I think we’ll see red card after red card after red card if tackles like Tony Watt’s continue to be punished so severely.
It was a very harsh decision to send off the Dundee United man against Motherwell on Saturday.
I just don’t know what the United man is supposed to do?
Anyone who has played football at any level knows there are times where tackles and challenges are uncontrolled, it’s the nature of a contact sport.
Players are committed in tackles; if not, they get pelters, so sometimes they will be mis-timed.
That’s what yellow cards are for.
Problem with VAR
Watt’s leg has to go somewhere and he has caught his opponent.
But it’s not sliding in with the studs up, intending to do some damage.
To me, it’s a booking for something of an unfortunate challenge.
But here is the problem with VAR and exactly why it is so unpopular with some people.
Going over so many replays, slow motion, stills – football shouldn’t be governed like that.
To slow something down so much just to prove there is a slight bit of contact is ridiculous.
Maybe it’s just because I’m a bit of an old-school centre-back who liked a tackle but there’s a danger of reducing the game to a non-contact sport and that’s where my worries lie.
I don’t expect United to be successful in their appeal, though.
I think the SFA will back the referee and VAR so soon after it’s arrival.
Other big issue – goalkeeper
It was a big decision but Liam Fox has another major issue to figure out – what he does with the goalkeeping situation at Tannadice.
That’s been a problem all season.
I don’t like calling people out but Mark Birighitti just has to save that Motherwell goal.
It was a free header but it’s straight at him and if he’s a bit stronger in that moment, United easily draw that game 0-0 and move on with a point in the bag.
Having a really good goalkeeper does wonders for the confidence of the players in front.
It’s the opposite when you don’t have faith in the man behind you.
It looks like they see Birighitti as the No 1 goalie.
The problem is: he hasn’t shown that in his performances.
Carljohan Eriksson has had his moments but he’ll have been gutted to be dropped on Saturday.
To me, he hadn’t done that much wrong.
Celtic
Whoever is in the goal next weekend will have to be on top form, though.
Celtic away looks awfully daunting for this Dundee United side.
No one expects them to get anything at Parkhead.
What they have to do is ensure there is far more fight about their performance than the last time.
A result is a bonus but they need something positive to cling on to.
And VAR to be kinder.
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