FoolPhysio

#justsaying ;-)

Having chatted with a trainer of our local youth team, he was not a fan of the summer football idea, due mainly to the damage that the pitch would get during what is prime growing season, so over a few seasons it would be patchy and probably cost more to replace top-soil more often. Made sense at the time but since I am not a qualified groundsman I don't know how much that would differ from the care and maintenance a Premier league pitch gets now. Mind you, if we got a 4G artificial pitch, as discussed elsewhere, that aspect of the discussion becomes moot.

The problem with football is that we now have the culture where those inside are worried to make negative comments because of direct and indirect consequences from the authorities. When the referee is on the pitch, their authority is and should be absolute, but that needs tempered with a means of making appeals (or even voluntarily rescinding) decisions such as yellow and / or red cards. Unfortunately it is not possible to change scores or to amend points as there is no way to tell, unless it was beyond doubt, how a game could have turned around and then possibly turned back again - look at our semi-final when 2 men and a goal down until almost the last second. Add to that, as I posted elsewhere, there needs to be an effective means of monitoring the performance of the refs to achieve high standards at the top level. Too often the principle of the on-pitch authority is needlessly extended to include almost every aspect of the sport. The structure of the sport and how it is applied should never be beyond criticism.

As an ex-ref in the Grampian region, albeit at very minor levels, we trained as all grades which included Grade 1. Referees here had regular meetings and all Association refs were eligible to attend. Meetings included all sorts of things, often reviews of controversial incidents in other nations leagues and a discussion on what the appropriate interpretation of the laws would be. It will come as no surprise that in a room full of refs, there were some who would red card an incident others would not even have called a foul! It led to interesting discussions, but the point was that the Grade 1s were our mentors in proper interpretation, so we could at least try to have a consistency in the individual game performance regardless of level. Behind that is the monitoring process. At my level it was infrequent, but at top level it is supposed to be every match. The observer should meet with the referee afterwards, review the key points, give an outline of their observation and clarify any points of difference. The purpose is to promote consistent application of the laws and to keep standards from slipping. You get to take on board what they say, or you run the risk of being reduced in Grade and have to work at getting back if you still wish to do so. Obviously the observer system is also meant to identify the young thrusters who are tagged as being potentials for the higher grade and encourage them to do so, replacing those who inevitably have to bow out when the time comes. It seems Collum has now had his collar felt and warning issued, so if he cannot get a grip on what he is doing then chances are he will be reduced in Grade and we will not see him ruin another SPFL game again.

Yes, I have noticed that as well. We seldom win. Most teams just lose against us! Long may it continue . . .

Dougal, why are you convinced the game is on Saturday? You are going to be awful lonely.

Wot 'e said

2-0!!!!!!

Much as I consider myself a solid BBC man, totally agree with the comments above. Considering all teams were Premier league sides, we only get moments to fill two and half minutes, some of which is interviews? And one of those shown is currently joint-top of the highest league in the land. Meantime, we can get two and half minutes of a non-league side playing a League One (2nd Div) team, 7 and a half of one Championship (Div 1) team playing a team in the upper league and fully 9 minutes of another such pairing! Very poor show BBC. It's almost as if we are beneath your notice.

Now I think that is an excellent idea - one, it adds money to our coffers, two, it adds atmosphere to the game so making it better for viewers and three, it makes those who are watching it on TV wish they were there!

As mentioned by and confirmed by the SFA, only Ryan Christie suspended for tomorrow. Apparently it is six yellow cards not 5 as I thought. So he will be available after all! Yes. You were obviously thinking ahead to the next game, not this one!

That'll do. Another win chalked up to the board.

Ryan Christie sent off??????

Yes. Yes we do. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Bottoms :-(

0-1

GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Watching the attack that led to the goal, there is no way that was a deliberate handball. But in the end, it doesn't matter now, the fact was we simply did not impose ourselves on them from the start and we failed to make the grade. Still one cup to go and a league position to protect. The night is still young.

Wasn't at the game so was listening on the radio, but from what the commentators were discussing it sounded like those that were punished were questionable as well. If his intention was to set a marker for what was and was not acceptable, sounds like that fell flat over the piece when he suddenly realised that a red may be called upon. We seem to be back to the position we were two season ago when no matter what the opposition did to us in their 18 yarder, we seemed to never get a penalty.

Normally I would wish the team that puts us out to go on and make a go of it, but in this case . . . COME ON FALKIRK!

Bottoms. :-(

Offside????

. . . seems Rangers are back to the way things were?

Free kick not given, possible 2nd yellow for Black . . .

Deflection :-(