weeyin

They still make plenty of mistakes, but they do at least follow a consistent process. English football, or at least the EPL has taken a strange turn. They implemented a more reasonable implementation of the handball rule this season, and also try to avoid awarding pens when strikers look for contact with a defender. Both good ideas. Where they have massively failed is in their handling of all the shirt pulling, blocking, shoving and wrestling that happens on every corner kick. Not just the trivial cases, but even when players are being hauled to the ground, they are often happy to ignore it. I read they are going to try and resolve that for next season, but it was totally out of hand this season.

I agree about VAR officials being the main culprits From a purely human psychology perspective, it was easier for Beaton to award the pen knowing Hearts could still win the title at the weekend vs. knocking it back and effectively handing to to Hearts. I watched the Arsenal game live that everyone was comparing this one to. The late VAR decision was critical for both teams. Arsenal, because it would have a direct impact on their title challenge. West Ham, because it would have a direct impact on their relegation battle. The VAR officials reviewed it in great detail before asking the ref to watch. Then they had him review it in great detail. Then after he made the decision - which looked to be correct under the current laws - the reasoning was made known to the fans. I still want VAR punted, but at least they followed a sensible process in that game.

Expectations certainly shift during a season. After SK left and JBA arrived, we'd have been delighted to be offered 4th or 5th. Now we're all desperate to get 4th (and support Dunfermline in the final).

Aye, any harrassment or threats to officials is obviously wrong. We know who the main perpetrators are most weeks though, with all their statements, letters and demands to meet officials. It seems like only yesterday Ally McCoist was demanding to know the names of the SFA panel members who imposed a transfer ban on his beloved club. The SFA have their narrative now, and will be hiding behind it as this plays out.

It does look like that. While you often hear new managers talking about "laying foundations" and other corporate lingo, JBA and the Board seem have to been implementing some actual strategies and ideas to do exactly that. You always want a manager to leave a club in a better state, and even if he does go in the summer, there is no doubt he has done that.

I"m OK with not releasing anything at this stage. I've never been a fan of the weekly "we're releasing a statement and demanding discussions with the SFA" missives from the OF. JBA has been pretty good at communicating the club's opinion on these matters. Of course, if you're a Well Society member and not happy with their current stance, no harm in contacting them to air your view and ask them if they plan to do anything.

If he stays in Scotland, that is abroad. For him, at least.

I never watch it tbh, but I'd be surprised if he admits any wrong decisions awarded in favour of the OF that wins them games.

My guess is the VAR review show will be cancelled. If Collum says it wasn't a penalty, then he's admitting a terrible decision has impacted the title race, and if he says it was a penalty, he makes himself and the SFA a corrupt looking laughing stock.

Alpha FC fans without the bus fare.

I agree JBA will be off. Unfortunately, I don't think the leagues elsewhere are much better. I remember reading a long article years ago about how Arsene Wenger was screwed over by Bernard Tapie's match fixing in the French League. And then there were all the corruption issues in the Italian leagues. In the EPL we had Fergie Time and all the late goals and late pens Man U won on a regular basis. Money talks, especially with the billions floating around these days, and it's the big clubs that always get the benefit of the decisions.

I know it was frustrating tonight, but I have seen us end the season, 2nd, 3rd and 4th multiple times, qualify for Europe multiple times, and even win a cup at the end of a season. Not to mention Craig Reid day at Pittodrie. If you're expecting that every season, of course, you'll be disappointed, but if we didn't win important games we'd be fighting St Mirren for 11th.

Unbelievable is not the word. Totally believable - that's it. If you can be bothered, take your pick.

I've got the Stockport County vs Stevenage playoff as my backup plan.

It certainly feels more like the kind of club (and league) I would expect JBA to move to despite what the Glasgow press would love to happen.

Seems like a strange ploy from a 'Well supporting journo.

When they beat us at Celtic Park last October our defence was: Gordon, McGinn, Koutroumbis, Longelo. When we beat them in December our defence was: O'Donnell, Sparrow, McGinn, Koutroumbis I don't know what that proves other than McGinn's not playing tonight.

There weren't meany streams available at the time for this game. The only one I was able to find was Celtic TV. The commentators were loving life when they were 1 - 0 up, distraught when Skippy scored the first and cut the mics when he scored the second. Glorious.

If Koutroumbis is fit, I imagine he'll start at the back.

Today, however, we have the Dunfermline game - which I'm looking forward to.

Not at all. I just think he probably knows how to manage his players better than we do.

If we ever did move to a stadium at the edge of town the media team is going to lose about 90% of their moody, urban shots.

We thought that in the play-off final against Sevco, and that turned out OK.

Exactly. Hearts have the title in their own hands. Take care of their own business and they are Champions. We have 4th spot in our own hands. Same rules apply.

Given he knows more about the context of missing players, late changes and things we worked on, maybe he does believe the players were outstanding.