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.