Last Day of the Premiership

[Bennett]

I wish the title of this thread was true.  Or at least the top four bugger off to a closed European league, which I can then ignore.

steady on keegan

[donkey]

I wish the title of this thread was true.  Or at least the top four bugger off to a closed European league, which I can then ignore.

steady on keegan

That is an insult...Keegan indeed!  I have metaphorically slapped you with a glove.  My weapon of choice is beer...we should have a drink-off.

[Simon Pieman]

I wish the title of this thread was true.  Or at least the top four bugger off to a closed European league, which I can then ignore.

They would simply be superseded by another big 3 or 4 teams

Not necessarily. The creation of a European league would surely mean the end of the Champions League, which has been the main impetus behind the emergence of the "Big 4". Also, I don't imagine half of Asia would suddenly jump on the Everton, Aston Villa, Pompey and Spurs bandwagons!

With more and more rich owners of teams, one or two will be looking to create the next big thing. Really it's a big 3, as Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd win things most consistently in domestic competitions. The four does come from the Chumps League place as you say.

But it's the big money of winning the Prem which creates the big teams that can afford to splash the cash to achieve the title. I guess the only thing is whether the Prem would still have all the money from tv deals if the big four were removed.

[Bogus Dave]

If the big four left then:

- TV deals go down
- Clubs get less money
- Less is spent on youth funding schemes
- The quality of foreigners playing hugely diminishes
- Any good english players simpley get snapped up by the teams in the new 'super-league'
- The standard of football diminishes, crowd numbers dwindle and english football tends to be alltogether a bit more shit.

[reeves4england]

If the big four left then:

- TV deals go down
- Clubs get less money
- Less is spent on youth funding schemes
- The quality of foreigners playing hugely diminishes
- Any good english players simpley get snapped up by the teams in the new 'super-league'
- The standard of football diminishes, crowd numbers dwindle and english football tends to be alltogether a bit more shit.

Most of your points are fair, but I'm not so sure about this bit. I wouldn't say the standard would necessarily diminish, you just wouldn't have those top level players at the "big 4". I'm not sure that crowds would fall - the number of people who support their local team now would probably remain constant, if not be improved by those who don't mind travelling from Torquay to Old Trafford but would struggle to make it to the San Siro twice a year!

[Bogus Dave]

The johny come lately happy clappy brigade, which is a fair proportion of the premiership attendances at the moment, wouldn't pay to watch dull games with poor talent on show.

[Ralphy]

Terry 's injury looks nasty.

[Nemo]

Scholes should have been sent off. Typical United decision there.

[Simon Pieman]

They're just saying on SSNews that Man U have got lucky with the ref and this is on the back of Fergie & Co moaning all season.

The FA needs to dish out more touchline bans to managers that complain too much imo.

[Nemo]

Apparently Terry got a knee in the face then broke his arm falling. Owch.

[JPC82]

Shevchenko 1-0 Chelsea

[Nemo]

Shevchenko scores. (At the same time, Scarlett Johannsen announces her engagement to Ricky from Eastenders and Katie Jordan strings together a sentence.)

DING! Cmon Ricky

[Bogus Dave]

Fulham have scored!

[Scot Munroe]

Danny Murphy with the goal. Terry's injury dislocated elbow.

[A Gent Orange]

Good to hear on R5 that Reading fans are now crying into their inflatables. Says all you need to know about them.