Given the MLS does the American franchise playoff system, rather than a normal league, could they not run the normal season through the end of summer/Autumn/beginning of winter and then have a winter break to miss the worst of the tough weather before resuming for the play offs? I guess for some of the more northern cities, that's still not going to get you out of the crazy cold period?
Can’t read the article cause of a paywall and I’m at work, but this is my girlfriend’s home town and one over from mine. And my cousin used to play for them about 10 years ago. So I have an interest in them for sure. They’re unbeaten, top of the league and eight points ahead of their local rivals (my home town), and absolutely flying. I think if they get promoted it will be the highest up in the pyramid they’ve ever been which is really cool. What they’ve done in leaning into the uniqueness of English non-league and selling that to a foreign market is groundbreaking and absolutely genius. I wonder if we’ll see other clubs try to do the same thing and target other countries. If Harborough have cornered the Spanish market, could Bedford try for Italy, Kettering for Germany, Bury for Portugal, etc. Clearly there is a market for this kind of stuff and the realism and grittiness of non-league in other countries.
Wow, really interesting actually! Knew I'd heard of them before, not sure if you've mentioned it or I've read elsewhere as I hadn't realised the connection. Totally agree though, really smart from them, and it really only takes a small amount of engagement from whatever the foreign market is, to really give the club a huge advantage over other teams in the league. There's similar things that foreign clubs have done - remember one Spanish (? I think) team that crowd funded support and has a huge international fan base of investors.
Real Oviedo? Sid Lowe instigated loads of people to invest in shares and now they're back in La Liga.
Harborough are probably helped in marketing themselves because the town itself is quite quaint and English, and crucially, a bit posh lol. It's a very nice place as a whole and we've considered buying there if we move back closer to home.
Anywhere with the "borough", "burgh" or "bury" suffix in an English city/town was once fortified against Viking attacks. "chester" is a Roman fort, "wich" is an Anglo Saxon settlement, etc. Love me some etymology.
That might be the one, yes! For some reason I thought it was a little provincial team, I know Oviedo have climbed recently though so it's probably them!
That would put the winter transfer window between the regular season and playoffs which would lead to teams working all season to make the playoffs only to lose/add players and look quite different come playoff time
I read they’d want the season to go from late July to mid April or so. They’d have a winter break that’d overlap some of January and February. And they want to do a single table, no conferences. But then have 5 divisions? The divisions would be regional. You play your division rivals home and away. Rest of the league you play once per season. 34 games total.
Mbeumo being kept out by a defence containing Tuanzebe and Wan Bissaka so far. Moldova holding Italy. Troy Parrott on a hat-trick for Ireland v Portugal. End of days, lads.
League of Ireland players have no chance to make the squad unless they’re hugely stand out players. Melia been good for his age but not that good.
Massive news; should help grow the audience way more. With the millions more eyes F1 will bring to Apple TV, they’ll now be able to watch MLS as well. This with the schedule change, MLS is only getting stronger
Missed the England game tonight as I was at a gig, but glad to see the Arsenal lads doing the business for the national team as always.
This Halo account that Sky have launched is so fucking weird and condescending to women. Who thought this was a good idea?
Hungary vs Republic of Ireland is going to be such a big game on Sunday. Hopefully Ireland can get the result, it’s been too long since they qualified.
It's a shame the Faroe Islands will fall just short. They need to a) win away to Croatia and b) hope Czechia don't beat Gibraltar at home. Impossible, right?
Sheffield Wednesday have been given permission to sign two free agents immediately to ensure they have enough players in their squad. Get Dele Alli and Oxlade-Chamberlain in there, whether they want it or not!