Scottish Premier League, 2005/2006

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Op zaterdag 17 december 2005 17:10 schreef fanneke het volgende:
Rangers bij rust 1-0 voor (Lovenkrands) tegen Hearts.

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Rangers ook uit FA Cup na forse nederlaag

4/2/2006 15:33

Voor Glasgow Rangers is het seizoen in Schotland feitelijk voorbij. Na de teleurstellende start in de Premier League, ligt de kampioen nu ook uit de FA Cup. Hibernian klopte de club uit Glasgow met 3-0, het was al de derde keer dit seizoen dat Hibs te sterk was.

Rangers was nog wel heer en meester in de eerste helft, maar doelman Simon Brown bleek een groot obstakel. In de vijftigste minuut scoorde Hibernian wel via een kopbal van Garry O\\\'Connor. Diezelfde O\\\'Connor hielp vervolgens Ivan Sproule op weg naar de 2-0, waarna Chris Killen in de 77ste minuut de rebound van zijn eigen poging achter Waterreus werkte voor de 3-0.

Het is voor het eerst in negentien jaar dat noch Celtic noch Rangers zich plaatst voor de kwartfinale van de FA Cup. Voor Rangers is het Schotse seizoen haast voorbij. In de competitie hebben The Gers vijftien punten goed te maken op koploper Celtic en zeven op nummer twee Heart of Midlothian. En in de League Cup was Celtic al eens te sterk voor de regerend kampioen.

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Rix not picking team, say players

Hearts head coach Graham Rix is no longer selecting the side, according to several of the first team squad. BBC Scotland has learned that Hearts players want a meeting with Vladimir Romanov, after Rix revealed the club owner is picking the team. One player told BBC Scotland that Rix had said: "Romanov is pulling the strings, picking the team including the substitutes and has total control." Another player claims Rix told him: "Mr Romanov is picking the team."

Meanwhile, the agent for Andy Webster has told BBC Scotland that he has ended negotiations over a new contract for the Scotland defender. Webster has been dropped to the bench for Tuesday's visit to Dundee United and is not happy with the way team matters are being run. Charlie Duddy said: "Negotiations over a new contract for Andy have been brought to an end permanently. We will not be re opening them." Webster 17 months to run on his current deal.

"I am picking the team," said former Portsmouth manager Rix, when he was unveiled at Tynecastle on 8 November. But it appears he has surrendered control of the 35-man first-team pool. Rix was brought in to replace George Burley, who left the club amid reports of meddling from Romanov. The Lithuanian banker has been responsible for several of the many new faces that have arrived at Hearts since he arrived in Edinburgh just over a year ago. And, if he has been picking the team, he has been doing a pretty good job.

Hearts sit second in the SPL table, eight points behind leaders Celtic, and Tynecastle is full to capacity for almost every home game. They are also firm favourites to win the Scottish Cup, having reached the last eight, while Celtic and Rangers have fallen by the wayside. But supporters may be anxious to hear of unrest among players and the coaching staff.

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Romanov set to meet angry players

Owner Vladimir Romanov is willing to meet Hearts players who are concerned he is meddling in team affairs. Players are looking to support manager Graham Rix after telling BBC Sport that Romanov picked the team for the 1-1 draw with Dundee United. When appearing on BBC Radio Four's Today programme, Romanov's spokesman Charlie Mann would not say Rix was in complete control of the team. He said: "There are discussions between the two and that is as much as I know."

When asked if Romanov picked was in charge of team selection, Mann said: "Graham is the first-team coach and Graham is the man who should make any statements about who picks the football team. "Mr Romanov has a regular debate with Graham Rix on team issues after matches and that's the key point, it's after matches." However, captain Steven Pressley said: "We understand the manager's situation." "We are 100% behind him. The players will endeavour to find a solution and will take a group decision."

Romanov financed the signing of 11 new players during January as second-placed Hearts chase Scottish Premier League leaders Celtic. But there is unrest within the 35-man first-team pool after six changes were made for Tuesday's trip to Tannadice.

I'll be in tomorrow to prepare for Saturday's game. If it's to be otherwise, it's out of my hands
Hearts head coach Graham Rix

When asked who chose the team, Pressley told BBC Sport: "Make your own decision. "I was surprised by the team as I think that, for any successful side, there has to be continuity of selection. "Time and time again, we have played a settled side and got results. "We certainly hope that Graham remains as our manager and I hope he doesn't walk away."

Rix would not be drawn on claims that he told players that Romanov was now picking the team and on media reports that he may be leaving the Edinburgh club. "I'm not going to comment about things like that," said Rix. "I'll be in tomorrow to prepare for Saturday's game. If it's to be otherwise, it's out of my hands." The agent for Scotland defender Andy Webster had earlier told BBC Sport that he has ended negotiations about a new contract. Webster, whose contract runs until next summer, was one of those dropped for Tuesday's game.

Meanwhile, a player told BBC Sport that Rix had told his squad: "Romanov is pulling the strings, picking the team, including the substitutes, and has total control." Another player claimed that Rix told him: "Mr Romanov is picking the team." Former Portsmouth manager Rix had insisted "I am picking the team" when he was unveiled at Tynecastle on 8 November. He had been brought in to replace George Burley, who left the club amid reports of meddling from Romanov.

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Op zondag 12 februari 2006 17:19 schreef Barnet_Bee het volgende:
Hopelijk halen de Rangers de CL niet.

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Rix sacked as Hearts head coach

Hearts have sacked their head coach Graham Rix, the club has confirmed. Coach Valdas Ivanauskas has been appointed as his interim replacement, with John McGlynn assisting him. Rix only took the position in November, following the sacking of the previous head coach, George Burley, after only a few months in the job.

"We have been disappointed with the team's performance. Results were not what they should have been," chairman Roman Romanov told the Hearts website. "We also felt that some of the signings made in January were not appropriate for Hearts. "In addition, the events which occurred in February when Hearts played Dundee United, including the way in which some information appeared in the public domain, were disappointing to us. "I'd like to thank Graham Rix for all his hard work at Hearts. He gave 100% but ultimately it did not work out. Vladimir Romanov and the club's management felt that something had to be done quickly. We owed it to the fans."

Rix's role has been under question ever since, and was further undermined when it emerged owner Vladimir Romanov had picked the team for the game against Dundee United referred to in Hearts' statement. Hearts signed 11 players during the January transfer window, many of whom were understood to have been chosen by Romanov. Director of football Jim Duffy has also been relieved of his duties, having been appointed to the role just a month ago.

Hearts are currently second in the SPL, 14 points behind Celtic. Their 1-1 draw at home to Rangers on Sunday kept them six points clear of Alex McLeish's side in the battle for the second Champions League spot.

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Op woensdag 5 april 2006 22:55 schreef DIGGER het volgende:
Met inmiddels ook de meeste punten per wedstrijd ratio van heel Europa geloof ik.

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Op woensdag 5 april 2006 23:12 schreef Ricky_ het volgende:

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Zegt wel wat over die competitie.

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Op woensdag 5 april 2006 23:10 schreef DIGGER het volgende:
Voorlopig heb je een sterrenkijker nodig om het gat in de stand te kunnen bekijken en dat bevalt me prima. Nu nog hopen dat Hearts 2e blijft.

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Op woensdag 22 maart 2006 13:44 schreef BliksemSchigt het volgende:

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Welke trainer wil nou nog naar die club toe?

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Op donderdag 6 april 2006 14:16 schreef pfaf het volgende:
Weinig weerstand gehad dit seizoen. Zó is het ook niet veel aan...

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Op woensdag 5 april 2006 23:25 schreef Barnet_Bee het volgende:

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Vorig jaar was het gat heel erg klein en werd de titel beslist op de laatste speeldag. Was toen de Schotse competitie dan heel sterk?

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Op maandag 9 januari 2006 16:55 schreef the_legend_killer het volgende:
Hearts pakt de beker en Celtic gewoon de rest van de prijzen
Rangers horen niks te winnen

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Op donderdag 6 april 2006 19:28 schreef methodmich het volgende:
Spannendste competitie in Europa dit!!

Maar knap van Celtic hoor, met zoveel overmacht.

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Op zondag 23 april 2006 13:33 schreef DutchGooner het volgende:
The Old Firm is nu op Sport1.

Hup Rangers.