Glamour or glory???

The Europa League Play-Off draw is a bit of a mixed bag for the Scottish teams but hopefully at least two of the three clubs can get through.

It does look grim for Hearts although Harry Redknapp’s promise to play youngsters and squad players in the Europa League may give an outside chance. Then again, people shouldn’t believe a single world that Harry Redknapp says so who knows what team will line-up against the Jambos. Regardless of the line-up, it should be a good trip for Hearts fans and one that should create a lot of memories.

Rangers seemed to have got the most straight-forward of ties in NK Maribor but then again, that was what would have been said after they were drawn against Malmo! The Slovenian side will provide a robust challenge to Rangers but you really would have to think that Ally McCoist’s men will have enough to get through the tie. Then again, with just one European win in 23 games, no one at Ibrox should be taking this tie too lightly.

Maribor have played three league games this season, winning them all by a 2-1 score line, sitting second in the league (Maribor have a GD of +3 whereas Domzale have a GD of +7).

Celtic however are off to Switzerland to face FC Sion. The Swiss side finished fourth in their league but defeated Neuchatel Xamax in the Cup final. The internet is already abuzz with the fact that FC Sion hold the world record for winning all 12 cup final appearances they have made. The ground is a 16,5000 capacity so there may well be a limit on the travelling support that make it across to Switzerland.

Again, Celtic should have every reason to feel as though they can progress to the group stages but with their form in Europe not being great, especially on the road, there should be nothing taken for granted.
The Uefa site indicated that both Glasgow sides were drawn away from home in the first leg, suggesting both would be at home in the second leg but there may be a switch to one of the ties. In short, don’t go booking flights until the legs are confirmed!

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Dandy Dons leave it late to book their place

Well, that’s a Scottish Cup day and a half. The big two clashed in Glasgow giving you so much to talk about and then its Aberdeen v Dunermline.

It wasn’t much of a game to look at but with an injury time own goal separating the teams, that’s the beauty and the agony of the Cup right there. Aberdeen will now be fancying a return trip to Glasgow and taking the opportunity to lay to rest the nightmare of their League Cup semi-final showing. To do so, they will need to overcome St Mirren in the quarter-finals.

The Scottish Cup quarter final draw is:

Dundee United v Motherwell

Brechin City v St Johnstone or Partick
10 teams still left in the cup and at the moment, every one of them should be thinking that they have a good chance of reaching the semi-final.

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Convenient time for everyone

Yes, football fans everywhere will be gutted at the prospect of missing out on the Scottish Cup draw because of a clash with work or Loose Women or whatever trash daytime television is showing these days.

Probably continuous adverts for sell your gold companies but it should at least kill some time before the stunning Rachel Riley appears with a figure and the figures on Countdown.

Footy fans will be backing Jeff Stelling but well, if you ever have a day off work or you find yourself at a loose end, we defy you to not offer up a suggestion of two from the top….and anyways, getting back to the Scottish Cup draw.

Six of the games at the weekend had a victor so the draw is slightly more straightforward than the draw for the 5th round of the Active Nation Scottish Cup.

The teams involved in the draw are:

Ross County
Dundee
Dundee United
Kilmarnock
Hibs
Celtic
St Mirren / Rangers
Raith Rovers / Aberdeen

We aren’t going to sit here and predict what the ties will be but with 5 SPL teams guaranteed to be involved (with maybe more one more), there is likely to be some big teams. There are also two (possibly three) SFL teams in the competition so there is still the opportunity for a team outwith the top flight to get to Hampden this season.

We’ll endeavour to be online with the draw as quickly as we can after it is made but you know, there is probably other things we should be doing at 1pm on a Wednesday afternoon.

Is your team still in the cup. If so, who do you want to draw?

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It’s the day for Scottish football draws

After the excitement of the Euro 2012 draw, attention returns to the Scottish Cup. Dunfermline take on Celtic at East End Park and the draw will follow on Wednesday at Hampden Park, with Sky Sports and all the usual media comedy acts probably shoe horning it in somewhere.

5 of the 7 cup matches played yesterday were concluded so the draw is certainly clearer than the last round. Only two replays are required so St Mirren, Aberdeen, Rangers and Raith Rovers all remain in the draw even though two of these clubs will progress no further than the replay.

The teams that will be involved in the draw for the Active Nation Scottish Cup 6th Round draw are:

Dundee
Dundee United
Kilmarnock
Ross County
Hibs
Raith Rovers / Aberdeen
St Mirren / Rangers

And either Dunfermline or Celtic (or both if its a draw) depending on the outcome to today’s lunchtime match

Is your team still in the cup and do you think it could be your year?

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Would unknown pleasures suit Levein in Sunday draw?



Craig Levein has already stated he would have no problem if Scotland were to face England in the qualifiers for 2012 and that would certainly be a match with ‘Atmosphere’. The opportunity does exist though as Scotland are ranked as third seeds and the chance of the clash exists as Scotland hope to end ‘Decades’ without an appearance at a major football tournament (and yes, thats the last of the Joy Division song titles!)

Seed 1:
Spain (holders)
Germany
Netherlands
Italy
England
Croatia
Portugal
France
Russia

Any of these teams would pose a great test to Craig Levein but some would provide a greater chance than others. You cannot say that Portugal or Croatia are as intimidating as Spain or Italy. Yes, they are all well ranked above Scotland for a reason but there could be the chance of an upset. Worst case scenario would be Spain with regards to hope of beating them but what a game it would be at Hampden up against the stars of La Liga.

Seed 2:
Greece
Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Serbia
Turkey
Denmark
Slovakia
Romania

These are the teams that Scotland need to perform against and out-rank. If you get a seed one team that devours everything in its wake, its fair enough and the second spot of the group would be in your own hands. Again, Scotland have not earned the right to be blasé in looking forward to any of these matches but there is no reason why 3 or 4 (at least) should be obtained from these games. The eight runners up go into a play-off in November 2011 and this has to be Scotland’s minimum aim.

Seed 4:
Slovenia
Latvia
Hungary
Lithuania
Belarus
Belgium
Wales
FYR Macedonia
Cyprus

Given the way Wales have demolished Scotland in recent friendlies, it may be best to avoid them, a trip to Cyprus could be quite welcoming for Scotland although WeKnowSFA would choose Belarus, purely because it is a song title by Low!

Seed 5:
Montenegro
Albania
Estonia
Georgia
Moldova
Iceland
Armenia
Kazakhstan
Liechtenstein

Seed 6:
Azerbaijan
Luxembourg
Malta
Faroe Islands
Andorra
San Marino

So….we’re Levein home for 2012 – any team you fancy or want to avoid in the Warsaw draw?

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