Reasons to be Fearful, 1,2,3

Article appeared in Killie Hippo 87 (out 21st March 09)

Well, I sit here typing with the Radio Scotland sport player thing pumping out the speaker, on it I have the Killie game v Inverness, as you can gather I am not there. Its not yet half time and were down two nil. If anyone is in any doubt yet (mr Jim Jeffries and your top six comments for the papers listen up) relegation is very much a reality for us this season.

This could be the end of our fifteen year stay in the Scottish top division, and some people think this could be good, premier league football has become boring and the novelty has long since wore off so a season in the first could be the thing that reignites the Kilmarnock fan, the thing that shakes off the apathy that is clearly cloaking our loyal support. In my opinion it wont, relegation my friends would be the first step into the oblivion.

Lets have a look at our squad, because the way I understand it, the people who have a wee feeling that a season in the first would be good also feel that just one season would be good, no more, a season in which we end it with a full Rugby Park celebrating a League Championship trophy clearly and then a triumphant return to the premier claiming that the first couldn’t hold us and it was merely a season to sort ourselves out. Well sorry but with what squad do we think that this could possibly be done with? Our stand out player this season, Craig Bryson, would be long gone, a tiny fee no doubt agreed due to the desperate need for cash due to our relegation.

I interrupt this article to bring news of Killie grabbing a goal back, and now its half time. 2-1 down.

Back to the squad, I could go through them all, player by player and show that we couldn’t afford to keep this squad (and why would we want to I suppose) we would need to sell a fair chunk for peanuts in a bid to stay afloat, Kevin Kyle, gone. Mehdi Taouil, gone. I would also see the likes of Hamill and Flannigan gone, plus Danny Invincibile would def be off, I am sure that since it would be a world cup year he would need to be playing in a top flight of some sort in order to put himself in the national managers plans! Combe? He would be off. Pascali? I really do think that our carcass would have the bones picked by any vultures circling and with our administration there would be no way for us fans to stop it. The players we would bring in I cant imagine would set the heather alight. Rascle, Murray, Hay, Ford and Lilley? A goalie and back four that any reader thinks could form the backbone of a championship winning team? I dread to think what would play in front of them!

Also would we keep our manager? I would like to think that they would fall on their swords and allow someone else to try sort us out but who would we get? Dick Campbell perhaps? Probably not as he has a contract, no, we would scour the market for some out of work punter who works a Sunday on BBC Scotland on the weeks that Celtic or Rangers aren’t playing (I am not particularly alluding to anyone more highlighting that this is a b it of a graveyard shift, I seem to remember Jim Lauchlan doing a bit of punditry on such days) as we wouldn’t want to pay an compensation. Or we keep JJ and BB but are they ready for the fight for promotion? my gut feeling is no, frankly I am of the opinion that they are past their sell by date for us in the premier so a drop and them staying at the helm for me is unthinkable.

Its not exactly a guarantee that we would go straight back up as well, look at the teams who have dropped before us, for all Dundee Utd and Hibs seemed to have a great time when down look at Dunfermline, St Johnstone and Dundee. They are teams with history like us who have struggled to get back to the top. I feel we would end up like them rather than the Hibs and DU’s. Look too, down south a similar thing happens, Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday, Coventry City god Wimbledon! This could definitely be us. What happens is when the money that you get in the top div dries up you either have a go or cut your cloth accordingly, frankly were in such a dire financial state that if we decided to cut our cloth accordingly then we would end up with a team of juniors and if we went hell for leather then we would end up playing in the juniors.

So lets say we do go down and we do get to play all sorts of new and interesting teams, visit places we havent been to in many a long year, plus the possibility with the scum riding high in the second of playing them four times next season, I mean after the excitement of the cup games this year surely sky would want to pick up all four matches since it has proven to be the best match seen on its channels so far this year. Would crowds really improve? Would we see a return of the fans who vowed never to go back? Would the gate reciepts get a dunt since the boring inevitability has been altered by our new 1st division status? I would say most probably no. the only thing that brings the fans back is a winning team and I for one would rather see that winning team in the Premier. There is no guarantees for it in the first. it’s a possibility yes but not a guarantee. The money coming in wouldn’t improve as some of the first division teams have the same apathy with their situation as we do with ours, I cant really see them coming through to us to follow their team, tiny crowds I would expect from Livi, Dunfermline, and more. We would no doubt end up hanging our entire cash flow form tickets on our two games at home to Ayr. No sorry, this wont work.

Final score is 2-1 against us.

Right I am going to tie this up as its depressing and writing stuff that is depressing isn’t good for the soul, especially on a Saturday night. Relegation after todays result is a reality, this season unlike others there is no Gretna, no Livi where they are teams with little or no history (Inverness excepted I suppose but they have proved their credentials as a SPL side more than Livi ever did) were in a dogfight and whoever goes down I feel would be missed from the league. In the history of the SPL we are the 4th highest point scorers (records from beginning of season, think were now 5th), this is one of the richest most successful chapters of our clubs history, relegation I think would signal that chapter ending. Sure I do see the good side of going down, a chance to regroup as a fan base, see different places and reignite in the young fans bellies a rivalry with our county cousins that they seem to think exists with us and the old firm. But really it can do us no good.

I have written this thing and tried to look at scenarios that would happen if we went down under the proviso that we would actually survive, but I suppose there is always the chance we didn’t. the fact is that our financial position is so dire that it would take some serious changes at the highest level for us to continue if we went down. That probably sounds alright, a big change, kind of like the last time we were relegated some 20 years ago on the final day of the season at Palmerston but sadly there is no one coming in like then, no Fleetings with big plans just a MJ looking into things. So that could actually be it, an end to all things Killie, we go to the wall and we all look for other things to do on a Saturday, other websites to check when were skiving from our work. It could happen and relegation is what could push it to the brink.

Please let us survive.

Ruud Kerouac
Killie Beat Writer

Season Diary

Entry # : Saturday 21st March 2009

Todays match is live on Setanta which means an early kick off, which means i am up early, which means i am now running late.

Today match with Motherwell has been described by everone who meets me that knows i am a Killie fan as a "must win" and i couldnt agree more, our situation of being four points off the bottom isnt the direst it could be however our zero wins in 2009 and no home wins since what feels like time began means that our form is that of a team destined for relegation and thus the tag "must win" is justified.

Some info about todays television game, Motherwell have only won one Setanta match, that being the day Scott Macdonald scored two against Celtic and Rangers won the league. So in the best Killie tradition that kind of stat usually means we are due to be on the recieving end of the end of their drought. It usuually happens, teams go on runs of defeats which apporach hteir records and who do they play next? thats right, Killie. I cant seem to remember our 12.30 on a Saturday record being all that hot though, a draw v St Mirren this season excepted i think all our fixtures at this time would have been v the old firm and our record versus them needs no introduction.

So anyway, early kick off at Rugby Park, our result today means everything, a win puts pressure on the other teams and a defeat gees them all up. Its in situtaions where i now look at the teams around us fixtures (generally i dont bother) and this week its 6 pointers all round, the teams with the same or more points face off St Mirren adn Hamilton and the teams below us face off also, Falkirk and ICT, if Inverness win and we win Falkirk fall 7 points behind us which would suit, however a Killie win and a draw in that match would be better, keep them both down. In fact a draw in the St Mirren game and a draw in Falkirk game would be ideal for us. I hate relying on other teams to do favours to help, i would rather we went on a winning run before the split but with our form that wont happen.

I am off to put on that good Killie combination at the bookies; Killie win, Falkirk and St Mirren draw then go and endure the 90 minutes at the football. Good luck Killie and good luck me.

It got better but turned to crap

Well following my super three day sucess of last week in europe i followed it up with a frankly cracking pick on Saturday. Preston were 10/11 at home to Cov so i had 9quid on. They went down one nil but i had faith and that faith was repaid 2-1 it finished and 17.18 was winging its way to me. I had a wee check at the eveneing euro fixtures but in a rare moment of sense i decided to stick, wait for Sunday.

And i did, Sunday i took AC to beat siena away from home, price was 20/21, almost evens for AC away the Siena! they won 5-1 and i cheered, not too loud though cos i found out the result in the toilet on my mobile internet. 13quid on returned just shy of 26.

But it all fell away on Tuesday just, 19 pounds pished away on Tranmere who took a good weekend result into their midweek match v bottom club Cheltenham and got beat 1nil. the goal was in the 3rd minute meaning they had more or less the whole game to rectigy it for me, they didnt. So i decided to keep my money in my pocket for the rest of the week, back in action tomorrow.

Season Diary

Entry # : Friday 13th March 2009

A whole week of nothing much happening. Not much mention of Killie in the papers and nothing much happening on the killiefc.com boards. Tomorrow its Inverness away and I for one am not going. Ticked that place of on my list so I will follow it from the comfort of my home thank you.

(imagine my pride of not mentioning the Scottish cup debacle in the above post)

The mention in the brackets above doesn’t count.

Oh, here is the video of Soccer AM’s newest hero Mehdi Taouil that was on TV last week, i watched it this week;



I now know what an aurelio is, its another one of those tricks in football i will never be able to do.

Starting Afresh

A lot of water has went under the bridge since i last updated my gambling experiment, by boxing day i was up past 130quid and blew it on Oldham and then again i was up past 140quid by late february and blew it big time.

So you find me today having strted again basically on Tuesday, its sstill the same basic cash from before, never put more in than the starting four quid but i had six twenty of it left after all the months of ups and downs.

So Tuesday had me going for Villarreal, £3 on, nervous as they were away from home to Panathinaikos, would you believe i was basing my bet on somethin Paul Walsh said on Gillette Soccer Special when teh first leg was played, he said even though it was away he would still take the yellow submarines, so i did and they duly obliged with a 2-1 win, shaky though, thought i was down to £1.50 when Panathinaikos drew level, they could have put everyone behind the ball for extra time and penalites but they didnt and i was fine. Funny how i am basing all this insight into the game on my watching the scores come in on the Sky vidiprinter, i havent even seen the highlights. 3 on 7.80 out.

Wednesday night and now i am back in business, i think anyway, i have 12quid so the process goes to half it and gamble it. so £6 goes on Barca to beat Lyon, i cant admit to the saem following of this result as the previous one, i listened to the Man U Inter game on the radio and fell asleep, I heard that Barca were up 2 nil so slipped into a slumber quite happy, i must still have been taking in what was being said as i woke with a thinking it was two all, so i flicked up the scores and it was 4-2 Barca, surely money in the bank. It was as it finished 5-2. 6 on 8.40 out.

Tonight i have been to collect my meagre winnings and added my totals, 14.40 is the current total and so i have £7 on Werder Bremen at home to St Etienne, which i have recently found out means St Stephen. Anyway, at half time it was 1nil to Werder so fingers crossed. Actually, just checked, final score 1 nil. back in action! 4/7 will pay 11quid so going into Saturday the running total will stand at £18.40.

Season Diary

Entry # : Saturday 7th March 2009

Is Saturday morning and this Saturday is a Saturday off the fitba, a Saturday off! And why is it that there is no football on for the mighty Killie this fine day? Cos we got humped up in Inverness a month ago that’s why.

Its Scottish Cup Quarter final day today, oh it would have been nice, if only we hadn’t been so terrible up north. If we had gone through it would have been a home tie against Falkirk, that would have been smashing. And if we won, well that would see us in the semis, a trip to Hampden, and Falkirk! They’re playing like donkeys just now, dropped points on Tuesday, relegation candidates, surely they would maybe be thinking that this cup run thing wont be too good for their survival bid and we could turn them over, actually I think I thought out the exact same scenario last month for the Inverness game. But im torturing myself because were out, which is sad.

This morning is also the morning that wee Mehdi’s soccer skills video is on Soccer AM. It is something that was mentioned when the papers weirdly picked up on the fact that Killie were going to be on the crossbar challenge, that being the part of the story where Mehdi got filmed doing his ball juggling tricks and all that other stuff he does when he should be crossing and shooting but never actually got shown on the same morning. I know this because I have been text to tell me its just been on, I am now wondering what the hell an aurelio is.

Oops, its not actually morning anymore, rather the afternoon I should get moving as instead of football today I am going to go play crazy golf at the X-Scape complex up at Braehead.

Season Diary

Entry # : Wednesday 4th March 2009

This is me home from tonights game against Celtic, I will tell all tomorrow just want to post right now for posterity that I am well aware that in the paper ratings Scott MacDonald will get man of the match awards for the match winning double he scored but Kevin Kyle was absolutely superb i thought tonight. He gave both Caldwell and McManus water on the brain and won most every header, he also got the sponsors man of the match award, which is often a total mystery how it is decided, but they got the right man tonight. If only big Sammon had put away that chance that Kyle put over for him after skinning McManus, if only. Also Craig Bryson had a cracking game in midfield, more than matching what Celtic had to offer. I am writing this proud after a good display, think we deserved a point in the end, we were hemmed in for most of the first half even still i felt we dominated for a bit in the second. Anyway, i will cover it next post. Just wanted to get in early and point out what i pointed out about Kyle.

Season Diary

Entry # :Tuesday 3rd March 2009

Gibsongate (I am probably the only person who calls it this) seems to have taken a left turn into a little town called interestingville. Apparently what was reported in the papers I have been told is at odds to what Jim Jeffries said on the evening news. In the papers Gibson seems to be apologising for throwing the jersey away, saying it was disrespectful, he didint mean to disrespect the club, the manager or the fans, the articles also mention that Gibson cites the good numbers that were at Pittodrie at the weekend and it shows what a good support Killie have, thats always nice to read. Its worth noting (in light of what i am about to say) that Jim Jeffries quote which features is the exact same as the quotes used in Sundays and Mondays papers meaning it may be simply a recycled one.

Meanwhile, in TV-land Jim Jeffries in his interview says that Gibson hasn’t opened his mouth as regards a apology to the players the fans or even him and his staff AND that he is until further notice training with the youth teams (or how they are known amongst fans, the weans). I am posting this even though i havent seen the TV coverage personally but i have it on good authority and thats fine by me.

Sadly the fact we have a game against Celtic tomorrow and then no game at the weekend since its Scottish Cup weekend, (a dismal reminder of Inverness, sorry) means that this story will probably be brushed under the carpet by the nations media for what they will deem more important stuff (oh please make it more stuff on Marc Crosas and Mo Edu being the greatest players ever to grace the SPL, as this has been rattled out to major amounts of column inches in the past few days, Crosas scored for Celtic and now says Barca have no chance of getting him back, AYE RIGHT! and Edu, he is being compared to Viera, Keane and Essien all in the same breath simply because he started against Hamilton) (The stuff in the previous set of brackets is all ironic by the way) and so the moderately interesting story probably wont be followed up.

Tonight Falkirk take on Dundee United at home and I as well most Killie fans will be following this with interest, what we dont need is them taking three points, this relegation stuff could get hairy.

Season Diary

Entry # : Monday 2nd March 2009

Big Pasca has added me as a friend! Result! I am know linked through the power of social networking to Killie’s captain. I was slightly concerned that it was some young Killie fan with more time on his hands than me who created a profile for a player so idiots like me would be so intrigued as to try add them but as Pasca has accepted my hand of friendship I can now look at his page and the abundance of messages written in Italian plus the candid photos in the albums means I have hit paydirt! If i am honest i frankly have absolutely no idea what i could possibly speak to him about mind you but even still, kind of chuffed. What next, Michael Johnston on Twitter? I can just see our chairman giving blow by blow accounts of the life of a SPL chairman for his clubs fans to read and keep up with, much like celebrity Twitter fans Jonathan Ross, Phillip Schofield or Stephen Fry. Or maybe I can’t, Pasca as my facebook pal will have to do me for now.