Originally Posted by
EalingGreen
So you're whole argument really just boils down to "time management", then?
I'm afraid it is much more than that. For we already have a 10 month season (August to May). Therefore, by playing European games so early in July, by the time you have 2-3 weeks preparation (minimum) during June, you will actually be left with virtually a 12 month season.
These are part-time footballers you're talking about, whose main job, plus family come first.
Therefore, there are only three possible ways to "time manage" this situation:
A. Give the players time off during the regular domestic season; or
B. Re-arrange the whole domestic season significantly; or
C. Go full-time.
As regards the first, there is no way any club would risk weakening/disrupting its team during the regular season, for the sake of two, maybe four, European games. Remember, even had eg Linfield fielded their 1st choice XI against Randers, the chances are they would still not have gone through, since a Danish team in mid-season is always likely to be stronger than an IL team just starting its season.
As regards the middle option, again I do not think that a couple (or four) of European games, for one or two IL clubs, is worth re-arranging the whole set-up for.
And as regards the last, when Linfield fans complained last season eg about Spike Ferguson being away on his family holiday, I pointed out that if they want 1st call on him (i.e. over that of his employer), then they would need to pay him comparable wages, including those of his (teacher?) wife. They had no answer to that, funnily enough.
Quite simply, there is no way IL clubs could go mostly/fully full-time in the present climate.
Bookmarks