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Just reading that to allow more television coverage instead of all games in the Chumps League kicking off at 2045 CET, instead they will be spread out over the evening with two windows for games. 1900 and 2100.
Never mind supporters, just get the telly cash.

Except this is actually sensible thing by UEFA. There are at least three different time zones where games are played. In fact if you count whole Russia in at least five. UK is on other edge of that scale. While I'm sure 20.00 kick off is fantastic for UK, in parts of Russia that is 23.00 kick off with game ending 01.00. If they move some of the kick offs back by an hour it will still be somewhat doable 18.00 in UK (people can actually take their kids with them) while in Russia it will be somewhat doable 22.00 kick off (they still can't take children).

You know, there ARE people who go to these games outside UK as well.

I'm sure there's only gonna be 8pm ko in England/Scotland

Didn't everton once kick off at 1730 in the Europa league?

Good point NQDP, although this may be the thin end of the wedge. Spanish TV demands are already mental. Once went to an Espanyol game that kicked off at midnight on Saturday.

Arjan Van Schotte wrote:Didn't everton once kick off at 1730 in the Europa league?

Good point NQDP, although this may be the thin end of the wedge. Spanish TV demands are already mental. Once went to an Espanyol game that kicked off at midnight on Saturday.

midnight?! imagine the state of city64 if we did similar things over here!!

Nigels Tackle wrote:

Arjan Van Schotte wrote:Didn't everton once kick off at 1730 in the Europa league?

Good point NQDP, although this may be the thin end of the wedge. Spanish TV demands are already mental. Once went to an Espanyol game that kicked off at midnight on Saturday.

midnight?! imagine the state of city64 if we did similar things over here!!

Just finished in time for dinner then?

I don't mind the early ko in Europa. The important thing is to make sure we are in the right competition

Nigels Tackle wrote:

Arjan Van Schotte wrote:Didn't everton once kick off at 1730 in the Europa league?

Good point NQDP, although this may be the thin end of the wedge. Spanish TV demands are already mental. Once went to an Espanyol game that kicked off at midnight on Saturday.

midnight?! imagine the state of city64 if we did similar things over here!!

Just thought I'd mention the game kicks off here at 1:30am today...it's 4:30am for the east coast.

Of course, some of the twats on here would have you believe it's more of an effort to go to a game.

Sensible thing to do? Time zones? If that was the reason why didn't it happen twenty years ago? That wasnt the motivation. Games in Germany will probably kick off at 2100, close to an eleven o'clock finish. You really think this was with the fans in mind?
Good grief.

Piccsnumberoneblue wrote:Sensible thing to do? Time zones? If that was the reason why didn't it happen twenty years ago? That wasnt the motivation. Games in Germany will probably kick off at 2100, close to an eleven o'clock finish. You really think this was with the fans in mind?
Good grief.

That's what it's like in Germany right now though

Cocacolajojo wrote:

Piccsnumberoneblue wrote:Sensible thing to do? Time zones? If that was the reason why didn't it happen twenty years ago? That wasnt the motivation. Games in Germany will probably kick off at 2100, close to an eleven o'clock finish. You really think this was with the fans in mind?
Good grief.

That's what it's like in Germany right now though

If time zones were the issue, every game could kick off at 8pm local time and TV would have to make the best of it. It wont happen.

Hutch's Shoulder wrote:

Cocacolajojo wrote:

Piccsnumberoneblue wrote:Sensible thing to do? Time zones? If that was the reason why didn't it happen twenty years ago? That wasnt the motivation. Games in Germany will probably kick off at 2100, close to an eleven o'clock finish. You really think this was with the fans in mind?
Good grief.

That's what it's like in Germany right now though

If time zones were the issue, every game could kick off at 8pm local time and TV would have to make the best of it. It wont happen.

Except people are watching these games across the Europe including the away fans who can't make it to game.

Look, I think UEFA are greedy cunts and have said it since they got rid of perfectly good cup system in European Cup, Uefa Cup and Cup Winners Cup but this decision isn't about pissing off people but to get more people to enjoy the game whether at the stadium or via telly.

Lot of league games here kick off 18.00 midweek and I go there straight from work. I find it quite ok and I'm sure lot of people will once they get used to it.

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:

Hutch's Shoulder wrote:

Cocacolajojo wrote:

Piccsnumberoneblue wrote:Sensible thing to do? Time zones? If that was the reason why didn't it happen twenty years ago? That wasnt the motivation. Games in Germany will probably kick off at 2100, close to an eleven o'clock finish. You really think this was with the fans in mind?
Good grief.

That's what it's like in Germany right now though

If time zones were the issue, every game could kick off at 8pm local time and TV would have to make the best of it. It wont happen.

Except people are watching these games across the Europe including the away fans who can't make it to game.

Look, I think UEFA are greedy cunts and have said it since they got rid of perfectly good cup system in European Cup, Uefa Cup and Cup Winners Cup but this decision isn't about pissing off people but to get more people to enjoy the game whether at the stadium or via telly.

Lot of league games here kick off 18.00 midweek and I go there straight from work. I find it quite ok and I'm sure lot of people will once they get used to it.

Even on a normal day without traffic snarl ups, finishing work at 5 in North Manchester and getting to the match for 6 isn't doable. Yes it helps that kids can go, but when I lived in Manchester I wouldn't have been able to drive from urmston to Ashton to pick a kid up then back into town so perversely I think earlier kick offs would see less kids there. Also, police would never allow an 1800 kickoff in London, Getting north from London if Arsenal were at home would be impossible. 1900 might be doable at a push, but I expect the uk games will be in the later slots if this goes ahead

Piccsnumberoneblue wrote:Sensible thing to do? Time zones? If that was the reason why didn't it happen twenty years ago? That wasnt the motivation. Games in Germany will probably kick off at 2100, close to an eleven o'clock finish. You really think this was with the fans in mind?
Good grief.

I thought this did used to be done, and it was commercialization that made the 19:45 slot 'Champions League time'.

I think it's a brilliant idea, and have always been surprised it didn't happen. The one thing I would say is that the final group game for each group should remain in the same time slot.

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:Except this is actually sensible thing by UEFA. There are at least three different time zones where games are played. In fact if you count whole Russia in at least five.

UEFA technically covers something like 14 time zones (Greenland > Kamchatka), but games in CL group stage are regularly played across 4, and in UEFA Cup across 5. I think our game away to CSKA Moscow kicked off at something like midnight over there.

BlueinBosnia wrote:

Piccsnumberoneblue wrote:Sensible thing to do? Time zones? If that was the reason why didn't it happen twenty years ago? That wasnt the motivation. Games in Germany will probably kick off at 2100, close to an eleven o'clock finish. You really think this was with the fans in mind?
Good grief.

I thought this did used to be done, and it was commercialization that made the 19:45 slot 'Champions League time'.

I think it's a brilliant idea, and have always been surprised it didn't happen. The one thing I would say is that the final group game for each group should remain in the same time slot.

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:Except this is actually sensible thing by UEFA. There are at least three different time zones where games are played. In fact if you count whole Russia in at least five.

UEFA technically covers something like 14 time zones (Greenland > Kamchatka), but games in CL group stage are regularly played across 4, and in UEFA Cup across 5. I think our game away to CSKA Moscow kicked off at something like midnight over there.

Moscow game was 23.00 kick off with final whistle at 01.00.

Not only does that REALLY bother game goer over there but it also gives major advantage to teams coming fro central and western Europe who will have their bodies prepared to play at that time whereas eastern Europeans and Russians would basically be ready for bed.