Celtic Diary Monday November 7: Something In The Var

After an absence of over a week, the most reliable, informative and entertaining Celtic page has returned,

The Diary is back as well, after an enforced absence because thew author had to take his dogs for an extended walk in the morning because at night time the sound of fireworks meant they refused to come out from under the table.

That’s why people who let off fireworks have joined cyclists on my list of people who should be used to test experimental vaccines, but only if they’re not healthy enough for forced labour.

Though I’m willing to compromise if they are, and allow them to let off fireworks in the comfort of their own living room.

The last week or so has seen Ange Postecoglou prove that life during his tenancy is not going to be dull.

With the European exit already guaranteed, Celtic relaxed a little too much in Madrid, losing 5-1 , although Jota did show us that we may have found someone who can take a free kick,

However, the introduction of VAR to Scottish league football means we’re not actually likely to get one.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Celtic have yet to be awarded a penalty, despite one or two infringements that would perhaps be described as stonewallers, but have had a couple awarded against them, much to the surprise of not only those watching, but the referee himself.

This is what we expected, an enforcement of the rules …to the letter…with an extra set of eyes looking out for anyone in a hooped jersey who may have committed an infraction.

All technology has done is shown us that any conspiracy theory surrounding the perception of bias in the refereeing community actually has some basis in the real world.

Technically, the Bernabei “handball ” probably was a penalty, as there is a chance the header from the Dundee Utd player was atually goalbound, but since no one on the pitch noticed it then it’s safe to assume no one thought it merited the penalty award.

But it was a little bit like those in the control room were looking for something they could award a penalty for….

https://twitter.com/i/status/1588913707350126593

On the other hand, what was blatantly a studs up assault on Georgios Giakoumakis , though investigated as a possible Serious Foul Play incident, came to nothing……

By looking at this incident, supporters of VAR might claim it works both ways, but I’ll wager that whilst Celtic will have plenty of incidents that will be looked at by VAR, but very, very few will be judged in our favour.

If any.

The introduction of the stop/start football that has been forced on us by VAR means that the high tempo approach by Celtic is broken up, with the delays causing frustration for our players whilst giving the opposition a much needed breather, a bit like Madden and Beaton would do when their beloved “rangers ” were under pressure.

Still, at least we can now claim our domestic matches have a certain extra excitement about them, as recent weeks have shown.

And Celtic, despite the attempts by officialdom to derail the Ange Express, are seven points clear at the top of the league, and already that is looking like a gap that St Johnstone may have left it too late to overcome.

Scotland’s surprise team collapsed after winning two trophies a couple of years ago, but showed yesterday that they need to be taken seriously with a 2-1 win over “rangers “, who are now going backwards so quickly they might yet cross timelines with the original club.

The whole point of VAR was to help the beleagured new club/company, but it seems they are failing to hold up their side of the bargain by putting a competitive side out on the field,

Manager Gio van Bronckhurst looks like he’d rather be anywhere else than Ibrox right now, and their support wholeheartedly agree with him.

The players who didn;t already want to leave, such as Morelos and Kent seem to have influenced those who arrived in the summer, and who now will be castigating their agents for not doing a little bit of background on the Ibrox club.

And , of course, their support, who are turning on them somewhat viciously.

Twas ever thus, and there will be more tears over the river before things settle down.

Which pleases me greatly.

Back at the ranch, however, and our manager is not best pleased at the new technology, nor at the attitude of our media when it comes to reporting it.

What he has said in public pales into insignificance into what he is saying in private,, and we may hear more about this as the season continues. Let’s just say the gaffer wants it sorted sooner rather than later….

For the record, this is what he said after the Dundee united game…

‘I don’t think people fell in love with football just to be sitting around for someone in a building miles away to decide outcomes,  

They do not need to take that long. Even our second goal, our players are celebrating for about two minutes and we are still waiting all that time. To see what? I still don’t know what it was.’ 

‘If you can’t decide in two minutes then it is probably not there,’ 

‘If they have seven camera angles it seems like they want to look at every one.

‘I might be on my own on this one but I will cop people making mistakes but I just don’t feel comfortable.  

I know it is early doors and it is a new toy that everyone wants to use but you can’t be disrupting games like this. I don’t think it’s good for anyone.’  

Perhaps most tellingly, he added

‘”I don’t have a problem with VAR but I have a problem with how it is being used ”  

And he knows exactly how it is being used, and why…..

Over on the dark side of twon, the money from their European run last season and Champions League, er, participation, if you can call it that, has merely plugged a few gaps in the way it would have for the old club had they managed to qualify back in the days when they actually were Rangers, and they need a second injection.

Obviously they would prefer to win the automatic qualifying spot, and VAR is there to help them do that.

It really is that fucking simple, and anyone who advises me to put on a tin foil hat hasn;t been paying attention for the last hundred years or so.

This time though, whilst we may still have a compliant and colluding board, the manager is made of sterner stuff, and the cunning plans laid by those who abhor the idea of a successful Celtic will not be allowed to go unnoticed.

Of course, it helps that Celtic are still winning these games, but some time soon desperation will kick in.

With the World Cup break only a week or so away, any financial constraints at Ibrox, and let’s face it, they wouldn’t be on a UEFA watchlist if all was tickety boo, will become even more apparent.

They still haven’t published their accounts, apparently they need more time in the oven. Although when they do we should see how much they paid Mike Ashley, and anyone else who may have wanted their cut of the UCL pie.

With all that going on, maybe VAR is a handy distraction for the media, and for supporters of Scottish football.

But something is about to break, and this time it might be beyond repair….after all, this time UEFA are watching, and this time they won’t rely on the word of the SFA….

Last time out we had this….

This time….