Topic: Premier League games to be played on Friday nights from 2016-17

[GreatEx]

I hope we get a match on the moon soon.

Mignolet might get it over the half-way line!

[4pool]

The problem is the fixture list comes out late June.

Every kickoff is 3pm Saturday.

So go ahead and plan your train or plane around a Saturday, then only to have the match moved to Friday, Sunday, or Monday.
Pain in the ass.

Especially after the New Years as due to Cup matches taking preference, you never know if the League fixture is on or not. And you've planned 6-8 months in advance to get the best hotel and flight deals.

But yeah, no worries over 10 Friday nights now...

[RedRich84]

If it is replacing Monday it is a brilliant idea.  Fucking Monday nights are a pain in the arse.  At least this is a Friday night, end of the week and good way to start the weekend.

They do it in the Championship now and it seems to work well.

Hardly ever watch Monday night games as footied out from the weekend. The thought of getting together with mates to watch a game on a Friday is quality. Not sure what the issue is, from a match going perspective how is this any different to a Monday?

[TSC]

Fuck me, we do like a good moan around here don't we?

It's 10 games over the course of 9 months FFS! Stop whinging.

But it's yet another day away from Saturday 3pm KO.  I'd rather have Fri night than Mon night, but then I'd rather have Sat 3pm over anything.  It's good for the armchairs, not for the match goers.

[Barneylfc∗]

Fuck me, we do like a good moan around here don't we?

It's 10 games over the course of 9 months FFS! Stop whinging.

Football should be on a saturday at 3pm, with one game on a Sunday. It's only ten games. But how much are these 10 games going to cost the broadcasters, and where is the money going to? The money for these packages will be more than the prevoius packages. The money paid will only go to the fat c*nt owners, or the whinging celebrity I'm better than you footballers. This isn't about fans. This is about more fucking money. And how are the TV comapnies going to pay for the increased packages? By raising the prices they charge the fans. Don't get me wrong, I love watching the match, but this is just yet another money making fucking gimmick that us, the fans, will see fuck all benefit from. How much is it to watch every live TV game these days? £15 a month for BT, then cheapest Sky Sports package £46 a month with Line rental and Broadband on top of that? Over 9 months thats £549. This deal is starting in 2 years. I can guarantee the price to watch all live premier league games will be in excess of £600. Match going fans are getting fleeced, people who can't make the match are getting fleeced. Where the fuck is it going to stop?

[GreatEx]

Where the fuck is it going to stop?

The answer is obvious. Until demand drops, prices will continue to rise.

Don't get pay TV, it's a diabolical waste of time and money. Subscribe to LFC.tv for 40 quid a year and bugger the rest.

[Narwin Dunez]

Also I bet most the people saying "oh it's a good idea" are those who want something to do at home between hollyoaks and goggle fucking box

Try taking 2 or 3 of your 20 days holiday per year to go to the games, so greedy corporate twats can line their pockets

[Peabee]

It started out with the money following the game, now the game is following the money.

This next step is the admin bods changing the flow of that money.  The likes of Ian Ayre et al will be on more than any footballer in the future. 

[Peabee]

Mignolet might get it over the half-way line!

I doubt it, he needs far less Gravity.

[tonysleft]

This next step is the admin bods changing the flow of that money.  The likes of Ian Ayre et al will be on more than any footballer in the future.

I hate to make the slippery slope fallacy but by Jesus we're on one. We're not looking far off having games at ridiculous times to accommodate global television audiences.

[Narwin Dunez]

We should all play an extra game at the end of the season, maybe hold it in a foreign country. Imagine the revenue!

[GreatEx]

I hate to make the slippery slope fallacy but by Jesus we're on one. We're not looking far off having games at ridiculous times to accommodate global television audiences.

Nah, 8pm is just fine... but if you could switch to 10pm in your summer that would be just spiffy, cheers!

[GreatEx]

Also I bet most the people saying "oh it's a good idea" are those who want something to do at home between hollyoaks and goggle fucking box

Try taking 2 or 3 of your 20 days holiday per year to go to the games, so greedy corporate twats can line their pockets

You must be stoked we're out of the Champions League, then.

What about people who work weekends? Do they not deserve football?

[B0151?]

My opinion is that TV money should go some way to making football matches more affordable to go to. Instead of on wages or in directors pockets.

As they are now, they are simply too expensive for a fella like me to go to. In fact, I'm not sure I could ever justify going regularly at the current prices, even if I get a decent paying job.

It's why rather selfishly, Friday night games sound good to me.

[rocco]

The problem is the fixture list comes out late June.

Every kickoff is 3pm Saturday.

So go ahead and plan your train or plane around a Saturday, then only to have the match moved to Friday, Sunday, or Monday.
Pain in the ass.

Especially after the New Years as due to Cup matches taking preference, you never know if the League fixture is on or not. And you've planned 6-8 months in advance to get the best hotel and flight deals.

But yeah, no worries over 10 Friday nights now...

Exactly


Pissed off with this .

[It's Jimmy Corkhill]

Can't say I'm shocked.

Personally, at least it'll mean the day after that is inevitably ruined by us having a 300-mile round trip for the first Friday night is not a work day.

Feeling like shit in work on a Tuesday is grim.

[Antics]

The problem is the fixture list comes out late June.

Every kickoff is 3pm Saturday.

So go ahead and plan your train or plane around a Saturday, then only to have the match moved to Friday, Sunday, or Monday.
Pain in the ass.

Especially after the New Years as due to Cup matches taking preference, you never know if the League fixture is on or not. And you've planned 6-8 months in advance to get the best hotel and flight deals.

But yeah, no worries over 10 Friday nights now...

God damn Premier League, not accounting for the needs of the international travelling football supporter.

AMF.

[Walshy nMe®]

Also I bet most the people saying "oh it's a good idea" are those who want something to do at home between hollyoaks and goggle fucking box

Try taking 2 or 3 of your 20 days holiday per year to go to the games, so greedy corporate twats can line their pockets

Piss off, why would it take more holiday than a Monday game?  It's 10 games a season.  That means maybe 1 extra game on a Friday.  Would it make much difference to you if we played 1 extra game on a Monday instead?

[Trev20]

What a load of bollocks.

Another day off work for the loyal fans who follow their team around the world, just so chairmen can have an extra speedboat.

Football is shit

100% agreed mate.

[oojason]

As 4pool says it'll now be a situation where you have to plan for games to be played on a Friday as well as Sat, Sun and Monday too. If the tv companies could give consideration to the fans and choose their scheduled games earlier and publicise them more it'd be a big help - maybe even subsidise away travel (or tickets) for fans going to games not played on a Saturday or Sunday that will be on tv - but don't hold your breath on that...

Good luck with hotels, travel etc for those that require them - watch as the train & coach and hotel companies up their prices accordingly to games being played on these dates now too.


Soton vs Liverpool on a Friday night - AND IT'S LIVE!!! (in a Martin Tyler patronising voice just in case you're going to forget that there is a game on during the advert break (for those of us that get fleeced for watching our football on tv as opposed to being fleeced by going the game).

And then be criticsied by some millionaire ex-footballer turned pundit for not supporting your team... It's been posted elsewhere on here, but no apologies for the re-post...

http://www.thedaisycutter.co.uk/2014/11/how-supporters-became-the-new-villains-of-modern-football/

[Millie]

This is nothing new - back in the 80s we had Friday night televised games - and they were free to watch on terrestrial tv 

[Solomon Grundy]

It's 100 times better than playing on a monday night

This. Monday night football is shite.

[RedRich84]

Also I bet most the people saying "oh it's a good idea" are those who want something to do at home between hollyoaks and goggle fucking box

Try taking 2 or 3 of your 20 days holiday per year to go to the games, so greedy corporate twats can line their pockets

Come on mate, that's out of order, what about Corrie?

But I disagree with the sentiment. Seems to be a fair divide of opinion on here & as another post has said, why is this so different to a Monday night. If anything you can go the game safe in the knowledge you can go out and get pissed afterwards with Saturday as the lie-in.

Understand the concerns re money, screwing the fans etc but providing this doesn't affect too many games then I think it's OK. Oh, and I do go the game & don't watch Hollyoaks (only Gogglebox, sometimes).   

[idontknow]

When the football was only on on Saturdays I looked forward all week to Saturday.
Now that only isn't on on Friday, Friday is the day I look forward to. I need rest!!!

Next they'll set up an early morning league, a night league, a 24 hour rolling league.

I'm looking forward to the every-gameday-different-league, where rules are assigned by lottery on the day of the games in question, ranging from numbers of players a-side, to sizes of pitch and goals, permissible foul-types, rush goalies or not, two goalies or not, no goalies even!
There are endless possibilities.
 

[Narwin Dunez]

Piss off, why would it take more holiday than a Monday game?  It's 10 games a season.  That means maybe 1 extra game on a Friday.  Would it make much difference to you if we played 1 extra game on a Monday instead?

Friday instead of Monday, fair enough.

But we all know in the long run this becomes Friday as well as Monday.

also

You must be stoked we're out of the Champions League, then.

What about people who work weekends? Do they not deserve football?

Yes but most who work weekends are shift workers who can change. And the CL comment is a fucking joke mate, I was at all our homes and wish there were more.

[b_joseph]

Friday night football sounds good...most night games you have to think about how it will bother next day. Not so with Frdays.

[jDJ]

Friday night games are pretty good for the home fans who can just come along after work and then go for a night out on the beers after but a massive pain for the away support usually.  It's probably better than a Monday night game or any other weekday but I suspect these games will be in addition to Monday nights and will just be games which would be otherwise played on a Saturday or Sunday.

It shouldn't be the priority and I doubt it's a reason they're going to be introduced but I guarantee the atmosphere at these games will be miles better than the early kick offs on Saturdays and Sundays.

[4pool]

God damn Premier League, not accounting for the needs of the international travelling football supporter.

AMF.

Nice one.

What about the locals who have to plan trips, take Fridays or Mondays off work because the tv companies move our match to those days. Having to book away travel to Newcastle or Southampton or even London for a weekday night match with little in the way of any trains that late at night to get back.

Then there are those who've book Easyjet, or the like, on the cheap for the Saturday match to save money and then tv move the match.

I'm not talking the first half of the season at TV usually gets their hands on the fixture list through November. But December on you don't know until a month or less beforehand.

For me I just plan on being there the whole time. For instance I plan on going to Arsenal away in April scheduled right now for a Saturday. But being a bit savvy to this whole change the match routine, i've booked in London from Saturday until Tuesday morning. So they can move the match to Sunday or Monday and it's no worries for me personally.

But there are those who book for the Saturday match and fly back Sunday as they have to go to work Monday. Only for tv to change the match to Sunday. They can't make it anymore, are out for their ticket, and are screwed after paying the advance.

With the Champions League or Europa League you know the match dates well in advance. You can plan accordingly.

But League Fixtures...who cares about supporters in England having to plan to get there or get back when there are little train options for them or if they have to spend extra to stay over night. The cost of going to the match is more than the match ticket price for away matches.

[skooma]

This is ridiculous. What do they mean to accomplish by this? Their main demographic, young men, are all out at the bar then. In America this time slot is a known dead zone and networks generally put shows there when they want to ditch the show.

It's terrible for broadcasters and stadiums, so what are they thinking?

[KiNki]

Might also be not so great for the police who are not only stretched having to deal with regular Friday night piss ups but also manage 40/50k thousand fans.  Still they can turn the extra cost onto the clubs who will turn the cost onto the match going fans.

Don't worry le jake, it won't effect the majority of people posting here, they don't go the games.

[RedSince86]

Next it will be "friday night soccer" with the 10 games played in the USA.

Scudamore would like that.

[Antics]

Nice one.

What about the locals who have to plan trips, take Fridays or Mondays off work because the tv companies move our match to those days. Having to book away travel to Newcastle or Southampton or even London for a weekday night match with little in the way of any trains that late at night to get back.

Then there are those who've book Easyjet, or the like, on the cheap for the Saturday match to save money and then tv move the match.

I'm not talking the first half of the season at TV usually gets their hands on the fixture list through November. But December on you don't know until a month or less beforehand.

For me I just plan on being there the whole time. For instance I plan on going to Arsenal away in April scheduled right now for a Saturday. But being a bit savvy to this whole change the match routine, i've booked in London from Saturday until Tuesday morning. So they can move the match to Sunday or Monday and it's no worries for me personally.

But there are those who book for the Saturday match and fly back Sunday as they have to go to work Monday. Only for tv to change the match to Sunday. They can't make it anymore, are out for their ticket, and are screwed after paying the advance.

With the Champions League or Europa League you know the match dates well in advance. You can plan accordingly.

But League Fixtures...who cares about supporters in England having to plan to get there or get back when there are little train options for them or if they have to spend extra to stay over night. The cost of going to the match is more than the match ticket price for away matches.

It would only be sensible if it paired nearby teams. Aside from that it's brilliant.

[Narwin Dunez]

Don't worry le jake, it won't effect the majority of people posting here, they don't go the games.

I did like the critique of "You'll be glad we're out of the CL then" from the guy from Australia, 8pm Friday is 7am Saturday I believe.

[GreatEx]

I did like the critique of "You'll be glad we're out of the CL then" from the guy from Australia, 8pm Friday is 7am Saturday I believe.

You clearly missed the point. You complained about having to use annual leave to watch a Friday away game, when you presumably have to use 2 days' annual leave for every European away tie. So if your annual leave is so precious, eliminating all those pesky mid-week games must be a bonus.

Don't take it so personally, I'm just playing devil's advocate here. Personally I much prefer Saturday fixtures and hate Monday night football, even though it happens during my waking hours. From a selfish perspective, Friday night works very well for me. And let's face it, we're all taking the selfish perspective on this one. Locals want Saturdays at 3pm, Americans and Australians want night games, Asians want lunchtime kick-offs. There are a lot of competing needs to be satisfied, and every solution is going to be unacceptable to someone.

[Narwin Dunez]

You clearly missed the point. You complained about having to use annual leave to watch a Friday away game, when you presumably have to use 2 days' annual leave for every European away tie. So if your annual leave is so precious, eliminating all those pesky mid-week games must be a bonus.

Don't take it so personally, I'm just playing devil's advocate here. Personally I much prefer Saturday fixtures and hate Monday night football, even though it happens during my waking hours. From a selfish perspective, Friday night works very well for me. And let's face it, we're all taking the selfish perspective on this one. Locals want Saturdays at 3pm, Americans and Australians want night games, Asians want lunchtime kick-offs. There are a lot of competing needs to be satisfied, and every solution is going to be unacceptable to someone.

Yeah I'll give you that, it came off like a snide comment though, fair play on coming back to me.

And I can see why selfishly it does work for you, and that's gravy, but don't you think it's wrong to fuck over the home of the game to satisfy countries who happen to throw a few dollars and yen?

[cornelius]

It's ok I suppose for those folk who have nothing else in life other than football. But if you have other interests or family/people you care about that really don't want to spend 7 days a week having football imposed on them then this is a bit of a shitter.

[GreatEx]

Yeah I'll give you that, it came off like a snide comment though, fair play on coming back to me.

And I can see why selfishly it does work for you, and that's gravy, but don't you think it's wrong to fuck over the home of the game to satisfy countries who happen to throw a few dollars and yen?

I dunno, I guess I can see both sides of the argument having lived in Europe and Australia. When I was in Paris I wanted every game to be on a Saturday afternoon as it allowed me to spend a boozy afternoon at Liverpool FC's local HQ, or even fly over to JLA from time-to-time and be back home Sunday evening. I'm sure that's much the same story for the travelling Kopite. But trying to maintain my addiction back here in Australia is an absolute shitter - for the first few years I simply didn't sleep on Saturday or Sunday night (so Saturday was again the preference), and since moving in with my girlfrined (now wife) I go to bed but sleep terribly - just last night I had about 5 dreams where I rolled over to check the score on my tablet, with results ranging from 1-0 United to 1-5 Liverpool (nothing as awful as a 3-0... fuck reality!), and I was in that weird state of mind where you're not sure whether you're dreaming or that really was the result. Hard to explain, but others in this fuck of a timezone can probably relate.

I'm not sure where I'm going with this - blame the lack of sleep! - but I guess LFC is a global entity (and it must be so, else anyone complaining about a lack of financial backing is a major hypocrite) and we all have to give and take a little, while respecting the club's roots. A couple of Friday night games per year doesn't seem to me like a huge sacrifice for the local fan to make, given the immense privilege of being able to watch our team in the flesh.

[Smudgester]

What I find funny is people saying it will no different to Mondays ... they have also never tried driving anywhere on a Friday night

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

Good idea in my opinion, many other countries do it already and gates at Friday night Championship games haven't been overly affected.

1. Monday night football already exists, for the average match going fan, Friday night football makes more sense (not having work the next day).
2. It means extra games are televised. As a football lover, the more matches on TV the better.
3. It will give teams more rest for European games. Instead of playing (worst case scenario) Sunday-Wednesday-Saturday, teams may now be able to play (best case) Friday-Wednesday-Monday
4. What else is there to watch on a Friday night?!

[Old No7]

But it's yet another day away from Saturday 3pm KO.  I'd rather have Fri night than Mon night, but then I'd rather have Sat 3pm over anything.  It's good for the armchairs, not for the match goers.

Football stopped being about the match goers some time ago.