Could Summer football be implemented in the game here?
What are the obstacles?
And can these be removed?
Advantages:
Not really relevant at the mo but
I think summer football would improve attendances
No need to go to Pittodrie in the depths of winter to freeze yourself for hours on end
Which in the long run can only help the game and support numbers here.
Games could be played in the sunshine and warmth.
No need for a winter break so internationals could be fitted into a summer break sometime.
Teams here would be well into their season when qualifiers come around.
Increasing everyone’s chances of progressing and going further in Euro comps.
Disadvantages
Our transfer window and season would be different to large parts of Europe.
Particularly in England.
This could play havoc with our TV contract deal.
Players will grumble about getting no off season to rest.
This could conflict with the World cup and Euros.
So International Players might chose to request transfers elsewhere
Anyone with an opinion on this? And add anything not already listed.
Summer Football?
posted on 30/9/20
We got to the UEFA Cup final 13 years ago, that for me is still the aim for Scottish Teams.
Get out of the group in the CL.
Win the EL.
+ Soon to be win the wee dafties EL
posted on 30/9/20
It won't happen for so many reasons. HB is spot on BTW. We may not be as sharp in early qualifying rounds v Scandinavian leagues but come group stage time they have played a full season and are sometimes beyond end of season so do not perform well.
Summer football would be good for attendance but it is unlikely to attract better tv revenue that we already get.
We would end up being a place where players go to get some game time when they have been out of action for a while rather than seen as a proper league.
On a persoanl note I'd rather go to Hampden on Scottish Cup Final day in the sun that in the depths of winter
posted on 30/9/20
The simple and most sensible solution is for it to be the best of both worlds. The season being more or less aligned with the rest of Europe, and having summer football.
Increase the number of teams in the Scottish Premiership to 16, play each other four times. That is 60 games each per season. That means it could start at the beginning of July and end at the end of May, with a month in between for Scottish players to watch the Euros/World Cup.
posted on 30/9/20
We already have summer football mostly. In Dundee United's last full season, the first competitive match started on the 14th of July, and the season finale was on the 26th of May. That's only 7 weeks without football in the summer.
The problems with actual summer football are numerous. For one, grass doesn't grow in the winter and needs a rest in the summer.
Another is that it means the season starts in winter and ends in winter. That causes all sorts of problems.
Buying season tickets at Christmas time would put a lot of people off financially. I also don't think there'd be the same start-of-season excitement if it was pitch black by 5pm and freezing cold. Leave that for mid-season games, not the most important ones.
The season ending in winter would be terrible for call-offs too. Imagine an end-of-season crunch game getting called off and desperately trying to squeeze it in before the final games. Or worse - if a final-day game got called off due to the weather. If you think fixture congestion is bad now, then it'd be chaos.
Plus nobody would watch it on TV that doesn't already watch it. Nobody I know watched Irish football when it was on Sky and they had a summer league. They've since moved to a winter league.
posted on 30/9/20
People who watch football on TV will always do that
Folk who go to games will do that
I know I maybe the minority but nothing beats a rush home on a midweek night, wolf down dinner then layer up with 3 jumpers to go to the game
Freezing pints with your mates before then the walk towards those floodlights with A sleet silhouette in the distance
Defrost in the pub after
posted on 30/9/20
comment by The Duke (U10059)
posted 10 minutes ago
People who watch football on TV will always do that
Folk who go to games will do that
I know I maybe the minority but nothing beats a rush home on a midweek night, wolf down dinner then layer up with 3 jumpers to go to the game
Freezing pints with your mates before then the walk towards those floodlights with A sleet silhouette in the distance
Defrost in the pub after
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Yeah I'm with you on that
posted on 1/10/20
Lots of valid points made against this. It sounds a bit like some are against it because it's just not the done thing though. We might be climbing the ranks and could get a 2nd CL spot. But getting past qualifiers has been very hit and miss. Keeping the status quo means accepting probably continued failure to do more than fail to get into the last 32. Trying something different to give our teams an advantage to go further in Europe is my best reason to champion beginning our season earlier.
posted on 1/10/20
There are plenty of other things to do in summer though. Football is needed over winter. Going to the football or going to the pub to watch football gives us something to do and look forward to over winter.
posted on 1/10/20
comment by council bin man (U21986)
posted 6 hours, 11 minutes ago
Lots of valid points made against this. It sounds a bit like some are against it because it's just not the done thing though. We might be climbing the ranks and could get a 2nd CL spot. But getting past qualifiers has been very hit and miss. Keeping the status quo means accepting probably continued failure to do more than fail to get into the last 32. Trying something different to give our teams an advantage to go further in Europe is my best reason to champion beginning our season earlier.
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Why would the other 30 clubs give a toss about trying to get The Rangers a Champions League qualifying spot?
posted on 1/10/20
comment by Drunken Hobo (U7360)
posted 57 minutes ago
comment by council bin man (U21986)
posted 6 hours, 11 minutes ago
Lots of valid points made against this. It sounds a bit like some are against it because it's just not the done thing though. We might be climbing the ranks and could get a 2nd CL spot. But getting past qualifiers has been very hit and miss. Keeping the status quo means accepting probably continued failure to do more than fail to get into the last 32. Trying something different to give our teams an advantage to go further in Europe is my best reason to champion beginning our season earlier.
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Why would the other 30 clubs give a toss about trying to get The Rangers a Champions League qualifying spot?
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Because getting a team into the group stages brings massive financial bungs via solidarity payments. £370k per team last time which, even for a big club like Motherwell with turnover £5-7m, is massive.