Blatter wants summer fixtures

[mpeabody]

What do you guys think? I'm inclined to think Blatter is an idiot no matter what he says, but I don't think this idea is completely without merit.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6206888.stm

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has proposed changing the fixture schedule of European leagues so that the season runs through the summer months.
Blatter told Germany's Kicker magazine that the season should begin in late February and end in November.

He said: "I've just proposed to the clubs: play through the summer.

"This would leave enough time for players to recover and there could be blocks of three weeks of national teams' qualifying games in winter."

Blatter added: "This idea is supported by big European clubs."

And to further ease fixture congestion, Blatter believes there should be more European groups with fewer teams for World Cup qualifying.

He feels this would mean fewer games for national teams as urged by leading clubs.

[surfcam]

And he'll schedule the world cup for when? More nonsense from fatty Blatty.

[E17Avenue]

World Cup in January, obviously. So they can make sure Moscow never hosts it.

[Silva 5]

i say leave it the way it is...Sepp should be thinking about instant replay instead.

[billyireland]

Blatter wants players to play in summer, players want Blatter to f' off for ever.

I reckon that sums it up.

[KevTheGooner]

Sepp should realize that the era of everyone drooling over seeing national teams play is long, long over with the rise of the multi-national big clubs. He should focus on developing interest in football in countries like the US and China, and he should focus on getting resources to football-mad developing countries....and shut up the rest of the time. :rolleyes:

[Highbury]

How exactly would you start this? You can't pick it up at the end of one season and give the players no rest. You also can't not play an entire year.

[antifan]

Why does Blatter feel he must continually come up with new ideas for the game? He should just sit back in his undeserved and corruptly won position and keep his mouth shut while the money rolls in (to his pocket).

[Gunners11]

Why does Blatter feel he must continually come up with new ideas for the game? He should just sit back in his undeserved and corruptly won position and keep his mouth shut while the money rolls in (to his pocket).

I was just gonna say the same thing. I don't understand why he feels like every few months there should be some monumental change to the game.

[Publius]

He should focus on developing interest in football in countries like the US and China....

This would be the NFL tail wagging the dog of world football. MLS plays an April-November schedule primarily because of stadium availability issues with American football. Secondarily, there aren't too many cities in the US where I could possibly imagine people coming out to a game in February.

I wouldn't have a problem with most of the rest of the world switching to a summer schedule, but I think MLS would rather get its stadium issues squared away so it could adhere to most of what the rest of the world does (albeit with an extended winter break probably built into the schedule) than have everybody switch to a summer schedule.

Out of curiosity, how many leagues play summer schedules? I think Sweden does, but I don't really know who else does.

[SLO-Gunner]

yeah, great idea...especially for the Southern European countries...trying to play in 36 °C. Considering the top leagues in Europe, this would realistically only work in Germany.

[Cannon]

Out of curiosity, how many leagues play summer schedules? I think Sweden does, but I don't really know who else does.South America, Finland, Ireland, Russia, etc.

[Elninho]

yeah, great idea...especially for the Southern European countries...trying to play in 36 °C. Considering the top leagues in Europe, this would realistically only work in Germany.

I don't see the problem. MLS does it for a month or two every summer. And Brazil, being tropical, plays in that kind of that weather all season.

(Maybe I'm biased - I personally have a hard time playing effectively when the temperature drops *below* about 27°C.)

[PsychedelicCeltic]

yeah, great idea...especially for the Southern European countries...trying to play in 36 °C. Considering the top leagues in Europe, this would realistically only work in Germany.
Um, the World Cup was largely played in the 30s. It gets ********in' hot in Deutschland in June.

[Gooner_for_Life]

Yes it was quite warm this year at the World Cup. As for this idea, STUPID!

[E17Avenue]

Considering the top leagues in Europe, this would realistically only work in Germany.

What makes you think Germany's cool in summer? A good 2/3rds of it is severely affected by continental weather patterns, and it has a similar climate to a Great Lakes state like Ohio or Michigan.

I couldn't even imagine Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs etc playing in the heat and humidity in London in July or August.

[thebigman]

good idea, but when will international tournaments take place?

[HomeatHighbury]

good idea, but when will international tournaments take place?

Oh you didn't hear? He wants to organize them all for the winter with Russia the permanent site. What a fool. Summer fixtures...:rolleyes:

[evanpemsocr]

How exactly would you start this? You can't pick it up at the end of one season and give the players no rest. You also can't not play an entire year.

thats exactly what I was thinking. what a stupid idea.

[crazy150]

While Blatter is a retard, for selfish personal reasons I like the idea. Basicaly I hate baseball, and MLS can not compare to the European leagues. So, this would mean I could concentrate on the good American sports (NFL, NCAA basketball and football) in the winter, and have European football waiting for me in the spring. Anyway, it's all moot, 'cause this has the same chance as spuds winning the league.