Mr Beaton claims that Sevco’s remarkable 55-game stretch without conceding a penalty is a statistical “anomaly” that he couldn’t explain.
Well, I suggest that he should read this piece from Alan Morrison of Celtic By Numbers.
The chap from the Huddle Breakdown podcast, with the assistance of the Yorkshire Whistler, provides a level of forensic analysis that is in a different postcode from the Daily Radar.
Here’s the skinny:
“The consistent theme – the arrived at decisions benefitted The Rangers in all cases.”
It is worth reiterating that luck and, indeed, incompetence has no pattern.
Dear reader, there IS a pattern.
This week there was the uplifting news that two fine fellows are now dedicated VAR specialists for the coming season.
This should not shock the citizenry of Planet Fitba.
For the avoidance of doubt, those appointments would be unthinkable in England.
The winner of the SPFL this season gets automatic entry to the UEFA Champions League in season 2024-25.
It is an expanded format, and tens of millions of Euros in revenue are up for grabs.
Now, consider the following observation from the Celtic By Numbers guy:
“In that period, where there has been Champions League direct group stage qualification at stake, The Rangers have benefitted by 11.76 expected points over their rivals in terms of the outcome of those mistakes.”
Is that another anomaly?
The last time Brendan Rodgers was Celtic manager, he took a particular match referee to task after a performance that had been littered with honest mistakes.
It was clear that the Irishman was putting manners on him.
Unfortunately, a significant person in the Parkhead firmament didn’t fully back him up on the issue of match officials and their…err…anomalous decisions.
My own opinion is that it played a part in his eventual decision to leave the club in February 2019.
So, will it be any different this time?
I certainly hope so.
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I now know where the stars from the R’angers have gone….. Found their way to Steven Thomson shirt on sportcene Sunday evening
See a few of the deady bears have been in the gym pre season bulking up.
Yes Phil, the honest mistakes regularly benefit the Govan outfit.
However the quality of our Grade 1 referees is questionable no matter who is playing.
From what I heard at the time, it played a major part in his decision. The inappropriate action(s) of the individual in question, in areas of the club he shouldn’t have been near, and his complete inaction in matters he should have been all over and his apparent unwillingness to rock the boat vis a vis Sevco and the SFA, eventually became intolerable to BR.
Having said all that, there was NO dignity in the way he left. Even if a nondisclosure agreement forbade him to reveal the exact details, he could have made some kind of statement to the fans in advance that would have allowed them to read between the lines.
Few VAR calls today, only one of any length and the rest settled quite quickly. Hope this is the trend