Former Sky Sports presenter David Tanner appears to be relaunching himself as a controversial personality aiming for a career with TalkSPORT.
A simple formula of coming up with an outrageous idea relating to one of the Glasgow clubs is bound to create a reaction with Tanner calling on former SPL CEO Roger Mitchell to help push an idea.
Fifteen or twenty years ago the two men would have been at the forefront of debate around Scottish football, these days it seems that their views are less newsworthy.
The bright idea hatched by Tanner and Mitchell is to have play-off matches to decide final league positions.
It sounds catchy and exciting but where do you start. In Scotland does the team in 12th place play the team in 11th with the winner playing the side in 10th place? On that basis Hearts could end up winning the league.
With the approval of UEFA and 80% of member clubs the SPFL have as fair as system as possible for deciding the final places. Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers have already been awarded titles on that basis, it’s only a matter of timing before the Premiership is decided in the same way.
In an agenda-setting @talkSPORT interview, ex-SPFL CEO Roger Mitchell told me that UEFA signed-off on play-offs for leagues.
Now Lazio want that.
Should they do that in the UK?
Hearts v Hamilton? Hearts v Inverness? Partick Th v QOS? Partick v Falkirk? Celtic v… Liverpool v…— David Tanner (@DavidTannerTV) April 27, 2020
Yes Celtic can have a 10 goal lead, Liverpool a 25 goal lead and so on
— We Won It First ? (@liamt67) April 27, 2020
The definition of fairness is one the even the lawyers would flee from!
— David Tanner (@DavidTannerTV) April 27, 2020
It’s a good point. It’s a hellova gap.
Pity the decision makers, as I always say.— David Tanner (@DavidTannerTV) April 27, 2020
Agenda is 100% correct
— Craigy Bhoy (@WB25274546) April 27, 2020
That’s my view.
Live the joy.
Abort now and what do we do when a second wave comes?
I feel a great deal of sympathy for all the decision makers. Can’t stress that often enough.— David Tanner (@DavidTannerTV) April 27, 2020
Imagine Gerrard’s anguish if man city and Celtic won via okay offs
— Tony Hayes (@DiMarco_Pattaya) April 27, 2020
Higher placed teams get
-home game
-must lose by specific amount of goalsTo compensate for building up lead over majority of fixtures & protect sporting integrity.
Would rangers play-off be vs Celtic or Motherwell? They can still finish 3rd after all?
— Lars Chris Mars (@LarsChrisMars1) April 27, 2020
That’s fine where the difference is marginal but where there is a bigger gap, the advantage built up needs to be reflected. 13 goal start for Celtic and 25 for Liverpool would seem a reasonable starting point.
— TBegley (@TBegley14) April 27, 2020