News about Robert Snodgrass

Barcelona had to sign a former Livingstone and ex-Premier League player before being refused to sign a LaLiga hero. During an Under-17s match with his country at La Masia, the player, who earned 28 caps for Scotland, impressed the Spanish team. After impressing at the tournament, he claims the club then proceeded to Livingstone in a desperate effort to sign the winger.

VAR, VAR: Only the deluded may have wished that Scottish football would be enjoying a slow introduction to video technology. Hearts vs. Celtic has always been a high-energy match. With remote assistance, it became the footballing equivalent of one of those exploding head emojis you send when a text message simply doesn't cut the mustard. The new protocols went beyond town on Friday night, boosting a seven-goal thriller in which Hearts replacement Lawrence Shankland claimed a hat-trick but had no intention of bagging the usual headlines.

Robbie Neilson was expecting a lot more in this match, but instead it was an all-too familiar Tale of Two Cities. The Hearts manager's solid pre-match prediction of a home victory over Rangers was presumably based on a desire to ignite rather than any misguided optimism. Yet, Hearts froze when faced with a chance to not only reel in their opponents on points but potentially redesign them on goal difference. The central divide between the Premiership's Glasgow clubs and their Edinburgh opponents was also revealed, as the Premiership's Glasgow clubs were formerly disadvantaged. Hearts are hardly a club of Dickensian poverty and their radical fan-ownership scheme, while European ambitions point to a better and more promising future.