‘Glasgow Rangers’.

[Lucky1985]

The Scottish league system is so weird. I had no idea that they’ve been doing this playoff system for so long.

Why do they need so many leagues for so few teams? Why not just join the four pretendy leagues up to make 2 proper ones. Then they can sack off this odd playoff bit?

It seems totally unfair to me that the title decider is probably going to come in the last game of the season, that just so happens to have Celtic playing at home for the second against the challenger Hearts who only got one home game.

 

[Wearside Wanderer II]

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[Mowgli]

The Scottish league system is so weird. I had no idea that they’ve been doing this playoff system for so long.

Why do they need so many leagues for so few teams? Why not just join the four pretendy leagues up to make 2 proper ones. Then they can sack off this odd playoff bit?

It seems totally unfair to me that the title decider is probably going to come in the last game of the season, that just so happens to have Celtic playing at home for the second against the challenger Hearts who only got one home game.

Because that was dilute the top league with absolute shite. They'd rather have celtic v rangers and celtic v hearts 4 times a season.

The whole country and league system is a bit of a joke with football.

 

[Roker Mackem]

 

[willowbankbear]

Because that was dilute the top league with absolute shite. They'd rather have celtic v rangers and celtic v hearts 4 times a season.

The whole country and league system is a bit of a joke with football.

We’d all like a 16 or 18 team league up here coz playing the same team 4 times a year is absolute shite , I don’t know how many times I’ve heard that said yet Sky want 4 old firms a season & they pay the tv rights !!!
Fuck right off , this season has been weird , Rangers appointed the cabbage at the start ended up in 8th , clawed it back . Went top then fell apart again .
If Rangers can’t win the title then hearts would always be my second choice , I find them normally a good bunch to have a pint with

 

[Mowgli]

We’d all like a 16 or 18 team league up here coz playing the same team 4 times a year is absolute shite , I don’t know how many times I’ve heard that said yet Sky want 4 old firms a season & they pay the tv rights !!!
Fuck right off , this season has been weird , Rangers appointed the cabbage at the start ended up in 8th , clawed it back . Went top then fell apart again .
If Rangers can’t win the title then hearts would always be my second choice , I find them normally a good bunch to have a pint with

Is it viable to be an 18 team league? Are any similar countries to Scotland, population or team wise able to run that?

You've already spoken about the tv money, which would would go down even more from the pittance it already is.

 

[Lucky1985]

Because that was dilute the top league with absolute shite. They'd rather have celtic v rangers and celtic v hearts 4 times a season.

The whole country and league system is a bit of a joke with football.

Aye but most the teams in the league below are teams that have been in the top flight before. I’m sure they would be able to attract better players if they knew they’d be playing against rangers and Celtic each year.

Just seems a bit weird to me. Surely it must take the edge off the derby to have to play each other so many times per season.

 

[Mowgli]

Aye but most the teams in the league below are teams that have been in the top flight before. I’m sure they would be able to attract better players if they knew they’d be playing against rangers and Celtic each year.

Just seems a bit weird to me. Surely it must take the edge off the derby to have to play each other so many times per season.

Doubt it would. Less TV money to pay them with when there isn't 4 old firm games a season televised.

 

[mackembhoy]

The Scottish league system is so weird. I had no idea that they’ve been doing this playoff system for so long.

Why do they need so many leagues for so few teams? Why not just join the four pretendy leagues up to make 2 proper ones. Then they can sack off this odd playoff bit?

It seems totally unfair to me that the title decider is probably going to come in the last game of the season, that just so happens to have Celtic playing at home for the second against the challenger Hearts who only got one home game.

What are you on about?

Hearts will have had 19 home games and 19 away games they will have played both Celtic and Rangers twice away and twice at home. As well as Motherwell, Hibs. However they do get to host Falkirk at home for a third time this season.

The split is done for the final 5 games of the season after every team in the league has played each other 3 times. With the top 6 playing each other again and the bottom 6 playing each other again.

Sometimes due to fact that a team needs 19 home/19 away sometimes a team ends up with a third home or away tie against a team in the same side of the split has them.

The only teams with an uneven split of home and aways this season is Falkirk with 20 Home and 18 away. Livingston with 18 home and 20 away.

I believe that's the first time in 26 years of the split in Scottish top flight the split hasn't been fair on all teams with 19 home and 19 away.

 

[Lucky1985]

Doubt it would. Less TV money to pay them with when there isn't 4 old firm games a season televised.

It might help to make the league more competitive though. With there being so few teams in to start with it seems like it’s geared towards keeping the top teams at the top, but by providing more competition, it feels like it might be better.

Has there ever been a situation where two leagues have joined into one before?

 

[Mowgli]

It might help to make the league more competitive though. With there being so few teams in to start with it seems like it’s geared towards keeping the top teams at the top, but by providing more competition, it feels like it might be better.

Has there ever been a situation where two leagues have joined into one before?

Nobody will be watching Dunfermline vs Ross county though

I hate small team leagues as its just repetitive imo. But don't think the answer up there is easy. I'd rather have an 18 team league and less money but i'd bet the clubs wouldn't.

 

[willowbankbear]

Is it viable to be an 18 team league? Are any similar countries to Scotland, population or team wise able to run that?

You've already spoken about the tv money, which would would go down even more from the pittance it already is.

I’d settle for a 16 league , play each other twice & a split , coz what we’re watching now gets worse every season , yes it can be exciting but the quality is dire

 

[Lucky1985]

What are you on about?

Hearts will have had 19 home games and 19 away games they will have played both Celtic and Rangers twice away and twice at home. As well as Motherwell, Hibs. However they do get to host Falkirk at home for a third time this season.

The split is done for the final 5 games of the season after every team in the league has played each other 3 times. With the top 6 playing each other again and the bottom 6 playing each other again.

Sometimes due to fact that a team needs 19 home/19 away sometimes a team ends up with a third home or away tie against a team in the same side of the split has them.

The only teams with an uneven split of home and aways this season is Falkirk with 20 Home and 18 away. Livingston with 18 home and 20 away.

I believe that's the first time in 26 years of the split in Scottish top flight the split hasn't been fair on all teams with 19 home and 19 away.

Ah fair enough, I thought it was split after 2. Like I said I only just realised that there was the playoff system the other day. I still stand by the thought that it seems backwards having so many leagues in a country with so few teams. Scotland have more national professional leagues than Germany, Spain, Italy, and France.

 

[mackembhoy]

Ah fair enough, I thought it was split after 2. Like I said I only just realised that there was the playoff system the other day. I still stand by the thought that it seems backwards having so many leagues in a country with so few teams. Scotland have more national professional leagues than Germany, Spain, Italy, and France.

The clubs voted to keep it that way last season.

There were options increasing the top flight to 14 or 16 teams.

The Greektop flight is 14 teams and has a similar split system. I'd have liked them to implement that.

As you say Scotland doesn't need 4 leagues.

 

[Dun Scathach]

The clubs voted to keep it that way last season.

There were options increasing the top flight to 14 or 16 teams.

The Greektop flight is 14 teams and has a similar split system. I'd have liked them to implement that.

As you say Scotland doesn't need 4 leagues.

SPFL is the most heavily attended domestic league in Europe per capita. 3x higher than English football. It is hugely popular and well attended in its own country.

Outside of the SPFL, it’s worth remembering again that Scotlands population is roughly half that of London.

So if clubs at level 3 or 4 in Scotland want to play competitive football in front of 500 or so people then what would be the merit in stopping them?

 

[mackembhoy]

SPFL is the most heavily attended domestic league in Europe per capita. 3x higher than English football. It is hugely popular and well attended in its own country.

Outside of the SPFL, it’s worth remembering again that Scotlands population is roughly half that of London.

So if clubs at level 3 or 4 in Scotland want to play competitive football in front of 500 or so people then what would be the merit in stopping them?

Your preaching to the choir with all that like. I've made that same argument a lot of times on here.

Still think we need a bigger top flight to improve the overall game in the country.

3 leagues of 14 would be a lot better.

Saw someone last year post a way the Greek top flight could be tweaked and implemented in to the Premiership. I'd go for that if I was in charge.

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[CheersMarra84]

SPFL is the most heavily attended domestic league in Europe per capita. 3x higher than English football. It is hugely popular and well attended in its own country.

Outside of the SPFL, it’s worth remembering again that Scotlands population is roughly half that of London.

So if clubs at level 3 or 4 in Scotland want to play competitive football in front of 500 or so people then what would be the merit in stopping them?

Is it though really? I’d suggest they’re cooking the books a bit if the likes of Livingston and Motherwell etc are getting 4,000 home fans in, and giving away massive away sections to the likes of Rangers and Celtic with more away fans in the ground. Just doesn’t seem like a true reflection.

 

[mackembhoy]

Is it though really? I’d suggest they’re cooking the books a bit if the likes of Livingston and Motherwell etc are getting 4,000 home fans in, and giving away massive away sections to the likes of Rangers and Celtic with more away fans in the ground. Just doesn’t seem like a true reflection.

But they are still in the stadium?

It's a fact that since COVID and fans let back fully that the Scottish Premiership is the highest attended top flight Europe league per capita.

Netherlands was second a couple of times was Portugal last season. May well have improved for Scotland this year when the figures come out.

 

[Weremuthe]

Is it viable to be an 18 team league? Are any similar countries to Scotland, population or team wise able to run that?

You've already spoken about the tv money, which would would go down even more from the pittance it already is.

Portugal has a 18 team premier but double the population of Scotland (10million/5million) and the 3 top teams (Porto, Benfica and Sporting) were way ahead of the other 15.

 

[CheersMarra84]

But they are still in the stadium?

It's a fact that since COVID and fans let back fully that the Scottish Premiership is the highest attended top flight Europe league per capita.

I get what you’re saying, but surely if the league was the highest attended then the majority of fans would be home fans. Of course Celtic and Rangers are going to take big numbers if available, they’re about an hour on the coach from most grounds in Scotland and have big followings all around Scotland. I just think a true reflection would be off home fans going and then away fans.