Scottish Fitba 2023-24: Why Does It Always Rain on Me?

[fletcherpost]

Why did Joe Hart take the 5th penalty?

He gave an interview post match. He practices pens with the rest of the team, by all accounts he scores them when they do em in training. He backs himself. Many outfield players do not when it comes to pens. He said post match he wanted to work the goalie who was maybe carrying a knock at the time. I'm guessing he's not a send the goalie the other way penalty taker, more a pick yer spot and execute.

 

[CodPiece XL]

Fletch, this is more aimed at you because I assume you watch Sportscene etc, and you’ve played the game…. do you understand the handball laws as far as penalties being given? Because I certainly can’t. Almost every week I see one been given, then pretty much in another game I don’t. The ball deflects and hits a defenders arm… Penalty . Which I think is bullshit… and then the same thing happens in another game on same day… not given. I just can’t figure it out. Zero consistency. Oh yeah… I fucking hate VAR .. just throwing that out there because I always do.

 

[fletcherpost]

Fletch, this is more aimed at you because I assume you watch Sportscene etc, and you’ve played the game…. do you understand the handball laws as far as penalties being given? Because I certainly can’t. Almost every week I see one been given, then pretty much in another game I don’t. The ball deflects and hits a defenders arm… Penalty . Which I think is bullshit… and then the same thing happens in another game on same day… not given. I just can’t figure it out. Zero consistency. Oh yeah… I fucking hate VAR .. just throwing that out there because I always do.

I don't know what really constitutes a handball anymore. Outside of the blatant hand to ball, which you seldom see these days cos the players tend to have their hands by their sides a lot more when defending the box. I saw Pep getting interviewed last season or maybe the early part of this season and he said he wasn't sure what a hand ball was anymore. So i don't mind admitting my lack of surerty.

I do not watch Sportscene. I have watched almost no Scottish TV since i was 15 years old. If you want to know one of the reasons i come cross trhe way i do, (and why i rile so many people i encounter here) it's cos I haven't directly absorbed so much of the shite that most Scots absorb. I rarely read a Scottish newspaper, I stopped watching Scottish News aged 15, I don't watch Sportscene. I do not watch any Scottish TV Drama, unless told to or advised to for research purposes. I almost went clinically insane listening to Scottish commerical radio in some of my jobs where the radio was on and it had to be Clyde FM or another shite commerical Scottish station that plays the same old shite and the presenters sound like half wits on happy pills.

I know more about Scotland by avoiding much of what is pumped out by the main stream. My mind is relatively pure. My heid's no fu ay mince. The level of discourse on Scottish sports broadcasting is very low...much too low for me.

Oh and fuck VAR.

 

[CodPiece XL]

I don't know what really constitutes a handball anymore. Outside of the blatant hand to ball, which you seldom see these days cos the players tend to have their hands by their sides a lot more when defending the box. I saw Pep getting interviewed last season or maybe the early part of this season and he said he wasn't sure what a hand ball was anymore. So i don't mind admitting my lack of surerty.

I do not watch Sportscene. I have watched almost no Scottish TV since i was 15 years old. If you want to know one of the reasons i come cross trhe way i do, (and why i rile so many people i encounter here) it's cos I haven't directly absorbed so much of the shite that most Scots absorb. I rarely read a Scottish newspaper, I stopped watching Scottish News aged 15, I don't watch Sportscene. I do not watch any Scottish TV Drama, unless told to or advised to for research purposes. I almost went clinically insane listening to Scottish commerical radio in some of my jobs where the radio was on and it had to be Clyde FM or another shite commerical Scottish station that plays the same old shite and the presenters sound like half wits on happy pills.

I know more about Scotland by avoiding much of what is pumped out by the main stream. My mind is relatively pure. My heid's no fu ay mince. The level of discourse on Scottish sports broadcasting is very low...much too low for me.

Oh and fuck VAR.

The most clear cut recent hand ball was Shankland's at the weekend, no idea what he was thinking, or how the ref missed it. He had the look of someone confronted by Chris Hansen in a strangers kitchen, he totally knew what was coming. Pretty obvious call. Same day, one of two at Ibrox.....ball bounces between two players, ricochets up...glances against a hand...ref rightly waves it off, then VAR to ref, "you better have a closer look". It would have been farcical had it been given. Ref sticks to initial decision, thankfully. But my point is, some idiot in VAR room clearly felt it was a handball. I really wish Sportscene would have the balls to show examples from other games where pretty much the same handball resulted in a penalty in one but the other did not. But I'm sure they are not allowed to do that.

I was texting a buddy back in Inverness, saying how much I hated VAR....at the end of the day I'm fine being at the wrong end of a decision as it probably all washes out at end of season. But he loves VAR since it gets more decisions right than wrong and he doesn't feel it changes the overall experience. I'm at the point now, I don't believe its a goal until after a VAR check. Hate the system.

Never knew you felt so strongly about Scottish TV, admittedly the BBC never fully recovered after they stopped showing The Clangers. I don't mind Sportscene, although it's hard to find a pundit that hasn't played for Rangers or Celtic, and their bias shows. heck, it's presented most nights by an ex Rangers player. Michael Stewart calls out the VAR and handball inconsistencies more than others so fair dos to him. I don't mind it too bad, it's a good place to capture all the highlights and you can pretty much fast forward the pundits if needed. But I suppose you can find it all on YouTube 24 hours later if you are so inclined. If you haven't seen it, watch Nicholson's goal for Motherwell against Livi...it was a corker.

Fuck VAR.

 

[mic99]

Celtic Rangers (CBS Sports) about to kick off.

Go win the league Celtic.

 

[CodPiece XL]

Missed the first half due to an airport run, endured the second half. Celtic have regressed badly this season. Team needs an overhaul, meaning signing first team ready players. Their signing policy has been criminal the past two windows, signed 4 wingers, only one gets a regular sniff as a starter, signed 2 center halfs, none start . Instead… stuck with an entire season of Liam Scales. The most glaring weakness at left back has never been addressed. This bargain basement shopping hasn’t worked. When will the board see that just being a little better than Rangers is not acceptable or do they care. No clue. Canceled Celtic TV back in January, no regrets. That was one of the worst Celtic performances I’ve seen against a 10 man team. Gave the ball needlessly time and time again… a lot of work to do for next season. I’m actually ambivalent about the Scottish Cup beyond caring..much like the Celtic board and their lack of ambition.

Edit: to add to this. With all the players they have signed in last 3 windows. Only one started the game… one. There’s something rotten to the core with Celtic’s recruitment policy. Too many 2M punts.

 

[fletcherpost]

Congratulations to Brendan and the Bhoys. It was touch and go for a bit but they hit their stride and it's 3 in a row, 12 of the last 13 SPL Championships.

Watched all the celebrations on YouTube, fair cheered me up.

I'm happy for Brendan and aw. He's had to win the fan base over a second time and by and large I think he's done it.

Mon The Hoops.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ckdqdy5vx59o

 

[fletcherpost]

Massive win for Raith Rovers last night. They beat Partick Thistle on pens and are now through to the SPL play off final. They'll play St Johnston or Ross County over two legs. I'd rather they play St Johnstone, think they match up best against them.

Starks Park was bouncing last night and it's been great to see Rovers on terrrestrial TV. BBC Scotland showed both legs of the Rovers/Thistle tie. I grew up about a minute's walk from Starks Park, went to Balwearie High School, which is just behind Starks Park, so I'll always have a soft spot for Rovers. They've not had top tier football since 1997...so it's been a good while.
Not gonna lie though the quality of football last night was shockingly poor from Rovers. I'm gonna say the players were tired cos they played much better at Firhill in the first leg in the pishing rain. They can play some decent football, they'll need to in the final.

Ex PM of GB n NI and Rovers fan and enemy of all guid Scots, Gordon Brown, was in attendance. He loves Rovers as much as I hate him. Prick.

Like most large towns in Scotland, (austerity and those who enable it) Kirkcaldy is falling to bits. The Highstreet once buzzing is now moribund. Civic centres are of no value to neoliberal canoots who only think of their own gain. But Kirkcaldy needs the positive shared experiences that a buzzing civic centre and/or a successful footbnall team can bring so i really hope Rovers finish the job next week. The toon needs it...big time.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cydrrnn4j68t

 

[fletcherpost]

Celtic rested a fair few players today, with the cup final against Rangers in mind. St Mirren took the lead twice, but it ended 3-2 to Celtic and now we're getting the trophy celebrations. Nice to see Joe Hart get a big ovation from the crowd when he got subbed off in the dying embers of the match.

 

[CodPiece XL]

Massive win for Raith Rovers last night. They beat Partick Thistle on pens and are now through to the SPL play off final. They'll play St Johnston or Ross County over two legs. I'd rather they play St Johnstone, think they match up best against them.

Starks Park was bouncing last night and it's been great to see Rovers on terrrestrial TV. BBC Scotland showed both legs of the Rovers/Thistle tie. I grew up about a minute's walk from Starks Park, went to Balwearie High School, which is just behind Starks Park, so I'll always have a soft spot for Rovers. They've not had top tier football since 1997...so it's been a good while.
Not gonna lie though the quality of football last night was shockingly poor from Rovers. I'm gonna say the players were tired cos they played much better at Firhill in the first leg in the pishing rain. They can play some decent football, they'll need to in the final.

Ex PM of GB n NI and Rovers fan and enemy of all guid Scots, Gordon Brown, was in attendance. He loves Rovers as much as I hate him. Prick.

Like most large towns in Scotland, (austerity and those who enable it) Kirkcaldy is falling to bits. The Highstreet once buzzing is now moribund. Civic centres are of no value to neoliberal canoots who only think of their own gain. But Kirkcaldy needs the positive shared experiences that a buzzing civic centre and/or a successful footbnall team can bring so i really hope Rovers finish the job next week. The toon needs it...big time.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cydrrnn4j68t

Completely understand the sentiment, but I simply don’t want another team with artificial turf in the SPL, especially having just got rid one. I think I hate turf more than I do VAR .. and that’s saying something. As far as playoffs, do or die ( well not quite) for St Johnston and Ross County tomorrow. Given my links to the Highlands, I’ll be rooting for the Dingwall team. Plus, well , St Johnstone have Craig Levein as manager, which was almost as baffling a hire in the SPL as Neil Warnock.

That was quite a send off today for Joe Hart, not his biggest fan, flapped at too many crosses and had too many brain farts, but you can’t question his passion and leadership and love for Celtic. He visibly choked up a few times today.

There’s a YouTube video of him acknowledging the banner in the second half. You can see him hitting his own head a couple of times as if “ ok , I have a game to play a game here , I need to focus! “

Skip to 4.07 mark:

View: https://youtu.be/vGtEH2Xo_JI?si=2fPP-abOgQsLKQxC