ranger_syntax

The reasons for frustration are obvious. It's difficult to admit you've spent years watching something that is bad and can't be improved.

This is another classic league reconstruction thread. Most who enter the thread can't answer the following questions: What is the problem with Scottish football? Why does it follow from the existing structure? Why would an alternative structure improve the situation? Even when someone has an answer you can guarantee that they will tap out after minimal pushback on their suggestion.

Lunar posting belongs in the lounge.

I don't follow other leagues so I couldn't say if I agree. I wouldn't be surprised if you are right though.

The problem is that the league is not competitive.

Please delete this before somebody copies and pastes the Romanian league structure. wot abaaht the rumaynayan league they get loads of dosh

Just leave it the way it is. The league structure is not the problem.

Yes, and it won't result in league success for thise clubs. Neither will it result in exciting matches. It won't and neither should people posting "play the kids" be a justification either. The stupidity of such posts is a topic in itself. Now we are optimising for outside interest? Good luck selling matches against even smaller clubs to foreign audiences! Good idea.

First league reconstruction thread for you?

I think that a larger league will bore you in a different way. The extra teams added to the league will be beaten easily in many cases. If not then it will be because they play very defensively. I don't know why anybody would think a larger league would encourage player development. I don't even care to find out though. Nobody should ever structure a league to improve player development. Nobody buys a ticket to watch a player develop.

Why?

You've highlighted some of the effects, which I expect, of the rule change. I don't mention capital or television because neither has anything to do with the rule change.

The O.P. didn't announce a new arrangement about the ownership of capital. Neither did it announce the innovation of televised football matches. It did announce a very specific rule change. Just saying.

You'll need to say more if you want me to help you follow the argument.

There was an old Scotch fitba coach called Nicky MacAvelly. He was a great influence on me as a young man. He said that when you get a mercenary in he'll be bad even if he's good. I don't think it's the coaching.

hear you this is rangers dinnae get beat

Needs dropped.

Rangers 2 Hibernian 1 First goal scorer: Dessers

This is almost entirely a distraction from the point we are discussing.

I think this covers it.

Charging them extra is a great idea. They will be paying for the privilege of misbehaving. It's a hierarchy right there before our very eyes. The cash flashing Union Bears lighting fireworks and burning fifty pound notes at the top. The penny pinching concession paying pensioners grumbling into the void at the bottom.

The O.P. tells us that a team can postpone a match scheduled for matchday 3 to increase the chances of qualification for European group stages. There are three main reasons that this is anti-competitive. Firstly group stage qualification leads to significant sums of money. These sums are most likely to be in proportion to achievements in the previous season. This preserves the rankings from the previous season. Secondly smaller clubs have an interest in hindering bigger clubs getting into the group stages to reduce the size of the gap in revenue. The revenue gap is the main reason that we never see a non old firm team challenging for the league. Thirdly postponing the fixture removes one of the best opportunities for smaller clubs to beat bigger clubs. The team playing in Europe may choose to field a weaker team, the players may lack focus, the players may lack commitment to avoid getting injured before a big match. There is an argument that this will benefit Rangers but it is short sighted. The immediate benefit would be qualifying for the group stages of the Champions League more often. That means more money which everyone thinks is great. The anti-competitive effects of the rule change mentioned above would make the domestic fixtures even less competitive. That is to say even more boring than at present. When the smaller clubs have less chance of beating the big clubs then you are more likely to see a team play defensively and waste time from the fifth minute. It's awful to watch.

If I was him, and I actually won the Europa League as interim manager, I would refuse the permanent post. Wouldn't get any better for him after that.

Surely more of a teacher of the law than a prophet.

I am quite certain. I'll post about why later today.