Champions who aren’t!

Friday, 19/02/2010

The Premier League will discuss a radical change to the competition when they meet in a few weeks time – a play-off for the final Champions League spot.

Sorry if you disagree, but I think that is a total nonsense. I even think that having more than one team from each country going to the Champions League is ridiculous.

Surely it’s called the Champions League for a reason? It’s a competition between the champions of competing countries, right? Wrong!

You can finish fourth and still end up being Champions of Europe. I have always thought that is mad – the same as allowing failed Champions League sides into the Europa League. That’s wrong too.

But under the new suggestions, teams finishing fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh could be involved in a play-off for that final Champions League spot.

Hang on a minute! So the team who finish seventh in the English Premier League could end up as Champions of Europe!

Now if that was my team of course I would be delighted at the prospects. Or should I actually be worried?

Remember, that being in this most prestigious competition involves a lot more games and a lot of new challenges.

A team that finishes seventh would not have the same resources as the likes of Chelsea, Man United and Arsenal and that could have a kick-back effect on their league position, injuries and suspensions as they battle in Europe.

Play-offs have proved a great device for maintaining interest in League football since they were introduced many years ago. They were frowned on when they were first put forward and I admit I was one who wondered if they would work.

This time I have even bigger doubts. We are talking about a very serious competition and one with a massive reputation.

And is there a real point to this plan? Over the past six seasons the usual candidates of Chelsea, Man United, Arsenal and Liverpool have produced the top four except on one occasion when Everton broke the stranglehold.

Premier League chiefs would be better off looking at how to level the playing field between those teams with megabucks backing and their poorer relations – and trying to help sort out the terrible financial situation many clubs are in.

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