PL 'consider' play-offs

[triniairman]

PL 'consider' play-offs
Final UEFA Champions League berth could be up for grabs

The Premier League could be ready to introduce a play-off for the fourth UEFA Champions League berth.

At present, the leading four clubs in England's elite division are handed a place at Europe's top table, either in the main draw of through the qualifying stages.

A proposal is believed to have been raised at a meeting of the 20 Premier League clubs which would see the top three progressing, with the teams finishing fourth to seventh then meeting to determine who would take the fourth spot.

Such a move could inject more competition into the league as the same quartet - Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea - have filled the top four positions in five of the past six seasons.

Only Everton, in 2005, have broken their stranglehold, although the race for fourth this term is currently a tight affair with Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Aston Villa all in contention.

The Premier League have not commented directly on the matter, and any rule change would not come into effect until next season at the earliest.

Ideas
A spokesman said: "We look at all sorts of ideas and rarely make comment until we have decided something definitely."

If the proposal was to be voted on at any stage in the future, a 14-6 majority could be enough to see it implemented.

The idea may not be favoured by the established 'big four', who would obviously have the most to lose, but the idea is thought to have been enthusiastically greeted by some clubs.

There are other factors which would have to be considered, however, such as how the play-offs might lengthen the season and how they could be fitted into the calendar. Determining Europa League qualification is an added complication.

A satisfactory format would also have to be devised. Some might argue a Football League-style home and away play-off might not be appropriate to settle what is basically fourth place.

One spin-off effect could be that the matches fill the void left by the failure of the 'Game 39' proposal, and they would certainly generate television interest.

But again, it would have to be decided if that was the best route to take.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5950993,00.html

This wiill be some BS in my opinion...teams would be playing for 4th to 7th position instead of really trying to win the league. I am not talking about the big 4 teams, they earned their positions, they did not beg for it. I think if you wanna play in the CL, you need to be the best. I don't wanna see Birmingham vs Real Madrid because they won the 4th spot. Stueps.

[KND2]

champions league should only be the top team.

we dont need the top 4

It is too many games as it is

This playoffs will just add more games.

games need to be reduced.

[jahkingdom]

if England do not want to get humiliated they would leave the thing how it is. a team at say 8th place may play with all its might to win the play off, then go to the champions league and get 6 or 7 from Barcelona. they may not even qualify from the champions league playoff it self to make the group stage. that did Everton do when they went the last time?.

[MarylandTrini]

If a team prove they is the 4th best after 38 games, why reward the team in 7th with a chance to make the CL in a one-off? Teams in positions 4-7 will have no motivation in the run-in.
The sad thing is you would probably find 16 teams voting in favour of this and only 4 against.

[Deeks]

The EPL wants to make more money. They know that everybody wants to play in Europe. They setting up this play-offs to squeeze as much money out of the fans.

[southeastPOS]

This is only the PL, playing more games so that they can make more money.
I guess this will help them pay all them over priced contracts with some of them none proforming players.

[PantherX]

Playoffs for 4th place is as stupid as it sounds.   They're better off give the 4th Champions league spot to the FA cup winners.