PTR

Good weekend of cup football and complete removal from the world of VAR and what a joy it was. Barely into the Celtic game and the first ridiculous VAR stoppage strikes. It is just so sad that the obvious solution is in everyone's face but it won't change.

Maybe a decent enough outcome tonight for both sides. Aberdeen didn't get another shock and Clyde continued to show signs of improvement generally. I feared the worst when I saw the Clyde line up, however that performance tonight was organised, largely competent within the realistic game parameters, and resembled an actual football team playing a far better side but managing it well enough to not get embarrassed - all this with only one non-McLean 'era' player (maybe two if we include the return of Ray Grant). Almost glad just to get the cup out the way and get league games to try get this deficit reduced.

Those two goals were particularly annoying as Clyde completely controlled that game. Even the second half was managed and dictated and it did not look like there was any danger of Bonnyrigg scoring. I don't think Bonnyrigg created a single decent chance until the save Leighfield had at the near post when it was 3-1. Everyone was excellent whilst looking very at ease. Scullion was excellent as was Young. I was just struck by how significantly better a side Clyde looked than Bonnyrigg. Haven't seen Clyde be significantly better than anyone for a long time. Big month coming up but this looked like a decent team playing well rather than a flash in the pan result. Time will tell rather that's accurate or not.

That game sometimes pops into my head. Absolutely remarkable how bad he was.

More than happy to get on board with this.

I would love to have been next to McCall yesterday and asked him for his thoughts as another ball was punted up to Kian Leslie. Didn't think there was a lot in the game but there didn't need to be when one side offered no obvious signs of possibly scoring a goal until the end of injury time. The second was about as Clyde a goal to concede as you'll see. Taking the ball off Leighfield to score would've been very on brand, too. As mentioned elsewhere, McCall's job starts now. Just a shame there were games to be played before the window opens.

Well, at least that's out the way and there's hope to cling onto now with the new signings. Clyde have quite comfortably earned 10th so far, but I've not seen another team in this league playing at an unobtainable level. Although, I'm very aware that this could be because Clyde give away so many soft goals, that teams don't need to get out of second gear to win. The 4-0s against Dumbarton and East Fife being particularly strong examples. Elgin have won 3 of their last 4 home games, The Spartans 3 wins in a row, and Stenhousemuir with 9 in a row - this is a league that with organisation and semi-capable players teams can go on a run. I don't think it is beyond the realms of possibility that McCall gets Clyde on a run with players that can achieve the basic skills of the game. I do worry there's just such a psychological aspect hanging over the club that's just used to getting pumped all the time.

At least the fans get a chance to say goodbye to this squad.

There should be more of an outrage to this from supporters than there was towards the Super League. Clubs and the SFA appear to be actively avoiding engaging with supporters about VAR. Everyone should be contacting their clubs raising their concerns. At least some effort needs to be put in before the game is destroyed beyond recognition.

Don't mean to sound like an irritating "source?" bore but as far as I can see every fan survey on it has been overwhelmingly anti-VAR. It seems to be those twitter accounts with players as profile pictures that have probably never attended a game that seem to be in favour of it.

Bad points; No team should lose goals like the first three tonight. The first is nobody taking command and Grant should have put the ball out the park for in the lead up to the second. Overall, defensively too fragile. The habit of folding and conceding quick goals seems to have carried over. Rennie doing Rennie things. Won little then should have scored if he'd taken a gamble on a cross. Good points; Attacking set pieces seem to actually carry a threat. Forbes nearly scored directly and Sula and Grant should have scored. Liam Scullion was very good, especially thinking about where he was last year. He seemed by far the most vocal on the pitch in terms of leading. Conor offers some forward thinking and drive and, whilst not thinking there's a world beater, in think there's something to work with. The second half was pretty decent. Cove were getting pretty frustrated with Clyde's pressing and were starting to argue with each other. Cove's 4th was a cracking goal and the killed it but the second had m half had been a contest (although that happens with a team is 3-1 and comfortable) Mulvanny getting a goal can't be bad news. I get the doom and gloom generally but Clyde aren't going to play sides as good as Accies or Cove in the league. They're obviously a lot better. It isn't exactly a great side but there's something resembling a team and I'm not completely pessimistic overall, but the unescapable fact is there's still a vulnerability. Looking forward to seeing the shape of things v Brechin to start to gauge a bit better.

Expected it to be a lot worse today. Mulvanny, McCulloch and Donachie all showing signs of actually being competent footballers. Number of injuries, first game back, and two available subs against a full time side changing half a team throughout the game. Whilst the start of last season Clyde resembled a call centre five aside team in terms of physicality, this side looks to have a bit more about it and I felt they competed well enough in the first half. I'm slightly more optimistic about not being completely rank this season whilst not perhaps being convinced a runway league win is coming. Between Parry's attempts to pretend the ball hadn't gone out for a corner, Ross Forbes comedy fall for a foul, a good Scullion goal, and some excellent overreaction from a couple of supporters, it's good to be back.