Another Monday of watching the watchmen.

The relationship between Celtic fans and the media is one of Scotland's well established football rivalries. We don't like them and for the most part it is our perception that they don't particularly like us. They need us of course and along with Rangers we are by far the most reported on side in Scotland, much to the ire of fans of the provincial teams. Media organisations, BBC aside, have no requirement to be impartial when reporting on the national game aside from what's written within their own personal journalistic moral code. I am not here to bleat about the imbalance of it all. The coverage of Scottish football is in fact very interesting to follow. As I am a fan of writing and reporting in general I would not like to tarnish everyone reporting within Scottish football with the same brush. It is because there are good journalists out there that I can see how abysmal the rest are even when there's no apparent agenda.

I know by now that any news relevant to my interests will no doubt be picked up on Twitter or the Celtic website. If I'm looking for opinion and discussion there's an ever growing number of interesting and well written Celtic blogs. This doesn't stop me from checking all the big newspapers' websites regularly to get the latest 'news'. I would say rather than be outraged by some of the content on offer that it should amuse you as it does me. It is in this spirit that we have a look at what is being served up by Scotland's 'finest' and peer at Scottish football through their eyes. After all if you don't embrace a differing viewpoint how do you know you're right? No doubt inconsistencies and bizarro reporting litters coverage of most teams but this blog will of course be looking at things strictly through green and white eyes (with natural deviations into reporting on the blue side of Glasgow). Hugh Keevins, if you're reading, this is just for me and my pals on the internet

 
To begin, it was interesting to note one person's particular viewpoint of James Forrest's breakthrough in the game at St.Mirren. The goal was lauded by most of the broadcast media over the weekend with most ex-professionals agreeing that the skill of striking a ball that is rolling on the turf across your body with any sort of effect requires good technique. The shot, from outside the the box, was arrowed through a number of bodies into the bottom right hand corner of the net giving St.Mirren keeper Craig Samson no chance at all. This didn't stop our friend Ewing Grahame of The Telegraph describing the goal in his match report as a "mis-hit shot". Well that's one way of looking at it Ewing. Perhaps next time the Telegraph would be better served sending Bobby Ewing to fill us in on what really happened. Was it all a dream?

Help ma boab! In The Sunday Post we found an intriguing take on Rangers' tax troubles and the sporting consequences of any extinction event taking place in the near future. The article, not online, explained that the SPL will look to precedent from around Europe in their efforts to deal with any club facing such issues as fairly as they can. SPL chief Neil Doncaster, keen to stress there was 'no panic' at SPL HQ, specifically referenced cases like Parma and Leeds as examples of football associations metering out punishment to financially bankrupt entities. The Sunday Post helpfully expanded on the quotes by explaining that "the italian case was remarkable in terms of the leniency shown by the authorities" and going on to list the comparisons between Parma's recent past and Rangers' possible future of liquidation and phoenix resurrection. Like their Wullie, definitely a case being made for 'oor Rangers, ahbody's Rangers'. Unfortunately for them the article was torn apart by the ever impressive Paul Brennan of Celtic Quick News who was keen to point out that there was definite continuation of football operations when Parma hit trouble in 2004. In fact with a further twist of the knife into The Sunday Post he informed us that when an "ex-Parma" was liquidated in 1968 they had to build from scratch and start in Serie D. That doesn't sound very remarkable in its leniency.

 
What's Jim Traynor eating? Sorry, my keyboard slipped... what's eating Jim Traynor? He's appearing very glum these days. When he's not found absent on Radio Scotland's Your Call he's on his knees begging for Scottish football to do the right thing and stand by his Scotland's beloved Rangers FC. In his pleading blog post Jim holds back the tears as he stands tall, puffs out his chest and finally declares what all of our pals on the internet have known for years... Rangers are rooked. Yes, there's no denying it now according to Jim who inists "calling in an administrator could be this club's best option". That's best option... not worst case doomsday scenario as has been the official line since we first got wind of Hector the Inspector. Traynor thinks the best thing for Scottish football is to let Rangers take some Calpol (10 points) and start again afresh after years of financial doping at the expense of every other club in Scotland. This, he says, would ensure his worst case scenario would not happen. Rangers need to be successful "not only for themselves but for the entire game". For Jim it's unthinkable that "Celtic would have a clear run to three or four titles and the door to Champions League football would remain shut and bolted against Rangers". Sounds exquisite to me Jim, Celtic do a right good meal in the lounges at Parkhead before European matches, so it sounds pretty good for you too.

While we're with The Daily Record I'd like to point out that when taking posts from the Follow Follow messageboard explaining that an incident was "the worst football violence they've ever seen" (presumably this bear didn't make to Barcelona or er, Manchester) to flesh out a story on Aberdeen 'casuals' attacking Rangers 'supporters', it's probably wise to the check the rest of the thread. You know, the thread where the majority of the posts are congratulating the notorious Rangers football hooligan organisation "ICF" for knocking the Aberdeen fans all over Govan. Kind of puts a different slant on your reported set of events. Mark Dingwall does have a lot of contacts in the media of course, who contacted who about this story?

Onwards and upwards. Always let yourself be heard over and above the din of the Scottish football media because it's likely you are a better servant to the game. Until next time...