Dougie McDonald steps back

Consistency is one of the basic demands of frustrated managers when it comes to refereeing decisions.

YouTube incident (watch the ref step back)

Whether it's bookings for after goal celebrations, kicking the ball away or any other hot topic managers look for consistent interpretations of the laws of the game.

Sunday's Rangers-Dundee United match again highlighted the inconsistencies of referees with Dougie McDonald at the centre of attention.

Two weeks earlier he showed an impressive turn of pace to send off Scott Brown. Bobbing and weaving between players as he reached for his red card, ignoring the vantage point of his assistant referee McDonald waved the red card at Brown while overlooking Kyle Lafferty's role in the clash.

To no-one's surprise McDonald refused to consider Celtic's appeal against the decision.

As Dundee United equalised against Rangers on Sunday it was difficult to believe that we were watching the same referee.

This time with a perfect view of the corner coming in from the right McDonald watches Allan McGregor frustratingly swing an arm then a leg out at United goalscorer Mihael Kovacevic after the ball hits the net.

Seeing the incident McDonald steps forward to take action but then quickly retreats for reasons best known to himself.

Maybe he had second thoughts, unlike the Brown/Lafferty incident, maybe he thought a goal was sufficient punishment, maybe he'll contact the SFA Review Panel to look at things again. Maybe he won't.

Why the SFA decided to send McDonald back to Ibrox two weeks after the Rangers-Celtic game requires explanation.

The referee was always gong to be under the spotlight regardless of the outcome of the league clash, putting him in charge of a cup tie and possible replay was madness.

Clearly the pressure has been getting to McDonald whose double penalty award in the first half frustrated Peter Houston.

The Dundee United manager said: "I am disappointed and I just wonder if the penalties would have been given at the other end. I hope they would have been."

Those sentiments seemed quite similar to those of Gus MacPherson after losing to Rangers, on that occasion Charlie Richmonds inconsistencies.

The St Mirren boss said: "We watch games, we go to games and we see clips on the BBC and we see a different set of rules getting applied. None more so than when we're coming here."

Despite the criticism from the Celtic website of McDonald's performasnce at Ibrox there has been no request for Celtic to explain themselves, similarly, nine days after questioning whether the referee was impartial Aiden McGeady hasn't been called before the SFA.

If the SFA think that these issues will blow over they could be in for a surprise, giving McDonald three high profile Rangers matches to referee within four weeks doesn't do anyone any favours.

McStay pleased with win, hospitality Ujpest style

Willie McStay was delighted by Ujpest's 4-1 win over Diosgyor which got his side back to winning ways.

Four months is a long time to wait for a league win but after a three month winter break the former Celtic coach was pleased to see his side remain in fourth place, a point behing Gyor in third position.

"It was a satisfying win for us," McStay admitted. "We worked hard in training through the week and got our rewards.

"Diosgyor equalised but that was another test for us, we never panicked and came back strongly which was pleasing.

"Peter Kabat was in form, when he's playing it gives the side confidence and he's a match winner. He scored twice but brings much more than goals to the team.

"Mark Millar had a good game as well, he's adapting to the physical side of the game and is becoming more influential.

"He scored his first goal the previous week and is recapturing the form that he showed before getting injured."

Life and football in Budapest is certainly different to SPL fare.

Sky Sports News in the office and the internet keeps McStay and assistant Joe McBride upto date with everything that's happening at home.

Budapest has thanfully avoided following the Prague blueprint of becoming everyone's favourite stage night destination but there's no shortage of tourists with football in the five club city a popular attraction.

McStay explained: "There always seems to be some Scottish supporters over at our matches and they enjoy themselves.

"On Sunday there was a party of six from Edinburgh who support Hearts or Hibs.

"Every year they make a weekend of it somewhere and go along to take in a match.

"All that they need to do is put on some 'Jimmy wigs' and they can be virtually certain of appearing on telly or in the papers.

"They got full hospitality for £60 and I ended up giving some of them a lift back to their hotel- I'm not sure if that would take off in the SPL.

"It's great to hear other Scottish voices around the club and if anyone is looking for a good weekend with some passionate football they are very welcome at Ujpest."

Hospitality Ujpest style 

Dubai Legends Gallery

Regardless of how results go on a week to week basis Celtic will always be a very special club as the success of the Emirates 7's proved.

The bonds between the Lisbon Lions are legendary but throughout the years there are special ties between players who have come together at the club, sometimes for just a short period, but having played for Celtic they are forever happy to be known as Celtic players.

The Centenery side and the 'ten-in-a-row' side will always be fondly remembered with a good social side now developing amongst the players as Saturday's success at the Emirates 7's event in Dubai illustrated.

Beating Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United is good going by any standards, beating the AC Milan side vintage 89/90 might just be recalled in the years to come.

Thanks to Derek Whyte and Sean Sweeney I've managed to get hold of the pictures shown here which gives a flavour of the event and the camaraderie that exists between those lucky enough to have played for Celtic.

Franco Baresi, the captain of Milan's greatest ever side doesn't look too disapointed to have lost out in a cup final to Gerry Britton, Trialist (Sean Sweeney), football agent John Viola and Darren Jackson.

A google search for the Milan side of that vintage shows a slimline and dark haired Carlo Ancelotti, third from right back row, with the Dutch contingent of Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten and Frank Riijkard easily recognisable with captain Baresi on the left of the front row.

Celtic Legends Emirates 7's winners 2010:

1. Lex Baillie
2. Regi Blinker
3. Tom Boyd
4. Gerry Britton
5. John Collins
6. Darren Jackson
7. Gordon Marshall
8. Brian O’Neil
9. Sean Sweeney
10. Pierre Van Hooijdonk
11. Andy Walker
12. Derek Whyte

McStay's challenging times at Ujpest

There are no cracked crests yet but when Ujpest Dozsa face Diosgyor this afternoon on on the back of two consecutive league defeats the stakes will be high.

The winter break has been cruel on Willie McStay's squad with back-to-back defeats from Gyor and Kecskemeti derailing their title hopes.

Hungary's season closed down in November for three months with the momentum that Ujpest had built up, including home and away wins over leaders Videoton in the Magyar Cup, left in cold storage as the season resumed.

Zalaegerszek await in the semi-final of the Magyar Cup but after experiencing back-to-back defeats for the first time in his managerial career McStay is facing a new aspect to his Hungarian adventure.

He said: "There's a big challenge to be faced just now but it's one that I'm prepared for and know how to deal with.

"The break in the season is enormous and it really seems like two different seasons and two teams. We built up some momentum before the break and ideally would have liked to have kept that momentum going.

"There are expectations at he club now and we have to deal with them, there has been a dip since we restarted and key players missing. If they had been out in the first half of the season I think that we would have struggled as well but we'll have two key players back to face Diosgyor.

"This job can seem easy when the going is good but despite the last two league results it has still been a fantastic experience for me.

"When result don't go well you learn about yourself and your players, there are different dynamics to the job. The harder that you work the more rewarding it becomes, I can honestly say that every day I am loving the job.

"Dealing with the media can be interesting, the language is obviously an issue. Generally there is an understanding but things can get lost in translation a little. The emphasis and context doesn't always translate easily."

While other Hungarian clubs spent money during the transfer window hoping to emulate Debrecen's run into the Champions League things were much tighter at Ujpest.

Finances wouldn't stretch to a training trip to Scotland with no major incoming transfers to boost the squad.

As Middlesbrough bought up a job lot of players from Celtic McStay was able to sign teenage Boro striker Gary Martin on loan.

Martin scored in midweek in the 2-0 League Cup win over Haladas and could make his league debut against Diosgyor.

McStay added: "With the injuries that we've had I've had to have a look at younger players and Gary showed up well against Haladas.

"When I was at Celtic I'd be pushing the case for the younger players but now I'm looking at that from the other angle.

"I have to decide if they are mature and ready for first team football. There has been a few players emerge from the squad over the last couple of games but I know my strongest team, when they are available I'm confident that we can get winning again."
Final score Ujpest 4-1Diosgyor (in hungarian)