OPINION: Why have we allowed ourselves to be brainwashed into accepting dreary possession football?

Whilst watching football on TV the other night I happened upon the Scottish Bet-Fred Cup semi-finals, writes Steve Jarvis.
Jason Kerr of St Johnstone celebrates with team mate Liam Gordon after scoring their side's first goal during the Betfred Cup Semi-Final match between St Johnstone and Hibernian at Hampden Park - a game that caught Steve Jarvis' eye. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)Jason Kerr of St Johnstone celebrates with team mate Liam Gordon after scoring their side's first goal during the Betfred Cup Semi-Final match between St Johnstone and Hibernian at Hampden Park - a game that caught Steve Jarvis' eye. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
Jason Kerr of St Johnstone celebrates with team mate Liam Gordon after scoring their side's first goal during the Betfred Cup Semi-Final match between St Johnstone and Hibernian at Hampden Park - a game that caught Steve Jarvis' eye. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Choosing Hibernian versus St Johnstone to start, I found myself drawn in to see favourites, Hibs, playing the modern keep-ball, passing backwards, sideways but rarely forwards, created lots of first half chances, but fail to score.

St Johnstone, playing a much more attacking game, seemingly, got three chances, scored them all, and strolled through to the final by a comfortable 3-0.

Having enjoyed this game, I watched the second semi-final between Livingston and St Mirren.

Unfashionable Livingston had a new manager, and had racked up eight straight wins, while St Mirren had knocked out both Rangers and Aberdeen.

A cracking match followed, which the more determined Livingston won by the only goal.

Again I really enjoyed this one.

Wondering quite why, I realised that neither team had relied on keep ball tactics, constantly playing the ball backwards or sideways, but had attacked with gusto, using the now derided long ball where necessary.

This made for a much more exciting watch and harked back to proper football as it used to be played.

When I watched Worksop Town as a kid at Central Avenue, such tactics as passing sideways and making no progress up the field would soon see the offenders subject to a slow hand clap from the crowd, who hadn’t paid out hard earned cash for slow-timing.

Should any player have the temerity to pass back to his own goalkeeper, then he would have been roundly and loudly booed.

How brainwashed we all must be nowadays to not only put up with such dreary play, but also to think it is good.