Cup run of four games in nine days exasperates Warburton

[ian1964 10,613]

RANGERS manager Mark Warburton has launched a scathing attack on the SPFL for forcing his side to play four games in nine days in the revamped League Cup competition.

 

The Betfred Cup, as it is now known, was relaunched with great pomp and circumstance, reintroducing a group phase in July which, it was felt, would replace pre-season friendlies with meaningful matches.

 

Warburton, however, says the format is all wrong and many other Premiership managers will share the same view as it does not allow him to prepare the way he would like for Rangers’ return to the top division.

 

The Ibrox side, who head to Charleston, South Carolina tomorrow for 10 days, face Motherwell on July 16, Annan Athletic on the 19th, East Stirlingshire three days later and then Stranraer on Monday, July 25. Warburton feels it is farcical situation.

 

He said: ‘We face four games in nine days – with the hardest one first. I look at it and say any team would like to have probably a five or six-game pre-season programme, building up in quality and intensity to prepare you as best as possible for the season ahead.

 

“I just find it, for us, far from ideal. I’m being very polite saying that. Look at the actual details. As a squad of players in pre-season, the idea is to try to get a six-week period. But when you have that many games it’s play, recover, play, recover, play, recover.

 

“There’s no work being done. You’re not doing style of play. You’re not working on tactical aspects or specific parts of your game. Why four games in nine days? I can’t play the same team on the 16th that I play on the 19th, the 22nd or the 25th, and then we play Burnley. How is it going to work? How do I bed in the team, bed in a back four? I don’t know.

 

“It’s just trying to get through that period of games without injury.

 

“It’s a huge tournament and it’s part of the treble, and Rangers with their history and tradition will want to compete for every competition they go into.

 

“I’m sure Mark McGhee and the other guys have the same problems but what do we do?

 

“You tell me if it’s revitalising the League Cup or having the opposite effect. Is it wide of the mark what I’m saying?”

 

Warburton, who is taking 25 players to the USA, added: “I’ve got players arriving on July 1, who won’t join us until July 9. Therefore, they will have only days with us before we play our first game – against a Premiership opponent.

 

“At the end of the day, it’s about the players and giving them the best chance to perform. The better they perform, the more entertainment and the more fans that come to watch the games.

 

“I haven’t figured out yet how I’m going to play these games.”

 

Warburton, however, believes his trip across the Atlantic will be beneficial to his players as they will have more enjoyable free time in beautiful South Carolina surroundings.

 

He said: “It’s the downtime that kills the players so we felt if we could improve that, it would be a big help.

 

“So we have chosen Charleston. It’s a great town, on the shore, and while they are working hard three times a day and will have a tough game against a good Charleston Battery team, the idea is take their mind off that with some good downtime.”

 

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/14580586.Cup_run_of_four_games_in_nine_days_exasperates_Warburton/

[JFK-1 1,691]

I get where he is coming from but personally I don't care much about the league cup or at least not this season I don't. I would like to beat Motherwell but if he fields a full first 11 for Motherwell then a reserve team in the following match to rest the first 11 I wold be fine with that.

[Bearman 9]

It's ridiculous that the club with a proud history in this competition dating from it's first introduction in 1946 and with the most wins and Final appearances has to take part in these early group stages when those of lesser standing escape it.

 

Rangers should throw the youths into this group - if they falter who cares, if they get out of the group then all good then we can start to take things seriously.

[JFK-1 1,691]

It's ridiculous that the club with a proud history in this competition dating from it's first introduction in 1946 and with the most wins and Final appearances has to take part in these early group stages when those of lesser standing escape it.

 

Rangers should throw the youths into this group - if they falter who cares, if they get out of the group then all good then we can start to take things seriously.

 

Aisde from the Motherwell game I agree, let some peripheral boys play at least some of the games while using the first 11 as the manager sees fit. If they come through well good if not who cares. The league is our priority.

Edited June 26, 2016 by JFK-1

[buster. 4,974]

4 games in 9 days

 

Play a mix of under 20's and first team players (rotating).

If we go out then so be it, the priority is being ready for the League.

[boabie 230]

Tell them we have a tour of Japan organised. That might work.

[der Berliner 3,554]

4 games in 9 days

 

Play a mix of under 20's and first team players (rotating).

If we go out then so be it, the priority is being ready for the League.

 

That is most likely what we'll do, but essentially the whole thing robs the gaffer the chance to create his preferred line-up against opponents that he will select, rather than against teams selected by others. Obviously, and I haven't checked the whole schedule yet, why is there reason to press these fixture into 9 days? One can easily play League Cup games (as in years gone by) well into the start of the league campaign. Now you will hear certain people start moaning when they learn that we won't field all of our superstars throughout the tournament ...

 

NB: My cynical voice just whispered that this group stuff looks to give more teams access to the Blue pound (at least at the beginning), now that we have been back at the top of the pile. Not that we financed the Scottish game these last 4 years better than the SFA/SPL/SPFL had done in decades before.

[buster. 4,974]

The authorities have tried to address a number of issues in one fell swoop.

 

- format of League Cup (+ sponser)

- Summer football

- Winter break

 

But it seems like a half hearted, desperate, marketing push in several directions that doesn't really solve any problems.

Or rather offers new things and throws up different problems.

eg. As MW has said, the winter break of 3 weeks is of little benefit as far as he is concerned and brings up a similar situation as to the break prior to the SC Final.

 

 

This should be the first and last time we enter at this summer group stage, so the "Blue pound" wasn't a material factor in this set-up, not to mention had we won the SC Final, we wouldn't be playing in it.

[cooponthewing 1,139]

Again brings home what a total feck up the SC final was!!

[JFK-1 1,691]

Aside from his complaints about it there is an interesting insight regarding his thinking here.

 

“It’s a huge tournament and it’s part of the treble, and Rangers with their history and tradition will want to compete for every competition they go into.

 

We're all focussing on the league while he is thinking of a treble? Impressive but I will still have no complaints if he fields a virtual reserve side in some of these games while getting the first 11 up to match fitness using them sparingly.

 

Want to give Motherwell a hiding while the rest of the games i'm somehwat blah about. Motherwell will be opposition in the league so they need to be intimidated while also punished for their fans shit in the play offs last season.