MattBackHome
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 11,875
You just KNOW it's going to be described as a Xmas Shopping Break at some point don't you.
Come Armageddon, Come.
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World Cup 2022 dates confirmed
- Thread starter Bozza
- Start date
You just KNOW it's going to be described as a Xmas Shopping Break at some point don't you.
Come Armageddon, Come.
Would not be shocked if the PL used this as a chance to switch to 18 teams
Easy 10
Brain dead MUG SHEEP
No - I'm saying that scheduling a winter break could lead to MORE fixture congestion, because you could easily end up losing games to the weather whilst still having to shoe-horn in that mandatory midseason 2 week break into the schedule. I'm not sure why you're looking to extend the season into June/July - that would be impossible as you have the World Cup / Euros every other year then (with one ridiculous exception).
Why do England players claim fatigue at International tournaments ? Because its a convenient excuse. A couple of weeks off at the arse-end of December would make STUFF ALL difference to their performances come June. And as already stated, they'd only be dragged off to some desert state to player Ali-Bin Dippers Union or something anyway.
Easy 10
Brain dead MUG SHEEP
As was the original plan at the inception of the PL.
But you'd need the clubs to vote for it. And how many are going to vote for a bigger relegation trapdoor to trim the division down to 18 ? You'd get nowhere near 20 votes for it, that's for sure. Plus less teams = less fixtures = less £. Can't see it.
Less Fixtures means a higher % on TV, something they can sell on.
I think you would be shocked, I would imagine Chelsea/City/Arsenal/Utd/Spurs/Liverpool/Swansea/Stoke/Everton/Newcastle/West Ham would as it would be a bigger pay out if less teams.
I don't think 18 teams is a bad thing as we do play to much football in this country.
SweatyMexican
Well-known member
- Mar 31, 2013
- 4,155
Brighton have been doing so well I'd almost forgotten about Fifa. Why did you have to remind me?
A winter world cup. I hope, in my naivety, something is done to put a stop to it. No one bloody wants it, and 1,200 have already died trying to build the stadiums.
I started to rant on even further, but it's all probably been said millions of times before. FFS Fifa.
A winter world cup. I hope, in my naivety, something is done to put a stop to it. No one bloody wants it, and 1,200 have already died trying to build the stadiums.
I started to rant on even further, but it's all probably been said millions of times before. FFS Fifa.
Easy 10
Brain dead MUG SHEEP
I don't think 18 teams would be a bad thing either. But I think its a real stretch to say that the 11 clubs you list would potentially vote in favour of chopping the number of clubs in the PL. They all know which side their bread is buttered - they'd each be losing 4 games a season and increasing the risk of relegation, for perhaps a small % increase from the TV revenue pot.
And who's to say the new TV deal wouldn't be cut to reflect the smaller league. Less games = less product to sell.
pasty
A different kind of pasty
No Brighton game on Boxing Day!!!! Bollox to that. 
Season starts later = more time to tour the fair east and USA.....
I would cut down all the leagues - a 24 team league is insane.
Easy 10
Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Yes, but you've still ultimately got a deadline date to finish the season by. You extole the virtue of suspending the season while the weather is bad. But what if, as an example, the season was suspended from 20th December - 3rd Jan, and is scheduled to finish 15th May (which is exactly what La Liga is doing this season). We have the 2 week break, then January / February rocks up and we get a big freeze. You've lost 2 weeks already for the break, which means you're already packing games in to finish by mid-May. Then ON TOP of that, you'll have to re-arrange whatever games you lose after the winter break. Hence - more congestion.
If you're seriously talking about extending into June to accommodate this, or starting earlier in the summer, then I just don't see how that'll work in Tournament years.
Easy 10
Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Easier said than done - where do you "cut" these clubs, where do they go ?
Will the third and fourth divisions be cancelled too?No Brighton game on Boxing Day!!!! Bollox to that.
#welluneverknow.
If was hoping for a last-minute switch to late 2021... if only because I registered the worldcup2021.com domain and Twitter name. lolz
Easy 10
Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Be pretty lucky for that to happen though - its far more likely to happen either side of a 2 week Christmas break. Snow at Christmas has been all but banned remember.
Hampster Gull
Well-known member
- Dec 22, 2010
- 13,465
We might do well if ours "stars" arent wrecked after a full season
18 Pl clubs
18 championship clubs
20 League 1
20 league 2 north
20 league 2 south
Expand the league by a few teams and go back to having a north and south second division.
We over play players, especially young players and smaller clubs would save money by having more local games.
Easy 10
Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Thats not a bad shout at all actually. Although is there a "natural divide" between L2N and L2S clubs at the moment in terms of numbers ?
Plus it would help our European clubs, the main reason we struggle is all games in the premiership are tough. That's just not the case for the rest of Europe.
It would be 3 less home games for the lower leagues, but the money will be saved by not having Exeter play Carlise, which whilst is part of the Football League tradition is a bit silly isn't it?
Easy 10
Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Sorry for the edit KG, but questions came after my initial response. I like the idea, but 40 teams into a north/south divide may not be a straightforward fit with the current demographic. I'd wager it'd be overbalanced with northerners.
beorhthelm
A. Virgo, Football Genius
- Jul 21, 2003
- 36,016
this winter break idea is overrated. for the Italians and Spanish its just the Christmas period, just when we like to have traditional bank holiday games, and those that take serious month or so break are places where the pitches are unplayable for that period. didnt the French just drop theirs? if we were to have a break maybe the first week or two in new year. and for ditch the League cup if playing too many games is a problem, rather than reduce the league size.