The Champioooooons?

This week has brought a new big idea from the Barclay's Premier League. Allegedly, the league is considering a playoff between the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh place teams for the fourth UEFA Champions league spot, which is a place which requires a qualifying game before the group stage. The possible proposal has sparked up a great deal of debate on the possibility. Many people, including Harry Redknapp, are interested in the idea because it would be a likely way to get someone else into the top four spots. The most notable critics are Rafa Benitez and Arsene Wenger, who manage the teams who seem to be in the most danger of losing out if the playoff is brought in. As a Spurs fan, I think most people would expect me to be in favor of this idea. The truth is I am not.

The biggest reason this idea is gaining some steam is that the majority of fans want to see the big four change. This is something I want as well. Yes, I dislike(being diplomatic) the Arsenal and Liverpool, but I have to agree that this is a silly idea. An example of the difficulties ingrained in this plan is when Everton qualified in fourth and went in to the Champions League and got knocked out quickly. Unfortunately, the non-established teams around that fourth spot do not have the experience, and squad depth to compete with second tier teams who make it into the champions league. This year alone, we saw Liverpool struggle only to be booted into the Europa league and Rangers were abysmal and were knocked out convincingly. Even Barcelona and Inter Milan had some struggles but made it through. Teams like Spurs, Aston Villa, and Manchester City are nowhere near ready for the step up.

Amongst the three teams I just mentioned, there are only a handful of players who have played in the champions league with the majority of them being on the Manchester City squad. All three of these teams are good, but will they make a proper showing in the Champions League? I think all could play well, but I don't think any of these teams can make a run for the finals without making a few major signings to make the squads really tough to defeat.

This leads to my next major point. Those major signings are not going to come cheap especially considering the money that Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid can flash in the transfer market. Many teams can not afford making the signing to make that step without taking on major debt. Debt is a major portion of the danger of this idea. Portsmouth is the ideal example of a club biting off more than they can chew. When Pompey won the FA cup 2 seasons ago, they stepped up their expectations and brought together an expensive team with high wages which has brought their impending downfall upon them. Clubs with quality squads that just aren't quite in the higher echelons of the mythical "Big Four," can try to build a squad above their means which they believe can help them step up to a higher level and compete on a level that the fans begin to expect. Some teams who are near the proposed playoff spot may try to get that player that will get them to into the playoffs, but even this is a major financial risk as it could possibly damage the club financially if they make the playoffs and fail to make it into the Champions League.

Essentially, I think that there is far too much risk in the current financial philosophy. If we could trust clubs to live within their means and develop players, I think this could be a fun idea, but as trusting a football club to live within their means is like expecting to see Lady GaGa in a t-shirt and jeans with no makeup performing her album with a symphony, I don't think it is realistic. Although, now that I have put that idea out there, I want to be paid when she does it.