Where Does This Leave Us?

[Peadar]

With regard to the recent poll on this phorum about the most suitable time for City to play their home games many people preferred Saturday evening.
Since ITV have opted to show their Premiership highlights programme at 19:00 on a Saturday night would it be good business sense for any club to play their games on a Saturday evening?
Would Saturday still be the favorite option if the game was played at 16:00 or even earlier?

[Gerry Desmond]

I think we need to build our league AND our self-confidence and disregard whatever is on ITV, BBC or SKY. Just choose whatever is best FOR ourselves and move beyond the Brit game. Those who follow it will watch it whatever channel or whatever time it is on. It is time for the NATIONAL league to offer a GENUINE alternative and make real live football a priority for real football fans.
Gerry

[Peadar]

...isn't better to give people the chance to watch both?
We may have Premiership fans who have never experienced the beautiful game at national leage level but will never get out and go to a game as he/she is watching Des the Clare culchie Lynham and co on UTV.
Think of the programme sales :p

[Gerry Desmond]

Sure, BT, I believe everyone should have the opportunity to watch NL football at some stage. However, I just think we can tie ourselves up in knots trying to find the optimum agreed ko and there's nothing to stop a TV company undoing all of that by changing THEIR schedule. For instance, if the league had ordered everyone to ko @ 7 on Saturdays and then ITV decided to show the premiership at that time, what would we have achieved?
We must believe in our own product, we must improve it and we must make decisions about it that are not dependent on foreign TV stations. That's my point....I agree completely about trying to entice a new or extended fanbase, but I think if we can build a pro league here ITV will be the least of our worrirs.
Gerry

[Gerry Desmond]

...obviously! :)
Gerry

[joe]

Ah, sure won't summer football ease all our worries, cure all our ills and generally preserve live as we know it on this planet?

[Peadar]

...of course it will. We'll only have to compete with a major international tournament every other year and nobody bothers with RTÉ showing Celtic in CL qualifiers so that wont affect us either.

[Gerry Desmond]

We're made!! But has the League/FAI considered what will happen when the programme editors take their holidays? !! :D

Gerry

[joe]

or even the fans?

maybe there's a 'brickie's fortnight' built in that no one's told us about!

[Gerry Desmond]

Nobody ever considers the fans!

Gerry

[Leonard]

Bit naive, Gerry, though your almost barstool-republican-esque language certainly stirred me. Going against the Premiership would see at least a 50% drop in gates, with fewer and fewer new supporters coming through the gates, no doubting that. Half of our players would probably prefer to stay at home watching the Premiership rather than slogging it out at the Cross.
As for the holiday for the fans, I'm sure Grunter could organise a first round defeat in the Cup for us if we really wanted.

[Gerry Desmond]

Originally posted by Leonard
Bit naive, Gerry, though your almost barstool-republican-esque language certainly stirred me.
[/i]

Almost barstool, or almost republicanesque??


[/i]Going against the Premiership would see at least a 50% drop in gates, with fewer and fewer new supporters coming through the gates, no doubting that. Half of our players would probably prefer to stay at home watching the Premiership rather than slogging it out at the Cross.
As for the holiday for the fans, I'm sure Grunter could organise a first round defeat in the Cup for us if we really wanted.

Hmmmm, 50% drop in gates...we can only assume. No, seriously, I'm not suggesting we take on the premiership in our CURRENT state. I honestly believe a proper pro league can prosper in this country when it comes about and when it is marketed expertly. When that happens, I don't think we have to worry about what's on ITV etc...But it is time now to make our stand, demand improvement and earn respect.

Gerry