Rangers Ask for League Postponement So They Can Beat Lyon
By: Inara | December 1st, 2007In a totally (un)shocking move, Rangers have asked the Scottish Premier League to postpone their match against against Gretna on December 9th. This is meant to better prepare them for their Champions League game against Lyon three days later. And Gretna would happy to help out.
The SPL may find themselves hard pressed to refuse because there is a precedent - only a month ago, they gave Rangers and Celtic nearly two weeks off so they could prepare for their Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy - not that it helped.
While the fact that Rangers are that worried about Lyon is kind of funny, it’s also unnecessary (and unfair). Lyon have a game that weekend too, so they’ll also be tired. Not only that, Rangers have home advantage, only need a draw to advance, have a superior head to head record to give them confidence, and Scotland just seem to own France on a regular basis. So all this postponement really does is make Rangers look like babies.
I can understand why Rangers would like the extra time since they only have a three day gap (as opposed to Lyon, who have four days). But there’s a difference between asking for an extra day and an extra week. Even the French League, which desperately need European vindication, won’t help their clubs like that. For example, last year Lyon had their derby away to St. Etienne three days before they were knocked out of Europe by Roma. That’s just life.
This is normally not my territory but Ian’s, so I don’t mean to step on his toes. But it’s because of events like this that make me not take Rangers seriously. The whole point of the Champions League is to prove that you can hack it at home and in Europe. What other big clubs get the weekend off before a CL game? That’s part of being allowed to sit at the big kids table.
Category: 
Subscribe
|
Print
|
Share
      |
Comments
-
Hey, don’t think I didn’t see that. Roma had to play away 3 days earlier as well and then travel to France.
Posted from
United States
-
Mark your calendar, because it doesn’t happen all that often, but I completely agree with you. I hated the decision to give Rangers and Celtic the week off before the Scotland-Italy match, but I could actually force myself to defend that … this is ridiculous. It’s more of the same SPL attitude, where the Old Firm tell themselves they can’t compete evenly in a match where they clearly can. It really makes all of Scottish football look bad, and makes it that much harder for me to defend the nation and game I love. Totally unnecessary. Rangers didn’t need a week of rest to go to France and demolish Lyon - why do they feel like they need it to draw at home?
Posted from
United States -
Chris: Nothing escapes you, does it? So I guess this means I can’t post my Doni jokes in obscurity.
For the record, I know Roma had a match that weekend too. They didn’t try to cop out of their Serie A match the weekend before (and at the end, they didn’t even need to). My point was simply, a Champions League club deals with a tough calendar, and while sometimes a difficult series of fixtures can hurt you, it’s part of the package.
Ian: Date circled on my calendar.
Anyway, that’s exactly my point - Rangers had no special favors done to them when they humiliated Lyon at the Gerland. Obviously the club is capable of doing better than the goals they set themselves. But if they keep on acting like they don’t belong in the CL, people will think so too.Posted from
United States -
But Roma were smart enough to rest key players unlike Houllier who played just about everyone who mattered against St Etienne.
JMA was fuming because the reason Lyon were given for not advancing the match one day was that extra security was needed for some other big venue (a music concert? Can’t remember) Either ways the ‘added security’ was not used ( a point that did not escape JMA’s attention).In fairness to Houllier he always refused to play the too tired card, even when his club President was waving it furiously!
Posted from
France -
Yeah, I remember Lyon put out their XI that day whereas Roma rested Totti and some others against Empoli I think. Anyway, resting players is fine and the smart thing to do, so it’s no one’s fault but Lyon’s that they chose to put regional pride ahead of the CL.
Actually, I remember there was a bit of ruckus over that. Aulas said he wanted Lyon to play their “B team” at ASSE, and then Bernard Caizzo called Lyon small spirited or something like that, so Houllier refused to do the B team thing. Instead he played Juni, Tiago, Fred, Malouda, etc.
Posted from
United States -
Meh, doesn’t matter, scots choke.
Posted from
United States -
Rangers dont need extra rest if they are just gonna put 11 mens behind the ball all game. This kind of stuff makes you not take them seriously at all.
Posted from
United States
Comments are closed
Home 
