Is the Championship a better league than the SPL?

[lfc4eva99]

Just read this:

 

SMITH: MONEY-DRIVEN PLAYERS NO LOSS

 

Gordon Smith is baffled why players choose the Championship over the Champions League.

 

Rangers director of football Gordon Smith can't agree with players who would choose the npower Championship over the opportunity to play in the Champions League.

 

Crystal Palace midfielder Neil Danns agreed a move to Leicester despite interest from the Scottish champions, while another target, Craig Conway, opted for Cardiff.

 

Reports suggest Conway's former Dundee United team-mate David Goodwillie could also make the move to the Bluebirds, with Rangers yet to make a formal bid for the Tannadice striker.

 

However, former agent Smith insists players who choose finances over football are no great loss to Rangers.

 

He said: "I believe it shouldn't always be about money. My own opinion is that players should be making decisions which are football decisions, rather than financial.

 

"I tried to do that myself when I was an agent, I tried to say to the player to make the right football decision.

 

"If I was a player coming through, would I go to a club playing in the Champions League or go to a club that's playing in the Championship? I know where I would want to go.

 

"It's a shame because you lose players who don't quite see it that way. But we move on.

 

"If a player decides not to come to us, we have to take the attitude that maybe it's not such a bad thing.

 

"He's maybe not got the right attitude that we want because what we really want is people who see us as the place to come to."

 

Smith added: "It is a different world these days.

 

"We have budgets here, we have a certain amount of income and we have to be sensible spending the money. I think the fans realise that nowadays.

 

"I'm very aware of salary levels at Premiership level, but the Championship level salaries have also rocketed.

 

"There are clubs coming down from the Premiership into the Championship and they are keeping the wage scales going.

 

"Clubs are getting new owners and deciding to compete to try to get into the Premiership because they know there is big money. So that's the market."

 

New Rangers boss Ally McCoist has yet to make his first signing but Smith urged fans to be patient.

 

He said: "I would tell them not to be frustrated. It is early on.

 

"I've got a lot of experience of the transfer business and it's usually midnight on August 31 when a lot of the deals get done.

 

"We're trying to do it in June now and we're trying to get up and running because there are games coming up.

 

"We have a good set of players just now, it's not as though we are short of a team. But we are looking to strengthen the squad and that's what we are working on just now.

 

"I would say to the fans not to be too worried or frustrated. We are working on it, we've got targets and ultimately we will be bringing players in."

 

He added: "The squad definitely does need to be strengthened. Not in terms of right away because we've got a good team.

 

"But we are going to try to strengthen the squad in terms of bringing in quality. Ally and I agree that we need competition for places. The other aspect is injuries and suspensions.

 

"It's important that we get some players in. We are probably looking at at least three or four players to come in."

 

If the level of the SPL is on par or below that of the Championship, then the choice is made isn't it? Knowing you wont get past the first few games in the CL might not work for you then...

 

Thoughts?

[Cobs]

Scottish football is terrible

[Sion]

I'd pick the Championship as well.

You can either play in the CL for 6 games and get whacked, or actually join a club that has the potential to reach the PL and get somewhere, rather than stagnate in a league full of part-timers. I'd probably pick the clubs at the top of League One over them as well. Look at Norwich and Swansea.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Take the 4 clubs from Glasgow & Edinburgh out of Scotland & what do you have?

 

Ave attendances much be in the few thousands.

 

The Championship is f***ing hard to get out of - in the desired way, i.e. not down - so there's real competition, there's usually about 6-7 teams that could be Premiership 2 level.

[schmuckdonald]

In terms of quality of football it's hard to judge, one has 12 teams whereas the other has 24. But would say the worst side in the SPL is probably worse than the worst side in the Championship, but the top 5 or so in the SPL would walk the Championship. Both inconsistent, but Championship far more competitive.

[Davvo]

In terms of quality of football it's hard to judge, one has 12 teams whereas the other has 24. But would say the worst side in the SPL is probably worse than the worst side in the Championship, but the top 5 or so in the SPL would walk the Championship. Both inconsistent, but Championship far more competitive.

 

I doubt there's 5 teams in the SPL better than QPR/Norwich to be honest. Interestingly, it was always a discussion of how would Rangers/Celtic do in the top league down here, now it's more a case of would they walk the Championship or not. The level of those 2 has not been this low for quite some time I'd say.

[Gunga Din]

In terms of quality of football it's hard to judge, one has 12 teams whereas the other has 24. But would say the worst side in the SPL is probably worse than the worst side in the Championship, but the top 5 or so in the SPL would walk the Championship. Both inconsistent, but Championship far more competitive.

 

nah, reckon even the Old Firm would struggle in the championship now. the likes of Aberdeen, Dundee United, Hearts etc would be scrapping relegation. the rest of the SPL would be league one standard at best. Scottish football is in a shocking state

[libero]

nah, reckon even the Old Firm would struggle in the championship now. the likes of Aberdeen, Dundee United, Hearts etc would be scrapping relegation. the rest of the SPL would be league one standard at best. Scottish football is in a shocking state

Give that man Cobs £5.

Scottish football is brutal, I have to put up with ersholes at work going on and on about it being this that and the other its sheeite.

The bigot brothers would be mid table Championship at best with the teams they have now.

[Rimbeux]

Is there even a debate? It's the championship with ease

[Maldini]

Isn't The Championship something like the 6th or 7th biggest league in Europe in terms of attendance and revenue? Scottish football is a sham these days.

Edited June 28, 2011 by Maldini