ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

A vision of the future

Two major issues appeared to have exercised the recent meeting of Premier League clubs: substitutions and globalisation. I suspect the decisions that emerged are only the very tip of the iceburg.

We have already heard Alex Ferguson calling for ELEVEN on the bench and I have no doubt that, ere long, he and his ilk will be calling for FIVE to be introduced to the field of play. Perhaps Sven was ahead of the game after all!

Similarly, I believe the proposed "39th game" was merely a softener and I have little doubt that the Januarys of the next decade will be taken up with the "Global Games". An expansion of the Premier League to 22 clubs would allow a return to a 42 game programme with the extra four played on the world stage. Either that or we might be expected to sacrifice a couple of home games apiece a la the Rugby League's "Cardiff Weekend". At least, the inevitable seeding of the Big Boys would ensure that each "sector' could host at least one game involving the super heroes!

So how to accomodate this ultra-demanding mini-break from domestic dross? Easy that. Restrict entry to the Carling Cup to Football League clubs and either make the FA Cup optional or open only to those clubs outside the Euro places! And all to be done in the interests of the game and as the PM suggested this morning "to enable the clubs to keep prices down".

What a marvellous vision it all conjures up. The chance to see up to 32 players in each game and to sit in the warm watching Sky and Sentanta all through every weekend in January.

Come to think of it, why waste all that money on a new ground, anyway?
Sam Coddington, Runcorn Posted 09/02/2008 at 09:35:08

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Lee Spargo
1 Posted 09/02/2008 at 18:43:52

Over the top a bit there.

Times change. Times have changed. they will change further. The Premier League is a gobal brand. Overseas games were just a mater of time. I bet they’l be hugely successfull.

You’ll either have to embrace it, or stop going i’m afraid.

David Hall
2 Posted 09/02/2008 at 19:48:22

There will be no embracing for me, I assure you.I’d rather stay home and watch Taunton Town,Wellington Wanderers or Wiveliscombe Warriors! That will save me driving at least 15,000 miles a season let alone the grand I blow on a season ticket and Sky.As my missus keeps telling me,’It’s time to grow up!’

Tony Horne
3 Posted 09/02/2008 at 20:29:10

The Rugby League analogy is very interesting. Murdock has bought out that game and has changed the structure beyond all recognition. Football is next.......