Top clubs consider overseas games

[Milan_Milan]

I don't really mind the idea of playing a game away to be honest. What bothers me is the asymmetry in the league, Utd playing 3 games against Derby while we play Spurs 3 times or whatever. Not to mention the fact that the location could benefit certain teams more than others, if it's played in sweltering heat somewhere for example, teams would select players more used to that climate, and the team with the more adapted players would have a massive advantage.

I can't accept the idea of a place being decided by who gets the better draw, or has more adapted players.

The fans aren't losing anything really, as there'll still be 19 home and 19 national away games same as always. But the league structure and fairness being screwed up is unacceptable IMO.

[Rich]

Awful idea, if the league are desperate to entertain playing games out of the country, why not let a team lose one of their home games in doing so... I can just see the Glazers telling Ferguson that they're switching United's home game with Arsenal to Seoul...

[Craig_H]

I`m not disagreeing with you.If i was a Scouser i`d be raging.

What i`m saying is we could play these games like this.


2008;ManU(H)-Liverpool(A)-New York
2009;Liverpool(H)-Arsenil(A)-Sydney
2010;Chelsea(H)-Liverpool(A)-Hong Kong
2011;Liverpool(H)-ManU(A)-Johannesburg
2012;Arsenil(H)-Liverpool(A)-Bangkok
2013Liverpool(H)-Chelsea(A)-Dublin(Almost a home game)

That would be one home game every 2 seasons,surely the foreign fans could be given one game from 50 home games?

But it wouldnt be a home game though, would it?

Not being funny, but there's a reason why it's the ENGLISH league and why we are called LIVERPOOL. I'm not a scouser, i live 230 miles from Anfield and it costs me over £100 for every 460 mile round trip to Anfield, but that's the way it is. It'd be cheaper and more convenient if LFC played their home games in London, but it wouldnt be Liverpool FC then.

The whole point of LFC is the fact that it's representative of Liverpool, the games are played in Liverpool and i consider it a pleasure to make that journey to the place where 'it all happens'.

I can see why fans from abroad would be so keen, naturally but as it's JUST one game, like you say, then some of those fans can make one trip to Anfield to see a game, same as 40,000 of us did last May when we went to Athens.

The whole special nature of LFC is that it's in Liverpool, it's Anfield and it's the Scouse culture.

Half of the appeal is in that. Surely it'd be more special for a foreign fan to make the pilgrimage to Anfield and sample the real thing, rather than a hollow feeling of watching LFC playing in Tokyo for example, where i imagine the whole 'ordeal' would have a distinctly 'plastic' feel to it.

[Craig_H]

Then don't you think perhaps that something that enrages the fans who go week in week out should be ruled out on that basis alone. Or don't we matter.

And how fair are any of those league placings from 2008 right through to 2013 given that every year one of the top teams is banned from playing one of their key rivals at home?

Surely its frigging obvious that there's no solution to this contrived money grabbing ****e. It's a direct choice. Money or the integrity of the competition.

Anyone who does NOT choose the integrity of the competition is not a football fan. It's as simple as that.

Absolutely agree.

The whole point of a league campaign is that it's down the middle, all equal, everyone plays everyone once at home and once away. Once you upset that balance, it completely negates the point of a league system. We have cups for that 'lop-sidedness', the league is meant to have a symmetry about it, take that away and as you say, you're making a mockery of the whole integrity of the league.

[Craig_H]

This idea is so stupid its unreal. For the 39th game, no team would want a draw where they are likely to drop points. So if Scum draw Derby, its not just us and Arse and Chavs being unhappy about it but Derby will be pretty furious as well.
If they decide to draw similar level teams where both teams have equal chance of favourable result, then that will be biased judgement because how do they decide that for teams outside the top 4. Who do they put everton against. portsmouth or blackburn or man city. bigger question is, who do they put derby against. derby might be 20th in the league but they are far worse than 19th or 18th placed teams so if 19th team faces them while 18th faces 17th then it will be biased in favour of 19th.
So basically all draws will never be fair.
More than that, if this system is allowed to go through, it will begin the end of english football as we know it. a lot more ridiculous money making excercises will come up and it will reach a point where football fans will say 'I dont give a **** anymore'.

[desertscouser]

But it wouldnt be a home game though, would it?

Not being funny, but there's a reason why it's the ENGLISH league and why we are called LIVERPOOL. I'm not a scouser, i live 230 miles from Anfield and it costs me over £100 for every 460 mile round trip to Anfield, but that's the way it is. It'd be cheaper and more convenient if LFC played their home games in London, but it wouldnt be Liverpool FC then.

The whole point of LFC is the fact that it's representative of Liverpool, the games are played in Liverpool and i consider it a pleasure to make that journey to the place where 'it all happens'.

I can see why fans from abroad would be so keen, naturally but as it's JUST one game, like you say, then some of those fans can make one trip to Anfield to see a game, same as 40,000 of us did last May when we went to Athens.

The whole special nature of LFC is that it's in Liverpool, it's Anfield and it's the Scouse culture.

Half of the appeal is in that. Surely it'd be more special for a foreign fan to make the pilgrimage to Anfield and sample the real thing, rather than a hollow feeling of watching LFC playing in Tokyo for example, where i imagine the whole 'ordeal' would have a distinctly 'plastic' feel to it.

Spot on

I'd seriously consider handing in my season ticket if this went through.

[Craig_H]

Jesus, ok I'll spoon feed you it:



What difference does an extra game really make, as long as it's the same for every team?!

That's the point though, it wouldnt be the same for every team, there's no way it could be made to be fair.

[alunevans]

I don't really mind the idea of playing a game away to be honest. What bothers me is the asymmetry in the league, Utd playing 3 games against Derby while we play Spurs 3 times or whatever. Not to mention the fact that the location could benefit certain teams more than others, if it's played in sweltering heat somewhere for example, teams would select players more used to that climate, and the team with the more adapted players would have a massive advantage.

I can't accept the idea of a place being decided by who gets the better draw, or has more adapted players.

The fans aren't losing anything really, as there'll still be 19 home and 19 national away games same as always. But the league structure and fairness being screwed up is unacceptable IMO.

thats what we lose though isn't it. the idea of watching a genuine competition rather than something distorted just for money.

and if anyone thinks it'll stop at 1 game once introduced and profitable really is naive.

[Craig_H]

do we do need new fans to fill said 70k seater stadium? yes
will they all come from liverpool? no

If these overseas fans cant get to anfield anyway (which is part of the reason why this will happen, because there's an overseas demand which cannot be supplied at Anfield), what difference will playing a game in the far east make to their chances of helping to fill the stadium?

[alunevans]

But it wouldnt be a home game though, would it?

Not being funny, but there's a reason why it's the ENGLISH league and why we are called LIVERPOOL. I'm not a scouser, i live 230 miles from Anfield and it costs me over £100 for every 460 mile round trip to Anfield, but that's the way it is. It'd be cheaper and more convenient if LFC played their home games in London, but it wouldnt be Liverpool FC then.

The whole point of LFC is the fact that it's representative of Liverpool, the games are played in Liverpool and i consider it a pleasure to make that journey to the place where 'it all happens'.

I can see why fans from abroad would be so keen, naturally but as it's JUST one game, like you say, then some of those fans can make one trip to Anfield to see a game, same as 40,000 of us did last May when we went to Athens.

The whole special nature of LFC is that it's in Liverpool, it's Anfield and it's the Scouse culture.

Half of the appeal is in that. Surely it'd be more special for a foreign fan to make the pilgrimage to Anfield and sample the real thing, rather than a hollow feeling of watching LFC playing in Tokyo for example, where i imagine the whole 'ordeal' would have a distinctly 'plastic' feel to it.

well said mate.

[Craig_H]

It is a ****e idea and wont get off the ground.

It's a very ****e idea coops, but it'll more than get off the ground IMO because money matters more than anything else.

[desertscouser]

thats what we lose though isn't it. the idea of watching a genuine competition rather than something distorted just for money.

and if anyone thinks it'll stop at 1 game once introduced and profitable really is naive.

Absolutely. What would the next step be? Some Chinese businessman buying us and taking the 'franchise' to Beijing for half a season?

[Craig_H]

Ok, as long as you stop banging on about the game being 'taken away' from Anfield/Liverpool whatever, because that's clearly wrong and if you keep saying that then you don't understand.

Yes the issue of who plays who is a problem but I'm sure they'll come up with something - it's not like the fixture list isn't staged enough as it is!

Thing is though, staged as it might be, the current fixture list is symmetrical, everyone plays everyone twice, it's the same for all. There isnt anything they could come up with that'd keep it fair and equal for all, unless they made every team play every other team one EXTRA time, at a neutral overseas venue. So that would mean playing a total of 57 league games, which is obviously silly.

[WILF]

Jesus, ok I'll spoon feed you it:



What difference does an extra game really make, as long as it's the same for every team?!

Are you a total moron ?????

It is NOT the same for each team

[Craig_H]

On another point, Manure just played a stupid game in Saudi Arabia didn't they, pocketed a cool mil for the trouble and haven't missed a beat. So who's laughing there? **** that even pays Ronaldo's wages for a couple of months

No one has a problem with that, it wasnt a league game and doesnt have an impact on the rest of the PL clubs. Any club can go and play in any other competition abroad, that happens anyway. But when you're talking about making it a part of our domestic league, then it becomes silly.