The international foray is over and it's back to proper football. I quite like this break as it allows me to have a weekend at home with the family without having the distraction of football and I can watch on the telly without the stomach churning nerves often associated with televised Celtic games.  For those hoops who do follow Scotland (and whilst it's not for me I do think some us need to get over what happened 35+ years ago) the stomach churning was worse than usual. What a shocker, a Craig Levien team playing dull boring defensive football(!)

This past week was also an exciting one for followers of Scottish boxing with the fabulous performance of Ricky Burns at the Kelvin Hall. Following his world title victory he paraded his title belt at the Scotland game and I look forward to seeing him do the same at Celtic Park.

With the return of proper football on Saturday we also have the opportunity to pay our respects to the great Jock Stein. Pity it's not Aberdeen we're playing as their fans could have atoned for their abysmal behaviour 25 years ago.  Amazing, I know, but not all misbehaving fans in Scotland come from the Ibrox area so that the press can roll out the "Old Firm" tag.  I don't recall talk of "New Firm Fans" when Aberdeen casuals were smashing people and places in the early to mid 80's and I certainly don't recall them talking about "New Firm Fans" when the dandy Dons disgraced the silence for Jock Stein.

But with proper football also comes proper betting, proper odds and proper stats.

Spl Fixtures

(4/11) Celtc     (7/2)    Hearts (15/2)

                  Celtic wins                 draws            Hearts wins

League             145                         66                   68

Scot Cup             17                           5                     6

League Cup       12                           1                     7

Total                  174                          72                   81

2009/2010

Scottish Premier            Hearts   1-2        Celtic    09-05-2010

Scottish Premier              Celtic  2-0        Hearts   10-02-2010

Scottish Premier              Hearts 2-1        Celtic    20-12-2009

League Cup               Celtic       0-1        Hearts   28-10-2009

Scottish Premier              Celtic  2-1        Hearts   20-09-2009

2008/2009

Scottish Premier              Celtic  0-0        Hearts   24-05-2009

Scottish Premier              Hearts 1-1        Celtic    11-04-2009

Scottish Premier              Celtic  1-1        Hearts   13-12-2008

Scottish Premier              Hearts 0-2        Celtic    02-11-2008

With the exception of our European debacles, the football so far this term has been promising with our creative play screaming out for a goal scorer. In sods law fashion we sign poacher Stokes just as poacher Hooper returns from injury.  So who'll get the nod?  What will the line up be?  Don't care, just as long as we win and hopefully win well.

A review of the past few seasons for our results against most teams in the SPL looks a bit like this with tight games with Celtic just coming out on top. It's time for this new Lennon generation to dominate.

Prediction

Celtic 3 - 0 Hearts                     (17/2)

(evens)  Dundee Utd.    (12/5)     Aberdeen (13/5)

The New firm!  We keep going on about the lack of real competition in Scottish football but in my 40 years, with the exception of a 5 year window involving these two, the status quo has prevailed.

Prediction

Dundee Utd 1 -1 Aberdeen       (5/1)

(15/2)  Hamilton              (7/2)    Rangers (4/11)

Rangers have their smashing trip to Manchester on Tuesday which may affect them, but it's more likely to be next week following the gabbing they will no doubt receive.

Prediction

Hamilton 0 - 2 Rangers         (11/2)

(4/5)     Hibs                     (5/2)     Inverness C T (10/3)

Hibs haven't won at home since March

Prediction

Hibs 1 - 1 Inverness (11/2)

(11/10) Kilmarnock     (23/10)     St Mirren  (12/5)

Who cares?

Prediction

Killie 2 - 1 St Mirren                      (8/1)

(7/5)  St Johnstone      (12/5)      Motherwell  (7/4)

Again....who cares.

Prediction

St Johnstone 1 - 2 Motherwell      (9/1)

Accumulator

 So there we have it.  Let's thump the Hearts and have some "thunder" because what's the point about whinging about the state of Scottish Football.  With the exception of a couple of good seasons in Europe from us and Rangers, it's been rubbish for over 15 years.  Just ask yourself when the last time one of the other teams did ANYTHING in Europe?