Smith plays it clever in Rangers v SFA row
Boss says a lot by saying nothing
Rangers boss Walter Smith has delivered an appraisal of the SFA disciplinary panel that whilst saying nothing bad about them, makes it very clear that he is unhappy with much of the committee’s work.
Regular readers will know we have massive issues with the SFA and their actions so we were very interested to see the fall-out from this latest matter. However, before we get to the crux of the matter, we will have to side-step the inevitable Rangers and Celtic moans and comparisons.
Smith’s comments about hoping that every club in the SPL are treated the same will no doubt be taken by the Rangers fans as the latest chapter of “what about them” that fans of the big two usually engage in.
Smith is far too experienced and long in the tooth to come out and cite other teams or leave himself open to accusations of paranoia but he has done enough to allow others to make their own mind up about what he meant.
The instinctive one that people will consider will be the Glen Loovens case, and the length of time it took for that appeal to be heard, but that is not a fair comparison because the circumstances were different. Rangers were appealing a red card given in a match, which goes to the referee. Celtic were appealing a decision made by the video review panel, which presumably requires a few more people to reconsider their decision.
So focusing on that decision does not help the argument about poor treatment but it will add fire to the sense of injustice that Rangers fans feel about the situation.
So it would be helpful to move on beyond that side of Smith’s complaint but instead, focus on the valid complaints about the SFA disciplinary panel.
The speed with which the SFA acted to reject Rangers appeal was startling. Okay, it was expected that Rangers would leave their appeal as late as possible in order to allow Kevin Thomson to be available to face Dundee United but the SFA were lying in wait.
This is where the SFA need to show consistency in their dealings. If from now on, if their findings are not announced within half an hour of the appeal deadline, Rangers will be able to say they received treatment different from other clubs and could ask why.
As most people have agreed, Rangers were appealing to allow Thomson to play in a game where Rangers were lacking in midfield, not necessarily because they believed the decision was a miscarriage of justice. However, the appeal was entirely within the SFA rules so why not appeal it?
If the rules allow you to play a system to your benefit, you would not be doing your job if you didn’t do everything within your power to get an advantage. One man doesn’t make a team but having Thomson available, on a night when many were unavailable, may have aided Rangers in getting a result.
Even with the cup defeat, it’s been a good week for Smith, he has another Celtic manager’s skull to add to his collection and an impressive win at Tynecastle leaves his side counting down the days until they win their 53rd league title.
Smith may not be around next season but he has laid down a marker for Rangers to use in future dealings with the SFA.
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it should be SIR Walter Smith , And he will be here next season no doubt about that.
What are the reasons you think will keep Walter in the post Jaz?
The fact that John Fleck has signed a new contract and Danny Wilson looks set to do the same has to be seen as a positive for Rangers fans and their financial status / ambitions for next season.
It’s unlikely (with all due respect) that Rangers will have any Champions League impact next season, so its not as if European dreams are driving Smith on.
Maybe he fancies adding another Celtic manager to his hit list.
Maybe he feels Ally McCoist is not quite up to the task of replacing him yet.
Or maybe he just thinks – Ive no need to retire. If you’re fit and healthy and still enjoying the job – why give it up?
why give it up? coz the fans are sick of being embarrassed in Europe every year, thats nothing to do with money,our players are all internationals, its to do with team selection and tactics. Sir Walter in Europe is hopeless, FACT. I hope he goes and takes Ally and co. with him. Im sick of being beaten by European minnows and out played by SPL clubs. Im sick of going to places like Pittodrie and Fir Park and fearing it, only coz of who our boss is. Sir Walter is a legend, but at Rangers in 2010, its time we progressed, 90% of Old Firm managers will win things in Scotland and dominate the SPL, an Old Firm manager should be judged on how he can get his team to perform on the big stage. Celtic managed it well under Chesney and MON. We done well under Advocaat, not bad under Eck but under Walter during 2 spells, in all those years in management, hes had 2 good years in Europe. Its not good enough. Its embarrassing and the fans know what is coming next year if hes boss.
Dont think i can agree with you 100% here James Rangers are very lucky to have Walter theres know way any outher decent Manager will join Rangers untill there financial situation is sorted out.
James
You need to have a good look at yourself re your views on Walter Smith
No other manager would have put up with the financial restrictions that have been put upon him this season, if it wasnt for him we would be skint AND winning nothing.
I would go as far as to say if he was managing Celtic at the moment we would be winning nothing.
james put the evo stick down
James
Without Walter,Rangers most probably would have been down the proverbial Swanny,winning the titles give us access to the CL,whether we’re good when we get there that’s a different matter,I would prefer we were,but in the cold light of day,it’s the financial imput that keeps us going!Walter gives us a great chance to win the league,we don’t win the league…no CL money…Trouble….Simples
I’ll comment on the main piece and leave Tony Mowbray’s rant about Walter Smith alone, sorry i mean James.
What the SFA did was 100% right, Rangers saw an opportunity to use the appeal process to their advantage and it was quickly quelled by the powers that be. As Walter has stated, he now hopes that future appeals are heard and dealt with just as efficiently. I can’t cite any other examples other than Rangers players this season (maybe someone else can) but twice Rangers have appealed a red card (Miller & Thomson) and twice the answer has been swift in their response. Both times the club has missed out on the services of crucial players for crucial games. Let’s hope for the good of the game, parity of decision is shown for all.
I don’t know if Smith was referring to the Loovens case or not, but even if he was, such appeals for albeit different offences need to dealt with in a swift and efficient manner, with rules being transparent for all involved. I mean it’s 2010 for goodness sake.
pathetic acceptance of mediocrity by Rangers fans, yep, SDM has indeed brainwashed my fellow Rangers fans, thank goodness i didnt buy into his crap. quagy, jaz n co. its so sad that you are happy to “just get by”, next year will be even worse under him. its a shambles from top to bottom. the football is brutal/negative/non existant. Walter Smith is a dinosaur. Anti-football is not why i grew up loving Rangers, just getting by in domestic football is NOT why i support Rangers, being out played by provincial clubs is NOT the Rangers i grew up loving. Money or not, we should be doing MUCH better. next year after another 4-0 defeat in Europe, i wil be here, telling ye, i told ye so. I can see it coming, i saw it coming last year, and i see it again.