Serie A start - early or late??

I always thought that Serie A starts a bit too late these days, and am fully with FIGC on this one. Finally someone is trying to do the right thing!

Pros of Late start:
- Extended transfer window.
- More training time.

Cons are well listed below. What do you guys think??

FIGC push for early season start
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There is a battle developing over the Serie A start date, with the FIGC pushing for August 19 and the clubs preferring the 26th.

Last week a meeting of the Presidents headed by Lega Calcio chief Antonio Matarrese decided that the new season should kick off on August 26. However, the Federation is eager to bring it forward to the originally proposed date a week earlier, giving the players more time to prepare for the crunch Euro 2008 qualifiers. “We will work during this time of meetings to ensure the August 19 date is taken seriously,” said FIGC President Giancarlo Abete this evening.

“In any case, we should also remember that in the last 10 years the campaign has never kicked off before the 26th.” The fact that Serie A begins much later than the Leagues in England, France, Spain and Germany has often been blamed for a lack of match fitness in the early stages of the Champions League and UEFA Cup.

But there are more important matters at risk this year, as Italy face France in a decisive Euro 2008 qualifier on September 8 and the Ukraine on the 12th. These teams are the Azzurri’s main rivals in Group B, as they are both on 12 points after five games, while Italy have 10. September is always a difficult month for the Italy side. We hope that the importance of the Nazionale’s encounter with France will push the Lega Calcio to share our August 19 choice.”

I think the late start works for them in the CL. Liverpool have put in a full 38 games whereass Milan will be on 36? By the time they play?

My one con is that the champion's league final should be the the showpiece event to end the season. I find it strange that once the CL final is done, then Milan go and play another 2 games.

I don't think thats an advantage for Milan at all... if anything, Liverpool have got a longer break before the CL final and will be fresher.

I think the late start is a big disadvantage for Italian teams in europe, specially teams which need to play the qualifiers.

robert wrote:I think the late start works for them in the CL. Liverpool have put in a full 38 games whereass Milan will be on 36? By the time they play?

My one con is that the champion's league final should be the the showpiece event to end the season. I find it strange that once the CL final is done, then Milan go and play another 2 games.

bluenine wrote:I don't think thats an advantage for Milan at all... if anything, Liverpool have got a longer break before the CL final and will be fresher.

I think the late start is a big disadvantage for Italian teams in europe, specially teams which need to play the qualifiers.

robert wrote:I think the late start works for them in the CL. Liverpool have put in a full 38 games whereass Milan will be on 36? By the time they play?

My one con is that the champion's league final should be the the showpiece event to end the season. I find it strange that once the CL final is done, then Milan go and play another 2 games.

Actually sometimes a break can be too long. I personally am happy that the players got a good solid run-out last weekend.

I voted No, but I am a little undecided. I can see pros + cons for both, maybe the 26th could be more ideal this year.

I am used to the September start to be honest. It will be interesting if this does happen.