Soccer...

[stogie bear]

Well; I'm a life long Chelsea follower and so far after nine games they have won every game and in the process of doing so their stingy defence has conceded a miserly 3 goals over that stretch. It looks as if this trend is going to continue, so why aren't I as happy as Harry about this years competition?

Because less than a quarter of the way through the season the title race is over. Well - not actually OVER, but it's gonna take a complete collapse of form for Chelsea to be caught up and beaten!

It's not going to happen, though, is it?

Well, I'm rather hoping it will, because even though I'm not a fan of the stupidly named "beautiful game" I still enjoy sporting competition and I would like to see the soccer season a lot more competitive and interesting.

Two things that America have done in their major sports is intruduce (complicated) salary caps and split teams into divisions. So why isn't it even being talked about here in England?

If talks don't start soon and the Premiership is allowed to have runaway champions and dynasties then worldwide and domestic interest in one of Britains greatest exports is likely to flounder and eventually collapse.

Already the other divisions of soccer in England are loss making jokes. People simply aren't interested in watching a silly game played by third rate part time players. So the big TV contracts came and went and the only thing left was the Premiership!

Why not expand this to 24 full time teams of four divisions and have a play off system similar to the NFL? Abandon the other leagues and the daft relegation threat.

Also; deprive the goalless draw games of that valuable point. If you can't at least score one goal you shouldn't get a point for simply not allowing the opposition to get one past you!

This would overnight make the Premiership once again the most fascinating and most watched sport in the world.

In Britain we are famous for our slow antiquated ways and our reluctance to modernise anything untill it's too late.

So come on, FA officials... Get the teams and owners round the table and get some changes made, because if you don't the fans will make them for you!

SB

[jellybean]

How about making the whole thing based on goals scored? -
2 points per home goal scored
-1 for each goal conceded and
3 points for an away goal scored
This would make every game count not just the games between the top clubs i.e. so called "6 point" games.

[Tomcat]

I think you are missing the point Stoge. The most important thing to the top four clubs is the Champions League, this is the real measure of competition. This is not predictable.

In the next 5 years the European Super League will be born and the top 4 clubs from each country will leave the p/ship .

Anyway in England teams can get promoted . This does not happen in the US.....wheres the sport in that!.. At least in Europe teams can progress to different leagues or get relegated if tbey are no good.

I dont think its that Chelsea are that good just the other teams are shit and dont work hard. The coin is turned on its head.

Its not all about money. Greece won Euro 2004 with no money.Porto won the Champions League with no money.
Its not just money its about having the right manager who can control the pre madonnas under his wing.

[allstar88]

city done chelsea last year and will do them again this year i must admit i dont watch alot of footy now,too overpriced and teams are happy to get a safe 0-0 draw   Daz.

[Tomcat]

Yes the fear factor is the biggest problem, not Chelsea dominating the league. Everyone moaned when ManU and Ars were unbeatable.

Clusb are shit scared of being relegated so are cautious. But it doesnt work , just look at West Ham and Wigan who play attacking football, i doubt if West Ham will go down.

Also too much Football shown on the TV so clamp that down is the first move. The trouble with the second idea of limiting finances is that the Clubs will never agree and as i said before that as soon as this is mentioned the top 4 will break away.

For me the best part of the season is the relegation battles at the end when managers and the club are teetering on being put to the sword if they lose a vital game. Do what you will but keep the relegations battles.

[stogie bear]

For me the best part of the season is the relegation battles at the end...

I agree! LOL. But it would be nice to see similar drama to determine the WINNER of the Premiership!

[geezer]

suprised this thread has remained so civilised for so long. Normaly when one talks "football" emotions go over the top. Stoogie, be suprised if your a blue as no Chelsea fan is bored seeing us top of the league. Had to endure Manchester and Arsenal at the top for so long all blue's I know are enjoying our time in the sun. As for the league been boring, tell that to a Tottenham or Charlton fan. Bet there loving been up there. Also is it Chelsea's fault United can't get a point against Blackburn at home or Arsenal away to West Brom. I watched Chelsea Bang in 5 on the weekend, hopefully we'll do the same on Wednesday, can't say it was boring. I'm just sick of all this Chelsea killing football crap. Don't worry if you don't like it no one stays on top for ever, but I think tomcat's right, a European Super League ain't that far away. To be honest can't wait for the clubs to tell UEFA it can go fuck itself

[stogie bear]

I don't believe Chelsea is killing football! (I have followed the Blues since the days of Peter Osgood, Alan Hudson and "The Cat!" My bedroom wall was festooned with the pics that I tore out of my Tiger & Jag!) I believe the FA is slowly suffocating the Premiership.

It's not really valid to say that other teams have been dominant in the past because the rules have changed and fans demand more than they did in the past.

Numbers at the grounds are getting fewer and fewer. Clubs still have not done enough to make the event fit for families or entertaining enough for fans.

Useful technology is still absent rom the game making the mistakes that refs make more costly.

Coaches and trainers are confined to a box on the side line and can't communiacate with their players. It's fucking insane!

The chnage will come.

I don't think a Euro-superleague is the answer. European soccer fans will NOT all be tuning in to see a couple of foreign clubs fight it out for the top spot in Europe!