Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants to see title contenders kick off their final THREE matches of the season simultaneously rather than just the last week of the season as is currently the case. Not an unreasonable proposal when you hear the Frenchman claim that “There are advantages and disadvantages to kicking off later than the other teams. If you kick off later than your rivals and they have lost, then you are in a more comfortable situation. Psychologically it can give you a lift and it’s true that it can apply for us or Manchester United or Chelsea, but I think it would be better not to give any team this advantage.” While it makes some sense, the proposal is simply not practical.
Firstly, how will clubs in a relegation dogfight be expected to respond? Retaining their place in the Premier League is just as critical for them as another one of the leading clubs winning the title. There can be little doubt that they will demand the same ruling for themselves and why not?
Then there are the ones battling for Champions or Europa League spots worth millions. Do they not also deserve the same consideration? What if one of the challengers unexpectedly drop out of the equation and be replaced by another? Fixtures just cannot be rearranged with a few days notice. Easy solution you may say, just schedule all fixtures for the last three weeks at the same time. It’s not that simple however when you consider the elephant in the room.
Yes we’re talking about television demands. They will fiercely oppose such a proposal and they will win the fight because whether we like it or not, the Premier League is now a ‘made for television’ product. Wengers proposal does make some sense and it’s not impossible to implement – nothing is. But is it practical? Hardly!
Meanwhile, Manchester United’s visit to Newcastle on April 16 has been rescheduled to Tuesday 19 because of the FA Cup semi final derby on the Saturday.
Will you be in favor of Wengers proposal?
@Sapper. I remember those good old days well mate even though they were thousands of miles away in Australia. The first complete round up came through on radio at 6.45am on a Sunday morning and I used to sit there with the fixture list writing the results in all four divisions. I will then spend ages analysing and calculating what they meant for United. Yes, Sky has given us some pluses like being able to watch games live on TV but there has been plenty of minuses as well.
How do you think it used to happen before Sky got their theiving mitts on football, all games used to kick off at 3pm on Saturday afternoon, and finished at virtually the same time.
I pity those who have never sat round a radio, or stared at the final score on grandstand, waiting in great anticipation for all the results to come in.
i think the pluses out weight the minus’ with tv, the money and the ability to watch many matches is great.
i do remember a few years ago when chelsea- bolton and everton against us were both on the early kick off and thats was great.
There are fors and againsts in everything Jack, we just have to accept what’s thrown at us because there’s very little we can do about it. Absolutely nothing wrong with nostalgia and wishful thinking but where does it get us? Let’s just enjoy and live with what we have after all, it’s not all that bad is it?
Wenger was talking to the arsenal magazine and the guy who interview asked him about the title race and how it affects teams mentally
Wenger just gave a suggestion about teams playing at the same time. He didnt say it should be compulsory for the last 3 fixtures to be on at the same time.
I cant believe something from an Arsenal magazine has created an article on a Man utd blog.
It’s not hard to work out the reason John. If such a proposal is ever introduced Manchester United will be one of the clubs affected. One of Wengers comments was “I think they should make each team’s last three fixtures all kick off at the same time, not just the last one” Wenger told the Official Arsenal Magazine. That makes it compulsory in my book. It’s also something which I believe is done in La Liga.
Wenger does have a point, and it’s a valid point for every team in the title race, if all the teams had to kick off at the same time at least we would see footbal how it should be played.
How many times have we seen United go through the motions in a last game because the title has been decided, and fans who came to see a spectacle witness a reserve team turn out, only when the trophy is presented for all the stars to suddenly appear in full kit !!.
The fans at the game get conned for the sake of the TV camera’s.