The Beautiful Game

I have been told to vent my BS and nonsense so I have started a blog. Today's blog is on "Fitbaw" or Football as the educated call it.

Over the world it is known as 'The Beautiful Game.'  It can unite as much as divide, inspire and hold a stadium of up to eighty five thousand people left awestruck at the display of skill on show. Every year the excitement grows for the upcoming season with the purchase of new players, new ambitions and the dream of European success. But it is not all about the lifting of trophies and playing the best football in the world, no no. Sometimes it is just about getting one over you arch rivals!

Which is what really depresses me about Scotland. Our football has become that feeble that our current champions, Rangers, are so financially screwed their impressive twelve point lead (potentially nine as current joint second team, Celtic, have a game in hand) might be docked points. This is the team with no money that has won the league the past three seasons in a row now. Motherwell are this years "challenge" to the old firm, thus far) as their is one small, irritating thing about Scottish football. It is always the Old Firm. Up and down the country it is the same question: "Rangers or Celtic?"

The 'Beautiful Game' is anything but beautiful or a game in this country. It is ridiculous. The Old Firm are only the worst because as the biggest and the best they are going to caught easier and no-one really cares about the team in sixth place anyway. I have seen the closest and best of friends physically intend to do long lasting harm to each other over nonsense that only flairs during the 'Old Firm' of the season. This is when Rangers and Celtic face off. Arch rivals of Scottish football. The big two. Yet one side boats of Irish roots and one of English...Scottish football. Don't get it.

ANYWAY! I'm not saying all fans are like this, I'm not saying every single fan is an idiot, of course not. I also have friends who love nothing more than playing up to the biggoted BS that comes with it. But when the WHOLE country goes onto red alert and the police have to make extra police available for a football game, you have to wonder is it really worth it? When did the game become so political? It is after all, just a game right?

WRONG! Football is not a game any more. It is a business. A way for the rich to get richer. How can anyone really justify a wage of £20,000 a week plus bonuses? BONUSES!

"well done mate, you done your job. You scored two goals. That's an extra two thousand pounds, one grand a goal!"

That's only in Scotland at the big two, or England's third division, so God forbid what a superstar at the likes of Real Madrid or Barcelona earn on bonuses let alone their standard wage! Getting back on course though, what really irritates me is that in our Scottish equivalent of a game of football, is that in build ups throughout the whole season we have a guy who has received death threats and a National abandonment for PLAYING A GAME. I am of course referring to Neil Lennon. The man had BULLETS sent to his door. What kind of sick, twisted bastard gets a kick out of that? I can't even imagine how that would work out?

Off the top of my head theory;

Angry Rangers Fan Postman: "A uhm pure ragin' at that heavy proper wee gin-gah bam, [Neil] Lenn-un"

Disgruntled Friend of Postman who also happens to share the idiot believe that Neil Lennon should perish: "anno mayte. We should heavy tan his win-D's or some-it!"

Angry Rangers Fan Postman: "I deliv-uh his mail, mahn. We should dae some-it tae let hum know it is time tae leave"

Disgruntled Friend of Postman who also happens to share the idiot believe that Neil Lennon should perish: "aye man, dyno! But wit would you shite it fae?"

Angry Rangers Fan Postman: "you know me mayte, not-hin. Buht he is a shite bag!"

Disgruntled Friend of Postman who also happens to share the idiot believe that Neil Lennon should perish: "Haw haw haw! Yaldi mate! You are men-toll!"

Angry Rangers Fan Postman: "wit if we send him bullets, you know, until we kin afford a gun or borrow wan off big Davie McShooterton?"

Disgruntled Friend of Postman who also happens to share the idiot believe that Neil Lennon should perish: "Brilliant!"

or something like that! It's not like you could put it on YouTube or anything...

Yet when it comes to the International games, suddenly everyone unites! Best of friends, arm over shoulder to form a wall of solidarity, "OH FLOWER OF SCOTLAND!" and it would actually hurt my head that these idiots are suddenly best pals. But I know why it is they unite. Scotland haven't been a football competition since 1998. Everyone wants an excuse to go on holiday with the lads and get drunk abroad. It is nothing to do with the beautiful game, it is to do with business! In this case the business is drinking abroad with the guy you wanted to kill three quarters of the year for supporting "the wrong team"

Speaking of football on the International scale, let's look a few funny things;

The Santiago Bernabéu, home to Real Madrid. One of the most renowned teams in the world . They have had arch rivals, rivals and even teams of other European countries come to their ground, perform a match and even the "opposing fans" have stood to give them a standing ovation. They put on such a wonderful show of flair and skill both sides could appreciate their skill. That is what the game is about. It has become so pathetic that in our country people actually choose the "Rangers/Celtic" of England, Italy, Spain, whoever maybe a better, more exciting team to watch. I don't know anywhere else in the world you can go and have someone tell you "I love Scottish football!" You might get "I love biggoted nonsense! Thank you for your support of hatred of all things [enter which side of the Old Firm you are here]"

It is just a game. Don't get me wrong, I am a football fan. I love football. From personally kicking a ball, making the perfect pass to your friend, scoring a goal, saving a shot or penalty, watching it on the television, in the pub with friends or playing it on the computer. Football is truly beautiful. But in Scotland the past 'X' amount of years, there has been NO beauty. But like all bad situations, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The police are making an actual crackdown on the sectarian nonsense that stains the game. Yes some if it can be banter but that fact it has taken lives over the years, so yes I agree with it. Try it. Take your biggoted "banter" and GET OUT! Rangers have a new no-nonsense Chairman, let's see how that pans out. Hearts could be on the verge of getting a decent buyer and could become a team worthy of challenging the Old Firm for more than ten games a season. Motherwell are doing great this season, will it hold up or will it fall under the mighty Old Firm?

Scottish football is horrible. We can only hope that next season we don't have to worry about fans in the paper with AXE'S are attacking each other, domestic cases don't triple when the Old Firm is on, fans don't attack managers (looking at you Hearts), the Old Firm don't get the full slam for any sectarian abuse (looking at you Aberdeen!) and just enjoy that the polished turd we have we one day have be football again. If it means taking inspiration from abroad, I'm game. Cages around the pitch, fans way, way back from the pitch, no food, no drink, your teams fans are arseholes, lock the stadium, name and numbers off EVERY single person on the way out. You are now banned, you will be named and shamed as an arsehole and your team will now perform in an empty stadium. Upset? Wasn't you? Well your fellow fan is arsehole. It takes extreme measures some times and Scottish football is that bad that this is what it may take to make it interesting.

It's just a game so why do people end up hurt? Anyway, I don't even like this subject that much so this will do as a rant in E minor just now. I shall return with my next subject in my next blog with whatever it is I'm loving or has pissed me off at the time.

Goatboy

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Sponsors and Shout Outs!
you should also check out Stuart Brodie's blog's as he also like a good rant and already has nine blog's down! Plenty of reading to catch up on!

Also; Question of the Day! My own personal facebook group page in which either myself or a fellow member or both posts a Question of the Day that has picked at their mind. It may philosophical, it might be stupid, but it is always entertaining!