Fourth place CL playoff?

StDomingosGringo · February 15, 2010

Premier League plans play-off for last Champions League place | Football | guardian.co.uk
Strange this is being mooted now that Citteh are looking to outspend the Sky4 and not at any time in the last decade when the CL has been a four club love in.

Can't see it happening myself with fixture congestion. While it seems an attractive proposition for the likes of us, Spurs and Villa, I can only imagine how gutted we'd be to finish fourth the season this comes in only to lose out in the playoffs.

Come on, you know it would happen...

MapleLeafEvertonian · February 15, 2010

I think it is a great idea in principle but there are problems. Firstly, as you mentioned, fixture congestion. Along with that possibility of it becoming bigger than the F.A cup which is also at the end of the season. I mean to some teams sadly, 4th is more important than a cup. Though if done properly it could work. Could.

Upper Sturry Sherbets · February 15, 2010

Something stinks about teams finishing 7th in the top flight get a crack at the European cup, what the hells the game coming to.

I remember back in the day when only the respective champions of each european country were allowed to particpate and now any Tom, Richard and Harry can come along for the ride, and have a chance at the pot.

'The Champions League' is it. - what a steaming pile of horse that is. :dodgy:

I know they are doing well and have a fine team but can you imagine Fulham playing Inter milan in the European Cup.

the formats seem to change every season anyway, never know what they're going to pull out the bag next.

coyney · February 15, 2010

Upper Sturry Sherbets said:
Something stinks about teams finishing 7th in the top flight get a crack at the European cup, what the hells the game coming to.

I remember back in the day when only the respective champions of each european country were allowed to particpate and now any Tom, Richard and Harry can come along for the ride, and have a chance at the pot.

'The Champions League' is it. - what a steaming pile of horse that is.

I know they are doing well and have a fine team but can you imagine Fulham playing Inter milan in the European Cup.

the formats seem to change every season anyway, never know what they're going to pull out the bag next.

I agree lets say we finish fourth and the [Poor language removed] seventh,in all honesty how gutted would you be if they got through.I preferred it when only the actual champions qualified

atrottel · February 15, 2010

I can see problems though. At the moment we only get four places because of the European performance of the clubs - what happens if it goes down to three (with the knock-on effect for the Europa League)?

And would that be more likely given a potentially weaker 7th-place team going in?

Whitebootman · February 15, 2010

"It is understood that the idea was enthusiastically supported by all clubs – except the so-called big four of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool." Shock news there eh?

I agree with the principal of a knockout tournament for Champions only, and a seperate competition for domestic cup winners. I accept that this will mean less TV money from Europe but I also believe it could make domestic competition stronger. It'll never happen though, Uefa want to extend their competitions into their own Uefa league at the expense of national leagues.

zed · February 15, 2010

cant see playoffs ever happaning- but it is a bit suspicious that as the rednecks have slipped down the pecking order the CL qualification places have extended to keep them in the frame

zimblue · February 15, 2010

interesting idea but its uefa that needs to reform, not the premier league.

1. make prize money between europa league and champions league more even.

2. Get rid of seeding in champions league (and europa) which gives the already big clubs an easy draw to the knockout stages.

3. no relegation from CL to europa for finishing 3rd in group.

4. the 2 competitions should have exactly the same format.

5. winner of europa gets automatic qualification to next years CL.

heatmeiser · February 15, 2010

Are people panicking that much because the RS might not get in CL?

Wouldn't happen for 3 years at least, due to TV contracts.

BBC Sport - Football - Premier League ponders play-offs for Champions League

Only 14 premier league teams would need to agree to it. I think it would be a good thing. Lets face it, we're not going to finish 4th very often. But 5th, 6th and 7th?

MapleLeafEvertonian · February 15, 2010

Upper Sturry Sherbets said:
Something stinks about teams finishing 7th in the top flight get a crack at the European cup, what the hells the game coming to.

I remember back in the day when only the respective champions of each european country were allowed to particpate and now any Tom, Richard and Harry can come along for the ride, and have a chance at the pot.

'The Champions League' is it. - what a steaming pile of horse that is.

I know they are doing well and have a fine team but can you imagine Fulham playing Inter milan in the European Cup.

the formats seem to change every season anyway, never know what they're going to pull out the bag next.

Exactly, now teams as far down as 4th are allowed in, there is no trouble with trying to keep to the name of the competition true. So we might as well make it worth our while allowing teams as far 7th the opportunity to have a go eh?

I mean I'm speaking with my Everton hat on here, chances of us finishing 4th? Yeah there or there abouts assuming no injuries and a long good winning run. Finishing 7th? Pretty much nailed on, even after half a season of complete [Poor language removed] we are still in the running for 7th and will get that position on the table at the end of the season. (y)

teppic · February 15, 2010

No wonder all the teams outside the top 4 were in favour.

That would be amazing if it happened. If I'm right would that mean we would have had 5 shots at champions league footy since moyes took over?

I'd take that over the one chance we had.

AdamTheGreatOneB · February 15, 2010

On the one hand it's a bad idea as it could further devalue the European Cup. I don't know why they even call it the champions league anymore. There's something not right in that a team could finish 7th and hypothetically 15 points behind the 4th placed team and qualify.

On the other hand there have been teams that have finished 6th in the Championship (and well behind 3rd place pointswise) and been promoted to the Premier League (I think West Ham were one of them). A play off could break the monopoly of the sky4 getting all the riches every year and that would be a good thing for the Premier League I think. It's certainly good news for teams like us anyway.

Rook · February 15, 2010

AdamTheGreatOneB said:
On the one hand it's a bad idea as it could further devalue the European Cup. I don't know why they even call it the champions league anymore. There's something not right in that a team could finish 7th and hypothetically 15 points behind the 4th placed team and qualify.

The big 4 don't like it so it will never happen and even if it does the odds will be so stacked for 4th place that it wouldn't matter. Its their little club and the rest of us arent invited. After all they budget expecting to make the C-League and it wouldn't be fair if those "massive clubs" are denied that money.

NeoNaoNeo · February 15, 2010

It would rejuvenate our league and give other clubs the chance to close the gap on the 'big four'.

It wouldn't devalue the Champions League either. If the ******* champions of Cyprus can play in the Champions League, then there's no reason why the team who finish 7th in the best league in the world can't either.