Comments on: Premier League Consider Champions League Playoff

By: Premier League Chairmen Reject Fourth Place Play-off

Premier League Chairmen Reject Fourth Place Play-off — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:05:12 +0000

[...] at FI were very much behind the idea as a way introducing some form of ‘competition’ back into the League but the backlash [...]

By: Maven

Maven — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:46:57 +0000

Excellent comment Richard.

I agree totally with the dilution of the “Champion’s” League and that is one of the reasons why I suggested the FA Cup winners would be more appropriate qualifiers than at least fourth place. They are after all, the cup champions and indeed as the best cup side, best suited to half of the Champions League format (the knockout stage).

Having 3 or 4 from the Premier League, Primera Liga and Serie A does at least ensure that the quality of the competition and by extension the meaning of winning it, is maintained and going back to a true “Champion’s” League simply means more teams in a lesser competition which would probably be harder to win.

I’d imagine that eventually they will scrap the second competition all together for a single competition with 5 or 6 from each country participating.

By: Richard Taylor

Richard Taylor — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:39:24 +0000

On the face of it, this would be a great initiative – as would providing a place for the FA Cup winners. Perhaps some combination where the 3rd and 4th in the league play-off with the two cup winners (FA and Carling) for two places would work, with any extra spots in the playoffs going to 5th/6th in the league (e.g. if the 3rd place team in the league wins both cups).

The one problem I have with this, and the current system is the dilution of the “Champions” league which is becoming a “Champions and also-rans” League. I’m caught in two minds as part of me (and this is difficult for an Arsenal fan to say) thinks that only Champions from the last 5-10 years should be eligible to play in the “Champions” League. Liverpool’s ongoing participation is a joke (last won league 20 years ago) as would be the participation of Villa/Spurs/Man City next year.