If you could change ONE THING about Scottish Football, what would it be?

[Robalot]

20 hours ago, realmadrid said:

Having the winner of Premier 2 or even the runner up qualify for Europe is like giving a spot to the winners of the Championship.

That aside for the majority of the teams you have nothing to play for in the second half of the season,

Do you reset the points after round 1?

Sure, having the winner of Premier 2 trophy is comparible to winning the Championship trophy. But the winner could play a play off for a European spot with 4th or whoever in Premier 1. 

It gives them something to play for, plus the others who will be fighting relegation.

The only issue is the top 10 in "Premier 1". But not having relegation staring them in the face would have them playing decent football, rather than the dross we see now. we'd see more attacking play.

Points would be reset yes. So teams won't be so far apart. Celtic and rangers would be a lot closer to 3rd.

There'd be more fight for places than a regular 20 club league that we see all over Europe.

[Cutty Old]

In terms of fan experience, something that I would like to see change is the attitude of clubs in relation to visiting supporters. 

Four of us travelled to Airdrie yesterday, along with another 500/600 Ayr United fans. We spent money on transport, match tickets, food and drink. We settled down to enjoy the match from behind the goals, because the stand opposite the Airdrie support and running across the side of the pitch is totally closed. The stadium announcer gave a wonderful testimonial to the career of Ian McMillan and a minute's silence was impeccably observed by both sets of supporters. 

As the game progressed the announcer kept us informed about the scorers for Airdrie and the Airdrie substitutions. Apparently, Ayr United didn't score any goals and made no substitutions because I assume the announcer would have let us know if any of these things had happened. Having said that, I'm almost certain that Ayr scored three goals and they definitely made quite a few substitutions. 

On leaving the stadium we were prevented from returning to our car by a line of stewards and one explained that we would need to walk around the entire stadium to get back to our car. Meanwhile Airdrie supporters were allowed to walk in the opposite direction, so there was no segregation issue. 

Forgive my cynicism and sarcasm but;

Why do home sides insist on treating paying customers as an inconvenience ?

Is it too much to ask that visiting fans are seated in an area that is best suited to watching the match ? 

What is the reason for disregarding information about the contribution of the away team to the match ?

Are they content in the knowledge that any neutral spectators were left in the dark about 50% of the match information ?

 

I do understand the tribalism that exists in football; championing your own team whilst showing contempt for the opposition. However, people pay good money to attend matches and adopting the stance that Airdrie FC did yesterday, in deliberately disregarding the provision of information for Ayr United supporters and neutral spectators, makes them look deliberately unfriendly, petty, and lacking class. 

I should point out that Airdrie are not the only 'offenders' when it comes to fan experience. I've experienced the same at many grounds and for all I know maybe some people have been subjected to an unfriendly reception at Somerset Park. The point is that most of this nonsense is unnecessary and maybe fans and supporters' groups need to start speaking up about this for the benefit of supporters of all teams. 

[Richey Edwards]

There should be no promotion or relegation.

[Crawford]

8 hours ago, Richey Edwards said:

There should be no promotion or relegation.

This will be discussed after Livingston are removed from the top flight.

[L. Brilliant]

VAR should be kept BUT other than automated stuff (ball out of play / over goal line) each dugout should get three challenges to use to check *specific* offences (eg. Handball by no 3 in box, our no 9 held by no 4 in box, etc) like tennis. No speculative challenges, penalties of some kind for spurious claims. 

No reason why Scotland can't lead the way in applying VAR sensibly.

Instead of more opportunity to arrive at correct decisions, cynics might say the current method just gives more opportunities to produced preferred outcomes

[Butters Scotch]

Not the most important issue but something worth discussing...

At most ground you'll have one empty stand where the camera is usually facing and when the game is live on TV then it just looks terrible and tinpot. Why can't clubs either move where the camera is situated or move the fans to another area of the stadium where available seats are.

One example is McDiarmid Park/StJohnstone, where two of the side stands are used mainly for home fans aswell as one of the stand behind the goals which are all usually sparsely populated or half empty.  Why not just move all the home fans into one of the side where the camera faces and behind the goal? 

[GallowayBlue]

Take the Old Firm out of the League Cup.

[PrestersKTID]

On 20/04/2024 at 08:35, Butters Scotch said:

Not the most important issue but something worth discussing...

At most ground you'll have one empty stand where the camera is usually facing and when the game is live on TV then it just looks terrible and tinpot. Why can't clubs either move where the camera is situated or move the fans to another area of the stadium where available seats are.

One example is McDiarmid Park/StJohnstone, where two of the side stands are used mainly for home fans aswell as one of the stand behind the goals which are all usually sparsely populated or half empty.  Why not just move all the home fans into one of the side where the camera faces and behind the goal? 

Bugbear of mine aswell. Problem is that the biggest stands holding the most fans are usually the most modern with facilities for cameras etc. 

Killie's busiest stand is the east where the cameras are, Partick, Dundee, St Johnstone Aberdeen, Motherwell.

Lot of the older main stands aren't suitable to stick cameras, pillars at killie main reason.

[Andy groundhopper]

3 divisions of 16 = 30 games. Two up and down, HL & L.L champions come straight up. West Premier champions v EOS winners - they play club 46. Saves all the play-off nonsense. 

[Sergeant Wilson]

On 12/05/2024 at 13:23, Andy groundhopper said:

3 divisions of 16 = 30 games. Two up and down, HL & L.L champions come straight up. West Premier champions v EOS winners - they play club 46. Saves all the play-off nonsense. 

Are the east v west winner missing out the LL and wouldn't that be play offs?

[Edward]

How about moving to a Summer League. With two leagues of 16 or 14 clubs 

Example Premier league of 16 with a 8/8 split or 14 clubs with 8 top half and bottom six. Three of Four clubs relegated each season. 

League 1 of 18 clubs  A Semi-Professional League with promotion only guaranteed to the Championship on certain conditions. Bottom team is relegated to the Highland League or Lowland League

[Stag Nation]

17 minutes ago, Edward said:

How about moving to a Summer League. With two leagues of 16 or 14 clubs 

Example Premier league of 16 with a 8/8 split or 14 clubs with 8 top half and bottom six. Three of Four clubs relegated each season. 

League 1 of 18 clubs  A Semi-Professional League with promotion only guaranteed to the Championship on certain conditions. Bottom team is relegated to the Highland League or Lowland League

The problem with summer football is that we'd be out of step with the rest of Europe, including the UK

Scottish clubs would have difficulty competing in EUFA competitions, and it would be harder to attract the likes of Messi or M'Bappe to play here.

Whether any of that would make a practical difference to the quality of Scottish football is open to question.

[realmadrid]

On 20/04/2024 at 08:35, Butters Scotch said:

Not the most important issue but something worth discussing...

At most ground you'll have one empty stand where the camera is usually facing and when the game is live on TV then it just looks terrible and tinpot. Why can't clubs either move where the camera is situated or move the fans to another area of the stadium where available seats are.

One example is McDiarmid Park/StJohnstone, where two of the side stands are used mainly for home fans aswell as one of the stand behind the goals which are all usually sparsely populated or half empty.  Why not just move all the home fans into one of the side where the camera faces and behind the goal? 

So you want home fans to sit behind a goal rather than in the main stand with the best views to make it look better on TV 

[Butters Scotch]

2 hours ago, realmadrid said:

So you want home fans to sit behind a goal rather than in the main stand with the best views to make it look better on TV 

Rightly or wrongly, the point being is that when you see big swathes of empty stands on tv it devalues the product IMO. 

St Johnstone could have all their fans in the one side stand if they wanted given the support they get usually but then use three stands for whatever strange reason. 

[realmadrid]

13 hours ago, Butters Scotch said:

Rightly or wrongly, the point being is that when you see big swathes of empty stands on tv it devalues the product IMO. 

St Johnstone could have all their fans in the one side stand if they wanted given the support they get usually but then use three stands for whatever strange reason. 

As the padded hospitality seats etc are in the main stand where the TV gantry is and there is more leg room in that stand . its also were the majority of the disabled facilities are for both home and away fans

There are many games were home fans are in the main stand (They pay more for these seats) and the East stand with away fans at the far end of the Main stand so only 2 stands are in use.

If the club thought they could save money and put everyone in one stand they would .

[Butters Scotch]

52 minutes ago, realmadrid said:

As the padded hospitality seats etc are in the main stand where the TV gantry is and there is more leg room in that stand . its also were the majority of the disabled facilities are for both home and away fans

There are many games were home fans are in the main stand (They pay more for these seats) and the East stand with away fans at the far end of the Main stand so only 2 stands are in use.

If the club thought they could save money and put everyone in one stand they would .

One possibility is moving the TV gantry then into the other side stand and moving the fans into the main stand outwith the hospitality sections (exc away end section if diabled people can only be in this stand) and behind the goal.

The current stand where most of your supporters sit can then be used as an overspill if there is a big crowd.

I'm aware there will be costs associated with the above.

Why do you think the likes of Hamilton, Falkirk, ICT, to name a few have set up their gantry in the area where they don't have a stand...

 

[Derry Pele]

On 14/05/2024 at 11:59, Stag Nation said:

and it would be harder to attract the likes of Messi or M'Bappe to play here.

The same Messi that is currently at an MLS club?

[Andy groundhopper]

On 14/05/2024 at 06:56, Sergeant Wilson said:

Are the east v west winner missing out the LL and wouldn't that be play offs?

Knew my primary school maths would come back to haunt me ! spfl 42 clubs plus 6 new clubs (all licensed champions + others to make 48) In future the HL and LL champions replace clubs 47, 48. West & East champs play club 46 in a round robin tournament. In theory 3/4 champions could get promoted. Think i need a lie down.

[jasperellon]

Kick out the arse cheeks of Glasgow!

make the play offs a straight knock out and not the shambles it is just now.

ban music after goals are scored.

keep Michael Stewart away from commentary.

stop showing England international matches on TV in Scotland.

 

 

 

[realmadrid]

On 15/05/2024 at 11:42, Butters Scotch said:

One possibility is moving the TV gantry then into the other side stand and moving the fans into the main stand outwith the hospitality sections (exc away end section if diabled people can only be in this stand) and behind the goal.

The current stand where most of your supporters sit can then be used as an overspill if there is a big crowd.

I'm aware there will be costs associated with the above.

Why do you think the likes of Hamilton, Falkirk, ICT, to name a few have set up their gantry in the area where they don't have a stand...

 

At Hamilton and ICT its just to do with the way the stand has been built. there is no space for a TV gantry in either. Ive never done media at Falkirk so ive never seen the set up in their stand. I would be interested to see what happens if the 3rd side ever gets built.

ICT at the weekend however placed the Hamilton fans at the end closest to the A9 so for most of the game it looked as if there was a very small visiting support when if they had followed your idea and put them at the other side or let them spread out more it would have looked better.

With regard to the point above you are still reducing the number of better seats at the side to put people behind the goal at McDiarmid. If i can avoid it at a game id never go behind a goal. I feel sorry for the likes of Raith who have so little space at the sides for home fans , every game must feel like an away trip. The solution for Saints is some how to get people to use the family ticket option and use the Ormond stand more.