SENTINELCELTS

After a weekend extraordinaire it’s easy to see why it would be hard to walk away from Scottish football altogether.
In some ways it was a routine set of fixtures in that the big two won and there was (again) officiating controversy, but that doesn’t tell half the story. Scottish football is a living breathing soap opera with weekly twists and turns, a plot ridden whodunnit, with occasional instances of amazement. You couldn’t script it, and so the weekend proved.

Firstly the Bhoys spanked the Saints mostly late on in the game and that’s very much by design, the subs were deadly.
Oh poached a goal and celebrated his heart out, he’s clearly delighted to be here and the little boost of confidence is most welcome as he will probably lead the line for the next game. Matt contributed, and that’s exactly what he must do in order to start again.
Another squad member must step up to the plate, Bernabei, and I hope he takes this chance to impress for he won’t get many more.
The team did the job which was tougher than expected but ultimately cream rises and this team just love late goals.
Test passed, again.

The biggest talking point (online at least) was Ange’s future, primarily around his ‘anything can happen’ comment.
That’s a fact in life and football and if we are going to get upset about facts there would be little time for happiness.
Anything may well be a long term contract.
It did occur to me the gaffer looked a bit under the weather and that cough is persistent.

Onto Sunday and history was made.

I am amazed, infact staggered, that I am forced to write the following words.
Well done most of The Rangers for your display of sporting integrity.

Firstly the sporting standpoint,,
it reminded me of the Republic of Ireland vs France when Thierry Henry did a Goldson in our box then scored.
It was a travesty to say the least, and at the time I thought common sense would prevail and the French team would ‘gift’ Ireland a goal in return.
Those bassas kicked off as soon as possible to avoid that scenario.

When a goal results from poor sportsmanship it should be common courtesy to return the favour, but courtesy is often tossed aside in the cutthroat world of professional football.
Those rare occasions it arises should rightfully be praised and would expect that teams supporters endorse the fair play.
That expectation was misplaced, the decision has been unpopular to say the least. I like to imagine if the equivalent happened at Parkhead the home crowd would applaud the reciprocating goal, I know I would.

And so I’m once again forced to type words I never believed would come from these fingers,,,
thank goodness for Beale!
He made the call, not the Captain, but the manager gave the ultimate instruction, understandable.
I ask myself would any of the previous managers of The Rangers have made the same decision?
Ally, Walter, ‘Eck, no bloody chance. They would have hidden behind the officials decision and said talk to him!
Gerrard the same.

However lets hope there’s intense focus on the quite incredible fact one of the SFA’s cup entrants were forced to undo their referee’s blunder by conceding a goal, so bad was the mistake. That is shocking and once again proves the referees and the governing bodies who permit/select them are inept.

It’s also very ironic the club who gets the most protection from refs had to give up the ultimate on-field sanction for them,,but it shows no one is exempt from the ineptitude of the whistlers and/or VAR.

Reaction during the week from all parties shall make for interesting reading. Speaking of reaction I did state most of the The Rangers,, that pure piece of trash McGregor should get benched for his immature and against instructions antics.

What a weekend folks. No wonder them turnstiles are a’ringin’.

By Mahe
sentinelcelts@gmail.com