*Official* English Football Season 2014-15

[sledger]

But yeah, agree that the Saturday 3pm has to stay. Going out for a walk, coming home, sticking the radio on and dozing off whilst listening to all the games is just such a great way to spend an afternoon.

Going to the game is great too, obviously.

 

[sledger]

Yeah it is the opposite to the MNF in that respect.

It also kind of ruins the anticipation of the weekend.

Yes, precisely.

 

[Cabinet96]

Haha beat me to it

We actually have one next week but it's also my works party so I'm kinda torn

As a kid I loved them. As a working adult who no longer works in Liverpool City centre they are only marginally preferable to Tuesday games

But alas this is not a concern for the prem target audience (I don't mean that in a patronising way but who gives a **** if it's taken the wrong way, suck my fanny) and they will go down a storm tv wise.

So I assume the problem is getting to the ground in time for kick off?

To me they seem a really good idea. Successful overseas in Spain and Germany. Key would be to do it like the Monday games, try and even it out so sides only have a two or three max to minimise hassle for fans going to the ground.

 

[Cabinet96]

We had one against Fulham a few weeks ago and it was amazing, would have been a great atmosphere at 3pm on a Saturday but it was so much more special under lights. Still generally disagree with the idea of football on a Friday though. Saturday 3pm really does have to be preserved even if they should probably give up on the protecting it from live tv coverage.

Would reducing the number of prem 3pm kick offs not help lower league games? More focus on them and less on the top flight.

 

[sledger]

Would reducing the number of prem 3pm kick offs not help lower league games? More focus on them and less on the top flight.

In theory perhaps, but I am not sure this is what would transpire in reality. How many fans of Premiership teams take an increased interest in the lower leagues when it's an international week, for instance?

 

[Pothas]

Would reducing the number of prem 3pm kick offs not help lower league games? More focus on them and less on the top flight.

It might do. I just love going to a game at 3pm on a Saturday knowing that fans around the country from the Premiership to non-league are doing the same, hearing the score at half time and then finding a screen (well we have one at GP) to look at the table at the end of the game. I obviously like watching Premiership football as well so I like what we have currently really, enough games at 3pm to keep that tradition alive whilst still providing plenty of chances for TV. Apart from Saturday tea time kick off, they are ****.

 

[GIMH]

In theory perhaps, but I am not sure this is what would transpire in reality. How many fans of Premiership teams take an increased interest in the lower leagues when it's an international week, for instance?

Nah he's spot on. Our attendances are better when the red and blue****e aren't either at home or on tv.

Not all lower league clubs have two giants nearby of course, but it would help the London, Greater Manchester and Yorkshire clubs for sure. Actually not Yorkshire as they don't have any prem at the minute unless am mistaken,

 

[sledger]

Yeah, the 5.30pm kick offs are terrible. But, in fairness to them, I enjoyed them quite a lot during my undergraduate days.

 

[GIMH]

So I assume the problem is getting to the ground in time for kick off?

Hmm not quite but close enough. I live 15 minutes from PP and work about 45 minutes away from home in the other direction. Working until anytime between half four and half five I can get home, eat and to the ground in time for kick off but it's such a pain in the arse. Just makes me kinda sit in work all day wishing I wasn't going the game in a way. It's better on a Friday because at least I don't have to worry about getting up the next day but yeah.

 

[Cabinet96]

In theory perhaps, but I am not sure this is what would transpire in reality. How many fans of Premiership teams take an increased interest in the lower leagues when it's an international week, for instance?

I kind of agree. But hasn't there always been an argument that Sky and the Premier League has damaged the lower leagues? Or am I wrong? I just don't think a La Liga type schedule would harm any other football in the country, and could have great benefits.

 

[Tom Halsey]

I don't actually get why any more than one Premier League game kicks off at the same time tbh, beyond tradition for tradition's sake. Should be like Spain IMO.

 

[sledger]

Nah he's spot on. Our attendances are better when the red and blue****e aren't either at home or on tv.

Not all lower league clubs have two giants nearby of course, but it would help the London, Greater Manchester and Yorkshire clubs for sure. Actually not Yorkshire as they don't have any prem at the minute unless am mistaken,

Yeah, fair enough. Hadn't thought of it like that.

 

[Pothas]

La Liga schedule is really awful if you are a fan though. Obviously we would not have the ridiculous 11pm on Monday kick offs or such like but very rarely would your side play on the same day and time from week to week.

 

[Cabinet96]

Hmm not quite but close enough. I live 15 minutes from PP and work about 45 minutes away from home in the other direction. Working until anytime between half four and half five I can get home, eat and to the ground in time for kick off but it's such a pain in the arse. Just makes me kinda sit in work all day wishing I wasn't going the game in a way. It's better on a Friday because at least I don't have to worry about getting up the next day but yeah.

Sounds like the increasing financial costs might not be bringing an adequate level of excitement

 

[Cabinet96]

La Liga schedule is really awful if you are a fan though. Obviously we would not have the ridiculous 11pm on Monday kick offs or such like but very rarely would your side play on the same day and time from week to week.

Yeah, I agree with this tbh. Not like their crowds are great.

 

[GIMH]

Sounds like the increasing financial costs might not be bringing an adequate level of excitement

I don't go to PP for excitement, I go to be reminded that I am being punished for my sins in a past life. Supporting the whites at this point is like being with a bird for fifteen years even though you've hated her since about six months in

 

[GIMH]

Gotta say, the difference with me and Pothas is he's much more of a footy fan than me. Don't get me wrong, I still watch quite a bit but ultimately it's the whites or bust for me and the main reason I have sky sports is for cricket. So I'm not surprised I have a different slant on this to him,

 

[Tom Halsey]

La Liga schedule is really awful if you are a fan though. Obviously we would not have the ridiculous 11pm on Monday kick offs or such like but very rarely would your side play on the same day and time from week to week.

Half of the clubs don't anyway though. I'm only advocating it for the Prem, and how many 3pm kickoffs are there as it is? Not enough whereby your team kicks off at the same time week by week, that's for sure. Might as well do it properly and televise everything if you're going to mess up the original schedule as much as it is done already.

I don't think kicking off at the same time week after week is all that important either really, as long as it is convenient (I am not advocating Friday or Monday night kick offs).

 

[sledger]

I don't actually get why any more than one Premier League game kicks off at the same time tbh, beyond tradition for tradition's sake. Should be like Spain IMO.

There's something enjoyable about hearing all of the different results roll in though, in my opinion anyway. Building on my above point about listening to the saturday games on the radio, it's nice to hear "and now we go to Joe Bloggs and Villa Park..." or whatever. Similar to what Pothas said about going to a game and knowing the same is happening all over the country. It makes the whole thing feel like an individual game is just part of this much bigger thing, and despite the games being individual, the results from each game will contribute to the overall makeup of the bigger picture. Obviously this would still be true in a literal sense if all the games were played at different times, but I think it would lose something in terms of atmosphere. I concede this might be a rather flimsy justification for keeping all the games at the same time, but it's for these reasons I'd be keen for the current arrangement to stay in place.

 

[sledger]

Half of the clubs don't anyway though. I'm only advocating it for the Prem, and how many 3pm kickoffs are there as it is? Not enough whereby your team kicks off at the same time week by week, that's for sure. Might as well do it properly and televise everything if you're going to mess up the original schedule as much as it is done already.

I don't think kicking off at the same time week after week is all that important either really, as long as it is convenient (I am not advocating Friday or Monday night kick offs).

Not a fan of the Monday night games?