ranger_syntax

Rangers 2 Hibernian 1 First goal scorer: Dessers

This is almost entirely a distraction from the point we are discussing.

I think this covers it.

Charging them extra is a great idea. They will be paying for the privilege of misbehaving. It's a hierarchy right there before our very eyes. The cash flashing Union Bears lighting fireworks and burning fifty pound notes at the top. The penny pinching concession paying pensioners grumbling into the void at the bottom.

The O.P. tells us that a team can postpone a match scheduled for matchday 3 to increase the chances of qualification for European group stages. There are three main reasons that this is anti-competitive. Firstly group stage qualification leads to significant sums of money. These sums are most likely to be in proportion to achievements in the previous season. This preserves the rankings from the previous season. Secondly smaller clubs have an interest in hindering bigger clubs getting into the group stages to reduce the size of the gap in revenue. The revenue gap is the main reason that we never see a non old firm team challenging for the league. Thirdly postponing the fixture removes one of the best opportunities for smaller clubs to beat bigger clubs. The team playing in Europe may choose to field a weaker team, the players may lack focus, the players may lack commitment to avoid getting injured before a big match. There is an argument that this will benefit Rangers but it is short sighted. The immediate benefit would be qualifying for the group stages of the Champions League more often. That means more money which everyone thinks is great. The anti-competitive effects of the rule change mentioned above would make the domestic fixtures even less competitive. That is to say even more boring than at present. When the smaller clubs have less chance of beating the big clubs then you are more likely to see a team play defensively and waste time from the fifth minute. It's awful to watch.

If I was him, and I actually won the Europa League as interim manager, I would refuse the permanent post. Wouldn't get any better for him after that.

Surely more of a teacher of the law than a prophet.

I am quite certain. I'll post about why later today.

Not really. The rule change is anti-competitive. If you want the league table to be the same every year (we are second) then you should favour this rule. If you want to watch competitive football matches then this rule is bad.

Please don't call me a bigot. Please, please, pleeeeease.

How about a culture threatened by a banner?

The word plastic comes to mind. The club will be as plastic as any other. Maybe it already is.

Maybe the forum admin can fast-track your access. It has become quite dull since everyone to the right of Harriet Harman was hounded out.

It all depends what the U.E.F.A. position on cousin marriage is.

Is non-stun slaughter acceptable in Western civilisation?