I came across an interesting concept today that I thought I'd share; the idea that the 4 teams who finish 4th through 7th in the English Premier League play off for the 4th Champions League spot. It will never happen, but it's an interesting thought nonetheless.
If today was the end of the season this format would pitch Liverpool, Spurs, Man City and Aston Villa into a mini-competition at the end of the season...
So what are the pros?
- More revenue for the clubs in question and the EPL.
- An opportunity for someone other than Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd to qualify. (Did you know that these same four clubs have filled the top four positions in five of the past six seasons. Only Everton, in 2005, have broken their stranglehold.)
- TV coverage of more exciting, meaningful games. The Championship Play off final (to win a place in the Premier League) is often one of the most exciting games of the year for the neutral fan.
- Mid table mediocrity could become a thing of the past; if you're in 10th/12th place in April, and still have a shot at 7th, the last 6 weeks of the season take on new meaning.
- Extends the already congested season by another week or two; it would be no good in World Cup or European Championship years.
- Having weaker teams in the Champions League could jeopardise England's entitlement to 4 Champions League places.
- If you support English football and like to see English teams do well in Europe, wouldn't having Villa, Spurs or a team like Birmingham damage the potential for 3 or 4 English teams reaching the Quarters or Semis?
- Last year Fulham finished in 7th, a full 19 points behind Arsenal in 4th. Even if you dislike Arsenal, would it be fair for a season's work to be lost in a one-off game to a team who finished that far back? In fact Fulham were only 19 points above relegation! That's how big the gulf in class was...
Personally I'd prefer the introduction of Cheerleaders, a much better American invention!
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