39th Game

[Neil Young]

Yes we do. We care enough to mean that should we reach the final that we get a chance to go to Wembley and watch the bloody thing without having to traipse half way across the world for it.

It's all ridiculous this. And all that will happen is that it'll go into the footballers pockets anyhow.

Every now and again can we think of the supporters who follow the club week in week out and pretend we're even part of this equation.

Next one to say it's a good idea, I'm setting my dog on them, and I don't even have a dog, but I'll buy one special

You could always sub-contract the job to me...

I was thinking about why the Premier League are so into this idea. And, forgive me for being slow, then it hit me. We play plenty of games abroad as it is and for ages it's looked like the next logical development is some sort of European league. And that of course would bypass the Premier League.

So it's just a bid for corporate expansion by the Premier League (obviously with benefits for the clubs) at the expense of UEFA and any joint European clubs organisation that might be set up (like was mooted a few years ago before UEFA managed to keep the clubs happy by developing the CL). It's an attempt to steal a march on the other major leagues in Europe - i.e. La Liga and Serie A.

It's just business.

And, as you say, it stinks and it makes me sick.

[dom9]

Don't agree with a league game being played overseas. But if the powers that be insist on a game played abroad why not something like the charity shield or something.

I think playing a league game abroad would be unfair on season ticket holders.

Also being honest I can't see two teams from the bottom of the league being a big sellout overseas, I think whe they talk about playing another game, it's the top sides that people are interested in

The Charity Shield is no longer called The Charity Shield, as none of the proceeds actually went to Charity. It goes to the FA's coffers. So they renamed it The Community Shield.

[5europeancups]

I like the idea of playing semi finals or finals of the carling cup overseas. Nobody cares about them anyway.

Why not the FA Cup Semi Finals?

that could work and would keep wembley special

[Craig_H]

Here's an idea. How about we play abroad when we have an away game in europe?

[alunevans]

Here's an idea. How about we play abroad when we have an away game in europe?

[Fernandinho]

Think about the people around the world who are just as good a supporter of the club as English based peopel who dream of seeing the club they love and spend almost every minute thinking about in a live competitive match... I guess its different for you guys to understand how hard it is to not get to watch them play....

[SB]

Think about the people around the world who are just as good a supporter of the club as English based peopel who dream of seeing the club they love and spend almost every minute thinking about in a live competitive match... I guess its different for you guys to understand how hard it is to not get to watch them play....

That's what pre season's are for mate. That's the only way we'll get to see the Pool in Oz unfortunately.

[Fernandinho]

But only Everton, Fulham and Blackburn come here, who wants to watch them!

[RichC]

Think about the people around the world who are just as good a supporter of the club as English based peopel who dream of seeing the club they love and spend almost every minute thinking about in a live competitive match... I guess its different for you guys to understand how hard it is to not get to watch them play....

Thats true, LFC has a huge global following, this idea though is not for the fans it's simply to make more money.

The logistics of having a 39th Premier League game just doesn't work for me, you'll end up playing someone 3 times in a season if it's a tight league and you end up playing say an Arsenal for a 3rd time whereas say United end up playing West Brom for a 3rd time, well that doesn't seem very balanced to me.

If they really want to look at playing around with this as a serious option then it should be kept to a cup (Carling cup or whatever it's called now!) for a round or two but certainly not the league - IMO we should leave these trips abroad to pre-season friendlies and well European football and not the league

[Rich]

Until someone comes up with a totally fair system for playing a game overseas then it's a ridiculous idea.

Keep it to pre-season, and have a Premiership Invitational Shield every summer with 4 teams playing glorified friendlies. Could make it more interesting by offering a fat cheque to the winning team.

[SB]

But only Everton, Fulham and Blackburn come here, who wants to watch them!

That's true but the FA could encourage the top sides to branch out more and appease the O/S fan bases. Our FA here should introduce a big pre season tourny to entice top sides here ? I'm sure the new owners will bring the lads over to the US pretty soon to test the waters and make some ground on what the scum and chavs have started

[SB]

Until someone comes up with a totally fair system for playing a game overseas then it's a ridiculous idea.

Keep it to pre-season, and have a Premiership Invitational Shield every summer with 4 teams playing glorified friendlies. Could make it more interesting by offering a fat cheque to the winning team.

You've got Arry interested already

[Craig_H]

Think about the people around the world who are just as good a supporter of the club as English based peopel who dream of seeing the club they love and spend almost every minute thinking about in a live competitive match... I guess its different for you guys to understand how hard it is to not get to watch them play....

I do understand that mate, but at the end of the day, it's LIVERPOOL and it's a club based in ENGLAND.

The amount of times i've got up before the sun's risen, knackered as hell and about to do a 4 hour car journey for a game - and i think "god, this would be much easier if it wasnt so far away". But the clue's in the name

It's Liverpool, so it's based in Liverpool and that's the identity of the club. Likewise, it's the English league and based in england, so i personally dont see any motivation for holding games abroad, other than money. It stinks.

[Alex]

Im not too fussed about it. I just dont know how it would work Fixture wise?

[elrichio86]

The main motivation for holding games abroad is obviously money.

But isn't it also about letting non-UK based fans get the chance to see their team playing?

I would say the intention is that the regular match-goers are not the ones expected to attend.

You can argue that thats what pre-season friendlies are for, and you'd be right. But seeing a competetive match is so much better - higher stakes, first team rather than reserves, etc.

I still cant figure out how you could incorporate it into the league without inequality. But the idea of the Cup semi finals seems like a good starting point to see if the scheme could work.