Call it as you like; I thought the worst performing individual connected to that game today wasn’t Willie Collum but Andy Walker. If Collum had a poor day – a poor half day – then Walker was truly lamentable.
You would have got more balance listening to SevcoTV.
I listened to Walker some weeks ago, talking about how he didn’t ever want anyone to think that because he played for Celtic that he would favour us in his commentary.
There was never any danger of that.
Right from the start, Walker has been so determined to sound “neutral” that he spews venom at us when we don’t deserve it, and his tongue has caressed the Ibrox posterior more regularly than Tavernier gets to take penalties.
Today he was woeful.
The Hibs penalty call would have been soft. Their penalty is a stonewaller on the other hand, and maybe the Hibs player was lucky to stay on the park. He pondered whether their defensive midfielder should have walked as well.
When commenting on the first red he sounded almost apoplectic with fury.
His take on the Morelos one – “that’s not violent conduct” – is just preposterous.
When you are on the wrong of a debate that’s one thing.
When you are lamenting a red card against Ibrox which even Kris Boyd accepts was well deserved you should maybe wonder how far from the middle of the road, and into Sevconia, you’ve actually strayed.
Walker has made the mistake that many ex-Celts in the media have, and Mark Wilson is the next in danger of walking into that minefield with some of his nonsense.
These people think that a Celtic background means that you must lean in favour of Ibrox just to be seen as a neutral. But the minute you do that you’re not a neutral, are you?
No, you’re an Uncle Tim.
That’s the name for it. That’s what we call it.
You spend so much of your time not wanting to offend Ibrox that you become a puppet for them instead … and eventually you morph into Hugh Keevins, someone so bitter and twisted that there’s no measure of objectivity left at all, and you’ve become a siren wailing on their behalf.
Walker, in trying to look “objective” looked the complete opposite today.
He sounded like a guy with Mark Dingwall’s hand up his arse.
Other people – like Michael Stewart – manage to simply comment on games and judge every incident on its own merit.
Walker didn’t even try.
If you get a chance to listen to that commentary of his today look out for the moment of the third or fourth replay of the Morelos incident; Walker, in that second, realises how much of an idiot he must have sounded with his reflexive defence of their player and starts to backtrack slightly … he never gets all the way there, but he does roll back on his previous words.
But had he been objective in the first place, and judged the incident in the moment for what it was rather than wondering how it would sound to some in the audience if he called it what it was, there would have been no need.
He would have redeemed himself somewhat for the rest of his sycophancy during the game. As it was, he simply enhanced the view some of us have of him as being completely untrustworthy when it comes to giving an unbiased view.
And here’s the thing; Walker is a Celtic man and he always has been and I don’t have the least shred of doubt that he does favour us over them … but God, he is a dire broadcaster.
In trying not to sound biased that’s exactly what he sounds like.
That today …. Uggh. Awful beyond belief.
I thought collum was absolutely horrendous in that match, Morelos 1 was a red, Lundstram not for me, and the penalty was soft as well. Collum in every match he referees, he always wants to be the centre of attention, a referee should be the opposite. Neutral head on here, if I was a manager of either of the clubs today, I would be raging. And I wouldn’t want him anywere near a football pitch again. Just a catalogue of errors for me.
Can’t disagree with a word there, was thinking the exact same thing whilst watching it, where my favourite shout was, “What are you talking about? That is so damn obvious (but he was saying the opposite!)!”. Rolling of eyes!
Wouldn’t come straight out and call the Tavpen grab on the Hibs boy a penalty , was just calling it ” Dangerous ”
Total sh*tebag
I noticed that ,,was like he didn’t want to use the word penalty
Morelos is finished at the new club. He no longer wants to be there and they don’t want him. They are too embarrassed to punt him out on loan because of all the shite they made up about every club in Europe chasing his signature and tge lie that was the Chinese bid. When fat head kris Boyd tells u that your overweight your in serious trouble ?
Morelos is finished at the new club. He no longer wants to be there and they don’t want him. They are too embarrassed to punt him out on loan because of all the shite they made up about every club in Europe chasing his signature and tge lie that was the Chinese bid. When fat head kris Boyd tells u that your overweight your in serious trouble ?
Morelos is finished at the new club. He no longer wants to be there and they don’t want him. They are too embarrassed to punt him out on loan because of all the shite they made up about every club in Europe chasing his signature and tge lie that was the Chinese bid. When fat head kris Boyd tells u that your overweight your in serious trouble ?
It’s as if Walker does not want to offend his Sky bosses! Say the wrong thing and sayonara!
Was actually texting the same points during the game.
At 0-0 he is actually praying for a sevco goal.
Penalty apart not one shot on target.
Absolute dross from both sides first half but McIntyre on sportsound said let’s get back to this fantastic game.
Just shows what a dodgy pen can do to your memory.
I thought exactly the same about Walker today James the guy’s a bellend.
Andy was a great player for us but has strayed over to the dark side in his pundit role. I know his family are Celtic supporters. One of them needs to have a word with him before he completely ruins any remaining goodwill and his Celtic legacy.
He is like too many. Ready to compromise any or all principles they may have once had in case it impacts their career. Pathetic.
Great article James. Spot on. Collum as everyone knows is not the best referee in the world but at least he didn’t bottle it to stand up to bully boy Lundstram and the thug Morelos
Andy Walker is an idiot, no if or buts, a complete tosspot. The best of it is, that the peepul he is trying his best to curry favour with, cannot stand him, he’s an ex Tim and they hate him. I have read their comments on their websites and they rip him apart. Fukhim!
Blatant penalty for Hibs. Definite penalty for the deadites. It was the correct decision to not show the Hibs player a red as there was no goal scoring opportunity denied. Lundstram was never a red and the chubby Columbian was red all day long.
What did i tell you all yesterday hibs cheated again tavpen again flick Dive Kent anonymous again and fat sugarjunkie at it again
According to Walker, Morelos` “slaps” with his elbows. He was quick to point out that the Hibs` player heading for goal before being brought down wasn`t on a goal-scoring run, nor did he mention the word penalty when a HIbs player was pulled down in the box.
Well…….That was a fine ‘stramash’ at Easter Road….!
Has Lindstrom’s ‘Unbookable Bubble’ finally BURST….?
So who will be Sievco’s next Nominated Unbookable Player (NUP ), till the end of the season….?
Paddy Hill are already offering Odds :-
Currently, Old Goldstone 4/1 , Pen Tav 5/1 , Ancient Arfield 7/1 , Wolf-Man Jack 8/1 , Pope Barasic 500/1 , Spawn of Satan Kent 666/1…
[50% of all profits to be donated to South Lanarkshire Referees’ Benevolent Trust ]
And what gives with Alfredo….making an elaborate ‘Sign-of-the-Cross’….
As he came on as a substitute….
Was this the ‘New’ Redeemed Morelos with ‘Inner Calm’….
Who was simply paying tribute to the Irish Catholic Charity Founders of Hibernian FC….??
Nope…..”.You Cannae Teach An Auld Dug New Tricks ”
Holy Wullie gulped, and avoided brandishing a Yellow…..
Remains to be seen if the Procurator Fiscal takes a similar view..
Or sees it as a potential “Holy Goalie” Offence
Within minutes, Oor Alf ,and with that certain gleam in his eyes..floors the Hibs left back ,with a sleakit kick…
Off-The-Ball , of course….!!
Remains to be seen if the Procurator Fiscal takes a similar view
Or decides it was a ‘ Holy Goalie’ Offence….?
Then he assaults another Hibs defender with a brutal elbow to the face
“Not a Red Card for me….!!!!” ! shrills Andy Waster….Who should know better , having sustained a significant facial fracture in a similar incident……
Back in the days when he played striker for Shotts Bon Accord ??.
And the question must be asked about the AsbestosDome Backroom Medical Team
Have they ever heard of ‘Anger-Managment Therapy”….
Psychologist, Jack Black is available, after his recent stint at Aberdeen FC….
Additionally, it is a common misconception that South American ‘Marching Powder is useful in weight-management programmes..
It’s the Finnish (Low-Calorie) Variety that shifts the kilograms…
(Ask Sanna Marin…!!)
And finally, what does the future hold for ‘Oor Willie’ [Starsign : Virgo ]
Suspended from handling any further Sevco games this Season….??
Suspended Sine Die…??
[Subscribe to my Horoscope Channel on Facebook ]
Keevins is the very definition of ” uncle tim”! And walker started out on clyde its pathetic! Orcs go the other way and know they can in the media! Pandering to the perma raging poison it’s so cowardly in tho it was never on belongs in keevins generation! Tho it was never on it was harder then where the ” keep the head down” was the way from many
Willie Collum is on a mission to apply the rules relating to grabbing, grappling, throwing arms in opponents faces and deliberate professional tripping from behind. Referee W Collum’s two red cards were justified. I missed the penalty given to Tavernier. Television likes free flowing games and some refs tend to respond to this need. Wrong!.
SPL teams should be careful when Willie is the Ref. Well done Mr. W Collum.
Hibernian’s defense was woeful.
In and around the Box, Ranger’s teamwork was shambolic.
Is it fear of losing your job with sky thats his issue if you don’t show that leaning towards Sevco in your judgement calls. Am old enough to remember Pat Crerand commenting on an “old firm” scottish cup final when he called out that the Rangers defender (was it Colin Jackson of Derek Johnstone) clearly handled a ball on the goal line and his co-commentator suggested might not have been a hand ball. Pat wasnt having any of that he called it out as a clear pen and was never commented on a game up here again
I remember Djokovic’s tackle on miller. He called “red card” straight away. And after FOUR replays still wouldn’t admit he got it wrong. He’s a wee tosser. HH