A viral online debate among Rangers FC supporters has sparked heated discussions over whether the Scottish Premiership title should be decided after just 22 games. The argument, which emerged from a controversial thread on social media, suggests that the current league structure fails to properly determine the most deserving champion.
Some Rangers fans have gone as far as to propose alternative metrics to decide the title, including suggestions that points should be weighted based on opposition strength, or even that a playoff system should be introduced. However, these ideas have been met with skepticism, ridicule, and confusion from other football fans, particularly from the Celtic side of the rivalry.
The Traditional 22-Game League Format: How It Works
In the Scottish Premiership, teams play 33 games in the regular season, facing each opponent three times. However, the first 22 games often hold significant weight, as they set the tone for the title race and determine which teams are in contention for the championship.
At the 22-game mark, a clearer picture of the league standings emerges, and in most seasons, either Celtic or Rangers have established themselves as the dominant force. However, the recent debate questions whether this milestone should be a defining factor in the title race.
Why Some Rangers Fans Are Questioning the 22-Game Benchmark
The controversial thread from a group of Rangers supporters argues that:
• A title race should reflect a full season’s performance, not just the first 22 games.
• Injuries, scheduling, and refereeing decisions over a short period can unfairly impact standings.
• A team hitting form late in the season should have an equal chance of winning the league.
• Celtic’s strong record in first halves of seasons has given them an unfair advantage in previous years.
Their argument essentially suggests that 22 games aren’t enough to determine a team’s true quality—and that other metrics should be considered when awarding the title.
The Baffling New Metrics Proposed by Some Rangers Fans
The most confusing and widely debated part of the thread was the introduction of new metrics to decide the league winner. Some of the proposals included:
1. A Weighted Points System Based on Opponent Strength
One suggestion was that not all points should be worth the same, and that victories against stronger opponents should carry more weight.
🔹 Example: Beating Celtic should be worth more than beating Ross County.
🔹 Problem: This goes against the basic principles of football, where every match is equally valuable—no matter the opponent.
🔹 Fan Reaction: Many dismissed this as an unrealistic and confusing way to change the league structure.
2. A Playoff System to Determine the Champion
Another idea floated in the thread was introducing a playoff stage at the end of the season, similar to American sports leagues or the Scottish Championship playoff system.
🔹 How It Would Work: The top four teams after 33 games would enter a mini-tournament, with the winner being crowned Scottish Premiership champions.
🔹 Problem: This would completely undermine the purpose of a league system, where consistency over a season is meant to determine the best team.
🔹 Fan Reaction: Most Scottish football fans found this laughable, arguing that if you’re the best team over 38 games, you deserve the title—no extra games needed.
3. A Form-Based Title Decision
Another bizarre suggestion was that only the last 15 games of the season should be considered when determining the champion.
🔹 The Logic: Some argued that the strongest team should be the one that peaks at the right time, rather than just starting strong.
🔹 Problem: This would completely devalue the early part of the season and reward inconsistency. Teams could start poorly and still be crowned champions if they finish well.
🔹 Fan Reaction: Many Celtic fans mocked this idea, saying it was a desperate attempt to rewrite the rules when things aren’t going Rangers’ way.
The Reaction from Celtic Fans: “This Is Desperation”
As expected, Celtic supporters wasted no time in ridiculing the suggestions. Many pointed out that Rangers fans only started questioning the league format when their team wasn’t leading the table.
🔹 “Funny how no one was questioning the system when Rangers were ahead.”
🔹 “This is desperate. You don’t change the rules just because Celtic are better.”
🔹 “Football isn’t American sports. The league is decided over a season, not a playoff.”
🔹 “Imagine thinking a win over Celtic should count more than a win over other teams. What nonsense!”
Some also compared the debate to past moments of controversy, where Rangers fans had claimed refereeing bias, unfair scheduling, and even SPFL corruption when things weren’t going in their favor.
Why the Current System Works: The Counterargument
Despite the debate, most football fans agree that the Scottish Premiership’s current structure is fair. The league rewards consistency, and every team plays the same number of games against each opponent.
Reasons Why the 22-Game Benchmark Matters:
✅ Consistency Matters – The best team over a season should win, not just the best team in the final few months.
✅ No Special Treatment – Every team plays each other an equal number of times, meaning all points are earned fairly.
✅ Championship Format Has Worked for Decades – The Scottish league system has produced fair winners for decades, so changing it now would be unnecessary.
Even Brendan Rodgers and Philippe Clement have both publicly supported the existing league structure, reinforcing that the title race is about winning games over an entire season—not just part of it.
Final Verdict: A Desperate Attempt to Change the Rules?
The viral thread from Rangers fans proposing new metrics for deciding the title has been widely dismissed as a desperate attempt to rewrite the rules when things aren’t going their way.
While discussions about league formats are always valid, the suggestions in this case—including weighted points, playoffs, and form-based decisions—simply do not make sense in a traditional football league system.
For now, the Scottish Premiership will continue as it always has, with the title decided over 38 games—not based on selective metrics or playoffs.
As one Celtic fan sarcastically put it:
“Next they’ll be saying the title should be decided by expected goals or Instagram followers.”
And as long as the debate rages on, Celtic and Rangers will continue battling it out on the pitch—where titles are truly won and lost.
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