Football

[Haywain]

There doesn't seem to be any rules as to what players are picked, which surely makes it unfair to opponents.

The alternative would, of course, be not playing it which isn't a great deal fairer.

 

[SuspectUsual]

The alternative would, of course, be not playing it which isn't a great deal fairer.

Or alternatively the rules for the National League Cup in England, which features most national league teams and some premier league / championship under 21 teams. The national league teams are required to play a number (6?) of their first team from the previous game, injuries permitting. (Or something like that).

The upshot can be a load of strange substitutions, like here:

Hartlepool United vs Middlesbrough U21: National League Cup stats & head-to-head

Follow live text commentary, score updates and match stats from Hartlepool United vs Middlesbrough U21 in the National League Cup

www.bbc.co.uk

(Link to Hartlepool 0 - 10 Middlesbrough U21s, with Hartlepool making four substitutions in the first two minutes)

Stupid rules get stupid outcomes

 

[AlterEgo]

Fair play to their fans for building a phoenix club and making it successful within a few years. But Rangers ceased to exist. Sevco/Zombie Rangers is a new club.

The fans didn't build Rangers 2.0!

 

[d9009alycidon]

The alternative would, of course, be not playing it which isn't a great deal fairer.

I would have thought the fairest way to approach this would be for the match to be postponed until the players are available, however I get the impression that the SPFL don't really bother too much about this cup, it is seen by many as a cheap season filler when the bigger teams with genuine international commitments are idle. Crowds are terrible at this stage, and it doesn't help that they change the format nearly every season.

 

[Haywain]

I would have thought the fairest way to approach this would be for the match to be postponed until the players are available,

As it's in a league phase, the difference between 1-0 and 14-0 is fairly negligible, so I can't see what would really be gained from not playing because Hearts had a weakened team.

 

[DarloRich]

Fair play to their fans for building a phoenix club and making it successful within a few years. But Rangers ceased to exist. Sevco/Zombie Rangers is a new club.

It didn't though did it? A football club is more than the corporate entity or dodgy rich bloke who owns it. You know that but it is useful tool to bash Rangers with, escpailly if you are of a more green persuaion!

 

[Haywain]

It didn't though did it? A football club is more than the corporate entity or dodgy rich bloke who owns it. You know that but it is useful tool to bash Rangers with, escpailly if you are of a more green persuaion!

There might be a view that Rangers continued to exist, but the fans certainly didn't "build a phoenix club".