2004 / 2005 SEASON - WHEN DOES IT START?

[TB&G]

Sorry guys I'm a bit hungover today and my maths suffered as a result.

 

For the second part of the mini-league I should have said 3 leagues of 6, 6 and 3. The first two being 1 & 2 and 3 & 4 of the original leagues to play each other home and away giving an extra 10 games to the original 8 and the third of the last club in original group each playing each other twice home and away giving an extra 8 added to the original 8.

 

By the way PBT I obviously affected your maths too with my previous posting. I presume that you meant three groups of four clubs and one group of three adding up to the fifteen in all.

 

But ER and PBT my original suggestion way back in the past referred to the idea of extra competitive matches in addition to the two league cups.

[andyetfc]

Are we intending to have a league whereby everyone plays each other twice, or cup competitions only?

 

Let's be sensible and follow the lead of Ryman 2 and play each other three times.

 

They are a sensible league, aren't they?????????????????

[Jim Cunneen]

I have said this many times but the league chairman has not responded at all...

[PORTENCROSS]

In the absence of our Fixture Secretary - on an extended, well deserved break, I would not wish to make comment at this stage ..plus, there is still an AGM of the Ryman league to come next week .... so, we stay in melt-down for another week and then I should be able to answer your questions - officially !

[Southport - TOWNER]

re who is Fixture Secretary ?

[Jim Cunneen]

thank you LC...

[Football Man]

Let's assume that sides play each other three times. Let's then assume that the top two sides are to meet on the last day of the season in a championship decider. Let's also assume that the previous two meetings have been reasonably comfortable home wins. Would it not then be extremely unfair to give one side home advantage in the deciding fixture?

 

There endeth the argument for playing each other three times.

[Southport - TOWNER]

PBT - a lot of assuming; what happens when you asume? you make

 

ASS U ME?????

 

 

[Guest]

Sorry PBT I can't agreee with your negative approach to a three match equation.

 

Simple answer is that on the first meeting between teams the two managers toss under the supervision of the match referee of that day to decide who hosts the extra game.

 

Quite frankly I don't believe that home advantage is all that important at ESL level.

 

 

[Football Man]

Quote:

Southport - TOWNER said:
PBT - a lot of assuming; what happens when you asume? you make

ASS U ME?????

There speaks someone who spent most of last month assuming he was supporting a Ryman League team.

[Southport - TOWNER]

ERRR

 

How little you know.......

 

[MbrunoB]

Or read on here.

[Mr Happy]

 

 

Quite frankly I don't believe that home advantage is all that important at ESL level.

 

 

you could be right on that one. Town went all last season unbeaten away!

[Guest]

Or in Enfield Towns case playing away was an advantage last season.

[Southport - TOWNER]

Talking of playing away...............

[Football Man]

I agree that home advantage isn't always important at this level but it can be - especially when you are talking about the top two or three clubs.

 

We had a poor run at home either side of Christmas where we lost something like 12 points over six home matches. Those points would have probably given us the Spartan South Midlands League title. Similarly, Enfield Town's excellent away form last season would have probably produced another league title if it had been supplemented with a decent home record.

 

I suspect Enfield Town expect to have a decent home record this season and, if playing a title decider in mid or late April, would choose a home match if at all possible. I still think such a scenario would be extremely unfair on the away side - whoever it is.

 

How about playing each other four times a season with a straight knockout League Cup and the Gordon Brasted reverting to a supplementary competition. That would be 56 League matches and 4 or 5 cup ties. That's 60 or 61 games. It would then be each individual club's responsibility to decide how many "outside" competitions it wanted to enter or to play its first team in.

[Bill Poster]

OR how about a two match home and away ESL.

 

Then split all the clubs into two more home and away league competitions after a first (seeded)knock-out round for the league cup. First round winners in the "A" league(7 or 8 clubs) being played for the main league cup and first round losers in the "B" league (7 or 8 clubs) for the Gordon Brasted Trophy?

 

This would give clubs 2 extra matches home/away first round followed by an extra 12 or 14 guaranteed competitive matches to their 28 league ones.

 

I have a feeling that the overall standard in the ESL is going to be somewhat higher next season.

 

Should be quite an interesting one too, if alternatively there are 42 league matches. Plus one or two mini-league based league cup competitions.

 

All possibilties haven't been officially discounted yet according to my reading of certain postings.

 

The maxim is watch this space immediately after the Ryman AGM if I'm right!!

[Jim Cunneen]

I still favour 42 league games over 28 + mini leagues in cup competitions.

 

1. We should not be worried about extra league games. If we are as good as some think we are win the lewague by more points. If we have a blip it gives us more games to put it right.

 

2. attendences - our attendences home and away have been much higher in league games rather than league cup ties. It also gives ALL clubs more games and more interest.