View Full Version : Summer Soccer Poll
This topic seems to be raising its head again.
Simple option - Summer or Winter football. No discussion please.
Raheny Red
24/07/2006, 11:45 AM
Summer :ball:
micls
24/07/2006, 11:46 AM
Summer
Magicme
24/07/2006, 11:48 AM
Summer
BohsPartisan
24/07/2006, 11:59 AM
Summer
Battery Rover
24/07/2006, 12:07 PM
Winter
SPXcyan
24/07/2006, 12:08 PM
Summer
Conor H
24/07/2006, 12:14 PM
Winter.
Réiteoir
24/07/2006, 12:15 PM
Summer
De Town
24/07/2006, 12:28 PM
Winter for atmosphere.
Summer for Standard of Football.
babydol
24/07/2006, 12:39 PM
Summer
hoops1
24/07/2006, 12:42 PM
summer
gufct
24/07/2006, 12:58 PM
deffo
Voted for Winter. Prefer summer myself but it has lessened crowds and I don't want Genisus or F,ucking Delaney using this place as an official record like they did with the attendances...
Ignoring the error in the poll title, I'm not sure what the point of the poll really is. The main thing summer football was supposed to do was increase interest and attendances, so I'm not really sure what a poll of the converted is going to prove? That Cork City fans like summer football?
Im not a Cork fan and I prefer summer football - better for the league in Europe without a shadow of a doubt. If we reverted back to the old system attendances would not increase that much IMO and we would not do as good as we are doing in Europe IMO.
Also, I think the best way to attract fans is by doing well in Europe and making barstoolers realise how good the league is. Going back to the old system would not help in this regard. Also with summer football there is not as much competition from Sky Sports
Well its a personal thing macy, I prefer summer football but it obviously hasn't worked.
In what areas has it not worked in your opinion? It has helped with Europe and thats the most important thing IMO.
Rory H
24/07/2006, 1:49 PM
In what areas has it not worked in your opinion? It has helped with Europe and thats the most important thing IMO.
eh the attendances?
EddieAnnand
24/07/2006, 1:49 PM
Summer
eh the attendances?
I dont think the drop in attendances is down to Summer football
In what areas has it not worked in your opinion? It has helped with Europe and thats the most important thing IMO.
There's another thread on it, but the things it was sold on and was supposed to do were:
Increase Attendances
Increase media coverage
Increased skill level because of better pitches
Better perfomances in Europe that would back up 1 and 2
1 and 2 have at best remained static.
3 has happened, but it's certainly debatable as to what extent summer football is the main factor. The clubs are now paying far more in wages and matching higher up the UK league structure which means better players. We also got a big influx after the ITV Digital Collapse. We're seeing in recent weeks that this isn't sustainable.
4 has also happened, however it hasn't kicked back into attendances and therefore money into the league. It's getting a few clubs an extra 2 or 4 games. Credibility may or may not be up, but that means fook all without people through the gate/ increased media coverage boosting sponsorship.
Basically we made the decision based on optimistic guestimates, and we'll probably continue with it without any evidence or evaluation because the administrators are happy to see it as the solution and an answer to "what are you doing to help top flight domestic football?".
There's another thread on it, but the things it was sold on and was supposed to do were:
Increase Attendances
Increase media coverage
Increased skill level because of better pitches
Better perfomances in Europe that would back up 1 and 2
1 and 2 have at best remained static.
3 has happened, but it's certainly debatable as to what extent summer football is the main factor. The clubs are now paying far more in wages and matching higher up the UK league structure which means better players. We also got a big influx after the ITV Digital Collapse. We're seeing in recent weeks that this isn't sustainable.
4 has also happened, however it hasn't kicked back into attendances and therefore money into the league. It's getting a few clubs an extra 2 or 4 games. Credibility may or may not be up, but that means fook all without people through the gate/ increased media coverage boosting sponsorship.
Basically we made the decision based on optimistic guestimates, and we'll probably continue with it without any evidence or evaluation because the administrators are happy to see it as the solution and an answer to "what are you doing to help top flight domestic football?".
But if we were still with winter football would any of them happened??
2 out of 4 is still better than none (i think 3 is definately increasing)and i do think success in Europe has the potential to help with 3 and 4.
It may not be what was promised completely but what advantages would returning to winter football bring....do people really think attendances would increase significantly
I dont mind it but it needs tinkering
the present fixture problems need to be looked at again
the league is NOT about europe - 4 games max (for the sides that have invested a dispropotionate amount of funds/and or borrowing to achieve) at least one of those games if not two will also be meaningless affairs as the Irish side is knocked out - you cant run a league AROUND those fixtures - its the tail wagging the dog
There's another thread on it, but the things it was sold on and was supposed to do were:
Increase Attendances
Increase media coverage
Increased skill level because of better pitches
Better perfomances in Europe that would back up 1 and 2
1 and 2 have at best remained static.
* Well then IMO it has been a success. Ok attendances are down but I cant see how summer football is to blame. Afterall summer football offers better quality football, better weather, not as much competition from Sky Sports, also many people have more free time in summer, What does winter football offer? Sh!te pitches, Sh!te weather and worse European results (best way of attracting fans)
* There has been increased media coverage. Also winter football is not as viewable as summer football and summer football by in large does not have to compete with Sky Sports. Also if winter games were on TV attendances would drop due to the weather - watch on TV or go freeze your balls off? I know plenty of el fans would chose to watch on TV instead
* Increased skill level because of better pitches has happened.
* Better performances in Europe have certainly been seen since the introduction of summer football - its no coincidence.
Thus IMO Summer football has definitly been a success in general.
3 has happened, but it's certainly debatable as to what extent summer football is the main factor. The clubs are now paying far more in wages and matching higher up the UK league structure which means better players. We also got a big influx after the ITV Digital Collapse. We're seeing in recent weeks that this isn't sustainable.
I think summer football is certainly the main factor in this regard - for too long skillfull players could not perform while being kicked around a mud bath of a pitch - this sight is becoming a rareity in the el now.
4 has also happened, however it hasn't kicked back into attendances and therefore money into the league. It's getting a few clubs an extra 2 or 4 games. Credibility may or may not be up, but that means fook all without people through the gate/ increased media coverage boosting sponsorship.
I dont think summer football is to blame for poor attendances for reasons already outlined. And what do you mean a few extra games? Eventually because of summer football an el side will qualify for the CL or UEFA Cup.
Basically we made the decision based on optimistic guestimates, and we'll probably continue with it without any evidence or evaluation because the administrators are happy to see it as the solution and an answer to "what are you doing to help top flight domestic football?".
Well only the admins know that for definite. In general Summer football has been a success
Im not a Cork fan and I prefer summer football - better for the league in Europe without a shadow of a doubt. If we reverted back to the old system attendances would not increase that much IMO and we would not do as good as we are doing in Europe IMO.
Also, I think the best way to attract fans is by doing well in Europe and making barstoolers realise how good the league is. Going back to the old system would not help in this regard. Also with summer football there is not as much competition from Sky Sports
Surely it is only during June and July that you do not have this competition and every other year you then have the World Cup or European Championship to contend with. I think the big benefit for you has undoubtedly been European results but that is not much use to those clubs not involved. I am not in a position to compare attendances pre summer football but it does seem that a number of the smaller clubs are struggling. I think you need to balance whether the limited European success for a few clubs is worth it.
I have made the votes public to allow gauge of what type of fans & clubs favour each option.
I think everyone knows the pros & cons of each option at this stage so no need to debate.
Provisional result looks conclusive.
The point of the poll was to settle once & for all whether fans wanted summer or winter football - 2 options, real simple. So often fans opinions are never listened by the powers that be.
I couldn't be bothered debating the reasons for one or the other as we all have made our minds up at this stage anyway.
Jerry The Saint
24/07/2006, 2:40 PM
I happened to catch part of an interview that the FAI's Andy Needham (I think) gave on BBC Wales during a debate on moving the League of Wales to a summer season. He took the broad FAI line that it's all going super but did say some clubs were unhappy with it. He urged caution for the LOW because there would be competition from "Cricket, which is very popular in Wales". Maybe so, but Glamorgan don't get crowds of 80,000+ for half-a-dozen games a season like other popular summer sports.
He praised the Welsh for sending over a delegation here to investigate the impact of a switch in seasons and the problems caused by things such as junior/intermediate/schoolboy leagues running on a different season - something that did NOT happen before we made the change (not to mention even a vague hint of market research) beyond the usual "Ah sure it's worth a try" approach. He didn't mention lessons learned during World Cups because the FAI clearly haven't a clue what to do when there is a clash.
Block G Raptor
24/07/2006, 2:47 PM
Summer
garykelly
24/07/2006, 4:22 PM
Summer (like to see season start later in summer)
ccfcgirl
24/07/2006, 4:25 PM
Summer.
A face
24/07/2006, 4:52 PM
Summer
centre mid
24/07/2006, 6:18 PM
Winter
holidaysong
24/07/2006, 7:43 PM
Winter.
dcfcsteve
24/07/2006, 8:10 PM
It's only come up yet again because the smell of coffee became so over-powering that Seery finally woke up.
Summer.
A face
24/07/2006, 10:28 PM
The reasons against are so amature it's not real, seriously pathetic stuff being wheeled out from the anti-summer camp. If there were any valid practical points to their argument then i'd listen, but its very hard to stay open minded aswell when selfish one-sided people with an agenda of some sort that is completely obvious to everyone keep on chipping in with cráp .... they never seem to talk about the bigger picture in all of this. Its always the NIMBG type slant on it, with people actually trying to blame summer soccer as the root of all evil and they forget about all the other excuses they used to wheel out before the change.
ger121
24/07/2006, 11:24 PM
Summer for me
* Well then IMO it has been a success. Ok attendances are down but I cant see how summer football is to blame. Afterall summer football offers better quality football, better weather, not as much competition from Sky Sports, also many people have more free time in summer, What does winter football offer? Sh!te pitches, Sh!te weather and worse European results (best way of attracting fans)
You admit attendances are down, yet you say skill levels and the football offered is better. Can't be much else left as a reason bar summer football? If attendances are down, it's obvious people preferred winter seasons.
I think there's far more competition in the summer tbh. The only sport we're not clashing with for a few weeks is UK football, instead we have the GAA (which for the rural teams is significant in terms of local championship games too). Maybe we're also competing with the weather as well - In recent weeks has the weather been a help or hindrance with family days out, BBQ's, Beer Gardens, chores in the garden etc?
The point of the poll was to settle once & for all whether fans wanted summer or winter football - 2 options, real simple. So often fans opinions are never listened by the powers that be.
Whether foot.ie members want summer or winter football. But sure a poll on here will prove it, rather than actual attendances at games.
The reasons against are so amature it's not real, seriously pathetic stuff being wheeled out from the anti-summer camp. If there were any valid practical points to their argument then i'd listen, but its very hard to stay open minded aswell when selfish one-sided people with an agenda of some sort that is completely obvious to everyone keep on chipping in with cráp .... they never seem to talk about the bigger picture in all of this. Its always the NIMBG type slant on it, with people actually trying to blame summer soccer as the root of all evil and they forget about all the other excuses they used to wheel out before the change.
I thought this was no discussion in this thread and then we get a rant like that? A face, there's two threads on the go that is actually raising concerns that you could address (especially if the evidence is so clear) rather than post an attack on any poster that dares say they prefer winter seasons.
Billy Lord
25/07/2006, 9:26 AM
Lads, summer football isn't the problem, the problem is that Irish football is poor, the facilities abysmal, the clubs are an administrative joke, and Irish people are basically day-tripping glory-hunters who couldn't care less about the local game because all they want is the hype of the Premiership and the odd Ole day watching Oireland or cheering on their county bogball or stickfighting team.
Like every other panacea offered in modern times, summer football wasn't a panacea at all, and anyone who thought there'd be a massive increase in attendances was fooling themselves. Sean and Mary citizen don't care when we play because what we offer isn't what they want. It's not when, it's just no sale. Not interested.
But if anyone genuinely feels that a winter season (when it's cold, damp and grounds are most unpleasant places to be) is preferable to the kind of weather that encourages people to go out, well then I think we might as well close the door and just give up.
I have now experienced the difference between going to home games in t-shirt conditions and freezing cold and damp, the difference between enjoying a trip to the Brandywell in brilliant sunshine or gritting my teeth in the depths of a grim Irish winter, and there really is no contest. Summer football is fun, winter football is torture.
Weather conditions have improved immeasurably for those of us who want to go, why should we surrender those improvements to encourage people who don't want to go to ramshackle grounds to see poor football in the first place?
Stop paying mad wages, run your club affairs properly, build up your local infrastructure, improve your facilities, and stop looking for easy solutions to a complex problem. In short, think and act like GAA clubs, get organised, get out there and live within your means rather than in your dreams.
Dublin City's demise offered the knockers yet another chance to show that they are right to ignore and sneer at the EL. Playing in winter will not change their minds. Do I have to italicise? THEY DON'T CARE.
Agree with you Billy in general (see my post son dcfcsteve's thread) BUT although crowds have always been poor, there was a HUGE drop for a lot of clubs when the season went to summertime. Much as we like to distance ourselves from the English game, the fact is most of our potential audience consider them the standard bearers. IMO the fact we play a different season to the British leagues (and the CL and Spain and all the TV leagues) makes some people think that we're not a "proper league". Add in the ridiculous World Cup break and it looks even more like that. All the el crowd pointing out the Nordic leagues doesn't mean a damn. In the eyes of 80% of football "fans" in this country the season runs August-May and during June and July most switch off fotball.
Of course there are loads of other (more important) factors why the league is struggling, and I've said many times I prefer the Summer games myself, BUT the change has meant a drop in attendances.
Wiseguy
25/07/2006, 9:58 AM
Whether we have a summer or winter season makes fcuk all difference.Granted, summer footie has more to compete with to get the crowds but winter footie has the bad weather to contend with.For starters we need someone who can actually run the league and know what they're supposed to be doing.Taking a break for the world cup and DCFC going bust just shows what a joke of a league it really is.Now to make even more of a mockery of it the new super dooper premier division is going to be hand picked yet John Delaney said that football needs to be sorted out on the pitch:eek: What's gong to happen if one of the teams docked points over the DCFC debacle end up losing the league because of it.It will end up in the courts and on every newspaper creating more negative publicity.Everyone involved should be focusing on how to get more people out to games and then build it from there.
Dodge
25/07/2006, 10:06 AM
The result of the poll, to date, is amazing.
How could anybody argue that the game has benefited from the change to summer soccer?
That wasn' the question though, It was "Preference: Summer or Winter Football?"
Most people prefer warm weather. If there was poll on whether summer soccer has advanced the league, we'd have different results (or people would lie...)
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