That was my understanding with the proposed stadium, who knows if that will ever happen though. Now, FCZ is a good example of a storied club, being relegated and using that time to fix some things. FCSG did the same a bunch of years back. Now both are stable and doing well on and off the field.
The relegation of FCZ was just plain shocking. They held on to so many of their players after they went down, which is why it was so easy for them to go back up. If GCZ goes down, they won't be able to afford to quality players they do have now. They could be mired in the Challenge League for years waiting for players to develop, especially as clubs like Servette and Lausanne strengthen around them.
You are right, FCSG might be a better example or even Xamax or Servette. Both have taken time, much to the dismay if the Servette fans, to reshape their clubs. Servette now has possibly the most productive youth system in Switzerland. Because they are still in the BCL they have not been able to hold onto them, but GCZ could be in for a long term stay in the BCL.
More bad news for Basel, Serey Die will be out for at least 4 weeks due to a ligament injury in his knee. Akos Kecskes will also be out for Lugano with a knee injury. It is anticipated that he will be gone for 2 months.
11 Aug Lugano - GCZ 2-2 Xamax - Thun 1-5 This will be a growing season for Xamax, at least GCZ is in the league! 12 Aug Basel - Sion 3-2 Basel wins on an own goal. FCZ - FCSG 0-0 Luzern - YB 2-3 A late goal by Luzern made things interesting, YB won to stay perfect in the league. YB 12 Basel 7 FCSG 7 FCZ 7 Thun 6 Sion 6 Lugano 4 Xamax 4 Luzern 3 GCZ 1
Leading goalscorers: 3 - Cedric Itten - FCSG 3 - Anto Grgic - Sion 2 - 8 players have two goals Leading assists: 3 - Miralem Sulejmani YB 2 - 6 players have 2 assists Attendance: Basel (3) 25,346 YB (2) 22,098 GCZ (1) 16,400 . FCSG (2) 11,267 FCZ (2) 10,479 Sion (2) 9,550 Luzern (3) 8,904 Xamax (2) 8,359 Almost 6k less for match 2 vs Thun than match 1 vs Basel. Thun (1) 5,153 Lugano (2) 3,581 No matches this week due to the Swiss Cup.
On the injury front - Basel's Marek Suchy will be out for an unknown amount of time as he injured his Achilles tendon last week against Sion. YB midfielder Sandro Lauper will be out for between 2-3 weeks due to an ankle injury.
Was on the GCZ site today and they have an animated video (in german) of the new stadium plan for both themselves and FCZ...hope it works out for them...an 18,000 seater.
25 Aug GCZ - Sion 2-1 YB - Xamax 5-2 26 Aug FCZ - Basel 1-1 FCSG - Luzern 0-1 Thun - Lugano 1-1 A few surprising results as YB now opens up a 7 point gap. GCZ with an unexpected win over Sion. Also Luzern defeat of FCSG was a surprise as well. YB 15 Basel 8 FCZ 8 Thun 7 FCSG 7 Sion 6 Luzern 6 Lugano 5 GCZ 4 Xamax 4
Leading goalscorers: 4 - Guillaume Hoarau - YB 3 - Cedric Itten - FCSG 3 - Anto Grgic - Sion 3 - Nicolas Ngamaleu - YB 3 - Nagil Bahoui - GCZ 3 - Pascal Schurph - Luzern 3 - Dejan Sorgic - Thun Leading assists: 4 - Runar Sigurjonsson - GCZ 4 - Miralem Sulejmani YB 3 - Ayoub Abdellaoui - Sion 3 - Silvan Widmer - Basel Attendance: Basel (3) 25,346 YB (3) 21,478 FCSG (3) 11,537 FCZ (3) 11,373 GCZ (2) 10,300 Sion (2) 9,550 Luzern (3) 8,904 Xamax (2) 8,359 . Thun (2) 5,312 Lugano (2) 3,581
1 Sep Lugano - FCZ Sion - YB 2 Sep Basel - Thun Luzern - GCZ Xamax - FCSG YB looks to continue their domination over Sion. Basel tries to recover after their trip to Cyprus. Xamax, GCZ and Lugano look to be fighting to avoid the bottom. Bue there are only 4 points between the 2nd place and 10th.
1 Sep Lugano - FCZ 1-0 A bit of a surprise here. Sion - YB 0-3 No surprise here. 2 Sep Basel - Thun 1-1 Another match without really convincing anyone that Basel has turned a corner. Luzern - GCZ 2-1 Xamax - FCSG 2-3 Four in a row for Xamax. They are finding life in the RSL hard. YB 18 FCSG 10 Basel 9 Luzern 9 Thun 8 Lugano 8 FCZ 8 Sion 6 GCZ 4 Xamax 4
Leading goalscorers: 4 - Guillaume Hoarau - YB 4 - Cedric Itten - FCSG 4 - Christian Fassnacht - YB 4 - Pascal Schurph - Luzern 3 - Anto Grgic - Sion 3 - Nicolas Ngamaleu - YB 3 - Nagil Bahoui - GCZ 3 - Dejan Sorgic - Thun 3 - Fabien Frei - Basel Leading assists: 4 - Runar Sigurjonsson - GCZ 4 - Miralem Sulejmani YB 3 - Ayoub Abdellaoui - Sion 3 - Silvan Widmer - Basel 3 - Raphael Nuzzolo - Xamax 3 - Marvin Speilmann - Thun 3 - Luca Zuffi - Basel Attendance: Basel (4) 25,539 YB (3) 21,478 FCSG (3) 11,537 FCZ (3) 11,373 GCZ (2) 10,300 Sion (3) 9,967 Luzern (4) 9,180 Xamax (3) 7,226 Thun (2) 5,312 Lugano (3) 3,503
I think so. Until the most recent time, Servette had never been relegated for on field play, just financial issues.
22 Sep Thun - Sion - First match for Murat Yakin at Sion. GCZ - Xamax - Can Xamax take advatage of GCZ while they are down? 23 Sep FCSG - Lugano FCZ - Luzern YB - Basel - Can YB recover from their mid-week let-down against Man U? A win by YB would put them 12 points ahead of Basel. A loss would bring the to within 6 points, and could make the title race a little more interesting.
22 Sep Thun - Sion 4-1 GCZ - Xamax 3-1 23 Sep FCSG - Lugano 2-2 FCZ - Luzern 1-0 YB - Basel 7-1 Lots of goals this week, and each home team at least got a point, 4 matches had the home team winning. Oh yea, and YB showed that the RSL is theirs now. Wow, 7 goals! YB 21 Thun 11 FCSG 11 FCZ 11 Luern 9 Lugano 9 Basel 9 GCZ 7 Sion 6 Xamax 4 Looks like a three way race for the relegation spot and the relegation playoff. Look at the Bernese Oberland, 1 and 2!
Leading goalscorers: 5 - Guillaume Hoarau - YB 5 - Christian Fassnacht - YB 5 - Dejan Sorgic - Thun 4 - Cedric Itten - FCSG 4 - Pascal Schurph - Luzern 3 - 8 players with 3 goals. Leading assists: 6 - Miralem Sulejmani YB 4 - Runar Sigurjonsson - GCZ 4 - Marvin Speilmann - Thun 4 - Silvan Widmer - Basel 3 - Ayoub Abdellaoui - Sion 3 - Raphael Nuzzolo - Xamax 3 - Luca Zuffi - Basel 3 - Roman Buess - FCSG Attendance: Basel (4) 25,539 YB (4) 23,889 FCSG (4) 11,856 FCZ (4) 11,138 Sion (3) 9,967 Luzern (4) 9,180 GCZ (3) 8,100 Xamax (3) 7,226 Thun (3) 5,600 Lugano (3) 3,503