New Policy to help Scottish clubs in Europe

[Sutton_blows_goats 6,142]

36 minutes ago, Bluedell said:

At that time in the season, we're usually still needing games to allow the team to gel, so we may not make use of it. It would be far better to have the option to keep it for later in the season.

Interesting, its almost as if our club know this is an issue, but leave everything until late and put our qualification chances at risk anyway.

[ranger_syntax 4,806]

46 minutes ago, buster. said:

I don't think you can say that with anything approaching certainty at this point.

 

However, I am open to be persuaded otherwise if you can present the reasoning behind what you state.

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

[ranger_syntax 4,806]

On 02/04/2025 at 12:34, buster. said:

That said, we should benefit from the change as well.

 

15 hours ago, ranger_syntax said:

Not really.

The rule change is anti-competitive.

 

13 hours ago, buster. said:

I don't think you can say that with anything approaching certainty at this point.

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.

[buster. 5,610]

8 hours ago, ranger_syntax said:

 

 

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.

I get your point regards watching competitive football between the big two and the rest. However, you don't say why you think it would increase the chances that Rangers would always finish 2nd, behind Celtic.

 

Since the mid to late 80's, the direction of travel for competitive football in Scottish football has been affected by general economic trends. Neoliberal (extreme capitalism) has seen wealth distribution skewed ever more towards the top. It has been the same in professional football.

 

The ship has sailed for provincial clubs in Scotland. At least until the big clubs get involved in European football reconstruction. Which I think is inevitable because of financial greed and the lack of competitive football in their respective backyards.

 

Unless European reconstruction means a postwar building program for idiots who went to war.

 

 

[ranger_syntax 4,806]

15 hours ago, ranger_syntax said:

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. 

 

6 hours ago, buster. said:

However, you don't say why you think it would increase the chances that Rangers would always finish 2nd, behind Celtic.

I think this covers it.

[ranger_syntax 4,806]

6 hours ago, buster. said:

Since the mid to late 80's, the direction of travel for competitive football in Scottish football has been affected by general economic trends. Neoliberal (extreme capitalism) has seen wealth distribution skewed ever more towards the top. It has been the same in professional football.

 

The ship has sailed for provincial clubs in Scotland. At least until the big clubs get involved in European football reconstruction. Which I think is inevitable because of financial greed and the lack of competitive football in their respective backyards.

 

Unless European reconstruction means a postwar building program for idiots who went to war.

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

[Bluedell 6,089]

7 hours ago, buster. said:

I get your point regards watching competitive football between the big two and the rest. However, you don't say why you think it would increase the chances that Rangers would always finish 2nd, behind Celtic.

 

Since the mid to late 80's, the direction of travel for competitive football in Scottish football has been affected by general economic trends. Neoliberal (extreme capitalism) has seen wealth distribution skewed ever more towards the top. It has been the same in professional football.

 

The ship has sailed for provincial clubs in Scotland. At least until the big clubs get involved in European football reconstruction. Which I think is inevitable because of financial greed and the lack of competitive football in their respective backyards.

 

Unless European reconstruction means a postwar building program for idiots who went to war.

"Neoliberal (extreme capitalism)" or TV money as most of us would call it. 😂

[Uilleam 6,394]

2 hours ago, Bluedell said:

"Neoliberal (extreme capitalism)" or TV money as most of us would call it. 😂

Yes, rather strange.

Neoliberal (extreme capitalism) (sic) would, as far as I understand, abjure FIFA, UEFA, and controlling FAs. 

[Devil's advocaat 1,829]

Agree wholeheartedly with RS. If we continue to be surrounded by cannon fodder with no means of improving themselves, we'll always be dragged down.

[buster. 5,610]

On 04/04/2025 at 16:11, ranger_syntax said:

 

I think this covers it.

No, it doesn't. 

Not even a little bit.