangers no longer had any significance for the Easter Road outfit. Think of that when you look at Hibs' results from here on out. There is no way they are going to move up into Europe and will likely play out the string rather lifelessly.

7 Motherwell (41 points)
If not for two St Mirren goals in the last 15 minutes on Saturday (and maybe scoring one of their own), Motherwell would have been in the Top Six. Instead they are likely to pull 11 to 15 points at the end of the season and end up with a point total higher than Hibs, even if the Well cannot pass them in the standings. A slight consolation, I'm sure.

8 Kilmarnock
9 St Mirren
10 Hamilton (all 34 points)
Hamilton seem to have done just enough to survive, as all three of these clubs are six points clear of the bottom. However, the Academicals, as well as St Mirren, should be wary as their goal differential does leave them slightly open to danger.

11 Inverness CT (32 points)
12 Falkirk (28 points)
ICT looked to be in great danger at the end of January. Seemingly locked in last place, the club fired Craig Brewster as manager and eventually hired former bloody England star Terry Butcher. Since then the clubs has done just enough to distance themselves from last-placed Falkirk, a 4-0 March loss notwithstanding. Unfortunately for Falkirk, that's the last game the team scored in. It was also only their second win in league since mid-November, a streak of 15 matches. These two teams will meet on the last day of the season, but Inverness should be safe from relegation by then.

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Scotland Wrap Up

Due to an outpouring of support (one guy at least), I'll be reviving my once-a-week look at fitba from the league to the north of the EPL. Skip ahead if you like, but know this is the only post for at least half an hour.

This weekend saw the seventh round of matches take place. Rangers entered the weekend with a three point lead over Celtic. No surprises there, then. Hearts were one more point back. Hibs, Killie and Hamilton filled out the Top Six.

Saturday saw a slate of five games, with the big one being Celtic hosting Aberdeen. Early season from has not been kind to the Dons, at least at home. They nicked a point off of Rangers, but lost their other three home matches. On the other hand, Aberdeen came in perfect on the road, and, at one point, looked to be keeping that intact.

Celtic had the much better start, putting pressure on the Aberdeen backline early. It paid off in the 14th minute when Aberdeen failed to clear their lines, and Jan Vennegoor of Hessleink (now and forever to be referred to as JVoH on this site) slammed home from 10 yards out. Aberdeen upped their game for the rest of the half, and looked the better squad at the break.

That continued into the second half. In the 57th minute, a run down the right produced a cross that Lee Miller flicked on. All the Celtic defenders had run to the near post, leaving Charlie Mulgrew alone at the back from 15 yards. His volley found the back of the net. Twelve minutes later, Mulgrew took a blistering free kick from 30+ yards and beat both the wall and Boruc to the near post. Celtic should have immediately replied, but a open header from three yards out was bounced over the crossbar. No matter, Celtic would break my heart soon enough. Substitute Scott McDonald scored seven minutes after his introduction, and JVoH scored when the ball squeaked under Aberdeen keeper Jamie Langfield and off the post in the 90th. In a game where the teams were pretty even, it was one heck of a letdown for the struggling Dons. 3-2 Celtic.

The other Saturday games, i.e. the ones I did not watch, were home wins as well and went like this:
Dundee United slaughtered Heart of Midlothian 3-0. As the BBC guy said, this was a shoot on sight from 30 yards game for the Terrors. A couple of those went in, courtesy of Conway, Daly and Robertson.
Falkirk scored five against Hamilton Academical, but only four of them were in the correct goal. Scott Arfield scored a brace for the Bairns. Hamilton, which started their SPL campaign brightly, did not look good at all, and only a 90th minute own goal spared them sole honors for the worst defeat of the week. 4-1
Motherwell edged out St Mirren 2-1, reversing a 0-1 deficit from halftime. St Mirren felt hard done by in the 70th when the assistant referee signaled that Franco Miranda had elbowed his opponent while jostling for a throw in. The referee produced a straight red for the offense. To be fair, though, Motherwell had already taken the lead by that point.
Finally, Inverness CT continued their fine early season run by defeating Kilmarnock 3-1. Killie scored early, but Caley scored two in the first half and finished the game off in the 81st, shortly after Kilmarnock had Fowler sent off.

On Sunday, Hibernian hosted Rangers, and Rangers were not very nice. Hibernian had the early chances, with two clear efforts being saved. Rangers scored on the half hour, as Kenny Miller headed home against his former team. Miller scored again 10 minutes later and Madjid Bougherra produced the final goal of the match on the 73rd. The scoreline flattered the visitors, as Hibs had many chances. But,as we know, chances don't count unless converted. Rangers retain the top spot 0-3.

Updated table (team, points, goal differential)
Rangers, 19, +10
Celtic, 16, +7
Hearts, 12, -2
Inverness CT, 10, +2
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Kilmarnock, 10, -1
Hibernian, 10, -2
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Hamilton Academical, 9, -2
Dundee United, 8, -1
Falkirk, 7, -2
Motherwell, 7, -3
Aberdeen (sigh), 7, -3
---------------------
St Mirren, 5, -3

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Cola anyone?

Here at U.F we hate to disappoint and want to give you readers the kind of material you crave. Drunken live blogs, interviews from behind the scenes and wags..lots of wags..But Bigus never thought that he would have a request to roll out a regular round up of the Coca Cola Championship! Does anyone care what happens in that league around these parts except me? Do they? Well Joe does..So Joe..This ones for you!

Disclosure: This Championship round up is brought to you by Norwich City Kool Aid.


Well 4 games have been played in the competitive Championship and the early runners and riders have set out their stall. Many teams have been adding to their squads over the last week or so as the transfer window slammed shut on Monday night and we will look at that a little later.

Wolves, Preston and Birmingham are off to a flyer. In the case of Birmingham it was expected. They have a squad of Premiership players and no less than 6 strikers that fill their Championship opponents with fear at their very mention. Kevin Phillips (top) has already bagged 3 goals and looks like he is in for a 25 goal haul once again. The fact that my beloved Norwich outplayed Birmingham last Saturday is extremely encouraging. We really should have taken our first 3 points of the season. The football was the best seen at Carrow Road in many years. The new defence has been excellent, Kennedy and Stefanovic (left) look comfortable together and the team of mostly new players appears to have gelled. Norwich also added the missing piece of the puzzle on Monday as Antoine Sibierski arrived from Wigan. We have been in desperate need of a target man to hold the ball and involve our midfield around the box. We haven't had a decent holding forward since Iwan Roberts. Although the football is nice, there are only so many times you can play a speedy forward in behind you opponent before they wise up to your one dimensional attack. Sibierski has the quality and credentials to be a big hit at this level and hopefully we can now start to create a few more clear cut chances and take them. City have looked an much improved side in all 4 of their opening games this season despite 1 defeat and 3 draws. Once we start taking the chances and the forwards gain confidence someone is in for a hiding!

Wolves have started brightly and have benefited from their own target man in the form of Iwelumo. The former Charlton striker has 3 goals already and has helped provide 3 for his team mate Michael Kightly. Wolves are the pre-Theo Epstein Red Sox..Always the bridesmaid. Every year their team looks a bit tasty but they finish outside of the playoffs or fail during them. I reckon this year will be no different and they will drop off the current form sooner rather than later.

Last years surprise package Bristol City have also started well, much to my surprise. Two wins and two draws has them sitting 4th. The impressive 3 nil victory at Coventry has put them on the radar and they should not be taken for granted.

At the other end Palace have had a stinker of a start to the season. Losing to Reading and failing to beat Burnley at home has left the Eagles on just two points.

As for the rest of the league? It's just too early to judge. Teams are settling in new players and finding their feet.

The transfer window shut on Monday, lets take a quick look at the late incoming Championship players who will make their debuts on Saturday week.

Bristol City picked up where they left off last season (right).

Notable Ins: The unattached Man City failure Emile Mpenza signed with Plymouth. They also took Paul Gallacher on loan from Blackburn. Alan Lee movd from Ip..Ip..them to Palace. That lot 'up the road' replaced Lee with John Stead on loan from Sheffield United. Alan Gow moved to Blackpool from Rangers. Burnley signed Steven Thompson from Cardiff. Steven Eliot went from Wolves to Preston and Jason Shackell moved from Norwich to Wolves.

As for my lot Norwich? They signed promising Middlesbrough full back Jonathon Grounds (why we need a third left back is beyond me!) and Antoine Sibierski (Get in Roeder)!

The current Championship table looks like this.

I will start a weekly round up of results the week commencing 15th after the next round of Colaship games.

Hows that Joe?

-Bigus

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