It hasn't taken long for a couple of Premiership clubs to pull the plug on VAR ahead of this weekend’s Scottish Cup ties.
Dundee United and Livingston have balked at the £10,000 cost of using the replay tech for their fifth-round clashes against Killie and Inverness, leaving Rangers and Celtic as the only top-flight outfits staging last-16 ties with telly officials on duty. But Craig McPherson can’t blame United and Livi for their reluctance to shell out, saying: “I have every sympathy for the clubs opting not to use VAR this weekend.
“So far it’s proved to be more trouble than it’s worth with all these ridiculous handball decisions being given when they’d never have been awarded without VAR. In general I’m in favour of TV technology but the trouble in Scotland is we’ve still got the same dodgy officials off the park trying to correct the mistakes made by their equally-poor pals on it.”
Paddy Gowans added: “No wonder Scottish football is a joke when the SFA can't afford to supply VAR for clubs who can't afford it in the Scottish Cup yet they can find the cash for all these free trips abroad with slap up meals for the Hampden fat cats.” Talking of finances, Frank McFerran, Carrickfergus, reckons Chris Wilder was put off the Aberdeen job when he saw the resources he’d have to work with, saying: “Wilder probably looked at the wages on offer and transfer budget and laughed. Some of these English managers are on another planet when it comes to money.”
Alan Flett’s claim in yesterday’s Hotline that Leeds would be heading for relegation if they opted to put their faith in Ange Postecoglou’s “naive” tactics drew a response from Martin McGarrigle. He said: “This naive style of play and tactical ineptitude has Celtic nine points clear at the top of the pile, with one defeat all season and the chance to bury Rangers’ trophy hopes shortly. I smell sour grapes. We welcome the chase.”
Jimmy Murray, Edinburgh, added: “Celtic fans needn’t worry right now as there is no chance of Ange joining Leeds. But beware, when he does leave it is so obvious John Kennedy is being groomed to take over. Then it's batten down the hatches as I’ll give him three months to take the club back to the 90’s. A laughing stock. Remember, you read it here first!”
Steven Richardson emailed to say: “Chris Sutton was wrong when he said the manager won’t walk out on Celtic like Brendan Rodgers did because he can accomplish more with bigger clubs in England.” Eddie Easson, Ballingry, called in after reading Antonio Colak’s World Cup lament in Thursday’s Record Sport.
He said: “Typical from Colak and Rangers, the great oppressed. Kyogo is a more prolific scorer than he is yet didn't go to Qatar. Reo Hatate is arguably one of the best midfielders in Scotland. He didn't go either.
“Do you hear them moaning? No. They act with dignity and try to get better so they won't be left out again.”
Continuing the theme of cap hard-luck stories, John Alexander, Glasgow, said: So Duncan Ferguson reckons he would have won 200 caps if he had accepted the olive branch to play for his country again? Hilarious! Ronaldo hasn't even won 200 caps yet!
"Still, imagine how many red cards big Dunc would have amassed in those 200 games! He would have had to play until he was 80 by the time he served his suspensions to get to 200 caps!”
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