Thread starter
#1
Lo and behold no change challenge cup 3 groups same teans as last season, belfast guaranteed choice of first venue in QF as they will romp over the Scots again.
Challenge cup
- Thread starter BostonBart22
- Start date
I just don't get why they over complicate it.... make it a pre-season thing. Get all the games out of the way, including the final and everyone is prepped and ready for the league, which is the main priority. 8 teams qualifying out of 10 is perfect for pre-season but a joke for what is supposed to be a credible tournament.
It could be so simple
10 teams matched by draw from a hat/carrier bag!. Play H&A aggregate scores- draws allowed (no OT or SO). 3 points win1 point draw (or even no aggregation 3 points away win, 2 points home 1 draw) Teams ranked -p oints the same then count goal difference. Bottom 2 drop out
Move to knock out - draw remaining 8 then remaining 4. Play H&A aggregate scores, OT/SO to decide winner
Massive loss of revenue for some clubs but I believe a more credible format
10 teams matched by draw from a hat/carrier bag!. Play H&A aggregate scores- draws allowed (no OT or SO). 3 points win1 point draw (or even no aggregation 3 points away win, 2 points home 1 draw) Teams ranked -p oints the same then count goal difference. Bottom 2 drop out
Move to knock out - draw remaining 8 then remaining 4. Play H&A aggregate scores, OT/SO to decide winner
Massive loss of revenue for some clubs but I believe a more credible format
Polite request for all. When Devils pitch up in Belfast on 11th November and get humped can we please acknowledge already they have been set up to fail again. Whoever does these fixtures is driving me nuts and for want of a better term is thick as mince for not learning from previous mistakes.
Devils notoriously suck in late October / Early November and you throw in 13 games in 30 days at an average game every 2.3 days with the last of the lot being Giants away. Giants. Of all the teams to go to you pick Giants. Taking points out of Belfast is vital to having a go at winning the league and you fall into that trap again.
That should send the team to the Conti Cup on a high a week later also.
Belfast by comparison go into that fixture with 9 in 30 and a 5 day break prior. If I was one of the Devils players I would be highly pissed off at this one. Proper dumb.
Devils notoriously suck in late October / Early November and you throw in 13 games in 30 days at an average game every 2.3 days with the last of the lot being Giants away. Giants. Of all the teams to go to you pick Giants. Taking points out of Belfast is vital to having a go at winning the league and you fall into that trap again.
That should send the team to the Conti Cup on a high a week later also.
Belfast by comparison go into that fixture with 9 in 30 and a 5 day break prior. If I was one of the Devils players I would be highly pissed off at this one. Proper dumb.
No need for the Challenge Cup full stop.
Format is painful and distracts from regular season. There are not enough teams to warrant having three separate trophies each season.
I understand it generates revenue for the teams but just incorporate additional games into the regular season. Just an absolute waste of time.
Format is painful and distracts from regular season. There are not enough teams to warrant having three separate trophies each season.
I understand it generates revenue for the teams but just incorporate additional games into the regular season. Just an absolute waste of time.
Actually I think there is a need for a Cup as it allows teams that might not be in with a shout of the league the opportunity to go for something else, it's just the format is awful.
I know this has been said before but an early season competition makes sense on lots of levels. I would be tempted to use it as a trial for any rule changes so that it would have a slightly different feel. Get the final done and dusted before Christmas and we then focus on the league.
I also think that a 'Magic Weekend' style set of match ups would be great. Have them as extra games so nobody loses gate revenue and has all 10 teams play over two days.
Saturday
1pm Fife v Dundee
4.30pm Belfast v Glasgow
8pm Nottingham v Sheffield
Sunday
2pm Coventry v Manchester
5.30pm Cardiff v Guildford
There .... sorted
I know this has been said before but an early season competition makes sense on lots of levels. I would be tempted to use it as a trial for any rule changes so that it would have a slightly different feel. Get the final done and dusted before Christmas and we then focus on the league.
I also think that a 'Magic Weekend' style set of match ups would be great. Have them as extra games so nobody loses gate revenue and has all 10 teams play over two days.
Saturday
1pm Fife v Dundee
4.30pm Belfast v Glasgow
8pm Nottingham v Sheffield
Sunday
2pm Coventry v Manchester
5.30pm Cardiff v Guildford
There .... sorted
It would be fair enough if we just played Guildford and Coventry once home and away but twice is raking the piss, imagine in the football europa league or champions league if you played your group games and then you had to play the same teams again , it would be a laughing stock , not to mention his boring
