Gordon Strachan is as Sick as a Dead Parrot

Listening to Gordon Strachan’s analysis of Celtic’s 3-0 mauling at the hands of a rampant Manchester United last night, I was reminded of an old Monty Python sketch when Strachan, reminded that the first two goals were offside, refused to diminish the performance of Man U. It was a skit on the Krays where the interviewer was asking a victim if it was true that one of the twins had nailed his head to the floor. ‘Oh yeah, he did that – but we deserved it!’ he insisted.

Somehow, there’s something a bit pathetic about Scottish football. None of their top league teams would last five minutes in the Premiership. When they fail to qualify for international tournaments they shrug their shoulders as though resigned to their lot of always being also rans or not quites. And yet this is a fantastic country whose history is littered with outstanding achievement and bravery. Creativity and innovation is evident in their history of art, design and invention and few countries could be more proud of their heritage.

While it remains a backwater of Great Britain, its best will drift south and make their fortunes elsewhere. But what if Scotland were to take that brave step and become an independent republic? The country would be re-born and suddenly the grass might look greener at home than abroad. Football clubs, along with everything else, might then be revitalised and home grown talent would be proud to stay at home and represent native teams.

The credit crunch has been a set-back for Alex Salmond and his dream of an independent Scotland. Salmond is a rare thing among modern day politicians – an honest man who has managed to retain a political ideology which balances economic realities with a determination to look after his people and their quality of life. He knows that an independent Scotland would be a different place. A place not yet discovered but which would be revealed when a revived Scottish identity is realised in the people of Scotland.