Why did Scotland agree to the WC fixture list?

[sunshine1875]

That resulted in us playing Macedonia away midday during a heatwave
That resulted in us playing Norway away before our football season had even started
That resulted in us playing Holland soon after the Macedonia game, when it could easily have been arranged in early October

Someone needs a for this.

You get the feeling that neither Jock Stein or Walter Smith would have agreed to these fixtures.

Would be a great achievement if we could nick a play-off place.

[RoYO!]

i've been saying this for ages, whoever agreed to this should be fired on the spot, absolutely ridiculous planning. The Norway game was also played when their season had started, we stood so little chance, against a team that was always likely to be challenging us.

[Jack]

Sounds like a job for Super Rod!

Get it sorted Petrie!!!

[PaulSmith]

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That resulted in us playing Macedonia away midday during a heatwave
That resulted in us playing Norway away before our football season had even started
That resulted in us playing Holland soon after the Macedonia game, when it could easily have been arranged in early October

Someone needs a for this.

You get the feeling that neither Jock Stein or Walter Smith would have agreed to these fixtures.

Would be a great achievement if we could nick a play-off place.

I presume you completely missed Gordon Smith explaining that the fixtures were drawn mostly by lots and the only alternative was to play Macedonia away exactly one year later?

Its always easy to slag someone off without even having once ounce of knowledge of how the process works and to believe the rants of Jim Taylor and the likes.

[Haymaker]

IIRC most groups couldnt decided amongst themselves and so FIFA had to step in and do it and everyone had to get on with it.

[Phil D. Rolls]

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I presume you completely missed Gordon Smith explaining that the fixtures were drawn mostly by lots and the only alternative was to play Macedonia away exactly one year later?

Its always easy to slag someone off without even having once ounce of knowledge of how the process works and to believe the rants of Jim Taylor and the likes.

No relation?

[sunshine1875]

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I presume you completely missed Gordon Smith explaining that the fixtures were drawn mostly by lots and the only alternative was to play Macedonia away exactly one year later?

Its always easy to slag someone off without even having once ounce of knowledge of how the process works and to believe the rants of Jim Taylor and the likes.

One ounce of knowledge

Do you believe everything that Gordon Smith says?

From the attached, FIFA originally stated that October 2009 would be the date for the play-offs, meaning that all games had to be played by September 2009 - hence some of the early games like Norway before the 2009/10 season had started. Smith stated "This was the basis in which we negotiated our Group 9 fixtures late last year". No mention of ballots!!! Smith then goes on to state "Scotland supporters can be assured that we will do everything we can to make sure that we retain our agreed schedule and that our fans are not inconvenienced in any way by this change". This implies that Scotland had the opportunity to re-negotiate our fixture dates. Ok, it may have inconvenienced a few of our fans. But what is better - to inconvenience a few that could be compensated for their financial loss, resulting in the the best opportunity for Scotland to qualify and the greater reward that comes from that or to put obstacles in our way that will hinder our progress to qualification?

http://www.scotland-mad.co.uk/news/l...ED21&id=373378

The attached states "While Scotland are happy to honour the original agreement, other associations may have different ideas." I bet Norway were happy to meet us half way through their football season and with ours not started.

[sunshine1875]

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IIRC most groups couldnt decided amongst themselves and so FIFA had to step in and do it and everyone had to get on with it.

Cannot find anything to support view. FIFA (or UEFA) agreed the Euro 2008 qualification list when Ukraine would not agree to the others requests, IIRC.

[basehibby]

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IIRC most groups couldnt decided amongst themselves and so FIFA had to step in and do it and everyone had to get on with it.

In the case of our group Maccedonia threw their toys out the pram and wouldn't agree to anything so FIFA had to step in and draw lots for the draw. There may have been a limited amount of room for negotiation but not much.

[Woody1985]

Also, was the norway game not moved because of CL games or was that another game?

Basically, no one gets what they want all of the time. There's always going to be someones nose out of joint.

You won't hear Holland moaning about fixture lists.

[Dashing Bob S]

...because international football in this country is ran by a group of ******ed, low-life, masonic fools from the dark ages who couldn't organise a seaside trip on a desert island and who are incapable of rational decision-making, far less negotiating with other parties who have a three-figure IQ's?

Exhibit One: Peat.

Exhibit Two: Smith.

Exhibit Three: Burley.

[Dinkydoo]

What he said.......

[Disc O'Dave]

Whilst it's nice and easy to put the boot in on these occasions, which I believe is the currently fashionable thing to do.....

It's a wee bit harsh expecting the beaks at the SFA to accurately predict when a heatwave is going to strike Macedonia. The Met Office rarely get the next days' weather right!

[iwasthere1972]

I blame Chris Illeumo. If he hadn't missed that sitter we probably wouldn't even be discussing the fixture dates.

Surprised nobody from the SFA have picked up on this.