prodcast
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2 hours ago, Gordon EF said:
On a different topic. How would folk like to see promotion / relegation at the bottom of the SPFL?
I'd like to see the bottom club go straight down with the winner of a one-off LL / HL play-off played at a neutral ground replacing them.
I'd like to then see a 4-way play off between:
- Second bottom of the SPFL
- Loser of the HL/LL champions play-off
- 2nd place in HL
- 2nd place in LL
So for a hypothetical completed 2019/20:
- Brechin City get relegated
- Brora Rangers vs Kelty Hearts champions play off at McDairmid Park (say Kelty win and are promoted).
- Then play-offs follwing L1 and Champioship format with semi-finals: Brora Rangers vs Bonnyrigg Rose & Albion Rovers vs Fraserburgh
I like the idea.
I've been hoping for something like this and thought the creation of the Lowland League was supposed to be just the first step towards something much more open between the League and non-league - but more promotion and relegation has never materialised.
Do Berwick and East Stirlingshire not talk to their former chums in SPFL2? More play-off places makes the lower league more exciting (the LL and HL could do that part themselves, right now - e.g. HL 1st v LL 2nd, LL 1st v HL 2nd, winners play off) and gives relegated clubs a much better chance to regain League status. Maybe it'll have to happen to a couple more of them before things are sorted for the better; automatic relegation for the worst in the League and automatic promotion for the best non-leaguers seems just.
(Unless they're actually quite chuffed at the change of scene, and looking forward to meeting new clubs coming through; but opening up the leagues enables more of this, too, so even 12-12-10-10 would be more interesting than at present.)
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On 08/09/2020 at 21:05, Cyclizine said:
The saving of twenty to thirty miles of travel (as has previously been estimated) isn't going to be save clubs much cash. Playing regionally doesn't lead to an increase in support, quite the opposite, as you can see by comparing attendances in regionalised leagues.
That doesn't sound quite right. Aren't there clubs playing regionally who have higher average attendances than some of those playing nationally? Isn't it the case that most clubs further down the pyramid will have lower attendances because they are simply smaller clubs, rather than that being caused by them playing in regional or district leagues? When derbies produce higher attendances than playing against non-rivals, as they surely do (?), it seems a logical decision to pursue that money.
I'm sure we'll find out more as the pyramid progresses. I wonder if relegation to the Lowland League is already looking like a less fearful prospect for League Two clubs; maybe Berwick and East Stirlingshire will be quite sanguine about where they find themselves.
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3 hours ago, Gordon EF said:
It all depends though, doesn't it? A part time L2 club with revenue of £200k and 'subsidy' of £50k who balances the books at the end of the season is exactly as sustainable nationally as a full time Championship club with revenue of £500k and 'subsidy' of £100k who also balances their books.
Of course you would imagine that travelling makes up a larger proportion of the average part time clubs costs.
But also, because of the geography of Scotland, partitioning Leagues 1 and 2 wouldn't result in vastly reduced distances for most clubs with a few clubs probably travelling much further, depending on the make up of the leagues. I looked at this a while ago and the only significant advantage really is saving the clubs furthest north and south from 2/4 extremely long journies every year. Any way you cut it, the vast majority of away games will always be in the relatively small strip from west central Scotland to Angus.
The top part time clubs playing in national leagues is an entirely made up 'problem' with precisely zero of the current part time clubs in the SPFL calling for regionalisation.
I don't follow your arithmetic, there. Travel costs are absolute so, although you seem to be making a general comparison as to the relative sustainability of part-time vs full-time clubs, absolute travel costs are similar for both; therefore, playing on a national basis is less affordable for part-timers who by definition (?) have less income. Which I assume is why they would benefit financially from fewer of the longer away trips, more of the shorter journeys, and more income from local away supports.
I'm afraid I don't follow your reasoning on the geography of Scotland and partitioning into regions leading to clubs travelling much further.
43 minutes ago, Classick said:It might work, but I consider the north - south system to be unbalanced, as there are more clubs in southern Scotland. Teams like Cowdenbeath or East Fife wouldn't be happy to be in the northern conference. For a regionalized third tier I prefer 3 conferences
This year it could have been like this :18 teams divided into three conferences (adding Partick and Falkirk to the Championship).
Each conference with 6 teams.NORTH
Elgin, Peterhead, Cove, Montrose, Brechin, ForfarSOUTH-EAST
East Fife, Clyde, Stirling, Stenhousemuir, Cowdenbeath, Edinburgh CitySOUTH-WEST
Annan, Stranraer, Queen's Park, Dumbarton, Albion, AirdrieIt could work using a hybrid system between full national championship and full regionalization:
Each team plays x4 against their Conference teams and once (either home or away) against the teams from the other conferences.
I think that sounds good. The only thing that would concern me is small league tables becoming polarised, with teams lots of points apart and so maybe less interest as a result, but since they're all at the same level then I guess all 18 could sit fairly in the same league table even though they're playing slightly different fixtures?
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31 minutes ago, Gordon EF said:
Which full time clubs compete in national competitions that aren't "subsidised" by the SPFL or SFA?
I think the point was whether the part-timers could compete consistently on a national basis without their SPFL payment; presumably, the full-time clubs could continue to do so because of their larger following.
Something like 14-14-18 would allow full-time clubs at tier 2 to still play one another enough to support their finances, yet would enable room for several part-time clubs to develop within the league over seasons - and hopefully turn full-time.
It would be good to have a larger bottom tier from the perspective of opening up the league to the bigger non-league clubs that will probably now be coming up the pyramid, and to help relegated former SPFL clubs return to the league more easily.
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On 29/08/2020 at 12:58, BigFatTabbyDave said:
That's the big entry in their 'Pro' column too.
Aye, you're a bit off there. The long-term idea is to have a 'B' team that stays in the SPFL and continues to mop up the domestic trophies, and any corresponding monies. Thankfully, enough clubs seem to have seen through this, or have shat it in the face of opposition from their fans, that this avenue seems to be closed off for the near future.
It's gonna take bribes. Big, shiny, garish bribes. And I don't think they've got the funds to buy clubs off with anything worthwhile.
What I wrote there was a bit tongue-in-cheek. Hence the crap anecdote (I was also urinated on by a dog on that same touchline, so Alloa - not a happy place for me).
Can't find much to disagree with in what you say.
23 hours ago, Cowden Cowboy said:Scottish football would be more competitive without the Old Firm but the total number of spectators attending Scottish games would sizeably reduce with a likely knock on effect on Tv monies and sponsorship. Old Firm coverage in the media would likely increase with detriment to that given to the domestic game.
The secret for Colts gaining traction (or any reconstruction) is really to understand how it impacts on clubs at various levels and what they might want in a reconstruction to get enough support from each voting constituency. Not just about up front money but about stability and security for instance - Championship thus might want 12 clubs, a better safety net whereby the HL/LL has some proper prize money funding, maybe progress to 12/12/12/12 to suspend relegation from L2 for a couple of years while teams still come up whilst moving to autopromotion/relegation, no reduction in number of home games, lower leagues don’t want splits or regionalisation, etc
Its a big job to get anything agreed but there is no point proposing anything unless you get enough clubs on board up front and understand how any change impacts in the round not just from a factional perspective
I like what you're saying on restructuring; we'll probably never find out if the first part of what you say is true.
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1 hour ago, puma king said:
Could be the stand that was built many years ago for the Proposed dug track.
51 minutes ago, Ginaro said:Google Wallyford Greyhound track/stadium, it's been there since 2006 according to the various articles.
Thanks, both.
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I went past Wallyford on the train the other day and noticed the rather large skeleton of a stand, adjacent to a football-field sized park.
No sign of construction work, although there is a KC Scaffolding (see Google's map, for exact location) firm next door.
Anyone know if Wallyford amateurs have something happening here? Or Musselburgh seniors, maybe?
It looks like it would be impressive if completed.
Cheers!
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3 minutes ago, DiegoDiego said:
There used to be a lot of activity on the stretch of the Forth. The Great Michael, Europe's biggest warship at the time, was fitted out across the river in Airth.Interesting. Airth has a pineapple, I understand. The train journey from Stirling through to Alloa is also very scenic.
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I'd like to see an independent Scotland's government give Laffer-curve tax policy a go.
If I remember my economics, lower taxation enables people and firms to spend more, which creates more jobs and businesses in order to meet demand, and so the government recoups the tax revenue from having a larger number of people and firms doing better in a growing economy.
(With all the health benefits of people being in work rather than on the dole; although it would need to be a services-led economy, as more consumption of goods is not desirable for environmental reasons - unless it's to build infrastructure, like wind turbines for off-shore farms or small-scale run-of-river hydro for the energy to replace Hunterston.)
I realise Gordon Brown's "share in the proceeds of growth" policy was based on Laffer-type economics, but I wouldn't want an independent Scotland to build a huge public sector with the 'proceeds' or we'd be facing similarly huge austerity during the inevitable down-cycle of the economy, in order to hack back government spending again - which was the major flaw in New Labour economics.
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On 28/08/2020 at 10:58, Elric said:
And what exactly are the Pros to this crock of shite? Many have said if this is introduced then they are finished with football. I certainly would not be back - would you?
The 'pro' I'd be interested in is if it was part of a larger plan that enabled the Old Firm's galactcos first teams to leave Scottish football and play in some kind of cross-border or Atlantic League-type thing.
Scottish football could thrive without the OF at the top level - crowds could pour in to clubs with a sudden realistic chance of winning the league.
On 28/08/2020 at 11:00, TheScarf said:If this was ever voted through surely they'd have to start in the WoSFL?
I think so. I take it that the issue is with the Colt Firm trying to skip the non-league, as Hibs, Berwick, Stranraer, Stirling Uni, Spartans, and maybe others have all had second teams of some kind in the league.
I encountered Mr Mulholland when watching youth teams playing at a park in central Alloa several years ago.
A youngster knocked the ball out the park, and I played it back in thinking there'd be a quick throw. The lad, obviously looking for a breather, booted it straight back at me. As I quickly dodged, Mr Mulholland laughed and shouted "one-two". I gave him the Alloa glare, and he sauntered off chuckling away to himself.
So, for that reason, no colts.
Good place to watch several games simultaneously, though; there's a wee mound with a bench on it that has a decent view of all the action.
Also - who knew that Alloa had a port?
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I'm not quite clear on what sort of cross-border league we'd be looking at:
- full integration with other countries at the top level(s), and national leagues feeding into that via play offs;
- or, an Atlantic League sort of thing with a permanent, franchise-type membership that's just about the kudos;
- or, creating something that looks like a sixth major European league, with Champions' League places available, etc.
I'm not sure those categories are mutually exclusive, mind you
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**Policy Interlude**
A policy I'd like to see implemented is for younger folk to be more fairly treated by the minimum wage - by one or other of the governments topping up the mandatory minimum wage that employers must pay them, to the full 25s-and-over minimum wage amount.
I can see why they allow employers to pay young folk less, because otherwise firms may not take on inexperienced staff and we don't want a wasted generation of unemployed youngsters, but young workers are adults and do face many of the same costs as the rest of us.
Since the living/minimum wage is government policy, it is their responsibility to ensure that it is applied to people fairly.
(Could be a good starter policy for the Lib Dems and Sir Ed.)
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I would have liked to have seen this competition as being only for Scottish senior teams, including all non-league seniors and all non-Premiership SPFL teams; it would be good to have this as a cup competition to support the senior league pyramid, at this time of integration and change.
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If the objectives are to have the top 16 clubs entering at Round 4, and to include all 64 eligible non-league clubs, then an 8 round competition is possible:
Round 1 - 64 teams (all non-league);
Round 2 - 52 teams (32 winners from R1, plus 20 teams from League One and League Two);
Round 3 - 32 teams (26 winners from R2, plus 6 Championship teams);
Round 4 - 32 teams (16 winners from R3, plus 4 from Championship, plus 12 from Premiership);
Round 5 - 16 teams (winners of R4 ties);
Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and Final - as normal.
Sorry to be boorish or patronising or for seemingly spamming this thread, but it seemed important.
I'll go away now.
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Preliminary Round - 8 clubs (non-league);
Round 1 - 60 clubs (4 Prelim winners, plus the remaining 56 non-league clubs);
Round 2 - 40 clubs (30 R1 winners, plus 10 League Two clubs);
Round 3 - 40 clubs (20 R2 winners, plus 10 League One clubs, plus 10 Championship clubs);
Round 4 - 32 clubs (20 R3 winners, plus 12 Premiership clubs);
Round 5 - 16 clubs R4 (winners);
QF, SF, F - as normal.
9 rounds, phased, no-one misses out, no ballot required.
If you're aiming for a round of 60 teams, but have a surplus of 4 teams (i.e. 64 eligible), you need to take a further 4 teams from within the 60 in order to make up your Preliminary Round of 8 teams, with the 4 winners then folding back into the Round of 60.
Similarly, if you are 5 teams short of your Round of 32 (for example), you need to give 5 teams a 'by' to the Round of 16, with the remaining 22 teams facing off to join them in that Round.
And so on, for each round.
Good luck.
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On 13/08/2020 at 16:16, Ranaldo Bairn said:
Caledonian Braves suggest another option might be in the offing...
https://www.caledonianbraves.com/news/vote-1-scottish-cup-format-2020-21
Simplest way:
Round 1 - 84 teams (64 non-league, 20 from leagues One and Two);
Round 2 - 64 teams (42 from R1, 22 from Premiership and Championship);
Round 3 - 32 winners from R2.
It would mean an additional fixture for the big clubs, but that would be against a very wee club - unless they seed Round 1, in order to knock out some of the little guys first.
How to do it?
Basic structure of knock-out rounds for a cup - 2 team final, 4 teams in semis, 8 quarter-finalists, then 16, 32, 64, 128, etc.
If you have 10 teams more than the Round of 64 needs (i.e. 74 teams), for example, then you take an additional 10 teams from within that 64 in order to create a Round 1 of 20 teams, the 10 winners then feeding back into a Round 2 of 64 teams (i.e 54 teams, plus the 10 Round 1 winners).
If you have 1 team less than the Round of 64 needs (i.e. 63 teams) you give one team a 'by', the remaining 62 teams participate in Round 1, with the 31 winners plus the 'by' participating in Round 2.
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On 20/08/2020 at 07:50, Darren44 said:
Well this might work
Scottish Premier League-16 or 18 clubs(if 16 clubs 30 games a season/18 clubs 34 games a season)
Scottish Championship- 14 or 16 clubs(14 clubs 26 games/16 clubs 30 games a season)
League 1- Four groups of 14 each(26 games a season)
PROMOTION AND RELEGATION
Championship to Premier Division- 2 up and 2 down.
League 1 to Championship- 4 up and 4 down.
1 Scottish Premier League
16/18 clubs2 Scottish Championship
16/18 clubsIf it was for at this moment, i'd go with 12-16-16 to accommodate the shorter season for the lower leagues (and to let Kelty and Brora in). Then look to expand again for next season.
On 20/08/2020 at 07:52, Darren44 said:3 League 1
Group A
14 clubsLeague 1
Group B
14 clubsLeague 1
Group C
14 clubsLeague 1
Group D
14 clubsMight work with separate West, Central, East, and North conferences at this level.
7 hours ago, Marten said:I can't see a Dutch/Belgian league happen any time soon. Every few years someone brings it up, it's reported to be "really serious" but then gets nowhere as not enough clubs are interested. That's been going on for at least 2 decades.
It's worth noting though that the situation in Northern Ireland has changed a bit since the Derry City situation. A UK league wouldn't work, as it would just mean Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland being swallowed up by England and other than the OF all clubs in those leagues would just be stuck lower down in the pyramid. Not exactly an improvement for them, and I doubt they'd be that keen on it in England considering the success of their own league. A Celtic league makes more sense than a UK in that sense as at least the leagues are closer to each other in standard. Obviously Scotland is ahead of the rest, but in a league with more money I can see some of the Irish clubs growing in status. I'm not saying that idea would be workable (I'm not particularly keen on the idea of cross-border leagues) but it at least would be a more sensible solution if you do decide on a cross-border league including Scotland.
They could test the idea as a Celtic Cup, with Swansea, Cardiff, the four Irish regions that were mentioned, and some of our lot.
At the time of the changes to the Challenge Cup, I think I recall the SPFL's Deal Broadcaster talking about the competition setting a precedent for something; we all thought it was for colts in senior competitions, but maybe it was for cross-border competitions at a higher level...
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22 games - absolutely. Less is more.
I'd regionalised from the top, though, with a 12-team East Premiership and a 12-team West Premiership, playing just 22 games per team as you say, then a winter break.
After the winter shutdown, the top 4 from each of the two regional Premierships would go forward to the National Premiership, playing eachother home and away to settle the European places and crown Scottish Champions (36-game season, in total).
The 8 teams remaining in each regional Premiership would play each other again, home and away, to avoid relegation (36-game season, in total) -
with the top East and top West teams at the season's end playing off against the National team who is sitting in the final European place, winners taking that European place.
Or, the remaining 8 teams in the East could play the remaining 8 teams in the West at home and away to complete a 38-game season, points being added ongoing to their early season tally, with the same European incentive and relegation disincentive as before.
Edited to add - it would be interesting to see separate West and East of Scotland cups, including all the biggest clubs, too.
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On 08/09/2018 at 16:19, DARREN38 said:
The league reconstruction proposals would have seen:
- Three-league structure – 12-12-18
- Leagues will be called Premier Division, Championship and National League
- Top two leagues to split into three leagues of eight after 22 matches then play a further seven home and seven away games
- Top eight teams to play for title and European places, middle eight to contest promotion and relegation in and out of Premier Division and bottom eight to decide who drops into National League
- One league body to replace SPL and SFL
- A pyramid structure for the entire game
- Opportunities for materially increased revenues coming into the game
- Substantial redistribution of revenues to lower league clubs
Given Scotland poor performance at National and Club level is it time to reconsider this format. The original idea was shelved by two clubs out of 40 clubs.
The main issue with this proposal, for me, was that the middle 8 would have points reset to zero after 22 games, which would be unfair on those doing better in the earlier part of the season and would see some teams with not much to play for if they qualified early for the middle 8.
I would address this by awarding starting points before the middle 8 begins based on pre-split league position.
You would normally expect 11th in Prem and 2nd in Champ to play off, so they'd need to begin on the same points; you wouldn't expect 4th in Ch to be promoted, so they'd begin on zero.
So I'd start the middle 8 with points pre-allocated as follows:
1 - 12pts (for team 9th in Prem)
2 - 10pts (team 1st from Cham)
3 - 8pts (for 10th Prem)
4 - 6pts (for 2nd Champ)
5 - 6pts (for 11th Prem)
6 - 4pts (for 3rd Champ)
7 - 2pts (for 12th Prem)
8 - 0pts (for 4th Champ)
But with an additional European place now, I think a 16-team Premiership becomes possible.
I would split after 30 games, with the top 4 playing home and away again for 36 games each in total, and the bottom 4 doing likewise.
The middle 8 could play each other once more in a continuation of the league and 37 games in total, or could divide into two groups of 4 and then a wee knockout competition.
The winner of the middle 8 would qualify for Europe in seasons where one of the top 4 won the Scottish Cup and so the European place would normally pass to 5th in the league; if any other team won the Scottish Cup, then 4th in the league would play off against the best team in the middle 8 who had not already qualified for Europe (to cover the possibility of 5th in the league having won the cup).
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On 09/09/2018 at 10:11, DARREN38 said:
Information
The Atlantic League is a proposed Competition between Countries of Small Leagues. Which has been discussed since 2000. Now Let's say it will happen due to the Big Five Leagues increased places in the Champions League and Revenue.
Countries Involved.
Scotland Population - 5,42,800
Denmark Population- 5,785,884(2018 Estimation)
Norway Population- 5,302,778(2018 Estimation)
Sweden Population- 10,161,797(2018 Census)
Finland Population- 5,517,887(2018 Estimation)
Belgium Population- 11,358,357(Jan 2018 Estimation)
Netherlands Population-17,249,632(2018 Estimation)
Portugal Population - 10,291,027
Total Population 28 Million people
Format
I will Say Two Leagues of 16 teams with Domestic Leagues Beneath the Second Division. Teams would be relegated back to there domestic league if they finished in the bottom of the second division. Top two enter the Champions League. Let's say First place in the group stage and second placed place- Third Qualifying round. Third place Europa League a group stage place with the fourth entering the second qualifying position.
Yes nations would forfeit there own places. But in the long run to compete against the top five leagues which are surging ahead and will only get bigger. This maybe a worth whild chance to take. At least the gap will be reduced.
Games will be at the weekend allowing fans time to travel and clubs a week to rest.
Television
This new League will bring in much needed revenue compared to the current situation. Where TV revenue is minor.
UEFA
There is this urban myth that UEFA will not allow cross border Leagues. Technical UEFA can not stop this due to European Union Competition laws. Which rule against restriction of trade. UEFA it already has been discussing a European Super League involving the Big Five Leagues. A two Division Atlantic Leagues with links to Domestic football can proceed with nothing stopping it. The clubs involved would have to unite and remind UEFA of EU Laws that UEFA has to follow.
Yep. I've always liked the Atlantic League idea. It'd give some attractive games, and could off-load an Old Firm fixture to enable Scottish Premiership expansion.
The format I'd use would be something like two divisions of 7, teams playing one another just once.
Edited to add -
I'd schedule the fixtures for during the winter breaks and/or late-season mid-weeks when most teams have been knocked out of European football and/or pre-season mid-weeks before European football has begun for these clubs and/or pre-season weekends once mid-week European football has already begun for these clubs.
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Just to say that when some supporters are allowed back into grounds, they should be home supporters only and spread through all four stands. Keep the virus from travelling too far that way, and the resultant reduced risk may be persuasive to the government.
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3 hours ago, Baldie2k19 said:
sos vs wos and eos vs nt? Why should the wos get the "easy" game? Make more sense to have a 4 team round robin.
I agree with you there.
I was trying to illustrate that each area (west, north and east) has a more remote district league that could be accommodated through play offs - rather than by being integrated into a larger West, East or North of Scotland League with the bulk of other clubs.
From that perspective l don't really blame north Tayside clubs for not applying to the EoS, since the conferences there merge all of the other districts together and so would require all the additional travel - similar to the earlier argument that NCL teams wouldn't want to play through an Aberdeenshire-dominated league, and SoS teams wouldn't want to play through a Glasgow-dominated league.
It seems to me that North Tay could be treated in a similar way as the SoS and the NCL. Sitting as an independent district league at tier 6, it could promote alongside the WoS, EoS and SoS into the Lowland League.
Still having a hard time believing LL clubs rejected the Club 42 boundary scrappage on the basis of it possibly meaning one away game each to Brechin a season, though!
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16 hours ago, Andy groundhopper said:
Only 2 leagues fight for the HL, whilst 4 battle for the LL, that shows there's some work to be done yet. Maybe one day we'll get HL, LL Div 2 ? Guess it all depends on the spfl and the trickle down from there, a definite up and down guaranteed must happen. Be good to have a large number of clubs fighting to reach the 'Promised Land'
There are many more clubs in the lowland catchment, so I'd be expecting more leagues there.
I think promotion playoffs address those imbalances, because the area with more clubs will tend to win them - but the possibility of the champions of the less populated area winning is always there.
I agree that some relegation and promotion between levels is a must for it to be a pyramid.
11 hours ago, Robert James said:The Highland League and the NCL have already agreed that the latter should be a feeder league at Tier 6, with promotion and relegation. This proposal was intended to include the North Juniors, as a parallel pyramid league, also at Tier 6. The proposal includes, a "play-off" between the champion club of each league, assuming both champions are licensed.
However, it now seems that there there are two camps within the North Juniors, about joining, or not joining, the pyramid, which has delayed the implementation of this proposal.
As far as I am aware, there have not been any serious discussions, or proposals, regarding (north) Tayside Juniors becoming a third Highland regional pyramid league, at Tier 6. Highland League support would be needed in the first instance, as it could be possible to have 3 separate Highland feeder leagues, with a 3 way play-off . However this would require the north Tayside clubs to agree that 'heading north' is the only way ahead, which is unlikely at present, in my view.
Interesting reading. Sorry to hear about the divides in the north juniors, but they'll know best if the pyramid is for them or not.
I see Angus and Dundee are part of the SFA's East Region rather than North - some indication of how they're viewed in one respect; perhaps a precedent for inclusion in the lowland catchment. Or even a basis for being seen as a special case, given the apparent contradiction with North Tay simultaneously being north of the SFA pyramid's dividing line.
With pre-season suspended, it seems opportune to settle these issues - even if it means the EoS revisiting their tier 7 conferences to allow for a North Tay regional conference, from this season (the first step might be theirs).
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For a while in England there was talk of a game 39, where teams would play an additional fixture abroad; there's often talk of which is the best league in the world; Celtic and Rangers are always keen to play Europe's bigger clubs, but an Atlantic league has issues over fixture scheduling and big-fish-no-longer-in-small-sea.
So...eachseason l'd like to see a day where the Scottish Premiership takes on the top league in, say, Portugal: 1st plays against 1st, 2nd v 2nd, etc down to 6th v 6th. Points awarded as normal for wins and draws, but added to an overall Scottish tally that may or may not beat their rival league's points total.
It would give the biggest names against each other, and some smaller names a bit of competitive European experience, but would avoid an exhaustive everyone-plays-everyone league.
If it worked, we could have a mini-league, pre-sesson between Scots, Dutch, Belgian and Portuguese top divisions (for example), with just 3 fixtures dates required to complete the tournament.
So you'd have, maybe, Celtic v Porto, Ajax, Liege; Rangers v Benfica, PSV, Brugge; Aberdeen v Sporting, Feyenoord, Leuven; etc, but with points accruing to a league v league total.
Well, maybe not; but I'd like to see it.
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Rewilding Scotland
in The General Nonsense Forum
Posted
Folk on this thread may have an interest in the news and forum sections of Scottish Rural Action's website -
https://www.sra.scot
Cheers.