Premier League going global?

[EithelRuin]

Probably most of you have heard about this already. But here it is: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/footbal ... 232390.stm

I think this is an outrageous act of populism and money-making that doesn't help football with anything. Furthermore, it adds an additional game to the already long and tiring season in England: 38(39) league games, ~ 5-6 cup games (only FA cup), ~ 6 international games (UI, UEFA, CL). On top of everything, they want this extra round to be around January 11, right after the holidays when footballers in England not only do not get a break but they already play 2 games per week.

What does the PH community think of this proposal by the FA?

[necronudist]

yeah, come here, in Italy, we've got a lot of waste for you!

[EithelRuin]

Well, the plan is to promote football. So the most likely destinations will be USA, China, Japan. Like they don't go there enough for "summer camps". Now they will have to endure the long trips in mid-season. Norway and Italy might be destinations for smaller sides in PL. I actually wonder if the clubs will have a say at all as to where this extra round will be played.

It's interesting to know that Sir Alex Ferguson of MU is against this innovation and has stated that he wishes he is no longer around when it gets implemented...

[keith]

They will probably want to see Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool & Man U and possibly some other clubs in USA, Australia, China, Dubai & Japan BUT cannot see them paying to see Wigan v Middlesborough or Bolton v Reading.

[Mark]

It is a stupid idea only for money making reasons, it gets rid of the national identity of teams. It is an English League, therefore play in England. What about the fans of those teams, fans that rarely miss games Home and Away possibly have to travel to see their team play and I think that the fans would be strongly against this.

[necronudist]

Well, the plan is to promote football. So the most likely destinations will be USA, China, Japan. Like they don't go there enough for "summer camps". Now they will have to endure the long trips in mid-season. Norway and Italy might be destinations for smaller sides in PL. I actually wonder if the clubs will have a say at all as to where this extra round will be played.

It's interesting to know that Sir Alex Ferguson of MU is against this innovation and has stated that he wishes he is no longer around when it gets implemented...

So we need other ideas for our waste...Damn!

[Luc]

It's not a good idea. What would be the next idea. Promoting Soccer in Irak or Afghanistan !!!!!!!

[silvermane]

Of course the idea is outrageous, but they all were, at some time or another. What is unthinkable today may well be the norm in 10 or 20 years. The next step, I suppose, would be doing away with promotion and relegation and restrict the PL to some dozen clubs (if UEFA doesn't veto this first). There is awfully little movement in the league anyway, the same sides are promoted and relegated over the years, or just clubs that got an influx of money, so why bother?

[GoGa70]

well as someone who lives in a country where national boundaries in sports are somewhat invisible I can't see anyhting bad or good about it. Ok, so the national FA would want TV rights and a portion of gate receipts. Other than that what's wrong with clubs wanting to make more money? What excitement do we see in SPL or EPL? 2-3 teams fighting for the title? AT least here it's more honest, if you don't cut it financially the league helps you (salary cap, or luxury tax, better draft picks for worse teams) - everything to bring parity to the league. I think Europe will eventually have an NBA/NFL type model where the richest clubs will have their own competition, otherwise I see nothing but stagnation - what interest is there to see Celtic winning its 125 title?