Should the Premier Division shift back to a fall-spring schedule?

**shizzle787** · 01/04/2016, 11:10 PM

From the research I have done, when the league shifted to a summer schedule around 2003, the reason for the switch was to improve attendances due to a fall-spring schedule being played in bad weather. However, attendances have actually slightly fallen since then. So, should the Premier Division shift back to a fall-spring schedule?

**Jofspring** · 01/04/2016, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by shizzle787

From the research I have done, when the league shifted to a summer schedule around 2003, the reason for the switch was to improve attendances due to a fall-spring schedule being played in bad weather. However, attendances have actually slightly fallen since then. So, should the Premier Division shift back to a fall-spring schedule?

As I mentioned in the match thread, junior soccer has gone months in most parts of the country without any games being played due to adverse weather. This has been happening more often the last number of years which definitely demonstrates how much worse Irish weather is becoming. If the LOI switched back you could be looking at games getting called off every weekend, new fixtures having to be made etc... If you are lucky enough to get games going ahead then the chances are your pitch will be destroyed. The few people that do bother going to games would start to fall away also.

Attendances could always be better but they aren't shocking by any means. The usual teams have decent crowds and then the rest depend completely on success.

In an ideal world you have a premier league filled with teams spread out all over the country in places with large catchment areas but sadly it doesn't work like that.

**sullanefc** · 01/04/2016, 11:17 PM

Fall? Really?

**White Horse** · 01/04/2016, 11:20 PM

When I see words like "fall" and "soccer" appear in a thread, it is best to slip out quietly.

**nigel-harps1954** · 01/04/2016, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by White Horse

When I see words like "fall" and "soccer" appear in a thread, it is best to slip out quietly.

Soccer players fall down all the time. Personally, I think it's ruining the game.

**littlebray** · 01/04/2016, 11:41 PM

Originally Posted by White Horse

When I see words like "fall" and "soccer" appear in a thread, it is best to slip out quietly.

We could go back to "Association" - and describing it as the dribbling game.

But we should grow up and realise we can't claim sole rights to the term "football", not in a country where two other football codes have very solid followings etc etc etc.

Nothing wrong with Soccer.

**atfconline** · 01/04/2016, 11:48 PM

The ones where they use their hands the whole time?

**Charlie Darwin** · 02/04/2016, 12:55 AM

Originally Posted by littlebray

We could go back to "Association" - and describing it as the dribbling game.

But we should grow up and realise we can't claim sole rights to the term "football", not in a country where two other football codes have very solid followings etc etc etc.

Nothing wrong with Soccer.

That's garbage.

**Ezeikial** · 02/04/2016, 9:35 AM

There is an incredible amount of disrespect being shown here for a perfectly sensible opening post from Shizzle. A fall-spring schedule would avoid the winter, right?

I await with bated breath the next earth-shattering suggestion for new similar threads. Suggestions?

**Treaty Gooner** · 02/04/2016, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by Jofspring

If the LOI switched back you could be looking at games getting called off every weekend

No you wouldn't.

**Battery Rover** · 02/04/2016, 3:28 PM

Personally on selfish note I would love it to return to a winter season. Unfortunately for me I can't make games anymore from mid March through to middle of October due to my line of work. Have no work from November through to March that couldn't be put off for a day or two to attend games. Unfortunately the rest of the year is nearly all deadlines.

**Martinho II** · 02/04/2016, 4:44 PM

Originally Posted by Battery Rover

Personally on selfish note I would love it to return to a winter season. Unfortunately for me I can't make games anymore from mid March through to middle of October due to my line of work. Have no work from November through to March that couldn't be put off for a day or two to attend games. Unfortunately the rest of the year is nearly all deadlines.

was wondering why I hadnt seen you at games in ages..

**TonyD** · 03/04/2016, 6:42 PM

I like the season as it is now, if for no other reason than the pitches are generally in better nick and the quality of the football played has as a result, in my view, improved.

**nigel-harps1954** · 03/04/2016, 9:18 PM

Originally Posted by TonyD

I like the season as it is now, if for no other reason than the pitches are generally in better nick and the quality of the football played has as a result, in my view, improved.

Of all the reasons though, the pitch argument doesn't actually hold up, at least for the first third of the season.

There's no growth over winter. The only time a pitch gets a rest and a chance to grow in the League of Ireland is when there's two away games in a row and during the mid-season break. In a winter season, a club can prepare the pitch for more harsh conditions through the summer and have it in great shape for the start of the season, and the end of the season at least.

As it is, we start of crap pitches, and we end on crap pitches. It's no surprise more teams are starting to consider artificial surfaces now.

**citybone** · 03/04/2016, 9:54 PM

I would hate it,

**Charlie Darwin** · 04/04/2016, 12:25 AM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Of all the reasons though, the pitch argument doesn't actually hold up, at least for the first third of the season.

There's no growth over winter. The only time a pitch gets a rest and a chance to grow in the League of Ireland is when there's two away games in a row and during the mid-season break. In a winter season, a club can prepare the pitch for more harsh conditions through the summer and have it in great shape for the start of the season, and the end of the season at least.

As it is, we start of crap pitches, and we end on crap pitches. It's no surprise more teams are starting to consider artificial surfaces now.

So what you're saying is that teams can "prepare" their pitches for harsh conditions in a winter season, but this is somehow impossible even if they have the entire winter free to work on it?

Fair enough, let's play our games in the worst conditions possible because we'll have the entire summer to prepare the ground for when the grass can't grow.