Is this the beginning of the End, of our beautiful game...?

[teddyboy]

mg:mg:mg:

The English Premier League is considering playing some matches overseas, BBC Sport has learned.

At a meeting in London on Thursday, all 20 clubs agreed to explore a proposal to extend the season to 39 games.
Those 10 extra games would be played at venues around the world, with cities bidding for the right to stage them.
It is understood the additional fixtures could be determined by a draw but that the top-five teams could be seeded to avoid playing each other.
It is unlikely that any decision will be taken before the Premier League's annual summer meeting in June.
Should the proposal get the go-ahead, cities in Asia, Middle East and North America are likely to show a strong interest in hosting the extra games.
BBC Sport believes there would be five venues, with two games - on a Saturday and Sunday - taking place at each one. More to follow.

:shrug: Why are they even considering this...??

 

[yanno]

:shrug: Why are they even considering this...??

Simple: filthy lucre.

£££££££££££££

$$$$$$$$$$$$

Plus total and utter contempt for ordinary fans.

 

[LSUY]

Why are they even considering this...??

Money.

The potentially scary thing is that we won't be top five come end of the season so our games against Arsenal and Chelsea won't be seeded. I doubt Levy would let those games go overseas but the thought of us losing a game against a team like West Ham is possible.

This is going to cause more problems for the smaller teams. The result of one game can get them sent down a division and lose them millions. If my team needed a win in the last game of the season the last thing I want is them travelling to the Middle East or Asia to play it. The climate in England is totally different to those regions and a weeks prep. won't be enough to get them fully adapted to it.

Also it would be unfair for teams like Watford to lose a game against the top four which is the sort of game most of their fans look forward to.

When the NFL went overseas it was to improve their game. To introduce the game to youngsters that have never experienced the game before. This move by the PL is greed. Football is the world's sport and doesn't need to have teams sent to other countries to expand it.

 

[NickHSpurs]

Ridiculous idea

 

[Bobishism]

Surely they wouldn't actually affect league standings. They'd probably make them as some kind of friendly on neutral grounds.

 

[Bill_Oddie]

It doesn't sound like any games will be 'lost'. Still home and away against each side in the Premiership. I think there'd be an additional game. Not sure how that works though.

Doing this is worth exploring, but ultimately destined to fail as it can't practically work. Maybe it will be trialed in the Intertoto/Carling Cup or as a play-off of some kind, but I'm sure the supporters will oppose it every step of the way.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

Full report here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7232390.stm

Season extended to 39 games? Game to be decided by a draw? Sounds farcical.

Points from these games will count towards the league according to the report. Also says that a decision won't be made until the 2010/2011 season.

 

[Robbiepope]

i would be shocked if this was to happen

How would they decide what games to play oversees?! The countries bidding would surely want one of our best games, and not a game against a club like Wigan!
If it was picked random then in theory we could be playing arsenal in somewhere like Hong Kong! mg:

 

[LSUY]

Surely they wouldn't actually affect league standings. They'd probably make them as some kind of friendly on neutral grounds.

I think it will affect league standings. This is going to be a proper regular season game not some friendly that they currently do.

Imagine after 38 games two the teams in 17th and 18th are one point apart and the team in 17th have to play Man Utd in their extra game whilst the lower team get Derby. How would that be fair that the team in 18th would probably survive because of playing Derby three times as opposed to United three times? It would entirely devalue the Premiership as a competition.

 

[Zapsta]

What the fuck is this BULLSHIT?! Fuck off, fucking Premier League. Can you tell I'm incensed? Fucking incensed.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

If they do go down this route, I hope they don't use a random draw. Would be much better to play the team that is directly next to you in the league, i.e. 1v2, 3v4, 5v6...17v18, 19v20.

a. It will mean that no teams will have to play someone miles better than them and as a result will not result in one team gaining an unfair advantage.

b. It would be almost like a playoff between the two teams (almost like they are playing a deciding match on a neutral ground) although if they are more than 3 points apart the positions won't be altered.

c. The interest in the games will be far higher, nobody would care about 1st v 13th for example but if every match is between two close teams it could be a fight for the title, for europe, for relegation, or just simply for the position in the league.

I don't see it working or being accepted any other way, it would just be even more ludicrous than it seems.

 

[Zapsta]

If they go down this route, I hope they all kill themselves afterwards. We're not fucking America. We don't make our sporting events about cheerleaders and fucking halftime shows. We're about the sport. We're about the competition. And adding an extra game to everyone's season and playing it abroad can only dilute that.

 

[joey.leone]

this is absolute bollocks, to actually think they are considering this is disgusting, our game really is going to die, because of f**king money.

i also saw on the gossip column section on bbc that an american sports broadcaster want to bid for the premier league rights, that would surely make this thing more likely.

ITS ALL BOLLOCKS.

 

[Robbiepope]

If they do go down this route, I hope they don't use a random draw. Would be much better to play the team that is directly next to you in the league, i.e. 1v2, 3v4, 5v6...17v18, 19v20.

a. It will mean that no teams will have to play someone miles better than them and as a result will not result in one team gaining an unfair advantage.

b. It would be almost like a playoff between the two teams (almost like they are playing a deciding match on a neutral ground) although if they are more than 3 points apart the positions won't be altered.

c. The interest in the games will be far higher, nobody would care about 1st v 13th for example but if every match is between two close teams it could be a fight for the title, for europe, for relegation, or just simply for the position in the league.

I don't see it working or being accepted any other way, it would just be even more ludicrous than it seems.

That would be a good method for the clubs and premier league only, not for the fans.

As you mentioned it could all come down to that last game and imagine if you was a season ticket holder and you had to miss the deciding game or travel around the world to watch it!

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

That would be a good method for the clubs and premier league only, not for the fans.

As you mentioned it could all come down to that last game and imagine if you was a season ticket holder and you had to miss the deciding game or travel around the world to watch it!

Well it is unlikely that the match would be the last match of the season, that would be insane. I guess it would be in the middle of the season. They should still play the closest team to them at that point.

 

[Zapsta]

Well it is unlikely that the match would be the last match of the season, that would be insane. I guess it would be in the middle of the season. They should still play the closest team to them at that point.

"Get your ticket now to see the soccer event of the season: WIGAN vs MIDDLESBROUGH at Giants Stadium!"

 

[yanno]

Let's not encourage the b*st*rds.

If these were exhibition matches, it would be stupid enough. But to add an extra EPL match to the season, with points counting towards the final league position, is an outrage and a disgrace.

I'll be keeping an eye on which broadcasters, newspapers and so-called "football writers" actively promote this corrupt circus.

 

[Tottenham_OZpur]

while I see the negatives of this as mentioned above, its clear that no one in this thread cares about overseas Spurs supporters who never get to see Spurs play live going by the reactions

I would love Spurs to have a game here in Aus and I am sure plenty spurs fans here would make it to the game like me, even if its in a different state, may also get new supporters out of it :wink:

if it happens it happens, dont mind either way, as I see both negatives and positives in it. I am sure wherever Spurs play if it happens, some Spurs supporters will be happy :wink:

 

[Zapsta]

while I see the negatives of this as mentioned above, its clear that no one in this thread cares about overseas Spurs supporters who never get to see Spurs play live going by the reactions

I would love Spurs to have a game here in Aus and I am sure plenty spurs fans here would make it to the game like me, even if its in a different state, may also get new supporters out of it :wink:

if it happens it happens, dont mind either way, as I see both negatives and positives in it. I am sure wherever Spurs play if it happens, some Spurs supporters will be happy :wink:

Are you Australian or an expat?

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

"Get your ticket now to see the soccer event of the season at: WIGAN vs MIDDLESBROUGH at Giants Stadium."

Fuckin hell Zap, I'm not saying I want them to do it. I think it is a terrible idea, but at the end of the day money is going to talk and what say are going to get in it? Fuck all.

I was only discussing what might happen if it goes ahead. We may as well discuss it, since it would appear the idea isn't going to go away and you should know that WIGAN vs MIDDLESBROUGH will take place at the Telstra Dome.