Arthur's Column // 11th January 2023

Michael Beale's first few weeks in charge have offered plenty of encouragement.

We have played six games in the Premiership and won five of them. We drew the other at home to Celtic.

Yes, there is a long way to go, but the signs are good.

Sunday afternoon is the next step on an important journey.

We play Aberdeen in the League Cup semi-final and it offers the Club an excellent chance of reaching another major Final.

There is no reason why we shouldn't win this game and I think we will make it.

However, I will not take anything for granted as I remember we lost to Hibs at the same stage last season.

The manager must not allow any form of complacency to set in this week in the build-up to the game. We need to earn the right to make it to this Final.

We have won this trophy 27 times but we haven't lifted it since 2011 when we defeated Celtic 2-1 in the Final.

The wonderful Walter Smith was the manager then and we all want Michael to be the next gaffer to lead us to this silverware.

And may it be the first of many trophies we win under him.

We all want the 12 year wait to come to an end and see James Tavernier lifting the trophy next month at Hampden Park.

Celtic play Kilmarnock in the other semi-final.

It doesn't bother me in the slightest who wins that one but it would be sweeter to win this trophy by beating Ange Posecoglou's men in the Final.

Having been at the 5 Stars Captains Dinners last week and seeing Terry Butcher, Richard Gough, Lorenzo Amoruso, Barry Ferguson, Craig Moore, Davie Weir and Lee McCulloch all there, it was absolutely brilliant.

What great nights we all had. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the occasions and seeing the legends together on stage.

Davie Weir captained the team in 2011 and let's hope James follows in his footsteps to lift that trophy for the first time as skipper.