AJF

Probably sums up my view on it quite well, too. I don’t think you can conclusively say where he has spat.

I couldn’t tell you. He may have spat at them, and as I said before, you expect him to get a ban if he has and can have no complaints about it I just think that video I’d seen that I posted looked as though he spat sideways rather than upwards where the fans would be sitting which would’ve been my only thoughts as to why it hasn’t been plastered in the media. I could be wrong though. It’ll come out in the wash

You don’t think the video I posted clearly shows him spitting sideways rather than upwards? Again, no complaints if he has indeed spat on a Celtic fan, I just think it seems like there is reasonable doubt as to where he is spitting. Add in the fact there seems to be no reaction from any Celtic official.

He lifts his head aye, but that’s because it was already facing down the way. That’s actually a better angle to show the Celtic fans are above head height and the video I posted shows he spits sideways

It is horrible if he has spat at Celtic fans and as mentioned, should deserve an additional ban. However, has he actually spat at them? You can see he is spitting off to the side without question, but don’t the Celtic fans sit above the tunnel at Celtic Park? If you consider the video below, he spits off to the side. The picture of the tunnel below shows he’d need to spit up the way to target a Celtic fan given how close he is to the tunnel. It’s happened right in front of a Celtic official as well and they don’t seem to have made any reaction to it. I’m not denying it if he has, which would be abhorrent, but it does seem reasonable that he could have just spat against the wall.

We need to be careful this doesn’t turn into another Dougie McDonald situation.

I think this is a bit funny considering you are clearly a new account for someone from PnB past. ”They tell me” who tells you

Carpet burns are lethal

Again though, I’m not saying I am supportive of the language being released so publicly. I’d rather they’d have done as you suggested and dealt with it privately before releasing a statement once it had been clarified. But ultimately, I’ve said I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask the question given the confusion created by the sky commentary and differing accounts. We both know why they’ve chosen to do it publicly the way they have though.

Not exactly, I just don’t disagree with them seeking clarity on the process. I just appreciate by doing so via a statement what they are trying to achieve.

My first line of my post you quoted literally says “it’s more to do with creating a narrative and playing to the gallery”. So no, I’m not suggesting it’s merely wanting clarity, which I agree they could easily do privately. The comment you initially took exception to was when I stated that nobody here was suggesting it was wrong to disallow the penalty. Which I stand by, they have not argued against the fact that Sima is offside.

I don’t think I’d get a job there when I’m literally agreeing that the statements are playing to the gallery over an ultimately correct decision. I don’t find it to be a big deal seeking clarity over the decision making process but I know what they are trying to achieve by doing so.

I think we arrived at a consensus earlier that it’s more to do with creating that narrative of incompetence, playing to the gallery, even if the decision was ultimately correct in the end for a reason other than the one the VAR made. It will yield nothing for the club but, again, I don’t think it’s entirely unreasonable to seek clarity, even if you believe any flaws in the process that led to the ultimately correct decision should be handled within the SFA.

There’s nobody here claiming the penalty should’ve been awarded as far as I can see.

Unfortunately looks like we won’t see Fabio Silva until after our training camp, so seems like it’ll need to be Dessers leading the line again McCausland could be doing with a rest as he has looked jaded the last few weeks so possibly an opportunity for Matondo to come in and offer something different. Sterling will surely start in midfield again so it just remains to be seen who partners him if Lundstram isn’t 100% yet.

I don’t believe I’ve once claimed to be cheated. It’s not surprising you claim that though to make it seem that way. What we’ve disagreed on is fundamentally the Johnstone incident alone. I believe he should’ve been sent off, you don’t. I believe we were already 2 nil and a man down at that point with little time to play and not once have I suggested it would’ve changed the result. All I’ve said is I think he should’ve been sent off while maintaining all along I don’t think we deserved to get anything from the game as we never took our chances. Why does it need to be a case of “I believe he should’ve been sent off” = “I think we were cheated”? Football fans will always raise perceived grievances, you disagree, but I’d still be saying I thought he should be sent off even if we’d won (just as you are claiming Sterling should’ve been sent off even though you’ve won). Great tackle. Side footed, plays the ball, wipes out Taylor in the process. Textbook

I genuinely don’t recall many instances at all where I thought Maeda had done Yilmaz or he’d been caught out. That’s the quietest Maeda has been against us as he usually causes us issues with his running. I don’t recall any of Clement’s comments suggesting he’d seen off Celtic or their manager as Rodgers did. He genuinely has a vanity problem and forgets the fans were revolting a couple of weeks ago.

My point is mainly that this culture was present before VAR anyway and is not a byproduct of VAR. Maeda was completely ineffective compared to his usual style and that was mainly down to Ridvan being able to match him pace and stamina wise.

Of course there is an element of playing to the gallery, I just don’t think it is specific to us. I certainly don’t want any apologies for an ultimately correct decision, I just don’t think it’s a big deal they are asking for clarity just as the SFA did which nobody really had an issue with at the time.

It will be some of that as well, I think my main point was that we survived just fine without VAR for decades, even with the media circus that comes along with dubious decisions. I just think it has changed into a more commercial minded sport with the influx of money. It is all connected though and is a combination of it all, most likely.

It will, aye, though I’m encouraged to see improvements from some of the players already here. I thought Ridvan had one of his best games for us yesterday, completely nullifying Maeda and outmatched his running power. Even putting Ryan Jack aside, Sterling looks fairly reliable in there and we still have Raskin to come back, hopefully soon. A good forward would see us improve massively as the defence isn’t an issue and the midfield fine. Whether that is Fabio Silva I’m not sure but I expect we’d be targeting at least 1 more forward given Danilo and Roofe’s injuries.

Yep. I’m hopeful Clement can put his own stamp on the side in the window to improve this aspect. Fabio Silva doesn’t seem to have a great scoring record so I’m unsure if he will be the only or main attacking signing. I’d say Clement has made a really strong start as Rangers manager and he has got a lot out of a squad that is badly unbalanced. Hopefully he can sort that with his own signings.

No need for apologies mate, totally appreciate where you are coming from. Personally I’m more irked by Celtic not having a man sent off rather than the ultimately correct call not to award the penalty. But appreciate people see the fouls differently. ETA: in terms of the criticisms they are justified, although I really don’t think there was too much between the sides. Sterling seemed fine in midfield, it was further forward I felt most of our issues were. We had probably 3 chances where we really should’ve scored but squandered it which ultimately means you deserve nothing. I am hopeful that Rodger’s post match comments come back to bite him though, he seems to have decided that he has now seen off our manager despite Celtic not exactly being great yesterday. The potential gap is 2 points if we are lucky enough to win both our games in hand. Seems pretty early to come out with that kind of stuff.

Well I suppose that is subjective but ultimately you’re right in suggesting there will be nothing gained from the endeavour.