forameus Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 10 hours ago, lubo_blaha said: We should be playing at least 2 of our home games at Pittodrie/Easter Road/Tynecastle/Rugby Park for this competition. We're not realistically going to bring in over 25k for any of the teams in our pot, unless we're given a 5pm Saturday kick off for one. Better off with a full ground than swathes of empty seats at Hampden. To be fair though, it all depends on how the SFA sell the product. If they act like I expect they will, we may as well play all the games around the country, because your average football fan will probably have no idea what the tournament even is, let alone why they should care. In that case, they could probably fit those that want to go into a much smaller stadium. But, if they treat it seriously, and crucially, inform the fans about why they should care, then they could probably get decent crowds at Hampden for some of the later games. The draw of a winnable match surely outweighs the less-glamorous team? If they market it properly of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Master Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 45 minutes ago, Gordopolis said: Will these games be spread over the 'week of football', or will we get more freedom to arrange sensible kick off dates/times? 3pm/5pm Saturday could be the thing that makes this tournament work. They’ll be spread out in the same way as the qualifiers. I’ll be surprised if we ever see a Scotland game at Saturday 3pm again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunning1874 Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 44 minutes ago, forameus said: To be fair though, it all depends on how the SFA sell the product. If they act like I expect they will, we may as well play all the games around the country, because your average football fan will probably have no idea what the tournament even is, let alone why they should care. In that case, they could probably fit those that want to go into a much smaller stadium. But, if they treat it seriously, and crucially, inform the fans about why they should care, then they could probably get decent crowds at Hampden for some of the later games. The draw of a winnable match surely outweighs the less-glamorous team? If they market it properly of course. Indeed. These games are an essential part of qualifying and it'd be unforgivable not to take them seriously, but the SFA have said nothing about it so far, seemingly a lot of journalists haven't even heard of it, and some still think we can get into a playoff by finishing third in our group. These games are massively important, they can get us into the playoff if we fail to qualify automatically and if they're taken as seriously as they should be we should be getting big crowds for all of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forameus Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 32 minutes ago, Dunning1874 said: Indeed. These games are an essential part of qualifying and it'd be unforgivable not to take them seriously, but the SFA have said nothing about it so far, seemingly a lot of journalists haven't even heard of it, and some still think we can get into a playoff by finishing third in our group. These games are massively important, they can get us into the playoff if we fail to qualify automatically and if they're taken as seriously as they should be we should be getting big crowds for all of them. Instead, we'll get them saying at the draw "byraway, we've got games against Greece, Cyprus and Israel coming up, buy some tickets, and that'll be it. In the next year they should be trying to distract anyone who'll listen from the fact we failed to qualify. Wheel out whoever the manager is, have them talk about the Nations League and how important it is. Have our captain (whoever it is) talk about how we haven't played x in ages, and it'll be good to see new nations visit Hampden. Then have anyone you talk to drum into the viewing public that these are super important games. Obviously that's only going to happen should the SFA believe they're super important. That remains to be seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverWolfe Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 How does the 4 team playoff work? Is it another group or semi finals and final? 2 legs or 1? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunning1874 Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 19 minutes ago, Tartantony said: How does the 4 team playoff work? Is it another group or semi finals and final? 2 legs or 1? Semis and final, two legs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 No they're single-legged, both in the March 2020 international window. Originally they were to have been hosted in a single city (presumably neutral but that was never confirmed). However UEFA have decided the higher-ranked teams will be at home for SFs, and the Final hosts will have been drawn in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunning1874 Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 Oh aye, I had it in my head that when they changed it from the single city they'd made it two legged as well. It's going to be great to lose away to Israel with three days notice for travelling there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 Also arrangements for June 2019 - when it's confirmed the "Finals Tournament" is knockout like early Euros, not groupstage then Final filling June itself - are:Wednesday - NL Finals Tournament SF #1 Thursday - NL Finals Tournament SF #2 Friday - qualifiers Saturday - qualifiers Sunday - NL Finals Tournament 3rd/4th Playoff + Final Monday - qualifiers Tuesday - qualifiers Accordingly the 4 NL Finals Tournament finalists will be drawn into the 5 groups with 5 teams for Euro 2020 qualifying, and receive their idle days here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordopolis Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 2 hours ago, Dunning1874 said: Indeed. These games are an essential part of qualifying and it'd be unforgivable not to take them seriously, but the SFA have said nothing about it so far, seemingly a lot of journalists haven't even heard of it, and some still think we can get into a playoff by finishing third in our group. These games are massively important, they can get us into the playoff if we fail to qualify automatically and if they're taken as seriously as they should be we should be getting big crowds for all of them. Willie Miller was banging on like that on the radio the other day. "It's getting easier and easier to qualify - third in the group gets you to Euro 2020". Sigh... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Henry Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 Are these games going to be played under friendly rules? Will teams be allowed six subs, or three? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 Subs = 3, AFAIA. Unclear if count as competitive/friendlies in FIFA rankings. No-one else has a 2nd continental tournament (unless you count CONCACAF Cup). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunning1874 Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 I assume minor continental tournaments such as the CONCACAF Cup and the regional AFC tournaments like the AFF cup are treated as friendlies for ranking points? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 Regional tournaments = friendlies. 'Games' not at all, AFAIA. Enquired on BertKassies regarding CONCACAF Cup + Asian Challenge/Solidarity cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 43 minutes ago, Gordopolis said: Willie Miller was banging on like that on the radio the other day. "It's getting easier and easier to qualify - third in the group gets you to Euro 2020". Sigh... Unsurprising, though. It was clear many pundits, journalists, etc. hadn't clocked this campaign's "worst runners-up" aspect until this month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lubo_blaha Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 The play off semifinals are only 3 days before the finals. Will be some scramble for last minute flights if we get there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
accies1874 Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 The play off semifinals are only 3 days before the finals. Will be some scramble for last minute flights if we get there. The whole thing is a middle finger to the fans. Three days before is a disgrace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 More you look at it, the whole thing is vital right the way through... Every point, every goal, every place in the section table (and in tiebreaks between sections) will contribute to promotion; to seeding for Euro 2020 qualifying; to reaching playoffs for Euro 2020 as an insurance policy; to home advantage in those playoff SFs and perhaps Final. Just now, accies1874 said: The whole thing is a middle finger to the fans. Three days before is a disgrace. Huge implications for visas, transport infrastructure, accommodation, ticketing, policing and so on too. They'd have been much better sticking with the original plan - both SFs & Final in a single city, either neutral or randomly drawn (or even highest-ranked I suppose if so desired). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DAVIDB69 Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 Everyone seems confident but aren't we still going to end in a group with a lot of the same teams we always get. Although Scotland, Serbia, Montenegro, Lithuania would not fill me with confidence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forameus Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 9 hours ago, DAVIDB69 said: Everyone seems confident but aren't we still going to end in a group with a lot of the same teams we always get. Although Scotland, Serbia, Montenegro, Lithuania would not fill me with confidence Probably, but the whole point of it is that you should be drawn amongst teams at your level. We're not going to go in and blow everyone away (although I hope we do) but there's absolutely no reason we can't win whatever group we end up getting. It'll be competitive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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