Play off for 4th spot?

Play-off could decide final Champions League spot

The Premier League are believed to be considering a proposal to introduce a play-off for the fourth Champions League spot.

Currently the teams finishing in the top four positions are handed entry to Europe's elite competition, either in the main draw or at the qualifying stage, but now it has been proposed that only the first three be decided on league position and the fourth place be determined by a play-off.
That could mean the teams finishing in the positions fourth to seventh playing a mini-knockout competition. Such a move would be seen as a measure to inject more competition into the league.

The same four clubs - 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.
The proposal is thought to have been raised at a recent meeting of all 20 clubs and will be considered again when they next meet in April.
The Premier League have not commented directly on the matter. 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.
The proposal has been raised at a time when Liverpool's place in the top four is coming under serious competition anyway from the likes of Manchester City, Aston Villa and Tottenham. Nevertheless such an idea would keep interest in the season, even for clubs in mid-table, going for longer.

Telegraph link

What's our thoughts on this then? Good idea?

sh*te idea.

What if Liverpool, United, Arsenal, Chelsea, had a season where all four teams were challenging for the title, all four teams finished on 80+ points, then the team who finished fourth, lets say its us, then go into this mini knock out league and we play against Birmingham City who finished 7th on 50 or so points and they end up beating us over the two legs or maybe even in a 1 off game at Wembley. They then go on to beat Spurs in the final and end up in the champions league for the next season.

It'd be a bit of a joke to be honest. It won't happen.

Awful idea
I always think it's stupid when they do it for promotion in the lower leagues.
Just a money spinner for the fat cats in charge

and we play against Birmingham City who finished 7th on 50 or so points and they end up beating us over the two legs or maybe even in a 1 off game at Wembley. They then go on to beat Spurs in the final and end up in the champions league for the next season.

It'd be a bit of a joke to be honest. It won't happen.

Agreed. I can't see UEFA going for it because it dumbs down the Champions League brand even more.

You never know though. Sounds to me like the Premier League are getting a bit tired of the same four finishing at the top.

If this proposal goes to a vote, it's happening.

I honestly can't see any of the other non-big four clubs saying no. Why would they hinder their own chances of Champions League qualification?

In terms of how it would affect us, we would certainly need to think about restructuring our finance system as it would throw a lot of uncertainty into how frequently we would be appearing in Europe. Either that or we start winning the league every year.

For those reasons alone, I would welcome it.

So.. If a team finishes fourth, why is that not enough reason to qualify for the CL?

I don't see it happening.

The Premier League this season has been the best, from a neutral view, as 4 teams are chasing 1 spot. The league would be far less exciting once they have guaranteed that top 7 position and then save players until the play offs.

I've never liked play offs as the whole reason for having a league is to see who can get the most points over the amount of games in a season.

The teams who get the most points should be rewarded accordingly and a place in the Champions League shouldn't go to someone finishing 6th or 7th when they were not good enough over the season to earn it.

Should 7th place get a genuine chance of playing in Europe's elite competition?

Solid no from me.

So bring in a system to justify eight or nine clubs throwing horrendous money at their clubs in a hope to break into Europe. Dont think UEFA would be too happy if the likes of Fulham made it into the Champions League at the expense of Liverpool or Arsenal. Think this season is exciting enough without a false Cup ending being introduced. Isnt that what the FA Cup is for

That would be F***ing sh*te.

Whoever is 4th - is 4th and therefore they get the 4th place?

Stupid idea, if you work hard all season and end up in fourth then that spot should be yours why should the teams in fifth, sixth and seventh get another chance?Bullshit is what that idea is

Money spinner Greedy gets

If the clubs are voting its a yes. Waht club in there right mind would say no to maybe fnishing 7th and have the chance to still qualify for the champions league.

Look how often the team that finish 3rd in the championship dont come through the play off even tho they might have finished 14 points ahead and beaten the team twice that eventually gets promoted.  

Its just a sh*t idea.

If this had been in place the last decade then the likes of Ipswich, Bolton and Reading would have had a shout of champions league football. No disrespect to them teams but there all F***ing awful and do the FA really want them sort of sides to represent us in the CL?

Could argue the case that maybe if those teams had CL football the following season then they would have been funded with more money and therefore may not be in the positions they're in now. I disagree though. Any team are capable of a 'fluke' season and we see it every season. Reading went down the following season with virtually the same side that finished 7th or whatever the season before.

I also don't like the thought of playing Everton in the play off final for a champions league spot. If they beat us then it would be a bloody nightmare on Merseyside.

Only reason this would become reality is if the FA decide they want a little bit more money from the game. Wouldn't suprise me, scavenging cu*ts.

Bad idea.

The four teams that finish in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th deserve to play in the Champions League.

"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."


So in other words, if some dickhead comes up with an idea to have a ballot at the end of the season to decide who is awarded the title, it could be implemented.  Naturally the majority of 14 shouldn't be too hard to rake up since the idea of being presented with a title would have some appeal, especially to the 19 who haven't won it legitimately.   

This is how nazi germany began, with a bunch of power hungry layabouts all with nothing better to do than sit around a table coming up with ways to ruin the world. If it aint broke, dont fix it you idiots.

Bad idea.

The four teams that finish in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th deserve to play in the Champions League.

Simple dont finish 4th

Proberly another great master plan from the master Scudamore...

Er, don't we already have a "play-off" for fourth? That "play-off" being known as the Premier League.  

It was a right mad b***ard who thought this new twist up.

I can't see how it would create more competition when you know all you have to do is finish top seven. Sitting 6th with no chance of being caught........rest players for the "play-offs"and F**k the league up even more? Holy F**k but this really is half-baked.

If they do this, then lets start a petition and have the same thing at the other end of the table.

19th and 20th go down. Then the teams that finish 15th - 18th have a play off to see who gets relegated. Lets screw the rest of the league if there ready to screw us.

Would be a stupid idea. The team who get 4th should be the team who earned it, by finishing 4th.

Rubbish idea. Mainly, because our fixture lists are already congested. Our national game is suffering because of the ridiculous amount of games played during the season.