carlyluvsunited
23-11-2007, 10:06 PM
REUNITE OLD ENEMIES - FERGUSON
Sir Alex Ferguson has called for the traditional England-Scotland fixture to be
revived.
In the wake of the home nations' mass elimination from Euro 2008 there has
been talk the old British Championship, played annually until 1984, could be
revived this spring.
A Celtic Cup competition, without England but including the Republic of Ireland, is
likely to be announced within a couple of weeks, setting a deadline for the
Football Association to confirm whether they wish to be involved.
Ferguson does not believe such a widespread competition would attract sufficient
support to be viable.
However, the Glaswegian is adamant if England want to try to fill Wembley,
Scotland should be among their next visitors.
The two countries have met on 110 previous occasions, but not since the second
leg of the Euro 2000 qualifier at the old Wembley, when Scotland won 1-0 but
England emerged triumphant thanks to a two-goal victory at Hampden Park four
days earlier.
"I am not so sure about the British Championship could be launched again. I don't
think you would get the crowds to justify it," said Ferguson.
"But I do think Scotland and England should renew their games.
"If England play Brazil in a friendly and they will not get the same crowd as they
would get for a match against Scotland.
"They would fill the stadium every time they played. Those matches are fantastic
occasions and that may well come again."
Scotland veteran David Weir believes reviving the Home International
Championship next summer would be a masterstroke.
The 37-year-old defender is one of the few players in the Scotland side who can
remember the last years of the tournament which was run on an annual basis
until 1984.
And amid suggestions it might be brought back in the wake of all home nations
failing to qualify for Euro 2008, Weir hopes to see the return of games which
were typically passionate affairs.
"I don't see why not. They'd be good games," he said.
"They'd be attractive games for the fans and for the players, so I'm sure it would
be a good idea, but that's not my decision."
Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith is expected to raise the subject with his
English FA counterpart Brian Barwick over the weekend in Durban, South Africa,
where the 2010 World Cup qualifying draw takes place.
There had been suggestions of a 'Celtic Cup' taking place before England's defeat
to Croatia on Wednesday saw them fail to qualify.
Weir would want England to be part of the equation if Scotland enter into a
competition against other teams from the United Kingdom.
"If it was home internationals you'd want them all to be involved," he said.
"I'm sure the Scottish fans would like to see the English players and I'm sure
there'd be a lot of interest in the game.
"Whether it happens or not, I'm sure the powers that be will work that one out."
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan played eight matches in the competition from
1980 to 1984 and has mixed feelings about the possible return.
Asked whether he would welcome a revival, he said: "I suppose I would as a fan
and maybe as a player. As a manager I think 'more games', because we keep
shouting that we play too many games.
"But I'm sure the players, as long as it wasn't over a long period of time, would
enjoy the home internationals.
"We used to play them in a week, it was okay that.
"Because I used to play it as a young man, I could see tired bodies among the
older ones.
"Everybody wanted to play the Scotland-England game but there wasn't a big
rush to be fit for the rest."
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Sir Alex Ferguson has called for the traditional England-Scotland fixture to be
revived.
In the wake of the home nations' mass elimination from Euro 2008 there has
been talk the old British Championship, played annually until 1984, could be
revived this spring.
A Celtic Cup competition, without England but including the Republic of Ireland, is
likely to be announced within a couple of weeks, setting a deadline for the
Football Association to confirm whether they wish to be involved.
Ferguson does not believe such a widespread competition would attract sufficient
support to be viable.
However, the Glaswegian is adamant if England want to try to fill Wembley,
Scotland should be among their next visitors.
The two countries have met on 110 previous occasions, but not since the second
leg of the Euro 2000 qualifier at the old Wembley, when Scotland won 1-0 but
England emerged triumphant thanks to a two-goal victory at Hampden Park four
days earlier.
"I am not so sure about the British Championship could be launched again. I don't
think you would get the crowds to justify it," said Ferguson.
"But I do think Scotland and England should renew their games.
"If England play Brazil in a friendly and they will not get the same crowd as they
would get for a match against Scotland.
"They would fill the stadium every time they played. Those matches are fantastic
occasions and that may well come again."
Scotland veteran David Weir believes reviving the Home International
Championship next summer would be a masterstroke.
The 37-year-old defender is one of the few players in the Scotland side who can
remember the last years of the tournament which was run on an annual basis
until 1984.
And amid suggestions it might be brought back in the wake of all home nations
failing to qualify for Euro 2008, Weir hopes to see the return of games which
were typically passionate affairs.
"I don't see why not. They'd be good games," he said.
"They'd be attractive games for the fans and for the players, so I'm sure it would
be a good idea, but that's not my decision."
Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith is expected to raise the subject with his
English FA counterpart Brian Barwick over the weekend in Durban, South Africa,
where the 2010 World Cup qualifying draw takes place.
There had been suggestions of a 'Celtic Cup' taking place before England's defeat
to Croatia on Wednesday saw them fail to qualify.
Weir would want England to be part of the equation if Scotland enter into a
competition against other teams from the United Kingdom.
"If it was home internationals you'd want them all to be involved," he said.
"I'm sure the Scottish fans would like to see the English players and I'm sure
there'd be a lot of interest in the game.
"Whether it happens or not, I'm sure the powers that be will work that one out."
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan played eight matches in the competition from
1980 to 1984 and has mixed feelings about the possible return.
Asked whether he would welcome a revival, he said: "I suppose I would as a fan
and maybe as a player. As a manager I think 'more games', because we keep
shouting that we play too many games.
"But I'm sure the players, as long as it wasn't over a long period of time, would
enjoy the home internationals.
"We used to play them in a week, it was okay that.
"Because I used to play it as a young man, I could see tired bodies among the
older ones.
"Everybody wanted to play the Scotland-England game but there wasn't a big
rush to be fit for the rest."
Click below to join manutdtalk.com forums to read and
discuss all breaking news on all things United !!! Come talk to us….
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