Come on Rangers, You’re Better than This!

By: Laurie | December 4th, 2007

Ever play Candyland with a three-year-old? Ever stack the cards when she’s not looking so she can win, just because it’s tough being little? And because she’s been really good up to this point? And because you’ve had a long freakin’ day and really don’t feel like listening to her throw a tantrum when you get Queen Frostine?

If so, then you’ll understand the position of the Scottish FA. Because for the second time in a month, they’re doing their best to stack the deck for the little guys of Scottish football.

Once again, the Scottish FA has ruled that the Scottish Premier League will reschedule a league game to allow the players to rest up before an important non-SPL match. First it was the Scotland-Italy Euro qualifier in Glasgow in November, when the league games of Celtic vs. Falkirk and St. Mirren vs. Rangers were rescheduled. (To no avail. Italy beat Scotland in injury time in a very tight game.) Now it’s the Rangers game against Gretna, which was originally scheduled for this weekend. Instead, Rangers will get to rest up for the vital Champions League game next week against Olympique Lyonnais, who will not have this weekend off.

It’s sad. Scotland has come so close to actually getting (and deserving) respect. They are in the middle of a breakout year. The Scottish national team came within a whisker of qualifying for the Euro ‘08 championships, with not just one but two shock defeats of World Cup finalists France. And Scotland has two teams on the brink of qualifying in Champions League: Celtic and Rangers. And not only that, Scotland has more players currently playing on Champions League teams than England does.

And then they go out of their way to prove to the world that they don’t believe that they’re good enough to play with the big boys.

I’ll admit to being an OL fan, so yes, this rankles on a personal level. But the thing is, I like Scotland. The country has come through in a big way this year, and they’ve made more than a few people sit up and take notice. Regardless of how the final Champions League group matches finished up, Scotland could have ended 2007 with their heads held high.

Unfortunately they decided to make Dad give them Queen Frostine instead.

(Thanks to Inara and Ian for providing the OL and Scottish views on things.)

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Category: Champions League, Europe, World Football

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Ian

It's not a great face to put on Scottish football ... I hope Rangers get at least the one point, since Celtic are already in the Round of 16, but this is a poor way to do it. Just put mostly reserves against Gretna - that's what a big club would do. Rest who you have to, but suck it up and deal with the schedule you've been given. I hope this is the last time we do this, because it really does make my beloved SPL look pretty bad.
Gabriella

I think if they continue this it'll undermine the SPL. What if Hearts or someone else asks for such favour in the future? What would be the ground to say no to those teams?
Laurie

Oh, goodie! I always loved the Rainbow Trail!
Johnny

A+ on the Candy Land comparison Laurie. You get to take the Rainbow Trail.
Matt

What? You mean the SPL and SFA are doing all they can to help Rangers?! GASP! That's something I've never heard before....NOT! This is old hat to Scottish football fans. Mason refs, the former Huns running the SFA, same shit different day. And you know what, the French will still probably hump the dirty huns because...........

(all together now)OH THE RANGERS ARE SHITE!

C'mon the Hoops, c'mon the French!
celtic bhoy

Seems odd that rangers would need the weekend off, celtic have a massive game today but they still had to go out and play this weekend, its unfair to say that its scotland that think they arent good enough ... seems to me it may only be rangers that think this
JT

Playing Gretna is like taking a rest anyway for Rangers, so why they need the time off is beyond me. You would think they'd build more confidence thrashing Gretna than by sitting at home.

Compare that to what Celtic's gone through. An always tough trip to Hearts sandwiched (1-1 draw) in between the Shakhtar match and the grand finale, a visit to the European Champions for all the marbles. All in a week's time.

That seems a wee bit (read: a shit load) more difficult than hosting the French champions who they've already crushed 3-0.
Bonnie

I would always stack the cards so I would win... I have no mercy on three-year-olds.