October was an horrendous month for Ross County. They lost five of six league games and looked doomed. Crucially, most of these games were against teams in the bottom half of the table; they took a point at home to Dundee United but lost to Kilmarnock and Motherwell left Dingwall with a 0-5 win.
A run of form like that can be difficult to recover from. Jack Ross was unable to do so at United before being emptied out. Malky MacKay hung in there and responded with a transformational performance and result against St Mirren, overcoming a halftime deficit to take the win. On Tuesday they plunged Hibs into crisis by deservedly winning at Easter Road.
Those two wins moved them three points clear of the relegation spots. No side in Scotland is more experienced at battling relegation better than Ross County, it has been their daily chore for 10 of the last 11 seasons. They pick up points when not expected, you will not need reminded of which team came to Celtic Park and stopped out run of consecutive Trebles at four.
There will be a demob mood around Celtic Park tomorrow, our last game for a month as football breaks for the World Cup. Some players are off to the tournament, the rest will pack their bags after the game and within days will land in Sydney.
Can you imagine the difference in perspective the County players will have to the game? They have nothing on the roster but to give their all in an effort to frustrate Celtic and take something from the game. Their performance level against Hibs was a new peak for the season and miles ahead of where they were when they came within six minutes of taking a point off Celtic in August.
Celtic have talent in abundance, yet struggled against bottom side Dundee United on Saturday, then had to manage their way through the final minutes at Motherwell. Nothing can be taken for granted tomorrow.
An SFA statement this morning addressed the Jota ‘goal’ at Motherwell on Wednesday, confirming the VAR camera which should have been pointing at play “did not capture an appropriate view of the incident”. We read elsewhere it was trained on the managers at the near touchline, which itself begs many questions, but back to the SFA statement.
Having confirmed the only Hawkeye camera at that side of the field was not looking at play, the SFA nonetheless vaguely imply VAR got the decision right. What they actually said was that VAR determined “the Celtic player had received the ball in an offside position”. Offside has nothing to do with when a player receives the ball, it is only active the instant a forward pass is made. On this matter, the SFA statement makes no comment, but they would like you to think everything worked out for the best anyway.
They then try to divert blame away from themselves by saying “We have provided feedback to the host broadcaster”. “Host broadcaster” is a term you only hear when a UK commentator abroad attributes pictures (or the lack of) to the TV company covering the game. The SFA are the effective host on this occasion and their Hawkeye system does not even broadcasting. This was a shabby attempt at diversion.
Celtic, who campaigned for VAR, must be wondering why they bothered. I doubt in the history of the technology any other club had a goal disallowed when the VAR camera was inconveniently looking elsewhere. One level of conduct for Celtic, it seems.
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CELTICFOREVER @ 6:57 AM,
Excellent piece by Phil Mac, some really pertinent questions in there.
Just for clarification, the VAR at Motherwell did not use the technology as prescribed and he has as much of a chance of acertaining whether Jota was offside from that distance, that angle using gridline technology, that Wednesday evening’s referee had when he awarded Kirk Broadfoot a penalty in Celtic’s penalty box in 2010.
*Gridline
A two-dimensional line, which can be quickly positioned in line with the final defender for CLEAR OFFSIDE decisions.
If Willie Collum can prove to me he has eyes in the back of his head, I’ll start giving David Dickenson the benefit of the huge doubt.
Hail Hail
Good morning from a bright but overcast North Staffs.
I wonder if Ange will rest our WC contingent – avoiding injury may be at the back of the mind. Biggest loss would be CCV.
G’day Mick.
Gerrintaethum Celtic!!!!
Chairbhoy
Willie has proved he has eyes in the back of his head. Remember he gave a penalty against us v oldco when facing the other way
BT
If only we had VAR then 🤭
Gene
Indeed so 😏
I see we were fined £15k ( 300 tickets ?) for the anti- monarchy banner. Wonder how much the egg thrower will be fined – surely that’s a treasonable offence.
Off to Glasgow for the Scottish Whisky Festival ( which includes whiskies from Australia and Japan. The organiser is a Tim !). at Hampden Park.
Means I miss the game but my ticket has gone to a very good home.
Cheerio for now.
Enjoy Jim 🥃
BLANTYRETIM @ 8:03 AM,
Yes, exactly, quite a feat….
Yet was it really a penalty!?
Will be interesting decisions today?
Hail Hail
HOT SMOKED
when your over there
Pop your head round the shiny new VAR room and check if there is a portrait of king Charles on the wall .
Just to help put my mind at rest
HH
The wee token complaint to SFA HQ will probably be the end of the var matter from our suits . They tried another Dougie Dougie attack on us WHICH PROVES THEY ARE INVOLVED HEAVILY in the let’s hammer the Tim’s scene , when are we going to call in our law people to take these rats on . We are indeed great fans to put up with season after season getting cheated by the bigots who are supposed to administer the sport in this country , would sicken you .
Room door
Sorry
JIMTIM @ 8:27 AM,
True, are we so blessed in the Scottish game with sublime football that we can allow a partial officious flunky to chalk off a fabulously worked goal for nought.
Hail Hail
Off to Paradise again this afternoon. Looking forward to another 3 points to take us nicely into the World Cup break.
Can we have 90 minutes devoid of any more VAR cock-ups? We’ll soon find out.
Hail Hail and 3-0 to the Bhoys.
Chairbhoy @ 6.16
Interesting post.
I’m going with scenario number 4. Dickinson is a cheating hun bassa.
FFS
https://twitter.com/Gmck__7_3/status/1591021182198743040?t=mg-RI3VbX-hPx60qelVLGg&s=07
VAR technology made a critical decision at the weemins rugby World Cup final today. One which actually determined the outcome of the whole competition.
The ref nearly got it wrong but VAR changed a vital mistake to award Engerland a line out by showing it had not deflected from a New Zealand girls hand.
It’s here to stay and all sports are still grappling with it. Sadly it does seem to re enforce traditional problems we have here. Indeed it magnifies them.
I do think our leaders need to be vocal seeking clarification when winning and having these very poor decisions made against us.
Pen v Hearts, Dundee Utd pen v us, Red card v Mwell, offside v Mwell vs similar in other games. Clarification requests are reasonable.
SFA again changing the story.Unbeknown to us all,there is a VAR camera operator on EVERY camera,and it was his fault,the guy on the Jota camera who Ballard it up.
A camera man on every camera.————-Awe is there,Aye
He made an honest mistake, ——————,Awe did he,Aye
He has been lectured about this,————–,Awe has he,Aye.Lists mate,enjoy the rest of your night.
dessybhoy- a similar incident in Juventus game the other night,accidental handball,ball deflected from 3 yards away on to an arm,no penalty.
Heard last night, Dickinson a regular in Belfast around July time…….
Bada
Accidental doesn’t seem to exist here unless to favour Sevco.
So first we had the attempted Cadete cover up scandal,at the SFA.
We now have the attempted Jota cover up scandal at the SFA.
A job I think for the Portuguese Embassy to investigate,Racism in our game,but only against them.
What have the Portuguese ever done against us.?Well,there are lots of” Bead rattlers” there
:-))))
burnley78
And also, as Tony Cascarino pointed out on Talksport this morning how well England had done “after going down to ten men”.
Again…
If an arm or hand accidentally blocks a shot or header that is ON TARGET, it’s a penalty.
That’s why Dundee United were awarded a penalty.
Just clarifying the rule.
I disagree with the rule.
Don’t shoot the messenger.
Bada Bing
What larks Pip …..what larks
There IS a scandal here.Celtic must not let up here.
Too many story changes.
Ahead of today’s cinch Premiership match v Ross County, the Club are pleased to announce that a licence has been granted for the sale of alcohol in the West Stand Concourse from 11am until 1pm, with the area open for supporters looking to arrive early on matchday and enjoy the build-up to kick-off.
Supporters visiting the West Stand concourse ahead of the match can enter via Gate WS57/58 to enjoy the facilities until 1pm.
Thereafter the area will be cleared and supporters can re-enter the stadium via turnstiles as normal from 1:30pm ahead of kick-off (3pm).
With kiosks open, seating areas available and live football on screen, we are pleased to further enhance our pre-match offering to supporters with the addition of a licenced area ahead of Saturday’s match.
Please be aware that our concourses are cashless facilities, with only contactless payment methods accepted
This continues because it was let go unchallenged . We Celtic supporters have put up with this blatant cheating for too long , I have witnessed as many on here have big Wharton . Foote , syme , Davidson et al all anti Celtic referees , BuT this crop in my opinion have surpassed them . Harking back to the SC semi a few years ago v Inverness that was as blatant an act of cheating I have seen in my 65 years watching Celtic . And the two culprits are in charge of var , they should have been sacked on the spot . But apart from a token complaint from our suits it was washed over till the next time , we are continually getting this from them because it goes unchallenged . The laptop loyal also play there part not highlighting what’s going on , instead giving us the Nothing to see here treatment . That BBC again is one sectarian organisation ,whenever a hun hangs up Hs boots his arse is on the sportscene sofa utterly despicable. When are we going to see a show sectarianism in Scottish football the red card . I contemplated a couple of years ago stopping going to games because of what was being allowed to happen ,and because of the lack of backbone from our suits , But watching the football we are witnessing now I’m glad I had second thoughts . I look around the packed stadium and think why does this fan base allow our suits to do nothing . We the fans must start to put pressure on our board to stop getting to the back of the bus and grow a pair or it will continue . HH
SPORTS BAR OPEN FROM 11:30AM
Supporters are reminded that the new Sports Bar at Celtic Park is open on matchdays from 11:30am for fans looking to gather with friends, family and fellow supporters.
Located in the South West corner of the Jock Stein Stand, the bar can be accessed via the main Kerrydale Suite entrance, where stewards will be on hand to direct you.
The Bar has been very popular with supporters since opening a few weeks ago, offering the perfect place to meet pre-match for food & drinks, and gather again after full-time when the bar re-opens.
We look forward to welcoming you on Saturday for Celtic v Ross County as the Celts look to secure the points in front of a packed Paradise ahead of the winter break!
Does anyone know if there is to be a minutes silence today?
I hope Ange is not even considering resting any players that are going to the World Cup.
We need our best team out there today and fully focused on winning for Celtic. Nothing else matters.
!!BADA BING!! on 12TH NOVEMBER 2022 10:05 AM
Heard last night, Dickinson a regular in Belfast around July time……..
########
If that’s true Bada then again we are inviting decisions against us . There s no way that guy could or would want to be impartial to us . I may be wrong here but did the guy with no surname not complain about a ref for having an Irish sounding name ,and have him relegated from sevco games .
morning all, time for a read back
When we are 5-0 up take off the Bhoys going to Qatar.
found this on the CFC site …..☘️🙏☘️
2:55PM | PERIOD OF SILENCE
We will have a period of silence today, on Remembrance Weekend, to remember all victims in all conflicts.
We will remember, in particular, the men who served Celtic Football Club and who lost their lives in wartime.
These include a number of Celtic players who fought and died in the Great War of 1914-18, such as Leigh Roose, Donnie McLeod, Archie McMillan, Robert Craig, John McLaughlin, Willie Angus and Peter Johnstone.
Green Ninja
I hope your back on later with a story to tell of being at Celtic Park.
Chalmers Street back in 68.
Uncles Duncan Campbell and Billy Kinkaid grew up here.
Dunky went to tweed street up the bow once married
—————
The Watt Institution
@WattInstitution
Two images of Chalmers Street, #Greenock in 1968 today from the Eugene Méhat collection. Lone Ranger masks, squeaky swings and washes out on the line, life in the late 1960s.
is that you in the mask ? a wee green ninja
https://twitter.com/WattInstitution/status/1500864138486112261/photo/1