Voice of Reason, 15th October

Oct 15 2010 Ayrshire Post (main ed)

THERE’S a lot to be said for four-play.

And victory at Forfar would certainly do much to raise our excitement.

The possibility of 12 points from 12 was unthinkable after the debacle at Alloa.

But football is clearly a strange beast.

Added to the fact that this Second Division is poor fare, we must now be confident of doing damage.

But the win over Livingston means nothing if we go and cock it up at Station Park.

Important three points on offer this weekend.

IT’S all gone horribly wrong at national HQ.

Despite Tuesday night’s second halfheroics, Craig Levein has evidently lost his marbles while being out of the club game.

And it looks like he’s spent his entire summer discovering new formations on Football Manager.

What he did in Prague last Friday amounted to a footballing crime.

To then defend it was even worse.

Although not a surprise from someone who sent 11 defenders into battle.

He should have been sacked for even suggesting such a tactic.

Forget all this nonsense about supporting a manager until failure is mathematically assured.

The writing is already on the wall.

THERE’S something In The Ayr. And it appears one of the town’s business chiefs is leading a sensational double life.

Let’s head for the bridge at Pirate Pete’s and check in with Johnny Finnie.

Or should that be...Phil Collins.

Two men so alike they actually pretend to be each other to baffle waiting paparazzi.

Spies within rugby circles tell me Finnie, star of the Millbrae XV, is often mistaken for the music mogul.

And against all the odds, the pictorial evidence here is damning.

MY condolences to the boys from Ayr United’s Aberdeen Supporters’ Club.

They’ve been separated from their much-loved flag after 15 long years (see page five).

You’d never believe that a piece of cloth could mean so much to people.

But it seems tears have been shed in the North East and beyond since this saltire’s demise.

So long old faithful.

TALES of woe all round in betting corner.

The VoR has already begun legal proceedings to sue Craig Levein should I lose this season’s challenge.

Had I known his ludicrous plan for Prague, I’d never have predicted a Scotland win.

Elsewhere, Iain Ferguson continues on his sorry path to destruction.

Yet another loser at the weekend from the man who once prided himself on betting tips.

Allan Haggo remains just a point behind me and it’s already a two man race.

This week, Fergie goes Partick 0, Falkirk 1 and Haggo says Cardiff 2, Bristol City 1.

I’ll say Livingston 2, Stenhousemuir 0.