Culkin calls for semis re-think
Friday 15th March 2013, 2:30PM GMT.
CRAIG CULKIN has called for a return to tradition and the Muratti Vase semi-finals to be held at both Springfield and the Track in future years.
Ahead of tomorrow’s semi-final at the Mount Hale ground, the Jersey coach (pictured) has launched an attack on the ongoing arrangement, that first started in the mid-1990s, to allow Alderney to host the semi-final of the Vase every year, with Guernsey and Jersey alternating visits.
That decision was made to make the fixture more competitive, after the most recent semi-finals to be played in Guernsey and Jersey resulted in 9-1 and 18-0 home wins respectively.
But with his plans not helped by problematic travel arrangements back from San Marino with his Uefa Regions Cup squad, Culkin voiced strong views ahead of Jersey’s visit to the northern isle this weekend.
‘Alderney need to step out of their comfort zone and start getting this game [the semi-final] being played in Jersey and Guernsey every year like it used to,’ he said.
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Does this bloke ever open his mouth without moaning ?
If he ever gets on the inter insular committee then he can have his vote – until then his opinion doesn’t count for much. Whose fault is it that his preparations have been hindered by getting stuck returning from a tournament that 99% of the Jersey population couldn’t care less about?
He needs to be reined in by the people in charge at the JFA and reminded that there is a correct way of doing things. Bleating in the press is not the way to go.
Shouting loudest doesn’t mean that you’re right.
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Since it doesn’t suit him this year he’s called for it to be changed to ease Jersey’s travel plans. Also traditionally the semi final’s were alternated between the 3 islands giving Alderney a chance in the final. Would he be calling for this also since it is tradition?
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Isn’t it time to scrap this meaningless fixture altogether – tradition or not? It’s like making Man Utd play Atherton Collieries for a place in the Champions League.
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I see where you’re coming from Martino, but in that case why not scrap the third round of the FA Cup? Why should Premier League teams waste their time playing lower league or Conference teams? After all 99 times out 100 they’ll win…..but there’s always that one time, and half the fun of the cup is dreaming of what might happen.
One alternative would be to make the Muratti like the 6 nations. Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney all play each other in a league type system. One downside though is it would take the “cup final” atmosphere out of the Muratti 99% of the time – unless of course the fixtures were always rigged so Guernsey and Jersey played each other last.
To be honest, although like you I’m often for change, I think this time it’s best just left the way it is.
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See what you’re saying PLP so how’s this for an idea. All future Muratti ‘semis’ should be between Alderney and the losers from the previous year’s final with the venue changing from home to away on an alternate year basis. If we beat Jersey five years in a row then Jersey have to face Alderney five years running – and vice versa.
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I for one would not want to see anything changed in the Muratti. Alderney fully deserve to be part of it. The game brings a lot of money into their football when the match is played there. Moving it Jersey/Guernsey would just mean a bigger win for that island. What would the value in that be?
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