We love a conspiracy theory over fixtures
There was no mention of a grassy knoll, but that was practically the only conspiracy theory not getting aired in Scottish football this week.
You know there is still plenty of juice left in your season when the SPFL’S publication of the post-split fixture list causes such a furore.
We had Rangers fans – and their former manager Ally Mccoist – claiming Celtic were running the game because they have three home games out of the five, including the visit of rivals Hearts on the last weekend.
Then there were Hearts supporters up in arms because the tradition of handing the top side going into the split home advantage (so they can potentially enjoy a flag day in front of their fans) had been ignored this time round.
Some Rangers followers were also unhappy about that choice of final-day fixture for fear that, if Celtic were out of the title running by then, they would roll over to Hearts to prevent their Old Firm rivals becoming champions.
The last one struck a real chord with me because it reminds me so much of all the chat we heard at Blackburn Rovers when we were battling with Manchester United for the title in 1994-95.
We led the league for most of the season but United stayed with us and, going into the last game, we needed to avoid a three-point swing tobechampions.
The fixture list sent us to Liverpool for that one and everyone and his dog was telling us that because their hero Kenny Dalglish wasourmanagertherewasnoway they would trip us up.
And, of course, they beat us at Anfield 2-1. The good news was that West Ham held Manchester United 1-1, so we won the league!
That is a perfect example of what you should expect in these situations.
Players might enjoy a good footballing conspiracy theory as much as the next person, but when they are on the park there is professional pride at stake.
In fact, the more comments there are about the likelihood of them letting another side beat them on purpose, the more likely they are to go out determined to make a nonsense of the claims through their performance.
Certainly, we could not have tried harder to beat Liverpool that day and it was not enough for us to take anything out of the match.
It was West Ham who did us the turn by drawing with United and we very much needed it.
Fans can spend all the time they want arguing the toss, but managers must ensure that the chat does not distract the players from their ambitions.
For that reason, I loved to hear Derek Mcinnes declare that Hearts would be happy to play all their games in a car park between now and the end of the season. So happy were they to be in the middle of a title scrap. It is a great comment; one I believe was excellent management because it reminded everyone at the club where they are and all they had done to get there.
And that is timely because they do have a tough run in.
It is one bookended by trips to Easter Road to face their historic rivals Hibs and Celtic Park to tackle defending champions Celtic.
And, while they will have home advantage against Rangers, that game is up next after Hibs away.
So, Derek must do his best to keep everything positive.
I think he is a great manager. If Hearts do not get over the line it will not be down to a lack of effort, or of guile and know-how on his part. The fixtures for the bottom six were published at the same time as the top six and, while not generating the same media storm, they were full of interest too.
One of the biggest talking points of recent weeks has been whether Aberdeen’s miserable form has them in real jeopardy of getting relegated for the first time in the club’s history.
If they did, it would be huge news.
I remember being stunned when my old club Dundee United made the drop out of the top flight in 1994-95.
United had won the Scottish Cup in 1994 – ending a run of Cup Final defeats by beating a Rangers side going for the double treble – and this was them heading for Division One.
To me, they seemed too big a club to be out of the elite and it would be the same if the Dons were to take the same path.
Saying that, I do feel the fixtures has given them a decent chance of getting out of the mire.
They have three home games: against Kilmarnock, Dundee United and St Mirren with the first of the trio opening their post-split campaign.
Their two away games are against Livingston, who look to be heading for automatic relegation, and, on the final day, against Dundee.
Now, there is no denying Steven Pressley has done a fine job with the Dark Blues, but Dens Park is a ground where Aberdeen supporters traditionally travel in huge numbers.
And, in what has been a difficult season for the Pittodrie club, they won the earlier fixture there, coming out on top 3-2.
I do suspect if they need to take something from the game to avoid the play-off they will get it.
However, in this topsy-turvy season, perhaps the best plan is to expect the unexpected.
It makes more sense to me than going with the conspiracy theories!