Reduce the size of the Premier League

[JustinCredible]

With the complaints about fixture congestion around the holidays why don't they reduce the Premier League to 18 teams? Besides who would miss Birmingham and Sunderland?

It seems to make too much sense, which is why it might not happen anytime soon I'm afraid. I never hear any talk of it in the media. But I for one would like to see change to the premier league. And how about reduce the lower divsions from 24 to 20 while they are at it :)

[King-James]

That would mean two less fixtures to make $$$. If the clubs really cared about fixture congestion, they wouldn't all vote to keep the Carling Cup as they do. It's about milking the players and the fans for everything they're worth.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

No need.
No point.
No thanks.

[JustinCredible]

I think there is a need. For one it just rids the EPL of 2 teams that really should be in the 1st division. Sunderland and Birmingham are on borrowed time. Ditching the carling cup eh? Not a bad idea as well. I'd like to see the EPL at 18 and the lower divisions at 20. So in a sense it will make the 1st divsion a higher quality league too.

But its all wishful thinking I suppose.

[michaec]

So we end up with 78 teams instead of 92 in the professional leagues, you want to send 14 teams into non-league obscurity?

Not very well thought through this idea is it?

[nicephoras]

For one it just rids the EPL of 2 teams that really should be in the 1st division. Sunderland and Birmingham are on borrowed time.

Um, that's called relegation. Its kind of, like, you know, the process by which you determine which club really should be in the first division.

[Prenn]

Yay, lets just kill 14 clubs!

[liverbird]

No need.
No point.
No thanks.

perfectly stated

[sendorange]

The people whinging about the fixture congestion are arsehead managers like David O'Leary. He'd soon shut his mouth if he was told that if the Premiership was reduced by 2 teams his salary would have to be cut in line with the fewer number of games.

The fans dont want fewer games and its their opinion which really matters, if there's too many on just stay at home for the week and watch it on TV or listen to it on the radio.

[RichardL]

They've played 4 games over the holiday period for decades. It was just bad this year because boxing day was on a monday. Normally teams play on boxing day and new years day, as well as the two nearest saturdays (or mondays if christmas day/new years on saturdays) but because saturday was christmas eve (with very limited public tranpsort) they had to rejig things a bit.

[chrizzah]

So we end up with 78 teams instead of 92 in the professional leagues, you want to send 14 teams into non-league obscurity?

Not very well thought through this idea is it?

I'm not agreeing or disagreeing, but the idea has been put forward before where the Premier would be split into two leagues of 16 or 18 teams. The rest of the teams would then be split evenly among the remaining four divisions. It would be along the lines of Bundesliga 1 and 2. I don't know that two less teams would necessarily mean less money for most clubs. I'll bet Sunderland is a pretty weak draw on the whole. Lower supply of games might increase demand for the remaining fixtures. I guess teams like ManU that sell-out would have problems. The real problem with this sort of thing is that the lesser teams would be shut out of even more money.

[COBRA007]

premier league should be reduced to 16 teams

[RichardL]

premier league should be reduced to 16 teams
is there a particular reason why it has to be 16, or do you pull things out of your arse for the fun of it?

[liverbird]

is there a particular reason why it has to be 16, or do you pull things out of your arse for the fun of it?


You recieve my first, post wipe out reputation.

[michaec]

I'm not agreeing or disagreeing, but the idea has been put forward before where the Premier would be split into two leagues of 16 or 18 teams. The rest of the teams would then be split evenly among the remaining four divisions. It would be along the lines of Bundesliga 1 and 2. I don't know that two less teams would necessarily mean less money for most clubs. I'll bet Sunderland is a pretty weak draw on the whole. Lower supply of games might increase demand for the remaining fixtures. I guess teams like ManU that sell-out would have problems. The real problem with this sort of thing is that the lesser teams would be shut out of even more money.
You have made the point that the top clubs would lose out money-wise because they sell out their grounds regardless of the opposition and would have less games. The bottom clubs who wouldn't be in the Premiership obviously lose out money-wise from not being in the top flight. Increasing demand could only possibly serve to inflate the price of already over-priced tickets even more and the price of tickets is currently a major problem that clubs are (allegedly) trying to address. No club will vote for this as long as I have a hole in my arse.

[chrizzah]

You have made the point that the top clubs would lose out money-wise because they sell out their grounds regardless of the opposition and would have less games.

Complaints already exist that too many games in the year and the lack of a break put English teams at a disadvantge in Europe and put the England national team at a disadvantage.

Increasing demand could only possibly serve to inflate the price of already over-priced tickets even more and the price of tickets is currently a major problem that clubs are (allegedly) trying to address.

This would only affect the few the few teams that sell-out and they may not be as upset if they viewed it as cost-effective compared to their European chances. Four less games would also allow for longer pre-season tours. There are other revenue-generating avenues these clubs can explore.

The bottom clubs who wouldn't be in the Premiership obviously lose out money-wise from not being in the top flight. No club will vote for this as long as I have a hole in my arse.

You might want to start pricing colostomy bags. The same argument would have held when the blue print for English soccer was implemented that turned the First Division into the Premiership. It reduced the size from 22 to 20. The plan actually called for it be reduced to 18. If bigger clubs see the longer season as affecting their play in Europe, they could push for it and if collectively they want it, I think they will ultimately prevail.

I don't particularly support this idea, but it could happen in the future. If the argument were as simple as more games = more money than why not expand the league to 30 teams. It's because the quality would be so diluted and the schedule would be too much for teams to cope with. 20 is not a magic number and it is not out of the realm of possibility that the premiership will reduce to 18 at some point.

[leg_breaker]

Complaints already exist that too many games in the year and the lack of a break put English teams at a disadvantge in Europe and put the England national team at a disadvantage.

We have the same sized league as Spain. Not to mention the Premiership is ranked second in Europe and contains the current European champions.

The congestion around Christmas is because the league is finishing early for the World Cup.

Of course the best way to reduce congestion would be to cut the Champions League group stage, which would mean four games less.

[Mr. Bee]

My memory is clouded, but wasnt it originally supposed to be 18?

[chrizzah]

The congestion around Christmas is because the league is finishing early for the World Cup.

Can you think of a year that you didn't hear a manager gripe about the need for a week or two off over the Christmas holidays?

Of course the best way to reduce congestion would be to cut the Champions League group stage, which would mean four games less.

If you think of the money involved in ManU's early departure, can you imagine how scared big clubs with the potential for an even earlier departure?

[RichardL]

If you think of the money involved in ManU's early departure, can you imagine how scared big clubs with the potential for an even earlier departure?
it's hard to see why the clubs in the bottom half would vote for something that would not only reduce their income (and increase the chance of them being relegated), but increase the chances of those at the top of getting more. There's not exactly a lot in it for them.