Dull Days Ahead

Are we right to predict a dull season in the top flight?

I think so. We know before a ball is kicked that its going to be a two horse race but we can hope that one of the "diddy" teams will make enough of an early run to cling to the green and blue coat tails for a time.

Not this season. Two mediocre Old Firm sides now sit nine points clear of the team in third. Only one other side has a positive goal difference. Only seven points separate the team in third from the bottom side.

As for Europe: Three down, one in a coma waiting for the life support to be turned off.

We can't look to Hampden for salvation with the World Cup campaign having wilted in the Macedonian heat before being murdered by George Burley's lone wolf.

So the football this year doesn't look great but no doubt the subplots will be as enthralling as ever.

Beyond Words

Supermarket giant Asda says it had no plans to change its famous green logo to please shoppers in a Rangers-mad town. 

Politicians claimed supermarket bosses were "pandering to prejudice" over suggestions they could change their traditional green and white livery at a new store in Larkhall, Lanarkshire.

Apparently Subway and Moss Pharmacy have already changed their company livery to appease locals. And green traffic lights get smashed.

With apologies to Tom Nairn, Scotland will never be free until the last numpty Ranger in Larkhall is strangled with the last King Billy scarf in the country.

Pool of Darkness

If his retirement plans are for real this time then this might be the last season we can enjoy Sir Alex Ferguson chewing gum on the touchline.

But if Liverpool win the title? Surely Fergie won't walk with his very own forces of darkness on top.

Has he spent the best part of a quarter of a century trying to "knock Liverpool off their fucking perch" only to exit the 'theatre of dreams' when they clamber back up?