Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Premiership - games in hand?

  • 11-03-2008 7:18am
    #1
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,731 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    Why is it, that of all the major leagues in Europe, the premiership is the only one that's so hopelessly organised in terms of getting all the teams to play their matches within the same week? You can go on about congestion but how is it any different for, say, Serie A - clubs there play in domestic leagues, cups and European games, have a two week break around Christmas yet still any time you look at the French, Spanish, Italian... league table on Monday morning everyone is on the same number of games played whereas there will be up to a three, sometimes even four game gap between some of the Premiership sides. Only Scotland, with their 12-team mini-league, rivals the EPL in terms of disorganisation.

    So what exactly causes this phenomenon in Britain? The weather? Russia seems to manage all right. The Carling Cup? Other countries have their equivalent. The hectic Christmas period? Surely a chance to rectify the discrepancies if anything as there's nothing happening on the European stage.

    And lastly, is it a good or a bad thing? Does it make for a more exciting league program when you have to factor in unknowns (random, made-up example: are Chelsea technically six points higher because they haven't played Bolton and Fulham? Will Villa lose their European place on goal difference once Manchester United have entertained them?). Or is it just plain annoying not knowing exactly how the table sits at any given moment?


Comments

  • #2
    CHD
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,956 ✭✭✭CHD


    The domestic cups are to blame


  • #3
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,731 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    How are they to blame, though? What's special about the FA/Carling cup compared to their equivalents in other countries that they have to throw the whole league out of synch?


  • #4
    Mitch Connor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 46,837 ✭✭✭✭Mitch Connor


    pickarooney wrote: »
    How are they to blame, though? What's special about the FA/Carling cup compared to their equivalents in other countries that they have to throw the whole league out of synch?
    There are two domestic cups in England, along with a 38 game league calendar (42 for the lower league sides) The english league also ends earlier than the spannish or italian leagues, so there are more games to fit into a shorter period, so as teams progress in the cups, games have to be rescheduled.


  • #5
    gucci
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,289 ✭✭✭gucci


    pickarooney wrote: »
    How are they to blame, though? What's special about the FA/Carling cup compared to their equivalents in other countries?
    :eek::eek: so you not realise the FA cup is the single greatest cup competiton ever in the history of sport?? or do you not buy into the British media hype?


  • #6
    smackbunnybaby
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,335 ✭✭✭smackbunnybaby


    gucci wrote: »
    :eek::eek: so you not realise the FA cup is the single greatest cup competiton ever in the history of sport?? or do you not buy into the British media hype?

    Ever since Allessandro was a boy he dreamed about winning the FA Cup....

    Much the same as Pierre always wanted to win Wimbledon


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    citytillidie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,490 ✭✭✭✭citytillidie


    Its because the FA cup is played at the weekend and in Italy Spain they play there cup games mid week.

    They also dont have as many mid week league games at the start of the season that clash with the opening rounds of the Champions League

    ******



  • #8
    PHB
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,617 ✭✭✭✭PHB


    Their leagues run longer. They only have one domestic cup. It makes it all easier.


  • #9
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,731 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    There are two domestic cups in England, along with a 38 game league calendar
    Same in France, same in Germany.
    Their leagues run longer
    Serie A: August-May (this season, the sometimes don't start until September)
    La Liga: August-May
    EPL: August-May
    Ligue 1: August-May
    Bundesliga: August-May

    All with a winter break, meaning their seasons actually run shorter than in England.
    Its because the FA cup is played at the weekend and in Italy Spain they play there cup games mid week.

    And the Premiership has midweek games while the Italians and Spanish are playing in the cup, no?
    They also dont have as many mid week league games at the start of the season that clash with the opening rounds of the Champions League

    That makes a bit of sense. Looking at, e.g. Barcelona's schedule they play almost every midweek in Sep-Nov but most of these are not league games. Seems so logical you wonder why it couldn't be applied to England.

    Maybe they should just schedule the cups and league at the same time. The big clubs have separate teams for each anyway :)


Advertisement