Am I right here, or have I made an error? Feedback appreciated before I post on The Star...
We were all told to expect a change in the leadership at the top of the Scottish Premiership last night but anyone having a quick look at the league table today with notice that despite all the hot air over the past week or so, Celtic are still top and theRangers remain in second place.
Someone asked me if last night's game against Ross County was in Dingwall and was surprised when I told them it was at Ibrox. "They always seem to be at home" was his rather peculiar response but perhaps it's not as strange as first thought.
After the third round of fixtures which started after the short winter break (their game last night was one of their games in hand), we go into the split where the top six and bottom six go their separate ways and matters of title winners, European qualification, relegation and the slightly lesser evil of facing a play-off spot are all determined.
As things stand the top six will consist of Celtic, theRangers, Hearts, Kilmarnock, St Mirren and Dundee while the bottom six will have Motherwell, Aberdeen, Hibs, St Johnstone, Ross County and Livingston.
And ahead of the split placings behind finalised after the three full round of fixtures, we'll who has to play each other and where. Things can change quickly and three sides - Motherwell, Aberdeen and Hibs - will all be eyeing catching Dundee who currently have a three points advantage over the other in sixth spot in the Scottish Premiership.
As far as the title race goes, the current composition of the top and bottom six, throws up some interesting observations. For instances as things stand Celtic will have played those three sides currently outwith the top six but hoping to get in (Motherwell, Aberdeen and Hibs) each away from home twice, and only once at Celtic Park.
Conversely theRangers will have played Motherwell, Aberdeen and Hibs twice at Ibrox but will only have to go to Fir Park, Pittodrie and Easter Road once in the Scottish Premiership this season.
As things stand Celtic can expect home games against both theRangers and Hearts while we would need to play St Mirren, Kilmarnock and Dundee away from home to equal the home and away fixtures against each opponent. However we go into the split having played 16 home matches and 17 away, so Brendan Rodgers' side will be looking at three home games post split and two away matches. So as things stand one of St Mirren, Kilmarnock or Dundee will NOT get a second home game against Celtic, but will instead play at Celtic Park for a third time in this league campaign.
Back to that observation: "They always seem to be at home"... theRangers will have played 17 home games and 16 away games ahead of the split but in order to level up with their top six opponents would have three further home games against Kilmarnock, St Mirren and Dundee with only two away match against Celtic and Hearts. However to achieve a balance of home and away fixtures and the integrity of the competition, the SPFL is going to have to sent theRangers away from home to one of these venues where they have already placed at twice this season. Will the SPFL do that - meaning theRangers will have THREE away matches post split and just two at Ibrox? If not then Celtic would have every right to object.
The upside for theRangers is that they will not, as things stand, have to play for a second time this season at those three difficult venues, at Fir Park, Pittodrie or Easter Road. That looks like another significant advantage, caused by the random selection of fixtures this season that appears to have given theRangers an easier looking first and third quarter. This was of course pointed out last summer but it seems to have created a bigger problem down the line for the very SPFL administrators. It's a problem of their own making.
We were all told to expect a change in the leadership at the top of the Scottish Premiership last night but anyone having a quick look at the league table today with notice that despite all the hot air over the past week or so, Celtic are still top and theRangers remain in second place.
Someone asked me if last night's game against Ross County was in Dingwall and was surprised when I told them it was at Ibrox. "They always seem to be at home" was his rather peculiar response but perhaps it's not as strange as first thought.
After the third round of fixtures which started after the short winter break (their game last night was one of their games in hand), we go into the split where the top six and bottom six go their separate ways and matters of title winners, European qualification, relegation and the slightly lesser evil of facing a play-off spot are all determined.
As things stand the top six will consist of Celtic, theRangers, Hearts, Kilmarnock, St Mirren and Dundee while the bottom six will have Motherwell, Aberdeen, Hibs, St Johnstone, Ross County and Livingston.
And ahead of the split placings behind finalised after the three full round of fixtures, we'll who has to play each other and where. Things can change quickly and three sides - Motherwell, Aberdeen and Hibs - will all be eyeing catching Dundee who currently have a three points advantage over the other in sixth spot in the Scottish Premiership.
As far as the title race goes, the current composition of the top and bottom six, throws up some interesting observations. For instances as things stand Celtic will have played those three sides currently outwith the top six but hoping to get in (Motherwell, Aberdeen and Hibs) each away from home twice, and only once at Celtic Park.
Conversely theRangers will have played Motherwell, Aberdeen and Hibs twice at Ibrox but will only have to go to Fir Park, Pittodrie and Easter Road once in the Scottish Premiership this season.
As things stand Celtic can expect home games against both theRangers and Hearts while we would need to play St Mirren, Kilmarnock and Dundee away from home to equal the home and away fixtures against each opponent. However we go into the split having played 16 home matches and 17 away, so Brendan Rodgers' side will be looking at three home games post split and two away matches. So as things stand one of St Mirren, Kilmarnock or Dundee will NOT get a second home game against Celtic, but will instead play at Celtic Park for a third time in this league campaign.
Back to that observation: "They always seem to be at home"... theRangers will have played 17 home games and 16 away games ahead of the split but in order to level up with their top six opponents would have three further home games against Kilmarnock, St Mirren and Dundee with only two away match against Celtic and Hearts. However to achieve a balance of home and away fixtures and the integrity of the competition, the SPFL is going to have to sent theRangers away from home to one of these venues where they have already placed at twice this season. Will the SPFL do that - meaning theRangers will have THREE away matches post split and just two at Ibrox? If not then Celtic would have every right to object.
The upside for theRangers is that they will not, as things stand, have to play for a second time this season at those three difficult venues, at Fir Park, Pittodrie or Easter Road. That looks like another significant advantage, caused by the random selection of fixtures this season that appears to have given theRangers an easier looking first and third quarter. This was of course pointed out last summer but it seems to have created a bigger problem down the line for the very SPFL administrators. It's a problem of their own making.
about loss of finance. Give me a break I have no sympathy with those lesser clubs who spite their noses to save their face. Look at Killie atown with over 45 000 inhabitants can't fill their stadium. Does not look good when on television live. Major and I mean major shake up is required for Scottish football to survive . Increase our league scrap the split and make sure no more plastic pitches. A 50 50 break in attendances.
