When the Sevco delegation returned from their sit-down with the SFA, the Ibrox klanbase probably celebrated the news like the Roman mob cheering the empire’s triumph in the Second Punic War.
Nice one, Scipio!
Of course, I immediately concede the weakness of my Carthaginian analogy as that nice young Mr Bisgrove is no field commander.
Indeed, I would doubt that in the conclave with the Hampden chaps, he had full plenipotentiary status.
The coverage of the ongoing fallout from Celtic’s derby day victory has been a case study of why the Fifth Estate prevails over the terminally ill titles in the legacy media.
Alan Morrison of Celtic By Numbers got the expert opinion of his Yorkshire Whistler.
As my American cousins would style it, the raging fury emanating from Ibrox is a nothing burger.
Alan’s expert witness stated that there was no officiating error of any import that altered the result of the match.
Quite simply, Celtic won the game because their centre-forward could do centre-forward things, whereas Sevco had to rely on Cyriel Dessers.
Actually, to compare the Nigerian international with Kyogo Furuhashi is an act of cruelty.
What cannot be ignored is that the Sevco High Command this week tried to control who officiates at their matches.
That should be a critical inflexion point for how the rest of Planet Fitba views this delinquent club.
The final paragraph of the SFA statement should be a line in the sand for everyone anyone.
“Finally, we note posts from a recent official media partner of the club’s detailing requests from the private meeting that were immediately rejected.
“We would ask that club representatives show greater responsibility in such matters, especially in the context of recent incidents in European football that have compromised the safety of match officials and led to widespread condemnation.”
The SFA, like all employers, have a duty of care to their employees.
Willie Collum has now been fashioned into a convenient Piñata to distract the Ibrox klanbase from the fact they have, so far this season, been unable to defeat Celtic on the pitch.
That, in itself, is shameful.
Discover more from Phil Mac Giolla Bháin
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
A club nonetheless that are once again allowed to bring the game into disrepute, what a cowardly bunch we have running our game, not to mention our club.
Good piece. Put me in mind of a Frank McGuinness classic (though, sadly, also prompted me to Observe another).
The abuse of Collum is sectarian/racist/bigoted – call it what you like. It’s as simple as that. This nonsense fever pitch only works with that factor, from what I can tell.
I read the Yorkshire Whistler take and I agreed, as I almost always do (for the record: even with his take on the Goldson incident last new year). Personally, I’d say the Johnston handball was worthy of a penalty. Collum may have thought otherwise, but the offside element was inarguable. Case closed.
It is also inarguable that this process (like the SFA in general) could do with being less opaque.
As I said to a Rangers-supporting friend (who was pushing at the door of this drivel) the other day, the actual story of the game is/was:
Two relatively well-matched teams. Celtic are superior technically, particularly in midfield, and better set up to dominate possession. Rangers are physically stronger, generally quicker and better set up to play directly (which explains their continuing strength at the Europa level), and you CANNOT discount the possibility of that making a difference in the derby matches to come or in what will likely be a tight title race.
Celtic’s technical superiority made them the better of the two teams on the day (particularly given that they were willing to get stuck in to nullify Rangers’ superior physicality), but there is not much between the teams (Celtic’s victory at Ibrox was even closer and much more to do with Rodgers’ tactical superiority over Beale – but fine margins).
Trying to create a scandal around the process of a CORRECT refereeing/VAR call is just crowd playing shite.
If you’re a Rangers player/manager, just keep on. The difference between the two teams is so modest that the chances of Celtic beating Rangers each time are very small. That rarely happens even when one team is miles ahead of the other. Personally, I thought Clement dealt with the baiting question from the BBC quite well.
If you’re a Celtic player/manager, feel good about having got six points out of Rangers so far, but know that they were very hard won in difficult games. Don’t get complacent: this is certainly a Rangers team that can beat you and will not be dropping many points elsewhere.
The difference on the day was quality. If that’s going to be the difference in the other derby matches, that suits me fine because Celtic has more of it. But the difference could be speed/physicality/closing space etc. No room for complacency.
A shower that went out of existence wanting to run everything in Scottish football, liquidated tax cheats
Finger firmly on the pulse, let’s hope you need your index finger for the trigger real soon.
Fantastic news alongside your later offering. TIA🤞🏽