Annual Special

[Knox_Harrington]

I hate these first two international breaks. If the groups were just a bit smaller and had less s**** in like Andorra (make them pre-qualify to qualify) and the schedule was rejigged so every odd summer nations played three or four games in quick succession then there would be absolutely no need for them. Fourteen days between league games helps no one in early September.

[dorgie]

I agree. The only thing is, these breaks are a lot more unwelcome after a defeat than they are after a victory (or 3 victories + 1 draw). After a defeat the manager wants nothing more than to get the players out on the training ground immediately, so hopefully this break will have the worst possible effect on Chelsea

[Stevie H]

it is a silly situation but if you asked uefa to remedy it they'd have qualifiers in close season.

 

on the plus side at least carra gets another couple of weeks to recuperate.

[Knox_Harrington]

it is a silly situation but if you asked uefa to remedy it they'd have qualifiers in close season.

 

on the plus side at least carra gets another couple of weeks to recuperate.

4 qualifiers on the Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday after the European Cup final would be no disaster.

 

Few teams in groups in the first place and you're already a massive way there.

[Guest Kaizer]

Not everyone starts their season in August in Europe.

[Sion]

I hate these first two international breaks. If the groups were just a bit smaller and had less s**** in like Andorra (make them pre-qualify to qualify) and the schedule was rejigged so every odd summer nations played three or four games in quick succession then there would be absolutely no need for them. Fourteen days between league games helps no one in early September.

 

Probably helps clubs playing poorly like United. But an arguement can be made it doesn't help them I suppose.

[Zoob]

And when the players return from International duty on the Thursday (some prob only thursday afternoon / evening) we'll then have just a few hours on Friday to prepare for our 12.45 game at Portsmouth the next day

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

internationals are s***. end of.

 

they should be fecked off

[growler]

not to mention injuries too. hopefully Gerrard won't play either.

[Knox_Harrington]

Not everyone starts their season in August in Europe.

And what?

[Knox_Harrington]

Probably helps clubs playing poorly like United. But an arguement can be made it doesn't help them I suppose.

Chelsea and United would rather just have their next game. We've got momentum as have Arsenal. It only helps sides with an unusual spate of injuries.

[Rimbeux]

Even with the sides, four maybe five, who might be better pre-qualifying for the groups, I think there would be benefit all round in compressing the 12, 10 or whatever games into more intense, perhaps longer periods, rather than having half a dozen qualifying game windows over 15-18 months and half a dozen firendly windows in that time. As Knox posted 4 games in 10 days post the end of the season would be fine, and I'd have ideally two more windows of 4 games in 10 days in each season, either side of xmas, post the CL group stages (which could start earlier), and before the knock-out phases maybe even timed to dovetail with the ACN.

 

What that would give you would be 20 match-days over 5 windows between the majors for 10 to 12 qualifiers and 8-10 friendles or even coaching time. The international coaches will be able to use their time more constructively either with a friendly for prep then 3 qual games, or just have a week training then three games rather than a four day friendly meet up isolated weeks ahead of a real game. There would be just two clear blocks in the season for international games rather than half a dozen, some of them just midweek.

 

WC June 06

Intl 1 Nov/Dec 06, 4 games

Intl 2 Feb 07, 4 games

Intl 3 May 07, 4 games

Intl 4 Nov/Dec 07, 4 games

Intl 5 Feb 07, 4 games

EC and prep games May/June 07

 

Probably full of holes, but just think iit would benefit everyone more than the current botch.

[Guest Kaizer]

And what?

 

The European qualifiers cant be based around when the English PL starts, that was my point, the games needs to be played and compared to another big country such as Italy, England will do fine, There has only been played two rounds in Serie A so far while the PL already have had 5 rounds.

 

The season starts at different times in different countries, right now we have this situation across Europe.

 

Norway 19 rounds, Russia 23, Austria 9, Poland 6, Portugal 2, Iceland 15, Sweden 20, Denmark 8, Greece 1 etc, etc.

 

Do you get where I`m coming from?

Edited September 3, 2007 by Kaizer

[Knox_Harrington]

The European qualifiers cant be based around when the English PL starts, that was my point, the games needs to be played and compared to another big country such as Italy, England will do fine, There has only been played two rounds in Serie A so far while the PL already have had 5 rounds.

 

The season starts at different times in different countries, right now we have this situation across Europe.

 

Norway 19 rounds, Russia 23, Austria 9, Poland 6, Portugal 2, Iceland 15, Sweden 20, Denmark 8, Greece 1 etc, etc.

 

Do you get where I`m coming from?

So it's arguably currently ridiculous for Austria, Poland, Portugal, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Greece, France, Germany and anyone else we've missed out who haven't played ten league games yet. Ignoring the fact that the best players from most of these nations will be operating in one of France, Germany, England, Portugal, Spain, Italy or Holland.

 

Rimbeux's got it about spot on and add pre-qualifiers and we're there.

Edited September 3, 2007 by Knox_Harrington

[Knox_Harrington]

Armenia

Kazakhstan

Azerbaijan

Malta

Moldova

Estonia

Andorra

Luxembourg

Lithuania

Georgia

Faroe Islands

Cyprus

San Marino

Liechtenstein

Iceland

Latvia

 

There's sixteen that could be whittled down to four before a ball is kicked. You could probably get up to as many as 24 to be whittled down to six if you included Wales, Armenia, etc.

 

There's currently fifty so take away 24 and add six and that's 32. Eight groups of four, top two to go through is six games each and it's better sides playing each other. Would feel much more like a competition and give European international football qualifiers an even higher profile.

 

EDIT: And whoever finishes bottom of the group has to pre-qualify next time out or something. Give it a promotion and relegation feel and no dead rubbers.

Edited September 3, 2007 by Knox_Harrington

[Guest Kaizer]

Do you know that Blatter has suggested that all countries should use the Norwegian model where the season starts and ends in the same calender year?

 

One more thing, Latvia played in the Euro 2004 if I remember correctly.

[Knox_Harrington]

Do you know that Blatter has suggested that all countries should use the Norwegian model where the season starts and ends in the same calender year?

 

One more thing, Latvia played in the Euro 2004 if I remember correctly.

It's a rough model.

 

I did know Blatter has suggested that. I don't think it's a disaster that the calendar be homogenised but given where massive games/events currently are in the calender I would suggest the Sept-May model be accepted. A European Cup Final in November/December just wouldn't be right.

[Stevie H]

Do you know that Blatter has suggested that all countries should use the Norwegian model where the season starts and ends in the same calender year?

 

One more thing, Latvia played in the Euro 2004 if I remember correctly.

yes, but blatter's a mentalist. he also wants women footballers to play in tighter shorts and to abolish drawn games.

[Hassony]

yes, but blatter's a mentalist. he also wants women footballers to play in tighter shorts and to abolish drawn games.

 

whats wrong about that

[Cobs]

It's a rough model.

 

I did know Blatter has suggested that. I don't think it's a disaster that the calendar be homogenised but given where massive games/events currently are in the calender I would suggest the Sept-May model be accepted.

 

always thought climate issues would prevent such things e.g. you can't play games through the Russian winter

[Ostrich Man]

if only napolean and hitler had understood that.

[Knox_Harrington]

always thought climate issues would prevent such things e.g. you can't play games through the Russian winter

Yeah, you're probably right.

[Cobs]

if only napolean and hitler had understood that.

that and their obsession with 3-5-2

[Stevie H]

always thought climate issues would prevent such things e.g. you can't play games through the Russian winter

that's always been it yeah, likewire with the scandie countries.

[Cobs]

that's always been it yeah, likewire with the scandie countries.

they need the break in the dark winter months to collate their statistics