Ever looking to shake things up, The Football Association has began to discuss a revolutionary proposal to add play-offs at the end of the season in order to determine the fourth Champion's League spot. The play-offs would see the teams finishing 4th-7th competing for the final slot.
Many will recall Bolton chairman Phil Gartside' suggestion to separate the Premier League from the Football League completely, forming a two tiered 'Super League' to include Scottish sides Ranger and Celtic, along with selected Football League Clubs. An utterly ridiculous suggestion, that would essentially turn English football onto it's head. However, this latest initiative, is a totally different kettle of fish, and would have far less significant implications.
Fans of Football League clubs, like myself, will have utmost knowledge of the positives, and negatives (Losing a play-off final on penalties is never fun!) of play-off competitions, but none will dispute the excitement they bring. When my team, Norwich City, reached the 2002/03 Championship (then Division 1) play-off final, they only entered the play-off picture on the final day of the season, finishing in 6th place on goal difference only. Had just the top three gained promotion, the race would have been over by this stage. Now apply this to the race for the Champions League in the Premiership. Imagine a number of teams are sat mid-table, with an outside shout of getting an Intertoto Cup spot. These clubs will have little motivation, little incentive, and very little to play with. Now, imagine if these clubs were to have the opportunity of contesting for a Champions League spot. All of a sudden their season seems so much more exciting.
Now, many will argue that this is unfair to the team in fourth place. Say, for argument sake, that the team finishing in fourth, do so a full ten points ahead of the team in seventh. Would it be fair that despite this significant difference in points that the seventh placed team could potentially pip the fourth placed team to the Champions League? Probably not, but how is this any different to the current play-off system in the Football League? It isn't. However, this is just a fact of the game. If the initiative was to be dismissed, purely on these grounds, then it would be a tragic case of double standards from the Premier League. And then of course, if the team in fourth finished so convincingly ahead of the team in seventh, it could be argued they should be fancied to beat their adversaries anyway.
Then of course, there's the argument of games played, an argument the 'big four' would certainly adopt. The type of teams that would be contesting for this, would almost definitely already be competing in European competition, so assuming they hadn't been subjected to an early exit, their game count would be significantly higher than the standard 38 game Premiership season -not to mentionthe two domestic cup competitions these clubs would be expected to do well in. So the question is raised, is there any need for yet more games? This argument, however, raises yet another case of Premier League/Football League double standards. Football League clubs are expected to play 8 more games a season, before domestic cups even come into play. They are also required to compete in both domestic competitions from earlier stages, and the bottom two divisions even have their own competition -The Johnstone's Paint Trophy- to worry about. If these clubs can afford an extra two or three games on the end of the season, then why can't Premiership clubs?
Furthermore, this iniative could also set a new precedent for the Premier League, a precedent that could see the dominance of the 'big four' ending, and fresh blood given the chance to face Europe's finest, without having to spend billions to do this. This season, the race for fourth is wide open, with just two points separating Liverpool in fourth, and Aston Villa in seventh. Manchester City and Spurs are also looking set to challenge, so it's clear the gulf is closing. However wouldn't it be exciting if the race for the final spot could be extended for just another few weeks? Of course it would, notwithstanding the fact that this would contribute further to ending the mind-numbing dullness of the same four English sides competing in club football's greatest tournament.
It would obviously cause some complaints, and wouldn't please everyone. In order to pass the iniative it would need the votes of fourteen out of the twenty Premiership clubs, and you can certainly imagine at least four not being in favour of it. However, for me, if something is good enough for the Football League, then it's good enough for the Premier League. The proposal can only be feasibly brought into play in three years time, when the current television deal expires, but I say, bring it on. The more football the better!
