Kmcalpin

I thought likewise. There seemed to be an awful lot of back and forward discussion taking place between the ref and the VAR supervisor/operator. I would have thought that the ref would have simply asked what happened and the voice at the other end would have replied hold on I'll check it frame by frame and then confirmed the facts. Is that too simple and straightforward? The issue for me is what incidents are chosen to be reviewed. And as we saw, some can be ignored.

Many thanks Grizzly.

Looking for some advice. I'm having to go to and leave the game from a totally different direction from normal (for me) today. Is there roadworks/congestion on the northbound M74 junction at the Clyde Bridge. Where is the best place to park for access to Airbles Road? Thanks.

I know its a sweeping generalisation, but Rangers have always played differently to their equally bigoted counterparts. Their play is usually characterised by physicality, athleticism, hard work and pace. Most of our teams haven't been able to match them in that regard. Both sides are quite capable of playing physical and/or long ball football when its suits them, and they're better at it than most domestic opponents.

If we must play Josh Morris then play him in his correct position of left sided midfielder. Until we do that we can't really judge him. He isn't a striker.

We all know that beating either side of the gruesome twosome is a huge task and to do so takes a specific set of circumstances to occur at the same time. Very few disagree with that. There's no disgrace in getting beaten by either Celtic or Sevco. However how on earth does a manager lift and motivate his charges, not to mention the fans, for the next Celtic game, and there's one coming up shortly? If thats Hammy's view why should the fans turn up for the next Celtic home game? We've heard this type of comment many times before from different managers and its counterproductive.

I don't think the squad is quite as bad as many are making out. That said, there are glaring weaknesses and we all know where they are. The trick is in selecting the right starting 11, playing the right formation, and playing players to their strengths. Easy.......maybe not so! A few of our better players ie. Van Veen, Kelly and Slattery are underperforming - why? I suspect we're not playing VV in the right way for example, or those supporting him, to bring out his strengths.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/23062895.celtic-level-motherwell-cant-compete-with-says-steven-hammell-laments-soft-goals-cup-loss/ Well, thats that then.

Pretty much agree with all of that. I didn't expect us to win tonight but was saddened by the lack of fight. In that respect, a new manager but the same old failing. As soon as the first goal went in the heads went down. Oh, how we lack leadership on the pitch. Last season's failings, a weak defence and powderpuff attack have not been addressed. Yes, our gambles at the end of the transfer window have not come off. Most of that can be laid at Alexander's door, but not all. Hammy is a rookie manager and is making the mistakes you'd expect a first season manager to do. I too am struggling to buy into his belief about style and one size fits all. We're hampered by injuries just now and I get that but I have the feeling we're not getting the best out of the players we do have, especially in midfield and to a lesser extent up front. Whether its the formation, the starting individuals, tactics, or the combination of players I just don't know, but something doesn't feel right. Yes, a big response is needed on Saturday. It won't define our season but it'll still be important.

Me too. He would give us some energy and drive in the middle to support our striker.

I've not been impressed by Morris so far, but thats only because he hasn't played well. I didn't dislike Alexander and yes, he did sign some decent players like Slattery and Kelly. I just don't see what Morris brings to the team.

I agree that we all want Stevie to be successful... I don't know any fan who doesn't. Comparison with St Johnstone is a bit strange. A totally different footballing philosophy in Perth, where results are the end all and be all. Entertainment there doesn't enter into their equation. Tom Wright and Callum Davidson are of the same school of thought. They won 2 cups by being hard to beat, solid, combative, smothering the opposition and grinding results out. If we want to emulate their success then we'd have to adopt the same approach.

I agree with most of that but would replace Morris with Cornelius. We need more energy, drive and aggression in midfield to nip at heels, get in faces and feed the offensive players

Absolutely. Its a continuum of course and it doesn't have to be one or the other style, but teams at our level probably can never be successful results wise by playing flowing, expansive and entertaining football. I hope to be proved wrong of course but I don't expect to see it while I'm still above ground.

He's a talented lad and I too just don't get the criticism. I get that he's a bit lightweight at the moment and easily flattened or bundled off the ball but the club will be aware of this and will toughen him up and help him to develop physically.

Be careful of your quotes Weeyin. I only agreed with Yodo's first comment about not laying a glove on them and not his/her second one "They will score as many as they want".

No, I don't think anyone is judging Stevie on the basis of todays result. Yorkyred, for example, wrote " regardless that’s one win in six now". I referred to the Kilmarnock game. To put matters in context, we are in the midst of a very difficult run of fixtures just now. However our continuing weaknesses are obvious for all to see. The result today was expected; we had injuries, but given pre match talk of the players being happier and freer to express themslves I really thought we'd get wired in to Sevco, show no fear and get in their faces.....but ultimately still get beat. We couldn't do that.

My feelings too Yorky. In mitigation he was left a pretty poor hand by GA. He also didn't have much time in the transfer window to do much of his own business. He's had many fans in raptures about our new exciting and entertaining style of play, but that shouldn't come at the expense of points. In quite a few games his naivety has cost us dearly ie Kilmarnock. We desperately needed a steady striker...Louis Moult? We also needed another central defender....? An experienced midfielder? Today Sevco were there for the beating but we never showed the right attitude. Nothing new there. Our starting 11 gave me the fear. OK we were short up front and I accept that but our striker was powderpuff and off form. It doesn't matter how good your forwards/striker are but if they don't get decent ammunition they'll struggle. Our midfield had the wrong balance. If we have to play Morris, then please play him in his rightful position. Cornelius should have started to give us more bite and energy in the engine room. As it was our midfield at 1200 looked to be too lightweight, and nothing during the game contradicted that initial assumption. As always, the January window will be difficult but I have the feeling its going to be huge for us. Stevie Hammell is a young inexperienced manager, and his appointment was a huge risk, as many pointed out at the time, but he has to learn quickly. One positive was Stuart McKinstry's first goal.

The problem is that Stevie was never a good defender. A bit like Matt Penney if you will. Great on the ball going forward but poor off it when defending.

A fair assumption.

He didn't miss, the keeper saved it.

There are a lot of grey areas, which we don't know yet if VAR will address. For example, a player deliberately dives and the "culprit", who is already on a yellow card is given a second one, and thereby dismissed. Thats only one example. Does that fall into the category of a major incident?

A great video. I hope that it has a positive effect, in preventing suicides. Its good to talk.

Football is a physical game but yes, fouls like shirt pulling and diving should be called out for what they are. In the recent Hearts game, we saw Robbie Neilson instructing an injured player, who was very near to the touchline, to lie down, when it was quite clear he didn't have to do so.

I agree with a lot of your post and instructed/managed cheating really really gets to me. My main concern with VAR, and I'm in favour it, is what constitutes a "major decision"? Take Shields' red card for example. Would VAR simply focus on Shields' foul or examine what happened in the run up to it? The proof of the pudding and all that......