Just my two bits... 1. in PL despite the clubs forming the majority, there is representation from fa(with 2 votes if am not wrong) so that should be the model we should follow. 2. Most ISL Clubs have somebody who is related to reliance... so there goes the imgr representation. 3. The 7 sisters and 1 brother may be infrastructure weak, but i hate to see it being counted as one region.
@deb_ban if East Bengal and MB can make it for their supporters only(management leaves a lot to be desired), then Kerala Blasters too deserve a chance
Hm, not sure if this could be done in India but I know for the US, not sure how much the USSF (US Soccer FA) is involved with MLS but I know the USSF sets the rules and standards for "Division 1" leagues in the US... as in MLS needs to follow the rules set by US Soccer in order to be the main league... and so do other leagues. These include rules like a certain number of teams, minimum stadium requirements etc. Basically like the AFC criteria but US Soccer exclusive.
Not sure if the AIFF can do the same here... perhaps something that can be done in the future before the merger by saying that if a league wants to be considered the main league they need at least 8 teams, stadiums with this much, attendance this much etc etc.
Not sure it would make much of a difference but it is interesting.
@Footydip, thanks, at least someone pondered over the 'how' question rather than the actual club names! I appreciate your views and to some extent second it. IMGR has to be given a chunk of the ownership (though for a finite period) to recoup their investment. Whether they would lay their hands off the league is a million dollar question (literally).
@archak, the PL model can definitely be followed here; and I think both AIFF and IMGR can be co-opted. A profit sharing arrangement may also be thought of. But multiple ownership (or share holding) by a company would violate the AFC clause for exclusivity.
I also share the same feeling about the NE, but ... rest of India is huge. In any case, counting NE as a big state would also give them some leverage (3 clubs won't be bad). You are right about Kerala. I somehow goofed there. But, I reiterate again, more than the actual club names, the method/ process to get out of this mess is more important, which @footidip and you have partially shed light into.
@deb_ban The FA generally doesn't vote unless there is a tie. Yes i know the afc demands strict exclusivity for the clubs but the condition in ground is quite messy to be really honest
I was trying to find appropriate thread for this post but i guess this is proper thread even though everything seems to be pre-decided I still took time to make this. Till now (from 2015) we are hearing that FSDL will make league which is more beneficial to their business plan rather than actual footballing sense. What If they make structure that will help them as well as Indian football. The way I understand All they want is viewership and attendance , they were getting this till 2016 since there were no clashes or window was small and league would get over quickly. Now that excitement factor has gone due to constant changes in format, lets face it all seasons from 2016 to 2018 have been played in different ways. Even IF we try and make model like EPL/ LA LIGA it wont work straightaway in India. cos 1. cricket is dominant here 2. Footballing culture is not present NT success . Indians playing in European leagues , compact League w.r.t. our conditions is needed (or all of them together)
so what I did is created 3 divisions as per existing teams but favourable to FSDL and star but in turn better for future of Indian football
all divisions to be played in single window(by following FIFA calendar and IPL fixtures later on)
added 6 teams with best attendances in ISL and re arranged next two divisions as per old formats
here number of matches will be more of course (245 as compared to existing 110 including Super Cup) but that cost can be compensated by making certain changes e.g. IF I league use 6-8 cameras and ISL use 18 then new set up can use 12-14
in Reality Star is anyway showing these matches from both leagues
IF old or proposed structure has been giving 2-3 key matches , here that number is substantially increased(•BFC
vs CFC, BFC vs KBFC, EB
vs MB, NEROCA vs NEUFC, KBFC vs GKFC, CFC vs CCFC) so going by Reliance logic of capturing ratings and views this should suit them well plus it will attract new fans
refer pic 2 I divided teams as per their attendances , so What they will have to do is utilise Class A/B venues to get highest attendances and TV numbers (which in turn will give chance to attract sponsors)
Key is to show all matches of A/B class venues on TV in prime time.
Class C/D teams matches will have telecast too but in case of double header on weekend one match will be just on hotstar which is minor tweak , Again as per Reliance logic itself these bottom teams dont have good viewership
Probably reliance is taking it wrong way to show all teams are equal which is clearly not the case so instead of scrapping low performers I added better ones to make decent average figure
NEROCA and RKFC will have floodlights so their matches can be kept at evening time
Venues like DDFC/NEUFC might need matches in evening time considering the fact that fans find it hard to return at home after late 9.30pm
During IPL either they can show football matches on separate channel(no need of simultaneous telecast on 5-6 channels) or show them in entire different window altogether
Play off can be added to attract more viewers but ACL spot should go to league topper
no need for ISL or any team to have reserve squad( its useless anyway and there will be considerable cost cutting)
no need of Super Cup as minimum matches criteria is getting fulfilled ( instead they can bring Durand/Federation cup /Rovers Cup/AWES cup as a pre-season tournaments from July to September)
no need of FSDL intervention for hiring players and coaches , set minimum criteria if required (like for coaches UEFA Pro equivalent)
number of foreigners is perfect at the moment
for second division / League 1 reduce foreigners as per older format
these league 1 and 2 can have telecast on local channels ,Free to air channels or hotstar
state leagues and local leagues should be brought under one window from Oct-March
So what are advantages reliance or other entities get
1. duration of league for which players are contracted is somewhat similar (currently players came in India from August and will stay Till April ) & teams have started keeping players in apartments anyways so there should not be extra expenses 2. more key matches which can be hyped for better TV ratings and views. 3. competition gets spiced up which is important to keep interest 4. consistent schedule which will be helpful for better attendance figures 5. longer calendar so future players will have more exposure 6. no clashes with FIFA calendar or IPL: 7. no need to close down any team
look at attendance numbers in last image, BFC used to get decent numbers since matches were in fix Thursday-Sunday window which is now hampered (this is applicable to all teams) adding to that there was huge gap in schedule in December so it was never settled. with these 6 teams addition ISL numbers gets boost anyways
@shanks_dehighliving Very good idea but reason for low attendance of bfc is match at 7:30pm. 8pm is perfect for IT city like Bangalore. Also reason for low NEU attendance is timing 7:30 pm, NEU should get 6:30 kickoff for full stadium
Comments
2. Most ISL Clubs have somebody who is related to reliance... so there goes the imgr representation.
3. The 7 sisters and 1 brother may be infrastructure weak, but i hate to see it being counted as one region.
@deb_ban if East Bengal and MB can make it for their supporters only(management leaves a lot to be desired), then Kerala Blasters too deserve a chance
@archak, the PL model can definitely be followed here; and I think both AIFF and IMGR can be co-opted. A profit sharing arrangement may also be thought of. But multiple ownership (or share holding) by a company would violate the AFC clause for exclusivity.
I also share the same feeling about the NE, but ... rest of India is huge. In any case, counting NE as a big state would also give them some leverage (3 clubs won't be bad). You are right about Kerala. I somehow goofed there. But, I reiterate again, more than the actual club names, the method/ process to get out of this mess is more important, which @footidip and you have partially shed light into.
even though everything seems to be pre-decided I still took time to make this. Till now (from 2015) we are hearing that FSDL will make league which is more beneficial to their business plan rather than actual footballing sense. What If they make structure that will help them as well as Indian football.
The way I understand All they want is viewership and attendance , they were getting this till 2016 since there were no clashes or window was small and league would get over quickly. Now that excitement factor has gone due to constant changes in format, lets face it all seasons from 2016 to 2018 have been played in different ways.
Even IF we try and make model like EPL/ LA LIGA it wont work straightaway in India.
cos
1. cricket is dominant here
2. Footballing culture is not present
NT success . Indians playing in European leagues , compact League w.r.t. our conditions is needed (or all of them together)
So what are advantages reliance or other entities get
1. duration of league for which players are contracted is somewhat similar (currently players came in India from August and will stay Till April ) & teams have started keeping players in apartments anyways so there should not be extra expenses
2. more key matches which can be hyped for better TV ratings and views.
3. competition gets spiced up which is important to keep interest
4. consistent schedule which will be helpful for better attendance figures
5. longer calendar so future players will have more exposure
6. no clashes with FIFA calendar or IPL:
7. no need to close down any team
look at attendance numbers in last image, BFC used to get decent numbers since matches were in fix Thursday-Sunday window which is now hampered (this is applicable to all teams) adding to that there was huge gap in schedule in December so it was never settled.
with these 6 teams addition ISL numbers gets boost anyways