Scotland In Europe – For A Limited Time Only

Does any European league have a worse record in UEFA competition over the past couple of seasons than the SPL?  I would highly doubt it.  Last season, Hibernian, Motherwell and Dundee United knocked out in the Qualifying Rounds of the Europa League, Celtic knocked out of the Qualifying Rounds of both the Champions League and Europa League.  Rangers dropping out of the Champions League and then getting knocked out of the Europa League after mustering a meagre one win in ten games.

This season has arguably been even more depressing.  Dundee United didn’t get past mid-July, Hearts were dismantled at home by Spurs, Celtic have already been knocked out (on the pitch anyway) of the Europa League once already and look on course to make it a double, and Rangers knocked out in the Qualifying Rounds of both the Champions and Europa League (with their conquerors Malmo and Maribor both bottom of their Europa League groups with a point between them).

There’s always next season though.  Or perhaps not.  Looking at the SPL table makes for very grim reading.  Rangers already find themselves 12 points clear of Celtic, who aren’t even in second.  Fair play to Ally McCoist for marshalling a club in complete disarray off the field to what already looks a formidable lead in the table.  However, with Motherwell second and Celtic in disarray on the field it doesn’t bode well for the SPL producing competitive sides for European competition next season.

You have to wonder how long Neil Lennon has left if things don’t improve and quickly.  Anything less than two wins from the next games at home to Rennes in Europe and away to second place Motherwell in the SPL are going to leave him under serious pressure.  Pictures of Kris Commons in neck brace and bandages at training in mockery of claims there have been fights in the camp are all very well, but surely he’d be better proving it on the pitch where it really counts.

If you had said at the start of the season a team in green and white hoops would be earning plaudits for their European performances, there’s a good chance it would be the men from Parkhead.  But as Shamrock Rovers continue to give a good account of the League of Ireland, including giving a much sterner test to Spurs than Hearts did, there must be serious concerns at SPL HQ as the co-efficient continues to dwindle.

Add in the fact the latest Scotland squad to play in Cyprus contains members of only one SPL team (Rangers), once again all clearly isn’t well with the domestic game.

Grant Fisken