Bonjour and a very happy Mother’s Day to you and/or your Mother. We are one week on from Raith Rovers permanently earning a place in my heart thanks to successive 0-0 draws with Celtic helping us to claim second spot. The Champions League awaits us, so all we need now are better players to keep us there…

Let’s just marvel at our progression for a second, even if technically last season wasn’t as strong as the year before. The goals against column remains a worry.

Despite wanting to move, Weah Junior has had a superb season and if we are to progress further I assume he will be an integral part.

Strong start from Pavlov too, I’m looking forward to a full season of him.

Many awards not for us but wait! We won the Fair Play award!

As usual regens are the order of the day but it’s slim pickings. This is what Marc Wilmots has become.

As far as Champions League qualifiers go, I’m very happy with Linfield. They have three real players and they are all Australian, bizarrely.

Oh dear God no. The big club release clause means I can’t reject this and we just have to hope George Junior doesn’t fancy Naples.

Bugger. Two days before the new season too. It does at least save us from financial meltdown

Still, it means Oakley can step up. Twitter unanimously agreed he’s Ian Wright, so let’s hope he is just as lethal as Wrighty.

Linfield are as terrible as expected. Dale (Ian Rush) is stepping up.

Brechin are brushed aside in the cup. I’ll address the elephant in the room – yes, that is Rafael Alkorta aged 35.

I think I’ve found Marc Emmers.

Ah for goodness sake. Top centre half out until December.

Hearts away is always a bit of a nuisance but Pavlov turns around an early deficit…and gets sent off late on for a second yellow for fouling the keeper.

This lad on loan might help.

I feel bad taking from lovely Raith but £300k for a centre half with heading, positioning and tackling will be fine. We know Raith can defend so I will overlook his terrible technique and aggressive tendencies.

We go 2-0 down to Linfield and it is apparent how important Solano is. Also it is annoying Russ Bull, our keeper, sometimes just can’t be bothered. Luckily Linfield are equally leaky and we power through.

The group is a mixed bag. Rangers twice more is a bit dull, immediately makes me think we are looking at a best runners up spot at best.

Time for our first meeting with Celtic and a late fight back sees us snatch a late leveller…only for that little turd Owen to win it for Celtic. Urgh.

More cup action sees us edge past Berwick.

Oh Raith I do love you. They go one better than last season and win at Celtic park.

A big result at Alloa, points are everything really forget the performance.

A stalemate in the Old Firm

Group stage time! Benfica are the opposition and a tight game swings our way when Heidenstrom heads in from a corner. Fotiadis wraps it up. Off and running!

A league match with our best pals is anything but friendly as both sides finish with 10 men. It’s a comfortable win though.

We face them again in the cup and Bull has one of his crisp packet hands games and we go out. They’ve done enough for us, I can’t be mad.

This does make me mad. Seems like sour grapes to me.

In the meantime we come very close to being the first side to inflict a league defeat on Rangers in about a season and a half. We are denied late on though…

We are strong in Lithuania, a significant result is helped by Rangers and Benfica drawing 0-0.

Yes!! Pavlov is staying, for now at least.

The good news continues as Harold Lozano rolls back the years with a hat-trick at Easter Road. Momentum is building

With the game in hand we are potentially second and just a point behind Rangers. But that will have to wait until next week.

All in all just that late defeat to Celtic will cause me sleepless nights but we will get three more attempts at them in the league at least. We head into the International break full of optimism. I hope you do too – see you next week!

Dedicated to my biggest fan, who passed away on Friday. Rest in peace Gran