Summer Soccer Poll

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.

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Originally Posted by joema

In what areas has it not worked in your opinion? It has helped with Europe and thats the most important thing IMO.

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eh the attendances?

Summer

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Originally Posted by wild rover

eh the attendances?

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I dont think the drop in attendances is down to Summer football

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Originally Posted by joema

In what areas has it not worked in your opinion? It has helped with Europe and thats the most important thing IMO.

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There's another thread on it, but the things it was sold on and was supposed to do were:

1. Increase Attendances
2. Increase media coverage
3. Increased skill level because of better pitches
4. 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?".

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Originally Posted by Macy

There's another thread on it, but the things it was sold on and was supposed to do were:

1. Increase Attendances
2. Increase media coverage
3. Increased skill level because of better pitches
4. 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?".

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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

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Originally Posted by Macy

There's another thread on it, but the things it was sold on and was supposed to do were:

1. Increase Attendances
2. Increase media coverage
3. Increased skill level because of better pitches
4. Better perfomances in Europe that would back up 1 and 2

1 and 2 have at best remained static.

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* 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.

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Originally Posted by Macy

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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by Macy

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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by Macy

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?".

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Well only the admins know that for definite. In general Summer football has been a success

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Originally Posted by joema

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

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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.

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.

Summer

Summer (like to see season start later in summer)

Summer.

Summer

Winter

Winter.