That’s not a new or good, cogent argument. It’s essentially the same argument - “It’s tradition, it’s always been that way”. And that’s not a reasonable or rational answer as to why it must stay that way.
August - May is for safety? So would an October - July season be unsafe? What would make an Aug-May season more safe than a Oct-Jul one, for example?
Changing the season schedule is something that would absolutely need to happen anyway, even without the CV19 issue. A change to the traditional Aug-May season is categorically going to happen as the upcoming World Cup is being held in December.
August to May is not “popular”, it’s just the only frame to which a season has been run in living memory. Popular would imply its the most liked when compared to other time frames. No other time frame has yet been tried.
It’s unreasonable and massively fanciful to assume that fans would turn their backs on the game, both in terms of matchday attendance and home viewing, in any number, let alone numbers sufficient for sponsors to be able to command reduced deals based on an October - July season, rather than the current August - May season, for example.
Well the argument is cogent and I’m not sure why it being new or old makes any relevance. You asked for a reason and it was provided. You may not like it, which is fair enough, but it doesn’t detract from the existence of a reason.
I’m not sure an October-July season would fit in all the football required. So given the squashing of games in together, I don’t think it would be safer at all no.
I acknowledge that a single season is having to be changed. I have covered this point, and stated it was hugely unpopular, driven heavily from above (and FIFA’s desire to spread the game) and it took years to agree. Also, like it or not, a World Cup has far more prestige than finishing a single PL season. I have covered this, and the fact it was so difficult, to move 1 single season, is evidence that moving multiple seasons will be extremely difficult.
Well it is popular. We have built the worlds biggest game on that time frame, and we have the most watched leagues on that time frame. Other leagues that have tried different time frames have proven to be demonstrably less popular than leagues such as the PL who operate in such a time frame. In fact, given the lack of opposition to changing the season schedule, you’d have to say the actual schedule was one of the most popular, essential parts of footballs package.
Your idea that we can change the schedule and people would like it equivalently is based on absolutely no evidence. In fact the overwhelming evidence is people wouldn’t like it.
What is “unreasonable and fanciful” is to assume breaking up the scheduled timing, when to date there has been no desire to do so would not have an affect on the sport. That you can just move dates and keep the same level of interaction (both amongst hardened fans, but particularly softer supporters around the world). It may be your opinion, which is fine, but it’s not backed up by any evidence.
I try to be civil, but when you are arguing the PLs structure is not popular, but a league with structure you are advocating (say Russia or the Scandinavian countries) have equivalent popularity in their structure you are completely mistaken on the evidence. It's not wrong. Just as it is wrong to assume if you go moving sporting events around, there won't be an impact. There could theoretically be a positive impact too, but I see nothing to suggest that.
