ian1964 10,761 Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 CELTIC chiefs were seething last night after the SPL handed Rangers a third home showdown with third-place Hearts following the split. Record Sport understands the champions feel their arch rivals have been given a huge advantage in the battle for the title when it emerged they will host the Jambos at Ibrox next weekend. Rangers have been to Tynecastle just once this season, losing 2-1 in November, while the Hoops feel aggrieved they have already had to make two trips to Edinburgh. Gordon Strachan's men must negotiate tricky post-split away fixtures to Aberdeen, Easter Road and Ibrox while Rangers head on the road to Hibs and Dundee United on the final day of the season. A Celtic insider said: "All we are asking for is an even playing field." Fans chief Peter Rafferty was also shocked having heard the fixtures and has called for the SPL to review the way in which it decides the post-split games." The secretary of the Association of Celtic Supporters Clubs said: "That is pretty unusual it's got to be said, though I know it happened a few seasons ago when we faced Dundee three times at Celtic Park. "But I thought it would have been at Tynecastle. The whole thing needs reviewing because there is a problem with these fixtures. "We are just looking for a fair crack of the whip and a level playing field and that has not happened." Twelve months ago Rangers were up in arms when the club were forced to cram in their final four matches in the space of eight days. The SPL ignored pleas from the Ibrox outfit for a longer SPL extension due to their involvement in the UEFA and Scottish Cup Finals. However, this time around the Rangers Supporters Trust believe both sides of the Old Firm have been treated fairly following the publication of the post-split fixtures. Trust spokesman David Edgar said: "It looks a pretty even fixture list against the best teams in the diivision." "Rangers' final game of the season at Tannadice and I don't know how anybody can say that is beneficial. "Both teams have five games to play including the final Old Firm match at Ibrox and the best team will win the title." Edgar believes the only way to avoid the ritual end of season squabling is to scrap the controversial top six setup. He added: "There are going to be fixture anomalies." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2009/04/20/celtic-fury-as-split-fixtures-hand-advantage-to-rangers-86908-21291161/ 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazza_8 233 Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 The split is an absolute farce! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,199 Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 As suspected they have their excuses at the ready. They have very short term memories. The reality is that, with the split, teams will play other teams at home 3 times and away once - I dont like it either but it is what it is. They say they want it to be fair - but in their eyes for it to be fair we should go to Tynecastle again and you can bet the ONLY reason they see it that way is because Hearts are third and the most likely team to take points off either side of the OF. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,761 Posted April 20, 2009 Author Share Posted April 20, 2009 "We are just looking for a fair crack of the whip and a level playing field and that has not happened." I seem to remember last season when they rejected the request to extend the league,'' due to football integrity'', it was because they had planned a tournament in Japan,which they never have played in yet ???, they chunts know nothing about integrity 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jum Spence Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Celtic will ask the Scottish Premier League to explain the scheduling of the last five fixtures of the season. More... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super_Ally 0 Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 As suspected they have their excuses at the ready. They have very short term memories. The reality is that, with the split, teams will play other teams at home 3 times and away once - I dont like it either but it is what it is. They say they want it to be fair - but in their eyes for it to be fair we should go to Tynecastle again and you can bet the ONLY reason they see it that way is because Hearts are third and the most likely team to take points off either side of the OF. Hibs home/Hearts away Or Hibs away/Hearts home. What's the difference really? A trip to Easter Road or Tynecastle. Neither are easy games. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,761 Posted April 20, 2009 Author Share Posted April 20, 2009 Oh dear...........they just can't help themselves http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/8008726.stm 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,199 Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 So the only way to avoid it would be to have the Edinburgh derby at Easter Road three times..... the Tims will think that would be fair given their mentality. MORONS. They like to throw the "Gordon Strachan and the players will just get on with it". Will they now ? Whilst you try to play the aggrieved at board level. Anyone know how last season's post-split fixtures worked out ? I mean, forgetting us having to play 4 games in 8 days how did the fixtures go ? You can guarantee they suited the Tims because there was no complaint. Short memories they have. I think all this mumping, moaning and whingeing could very well backfire on them in the longer term - fans of other teams are already getting very tired of their petty moaning. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super_Ally 0 Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Precisely Craig. It is the job of the SPL to ensure the fairest set of fixtures for all 12 teams. Not just the Old Firm. Not just Celtic. Their complaint is fairly minor. We're away to one of the Edinburgh teams and home to the other. Big deal. It's not even their fixtures that are affected and they have never been hampered or disadvantaged with the fixtures in the same way we have; i.e last year's fiasco and going to Pittodrie 3 times in one season. The split is always going to be controversial but more often than not has benefited them and any supposed disadvantage this time is difficult to see. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,199 Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Their reasoning for ebing disadvantages is two-fold and spurious at best. 1. Hearts are 3rd whilst Hibs are 6th - so we are being advantaged by being at home to the "better" capital team. 2. Hearts beat us at Tynecastle so it is only fair that we should go back to Tynecastle to give us a game which, on paper, is more difficult and, thus, more chance of dropping points and gifting them the title. Re #1 - Celtic play : 1. Aberdeen away - this will mean 2 home and 2 away (lost in other away game) 2. Rangers away - this will mean 2 home and 2 away (won other away game) 3. Dundee Utd home -this will mean 2 home and 2 away (drew other home game) 4. Hibs away - this will mean 2 home and 2 away (lost other away game) 5. Hearts home - this will mean 2 home and 2 away (drew other home game) Rangers play : 1. Hearts home - this will mean 3 home and 1 away (won and drew other home games) 2. Celtic home - this will mean 2 home and 2 away (lost other home game) 3. Hibs away - this will mean 1 home and 3 away (won and won other away games) 4. Aberdeen home - this will mean 2 home and 2 away (won other home game) 5. Dundee Utd away - this will mean 2 home and 2 away (drew other away game) Now, if the Tims were to have their way and we had to play Hearts away from home then the situation gets sticky - it means that one of our other away fixtures would also have to be moved so that we get 19 home and 19 away fixtures. The only fixtures this could apply to would be Celtic, Hibs or Dundee Utd. Given there is no way the Celtic game would be changed to an away game leaves only Utd and Hibs. Going by the reports the only way we can play Hearts away and have it work would be for the Edinburgh derby to be switched to Easter Road. So if that game were switched to Easter Road then Hibs need to have a game moved to even their games out. So the Hibs game would need to go to Ibrox. This would leave Dundee Utd without any changes. However, would it really be fair for the Edinburgh derby to be played on one ground 3 times in the one season ? And just to accommodate Celtic's wishes to have us play the hardest game (in their opinion) away from home ? Would they be happy to have the OF game at Ibrox 3 times in one season ? I doubt it. But ask any Hearts or Hibs supporter what the most important game of the season is.... it wil be the derby - so why should they shift the derby and have it inequitably at Easter Road 3 times just to accommodate a PERCEIVED disadvantage from the Tims ? You couldn't make this stuff up. I might be wrong with some of the above, apologies if so. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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