Harry welcomes play-off plan

[Swanny]

Harry welcomes play-off plan

Spurs boss admits interest in proposal






Redknapp: Play-off interest





Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is keen on the idea of the final UEFA Champions League place being decided by a play-off.
At present, the top four teams in the Premier League qualify for a place at European football's top table, either directly into the group stages or through the qualifying rounds.
A proposal has been mooted which would see the top three qualify by right, with the teams finishing fourth to seventh then meeting to decide who fills the final berth.
Spurs are pressing to secure a fourth-place finish this season and are involved in a tense battle with Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa.
Critics - including Arsene Wenger and Rafa Benitez - have pointed to the already hectic top-flight schedule and suggested that the leading European competition could be devalued as a result.
Excitement

Any changes would not be implemented for the next three years due to television rights, but Redknapp feels the scheme merits further exploration.
"It's interesting," he said. "People used to say the team that finishes second, third or fourth shouldn't go in because it's a competition for champions.
"From the crowd point of view and for excitement, it would be fantastic.
"People complained about the play-offs in England when they came in but I think they are one of the best things to have happened.
"It keeps teams going in every division with something to play for."


http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...960174,00.html

[hotspur1960]

Well i for one disagree with harry. You should gain the forth place on merit and not by way of a financial circus that could see the team finishing 7th qualify for europes premier competition.
I'm not a lover of play offs anyway because how many times have we seen a team finishing 3rd in the championship not win the playoff and a team finishing two places below them and 15 points behind go up.
Yes it's great for the fans(of the team who wins the playoffs) and extra veiwing at the end of the season but if you play all season and come 3rd in the league or as now proposed 4th in the EPL you deserve to go up or enter the CL by right.
I know you could possibly miss out on goal difference but there you go thats football and thats how it should remain.

[steelktm]

i think 4th should be dropped from CL and then give that spot to FA cup winner. just me personally 'Arry.

[thfcire]

i think thats a great shout steel,it would put the fa cup back where it belongs,a top top cup competion.im sure everyone would treat it with the respect it deserves then.

[hotspur1960]

i think thats a great shout steel,it would put the fa cup back where it belongs,a top top cup competion.im sure everyone would treat it with the respect it deserves then.

It would give the cup an enhanced status again but what if you had two teams like pompey and cardiff in the final then while one of those two got no further than the 2nd qualifying CL round teams coming 4th like city, liverpool, spurs and villa would feel cheated.

[thfcire]

It would give the cup an enhanced status again but what if you had two teams like pompey and cardiff in the final then while one of those two got no further than the 2nd qualifying CL round teams coming 4th like city, liverpool, spurs and villa would feel cheated.

but thats what im saying ,if the cup resulted in a cl place pompey or cardiff wouldnt get tot he final imo.teams would have to put out full teams in every round.

[hotspur1960]

but thats what im saying ,if the cup resulted in a cl place pompey or cardiff wouldnt get tot he final imo.teams would have to put out full teams in every round.

Fair comment i guess a couple of top teams may suffer giantkilling but not all. One other point though if say the team winning the cup were already in the CL would the runners up get the 4th spot or europa league as it is now.

[kevfball63]

Both the cups should have the passion re-injected . Top two go through automatically and the 2 cups and 3rd and 4th should go into a play off would be my choice .

It works for promotion and gets revenue and wembly time for teams = all glorious times win or lose

[thfcire]

yeah thats where it would get abit tricky alright haa ha.

[steelktm]

thats fine if pompey or cardiff go. but you know people would put their strong squads out there. actually i think only 1st and 2nd from the league should go and then FA cup winner gets the 3rd CL spot. no point in rewarding 4th place in my mind. although as long as it does get rewarded i wouldn't mind Spurs reaching for that and hopefully surpassing it.

[kevfball63]

The domestic cups dont have anything to offer = sky has disrespected every leagues cups = so re-ignite that and you set fire to world football again without it being a world cup

[hotspur1960]

I remember the days when the champions went into the european cup, the fa cup winners went into the european cup winners cup and the league cup winners along with 2nd and 3rd in the old first division went into the inter cities fairs cup(uefa cup).
That was much more simpler then.

[Figgy]

The domestic cups dont have anything to offer = sky has disrespected every leagues cups = so re-ignite that and you set fire to world football again without it being a world cup

Perfect....

Why can't they do this? It would be perfect! Top 2 auto, next 2 and the cup winners in playoff would be amazing for ALL THE LEAGUE! A cup now a days is worth nothing, everyone wants the CL place, I couldn't give a **** about Europa league.. it's just basically saying "you are too shit for CL". If you can give the worst team in the league hope of reaching it, you'll make every fan in the country happy