Strike Off, Game On

The SPL has now agreed a deal with the referees, averting any strike action.

Referees will now be paid £800 (ridiculous eh?) per match until September. Both parties will then meet again on September 16 for further negotiations.

Hopefully by this point the SPL will have noted how incompetent the referees are and refuse to pay them any more.

At least the start of the season will not be delayed (like that was going to happen).

Lets all look forward to next Monday!

The Season is Forthcoming - Prediction Time.

It is less than a week until the season starts. At 12:30 on Saturday Falkirk and Rangers will kick off the 08/09 SPL Season (Assuming those pesky referees sort out their differing view points on pay with the SPL).

So what does the season hold in store for the football fans country wide?

Dundee United
Purely selfish, a whole section on United.

How will we do?

Rather well actually! In all seriousness, I think we have got to look for some sort of improvement on last season without getting too carried away, as this has happened many a time before and always ends up in disappointment.

We have done a fair bit of wheeling and dealing and brought in some good players. Sandaza has looked good and just needs match fitness, Feeney looks like and handful and, in my view, we have made our most important signing in getting Willo Flood back for the next year.

A big bonus for me is what looks like the return of Prince Bauben. If stories were to be believed, the Ghanian had played his last match for us. Now thought the outlook is different. He has looked back to his best in pre-season and I can't wait for him to resume his partnership with Gomis in the midfield.

Finishing spot?

I take us for fourth with a good cup run thrown in.

First for the boot?

Who will be the first Managerial casualty?

Over at Easter Road Mixu isn't looking too clever is he? It been a rough pre-season for the big Finn and there has been a surprising lack of goals and signings. Couple this with reports that he wants rid of 9 players and has stated he won't be replacing them, the axe may fall early in the season. In saying that, you don't want to peak in your pre-season fixtures and maybe they will the ground running come the start of the season.

A close second for the punt has to be Jim Jefferies. I can't see Killie doing too much this season. Again there has been a lack of signings, mostly due to lack of funds, couple this with new signing Russell picking up an injury pre-season, I see a tough time ahead for Killie and it may end up that the club will cut their losses and punt the big man.

Relegation

Who is facing the drop?

Many people will fancy Hamilton for the drop but I think Billy Reid will get them off to a decent start. They will be fired up and looking to prove a point and a good start could well see them stay up.

Prime candidates for me are Killie (see above), St. Mirren. St Mirren just don't seem to have added enough quality and this could well catch up with them.

Champs

Who will take the crown?

If I'm honest I can see past Celtic. Fair enough they maybe haven't added as much as Rangers but I think they will still be good enough.

I can't say I have been to impressed with Wattie's signings but hey, he might prove me wrong.

What do you think? Am I way off the mark?

Let me know your predictions for the season ahead

Opinion Poll

The second Opinion Poll has now closed.

There were 11 votes, and 91% of voters (10 people) reckon that refeering in the SPL will show no sign of improvement next season.

9% (one person) believe that refereeing will improve next year. Still trying to confirm if this voter was a member of the SFA trying to convince us.

Thanks for voting.

It's Opinion Poll Time...

So it's a quiet pre season day, we played last night, we got beat.

Not much else happening. I could post about Greg Cameron talking about being delighted at getting back into the team last night, but I would just be covering what the "Tully" has already said. (Well done to Greg by the way, glad to see him back and hopefully he can pick up some good form and get back into the first team).

So the Opinion Poll, which will be up for the next week, is about refereeing (Oh not that again).

Now, I'm not about to sit and bitch about decisions that went against us, though there were many, last season. Some pretty horrific (a bit strong?) decisions went against many teams at various times during last season, and I could list them all, but this would turn into the Never Ending Blog.

But, with all the uproar about a certain Mr McCurry last year, leading to many pointers of poor decisions by him in various games, is this likely to have an effect on the standard of refereeing during the coming season.

Now, I for one understand that refereeing can, at times, be tough, for various reasons. But at other times, can it be said that referees are showing blatant bias towards certain clubs?

I'm not about to say by any stretch that referees are cheating (or the SFA might hit me with a slander/libel case) but some of the decisions have to be questioned.

I could go on and on and on....

But my question is, are the events of last season likely to see an improvement in the standard of refereeing this season? Will all clubs in the SPL be playing on a (more) level playing field?

Be sure to vote and of course, your comments are very welcome.

Fixtures Announced.

Well one season has ended and we are immediately looking forward to the next.

Yes the fixtures for the SPL season 200/2009 have today been announced.

It looks like it could be a tricky start for the lads.

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