14-06-2015, 09:45 PM
Trouble with these 'polls' is that they oversimplify too much / leave too much key detail 'out'. What's billed as 'Craig's' (ugh!) Super final option is much more than that. To repeat: it is an attempt to revamp NOT just the Richardson BUT also the Spens.
The new 'Richardson' final is intended to be a four team event (at the end of the season) for a 'Scottish Super-Cup'. The new 'Spens' KO event (including its KO final) is for the 'Scottish Cup'. Remember, too, that the 'new' Spens is open to ALL. This format allows clubs to compete in both events in any given season and try to win both the Scottish Cup AND the Scottish Super Cup. I still think that sounds attractive to clubs and players of all strengths.
The main practical objection to the final weekend idea is probably Keith Rose's idea of 'cost' (to CS), certainly without sponsorship. There is a possible way round this (reducing costs and meeting some other objections):
- The final weekend remains at four teams - the previous year's Super Cup winner and runner-up plus the two Scottish Cup finalists in the current year.
- The event takes place only on two days AND remains on a KO basis (i.e. it is not a league of any sort)
- On the Saturday, last year's Super Cup winner plays current year Scottish Cup runner-up / Super Cup runner-up plays current year Scottish Cup winner
- On the Sunday - the Super Cup final takes place between the two Saturday winners
Such a change avoids the need for a three day Super Cup weekend and keeps the old KO principle in place for both Super and Scottish Cups. I think I prefer this four team, two day, KO modification.
There was another objection to the 'impracticality' of a May Super Cup final. It strikes me that simply by shifting the start of the annual Super Cup / Scottish Cup events back by a month or so, we could conclude the Scottish Cup in late March and the Super Cup in Late-April.
Otherwise, and perhaps this isn't so bad, I sense we will inevitably head towards regional groupings: restricted to 8 East and West teams for the otherwise unchanged Richardson Cup; Spens open to all and essentially unchanged. This is as outlined by Keith Rose in his 14 April post. Assuming I've got this right, I am sure that that will work but it doesn't seem a very big change and may be insufficiently radical to spark any increased participation in current Richardson, Spens and Rosebowl numbers (although it is completely CS cost neutral).
Not easy!?
The new 'Richardson' final is intended to be a four team event (at the end of the season) for a 'Scottish Super-Cup'. The new 'Spens' KO event (including its KO final) is for the 'Scottish Cup'. Remember, too, that the 'new' Spens is open to ALL. This format allows clubs to compete in both events in any given season and try to win both the Scottish Cup AND the Scottish Super Cup. I still think that sounds attractive to clubs and players of all strengths.
The main practical objection to the final weekend idea is probably Keith Rose's idea of 'cost' (to CS), certainly without sponsorship. There is a possible way round this (reducing costs and meeting some other objections):
- The final weekend remains at four teams - the previous year's Super Cup winner and runner-up plus the two Scottish Cup finalists in the current year.
- The event takes place only on two days AND remains on a KO basis (i.e. it is not a league of any sort)
- On the Saturday, last year's Super Cup winner plays current year Scottish Cup runner-up / Super Cup runner-up plays current year Scottish Cup winner
- On the Sunday - the Super Cup final takes place between the two Saturday winners
Such a change avoids the need for a three day Super Cup weekend and keeps the old KO principle in place for both Super and Scottish Cups. I think I prefer this four team, two day, KO modification.
There was another objection to the 'impracticality' of a May Super Cup final. It strikes me that simply by shifting the start of the annual Super Cup / Scottish Cup events back by a month or so, we could conclude the Scottish Cup in late March and the Super Cup in Late-April.
Otherwise, and perhaps this isn't so bad, I sense we will inevitably head towards regional groupings: restricted to 8 East and West teams for the otherwise unchanged Richardson Cup; Spens open to all and essentially unchanged. This is as outlined by Keith Rose in his 14 April post. Assuming I've got this right, I am sure that that will work but it doesn't seem a very big change and may be insufficiently radical to spark any increased participation in current Richardson, Spens and Rosebowl numbers (although it is completely CS cost neutral).
Not easy!?