How F****D up is the SPL???

[Geist]

This year another club broke up the old firms stranglehold of the top two spots. When was the last time that happened?

Massive change ain't going to happen overnight. Surely this year is a step in the right direction as far as increasing the level of competiton goes. I don't see the need for massive restructuring.

I also disagree with everything else you've said.

The reason Hearts finished second was the amount of money they had to speand along with the deals to bring in a lot of good players not due to the set up helping smaller teams come more competitive.

To be honest I  dont know what should be done with Scottish football. I agree with you that massive changes can not be done in the short period. The old firm will always been stronger than other teams and I dont see other teams ever going to change. Even in the English league I think there is the same issue where you have the top 4 or 5 teams above the rest and will be for some time.

[Ironside]

we need to move to a 16 team league for the good of scottish football but it wont happen as too many chairmen look at the games via the old firm for money and want more not less of them

a 16 team league will allow for a break after christmas which the players need
will also allow managers to take risks and let them blood young scottish players instead of going downt the cheap experianced forgein player route
it will close the gap in points between the old firm and the best of the rest as instead of having 24pts up for grabs in old firm games (which over the course of a season is somewhere round the 19-5 to 24-0 range against most teams they will only have to play for 12pts against the old firm so it will noarrow the gap and make the league seem a little more competitive which will bring fans back as teams will look like there are in with a shout more often

UEFA are pushing to have all leagues as 16 team so it will come eventaully just hope for scotlands sake its sooner rather than later

[thetank]

we need to move to a 16 team league for the good of scottish football but it wont happen as too many chairmen look at the games via the old firm for money and want more not less of them

a 16 team league will allow for a break after christmas which the players need
will also allow managers to take risks and let them blood young scottish players instead of going downt the cheap experianced forgein player route
it will close the gap in points between the old firm and the best of the rest as instead of having 24pts up for grabs in old firm games (which over the course of a season is somewhere round the 19-5 to 24-0 range against most teams they will only have to play for 12pts against the old firm so it will noarrow the gap and make the league seem a little more competitive which will bring fans back as teams will look like there are in with a shout more often

Best argument I've heard for a 16 team league, well done Ironside.

[thetank]

The reason Hearts finished second was the amount of money they had to speand along with the deals to bring in a lot of good players not due to the set up helping smaller teams come more competitive.

Fair point, I shall concede that. Although I don't remember directly suggesting that it did, (although it may have appeared that way)

Surely you'd have to agree that Hearts doing so well this year is a good thing for the SPL. I see a lot of doom and gloom talk, and just want to highlight the positive things going on in Scottish football.

[thetank]

Well thats tough but in order that we can increase the level of competitionw e need some massive restructuring and I don't see any other suggestions.

I would go a whole lot further and that includes making provsions tighter to play senior football and if teams don't meet the criteria then I would expel them from the league.  I would also look at moving to summer football, a new format for cup football and even looking at a voluntary system to freeze out the number of foreign players who now earn a living here.  I would consider allowing Celtic and Rangers (and any other club who could sustain this over a season)  reserve outfits  to play in the B leauge.

So to increase the level of competition, you're kicking the smaller teams out on their arse, and letting the Old Firm have two professional sides. Does anyone else see the contradiction.

You want to move to summer football? You must have less optimism than me for qualification into future European Championships and World Cups.

[GlasgowBandit]

Well thats tough but in order that we can increase the level of competitionw e need some massive restructuring and I don't see any other suggestions.

I would go a whole lot further and that includes making provsions tighter to play senior football and if teams don't meet the criteria then I would expel them from the league.  I would also look at moving to summer football, a new format for cup football and even looking at a voluntary system to freeze out the number of foreign players who now earn a living here.  I would consider allowing Celtic and Rangers (and any other club who could sustain this over a season)  reserve outfits  to play in the B leauge.

So to increase the level of competition, you're kicking the smaller teams out on their arse, and letting the Old Firm have two professional sides. Does anyone else see the contradiction.

Life is a battle of the fittest tank.  There is no reason for areas in Scotland like Fife to have 6 senior football teams.  There is no demand in Dundee to have two professional clubs within a stone throw.  There is no need to have teams like Dumbarton and East Stirling playing senior football.  Queens Parkw ant to keep the atonomy of Amateur footbal but play in the senior leagues there is no need for this.

I personally reckon that if we allow the Old Firm and other teams with a healthy reserve squad to beeth up a second division, but denying them promotion it would make for decent attendancies at lower league matches it would also allow many of the decent young players the opportunity of playing regular senior football and hopefully this would allow them to develop into decent players for the sake of the national set-up.

[/quote]You want to move to summer football? You must have less optimism than me for qualification into future European Championships and World Cups.
[/quote]

Well lets be honest what are our chances of qualifying for the next Euro Championships with the group we have got?

I reckon we should use this as a springboard to bring through the young lads who are going to be the core of the team for 2010 and let them get experience at the highest level and build for that we have many decent young players coming through not only at the Old Firm clubs but also at Hibs, Hearts and Aberdeen. 

The summer league would benefit us more in terms of our weather and it works well in other countries such as Norway who seem to be doing better than Scotland in international comps.

[steeley68]

Forgoet about the split!! What about...


The 1st/2nd division play offs !!!!

What a FANTASTIC idea!

Definitely Steeley, the 1st division isnt the same without you lot ....

I'm sure you missed our travelling support this season, and will miss it even more if we don't get up and with the Paisley 'Buddies' going up to get hum... er beaten by the big boys.

[scottm]

Forgoet about the split!! What about...


The 1st/2nd division play offs !!!!

What a FANTASTIC idea!

Definitely Steeley, the 1st division isnt the same without you lot ....

I'm sure you missed our travelling support this season, and will miss it even more if we don't get up and with the Paisley 'Buddies' going up to get hum... er beaten by the big boys.

It was the easy points for us that we missed ......