SPL Matches [R] The Rest of the Season?

[Catfish]

Dunfermline 19:45 Hibernian (Dunfermline 1-0)
14 April 2004
Livingston 19:45 Rangers (Rangers 1-0)
17 April 2004
Aberdeen 15:00 Motherwell (Aberdeen 1-0)
Dundee 15:00 Hibernian (1-1 draw)
Dunfermline 15:00 Dundee United (Dundee Utd 1-0)
Hearts 15:00 Livingston (Hearts 2-1)
Rangers 15:00 Partick Thistle (Gers 3-0)
18 April 2004
Kilmarnock 15:00 Celtic (Bhoys 2-0)

Is this the end? I thought there were a few more matches after this. Something about a 2nd season or the top half playing each other near the end. Help?

[gr8fulbhoy]

Dunfermline 19:45 Hibernian (Dunfermline 1-0)
14 April 2004
Livingston 19:45 Rangers (Rangers 1-0)
17 April 2004
Aberdeen 15:00 Motherwell (Aberdeen 1-0)
Dundee 15:00 Hibernian (1-1 draw)
Dunfermline 15:00 Dundee United (Dundee Utd 1-0)
Hearts 15:00 Livingston (Hearts 2-1)
Rangers 15:00 Partick Thistle (Gers 3-0)
18 April 2004
Kilmarnock 15:00 Celtic (Bhoys 2-0)

Is this the end? I thought there were a few more matches after this. Something about a 2nd season or the top half playing each other near the end. Help?
The last five games of the season come after the "split" whereby the top six teams play each other and the bottom six teams play each other. In theory this would intensify the championship and relegation battles but as you know the Bhoys have made all that academic. IMO we need an expanded top flight (16 teams), two meetings per year - this would alleviate a little of the fixture congestion faced by Celtic as we progress ever further into European competion and maybe allow for a January break. If the Bhoys progress to the UEFA final again (I think we will), we will have played an incredible 73 competitive matches by the end of the season

[Catfish]

I completely agree that 73 matches is waaaaay too many. I do like the finishing style of the SPL...very cool. BTW, are you a NJ Devils fan? My wife was born in Long Branch and she lived in Englishtown, NJ.

Are you a Deadhead?

Up the Bhoys!!!

[gr8fulbhoy]

I completely agree that 73 matches is waaaaay too many. I do like the finishing style of the SPL...very cool. BTW, are you a NJ Devils fan? My wife was born in Long Branch and she lived in Englishtown, NJ.

Are you a Deadhead?

Up the Bhoys!!!

Guilty on both counts - if the Devils get past Philly they might hold on to the Cup. They have a habit of finding their form at this time of year.I'm a Deadhead from waaay back when (nineteen canteen as my dad used to say) - so you fell for one of those Jersey girls huh- me too!!! I watch the Bhoys every week at the Irish club in Kearny (or sometimes at the Parlour in NYC)

[Holyjoe]

I do like the finishing style of the SPL...very cool.

By that you mean the split? It's a joke.

And to make matters worse, the SPL have come up with something even dafter for next season...

--------------------

From the Edinburgh Evening News:

New season derby blow

DAVID HARDIE

THERE will only be three Edinburgh derbies next season under proposed changes to the SPL fixture list if Hibs fail to pip Motherwell for a top-six finish this weekend, the Evening News can reveal today.

Capital fans have already been deprived of a fourth derby in each of the past two seasons thanks to Hibs’ inability to capture a top-six place - and will miss out again this season if Bobby Williamson’s players fail again.

The Easter Road outfit kept their slim hopes of overhauling Motherwell alive with a 3-0 win over Kilmarnock, a win which trimmed sixth-placed ’Well’s advantage to three points.

But Terry Butcher’s outfit remain very much in the driving seat with only two games remaining, Hibs travelling to meet Dunfermline tomorrow night before making the trip to Dens Park to face Dundee while Motherwell play host to the Pars on Thursday night and then journey to Aberdeen.

If Hibs fail it will mean Capital fans will not only miss out on a fourth derby this season but will start next season knowing their will be a maximum of three derbies in the league under proposals being considered by football chiefs.

Hibs chief executive Rod Petrie said: "The SPL is considering abolishing the split for next season.

"Under the proposed system, clubs would play each other three times, a total of 33 matches, with the other five fixtures, to make 38 in total, against the clubs in your half of the table at the end of this season.

"Those five fixtures would not necessarily be played in a block but could be interspersed throughout the season."

One advantage, claimed Petrie, would be that, for the first time since the SPL moved to 12 clubs, fans would have a season-long fixture card published for each club at the beginning of the season rather than the current set-up where supporters have to wait until after the split to learn what their final five games will be.

And Petrie revealed the impact the proposed changes could have for Hibs and Hearts in particular.

He said: "It makes a top-six finish for us even more vital. If we miss a fourth Edinburgh derby this season and the new fixturing comes into play then there will be only three Edinburgh derbies in the league again next season."

With two of this season’s derbies having taken place at Easter Road, if there were to be only three next season the likelihood will be that Hearts will host two of them, whether at Tynecastle or Murrayfield.

------------------------------------------

So this season Hibs might want to go for it and try and sneak into the top 6 to get themselves two more games against the Old Firm, but then again they might want to hold back and not make it into the top 6 to give themselves an easier fixture list for next season and stand a better chance of gaining a higher points total and qualifying for Europe.
Lunacy.

[SteveW]

That's the stupidest thing I ever heard!!!

Motherwell for example will have 8 OF games next season whilst Livvy will only have 6. Unfair advantage?

[Catfish]

So far on Sunday....1st half results.

Aberdeen 0 - 1 Motherwell
Kilmarnock 0 - 0 Celtic

[Parkhead_Faithful]

That's the stupidest thing I ever heard!!!

Motherwell for example will have 8 OF games next season whilst Livvy will only have 6. Unfair advantage?

I cant quite see how it works out either, but the people behind the SPL couldnt organise a piss up in a brewery so it is hardly surprising, totally out of touch with the fans and the people in the media who have played who want a 16 team table with a two match home and away format for every team, works out at 30 games a season, which also frees up space for the pointlessness that is the league cup or a longer winter break through febuary.

[Parkhead_Faithful]

So far on Sunday....1st half results.

Aberdeen 0 - 1 Motherwell
Kilmarnock 0 - 1 Celtic


fixed, im stuck with watching it on telly cos i couldnt get a brief for today, were lucky, killie had it in the net to be called back for a foul on bobo balde, looked perfectly good to me, and then we went ahead through stilian petrov, killie just missed a sitter.

[Catfish]

That's it season over! The SPL Title has already been decided.

The Mighty Green Hooped Bhoys of Glasgow Celtic are champs!

Is the rest of the season even worth playing for Celtic...snicker? Will Martin O'Neil give lots of playing time to his young players and give his veterans a rest???

[CelticOnFire]

A toast the the Champions of Scotland....you'll walk alone at the top of the table.

[kwik1980]

According to the BBC, the trophy presentation will take place on May 2, when Celtic play Dunfermline at Parkhead. There had been talk about doing it on Wednesday, when Aberdeen are the opposition, but that match is not being televised, and the Bank of Scotland want a television audience for the presentation. The BBC has the May 2 match.

[SYoshonis]

Pardon me for being too lazy to look it up, but what is the record for points accumulated by the SPL champion? And, what is the record for difference in points between first and second?