“Its total madness…I’ve always thought that we should have an 18 team set up with each team playing each other twice. Never going to happen though due to money especially the 4 x games v the Rangers would only become 2.
Spherical Planet returned to the debate and this time put forward a solid argument as to why less Glasgow derby fixtures actually might be beneficial to TV companies and the clubs.
“What bugs me is that if there were only two fixtures involving them, then the hype and coverage would add extra value to broadcasters across the world!
These games would become proper “occasions” across the football world and generate even more revenue.
Even we had “old firm fatigue” in that season when we played them 7 times. They were still important, but they lost a wee bit of impact because of the familiarity
Even the away matches against every other side becomes an event, because that may be the only chance they’ll get the Celtic at their ground that season.
Their own fans are more likely to come out in force and that would also to apply to their own derby games.
Clubs like Hibs, Hearts and Aberdeen would likely see a surge in attendances due to the one-time only nature of each game.”
Next up to join the debate was a well kent face on The Celtic Star. Sandman’s hilarious and often cutting assessment of the Celtic players performances is waited for with bated breath each week on The Celtic Noise forum and The Celtic Star. Sandman ran that same critical eye over the reconstruction debate.
“Top League of 16.
Play each other home and away = 30 games.
Split top 6 into a final home and away section = 10 games.
Total of 40, 2 more than current.
Other 10 play each other once for 9 more games (leaves a slight 4/5 or 5/4 home/away imbalance of a game but though shit for finishing lower than 6th; that’s part of the penalty for some. And it’ll be a minor disruption compared to the top 6 this season and Celtic’s penalty, no doubt.)
Means the top teams suffer no imbalance, as it should be.
Also leaves a showcase last fixture day of top 6.”
Next to join in was Winter. This idea incorporated the recent idea for Colt sides into the discussion.
“Have always been for a 16 club top flight there’s often little difference between the bottom 6 and the championship’s top 6. Let the top 4 play colts in the league cup all the way and you’ll have smaller clubs winning more honours increasing attendances for those clubs. Even a top flight 14 would still be better 13(H&A) & top 6 split (5H&A) is 36 fixtures, 2 less.
From the Kingdom of Fife came another look at the validity of amalgamations as a viable alternative. Cheezydee-a regular poster on Celtic Noise – was in favour of the idea but simply didn’t feel there would be an appetite for it amongst the rank and file.
“I’m in Fife, and this argument has been made here for as long as I’ve been old enough to talk football. We have the likes of Raith, Dunfermline, East Fife and fans from each area want to support their local team, even if it’s only 500 that turn up.
“It’s so entrenched in tribalism that I can’t see it changing. And in a sense, good on them. It’s kinda along the lines of the whole unionism/independence debate. Each to their own.
“Personally, I’d prefer a ‘Fife United’ that has a big enough crowd that they could financially compete in a top league, but it would be a generational change to see something like that succeed. Clubs (supporters) of these teams are never going to agree to follow a team outwith their town, so I think it would be a struggle to keep afloat long enough for new fans to come. They’d lose a lot of fans who ‘wouldn’t follow another team’.
Me personally, I’d have say a top 16 league (not sure if playing twice would mean enough fixtures) and a division of 20 under that. That’s it. The TV companies want 4 minimum ‘old firm’ games, but I’d rather just have that 1 away and 1 home game in a season, bar any cup games, and have each being the big day you can’t miss.
Potentially we could be playing the Rangers 6 times in a season out-with Europe or replays. It waters down the fixture, and although it’s a big ratings game currently, it’s getting watered down with it happening so much. I wonder if they’d get a bigger audience overall if it happened at each stadium once a year as opposed to 2/3 surely neutrals won’t see it as the big derby when it’s on every few months.
Scottish football just needs to be ruthless and cut the number of professional teams in Scotland,” he concluded.
Then Spherical Planet issued a warning from the past for teams who may think that following the well-trodden path will result in anything other than dire straits.
“Seen the issues up in Inverness. Both Caley and Thistle separately could draw bigger crowds than ICT. There would likely be a riot if it happened in Dundee and I know about the local rivalries throughout Fife too.
It’s more wishful thinking on my part than anything else, but I don’t doubt that a few of these clubs will go the way of Third Lanark and Rangers if they don’t start pooling their resources,” he stated.
