Moira Gordon: Ref is irrelevant to us, says David Weir

Published on Saturday 27 February 2010 21:04

AN OASIS of calm reality amid the hype and hullabaloo. For all the scrutiny of referees, the comparisons between respective managers and the magnitude of three points in the realms of the championship race, once the whistle starts this afternoon's Old Firm contest, it all comes down to the players, says David Weir.

"I think the referee's irrelevant to us," he said of the recent headline-grabbing row between Celtic and the SFA. "Genuinely, it's not had any effect on us. I know it's been big news but regarding the players' point of view, it's background noise. We go into every game and the referee's the last thing on our minds.

"I have no doubt the referee does the best he can. Sometimes they make mistakes, sometimes players make mistakes. But if they perceive a decision to go one way, the other team will perceive it the other way. That's just the problem they have.

"I'm sure individual players will have better relationships with referees than others. But that's life, that's nothing personal against the referee or him against the player.

"Normally I don't know who the referee is. I just turn up on a Saturday and see. I don't think about it. If you start thinking like that you forget about what's most important, which is how you play on the day."

Controversy has been a key player in the previous Old Firm clashes this term but, while Weir would readily accept any break of luck in his side's favour, he is hopeful that the players serve up a more lasting legacy than the officials when it comes to this afternoon's encounter. This time the Ibrox club have virtually a full complement of players to choose from, with Lee McCulloch expected to be fit despite picking up a knock in training on Friday, while their visitors have added a swathe of new faces to their squad since the last head-to-head. It makes for a very interesting tussle, asserts the Rangers captain.

"They have top players, who've been playing at a good level," he said. "Top international players who'll pose a different challenge to us. They're like for like, in that they've replaced international players, but they're fresh and will be a new challenge for us and it will add to the game."

Weir refuses to buy into the theory that fielding so many Old Firm debutants could weaken Celtic.

"The atmosphere is just different. The new Celtic lads have played in European fixtures, Champions League and the Premiership so I don't think it'll effect their performance or how they play, it's just a different experience.

"Time will tell. It is a different occasion and it is special but who's to say it will have a positive or negative effect on them? We can only say that after the game and if you look back at debuts in the past, some people have had dream starts and some have had nightmares. I don't think there's any rhyme or reason to it."

With or without McCulloch, Walter Smith is expected to go with four across the middle and Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd up front. Their seven-point cushion, as well as a game in hand, means that the hosts have nothing to lose and everything to gain and neither captain nor manager see the merits in simply shutting up shop. In the recent past they have opted for counter-punching, conceding possession to their rivals, soaking up the Celtic attacks and then hitting on the break or making the most of set pieces.

"I don't know how you (play for a draw] in any game," mused Smith, "but Old Firm games are not ones you can do that in. You can be asked to defend and (be] pushed back, but I don't think anybody ever sets out to get a draw in that game. There's been plenty of them, but I don't think that's been by design."

"I don't think that comes into your mindset," agreed Weir. "The way we've played all season, we've gone out to try and win every game, so I can't imagine why we'd try to do something different."

Especially in front of their home crowd and with the knowledge that victory would all but secure them their second consecutive title. "In Old Firm games there have been times when we've set up prepared to defend more at Celtic Park, but not at Ibrox," said Smith, who said it would be disrespectful to consider the match a title decider. "The Ibrox games we've played since we've come back have been quite open and that will probably be the case on Sunday."

Too long in the tooth to spout pronouncements which could be used against him, Smith's experience is a major factor in Rangers' ability to glean points if not always glory from recent Old Firm clashes, according to his centre-back.

"He's very important," said Weir. "He's seen every circumstance and scenario before and he can talk you through it as it's happening, tell you what's going to unfold and what's happened in the past. That is a great attribute to have. I don't think there's anybody comparable with the experience of what he's done in this game or in Scottish football in general.

"But that won't win you the game, it's the players who win you the game. That's why you've got to be at your best on the day. The team who has more of their players at their best on the day will hopefully win the game and that's what we have to try and do. We've got players who've done it before and we know what they're capable of. But it's irrelevant really unless they do it on the day.

"We have to be mindful of that. We talk about who's done what and who's going to do this or that, but there's 11 players on the pitch for each team and the 11 who put in the best performance as a team will invariably win."

Eleven versus 11. Celtic's contention is that too often this season it has actually come down to the actions of another team of three. But Weir is not one to dwell on headlines and hullabaloo.

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