Premier League Playoff?

[jonny72]

Apparently the Premier League are considering a playoff for 4th place and a Champions League spot for the teams finishing 4th to 7th. Unsurprisingly, all clubs are in favour of it except for the big four but expect Liverpool to change their mind if they finish 5th this season.

I like the idea. Whilst its a bit stupid to have a playoff for 4th place, the reward for the winner means a lot will be at stake and it will generate a fair few quid through TV income and ticket sales. Most importantly it will make the Premier League more interesting going in to the final games and give smaller clubs more of a hope of getting something out of the season.

They only need a 14-6 majority so there is a good chance it could happen.

[LucienSanchez]

The playoffs in the football league provide some of the best football of the year, so it could work in the Prem also

[Doore]

First time I heard this I thought it was a stupid idea, but really, as LS says, its no different really to the football league playoffs.  It could also help break up the idea of a "big four" - if a couple of different teams gain success in the system the Champions League money may at least begin to be spread around a bit.

Of course, it could just create an even more separate "big three".

[Colin Todd]

At first I liked the idea, as it could make the champions league representation in England less of a closed shop and spread that income round a bit

But Billy makes a good point, it could just reduce the big 4 to a big 3. Although in some ways you could agrue that its already a big 2 as Arsenal and Liverpool are clearly some way short on Mau U & Chelsea, both on and off the field.

[reeves4england]

It would only create a big 3 if Arsenal or Liverpool (or, theoretically, somebody else) was able to command that third spot. In the case that they don't, or that (for example) Arsenal and Liverpool alternate between 3rd and 4th, the financial effect is likely to be quite spread out, assuming that the team finishing 4th doesn't qualify for the CL every year.

[Colin Todd]

Thinking more about it, I'm not sure spreading the money out a bit would have too much effect to be honest.  Its not like the chasing pack of Villa , Spurs & Man City havnt spunked a few quid in recent seasons to challenge the top 4.

Unless something fairly dramatic is done regarding the distribution of Sky money in the premier league nothing is going to change and the league will become increasingly boring.

[LucienSanchez]

Ideally, i think the champions league should be for the champions in each country. And in that i would include the winners of the FA cup (or foreign equivalent). It annoys me that finishing 3rd and 4th is actually classed as an achievement... surely you should aim to win the league, not settle for finishing 20 odd points behind and being ridiculously rewarded for that 'achievement'?

[Doore]

Ideally, i think the champions league should be for the champions in each country. And in that i would include the winners of the FA cup (or foreign equivalent). It annoys me that finishing 3rd and 4th is actually classed as an achievement... surely you should aim to win the league, not settle for finishing 20 odd points behind and being ridiculously rewarded for that 'achievement'?

Yes.  Yes.  Yes.  I couldn't agree more.

[jonny72]

Unless something fairly dramatic is done regarding the distribution of Sky money in the premier league nothing is going to change and the league will become increasingly boring.

I thought the TV money was distributed pretty fairly, isn't it something like £30m to £50m dependent on the number of TV appearances and league position. The real difference in income is in other areas - ticket sales, sponsorship, merchandise sales and so on which smaller clubs are never going to make up.

[land_of_bo]

Why don't we have a 20 team playoff where each team plays each other twice and are then ranked in points order....oh

And yes, chumps league should be exclusive to the champs of each country thus giving the smaller nations entry who normally get knocked out by Celtic, Rangers or LIverpool in the qualifying round.

[tans]

And yes, chumps league should be exclusive to the champs of each country thus giving the smaller nations entry who normally get knocked out by Celtic, Rangers or LIverpool in the qualifying round.

FC Vaduz of Liechtenstein in the group stages, getting battered by Real Madrid.

Could be comic viewing!

[Summerof69]

Ideally, i think the champions league should be for the champions in each country. And in that i would include the winners of the FA cup (or foreign equivalent). It annoys me that finishing 3rd and 4th is actually classed as an achievement... surely you should aim to win the league, not settle for finishing 20 odd points behind and being ridiculously rewarded for that 'achievement'?

Fully agree on that. The first two places, who go automatically through to the final stages, are the Prem champs and the FA Cup winners,i.e. sides that have WON something, and the next two spots go to the next two in the league. This will mean the FA Cup will actually mean something, and not have half-empty grounds like it was at Bolton, and the top 4 will take it seriously.

The play-off won't happen, as like this season, they haven't got enough time to fill it in, and they say they already play too many games !!!

[Doore]

FC Vaduz of Liechtenstein in the group stages, getting battered by Real Madrid.

Could be comic viewing!

It would be more interesting than watching Chelsea and Liverpool battle it out over who can gain the most throw ins.

[land_of_bo]

FC Vaduz of Liechtenstein in the group stages, getting battered by Real Madrid.

Could be comic viewing!

Fuck the group stages. League winners only, no seeding, straight knockout. Like a proper cup competition.

[Doore]

Fuck the group stages. League winners only, no seeding, straight knockout. Like a proper cup competition.

I'd love that, but we all know that would never happen.  Far too uncontrollable and unprofitable for UEFA's liking.