39th Game Revisited

[Lofty]

I've just heard that twat Scudamore on Sky Sports News stating that his belief that the 39th game will go ahead, hopefully in his lifetime. Call me old fashioned, call me reactionary, call me what the hell you like, I seriously do not give a damn. I've heard the arguments from overseas supporters that it will be good for the game, that it will give them a chance to see their heroes and all the rest of it.

Well do you know what? All of you living in the US, Australia, the Far East, or wherever; I do not give a flying f**k what you want. This 39th game is ONLY about marketing. And if you can't see that then you seriously are as thick as sh*t.

If they do get away with it then all I can say is I hope I don't live to see the day. Because, unless the football authorities impose an even greater idiocy on something that is becoming more difficult by the day to recognise as the game I once loved - that will be the day when I will finally have had enough.

Rant over.

[Maksimov]

I wouldn't want the 39th game even if it meant that Chelsea would play a match in my own backyard EVERY year. I'd rather save up the money and fly to London for a game(some day, some day). It just doesn't make any sense. The PR and financial benefits simply can't be big enough for it to be worth the hassle of screwing up the balance of the league(even further).

[MHedges]

I wouldn't want the 39th game even if it meant that Chelsea would play a match in my own backyard EVERY year. I'd rather save up the money and fly to London for a game(some day, some day). It just doesn't make any sense. The PR and financial benefits simply can't be big enough for it to be worth the hassle of screwing up the balance of the league(even further).

100% agreed with both of you. Living in America, I would love to see Chelsea play over here, but for EXHIBITION ONLY. If I want to see Chelsea play, I'll save the money and go see them play. I don't want Londoners to expect the NFL is going to start playing matches over there! (oh wait...damn American sports)

[TomP]

Well do you know what? All of you living in the US, Australia, the Far East, or wherever; I do not give a flying f**k what you want. This 39th game is ONLY about marketing.

The thing is lofty, the football associations of the US, Australia and the Far East don't want it either.

When the issue came up earlier in the year, pretty much all of their federations were opposed to it. They have their own local leagues, and see any kind of intrusion of the premiership as a direct challenge to their local competitions.

The only people that actually want it to happen are the likes of Scudamore at the FA - and the reason is exactly what you said - it is a licence to print money. Nothing more and nothing less. It means they can sell the broadcasting rights to overseas TV networks for even more exhorbitant prices than they do currently.

As far as the overseas fans go, I haven't heard anyone who was particularly keen on the idea.

Firstly, it wouldn't be the same as watching a match at the bridge (which is within reach of a lot of overseas fans these days - I managed to get to two matches last season), and secondly even if it went ahead, Chelsea would only be out here once every 10 years, assuming they rotated the teams around the different locations. And that's not worth completely stuffing around with the format of the league, and alienating the true fans.

[ChrisC]

I'm off to see the NFL game at Wembley this afternoon. A great oportunity for me