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NEPL 2022
- Thread starter GordonMuchallNo1Fan
- Start date
safctommie
Winger
Hasn’t he played for them before?
YES WE GYAN
Striker
Not heard anything but hopefully they go back to W/L/D for the whole season and scrap the coloured kit.
There is a proposal to change 2nd team cricket to 3 leagues of 8 to make it more competitive.
Assume play teams 3 times so 1 less game overall.
I believe the proposal is for playing each team twice, with other weekends filled in with Banks games on Saturdays and the T20 comp played on Saturdays.
Complete joke of an idea. Scrap the cups or don't make them mandatory
This format will see more cricket for ghe strong teams and less for the weaker teams. Surely 22 weekends isn't a challenge. Bet this is linked to the Sunderland Play-off decision and to give league a week to accommodate future clashes with football
The context it’s put in is regarding player availability and the struggle of getting competitive teams for the 6pm midweek starts. Rolling the cup games and the league into a Saturday is being proposed as a way to ease availability issues, as has been mentione, 3 leagues of 8 teams is the proposal.
I‘ve mixed feelings, it was certainly a struggle getting 11’s out for the 2’s for my club, it gets bloody disheartening as well trying to keep the twenty somethings from going to festivals/mates weddings, many have girlfriends that whinge about them losing their Saturdays, some are taking extra work on a Saturday etc, etc..
I hate anything that dilutes or reduces participation, by the same token clubs have to cut their cloth. It’ll be discussed at a meeting next week, be interesting to see what the thoughts of the other clubs are.
Why don't they move 2nds to Sunday and 3rds to Saturday if the older lads struggle for Saturdays
Ours 2nd team lads want to play every weekend and to go to 8 teams is a joke.
I could argue same principle for first team then. If teams struggle for teams midweek, the same proposal should be across all teams, why is the 2nds the only team struggling for midweek
Dadsarmy73
Winger
Putting cup games on a Saturday is stupid. As some have mentioned on here it’ll only produce less games for the weaker teams who fall early in the competition, further reducing participation and more importantly income from bars etc for them.
Whilst the stronger only become stronger and richer
Who the hell comes up with these ideas?
Whilst the stronger only become stronger and richer
Who the hell comes up with these ideas?
Also 2nd teams change from season to season. Some years you have a strong side and then struggle the season after. Can't see how you can ensure more competitive games. Maybe move back to time cricket which dangles the carrot for the so called strong teams to bat first and then bringing the draw into thr equation
I'm sure all clubs will get a chance to point their views but going through constant changes (thirds did again last season) isn't healthy.
I'm sure all clubs will get a chance to point their views but going through constant changes (thirds did again last season) isn't healthy.
Totally agree. Will be Newcastle or Tynemouth i bet as only interested in their teams. So what if you thrash a team now and then. Part of the game
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Tinyfooty
Winger
I’m not sure why reducing overs/ wearing coloured clothes and playing with a shit orange ball is supposed to increase participation.
They tried a similar format in the 3s league and it failed miserably.
Yep, time cricket easily the best format and prevents foregone conclusions 2nd innings.
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FCCCapaldisno1fan
New Member
I think the post came from Newcastle, with a view to improving standard of 2s cricket, playing no 2s cricket on a Sunday and ensuring competitive divisions for all.
As I read it, they advocate a structure where there will be a minimum of 18 games per club, with options to create a 20 Saturday season.
Australian grade clubs already play in a similar fashion across different formats on a Saturday. Obviously clubs will get their say at the meetings.
I personally agree with the sentiment that WLD is by far the best form of the game, but this isn’t shared by a lot of the lads playing the game.
As I read it, they advocate a structure where there will be a minimum of 18 games per club, with options to create a 20 Saturday season.
Australian grade clubs already play in a similar fashion across different formats on a Saturday. Obviously clubs will get their say at the meetings.
I personally agree with the sentiment that WLD is by far the best form of the game, but this isn’t shared by a lot of the lads playing the game.
It may not be the ultimate solution, but I think its a decent stab at trying to improve 2nd XI cricket. There is a huge gap between the top and bottom NEPL 2nd XIs, and it has widened to a point that even within the 2 divisions there are hugely 1 sided affairs. I get that this may be part of life in cricket, but players progressing through the ranks are at possibly the most delicate stage of their development when coming into the 2nd team. Add to that many teams are now struggling to get 22 players out on a Saturday, I would like to see that explored more. When you see sides with 5 or 6 well paid players, turning up with 9 or 10 players for a 2s game, there is a disconnect there.
This new structure may help, it may not, but IMO is worth a try.
This new structure may help, it may not, but IMO is worth a try.
Nah sorry this isn’t true. Washington who finished bottom beat champions Tynemouth. There’s not a lot between the majority of the teams in the league. Plus, how do you tell Sunderland, Hetton Lyons, Burnmoor and Felling that actually your efforts staying up or getting promoted in 2022 were all pointless and in vain. Would only be fair if it was implemented in 2024.
I agree it's a debate but if we are going down the quality of cricket side, have you seen the changes in the tables over the last few seasons. Teams finished top 4/5 one year, relegated the next. The rationale doesn't wash
The same principle in first team cricket. Top two up / Two down gets the teams to their level over time so can't see the logic of 8 team divisions. Teams near the bottom beat Teams near the top and have big influences on final positions
I can't see the rationale as to play less cricket will improve standards either. If you want less cricket, make the leagues 10 Teams and look to promote 6 more teams. Play 18 league games and 4 weekends of Cup. Dead against it but will get the aim of less cricket.
If it went through how would you select the top 8? How do you judge whether the top 2 Divison 3 teams are better are not beter than those who finished 7 and 8 for example? If by some miracle this is voted through, then it shouldn't commence until 2024 and top 6 form div 2 with top 2 of div 3 making the final 2 spots
Tynedale 2nds could be really strong but they may have to wait 3 seasons under this proposal, thrashing everyone out of sight
But first team finish top 2 next season and promoted straight to the top division? Why should there be any difference
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FCCCapaldisno1fan
New Member
In first team cricket where budgets adjust etc, then maybe but not in 2s cricket.
Since Div 2 went to 12 teams in 2018, there has only been one instance of the following 7 teams to finish outside the top 8 as far as I can tell;
Tynemouth
Hill
Fell
Newcastle
CLS
South North
Whitburn
(South North in 2019)
That division is as entrenched as it gets.
Is the answer for the clubs with loads of paid players not to spend some of the money on coaching instead and boost their player pool? Appreciate that that takes five years plus to pay off admittedly.
I think most clubs in NEPL do. All have junior set ups and academy's on Sundays
