MarkWilliam

See, I told you. Nothing to worry about. Might even be 6-1.

Relax. This will be 4-1 when it's all said and done.

The play of this team is certainly a mystery, but I can't see being relegated. I also don't see Mourinho getting the axe. He took what was arguably the 4th or 5th best team on paper in 2013-14 and finished second, and last year comfortably won the championship. This will turn around sooner rather than later. Book it.

We also don't know what's being said on the pitch. Can't really judge accurately the actions of Costa if we don't also hear what's going on.

Look at it this way. We lost 3 games last year and won the title. Just getting the losing out of the way early this year.

All right, so no one's buying into this. I guess it's what you're used to. Had a playoff system been used in the first place all these years and someone proposed going to a 38-game double round robin with no playoff, the reaction would be the same. Again, it's what you're used to.

One of the great weaknesses in American sports leagues is that division winners aren't the only ones in what we call the postseason. And sometimes, these teams in American football, baseball and hockey get hot and run the table (it doesn't happen in basketball - different animal). My division-only winners playoff would solve this problem. And everyone would still have to play everyone at least once. I'm just kicking around an idea - I knew coming in it wouldn't be popular. But if it became reality, I would bet a large sum of money that many of you would be saying after experiencing it, "Why didn't we do this sooner?"

Believe me, no offense (or offence) taken. I knew this would be a hard sell. The regular season, I argue, would actually become more compelling. Right now, halfway into a Premier League season and realistically only 2-4 teams are in line for the title. Everyone else, save for those looking for a Champions League berth, is playing for pure entertainment. I also think you support my argument when you point out how the latter stages of the Champions League are tremendous. Why not want that for the Premier League? Derbys aren't always permanent. There's no guarantee that Tottenham, for example, won't be relegated, although I know that is absurd to think in 2015...but again, anything can and does happen in sport.

Okay, this is an American idea, but let me present it anyway. If you haven't experienced the Super Bowl in America, here's what it's like: Literally half the country stops to watch. It's also broadcast in well over 100 countries...and that's for a sport that has virtually no popularity outside the US. Now imagine if the Premier League would have such a game. The whole of England would watch, and I guarantee the ratings internationally would dwarf the Super Bowl's. But first, how to make such a thing happen? I propose four divisions based on the previous year's results. So, for 2014-15, the divisions would be: A) Manchester City Southampton Stoke Hull City West Bromwich Albion B) Liverpool Manchester United Newcastle Aston Villa Leicester City C) Chelsea Tottenham Crystal Palace Sunderland Burnley D) Arsenal Everton Swansea West Ham United QPR Play four games against each team in your division, A and B would play 2 games each against each other as would C and D, and one game against the other divisions. In other words, Divisions A and B would play one game each against C and D. This gives a total of 36 games. For the semi-finals, winners of Division A and B would square off two matches aggregate, and winners of C and D would do likewise. The winners would meet in a winner-take-all match at Wembley. All Division winners would qualify for the Champions League. How to relegate 3 teams? A four-team playoff between the bottom of each division, winner stays in Premier League. This way, relegation would not be automatic. The following season, divisions would change based on results. Therefore, a new Division A would go: #1A, #2B, #3C, #4D, #5Team Avoiding Relegation. Division B would go #1B, #2C, #3D, #4A, #1Championship...etc. Advantages: - The semi-finals and championship match would be huge worldwide and create incredible excitement - More teams have a chance deeper into the season to qualify for the playoffs - Teams that suffer injuries during the season can potentially come back to full health - Prevents anti-climactic season finish - Makes more games more meaningful - Two fewer regular-season games helps teams with Champions League, FA Cup, etc., obligations - Division-only champions playoff addresses weakness of American sports leagues playoffs, where non-division winners also qualify and often win championships - Relegation playoff gives bottom teams something to hope for Disadvantages: - Team that dominates regular season or is clearly the best may not win championship - Tradition - Some derbys compromised - Only one game against 10 teams Finally, I realize a playoff system will never come to fruition...at least not in the short term. But, all things evolve eventually. I believe the advantages outweigh the advantages, but that's my view. Okay, let me have it!

Yes, it was very easy.

YES

Here in the US the announcers think there is no chance for an upset.

Will take a miracle for QPR to tie this one now....

Yep, I agree with that (about Schurrle).

Schurrle makes things happen. Maybe he should play more?

What a game-changer Costa is!

Sorry guys, I missed it...why is Cech playing instead of Cortois?

I'm an American who appreciates the game and loves Chelsea FC...although I do think the game would be better if the goal were a little bigger, something like 10' x 30'.

Energy's good now. We'll get at least one I think, hopefully two.

Calm down. It's not over till it's over.

I'm watching it on TV here in the States. Chelsea is on about every game now. Speaking of the game, very physical.

Well, let me throw this out there. Here in the States, NBA referee Tim Donaghy was in on a betting scandal that involved organized crime. He admitted to calling games so that the outcomes would be in the bettors' favor, and also charged that other referees acted on orders from the NBA to fix games, too. He pleaded guilty and served time in prison. Is Foy on the take? I have no idea, but don't dismiss the idea. Once or twice is not a pattern; 6 dismissals in 8 games is. If Foy is not on the take, being human then, he clearly has a bias that warrants him not working any more Chelsea matches.

Maybe, maybe not. How about the team that suffered injuries over the season but is now healthy? And except for a small handful of teams, most teams' chances of winning the league title are gone by Christmas. A proper division alignment would bring more teams into the mix deeper into the season, and keep interest higher. Personally, I think our sports leagues over here have far too many "wild card" teams that didn't win the division but are now equal in the playoffs. It definitely dilutes the regular season. I think a system for the Premier League where you have 4 divisions of 5 teams each, with only the four divisions winners participating (they would also qualify for the Champions League) would be great. Think of how big our Super Bowl is worldwide. I would think something called the Premier Bowl (or some name more fitting for the English), played at Wembley, would be even bigger. As for the bottom team in each division, you could have a relegation playoff, with the winner staying. And, unlike over here, I would rotate teams so they are not all in the same division each year. There are cons to be sure - the main one, I would think, being tradition and, as you said, the possibility of the best team not being the champion. As I said, I'll present the details in another thread at a later date.

American fan here. I was in London in October 2012 for a golf tournament and always wanted to attend a PL game. Wouldn't you know, the previous week on ESPN they showed Arsenal-Chelsea. Well, during the golf tournament I mentioned to one of the English guys that I really wanted to take in a soccer (yes, I know...football! But did you know the word soccer was coined in England and used in your country for a very long time?) game. As luck would have it, tickets for Norwich-Chelsea at Stamford Bridge were available, so off my boss and I went (he's also my friend). Now, my boss is not a big soccer fan, but I always enjoyed the game. For some reason, I just became enamored with Chelsea and was fully into it, even as Norwich surprised everyone by taking a 1-0 lead. Although my understanding of the game is not close to as sophisticated as the rest here, I knew enough that Norwich was clearly inferior. And of course, the Blues wound up on top 4-1. Since then, I've followed the team closely (many Chelsea games are shown on our NBC Sport Network) and was happy that Arsenal could only manage a draw earlier today with ManU. (Although, I still think the PL is missing the boat by not having divisions and a playoff system as we do here for our sports, but I'll start that topic another time!)

Hey Rob, fellow American here. I saw Chelsea play at Stamford Bridge last year (beat Norwich 4-1) and instantly adopted the Blues as my team. As for Derby, Blackburn drew with Man City today, so anything can happen if players get complacent or if the best aren't playing.