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Old Firm unhappy at SPL



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THE Scottish Premier League have come under fire from both sides of the Old Firm after announcing plans to extend the season by four days if Rangers reach the UEFA Cup final.
Rangers were last night irate that the season would not be extended further, while Celtic were upset that the fixture schedule could be altered on an "ad hoc basis".

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell claimed the SPL had "compromised the integrity of the competition" by agreeing to stretch the season out to May 22.

The change will only be implemented if Rangers defeat Fiorentina in their UEFA Cup semi-final, but the Ibrox club's chief executive Martin Bain was adamant the season should have been extended in any case, as, regardless of the result against the Italians, Walter Smith's side face a hectic run of games.

If they beat Fiorentina, Rangers must play three games in five days culminating in their May 24 Scottish Cup final.





The full article contains 163 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

 
1

canamalar,

23/04/2008 12:38:07
Rangers had no intention of requesting an extention according to Rangers and the scottish press just a couple of days ago, so why are they so unhappy with this offer.
The prescedent for extentions to the league time table were set in 2003, when Celtic's request was refused there can only be one reason the authorities have made this consession: pro Rangers bias.
The number of games to be played by Rangers in the run in is not a first, a considerable number of similar run-in's throughout scottish football history are documented.
EUFA have already told all tha national associations that none of the leagues can over-run due to the European finals this summer and indeed if anything they should be encouraged to finish early.
If the league is not pro rangers why is it ok for an extention to allow Rangers to rest their players, whilst Celtic will be penalised in that foreign international players will be away on international duty.
This is a fiasco made by Rangers, SPL & SFA, and they should be made to suffer the consequences.
Gretna postponement (Rangers, SPL)
Scotland friendly (SFA)
Poor conditions Ibrox pitch (Rangers)

There have been plenty of available mid-week opportinities available for Rangers to play rearranged fixtures why were none of these used.

ONLY IN THE BEST LITTLE BIGGOTED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, COULD THIS HAPPEN
2

Nev33,

23/04/2008 13:11:54
First, I don't believe that any of the games we have to come are down to the 'Ibrox pitch', seeing as they're all away from home.

Second, the first Old Firm game at parkhead was cancelled through celtic exploiting a very sad and sorry situation, a cancellation that only suited one team, and had it played on Jan 2nd Rangers would have been able to have played a different game last week.

Third, while this situation has happened before and probably will again, it doesn't make it right or fair to expect players to play so many games in such a short space of time. How many will be carrying knocks and injuries that they'll be asked to take onto the pitch because of a shortage of fit players?

As for the idea that the best team will win over the season, surely that won't apply and it will just come down to the fittest team winning out? Especially if one of the contenders is expected to rely on winning so many games in such a short space of time.

Rangers are being asked to play a ridiculous number of games in a short space of time, and the likelihood of them winning the league now has been diminished due to this awful decision by the SFA.

We all know that the celtic stance is purely one of self interest, but then there's no surprise at that, is there?
3

The hun that married a tim,

23/04/2008 13:20:41
Quite a post...if you appreciate twisted, unbalanced views!

What is this precedent of 2003 you speak of? I have no memory of a request for a league extension back then?

There was a request to move an Old Firm game but the police vetoed that - not the SPL or Rangers.

And how you equate the so called extension as a gesture to rest players, i'll never know - have you actually read the proposal?

Situation 1 - Rangers get to the UEFA cup final.

Thu 23-Apr-08 Rangers v Fiorentina
Sun 27-Apr-08 Celtic v Rangers
Thu 30-Apr-08 Fiorentina v Rangers
Sun 04-May-08 Hibernian v Rangers
Wed 07-May-08 Rangers v Motherwell
Sat 10-May-08 Rangers v Dundee United
Wed 14-May-08 UEFA cup final
Sat 17-May-08 Motherwell v Rangers
Tue 20-May-08 St Mirren v Rangers
Thu 22-May-08 Aberdeen v Rangers
Sat 24-May-08 Scottish Cup final

Situation 2 - Rangers don't get to the UEFA cup final.

Thu 23-Apr-08 Rangers v Fiorentina
Sun 27-Apr-08 Celtic v Rangers
Thu 30-Apr-08 Fiorentina v Rangers
Sun 04-May-08 Hibernian v Rangers
Wed 07-May-08 Rangers v Motherwell
Sat 10-May-08 Rangers v Dundee United
Tue 13-May-08 St Mirren v Rangers
Thu 15-May-08 Motherwell v Rangers
Sun 18-May-08 Aberdeen v Rangers
Sat 24-May-08 Scottish Cup final

So as you can see, in both scenarios the pattern from now to end of season is Thu, Sun, Thu, Sun, Wed, Sat, Wed, Sat, Tue, Thu, Sat OR Thu, Sun, Thu, Sun, Wed, Sat, Tue, Thu, Sun, Sat.

Where is this rest period - that Celtic got in 2003 - you speak of?

As for the international's argument - that holds no water i'm afraid. That's what happens when you sign Japanese and Australian internationalists i'm afraid, it's the same all over the world.

Lastly, your claim RE "plenty of available mid-week opportunities" is totally wrong. Rangers have played EVERY midweek since January with the exception only of week Feb 3-9 & Mar 22-29 and that was purely for international fixtures.

We put forward an application to immediately replay
4

The hun that married a tim,

23/04/2008 13:25:38
(contd) the Partick game and they rejected it.

As #2 says, it was Celtic that requested the postponement of the New Year's OF game so if anyone is culpable, it's them.

The only fair way to do this is move forward our pre-split games, get the "games in hand" out the way, and have a level playing field for the remaining games in the split.

If we win the games in hand, or beat Celtic, we won't care. Plus we've got a back-to-back U19s champions team that could pad out the 1st team squad in the remaining games.

It's not fair, but we're out numbered in this argument so let's get on with and leave the excuses to Celtic!
5

canamalar,

23/04/2008 13:33:35
Nev,
yer kidding yourself on here.
The 2nd of Jan postponement, is was a mark of respect no more no less, and to say there was an alterior motive is typical. However if that is what you believe then I will not try and change your mind.
Celtic played 8 games in December, how many did Rangers play 4 I think, was'nt there a chance to catch up then, opportunity missed or refused ??
Didnt rangers have a cup game postponed which then had a knock on effect on league games, how could that be possible for a stadium/pitch praised so much.
March/April quite a few free mid-week opportunities to clear the back-log missed or refused ??
So what you are saying about it not being fair to expect extortionatly paid players not to play when it gets a bit hard. Also it has happened in the past and will probably will in the future (but never to rangers) is that its unfar beacuse its rangers being asked to compete on a level playing field.
Why should we sympathise with rangers injury problems when your own management have no sympathy, and who have in fact, put players careers and future health at risk with their decisions (re McGregor:ankle, Naismith:Knee, Ferguson:injections, Weir:injections and no doubt others we have not heard about), Yes players can make decision to continue to play/take injections but it is the management/medical staff who have the final decision, therefore they must be encopuraging this suicidal behavour.
6

He's A Rocket,

23/04/2008 13:35:50
Both the Old Firm unhappy! I'm all for it. If we're not careful they will go off and play elsewhere, or try and form a new European league and leave us in the lurch. Wait a minute.....
7

The hun that married a tim,

23/04/2008 13:44:07
#5 Yet more pesh - you not embarrassed to post so much disinformation?

Rangers fixtures in Decemeber:

Sat 1 Kilmarnock
Wed 12 Lyon
Sat 15 Hearts
Sun 23 Aberdeen
Wed 26 Motherwell
Sat 29 Hibernian

Can you provide details of these free dates in Mar/April - don't think so, see my post in #3 and you'll see we've had 2 midweeks off since Jan purely because of internationals.

And what on earth are you on about with the injuries - McGregor got injured against Celtic and hasn't played since. Again, Naismith was injured at the weekend but wasn't on pain killing injections because he didn't have an injury. Ferguson is not on injections and neither is Weir.

We feel your pain ya MOPE.
8

Celtic Bhoy,

Carlisle 23/04/2008 13:47:45
Remember De boer calling Celtic moaners when in the year of the Uefa Cup final they were complaining of the fixtures list.

Who are the Moaners now?
9

Celtic Bhoy,

Carlisle 23/04/2008 13:48:44
PS There is no chance of Rangers reaching the final in any case!
10

canamalar,

23/04/2008 13:59:10
#3 the police refuted the SPL insistance that they were the objectors, but then I expect no more from a revisionist, typically you will remember things as how you want to and only quote anything that will substantiate your view, as I and most football fans do.
However Celtic were told not to bother asking for an extention as refusal often offends.
So poor rangers will play a game every three days eh plenty of rest for a professional football player, so why dont they drop out of one of the competitions, its their choice, the SPL should only be interested in SPL fixtures and competitions being their priority any other competition should not be accommodated for its their bread and butter. Yet they have pandered to rangers requests whilst ignoring requests from other teams, their priorities are obvious to all but the scottsh press.

11

canamalar,

23/04/2008 14:50:51
NO one has answerd my original question

Why are rangers unhappy about an extention they never requested ???
12

Will1875,

23/04/2008 15:36:05
As usual the OF are unhappy and the other teams have to accept this fiasco and like it or lump it.
13

mcaitchi,

23/04/2008 19:11:05
TELL THE OVERPAID BUNCH OF SOAP DODGERS TO GET ON WITH IT
14

ninenro,

23/04/2008 21:15:36
9
Silly bhoy !
15

Nev333,

24/04/2008 00:33:33
#11 - Just because Rangers didn't ask for an extension doesn't mean to say that they shouldn't be afforded one inexceptional circumstances.

That said, why should c**tic be so upset about the matches that don't affect them? Maybe if you REALLY want to win the SPL fairly, perhaps you guys should delay all of your remaining games and play them 3 days after each other too? You know, just to make sure that all teams have a level playing field?
16

sonofcosmos,

glasgow 26/04/2008 09:00:21
dearie me walter in a tizz....would have loved to have seen the hounding strachan would get if he came out with this rubbish ...and it strikes that smith is hinting at corruption..so we can expect him to be given a slaughtering in the media like romanov..aye right...
at least its nice to know smith wouldnt want celtic helped if the shoe was on the other foot..so shut up walter ...x

 

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