Playing in England

Why wouldn't they? They could get promoted, would Hibs not get into the prem?

 

Trouble with that is we do have to compete with the big leagues of europe. Was browsing through the channels earlier, and had a pick between, Everton vs Fullham, the F1 or the Hibs v hearts game. Guess which of the three didnt get a look in?

With TV, it is now so easy to follow teams abroad, or even just enjoy them as a neutral, why would you watch Dundee utd vs motherwell when Real Madrid are on the next channel?

Even if the Scottish game did improve, it simply cant improve to the point where it becomes level with the main leagues of europe, it isnt possible, by sheer virtue of finance.

 

F1, since its a lot of * :icon_mrgreen:

 

It started of at 22 and was reduced because the quality of some of the teams was poor and also because of revenue. The amount of money that is now doing the rounds for football would mean they would have no problems whatsoever with it.

 

The point I was making was there is a Scottish Championship so for any of these teams playing in that league next year would mean relegation.

There isn't just one "championship".

 

Yes for one season but what about the potential in the long run to get promoted into the Championship or a Premier League 2?

 

It wasn't reduced because of the quality of the teams in the EPL. It was reduced because the top teams didn't ( and don't) want to play 40+ games a season. How many other countries have a top league with 40+ games a season ?

 

Reduced number of games and to improve the overall quality of the league and to improve finances. Each team playing an extra 4 games a season isn't going to cause too much of a problem. 2 games before xmas 2 games after.

 

....and then the EPL would be out of UEFA, do you think the riches the Champions League brings be jeopardised because of us?

If UEFA were not to act on such a move football as we know would be finished and effectively any club could then play in what league they wanted. I have no desire for pish like that.

The East of Europe would jump on this in a minute and we would have Soviet Union and Yugoslavia leagues to set up the Dinamo Zagreb-Red Star, Spartak Moscow-Dynamo Kiev type games they badly miss in their current formats.

 

Except this time Real weren't on and you still chose to watch the Everton? I thought the Hearts game was good.

And no, it cannot compete by sheer vietue of size. We have a good standard of league for our size - our clubs have won more than leagues of comparable size.

People are just far too pessimistic and have a joke of an attitude towards Scotland and its football.

 

How would the EPL be out of EUFA?

 

The Real and Dundee utd example was different to the Everton/Hibs one :smiley-laughing002:

So far as acheivement, no dispute here, I think standard of league could be debated (outside of Celtic).

What does my view of Scottish football have to do with Scotland as a country. I didnt say anything about Scotland as a nation.

The football, yeah, it is a joke. I would happily throw scottish football under the bus if it was in the interest of Celtic. It just so happens right now that would be counter productive for the hoops.

 

Well, think of nations with populations circa 5-6 million and you will see we have a good standard of football. You will also see that our teams are supported far more.

And if we are being honest, Celtic and the dead club have had some level of detrimental effect on Scottish football, what with buying up good chunks of the talent over the years. Yet we whinge about not having competition. :smiley-laughing002:

And the comment about Scotland as a nation wasn't aimed at you, that was in general, I apologise for not making it clearer. The football comment though - that can be applied to yourself. :smiley-laughing002:

As for the examples you gave, my point still stands. You said that there were three sports matches on television and one never got a look in, I assume you were talking of the Edinburgh derby? WE, all of us who actively watch the EPL and yet whinge and moan about the * ruining the game, too much money, why Scotland doesn't get more money blah blah blah are part of the problem. Support Scottish football and you are supporting Celtic.

Although can I just exempt myself there, If Dundee United; Aberdeen; Edinburgh derby or most Scottish clubs tbh are playing, I'l gladly watch them before an English match.

 

Scotland's top domestic league punches way, way above its weight for a country its size, in my opinion.

 

In what regard?

 

You're spot on.

Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Norway, all have a similar sized population to Scotland and yet none of their teams have achieved half as much as our teams. Not to mention their top leagues play the same standard of football as ourselves.

Not one of those nations has truly 'big' clubs either, whereas Scotland does.

People don't appreciate how good Scotland is for its size. I suppose that is expected in a world that emphasises 'big is better' in every way possible. :smiley-laughing002:

 

No it doesn't. Cyprus, Denmark, Israel, Croatia etc are all above us. Scotland, for it's size and footballing history, punches so far below it's weight it's crazy.

When was the last time a Scottish apart from us or the zombies made it into the group stages of a European competition? 2007–08? That is terrible.

 

To be fair, the Danish top flight has better broadcasting income than Scotland, therefore their teams should have a bit more expendable income. Not sure what the deal is with Israel, Croatia and Cyprus.

In the Uefa coefficient rankings we are ahead of: Norway, Sweden, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Finland and Iceland - all comparable in size, minus Bulgaria and Sweden which have larger populations.

Our standard of football is very much the same, although our teams should be doing more in Europe. However, look at Celtic - we do quite well considering and look at the size of our club from SCOTLAND! :smiley-laughing002:

 

In terms of crowds we punch well above our weight

Rapid Vienna - 14,221
Copenhagen - 15,926
Olympiakos - 17,756
Sparta Prague - 8,786
Hadjuk Split - 9,029
AIK Stockholm - 18,901
Benfica - 33,954
Zenit - 18,993
Galatasary - 35,531
Ferencvaros - 8,768
CSKA Sofia - 4,781

The crowds we have now are great.

Scottish football isn/t in decline its getting better and better.

 

I think for the secure future of Celtic, they are going to eventually have to join the EPL.

I don't think this idea of the European league that has been brought up a few times throughout the years is going to come to anything.

While i can understand alot of fans would not like the idea of playing in England, unfortunately competitiveness is going to become an issue in the Scottish leagues. * you only have to look at Scotland's UEFA coefficients, without the 2 years of CL football by Celtic they would be way down the list.
From what i see there are far to many clubs in Scotland for a start.