NASL (2nd Division) in America is fully national. We dont split into regions until the 4th division USL PDL. The NASL is mainly in the South-East because MLS already has most of the major markets in America for soccer and lower-tier soccer is more fragile over here. I think in the last 10 years more than 20 clubs have FOLDED in the 2nd and 3rd tier of American soccer.
As for India. I still do not see the point. Again the problems that arise from it stem from our desire to want to improve as a footballing nation. Yes you can say promotion/relegation has worked in India but we have not actually improved.
Look at the 2nd Division teams: How many of these clubs would be playing in say the J.League or K-League (Based on how they are ran off the field). 0 and you will get the same almost in I-League as well. Instead of allowing the same badly organized sides into the league we should be focusing on allowing teams in not only based on their on field factor but their off field factor as well.
I like what Japan did. They started the J.League membership criteria (contents available online) in which unless a Japanese Football League (3rd tier in Japan) passes the criteria they shall not be allowed into the J.League 2nd Division... regardless of whether they finish in 1st, 2nd or 3rd.
Now ideally what I would love to see implemented in India is this:
Restart the I-League as 12 teams. East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Prayag United, Pailan Arrows, Dempo, Salgaocar, Sporting Goa, Churchill Brothers, Pune, Mumbai, United Sikkim, Shillong Lajong.
Then rebrand the I-League 2nd Division as the Indian Football League. Make it the 2nd Division. Have this league be ran the way the current the 2nd Division is ran with teams applying for the league each year, 2-3 months long, neutral stadiums etc. But instead of having promotion/relegation have ONLY promotion. Do not relegate any I-League teams. The I-League will be professional while the IFL would be semi-professional.
Only promote 2 teams from the IFL each season but they must pass, not only the AFC Guidelines, but also a specific I-League Membership criteria as well (based off the J.League one). That way, so we know that the teams that are being promoted are professional enough to get into the I-League while not hurting us in anyway (example: Losing the AFC Champions League spot).
Then once we reach 16-18 teams we start a new I-League 2nd Division and we move the IFL to the 3rd Division. Same restrictions apply in order to get into the I-League 2nd Division. Only this time the 2nd Division will be an actual league. 2-4 teams will be relegated from the I-League while 4-6 of the best/most professional clubs from the IFL are promoted. Have the I-League and I-League 2nd Division run alongside each other.
Their would be promotion/relegation between the I-League and I-League 2nd Division but no promotion/relegation between the I-League 2nd Division and the IFL (only promotion based on two criteria's).
This way we know that the teams that are playing in the I-League are fully-professional and we wont have the worry about having any PSU's or any clubs like them in the league.
Look at the wonders it has done in Japan. Japan started with only 10 professional teams in 1993 and now... 20 years later, they have exactly 50 professional football teams. Just halfway from their goal of having 100 professional teams by 2093. They could do it by 2033.
So just to summarize it up: Promotion/relegation is nice but at the same time it is all about how it is executed. How would we run it. We would need to keep in mind the goal to improve and not just believe we will be stuck with the same crap our whole lives.
As for me saying "idiot": Sorry. This stems from me also being involved in a lot of BigSoccer debates with other people in MLS forums and they are evil.
Arsenalkid Yeah, that sounds great.Actually if thats the plan i am behind it 100%. Look we both want the same thing, a thriving football league. I think what i am saying is look at what we have and who are running the league.
These guys are bunch of jokers but its what we have and we have to be realistic. Also I like what Japan has done also s.Korea, but India are not like those countries in so many ways which we all know. Great discussion thanks.
> kali007 said:
> Arsenalkid Yeah, that sounds great.Actually if thats the plan i am behind it 100%. Look we both want the same thing, a thriving football league. I think what i am saying is look at what we have and who are running the league.
These guys are bunch of jokers but its what we have and we have to be realistic. Also I like what Japan has done also s.Korea, but India are not like those countries in so many ways which we all know. Great discussion thanks.
Agree and I think that is the sad part. The AIFF have no vision. Well they do, but its a fake reality. They believe that by having this IPL-League will get instant money and support for Indian football which can automatically improve infrastructure for the U17 World Cup which, after that would see Indian football as the 2nd most supported sport in India. We would then qualify for the Asian Cup in 2015 and 2019 (automatically) and qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
And that is all well and good but far from reality. Indian football is at a stage were many problems are at. The clubs are not fully-professional, most games have free entry, the wages are to high, the stadiums are crap, many day games, fitness of players, the officials running the clubs, lack of training grounds for most teams, lack of sponsors etc. That needs to be fixed and it can only be fixed gradually.
To me, the way to fix this is through tightly restrictions in criteria and a temporary stop to promotion/relegation. Execute a I-League membership criteria that needs to be passed alongside the AFC Criteria, only promote teams if both criteria's are 85% met, start a salary cap, start roster rules, start a proper I-League U20 league which can also have 3 overage players in games, encourage clubs to work with the community, start actually charging people for tickets while focusing on free entry for youngsters (youngsters will form the core of the I-League and Indian football support for many years to come) and a proper FA Cup style tournament.
Other than this I dont see another way of Indian football actually improving.
The way Amoy describes all this is correct but note one thing. What was West Asian football ten years ago? The fact is that the West Asian nations, like their East Asian counterparts, have gotten a lot better. Better facilities, better domestic leagues, better organization of events etc.
They still lack a bit at the youth level but thats my opinion at least.
Dont want to seem like an asshole here but... who the hell did not know this. I think everyone already knew that PLS was not going to work. Its been a full year and nothing is revealed. Ya, its over.
Comments
NASL (2nd Division) in America is fully national. We dont split into regions until the 4th division USL PDL. The NASL is mainly in the South-East because MLS already has most of the major markets in America for soccer and lower-tier soccer is more fragile over here. I think in the last 10 years more than 20 clubs have FOLDED in the 2nd and 3rd tier of American soccer.
Now ideally what I would love to see implemented in India is this:
AIFF Set To Implement Salary Caps After Enforcing Licensing Criteria
http://feverpitch.in/SiteWeb/Newsdesc.aspx?SID=1A883D22-6585-49AC-ACD3-CB7968318C29
Arsenalkid Yeah, that sounds great.Actually if thats the plan i am behind it 100%. Look we both want the same thing, a thriving football league. I think what i am saying is look at what we have and who are running the league.
> kali007 said:
> Arsenalkid Yeah, that sounds great.Actually if thats the plan i am behind it 100%. Look we both want the same thing, a thriving football league. I think what i am saying is look at what we have and who are running the league.
India’s Top Five performances against fellow emerging Asian nations
http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/01/27/indias-top-five-performances-against-fellow-emerging-asian-nations/
India’s poor record against West Asian nations
http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/01/28/indias-poor-record-against-west-asian-nations/
The way Amoy describes all this is correct but note one thing. What was West Asian football ten years ago? The fact is that the West Asian nations, like their East Asian counterparts, have gotten a lot better. Better facilities, better domestic leagues, better organization of events etc.
Proposed Indian Football League Fails To Take Off
http://www.soccertub.co.in/proposed-indian-football-league-fails-to-take-off/
Dont want to seem like an asshole here but... who the hell did not know this. I think everyone already knew that PLS was not going to work. Its been a full year and nothing is revealed. Ya, its over.