[Miyazaki]

Just read on the news that the PL are considering changing the league so that teams finishing in 4th-7th have to participate in a play-off to clinch the 4th champion's league place.

What do you think? Please click an option and give a reason.

I am personally sitting on the fence, but I think it would be a great opportunity for other English teams to participate in the greatest stage in club football and would spread a bit more of the wealth around. IMO it would also stop clubs running up so much debt in anticipation of the funds the champions league generates.

[Miyazaki]

No doubt all the liverpool fans will say its a bad idea and everyone else will say its a good idea

[Miss Chief]

Kind of on the fence, but I'd say the team finishing in 4th should have some advantage over the team finishing in seventh. perhaps the 4th team only play in the final of the playoffs, 7th and 6th play together, the winner plays 5th and then the winner of that plays 4th? I think the same thing should happen in the divisional playoffs as well. The league is there to reward the most consistent team. to finish third or fourth over the season and yet still possibly get beaten by a team who could have finished 6 or more points behind you must be galling. I know you know the rules at the start of the season but I can't help thinking it's a little biased towards the teams finishing 5th and lower.

[sdb123]

Voted as a bad idea.

I too don't agree with the Divisional Play-Off format....the top four over the course of the season deserve to be there on merit IMO.

[jimmymac2213]

why liverpool fans? its not coming in this year and arsenal have been hitting fourth spot more regularly over the last few years.

Anyways, I cant see how this is a good idea really, 4th to 7th is a massive gap in general and to hinge a 38 games season worth of effort on a couple of games seems a bit silly. This year is looking a bit different to the norm with a fair few battling it out but its the fact that only the one spot is really up for grabs thats making teams put that effort in. If the likes of liverpool, man city et al knew they could get away with 7th spot then would they be pushing quite as hard towards the end of the season.

Imagine we come to the last 5-6 games, title race is in the balance but the teams placed 4th and 5th are guaranteed at least a top 7 finish, you'd see them resting players in order to prepare for this play off. Those teams could have a big say in the title normally but now they would potentially play weakened teams afect the results at the top.

How does it seem justifed that a 38 game season isn't enough to determine where the europe spots go and that it should instead hinge on a couple of play offs

[mabo]

Not a bad idea, but ultimately it's from the same kettle of fish as the 39th game, it's simply a money making proposition rather than a footballing idea. Gotta pay for Wembley somehow and a few playoffs between clubs that attract big crowds would help fill the coffers.

It'll also help Villa out though when they bottle it in the final third of the season again and slip to 7th.

[BamBamMickey]

Arsenal fan here, i think it's a good idea.

[Dony]

I have voted Good Idea, but have mixed feelings both ways which I'll go into later when I've more time.

[Coffin]

The League positions over the season are decided by merit. It would be ridiculous to then introduce the lottery of cup football to decide who should take the prized 4th spot.

For example, last season Arsenal finished 4th with 72 points and Fulham came 7th with 53, almost 20 less. How can it possibly be fair a team which has accumulated almost 20 points less (the equivalent of 7 victories fewer) to have a shot at the same prize which the team finishing 4th have fought for all season

The divide would become ridiculous. Finish 18th with 34 points as Newcastle did last year and you'd get relegated, but make 20 more points and you could be in the greatest Club competition of them all - ?!

[Badger0-0]

I should be all for it as a Villa fan, but can't be purely because of this;

For example, last season Arsenal finished 4th with 72 points and Fulham came 7th with 53, almost 20 less. How can it possibly be fair a team which has accumulated almost 20 points less (the equivalent of 7 victories fewer) to have a shot at the same prize which the team finishing 4th have fought for all season

It's just another money making scheme, same as the other league playoffs, imo.

[Del Boy Smiffy]

Don't they do this in the Dutch league?

Anyhow im a Spurs fan so any hope of us getting to the holy grail is good by me.

[deantown]

Bad idea. Next it will be avoid relegation and get in play-offs for CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. Remember what the competition was about in the first place.

[thfccambs]

It'll be the only way Villa will ever get to the CL.

No i wouldn't want to see it, just another money making scheme by the FA, bet play Off's would be @ Wembley. Oh another way of paying for the over priced stadium . The FA got themselves in **** load of debt so lets them get themselves out of it and leave the EPL alone.

[hdsport]

Originally Posted by thfccambs

It'll be the only way Villa will ever get to the CL.

No i wouldn't want to see it, just another money making scheme by the FA, bet play Off's would be @ Wembley. Oh another way of paying for the over priced stadium . The FA got themselves in **** load of debt so lets them get themselves out of it and leave the EPL alone.

You should realise the FA and the Premier League are 2 different organisations it's not even called the FA Premier League anymore. The FA would not have a vote for this although I think they have a veto for any change in the rules (not 100% sure if this counts). They can also veto any new chairman/chief exec of the PL.

This is a proposal for the clubs (with the next TV deal in mind) ok the FA would benefit with Wembley (assuming the final is there) but the Premier League is not 'their' competition like say the FA Cup and are not really anything to do with this idea.

[Steven]

Originally Posted by Miyazaki

No doubt all the liverpool fans will say its a bad idea and everyone else will say its a good idea

That is because you already know it is a bad idea on many levels. That glass ceiling works both ways and Spurs apart, most clubs don't spend. Dangling a carrot for teams that hover around mid table will see even more in the league become financially vulnerable as teams spend just to merely guarantee 7th

And like it or not the big 4 use that reputation to attract their fair share of promising and just plain good players. Look at Arshavin an example

It'd be far more efficient to simply go with what Platini really wants and let Spain, Italy and England drop to 3 CL places and let smaller nations get a guaranteed spot they deserve. A CL playoff is just a protracted way to lose coefficient points anyway and smacks of gross arrogance by the PL

[Marc]

terrible idea which would destroy the league. Consider the 4th place team, Liverpool for instance since, are 20 points clear of the 7th place team, say Fulham, after 32 games then they have 6 meaningless games they can win, lose or draw without too much fear of anything negative happening to them, they'll be in a play off regardless. So Liverpool put out their reserves for those 6 games, keeping their big guns fresh and fit, knowing it'll drastically improve their chances in the playoffs, and in doing so, gift 6 other teams a victory, which might decide the championship, the relegation etc.

and on the flip-side, if the 5th, 6,th 7th placed teams did get into the champions league, what's to stop Martin O'Neil pulling off another quick escape plan like he did this or last year with the uefa to save his Villa squad being tired, or a team like Birmingham or Fulham getting in, and going straight back out again? Every time that happens we lose ground in the coefficient charts, and would lose the 4th champions league spot entirely. Would 3rd place then suffer the same fate? Then 2nd.. then would the champions have to face a playoff too?

[thfccambs]

Originally Posted by hdsport

You should realise the FA and the Premier League are 2 different organisations it's not even called the FA Premier League anymore. The FA would not have a vote for this although I think they have a veto for any change in the rules (not 100% sure if this counts). They can also veto any new chairman/chief exec of the PL.

This is a proposal for the clubs (with the next TV deal in mind) ok the FA would benefit with Wembley (assuming the final is there) but the Premier League is not 'their' competition like say the FA Cup and are not really anything to do with this idea.

Take the blinkers of mate.

I'd be more happy to see the EPL champions the only team to play in the CL, like the old days.

Also if this did happen, how long would it be before the FIFA/UEFA or who ever took the 4th place CL spot away? We only get it on a points bases at the moment anyway. It's just another £ making scheme. , if anyone thinks any diffrent they hadn't got a clue.

[thfccambs]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

and Spurs apart, most clubs don't spend.

Spurs are able to spend as they manage to balance the books, no other reason.
Unlike many other EPL teams,

[addyb]

It stopped being the champions leg after 2nd/3rd/4th placed teams qualified for it. Id much prefer it to be just the winners like the past.


If it was to change id prefer top 2 to get qualify and 3rd/4th have a playoff to determine the 3rd qualifier.

[hdsport]

Originally Posted by thfccambs

Take the blinkers of mate.

I'd be more happy to see the EPL champions the only team to play in the CL, like the old days.

Also if this did happen, how long would it be before the FIFA/UEFA or who ever took the 4th place CL spot away? We only get it on a points bases at the moment anyway. It's just another £ making scheme. , if anyone thinks any diffrent they hadn't got a clue.

What blinkers...I've no doubt it's a money making scheme but it's a money making scheme by THE CLUBS not The FA just like Bolton's idea about bringing Celtic/Rangers in.

The structure of English football is not as you think. The FA may benefit with extra game(s) at Wembley but the core idea is about boosting/maintaing PL TV revenue which goes to the clubs which is a much greater amount of money than the odd extra game at Wembley.

[thfccambs]

Originally Posted by hdsport

What blinkers...I've no doubt it's a money making scheme but it's a money making scheme by THE CLUBS not The FA just like Bolton's idea about bringing Celtic/Rangers in.

The structure of English football is not as you think. The FA may benefit with extra game(s) at Wembley but the core idea is about boosting/maintaing PL TV revenue which goes to the clubs which is a much greater amount of money than the odd extra game at Wembley.

We'll agree to disagree, the likes of UTD gooners chelsea and liverpool are far from happy with this. Many clubs like Wolve brum Stoke probably couldn't give a **** either way. I'll stick to believing it's just another money making scheme for big fat cats to get richer. Also how many managers moan we're playing to many games already?

[hdsport]

Originally Posted by thfccambs

We'll agree to disagree, the likes of UTD gooners chelsea and liverpool are far from happy with this. Many clubs like Wolve brum Stoke probably couldn't give a **** either way. I'll stick to believing it's just another money making scheme for big fat cats to get richer. Also how many managers moan we're playing to many games already?

and they can reject it...14/20 need to vote to approve all I am trying to say this is NOTHING to do with FA it is not their competition.

Just as Phil Gartside brought the Old Firm proposal up...clubs/or the PL board propose things they then vote to approve/reject.

BBC SPORT | Football | Premier League | Premier League rejects Old Firm

Incidentally the clubs who never qualify for Europe will still be interested because as I said they have a vested interest in money from SKY/ESPN etc. They will be looking at whether they will get more or less money in the pot!

[thfccambs]

Originally Posted by hdsport

and they can reject it...14/20 need to vote to approve all I am trying to say this is NOTHING to do with FA it is not their competition.

I have not said it's there competition.
What i'm saying though is this just comes down to more greed, by the clubs EPL and not matter what you tell me will also lead to the greedy ****ers @ the FA bringing in more £ to pay there debt.

Come on do you believe the FA have no say over the EPL?

Edit, also glad to see 10 others agree it's a bad idea.

[mabo]

I'd be interested, because i didn't take note at the time, but does anyone know how far Everton got in the CL when they took 4th?

What worries me about this proposal is that one year's cash infusion and CL football won't necessarily be enough to draw in the big name players in order to be able to compete in the league and CL at a decent level. This could effectively mean that the gap between 4-7th would be lessened but the top 2 would pull away even further.

I understand the idea of breaking up the monotony of the big four but if it comes at the expense of more open title races then it seems a bit counter productive for the league. How long does anyone think 7th place would last in the CL anyway?

[thfccambs]

Originally Posted by mabo

I'd be interested, because i didn't take note at the time, but does anyone know how far Everton got in the CL when they took 4th?

Yes, nowhere. Quick 90 min holiday abroad and then back to EPL and Uefa/what ever it's called Cup.

this seasons been the best for god knows how many season, for a change atleast 4 teams are fighting to break the top4, so what shall we do??? Oh yes change it.

[hdsport]

Originally Posted by thfccambs

Come on do you believe the FA have no say over the EPL?

No they have a veto as I said for certain issues but day to day they have no say over the running (unless you have proof to the contrary!). Now they may consult with the FA over certain things but ideas like this are nothing to do with the FA and any benefit to the FA will be marginal and co-incidental (an extra game is hardly going to pay off Wembley's debt!). The Premier League is run BY the clubs FOR the clubs.

Do you believe the clubs are interested in the FA's wellbeing? Take a look at the sides who play understrength teams in the FA Cup or the whole club v country thing.

The power is with the clubs just as UEFA had to deal with the threat of the (now disbanded) G14 the FA need the PL more than the PL need the FA.

[thfccambs]

Originally Posted by hdsport

No they have a veto as I said for certain issues but day to day they have no say over the running (unless you have proof to the contrary!). Now they may consult with the FA over certain things but ideas like this are nothing to do with the FA and any benefit to the FA will be marginal and co-incidental. The Premier League is run BY the clubs FOR the clubs.

Do you believe the clubs are interested in the FA's wellbeing? Take a look at the sides who play understrength teams in the FA Cup or the whole club v country thing.

The power is with the clubs just as UEFA had to deal with the threat of the (now disbanded) G14 the FA need the PL more than the PL need the FA.

Like i said, will agree to disagree mate. We could go on all day,

(unless you have proof to the contrary!)

Do you?

[hdsport]

Originally Posted by thfccambs

Do you?

Yeah actually...

Premier League Facts | Football Betting Guide

Premier League - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

and best of all (as they are sources that might be argued with)

Official Site of the Premier League - Barclays Premier League News, Fixtures and Results | Premier League | About Us | About us

The Football Association is also a special shareholder. They have the right of veto in certain crucial areas, such as the appointment of Chairman and Chief Executive and promotion and relegation, but have no say on other areas of Premier League work.

The day-to-day business and statutory company responsibilities are handled by the Board of Directors comprises of Chairman and Chief Executive, and the full-time members of staff at the Premier League

EDIT one more quote from that page

The Premier League is owned by 20 Shareholders - the member clubs, whose membership in the league is dependent on the performance of their football team in the Barclays Premier League

As I said the PL run for the clubs benefit not the FA's! Ideas like this are for the clubs and I don't see how anyone can see this particular idea as a FA moneymaking scheme.

[thfccambs]

HDsport, you still don't GET where i'm coming from mate.

This is a, make fat cat greedy ****ers even more fat cat greedy ****ers.
Sorry but i won't change my mind, you can post all the links you want mate, in fact you need to get out more.

This idea comes down to one thing, £, not giving other clubs the chance to play CL football, PURELY MONEY. If they go ahead with this i hope UEFA pull the 4th place spot from the EPL.
Just leave it a ****ing lone.
Last post on subject, have a good evening everyone.

[Greg]

I'd have to disagree with this. Although surprisingly I say this as an Everton fan who would (with a bit of luck) be in that 5-7 range. But that 4th place should be kept as the Champions League place.