Saturday
The bad news for Hearts was that they lost 3-0 to Kilmarnock. The good news (or more bad news depending on your levels of scepticism) is that the Tynecastle club could be sold by the summer according to Vladimir Romanov’s spokesman Sergejus Fedotovas. Which when you think about it, is probably right timing-wise. I mean, it is right in the middle of the car boot season …
Sunday
And it’s well done to Stephen Maguire on winning the Welsh Open snooker title, his first ranking event victory since 2008. The £50,000 top prize is not to be sniffed at. But I really do wish they’d get another trophy. I know the Welsh are proud of their traditional slate, but imagine how many times you’d need to win this tournament just to get a roof …
Monday
Paolo Di Canio quits as Swindon Town manager. It was inevitable since the Italian first questioned the dealings of the club’s Board during the transfer window. I know, it’s easy to brand Di Canio one of the most volatile and unpredictable characters in football.
But ignoring that stabbing incident on his brother as a child, his on-field spats at Celtic, that move to Sheffield Wednesday, pulling the ball out of the air while West Ham were on the attack so 
an injured Everton player could receive treatment, those misinterpreted Fascist salutes, the public bust ups with his players and the odd fracas with opposition fans, I always found him very pleasant, though I trusted him as much as a jar of nitroglycerin in a tumble drier.
Interestingly, I was given an audience with Di Canio in Sheffield for an exclusive interview ahead of the first Old Firm derby in the 97/98 season. Being honest, by the end of that afternoon, I wasn’t sure if I’d interviewed him, his alter-ego, several members of his entourage or even the translator who was there to help interpret some of Paolo’s deeper thoughts that probably only an historian, a theologian or a clinical psychologists would have understood.
And the interview?.
Having held back on it for editorial reasons, it was overtaken by events in Paris when another ‘Di’ became headline news. Di Canio’s exclusive was canned, and ultimately, never saw the light of day. To be honest, Di Canio’s piece, while incredibly well written, wasn’t that great. There were a few good lines, the best being about the Rangers player he admired the most. Not because of his skill, his ability, his goal-scoring prowess or anything like that. No, the player he admired most was Ian Ferguson because he played with passion and played “with his heart.”
That, and Di Canio’s view that Fergie was the only one who’d be up for a ‘square go’ outside!
Tuesday
Many Motherwell fans have a spring in their step as the club finalises a deal to welcome James McFadden back at least until the end of the season. McFadden is, without question, one of the most talented and skilled players of his generation. No Scotland fan will ever forget ‘that’ goal in Paris, or a few others while on international duty. The fact his career journey has brought him back to Motherwell suggests perhaps not everything has gone the way it could, or should have.
Still, ‘Well fans aren’t worried about that. McFadden’s arrival – and hopefully his input – will surely help the Steelmen secure that much cherished second-place, for a second year. And there is an immediate sighting of McFadden as part of that quest as he comes on as substitute late on in the game against Dundee United. And Motherwell still lose 1-0. Not quite what was wanted in amongst the platitudes and superlatives being laid at McFadden’s feet, including a few ‘best ever’ tributes.
I can see why you’d be so praiseworthy of McFadden if you were of an impressionable age when he burst on to the scene. But some were labelling him Motherwell’s all-time best ever. Jeez, I can’t even blame some of Ravenscraig’s unwanted airborne output (we’re talking the steel plant, not sports centre here) for such delusional patter.
Yes, as I’ve conceded, Faddy is good. But better than Willie MacFadyen, or Bob Ferrier, or Ian St John? Sorry, but if you think James is best, your perspective is as slanted as the Fir Park pitch …
Wednesday
Dundee – or Club 12 as they were known last summer, or just 12th as they have been known ever since – sack manager Barry Smith. There is a saying about cutting players open and finding the club crest running through them. On this one, it’s more a case of breaking apart Dundee to find Barry Smith threaded through their DNA.
The SPL table isn’t a pretty sight for Dark Blues fans. But be honest, Smith was on a hiding to nothing since those on-high at Dens Park decided it would be a good idea to give the SPL a wee shot.
At his disposal for this challenge, Smith had a Division 1 squad that although runners-up in that league, were 24 pts off the pace set by champions Ross County. And he had little chance of signing players, given how late it was in the day, and with the added handicap of having no money either. Smith did what he could, but that wasn’t good enough for the Dens board. So he was shown the exit.
But really you have to ask yourself just what those directors and operating chiefs really believed would be achieved taking lightweight makeweights a division too far. Other than loads of money. And these are the same people, allegedly with vision, who are steering Scottish football to a reconstruction scheme many – especially fans – find unacceptable.
I just don’t buy the line spouted by Dundee Chief Exec Scot Gardiner when he uses the excuse; “We were parachuted in (to the SPL) at the last minute.” No, you could have said ‘no’. Okay, you were passing up the chance to play in the top tier, a chance that might never come around again. But Dundee weren’t equipped for life, or survival, at that level.
For me the directors and administrators at Dundee are as culpable as Barry Smith, if not more so. And, what was all that dross last summer about people learning from mistakes, about being realistic and cutting their cloth accordingly? Three rules Dundee obviously elected not to abide by …
Thursday
Tuesday and Wednesday it was Champions League, tonight Europa League. I’m not getting too hung up over what’s biggest and best. But were those games, especially AC Milan against Barcelona and Liverpool versus Zenit of an intensity and quality not seen during the group stages of these respective competitions?
The Champions League is a fantastic spectacle, and an even more fantastic business model.
But for me, it’s not until the knockout stages that this tournament – or its not-so-little brother – really catches fire. Me, I’d have it like the good old days, knockout all the way through, straight from the 1st Round. Of course, that could never happen. You can’t dismantle an industry, especially one that makes money.
Friday
It’s amazing what a win can do. 
It will be a wee while before Scotland’s footballers get the chance to make it back-to-back wins after Gordon Strachan’s debut victory over Estonia.
But Scotland rugby team will have the opportunity to do just that on Sunday against Ireland at Murrayfield. After that sensational victory over Italy, confidence is high. I mean, even I’m looking forward to the game.
What no Scot really wanted to see or hear was that on the back of Ireland’s loss to England, and various injuries, suspensions and personnel changes to Declan Kidney’s squad, Scotland now start favourites against the Irish.
I just hope no-one – especially the players – believes that hype. Just don’t listen to it. Me, I’m taking the superior world-class Ireland team to beat Scott Johnson’s bunch of jammy underdogs. That’s what I call positive thinking …