TITLE: SPL to extend league if Rangers reach Uefa final AUTHOR: Paul67 DATE: 4/22/2008 01:43:00 PM ----- BODY: The SPL have finally ‘used the pot’ and announced that they will move the entire final round of fixtures for the top six clubs form their scheduled date of 18 May to Thursday, 22 May 2008 if Rangers reach the Uefa Cup final. My initial anger at this announcement, which would unquestionable hand Rangers an advantage, is tempered only by the realisation that the scenario looks far from likely. On the positive side, I am pleased the league understands the importance of maintaining the sporting integrity of the tournament by having all top six final matches played simultaneously. The more likely scenario is that Rangers will lose to Fiorentina and the league will not be extended beyond 18 May (which the SPL have confirmed); Rangers would therefore be forced to play two midweek games in the final week of the season. This might sound like a setback, but I have a feeling that after Thursday night we might be quite happy with Lex Gold. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger ticketyboo COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:43 COMMENT-BODY:Cowards -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger BigChipSuk COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:44 COMMENT-BODY:It makes you wonder why we bother. Why don't we just award them next year's SPL title while we are at it? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Z COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:44 COMMENT-BODY:Cheats -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Marvin COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:47 COMMENT-BODY:Donttellmeitsrogannext

There's a pub on the V&A waterfront that "Scottish" called Mitchell’s Waterfront Brewery.

They should be showing the game, but as always, give them a shout first -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger danny COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:48 COMMENT-BODY:It means potentially we have almost 2 weeks between our last 2 fixtures. Players fall out of match practice etc -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Parkheadcumsalford COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:48 COMMENT-BODY:Let's just hope your final sentence comes true, Paul. The decision was a foregone conclusion to me; any and every advantage will be given to them.

I see the BBC are still carrying the story that Aberdeen's "goal" should have stood. Having watched the Samaras' "goal" a number of times, I still can't see why it was chocked off. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Z COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:49 COMMENT-BODY:Yup. Nothing but cheats.

Rangers asked for a postponement in December (to help them in two competitions) and failed to use the spare midweek’s available to them after that in December to play that or the earlier SFA postponed game (against St Mirren).

We played our games in December as expected of us (including our SFA postpone game) and lost points.

They are now being rewarded for giving themselves breathing space in Europe and the League in December, with breathing space in Europe and the League in May.

Under anyone’s rules, its cheating. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Tic Talk COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:50 COMMENT-BODY:Inasmuch as anger is not a healthy emotion, just remember this: There will only be an extension if their favoured child reaches the Final....they won`t so , even though the Authorities deserve it, don`t spoil your appetite by thnking of this rank bias! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Mort COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:50 COMMENT-BODY:Final sets of fixtures. Looks like your note to Lex Gold last night Paul got them to make a decision.

Scenario 1 (Rangers Qualify for UEFA Cup Final)

Celtic
27-Apr-08 - Rangers (H)
03-May-08 - Motherwell (A)
11-May-08 - Hibernian (H)
22-May-08 - Dundee United (A)

Rangers
27-Apr-08 - Celtic (A)
04-May-08 - Hibernian (A)
07-May-08 - Motherwell (H)
10-May-08 - Dundee United (H)
17-May-08 - Motherwell (A)
20-May-08 - St Mirren (A)
22-May-08 - Aberdeen (A)

Scenario 2 (Rangers dumped out of UEFA by Fiorentina)

Celtic
27-Apr-08 - Rangers (H)
03-May-08 - Motherwell (A)
11-May-08 - Hibernian (H)
18-May-08 - Dundee United (A)

Rangers
27-Apr-08 - Celtic (A)
04-May-08 - Hibernian (A)
07-May-08 - Motherwell (H)
10-May-08 - Dundee United (H)
13-May-08 - St Mirren (A)
15-May-08 - Motherwell (A)
18-May-08 - Aberdeen (A)

Looks like the three big games for Rangers will be Hibs, Motherwell and Dundee United. Lets hope all those teams can take points of them regardless of whether they get to UEFA final or not. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger hooptastic COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:51 COMMENT-BODY:It's quite a precedent for the SPL to set, and if nothing else it will be darkly amusing to see them twist and turn in future years if Celtic find themselves in a broadly similar position. Here's hoping that Fiorentina can do the job that Sporting should have done, and that the scenarion that Paul67 sketched out comes to pass. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger the long wait is over COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:52 COMMENT-BODY:The decision to extend the season is scandalous frankly.

Rangers asked to have the Gretna game postponed suit them;

Rangers failed to put teams away in the cup competitions resulting in draws and replays;

Rangers chose to continue to compete in four competitions in the full knowledge that doing so would stretch their resources -- they could have , if they chose to , sacrficed one of those competitions , as , eg Bolton did.

Does anyone seriously believe this would have even been considered let alone allowed for anyone else?

The statement from Iain Blair does not reveal whether Rangers requested the extension or whether the SPL simply unilaterally granted it.

My money is on the latter, otherwise , had a request been made , it seems to me that the SPL would have been duty bound to consult with its other members before the decision was made.

One way or another well never know the real truth unless we force the issue -- so much for transparency.

If we do force the issue well be vilified as being petty and insular.


If the "fixturing" this year has been so appallingly difficult as to produce "unparalleled scheduling problems" why is it that only one team is affected and the postponement is only dependent on Rangers participation in Europe.

If it was as bad as is being made out a postponement would be necessary for other teams and no matter what.

Whichever way you look at it the possible postponement arises only because of Rangers ongoing participation in Europe.


Scandalous.

TLWIO -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger gerry COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:52 COMMENT-BODY:Celtic should release a statement asking the SPL will all teams be able to get the season extended in the coming years, if the same sort of circumstances arise.

Thought we where heading for Japan at the end of the season, if we where, will the SPL compensate Celtic??


Oh well lets hump them on Sunday. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Emmett COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:53 COMMENT-BODY:typical..absolutely ridiculous...

So whats the story then with teams having booked holidays and apres season tours?? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger setting free the bears COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:53 COMMENT-BODY:I agree with Paul here. What looks, at first sight, to be a corrupt decision to serve the needs of Rangers, can be viewed through a more considered light if Fiorentina win.

The decision has been made before our game on Sunday and is, therefore, not dependent on that result.

I grudge them any consideration at all given we were not considered in 2003 but I believe Fiorentina will make all the machinations worthless.

No Uefa final means their SPL games have to be crammed in before the 18th. That'll do me.....



if they stick to that. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Cadizzy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:54 COMMENT-BODY:Paul, you are right that in the likely event that they get gubbed by Fiorentina, their fixture congestion is not made any better since they only shed one game (UEFA final)and they then have to play their last game on the 18th. It is definitely a better scenario for us, and better than what I was fearing but I certainly will not be thanking Lex Gold or Ian Blair or any others from that parcel of rogues. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger DublinBhoy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:55 COMMENT-BODY:Paul67:

The decision by the SPL is an absolute joke. They are cowards and cheats. The SPL do not deserve to have Celtic in their tin-pot backwards league.

I posted this on the last thread just as you upload the latest news:
After all the talk of banjo playing in-breds I thought I look up the origin of the word HillBilly . Now the world makes a little more sense!

Hail Hail -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger celticlover COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:56 COMMENT-BODY:dontbrattbackinanger:

From previous thread. I do think that Magic made the correct decision in leaving when he did and I hope he does well in the Euro Championships.I can almost remember the game in the latter half of the World Cup season when I realised that Magic was saving himself. What I did not appreciate was that kept saving himself! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Greg COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:56 COMMENT-BODY:My response is similar to yours Paul. While I believe there is no principled justification for the extension, in pragmatic terms I think that the SPL have actually played this quite cleverly. Clearly, they were never going to keep everyone happy with their decision, and while, on the face of it, they have handed Rangers a victory, I suspect it will turn out to be a hollow one when they get knocked out of the UEFA Cup in a week's time. At that point the season will not be extended and Rangers, having already been granted a meaningless concession, will have no choice but to play a game every 2 days for the final 3 league games. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Paul67 COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:56 COMMENT-BODY:Guys, I might be in a minority here, but I am happy with this decision. The SPL offered Rangers something which at the moment is worthless, it only takes on a value if they achieve something few of us believe they will.

At the same time they confirmed all games must be played by 18 May in the scenario most of us believe will happen.

canamalar, any club that takes the league to court automatically disqualifies itself from league competitions. This is the same rule in all football jurisdictions.

Stoir Mha, donations are accepted by cheque of bank transfer.

The God7ather, good to hear from you. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Mort COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:58 COMMENT-BODY:What odds on a "downpour" in the Motherwell area between 13th and 17th May making the sandpit that is Fir Park unplayable and that game having to be rescheduled to after the final rounds of games? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger danny COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 13:59 COMMENT-BODY:I suppose the 'season extension' headlines will fire our players up even more. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Greg COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:00 COMMENT-BODY:It also makes it a lot simpler for us to deal with the issue of how we want the UEFA semi-final to pan out. Given that their is no longer a consideration that getting to the final would add to Rangers' congestion problems, we can now unambiguously hope for a resounding Fiorentina victory. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Emmett COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:01 COMMENT-BODY:Paul, I have a bad feeling about the huns semi final though...they've fluked it every round so far and just have a bad feeling about it!! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Alan COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:01 COMMENT-BODY:It is scandalous - whichever version is used Rangers face two mid-week games. This is a total cop-out by the SPL and an assault on the integrity of the competition. I cannot beleive anyone at Celtic would complain about this. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger celticlover COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:02 COMMENT-BODY:paradise found:

Re. the 'penalty'. I too sit in the lower 106 part of the ground and, like you, I would have lost a lot of money on that call. I did see a hand hit the ball but after watching it on t.v. I'm flummoxed!

At least you had jet lag as an excuse. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger McManus69 COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:04 COMMENT-BODY:Paul67,

I assume this decision was made by the 5 SPL Board members including Erik Riley?. Hence clubs have no choice but to accept this schedule as these members are elected representatives of the 12 SPL Clubs. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger dontbrattbackinanger COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:04 COMMENT-BODY:Real Madrid and Franco?

Dinamo Berlin and the Stasi?

The relationship of the Horribles with their lackeys at the SFA is plumbing these depths, and may be even be going lower. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Tony Bananas COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:05 COMMENT-BODY:I see Ian Brines admitted that he was wrong to disallow Aberdee's "goal". Nothing about our efforts.

Did Andy Davis ever admit his mistake or is this something that only happens when the "mistake" favours Celtic? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger MagicRoundabout COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:05 COMMENT-BODY:Has Rev McCurry been announced as the Ref for Sunday yet?? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger scottishleaf COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:06 COMMENT-BODY:This part of the BBC report is the most important part for me:

"Rangers face four games in eight days whichever fixture list becomes reality."

Ideally they will not make the UEFA Cup Final (please god) and will be forced to play 4 games in 8days. Should they make the UEFA Cup Final (for the love of all things holy: NO)they will be forced to play 4 games in 8 days. The best scenario is foe them not to make the UEFA Cup final obviously....

Lets just hope they get pumped and utterly demoralised by Fiorentina on Thursday and then when we turn them over on Sunday, they will really begin to feel the pressure, particularly if they fail to win at Easter Road. It is still a very long shot but 3 in a row is still possible and won't it be all the sweeter in view of all the nonsense that has occurred in this horrible bigot infested backwater this year.

KEEP THE FAITH -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Alobundy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:08 COMMENT-BODY:Why wouldnt Rangers get passed Fiorentina, are they such a good side???. I thought Werder would pump them but they did not. Seeing the run that Rangers have had and the luck that has accompanied it, I would not rule anything out.

Changing the rules to suit and benefit one member is tantamount to cheating in my book. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger malceye COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:10 COMMENT-BODY:Paul

I wouldn't be surprised if this was just the start...Lex's attitude is get the bawheids used to the idea and then extend it again should circumstances (aka Rankers' quest for trophies) dictate.

The super soccer 5s at Portobello are run more efficiently. Postponement against Gretna ? Why of course.

Lex"AllIwantforXmasisacrystalball" Gold. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger StevieS COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:11 COMMENT-BODY:They WILL drop points.
If we can keep up our end (i.e. NOT drop points) then the league is ours. Extension or not.


p.s. Happy Bday WG (posted earlier but Blogger ate it!) -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Gordon_J COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:11 COMMENT-BODY:At least the spl has been forced into making a decision, which is what many of us called for.

Iain Blair, Company Secretary of the SPL, commented: “It is well documented that this has been an exceptionally challenging season in terms of fixturing. The combination of a number of diverse circumstances has produced unparalleled scheduling problems.

In other words, "we do not take this is setting a precedent for anything that may follow. This is a one off to help the huns, sorry because of exceptional circumstances.

Now it's up to us and Fiorentina to gub them, thus damanging their morale and forcing them into a fixture nightmare.

If by some fluke they do reach the final, I think they will have been given undue advantage in the league. The St Mirren game left to 2nd last is a nice wee bonus for them.

In that scenario, why not have the Motherwell game on 6 May and the St Mirren game on 8 May? That then keeps the integrity of the league intact by having the final two weekends as planned. Clubs don't lose a weekend home fixture and all ends as originally scheduled.

Surely the spl's first responsibility is the running of it's own competition? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Cadizzy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:12 COMMENT-BODY:Mort's point is a good one. There is absolutely no room for any further untoward developments. If any TFOD game is cancelled, it cannot be fitted in before 18th or 22nd as the case may be, in which case the last day fixtures will have to be moved yet again so that we do all play our last games at the same time. With the Scottish Cup Final due on the 24th, the last round of games would have to be played after QOS lift the cup. Given that Blairgold said that the final will be the final game of the season, they would then have to move the final back a week or go back on another sacrosanct arrangement.

I think we all can look at what has happened from a pragmatic point of view (Fiorentina win and nothing changes( but it still doesn't make the decision right. They have never done that for us (3Euro finals so there have been oppportunities).

Dublinbhoy, re your post on Hillbillies. I think I also read somewhere that Thailand's ladyboys are sometimes referred to as billyboys. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger patnevinspen COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:15 COMMENT-BODY:Any success they have will be tainted. I hope they enjoy it. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Paul67 COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:17 COMMENT-BODY:Emmet, I have been given counsel (from the other side) that Rangers are more likely to reach the Uefa final than win the league.

McManus69, I don’t know who was involved, but yes, the clubs have to accept it. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Cadizzy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:19 COMMENT-BODY:patnevinspen,

They will not see it as tainted but they will enjoy it all the more because they will enjoy our reaction to all of it almost as much as any success. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger dontbrattbackinanger COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:20 COMMENT-BODY:Cad ' I read somewhere' ?

Where- in the toilets at Bangkok Central Bus Station? :~@ -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger DublinBhoy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:24 COMMENT-BODY:Cadizzy:

If they can get away with throwing potatoes at our players, we should throw banjos at theirs...or womens thongs :)

Hail Hail -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger One Star Means More COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:25 COMMENT-BODY:(Posted on the wrong page)

I think it's a disgraceful decision but I also think it may work against Rangers in the long run.

Without Barry Ferguson, Rangers were unable to beat Partick Thistle or St Johnstone in 90 minutes of football. With Ferguson and Thomson missing from the midfield there will be even more waves of Fiorentina attacks at the Rangers defence and even less respite from them, something Ferguson does well in knowing how to alleviate pressure by bringing play up the field.

I have said all along that I expect Fiorentina to win at Ibrox - I am also convinced that Rangers are in for a uniquely exhausting experience - tired legs, carrying injuries, probable incessant pressure, possibly very physical, and highly emotional.

Added to that, they have this notion that they are now playing for a few days rest as well as a final. In any walk of life, that can sap your energy more than anything else.

Anyone not know the feeling of finishing work at the same time every day with no problem but then circumstances hint that you might get away a couple of hours early? Or something might close your workplace and you might get an extra day off? How does it feel when that doesn't pan out? If you're anything like me, that knocks the wind out of your sails for no good reason other than the introduction of a different psychological focus.

On Thursday Rangers play their first European final in decades with confidence that must be rock bottom. Even after winning on Sunday they just trudged off the park like a team that had just LOST a semi-final.

Ultimately, I think this will do them as much harm as good.

However, that doesn't change the fact that the decision is utterly wrong and ignores the interests of everyone outside of Rangers.

One more point - even if Rangers DID make the final, they will face some seriously angry St Mirren players (and I wouldn't have put bad money on Gus MacPherson putting out a strong side against them).

And if they did get to Manchester and lost, would they seriously be expected to bounce back and just win all their games? If they made the final would all their players be totally committed in SPL games een if it meant being crocked or knackered for the final? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Cadizzy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:26 COMMENT-BODY:I couldn't very well say I had first hand experience, could I? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger the long wait is over COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:27 COMMENT-BODY:After the quarter final result I wasnt feeling as anti Rangers as I thought I might.

There was even a little voice in me saying -- Dont be petty , Scottish team and all that; were not in the competition so what does it matter etc etc.

While I could never hope for a positive result for them I did , honestly try and disengage my anti Rangers grey matter.

NOW , however , that has all gone completely (maybe I was just deluding myself anyway).

I will be hoping for a Fiorentina result as if they played in the glorious Hoops themselves.

IF Rangers get to the final , win or lose , then this decision could adversely affect our chances of winning the league (no matter how slim my head tells my heart they may be)and so what else can we do as Celtic fans but hope they dont get there?

TLWIO -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger dontbrattbackinanger COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:31 COMMENT-BODY:Cad- lurking again ? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger PJBhoynyc COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:35 COMMENT-BODY:Seems to me this news was to be expected...
The Gold Compromise.
Is anyone suprised....really?

Still..... As my mother, who is always right, always says...

What goes around comes around...

CQN Song Of The Day

Roll on Three in A Row.... -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Bhoy Sean COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:37 COMMENT-BODY:Alobundy

I can't see them getting past Fiorentina, they were extremely fortunate against Werder Bremen and would have been out if it wasn't for Bremen'a goalie having two Rab Douglas moments. Even with the two goal advantage it's a wonder how Bremen didn't put away any of their many clear cut chances in the return leg. Against Sporting Rangers did well but Sporting were pretty poor.

I think the difference from those games and this game coming up is that Rangers are losing steam. They've only won 4 games over 90mins out of the last 11 games I believe. They will also face Fiorentina with a severely limited squad as they're finally suffering a run of injuries. I think all the post-match beer & pizza is finally taking its toll on their fitness levels.

I doubt they will go through but I must say I'm still raging. There has been plenty of seasons were pro-Rangers bias has been strong but this season is just ridiculous. To read that story juxtaposed with the Brines "I got it wrong (but I wont mention the other mistake) and might have cost Rangers the league" left me fuming. It was a snapshot of the season which we've had to put up with. i think if we win the league this year it will be the sweetest one since stopping 10-in-a-row and I think it will back fire on them all as it will unite us closer than ever. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger timthatsnottoodim COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:37 COMMENT-BODY:Let's be honest - did anyone expect anything different???

A look at the past

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/2951361.stm

However, I would refrain from being bitter until required to do so........I doubt they'll beat an Italian team who will line up with a 5-4-1 formation - the same as Rangers -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Patrick COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:39 COMMENT-BODY:Dontyellmerogansnext

Go to the Jo'burg CSC website www.celticsupportersjhb.co.za and drop us a line there. One of us can put you in contact with the Cape Town Tims. The match is at least on one of the satellite TV channels. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Nae Bread come on the 'tic! COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:41 COMMENT-BODY:Paul67

Seeing that the SPL has now shown pro rangers bias, (however unlikely it is that they go through, they are still being helped more than any team in the previous history of the SPL), is there any way Celtic could get themselves expelled from the SPL, and if we were expelled would the premiership make an exception and let us play with their ball? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Agent Green COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:43 COMMENT-BODY:Lurker forced into the open.

Is there any other league in the world this would be countenanced? Nah...didn't think so.

Scottish football as a fair competition is now finished. The genie is out the bottle and humming the sash -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Alan COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:47 COMMENT-BODY:So the SPL shafts Rangers and you guys think it's biased AGAINST you.

You are paranoid aren't you. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Cadizzy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:47 COMMENT-BODY:I have never been to Thailand so cannot comment on what is written, possibly even depicted,on toilet walls at places of public transport. But I bet you they are more believable than anything BlairGold would put out (BlairGold puts out....there is a horrible image).

I did see this piece of graffiti in a cubicle in the modern languages library at Glasgow University.

"Back in 5 minutes - Godot"

Students eh! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Cadizzy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:49 COMMENT-BODY:Alan, gie's peace -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Kano COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:53 COMMENT-BODY:WG,

belated best wishes for your Birthday.

Hope you had a good one. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Ulster-Celt COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:53 COMMENT-BODY:i think we will be lifting the league championship trophy on the 11th of May

Ulster-celt -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger StevieS COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:54 COMMENT-BODY:Ok, go on then Alan, I'll bite....

Explain to me how exactly the SPL have "shafted" R*ngers here? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Donttellmeitsrogannext COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:54 COMMENT-BODY:Cheers to Marvin and Patrick for the Cape Town info.
Patrick, just been on the jo'burg site and the contact us section only has a map no contact details as such. I tried to register as a member but I keep getting an error message?. Some good pics in the photo gallery tho!!
Is there an email address I can drop one of you a line on for some info on Cape Town venues, would be brilliant to watch us hump the huns alongside some fellow tims over there.
Cheers again
DTMIRN -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Gordon_J COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:55 COMMENT-BODY:alan,

How do you interpret the announcement as "shafting Rangers"? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Patrick COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:59 COMMENT-BODY:Dontellme etc

Drop me a line on: lawlor dot patrick at gmail dot com

(Sorry for not including all the @ signs and stuff, but i'm told this is the wise thing to do if you don't want to get your address harvested by the spammers) -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger ticketyboo COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 14:59 COMMENT-BODY:I want Fiorentina to win even more now than I did this morning. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Mort COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:01 COMMENT-BODY:Alan

I understand Rangers requested and received a postponement of the Gretna game (8/12/07) to give them extra time to prepare for the match with Lyon (11/12/07).

Why could this game not have taken place the midweek before this UEFA Cup qualifer (i.e. w/c 3 December) as this would still have given them a full weeks rest?

This would have allowed one of the other outstanding games to be played when the Gretna game was played leaving just 1 game to fit in.

Rangers (and the SFA with their request for games to be postponed to help Scotland) have only themselves to blame.

What would be your solution to this fixture congestion? Rangers get 2 games v Motherwell and St Mirren any time after 18 May? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger St-Gris COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:02 COMMENT-BODY:patrick,

Lets hope the spammers dont have a pen and paper to hand mate or your *****d -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Alan COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:02 COMMENT-BODY:Whichever scenario comes about Rangers will have to play 4 games in 8 days, no other team in the SPL has had to do that this Season. Having decided that the Season can be extended it could have been extended until the Tuesday after the Cup final allowing the normal pattern of Weekend / Weekday to be preserved.

Stepping back a bit it's actually quite funny - Rangers & Celtic fans are both irate over this decision beleiving the SPL has it in for them and wants the other team to win. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger hoopeddreams COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:03 COMMENT-BODY:Paul

I accept that this decision may defer to our advantage. However, it also offends every principle of fairness which applies in sporting matters. Indeed, the very concept of fairness has effectively been discarded in favour of biased expediency. It is also rather cunning to offer two alternative scenarios simultaneously as this gives the decision the gloss of even-handedness.

I have no objection to Rangers having the chance to cancel a game in advance of the UEFA final but not to extend the season as to do so adversely affects our chances.
It is patently obvious that Rangers are struggling at the moment. In allowing in the possibility of an extension, the SPL have given Rangers an additional incentive. We, on the other hane, have been given a slap in the face. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Patrick COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:09 COMMENT-BODY:St Gris

I only worry about mischievous bluenoses. And EdwardU already has my e-mail address .... -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger brenlox COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:10 COMMENT-BODY:Paul 67,

Had a sneaky feeling this morning that something like this would happen. Make it look as though all of the clubs are extending their season so it looks fair. What is our clubs response to this. Have we accepted this extension, did we have any option.

Just for one moment imagine if this was us in their position. Just imagine.... -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Cadizzy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:12 COMMENT-BODY:Alan said
"Stepping back a bit it's actually quite funny - Rangers & Celtic fans are both irate over this decision beleiving the SPL has it in for them and wants the other team to win."

The difference is that our gripe is down to the unprecedented and unprincipled extension of the league season to accommodate Rangers and your gripe is down to the fact that the unprecedented and unprincipled extension of the league season to accommodate Rangers is not long enough. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Emmett COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:13 COMMENT-BODY:The only set of fans that should be irate are Celtic as there should be no extension of the league regardless of any scenario.

Drop out of a competition if the number of games is too much... -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Patrick COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:14 COMMENT-BODY:On the topic at hand, I have less of an issue with the extension itself than the way it was handled. There have been numerous opportunities to make up these fixtures, granted, at congested times of the year, but less congested than the fixture list Rangers find themselves with now.

Furthermore, the SPL could most certainly have made this recent decision a week ago, if not earlier. What took so long? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger patnevinspen COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:14 COMMENT-BODY:Would you give a boxer one nore round?

a tennis player one more set?

a snooker player one more frame?

a golfer one more hole?

Nope! you must do it in the time/season allotted. Sorry, wrong decision. Unfair and unsporting. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Shelley COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:15 COMMENT-BODY:This was posted a few days ago on youtube. Radio talk 107 with an explanation about the Scotland's Shame banner from a Green Brigade spokesman.

He sounds young, but he does Celtic proud!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtY7KZHI0zo -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Donttellmeitsrogannext COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:20 COMMENT-BODY:Patrick, you have mail.....
Cheers -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger 1977 COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:24 COMMENT-BODY:The extension of the SPL is a complete joke. Even if it is only if they reach the uefa final. It is rangers' fault they are in the position they are in now. Rangers wanted to postpone the gretna game and it was Rangers' pitch that was unplayable for a celtic game. If rangers cant play the games then they should cancel one of them and forfeit the points/result. Why should other SPL teams change their end of season plans so rangers can improve their chances of winning 4 trophies. Resign now Lex Gold! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Gordon_J COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:25 COMMENT-BODY:Interestingly on Follow Follow they are delighted as this is apparently one in the eye for Peter Lawell, who didn't want any extension.

They also assume we will be going mental. Well, that's not exactly the text but this is a family site.

A few later posters are beginning to question whether it is good news for them, but it appears they simply believe that they have come out ahead as they expected, -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Patrick COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:28 COMMENT-BODY:Donttell

I have the details at home, so I'll drop you a line this evening. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Cadizzy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:28 COMMENT-BODY:UEFA.com's headline for the story

"Rangers may force Scottish adjustment" -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Madra Rua COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:32 COMMENT-BODY:I have just received this link from a fellow Tim.
Anyone know who's behind it ?
http://www.freewebs.com/scotlands-shame/index.htm -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Z COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:32 COMMENT-BODY:Alan

Rangers shafted themsleves.

1. They postponed the Gretna game.
2. They failed to reshedule this and the SFA postponed game v St Mirren for free midweeks in December.
3. Their pitch was waterlooged for the East Stirling game.
4. They failed to beat Hibs and Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup at the first time of asking.

These are the reasons they find themselves with a busy schedule. Why is any of that anybody elses fault?

If your team is struggling to cope then they can always withdraw from one or more of the competitions which they entered. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger steveg1888 COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:32 COMMENT-BODY:Donttellmeitsrogannext


There is a new Celtic Supporters Club at Sea Point in Cape Town, it's just got off the ground.

I'll meet you and pick you up if you want?

Last week there was about 20 of us, fantastic. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger pastyface COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:33 COMMENT-BODY:this season has been a catalogue of poor decision making by the SPL heirachy.

Agreeing to let Gretna groundshare with Motherwell. One of the most notorious pitches.

The appalling lack of guts over the death of Phil O'Donnell. Nobody would be complaining if all the games had been cancelled and the season extended.

Pointless cancelling of games to help the national team. What other country does this?

Allowing teams to postpone games to prepare for European games then not rescheduling for months after the event.

They have proved they couldn't organise a p*** up in a brewery.

We should not be surprised now.

On Rangers we must remember that they HAVE to win the league they have based all future decisions and money spent this season on winning this league.

The Cardigan is being forced to leave injured players on the pitch etc and using any method they have.

I"m also sure that the Cardigan in his heart of hearts didn't really believe that they would go this far in Europe. He knows the limitations of his team at least -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Patrick COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:33 COMMENT-BODY:Let's not forget that either way, Rangers have a scary fixture list ahead of them. This is a victory for 'them' but it's a small one. They would still have 6 more fixtures than us to complete in a 30-day period, as opposed to 26 days. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger St-Gris COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:34 COMMENT-BODY:I have this wee niggling pain that Fiorentina will be as crap as Bremen and Sporting.

I just hope they play as well as they can do at Ibrox and learn from previous Ibrox clashes that its absolutely imperative that they score against the huns at Ibrox.

Forza Viola (dont even know what that means but it sounds / looks good :-)...) -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Tony Bananas COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:35 COMMENT-BODY:Does anyone else find it suspicious that in the event of the orcs reaching the UEFA final, the final round of fixtures will be carried over to the following THURSDAY, not the more traditional Wednesday night.

If I didn't know better, I would assume that the SPL have thought this through and reached the conclusion that an extra day's rest to beat Aberdeen at Pittodrie is a lot more valuable than giving up a day's rest to beat QOS at Hampden... -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger dontbrattbackinanger COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:36 COMMENT-BODY:Force implies some resistance on the part of the SFA to the Horribles request- Cadizzy's beloved ladybhoys have bigger avocados than the SFA. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger James COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:40 COMMENT-BODY:Has anybody read Ian Blair's final comment on the SPL website

http://www.scotprem.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10002~1295430,00.html

The have not closed the door on further requests for rescheduling, although the request would have to be "compelling". Watch this space . . . -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger PjDali COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:41 COMMENT-BODY:At the end of the day we must, MUST win on sunday to make these scenarios actually matter.

We win and 'squeeky bum time' will be coming to a cinema near you soon....


This is such a massive game and I hope we murder them and send out the message 2ND place is the best they'll get!!

They'll also know if they scrape a point or god forbid a win and it's giving them some leeway for dropped points.......

But less of that negative stuf we will win and I reckon by 3 goals -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger TheTokenTim COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:48 COMMENT-BODY:Forget the semantics, the SPL are CHEATS!!!!!
That's the bottom line.

Accommodating one club in December (for the good of scottish football, aye right!). Not allowing another club the same courtesy (blame Murderwell instead)
Now accomodating that same club - AGAINST the wishes of at least one OTHER club - all in their interest.

CHEATS!!! VILE DESPICABLE CHEATS!!

I am finding it so hard to write this without the resultant deletion due to the profanities - apoplectic just about covers my feelings just now.

This may well end up in our favour, and it may well be moot after Thursday, but the decision should NEVER have been taken, that is the crux of the matter.

HAIL! HAIL!
Token

PS - WG, belated MHR mate. Hope the Teser treated you accordingly well. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Cadizzy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:49 COMMENT-BODY:DBBIA said "Cadizzy's beloved ladybhoys"

You sir are a cad and a bounder to impugn my honour and besmirch my good name thusly. I hereby challenge you to a virtual duel My seconds shall revert to yours.

Didn't folk talk in a rubbish way in them olden days?

Olden talk is rubbish. Modern life is los cojones del perro (which are also bigger than Blairgold's) -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger U2_1888 COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:51 COMMENT-BODY:Statement from the SPL....reworded....

"Having extended Rangers the favour of agreeing to the requested postponement of their fixture against Gretna - a favour not extended to Celtic despite a more demanding schedule and indeed declined when requested by Aberdeen with a similar schedule - the SPL would like to announce a further favour for Rangers.

A direct consequence of the original favour is that Rangers now have a congested fixture list to deal with, ironically compounded by their progress in Europe - the prime objective of our original favour. As a result, the SPL would like to announce a further favour to Rangers to alleviate this congestion caused by the original favour.

The fact that this additional favour will mean that Aberdeen - whom Rangers face in the last SPL fixture - will have a gap of 12 days between their penultimate fixture and this fixture is an unfortunate consequence for Aberdeen. However, they aren't as important as Rangers.

Similarly, Celtic will have to hang around for 11 days with no fixture. As the SPL is a secondary competition when compared with the UEFA Cup, any integrity compromise with the provision of (another) favour for Rangers while simultaneously disadvantaging Celtic and Aberdeen is a small price to pay.

The irony that the two clubs directly disadvantaged by this second favour are the same two clubs that were not afforded the same original favour in similar circumstances is, indeed, completely lost on us here at the SPL."


End of reworded SPL statement. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Gordon_J COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:53 COMMENT-BODY:tony bananas,

The Wednesday is the Champion's League final. Of course the league could be finished on the Tuesday...


I hope Fiorentina have done their homework, Traditionally you would expect an Italian team to come into a first leg away from home playing defensively and being happy with a 0-0. If they do that it will be another absolute snorefest with neither team attacking at all!

If they have decided to go for an away goal or two, they can win the tie at Ibrox.

Here's hoping! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Paul67 COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:54 COMMENT-BODY:Nae Bread, nae chance.

Welcome Agent Green.

Alan, no complaints from me. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Donttellmeitsrogannext COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:54 COMMENT-BODY:Steveg1888, that sounds brilliant. I'm staying in Camps Bay from thursday so I'll make some enquiries into where sea point is and get my bearings. Any chance of getting a number or email from you cos I'm right up for that on sunday.
Cheers
mmurphy070'at'aol'dot'com -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Cadizzy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 15:59 COMMENT-BODY:There is an article linked on Wiki about the Billy Boys in Glasgow (so no Far East fixation of Carla-esque proportions here). Doesn't King Billy look like Brian May and Anita Dobson? That's no feather in his cap! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Patrick COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:00 COMMENT-BODY:Donttell

Camps Bay is very near to Sea Point. Hope the weather is good while you're there (Cape Town is infamous for its wind) as there are some great beaches in the vicinity too. I have details for another CT Tim, which I'll pass on. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger TheTokenTim COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:02 COMMENT-BODY:As a follow-on from another poster telling us about the Aberdeen non-goal being given nationwide coverage on talksport. Just listening live to Adrian "Follow-Follow" Durham on talksport stating:

"As Celtic were given 2 points they should not have had, the game MUST be replayed because of the knock-on effects this has in the race for the title!"

You CANNOT make it up!

Needless to say no mention of our disallowed goal or the fact that all Celtic and aberdeen players had stopped playing PRIOR to Diamond shooting.

About to email them poste haste!

HAIL! HAIL!
Token -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger The Spirit of Arthur Lee COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:04 COMMENT-BODY:Wg

Yer 58th Birthday is another JFK moment

Cheats -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger steveg1888 COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:07 COMMENT-BODY:Donttell, Patrick

you have mail -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger MagicRoundabout COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:07 COMMENT-BODY:http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi
/football/scot_prem/2951361.stm -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger barcabhoy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:09 COMMENT-BODY:has there been an official reaction from the club as yet -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Cadizzy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:15 COMMENT-BODY:nothing on the fishul site, not even news of the extension -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Nae Bread come on the 'tic! COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:22 COMMENT-BODY:You can bet your last dollar that they (r*ngers) will be demanding 'strong' refereeing on Sunday , that they will, dive, scratch, cheat and try to get our players dismissed. It will be a powderkeg on Sunday.

Will the ref give in to them?
Wait and see.

If he does we should resign from the spl and sacrifice a few years climb through the lower EPL divisions. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Tony Bananas COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:22 COMMENT-BODY:TokenTIm - re Adrian "followfollow" Durham... does that mean we can get a re-run of the 2005 league title as well following the Andy Davis debacle?? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger setting free the bears COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:26 COMMENT-BODY:Shelley @ 15.15

The young lad did indeed do himself proud as Dominik Diamond pretended to be neutral in defending any generalisations about Rankers fans.

Thanks for posting the link. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Seville67 COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:26 COMMENT-BODY:Paul,

I agree with you with regards to this being a good decision.

For what it is really worth is zero (after Fiorentina do the business).

I think that we will have more opportunity to use this to our advantage in the future.

I know we all hate Rangers - other than Ed - but if this was Hibs we would certainly have more of us seeing this decision as correct.

It is now fashionable to lambast anything that the authorities, refs do as Pro Rangers and Anti Celtic. But if we are level headed we need to see that not every decision is against us - Iain Brines.... enough said. Or Robson getting away with one on Daily. Also let me put everyone straight on Iain Blair - Mr Blair is a dyed in the wool hoops man ( The Blue Hoops of Greenock Morton ). He went to St Columbas in Gourock and would never do the huns a favour if he could avoid it.

What we need to do is win 4 games and get the prayer mats out - cause the only reason we are even having this discussion is our own failures - failure to buy a defence in August and failure to beat Motherwell and Dundee Utd at Celtic Park recently.

I will probably get abused for telling the truth but sometimes we need to think before knee jerk blaming everybody else.

Seville67 -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Mort COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:27 COMMENT-BODY:TokenTim

Why not, lets play it tomorrow night and roar the bhoys on to a cricket score victory to give us a much improved goal difference. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Cadizzy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:29 COMMENT-BODY:Naebread

If we resigned from the league because of unfair refereeing, we would be a laughing stock and would not be welcome in any league in any country.

Even if we were invited into the English leagues(highly unlikely) financially we could not afford a few years climbing through those
leagues.
So, we just have to beat the referee as well as it has always been. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger TheTokenTim COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:29 COMMENT-BODY:Tony Bananas,

as usual Hunbelievable mate!

Hail! Hail!
Token -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger ticketyboo COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:32 COMMENT-BODY:Nae bread,
Ref on Sunday is Craig Thomson.

I like him. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Didas sore face COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:36 COMMENT-BODY:I would like the official club statement to read along these lines:

Dear SPL/SFL

After todays decision, it is now crystal clear that your alligence lies not with the good of Scottish football but the absolute disruption of the league, for a team, which largley contributed to it's own situation with begging letters for a day off against the worst team in the league in December, and inadequcies in dealing with lower league oposition without going to a replay in cup competition.
Therefore we have reached the conclusion for the true good of Scottish football you should all take a long walk off of a very short but high cliff.

We also recomend that when referees make comments on decisions that affect the outcome of games that they address all issues not just ones that the media have selected for them to answer too.

Perhaps a copy of the entire match report should be posted on the SFA website for all to see.

Yours The Good Guys

Do you think it will sound similar? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Cadizzy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:37 COMMENT-BODY:sevillle67, I recall you posting before on a Greenock related topic so I know you know your facts. For others, as you would expect, St Columba's is a Catholic school which I and several other bloggers attended and, indeed, in which more than one Brennan taught -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Mort COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:39 COMMENT-BODY:Dundee United Chairman Eddie Thompson has voiced his concerns over the extension in a letter to SPL Secretary Iain Blair today.

Chairman Eddie Thompson said that although the full extent of his correspondence was private he was deeply concerned about the prospect of extending the season until 22 May for a number of reasons. These included the not insignificant financial impact, the 12 day gap from the previous SPL fixture and, very importantly, the fact that supporters, once again, are being asked to change their arrangements to a much less convenient time. The Chairman stressed that he wished Rangers every success in their bid for a UEFA Cup final place but did not see why others should bear the cost of this. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Seville67 COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:40 COMMENT-BODY:Paul,

do you know where Noel90 has gone?

He is a big loss to the site for taking the heat out of conflicts and adding a real sense of humour.

I hope that Gary Caldwell playing most weeks has not driven him away.

Seville67 -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger TheTokenTim COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:40 COMMENT-BODY:Seville67,

I have no problems whatsoever with losing the league (apart from the obvious of course), but only when it is done within the parameters of the game.

Extending the season to suit 1 team and 1 team only is not that! And that is the reason I am so annoyed.
You make a valid point when saying that I would not be as annoyed - I would still be annoyed though - if it was Hibs, but how and in what way is this the correct decision????

The fact that rangers could be victims of their own success is neither here nor there. I believe, like many others, that was our situation/problem in 2003.

Mort,

With you all the way on that one!

HAIL! HAIL!
Token -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger danny COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:42 COMMENT-BODY:As I said earlier and Eddie Thompson says the 12 day gap could be crucial. We face the prospect of our players 'sitting about' for 12 days waiting for only 1 game. While Rangers could be playing every few days keeping match fit. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Seville67 COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:45 COMMENT-BODY:Cadizzy,

me too and that very good friend of mine Mr Brennan gave Mr Blair many a histoty lesson. That said I don't recall Mr Blair passing his History higher and as Mr. M Brennan said to him when he failed... (In that Brennan voice....aaaaahhh Iain if you know your history...."

Unfortunately he still went the way of the "Ton".

Seville67 -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Mabel COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:46 COMMENT-BODY:Paul

collie says:

Stop all yer Wailin' an' Gnashin' o' Teeth,

Fur Auld Faither Time is a Heckava Thief!

He's sneaks up, when yer No Lookin'..... an' Suddenly, He's There!

HE'S soitenly gonna get ye...

It Jist isnae Fair!

Noo, HE'S woikin' agin OOR Auld RIVALS,
They hivnae a Chance!

HE'S gonna catch up wi' them,
An' Spile, Their BIG DANCE!

They thought they wur HAME FREE...

The LEAGUE FLAG wuz Theirs!

But, thur HEAVY FIXTURE PILE-UP...

Wull... KNOAK OUT THE BEARS!

Time wull be called, oan the 18th o' May,

Fur d'ya think they'll beat FIORENTINA?
Ma Answer...

NAE WAY!

So listen, Dear People...
Like Ah said oan Line ONE..

Thur is nae need tae WORRY...

Auld Faither Time...

WULL TAK CARE O' THE HUN!


collie.
Tail's Awaggin', Awaggin'


.....................


Love to you and yours,

Mabel -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Mort COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:46 COMMENT-BODY:Following on from Eddie Thompson's statement, does anyone think the SPL will reimburse clubs playing (possible) home games on the Thursday night as their attendances will be lower than if the game was on at a weekend.

The SPL has become a laughing stock this season with matches postponed for stupid reasons, not postponed for sensible reasons, and the groud share debacle that led to 6 matches in the league, others in the cup being postponed because the pitch couldn't cope and a further match moved to a 1st division ground.

Not to mention the bailing out of Gretna. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger x COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:52 COMMENT-BODY:Personally, I cannot get excited about this extension stuff.

If we lose / they win the league (however you want to phrase it) it will be because they were the better team over 38 matches.

I hope that is not the case, but if it is, the sooner we accept our failings ( e.g. sub standard replacement keeper, insufficient defensive resources of a suitable quality, lack of quality up front) and address them, the greater likelihood of wresting our title back from them next year (if it does come to pass).

Frank -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger hoopeddreams COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:54 COMMENT-BODY:It occurs to me that there is another team who may be particularly aggrieved at extending the season- the team who would play Rangers in the UEFA final. Will they obtain a similar dispensation from their governing authority? Whichever way you look at it, this decision has created an injustice which cannot be mitigated. The only principled approach would have been to keep the original date for the season's end. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger amca COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 16:58 COMMENT-BODY:The herald site has footage of gold and blair using celtic 2003 as precedent for this extension!!!! Although in their desperation to make the untenable appear tenable they say that Celtic were playing Dundee Utd! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger roybainestache COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:00 COMMENT-BODY:I thought this was a done deal when I heard Smith (he does have a surname) talking about being "made to play games"

As soon as Rangers complained it was an option.
I hope we can drag the league on as long as possible for the shameless cheats.
I also hope no matter what is at stake Rangers are made to pay for the cancelled holidays from players at other clubs.

Would be nice if Aberdeen kicked them to bits as well for this. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger setting free the bears COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:01 COMMENT-BODY:I ended my original post, in support of Paul's view, with the comment

"If they stick to it"

My fear is that once the possibility of extension has been raised and planned for, there will be a cry for it to happen, even after Fiorentina beat Rangers.

After all, if it's there and it's available, why not use it? Why stick to the original dates when teams have got themselves half adjusted to an extension. No, you don't want the league decided because rangers fixtures are too congested; let's just use the extension time anyway. It's only fair.

I want this agreement written in blood. As soon as the final whistle blows on the 1st May, Celtic should announce a tour of Ireland starting on the 19th May to prevent any second thoughts. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger canamalar COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:02 COMMENT-BODY:Paul67,
is it not the case that all clubs in the league would be barred from european and international competition ?

If so I think we would be in a better financial position than any club and even the authorities to come through such a battle.

In any other business the regulatory authorities could be taken to court for improper conduct (corruption, springs to mind) for such gerrymandering of preset obligations, this is fixture fixing, no other description fits.

The fact that they might not see any benefit from this, is neither here nor there, the problem everyone here has is the authorities are accommodating one team over all others to the detriment of all others. This is a corrupt decision and should be challenged in court, regardless of the european competition consequences. This is the 21st century and we must stop being the whipping boys.

Time to make a stand.

I have not got to the -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger tinytim COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:02 COMMENT-BODY:Tickets for our polish friend for Sunday.

A long time lurker on the site (Ross Cambell),cannot make Sundays match against Rangers.
He has to go to Sweden due to business commitments.
He has one ticket available.

It needs collected from his parents house in Ayr.

Can someone collect and pass it on to one of our Polish friends and then arrange for it to be handed over to me,after the match on Sunday.

I can be contacted on my email address through clicking on my blog name (Tinytim). -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger roybainestache COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:02 COMMENT-BODY:amca

I remember when we had the Dundee game moved.
They were as keen as us as they had the Scottish Cup Final soon after and wanted as many games out of the road as possible. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger winningemmell COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:04 COMMENT-BODY:ghuys and ghals -

thanks for all the kind regards, I was having a good day.


As soon as the possibility of tampering with the league season is mooted we are being cheated.

As this flies in the face of Peter Lawwell's statement re same I expect to hear some damning words from G40. Because it might work out well for us in the end does not make this right. It is wrong, partisan, typical and oh so predictable.

Another day, another arrow that flies by day.


CHEATS -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger U2_1888 COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:04 COMMENT-BODY:Aberdeen should be seriously aggrieved at this decision.

Their request to have the same favour as Rangers, one week later, was declined.

Now another favour to Rangers - as a direct consequence of the original favour - means they lose the last weekend of the season at Pittodrie and have to wait 12 days to play a Thursday night game.

Eddie Thomson won't be the last to voice concerns. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger tinytim COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:11 COMMENT-BODY:Unless an alchoholic admits that they have an alchol problem ,Then the problem will persist.

The extension to the league is a mute point for me.

The best team wins the league over a 38 game season.

If they win it they deserve it.

They will not have been helped to the extent ,that it corrupted OUR final points tally.

We if we had won more matches, an extension to the season would be irrelevant.

Also ,because we had to suffer in the past,doesn't make it right that other's ,or ourselves ,should suffer in the future.

The league have made a sensible decision in my book.

Get of the paranoia pills Bhoys. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger tinytim COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:11 COMMENT-BODY:May i a add,that i am praying that the Viola, pump that mob. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger amca COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:15 COMMENT-BODY:tiny Tim ..... the decision is wrong and lacking in integrity, no matter who wins the league. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Ulster-Celt COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:20 COMMENT-BODY:magregor,mccollugh,tompson and ferguson all miss out on thursday. that is nearly half of their strongest 11.

on sunday macgregor,mccollough,tompson and cuellar are out.

look what happened to us when we lost are 1st choice players.

they are knackered and running out of players.

paddy power pay out day 11th may -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger canamalar COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:22 COMMENT-BODY:tinytim,
the points won/lost is moot in my opinion.
For me the main point is that the authorities have favoured on e team to the detrement of all other teams.
Any other business this would be seen as corruption. At the moment I am working on 3 similar sites all have penalty clauses of £10000 per day if the jobs are not handed over on time, if one of these jobs was given preferential treatment and the penalty waived the client would be be facing litigation, from all other sites. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger dontbrattbackinanger COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:23 COMMENT-BODY:Tinytim' -if we had won more matches' -this has been brought about by our victory last Wednesday, and the tiny seed of doubt that must now be germinating in their minds. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger the long wait is over COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:26 COMMENT-BODY:This post has been removed by the author. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Tic Talk COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:28 COMMENT-BODY:Seems to me that there are a couple of bottom lines on this one.
The real bottom line is that the offer of an extension should not have been made.The second aspect is a little more intriguing.
Several have mentioned mid-weeks when THEY could have played but the SPL did not arrange these games. Surely TFOD tribesmen can argue that this was a ploy to ensure an over-loaded fixture list for ther team and that the `extension` is just a sop as they won`t get passed Fiorentina anyway. Am I right in thinking that Fergusson, McGreggor, Thompson and McCulloch are all missing on Thursday? 2-0 Fiorentina but I would prefer a draw so that the Hun knacker themselves before playing Hibs the following week. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Tom COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:31 COMMENT-BODY:I still want us to play 3/5/2
But on to the extention. When I heard the ref say he made a mistake and Aberdeen did not handle the ball - I said to my Celtic minded mate the SFA are going to extend the season. It really is a set up
But on a positive note I really do think they are worried/nervous
Quick thank you to the boys on "Celticbars.com" I will be cheering the hoops in the USA
HAIL HAIL -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger rossio67 COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:33 COMMENT-BODY:Found this in the BBC archive. In it, is the following quote:

SPL chairman Lex Gold described as "garbage" suggestions of bias and that the decision would have been different had Rangers been in Celtic's position.

Hmmm, really...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/2940379.stm

Further digging found this little quote too:

"It is now being suggested that the police did not insist on a specific date but simply asked that the game be played "sooner rather than later".

I remember this from the time - the SPL stated that it was a police decision, only for the police to come out and say it wasn't true. In times like these, it sometimes makes you wonder what's the point, we'll never get a fair crack of the whip. Though I suppose that's one of the great things about supporting Celtic, knowing that when we do win, we hae done so against all the odds... -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Cadizzy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:40 COMMENT-BODY:tinytim, the extension to the league may be a moot point for you but it clearly is not for Eddie Thompson or Peter Lawwell and, I expect, Aberdeen not to mention the remainder of the top six.

Rangers may not have been helped to the extent that they corrupt our points tally but they may be helped to the extent that it assist favcourably their own.

Regardless of those possibilities, it is an action that has not been countenanced before for any other team.

You say that because we suffered in the past that doesn't make it right that others ,or ourselves,should suffer in the future. We suffered because the rules were properly applied. The rules are not being properly applied in this case so that Rnagers do not suffer.

You also say that if we had won more matches, an extension to the season would be irrelevant. But we didn't and it is.

I have said several times today that the effect of the extension may not harm us unduly (though it might). Whether it does or it doesn't and regardless of who wins the league, the decision was wrong in principle. This is not paranoia and I think you are mistaken to suggest that it is.

If you respond, please do not be offended if I do not reply further. I will be offline shortly, probably until tomorrow by which time, we will all be back to talking about thon French guy's missus and towels for the retrieval of. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger roybainestache COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:40 COMMENT-BODY:I believe Celtic and some of the other clubs have checked out the legalities of the extension.

The club are not happy but Krakatowa will not publicly erupt. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger gallbhoy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:41 COMMENT-BODY:with regards to extension no matter the outcome the decision to extend the season stinks and has the fingerprints of corruption and anti celtic bias but whatelse do you expect from pigs but grunts -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Big Joe COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:45 COMMENT-BODY:Hi every 1……………………………….

Been quiet for a wee while…………………………..

BUT……………………………………………………………..

The SPL have awakened me from my slumber…………

For me there is only 1 word………………………………….

Fit for them………………………………………………….




CHEETS……………………………………………………….



Plane and simple…………………………………………..

Oh………………………………………………………………

Happy birthday winningemmell…………………………..

Live long and prosper…………………………………….

BigJoeWHOcannyBeleveIT -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Gordon_J COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:53 COMMENT-BODY:One thing is confusing me. If pretty much every other club seems to be opposed to the extension, who actually agreed to it??

All other clubs involved are at best inconvenienced and at worst out of pocket and disadvantaged. So who supported the extension? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Z COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:58 COMMENT-BODY:http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,5~1295836,00.html

Huns already making noises about league exntension if they dont make final.

as predicted by some other posters. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger ElDiegoBhoy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 17:58 COMMENT-BODY:club statement -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger The Narrowbhoat Tim COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:03 COMMENT-BODY:Today, April 22nd -- a date which will live in infamy

I believe that I interpret the will of the Tims and of the Celtic when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our team, and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our football team -- with the unbounded determination of the Tims -- we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God.

A state of war exists between the Celtic FC and the Hun Empire along with their cronies in the SPHELL.

FDR CSC

Green & Whitehouse 22nd April 2008 -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger canamalar COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:15 COMMENT-BODY:EDB,
cheers for the link, looks like we wont be taking this lying down.
Go on PL getintythum -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger johnnyquest COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:15 COMMENT-BODY:regardless of the percieved rights or wrongs of a league extension,i await,with bated breath,a reaction from my club.As has been previously stated,by Peter Lawwell,Celtic would be opposed to such an action,if this is true,please,oh please,come out and shout it from the rooftops,this injustice,if that is how celtic percieve this action,must not be allowed to pass without condemnation,let's hear it Celtic. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Z COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:16 COMMENT-BODY:At the end of that statement, Lawell should just have added, "but as Croppies we will just lie down and know our place." -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger winningemmell COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:16 COMMENT-BODY:club statement -


'and so say most of us' -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger winningemmell COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:16 COMMENT-BODY:Cheers Big Joe -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Paul67 COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:17 COMMENT-BODY:Liam, deleted, the link was too wide for the page.

Seville67, indeed.

Noel90? Last seen hurling abuse at Brian May on a white horse.

Mabel dear, tell Collie he’s on the money.

Canamalar, no, legal action brings banishment from the league.

Tinytim, great, I’ll be in touch.

Ulster-celt, I hope so.

Winningemmell, please correct these false reports of your age. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger canamalar COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:18 COMMENT-BODY:Oh and happy birthday winningemmell -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Tony Bananas COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:20 COMMENT-BODY:U2 - absolutely superb re-worded statement.

Perhaps you could do one for the Evening Times? I see their spin is "GERS GET MORE TIME FOR EURO BID" (in between going to town on the Brines "I cost Aberdeen an equaliser story")


Magnificent piece of propaganda. Here was me thinking the SPL were going out of their way to help the huns win the league when actually it's purely to help them in Europe by giving them more time if they....em.... get knocked out of Europe.

Makes nearly as much sense as the 'UEFA stopped us fielding Cousin by not letting us sell him' nonsense.

RE-wording - "GERS GET MORE TIME TO HOPEFULLY WIN THE LEAGUE AND PUT TIMMY IN HIS PLACE"

Isn't it?? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Ulster-Celt COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:20 COMMENT-BODY:the huns official site is reporting "gers fury" at the spl -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Gordon_J COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:20 COMMENT-BODY:To answer my own earlier question (who took the decision?) with another one:

does the club statement inply that Blair and/or Gold took the decision on their own? Without even talking to the board that is supposed to run the spl, let alone consulting with member clubs?

If so we should be calling for an urgent meeting of the spl Board to hold its officers to account. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger winningemmell COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:21 COMMENT-BODY:Paul67 -

Let me put this succinctly :

Arthur Lee = Lazy Journalism


canamalar -

thank you, I've had better but, in a way, this tellingly vindicates my outlook on football life.



WG -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Big Joe COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:22 COMMENT-BODY:I am glad…………………………………..

This gathering a head of steam……………….

Its an absoooooooooooooolute joke………

Just hope the P.L. and the backroom bHoys can do something about it.

BigJoeWhoisBEEEEEEEELING -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Reidy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:23 COMMENT-BODY:Martin Bain's reaction is interesting. Could anyone who is sharp with the archives compare his statements with Smith's insistence recently that the Rangers wouldn't want/have never asked for a league extension? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Larrybhoy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:24 COMMENT-BODY:Apart from the obvious shambles presented, the quote "4 games in 8 days" is quite simply wrong.

Its 4 games in 9 days. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger ElDiegoBhoy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:24 COMMENT-BODY:WG

Belated birthday wishes from me also.

Glad to see you're older than me:o) -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Tony Bananas COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:25 COMMENT-BODY:amca 16.58 - At what point in the footage do Blair and/or Gold explain at what point the season was extended in 2003???

They are nothing short of a pair of liars. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger dub-tim COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:25 COMMENT-BODY:for what it's worth, i'm against it too. the option of "if you beat fiorentina, you can extend the league" should never have been made in the first place. it's blatant pandering and favouritism to rangers. the correct decision would be to make them play in the season's constraints.

if we win on sunday and then go like for like (ie, we win, they win etc), the huns will play st mirren, 2nd bottom of the league, to win the league.

rangers are being appeased with options and favourable fixture arrangements. regardless of thie uefa result, this is cheating.

mcgeady for first goal on sunday. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger ElDiegoBhoy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:27 COMMENT-BODY:dbbia

No e.mail received. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Big Joe COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:28 COMMENT-BODY:Paul……………………..67

The cheque is in the post………………

Traveling by carrier pigeon…………….

SO…………………………………….


So might take a day or so………………………….

BigJoewhoISsailingTheLOWsea’s -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger canamalar COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:30 COMMENT-BODY:Paul67,
last year when the portugese league authorities were under threat of legal action by a team who disputed their relegation. we were told benfica and all other portugese teams in european competition would be banned from playing unless the portugese sorted their problems out, outwith the legal system.
Was this punishment just for the portugese then ??? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger BHOYSFOUR COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:31 COMMENT-BODY:Fall of the Dark Side Part One
April 24th/2008
Rankers 0 Fiorentina 5.

Fall of the Dark Side Part Two
April 27th/2008
Celtic 5 Rankers 1

Fall of the Dark Side Part Three
May 4th/2008
Hibs 3 Rankers 1

Here's to three in a row

Do Cheaters ever prosper?

BFKarmaCSC -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger One Star Means More COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:31 COMMENT-BODY:Just read the statement - didn't someone state yesterday that such decisions can only be made by the SPL board?

How then have they managed to circumvent this (as obviously Eric Riley and Eddie Thompson would have voted against)?

I really think Celtic should take the legal route. It looks to me that the SPL have broken their own rules to advantage one team. If there was any provision in the rules to allow this, they would surely have been cited.

I can't imagine that a decision overriding the board can be binding. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Gordon_J COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:32 COMMENT-BODY:From the Rules of the Scottish Premier League Limited:

"B 1.2 The Board shall have authority to order that any League Match be moved from the scheduled date in order to facilitate the re-arrangement of fixtures, provided that, where any proposed re-arrangement has not previously been approved by any Clubs which might be affected thereby, the Board shall consult with and shall take into account any representations made by such Clubs before making any order under this Rule."


If the Board did not make the decision to extend the season, who did?

Why was there no consultation with clubs as per the rules?

And surely if officers of the board acted outwith their powers by making this announcement, it should be a disciplinary matter? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Big Joe COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:35 COMMENT-BODY:ElDiegoBhoy…………………………
Belated birthday wishes 2 YOU also.

Glad to see you and W.G. are BOTH older than me : o )

BigJoetheYOUNG -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:35 COMMENT-BODY:EDB,

I think its fair to say that regardless of Sundays game if Rangers win the UC then the games a bogey for the remainder of the season. Celtic will of course stay quiet if they win the next OF game and only voice their disapproval without actually doing anything.

I hope that Celtic pursue this upon whence Rangers qualify for the UC final. They should seek the approval of all clubs who are dissatisfied with this proposal. So far its fair to say that Dundee Utd, St. Mirren, Aberdeen and probably Hearts. Just one more club maybe Hibernian and they have a mandate.

I think that UEFA and FIFA have had enough of Rangers cheap shenanigans . UEFA apart from the sectarian nonsense are upset about the fact that the CL was compromised by Rangers and the SPL when they cancelled the Gretna game. FIFA was upset that the SFA again cancelled part of the domestic fixture to help their players. A luxury that even the world champions could not afford.

The delay in the Cousin transfer saga was again an attempt by Rangers to bully everyone into getting their own way. FIFA didn´t even look at it as their was nothing to decide.

So what I am saying is that even if we win on Sunday 10.0. If Rangers get into the UC final then we should make a stand. Refuse to play any of our remaining games. Ask for UEFA intervention. If half of the top clubs agree to this. I think its an appropriate time and UEFA and FIFA will be very sympathetic.

As the real reason for this situation was helping Rangers and Scotland and it was completely unfair especially to Lyon and Italy. Not that it mattered in the end but we have been fighting for a level playing field for years we can quite easily demonstrate how this principal is unpalatable within the confines of a Rangers supporter or Celtic hater.

Come on Peter ... you know it makes sense ... time to flex muscles. You know that we are Scottish football. Without us they are nothing. Murray needs a good kick between the legs and I reckon that there is enough will within UEFA and FIFA to slap the SFA and the SPl down.

It would also revolutionize and prepare us for better administration of our game for the future. The weak and the P-sychophants will be exposed, publicly humiliated and then fired. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger ~Kevtic COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:35 COMMENT-BODY:This post has been removed by the author. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger ~Kevtic COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:36 COMMENT-BODY:Since when has it become common practise for referees to re-assess minor incidents from a game?

Red Cards yes, everything else no.

Nothing the SFA Refs do is not done of the cuff. You can be assured everyone knew this statement was going on the internet. Why?

Consider the numerous errors favouring another Glasgow team yet no statements admitting human error.

Makes you wonder if this was orchestrated by the SFA to show the world that we get bad decisions in our favour also.

Yet no mention I take it of the "goal" disallowed two minutes earlier?

Paranoid? I am now! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger half and half COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:38 COMMENT-BODY:The common argument being offered by the 'independent' media for the extension of the league is because of weather conditions, this is clearly a case of being economic with the truth.

On the disallowed don's goal, what about the samaras goal that was disallowed?

We have to pump the huns again on Sunday and win this league. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Tony Bananas COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:39 COMMENT-BODY:Reidy - 18.23

Walter's "asking for an extension by not asking for an extension" statement

The Hun website links to Bain's farcical spit the dummy statement with the words "FIXTURE scenario no help to Euro or title bids"

As if in some way part of the SPL's remit is to help the hun title bid.

Easy mistake to make given the way the SPL behave.

BAIN SPITTING THR DUMMY

Sorry for linking to hun site but not got time to type it out word for word. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger One Star Means More COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:41 COMMENT-BODY:From the Guardian's "The Viere"

"The Scottish FA will continue to pander to the Pope's O'Rangers' every whim by extending the SPL season by four days - until May 22 - if Walter Smith's side reach the final of Euro Vase. It'll end on schedule on May 18, won't it?" -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Larrybhoy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:41 COMMENT-BODY:Gordon J,

Good point.... is there a full copy of the rules available ?

Unless the clause you quote has another related clause which overrides it, that is a clear breach of their own rules. And they should brought to account over it. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger The Narrowbhoat Tim COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:43 COMMENT-BODY:Support the Young Bhoys Bairns


SFA Youth Cup Final
Celtic v Rangers
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Kick-off 7.30pm
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Admission: £5/£2 concessions
(Pay at the gate: cash only) -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger dub-tim COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:44 COMMENT-BODY:read martin bain's statement:

"so i dont see what the spl has done for rangers in terms of aiding them in european competition"

he must've forgotten about the gretna game then.

the huns expected an unconditional season extension which is why the count from sesame street (walter smith) said that they would not ask for one. the fact that they have a conditional one is why they're going nuts.

bain also cant name celtic by name. i'd love to swap his fake tan for green paint. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:44 COMMENT-BODY:EDB,

I think its fair to say that regardless of Sundays game if Rangers win the UC then the games a bogey for the remainder of the season. Celtic will of course stay quiet if they win the next OF game and only voice their disapproval without actually doing anything.

I hope that Celtic pursue this upon whence Rangers qualify for the UC final. They should seek the approval of all clubs who are dissatisfied with this proposal. So far its fair to say that Dundee Utd, St. Mirren, Aberdeen and probably Hearts. Just one more club maybe Hibernian and they have a mandate.

I think that UEFA and FIFA have had enough of Rangers cheap shenanigans . UEFA apart from the sectarian nonsense are upset about the fact that the CL was compromised by Rangers and the SPL when they cancelled the Gretna game. FIFA was upset that the SFA again cancelled part of the domestic fixture to help their players. A luxury that even the world champions could not afford.

The delay in the Cousin transfer saga was again an attempt by Rangers to bully everyone into getting their own way. FIFA didn´t even look at it as their was nothing to decide.

So what I am saying is that even if we win on Sunday 10.0. If Rangers get into the UC final then we should make a stand. Refuse to play any of our remaining games. Ask for UEFA intervention. If half of the top clubs agree to this. I think its an appropriate time and UEFA and FIFA will be very sympathetic.

As the real reason for this situation was helping Rangers and Scotland and it was completely unfair especially to Lyon and Italy. Not that it mattered in the end but we have been fighting for a level playing field for years we can quite easily demonstrate how this principal is unpalatable within the confines of a Rangers supporter or Celtic hater.

Come on Peter ... you know it makes sense ... time to flex muscles. You know that we are Scottish football. Without us they are nothing. Murray needs a good kick between the legs and I reckon that there is enough will within UEFA and FIFA to slap the SFA and the SPl down.

It would also revolutionize and prepare us for better administration of our game for the future. The weak and the P-sychophants will be exposed, publicly humiliated and then fired. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger One Star Means More COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:45 COMMENT-BODY:The Viere? Eh, that's the FIVER. Where the hell that came from... -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:48 COMMENT-BODY:EDB,

I think its fair to say that regardless of Sundays game if Rangers win the UC then the games a bogey for the remainder of the season. Celtic will of course stay quiet if they win the next OF game and only voice their disapproval without actually doing anything.

I hope that Celtic pursue this upon whence Rangers qualify for the UC final. They should seek the approval of all clubs who are dissatisfied with this proposal. So far its fair to say that Dundee Utd, St. Mirren, Aberdeen and probably Hearts. Just one more club maybe Hibernian and they have a mandate.

I think that UEFA and FIFA have had enough of Rangers cheap shenanigans . UEFA apart from the sectarian nonsense are upset about the fact that the CL was compromised by Rangers and the SPL when they cancelled the Gretna game. FIFA was upset that the SFA again cancelled part of the domestic fixture to help their players. A luxury that even the world champions could not afford.

The delay in the Cousin transfer saga was again an attempt by Rangers to bully everyone into getting their own way. FIFA didn´t even look at it as their was nothing to decide.

So what I am saying is that even if we win on Sunday 10.0. If Rangers get into the UC final then we should make a stand. Refuse to play any of our remaining games. Ask for UEFA intervention. If half of the top clubs agree to this. I think its an appropriate time and UEFA and FIFA will be very sympathetic.

As the real reason for this situation was helping Rangers and Scotland and it was completely unfair especially to Lyon and Italy. Not that it mattered in the end but we have been fighting for a level playing field for years we can quite easily demonstrate how this principal is unpalatable within the confines of a Rangers supporter or Celtic hater.

Come on Peter ... you know it makes sense ... time to flex muscles. You know that we are Scottish football. Without us they are nothing. Murray needs a good kick between the legs and I reckon that there is enough will within UEFA and FIFA to slap the SFA and the SPl down.

It would also revolutionize and prepare us for better administration of our game for the future. The weak and the P-sychophants will be exposed, publicly humiliated and then fired. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger dub-tim COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:50 COMMENT-BODY:the fiver has a good crew of irish men on the writing staff. it's always good for a read, particularly when pope's o'rangers are in the news... -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger patnevinspen COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:51 COMMENT-BODY:Surely, if more than one club goes the legal route, then the SPL is in deep doo doos and will have to rethink? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger One Star Means More COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:53 COMMENT-BODY:I'm no legal expert - and there may be some here who are - but how's this for a scenario.

Celtic apply to a Sherrif for an interim interdict (or whateer it's called), stopping the SPL from making a binding decision until legal arguments can be heard.

That means that the situation is left in limbo, which brings its own pressure to confirm the only decision that is not subject to legal challenge - maintaining the original schedule.

In such circumstances, a hearing would be arranged quickly but the SPL would then be faced with a hearing that sees their lawyers possibly facing the legal teams from Celtic, Dundee United and St Mirren - the PFA (who obviously have nothing to say on behalf of their players), Setanta (who I don't imagine see Super-Thursday having quite the same impact as "Super-Sunday", and any number of others including the police, etc.

The hearing itself would likely take a few days, all of which is time ticking away from the SPL - with the likelihood being that they would lose the case.

Also, if I'm not mistaken (and I could well be), UEFA regulations prohibiting external legal action against member associations wouldn't cover the action against the SPL.

The SFA is the member association.

This may well be garbage but I think it's worth pursuing - and in the interests of integrity rather than anything else. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:55 COMMENT-BODY:This post has been removed by the author. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Reidy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:56 COMMENT-BODY:A decent story dug up by MontheHoops:

De Boer blasts "Moaning Celtic" -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Thom The Thim COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 18:57 COMMENT-BODY:Paul67,

I accept the FIFA/ UEFA in house disciplinary rules.

However, what are the rules governing a shareholder, who is not involved directly with the club, should he wish to challenge this decision on the grounds of unfair trading?


tinytim,

whilst the litany of assistance handed to them this season have not, in most cases, affected our results, Yellow Saturday the exception, it certainly aided their points total and therefore the points differential.

In most leagues, teams drop points and every point dropped is seen by fans as a disgrace.

The fact that they were helped to not drop points, removed our leeway in the event of loss of form, injuries and suspensions.


From very early this season, the portents were that we were not going to be allowed to win the league.

Nothing in the intervening months has caused me to change my view.


Therefore, I urge everyone who claims to support Celtic to line up behind every single member of the staff.

Failure to do so is a dereliction of duty. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Gordon_J COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 19:02 COMMENT-BODY:I think the club should be asking for an emergency meeting of the spl Board. That's the body that supposedly runs the league and is supposed to set the fixtures That way we stay out of the courts but have a route to get a proper discussion on this nonsense before it is too late.

The spl rules are available on their web siite to download. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger bournesouprecipe COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 19:05 COMMENT-BODY:anybody covering the perfectly good disallowed samaras goal? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 19:09 COMMENT-BODY:TTT,

Rangers three (3) bookings throughout their SPL program from Beginning of January to the end of March

burke 20th Jan
cuellar 26th Jan
whittaker 9th Feb

There was not another booking for Rangers in the SPL until the game at Ibrox on the 29th March.

That is unbeatable, unbelivebale in this day and age unless we are going to trawl through Romanian, Lybian or Spanish-Franco records -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 19:12 COMMENT-BODY:BBC dont mention the Gretna request..... glad that I can hold my head up high knowing they dont get a penny from me

"Rangers have a backlog of fixtures following postponements for international fixtures, waterlogged pitches and following the death of Motherwell midfielder Phil O'Donnell." -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger mickybhoy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 19:13 COMMENT-BODY:If the league does go down to the wire, has anybody noticed that we travel to dundee and rankers travel
to Aberdeen on the last day
Now there is a fun scenario on the old A9
Altogether now
"were on the one road" -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger ItaliaBhoy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 19:18 COMMENT-BODY:Astonishing statement from Bain, genuinely shocking in its brazen-ness.

Looks like they are gearing up for a FURTHER extension in the near future. I don't think this one is over yet.

It's encouraging that we have set out our stall, and I hope the club is building alliances amongst the rest of the top six as we speak. We'll need them I suspect.

Is there a case for an (informal) nudge to UEFA here? After all, this might have an effect on one of their own competitions? I do hope we are ready for an almighty fight on this one.

Re: Fiorentina. I share other posters' misgivings about the Viola. However, I think Rangers' injuries might just have cost them this tie.

In which case, wait for the campaign to get an extension anyway. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 19:19 COMMENT-BODY:mickybhoy,

How many times have Dundee Utd taken points of Rangers this season ?

Who do Rangers reckon will definitely be fighting for a UC place ?

Who do they know have nothing to play for ?

Who was the management team that laid down to Rangers in 2003 when Dougal awarded them a penalty in the last minute of injury time to make it 6.1. I´ll give you a guess one of them is called Jimmy. Their only two home games they have left they play prior to this. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger winningemmell COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 19:33 COMMENT-BODY:I'm off for a muted celebration of my parents' firstborn's birth


EDB - cheers



W(G)SNBM -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Tic Talk COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 19:34 COMMENT-BODY:I seem to be a lone voice here but aren`t we over-reacting? We all KNEW the Hun would be given an extension so what they have been given is not only not a surprise but also less of a help than we expected. I KNOW that does not make it right but I also know that it is not what they expected and is yet another setback for TFOD.
By all means be reassured that the SPL favour them but mainly use that to get together behind our team,our manager and our quest for TIAR -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Tic Talk COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 19:35 COMMENT-BODY:WG
Happy Birthday.....does Old Tim have to give you his name now? -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger mickybhoy COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 19:35 COMMENT-BODY:Awe Naw
Point taken , but I was highlighting the fact that both sets of supporters are travelling on the same road (the A9) maybe even at the same time, also sharing trains and inter city coaches is a possibility
A recipe for disaster -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger Thom The Thim COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 19:41 COMMENT-BODY:WG,

Isn't that a coincidence. On your birthday too! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR:Blogger tooheys_new COMMENT-DATE:22/04/08 19:48 COMMENT-BODY:Awe Naw

you beat me to it.

Incredible that the supposedly national broadcaster can do a piece without mention of the Lyon postponement and East Stirling debacle have by definition caused this position.

Heartening to know that the 2 other games this season that were postponed for the Nation's benefit ended up with the benefited team losing on both occasions.

Witness also the headlines created by Brines, no mention of his other errors against Celtic during the game, much like the treatment of Nakamura at Love St. Compare that to Ferguson (CIS semi) and Cuellar (CIS final), blatant dives Thomson against us and Boyd at Tannadice all swept away.

Chico's rant that Walter should have got manager of the year when he has been involved in the anybody but Strachan campaign over the last 2 years. --------