Challenge Cup new format

[Yngwie]

So this will start as a 30 team league, comprising League 1, League 2 and SPL B teams. Each team plays 6 matches (between August and November) then the top 22 progress to the knockout stage where the 10 Championship sides join.

The prize money has been increased, but I expect teams like us will be using the group stage to give game time to youngsters and fringe players.

[Robert]

Four of the six games are midweek.

I think I saw somewhere that the B teams will play all their games away from home so we could have four home games if that is right.

A very uninspiring format though.

[CaleyTennis85]

Are they trying to emulate the Champions League with the 30 team league phase ?

 

One thing I will say though is, our record in the league cup has actually been pretty poor, we haven't gotten out of group stages since the year we got hammered 5-0 by Motherwell in a midweek knockout game under Billy Dodds (I think).

So I'd like to see us do well in it this coming year but I suppose success depends on the draw we get!

[RiG]

10 hours ago, CaleyTennis85 said:

Are they trying to emulate the Champions League with the 30 team league phase ?

That's exactly what they're doing. All aimed at getting B teams more game time to the detriment of other sides.
 

  

10 hours ago, CaleyTennis85 said:

One thing I will say though is, our record in the league cup has actually been pretty poor, we haven't gotten out of group stages since the year we got hammered 5-0 by Motherwell in a midweek knockout game under Billy Dodds (I think).

This is the Challenge Cup though not the League Cup. Your point about our appalling record in the LC still stands. I think we had our best run in the LC under Foran...!!

[ICTPaisley]

I really don’t like this set up. Why are the Championship sides not thrown in at this stage? That is the whole point of the new CL set up. To get the bigger sides playing each other early and allowing the smaller teams a chance at qualification.

It’s also a ridiculous decision to pull all Highland and Lowland teams to accommodate the B teams. 30 teams initially enter and we play 6 games to knock out 8 B teams.

What a waste of time 

[ictchris]

Oh great, more early round Challenge cup games, it's just what everyone has been crying out for!

 

[+CaleyD]

Chance for a little more variety in opposition, opportunity to see more games, and with it the additional ticket income for clubs.

Are these not all things people have been asking for?

[Yngwie]

Our home games will be loss-making, I expect.

[ICTPaisley]

2 hours ago, CaleyD said:

Chance for a little more variety in opposition, opportunity to see more games, and with it the additional ticket income for clubs.

Are these not all things people have been asking for?

I’m all for more games to go to, but as for the format it’s been thrown together poorly. Could have been better I think. 

[RiG]

I can't imagine there are many fans desperate for more games in the Challenge Cup. Against B teams. In the middle of the week.

[ICTPaisley]

1 hour ago, RiG said:

I can't imagine there are many fans desperate for more games in the Challenge Cup. Against B teams. In the middle of the week.

Only if they are within an hour or so I’d imagine. For most fans that’ll be home games, for me I’ll be quite happy if any of them hit the central belt.

[+CaleyD]

2 hours ago, RiG said:

I can't imagine there are many fans desperate for more games in the Challenge Cup. Against B teams. In the middle of the week.

But if we were playing a 'bigger' team, fans would somehow make the effort midweek.

The thousands who turned up for our Scottish Cup finals/semi finals get criticised/questioned as to where they are the rest of the time.  Yet here we have a similar scenario where 75% of those who turn up for a league match are nowhere to be seen for a challenge cup match.

That's not the fault of the competition or the format.  That's indicative of football fans' attitude in general...and not just with us.  We all follow our team, but somehow our perception of the opposition can be a bigger factor in whether we attend or not

[+CaleyHedgehog]

14 hours ago, CaleyD said:

Yet here we have a similar scenario where 75% of those who turn up for a league match are nowhere to be seen for a challenge cup match.

That's not the fault of the competition or the format.  That's indicative of football fans' attitude in general...and not just with us. 

Not everyone has the cash to splash on games outside those that their season ticket covers. Nor does everyone have the spare time to commit to football due to other important areas such as work commitments, family commitments etc. I love ICT, but I also have a life and financial commitments away from football.

[+CaleyD]

16 minutes ago, CaleyHedgehog said:

Not everyone has the cash to splash on games outside those that their season ticket covers. Nor does everyone have the spare time to commit to football due to other important areas such as work commitments, family commitments etc. I love ICT, but I also have a life and financial commitments away from football.

That's fine...but it has nothing to do with the tournament format.

[big cherly]

21 hours ago, Yngwie said:

Our home games will be loss-making, I expect.

Yeah, More like friendlies for me. Might pop along if a team or player comes up that I might like to see again. Other than that TBH I’m less interested. 
bc 

Edited May 27 by big cherly

[+DoofersDad]

Many of the most memorable games in our club's history have been in the later stages of the various cup competitions.  To be in the later stages of a cup, you need to win in the earlier stages.  I therefore like to support the team in the early rounds.  The challenge cup is also a great opportunity to get an early look at new players and how the team is shaping up.