Gordon Strachan

[Tommy75]

Have never bought in to the idea that an Atlantic League or something similar would be better or more enjoyable as a Hibs fan. We would end up playing the majority of our home games with probably less away fans than come now from teams like Ross County, Livingston etc. Similarly, how many Hibs fans could afford to fork out travelling across Europe to watch us play.

I also don't see why, in this day and age with a climate emergency, it would be a good idea flying squads around Europe every week just to play league matches.

[chippy]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

How would this work alongside a domestic league then? How would it be funded? I’m sure costs for a Euro league of sorts would be a lot higher than for domestic games. Or is it all based on size and the individual clubs ability to pay?

Our B teams in the domestic league

[Renfrew_Hibby]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

It’s coming whether we like it or not.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What if say in a decades time, after the huge global depression that is heading our way, small countries like like us and the Scandinavians might only be able to realistically support 4 or 5 pro teams.
The conditions would be ripe for regionalised euro leagues outwith the 5 major leagues.
We could have a semi pro east/west or north/south set up for remaining sides who could be attached to a senior pro club, much like US baseball where minor league clubs in smaller cities are attached to a major league club. The MLB side supports the minor league side financially and uses it like an academy side.
So Hibs would be in the euro leagues with say Stirling or Raith or even both being attached to us.

[Ozyhibby]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Have never bought in to the idea that an Atlantic League or something similar would be better or more enjoyable as a Hibs fan. We would end up playing the majority of our home games with probably less away fans than come now from teams like Ross County, Livingston etc. Similarly, how many Hibs fans could afford to fork out travelling across Europe to watch us play.

I also don't see why, in this day and age with a climate emergency, it would be a good idea flying squads around Europe every week just to play league matches.

Given the TV money involved I doubt club owners would give much thought to the massive Ross County travelling support.
It’s money that will drive this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[hibbysam]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Given the TV money involved I doubt club owners would give much thought to the massive Ross County travelling support.
It’s money that will drive this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We go around the houses with this conversation every 6 weeks. There is absolutely no chance that a hibs crowd will keep up when we are trudging around the 2nd division of 18 teams (laughable if you think we’re even in the top 36 teams anyway but that’s another argument), with absolutely no prospect of anything remotely like success. In fact, what is success in that league? Zero interest to me, or anyone that goes to the games with me. Give me the Scottish game any day of the week, whether it’s *****y auld stadia, plastic pitches in a 3 sided stadium, or getting pumped by Rangers, nothing compares to it.

[tamig]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Given the TV money involved I doubt club owners would give much thought to the massive Ross County travelling support.
It’s money that will drive this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We’re about to enter a global recession the like of which has never been seen. The TV and media firms aren’t bulletproof. Where do you think this bottomless pit of TV cash is coming from?

[Pagan Hibernia]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

It’s coming whether we like it or not.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Such a concept needs to be opposed and fought at every turn

[Ozyhibby]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

We go around the houses with this conversation every 6 weeks. There is absolutely no chance that a hibs crowd will keep up when we are trudging around the 2nd division of 18 teams (laughable if you think we’re even in the top 36 teams anyway but that’s another argument), with absolutely no prospect of anything remotely like success. In fact, what is success in that league? Zero interest to me, or anyone that goes to the games with me. Give me the Scottish game any day of the week, whether it’s *****y auld stadia, plastic pitches in a 3 sided stadium, or getting pumped by Rangers, nothing compares to it.

You don’t think we would be in the top 36 clubs of those nations?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ozyhibby]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

We’re about to enter a global recession the like of which has never been seen. The TV and media firms aren’t bulletproof. Where do you think this bottomless pit of TV cash is coming from?

It might be the very thing that drives it. We may lose clubs, or other countries lose clubs. Who knows?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[PH91]

I'd be ok with it but I'd make a few tweaks
- it should be played alongside our domestic league
- only the best teams in each league should be invited into it
- it should be a knockout competition

[weecounty hibby]

The Scottish League isn't as bad as is made out. The OF are freaks with ridiculously high consistent average attendances but ourselves, hearts and Aberdeen are having highest attendances in years. Clubs have won trophies that hadn't for years, us included. The product we have is pretty good but us marketed very very badly. We constantly talk it down and big up England. FFS they are ten times bigger than us. We need to stop thinking everything revolves around the OF, yes they are a draw but they are not the be all and end all. At them moment we are allowing one incredibly badly run club hold everyone else back by ****ing about thinking about themselves and making us all look stupid.

[Keith_M]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

You beat me to it with the American comparison - no struggling to get crowds in the door here.

With a population of about 320 million and only 32 NFL teams, it's not exactly a great comparison.

[Ozyhibby]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

With a population of about 320 million and only 32 NFL teams, it's not exactly a great comparison.

Almost like having less teams is a good thing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Keith_M]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Almost like having less teams is a good thing.

So you're saying we should also have one team for every ten million people?

That's gonna work out well in Scotland

[Alfred E Newman]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

The Scottish League isn't as bad as is made out. The OF are freaks with ridiculously high consistent average attendances but ourselves, hearts and Aberdeen are having highest attendances in years. Clubs have won trophies that hadn't for years, us included. The product we have is pretty good but us marketed very very badly. We constantly talk it down and big up England. FFS they are ten times bigger than us. We need to stop thinking everything revolves around the OF, yes they are a draw but they are not the be all and end all. At them moment we are allowing one incredibly badly run club hold everyone else back by ****ing about thinking about themselves and making us all look stupid.

Correct. If Hearts had won at St Mirren in the last game before the lockdown there would be no reconstruction talks. Clubs are going to struggle for a while and some may not recover but there was no suggestion there was anything wrong with the league set up a couple of months ago.

[hibbysam]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

You don’t think we would be in the top 36 clubs of those nations?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Your capping it at nations you want to cap it at. Even at that, no I don’t, however even if we did it would have no appeal to me at all. What’s your idea of success? Top half of the second league? What are we making money for? If we make money those above us make more and we stay where we are. No Europe, so no need to try and compete in that. Your pro’s seem to base it around the owners making loads of money, and you want a closed shop in Scotland like America. Carnage.

[Ozyhibby]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Your capping it at nations you want to cap it at. Even at that, no I don’t, however even if we did it would have no appeal to me at all. What’s your idea of success? Top half of the second league? What are we making money for? If we make money those above us make more and we stay where we are. No Europe, so no need to try and compete in that. Your pro’s seem to base it around the owners making loads of money, and you want a closed shop in Scotland like America. Carnage.

I personally don’t see why we need to be in 2nd div. The pros for me are being able to afford better players to watch at Easter road. Not having to sell players to smaller clubs than us in England.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[The_Exile]

Let's be honest, Scottish fitba is ****ing ***** apart from around 20ish games a season. I agree with Strachan.

[JimboHibs]

Suppose it comes down to what your own expectations as a fan are ? If your happy as it is say last 30 years thats fine or if your looking for competition to actually close the gap then changes are required.
My own opinion and by no means im saying this is right or wrong is a bigger league of 18 or 20 ? St Johnstone/St Mirren/Hamilton as an example would they bring a bigger away support to Us/Aberdeen/Ibrox/Celtic right through the league if they knew they only had that one away visit a season or if Rangers/Aberdeen were coming to Easter Road once a season would it be more exciting the expectation knowing you only had them once at home,would St Johnstone fill there own stands for that one home game against Rangers or Celtic other than give the old firm 3 stands each for the home games ? As it stands i can only see the gap becoming even wider and the idea of Celtic winning the treble for the next 3 years isnt that unrealistic.All my own opinion of course and i'll watch us regardless of who we are playing but i would like to see change to the current set up if possible.

[weecounty hibby]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Let's be honest, Scottish fitba is ****ing ***** apart from around 20ish games a season. I agree with Strachan.

You have just made my point perfectly about talking down our game. Do you think that ***** games of football are unique to Scotland? One if the worst games I have ever seen was Newcastle v Chelsea about 5 years ago. I had hospitality at the game and it was the free booze and food that made it bearable. There was probably £300m worth of players in the pitch and it was dreadful. Our game is not as bad as folk make out. Hibs v Kilmarnock a couple of seasons ago was a great game, the 5-3 game. Was going to also say the 5-5 rangers game but am trying to keep the OF out of it

[hibbysam]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Suppose it comes down to what your own expectations as a fan are ? If your happy as it is say last 30 years thats fine or if your looking for competition to actually close the gap then changes are required.
My own opinion and by no means im saying this is right or wrong is a bigger league of 18 or 20 ? St Johnstone/St Mirren/Hamilton as an example would they bring a bigger away support to Us/Aberdeen/Ibrox/Celtic right through the league if they knew they only had that one away visit a season or if Rangers/Aberdeen were coming to Easter Road once a season would it be more exciting the expectation knowing you only had them once at home,would St Johnstone fill there own stands for that one home game against Rangers or Celtic other than give the old firm 3 stands each for the home games ? As it stands i can only see the gap becoming even wider and the idea of Celtic winning the treble for the next 3 years isnt that unrealistic.All my own opinion of course and i'll watch us regardless of who we are playing but i would like to see change to the current set up if possible.

Making changes for the better within scotland is absolutely the right way to go. A bigger league with less games against each other is the only way there will be a challenge.

[hibbysam]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

I personally don’t see why we need to be in 2nd div. The pros for me are being able to afford better players to watch at Easter road. Not having to sell players to smaller clubs than us in England.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We aren’t even in the top half of Scotland, never mind the best European teams outwith the top 5 leagues. Your honestly away with the fairies if you think this league is going to bring in all this money. And what are those players going to give us? A mid table finish with no prospect of European football or cup wins within some mental ‘Atlantic league’... chuck 150 years of history away for a fantasy, fair play.

[chippy]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Such a concept needs to be opposed and fought at every turn

Is that what was said in the 1950s when Hibs were European football pioneers

[Hibs4185]

Personally I agree with strachan a little bit.

I think we should have

12 in the premiership (full time)
12 in the championship (full time)
20 first division (14 part time and 6 premiership B teams)

Firstly you’d have 24 full time teams which is probably better for a country our size.

Secondly you’d have an interesting division 1 with good experience for the B teams and good attendance for the part time teams with B teams bringing more fans.

Youngsters get good competitions with and division 1 gets a lot more interest.

I know people will shoot down the B team idea but for me it’s an absolute no brainer.

That’s 38 teams in total so 4 would drop out but it’s a more slimline structure with more interest across all 3 leagues.

[davhibby]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Personally I would rather watch a Dundee derby than Livi v Hamilton. If we want to sell our game then we need to have the best product to sell to broadcasters.
You can say they have better teams but the quality of their teams is as much down to the plastic pitch as anything else. Livi rarely win on grass.
Having no relegation allows clubs to invest without the fear of the rug being pulled from under them. And I don’t mean just in players but in stadiums as well. The can concentrate fully on long term thinking rather than the short term survival stuff.
They have no relegation in American sports and people love watching. There needs to be a way of closing the gap on Celtic in order that other teams have a chance of winning.
It’s bad for the game to have the same champions every year.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hate to break it to you but the broadcasters have no interest in anyone outside the OF. From next season there’s going to be something like 10 games that don’t involve Celtic or Rangers on Sky. The people involved in running the BT Scottish production had an interest in the game up here but sadly the money men didn’t, but Sky only have an interest in 4 games

[Tommy75]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Given the TV money involved I doubt club owners would give much thought to the massive Ross County travelling support.
It’s money that will drive this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Massive Ross County travelling support? I know money will be the driver in this and that is what will probably motivate those in the boardroom to go along with this type of idea.
That is why I said 'as a fan' because I do not think an Atlantic League would enhance the supporters experience in any way.

[The 90+2]

Strachan comes across like he knows best and is doing everyone a favour by sharing his opinion. I used to really like him and wanted him as Hibs boss but him returning to Scotland to manage Celtics really changed him.

[chippy]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Strachan comes across like he knows best and is doing everyone a favour by sharing his opinion. I used to really like him and wanted him as Hibs boss but him returning to Scotland to manage Celtics really changed him.

Ok so you’ve gone off him , but what about his ideas and his knowledge of the game up here?

[Eyrie]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

We go around the houses with this conversation every 6 weeks. There is absolutely no chance that a hibs crowd will keep up when we are trudging around the 2nd division of 18 teams (laughable if you think we’re even in the top 36 teams anyway but that’s another argument), with absolutely no prospect of anything remotely like success. In fact, what is success in that league? Zero interest to me, or anyone that goes to the games with me. Give me the Scottish game any day of the week, whether it’s *****y auld stadia, plastic pitches in a 3 sided stadium, or getting pumped by Rangers, nothing compares to it.

This and your other responses sum up the appeal of any Atlantic League to me as a Hibs fan.

[Eyrie]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Personally I agree with strachan a little bit.

I think we should have

12 in the premiership (full time)
12 in the championship (full time)
20 first division (14 part time and 6 premiership B teams)

Firstly you’d have 24 full time teams which is probably better for a country our size.

Secondly you’d have an interesting division 1 with good experience for the B teams and good attendance for the part time teams with B teams bringing more fans.

Youngsters get good competitions with and division 1 gets a lot more interest.

I know people will shoot down the B team idea but for me it’s an absolute no brainer.

That’s 38 teams in total so 4 would drop out but it’s a more slimline structure with more interest across all 3 leagues.

Every suggestion about reconstruction is open to question.

Which clubs get the B teams and the advantages that provides for player development? Could Hibs afford a competitive B team? Would it simply see Celtc and Sevco hoover up more players, weakening the other sides in the top twelve?

I'd go with 12 teams in the top two leagues but think below that it would be better to have two leagues of ten (more chance of winning something) and regionalising may help reduce costs. However I'd listen to the lower league clubs about what works for them.