VAR controversy continues to rumble on with incidents at Tynecastle and Hampden caught in the video blind spot. Have we invested enough in the new tech or are the men behind the screens to blame?
KEITH JACKSON: It’s certainly not a great look for our officials. Doubling the decisions appears to have doubled the propensity for glaring mistakes to be made. It’s becoming impossible to fathom what’s going on inside their heads.
ANDY NEWPORT: With just five cameras at most grounds there’s no doubt we’ve not got all our angles covered but even that doesn’t explain away some baffling decisions. Our current crop of refs just aren’t good enough but then the shambles IFAB have made of the handball rule doesn’t help either.
MICHAEL GANNON: It’s a people problem, not a techie issue. What did we expect when we rolled out VAR midway through a campaign and then also muddying the waters around handballs as they go along. No wonder refs don’t know if it’s New York or New Year.
SCOTT BURNS: It was always going to be an issue going for the hybrid version that Scottish football has adopted. They have gone for a more cost effective approach and with less camera angles it is causing major issues, especially to those in the VAR control room. Things will get better but I don’t think it will ever be a perfect solution until the appropriate money is invested.
Kevin Nisbet grabbed another brace to rescue Hibs against Dundee Utd but with 18 months left on his deal should they consider cashing in?
KEITH: They can’t allow themselves to get into another Ryan Porteous situation. But it shouldn’t be too difficult to get Nisbet tied up on a new long term deal, even if it means inserting a trigger release clause in the contract. Doing nothing is not an option.
ANDY: Only if they are happy to write off the remainder of the season. There’d be very little reason for optimism round Leith without the fit-again striker. You have to hope they’ve learned from the Porteous saga and a new contract offer will be placed on the table pronto.
MICHAEL: No chance. Nisbet is saving Hibs from sliding down the table right now and keeping him is an absolute must. A new contract would be a better idea to give them a bigger insurance policy.
SCOTT: I wouldn’t be surprised if a bid was to come in before the close of the window. The Scotland striker is one of the best finishers in our game and I would be really surprised if he was going to sign a new contract at Hibs. I suspect Hibs will need to sell sooner rather than later.
It’s tight at the bottom of the Premiership with three points separating the bottom four. Which side do you fear for most?
KEITH: St Johnstone are fifth from bottom but far from safe. The Perth men and Ross County appear to be in serious bother. Motherwell, Kilmarnock and Dundee United should have enough to pull clear.
ANDY: County. They got off to a torrid start last year under Malky Mackay but turned it round impressively to snatch a top-six place. This year though there’s been no sign of a spark and seven games without a win spells trouble for the Highland basement boys.
MICHAEL: Ross County need to find a cutting edge or they will continue to struggle but others are not out of the woods. Killie and Dundee United should be okay but Motherwell can’t keep self-harming and alarm bells are ringing at St Johnstone again.
SCOTT: The biggest concern just now must be over Ross County, who have been struggling for goals. There will also be major worries at Fir Park where Motherwell are dropping like a stone.
Queen’s Park are on course for a remarkable return to Scotland’s top flight for the first time in 65 years but with their average crowds totalling barely a thousand, will the Spiders’ rise be welcomed by the other Premiership clubs?
KEITH: They’ve done a remarkable job to get themselves into this position and will deserve everything they get if they go up through sheer ambition alone. But there’s still work to be done to take top spot in the Championship and Dundee in particular might spoil the Spiders’ party.
ANDY: There’s definitely a romantic tinge to the story but I can see why top-flight chairmen would prefer to see Dundee and their travelling support back. However, if the former amateurs can cling on then they fully deserve their place among the big boys.
MICHAEL: Queen’s Park will be in the top flight sooner or later, so they better get used to the idea. There will be something romantic about seeing one of the great names of the game in the top flight, even if the new Lesser Hampden looks more suitable for the Lowland League.
SCOTT: If Queen’s Park win the Championship they will deservedly take their place in the Premier League. They might not have the biggest fan base but the likes of Livingston and Ross County haven’t been held back by a lack of numbers in the stands.
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