PL looking at a 16 team league again

Do you think this would be better. They basically want the 16 biggest clubs in the country in the top league. Less games, more money, better for the FA, as better for the English national squad. What do you reckon, would this be better. The other four teams will desolve back into the football league. Also promotion to the PL would most likely be cut to two from three, one automatic promotion as champions and the runners up playing off with the second from bottom team in the PL, to try to maintain only the biggest strongest financial well supported clubs in the PL

Let's put the cat amongst the pigeons.........

Who are the 16 biggest clubs in the league system?

If they did that attendances would go through the floor

I would hate it if that happened leave well enough alone ffs.

Not the best idea I think.
Small clubs with little money would be screwed. Most likley we would never see PL football again. With all the money in the PL.
But then again Swansea are 16th. Change it to 16 teams.

If that was introduced the year before last what would have happened to leicster this year..ummmmmm.

I do not see any reason to reduce the teams other than the Jacks but there relegation will come. I hope
Keeping it the way it is will hopefully allow the smaller sides to have a chance. I am not a fan of the new broadcasting contract as it could shut the door to smaller clubs as the promotion race will probably be about the clubs that got relegated the season before. With even richer teams and less promotion places avaliable small clubs are given an even less of a chance.
Who knows (Leicester City?)

Hopefully a 'non-starter' as it would effectively be the start of an American-style 'franchise' system, where clubs are set-up mainly for their location and ability to attract finance (maybe something our current owner would like?)

It would also raise the question of 'Welsh' involvement and (assuming the status quo remained on that front) it could even mean the eventual creation of a single club in this area, as I do not believe the current Welsh-based Premier League club have either the infrastructure or the catchment area to take on such a 'franchise'

Cardiff City FC could 'handle' it, as we are streets ahead in the capital with our infrastructure and experience of many different 'big' occasions

Personally, I couldn't watch a team that seeks to 'unite' us with a certain other club for such a purpose, such is my dislike of their sycophant supporters (not the actual football team) in the main

Premier League is okay as it is (as is the promotion system) and that is why it is the best League in the world for competition!

But, other clubs must have the ability to realise they're 'dream' to play in it; otherwise, there would be no little Bournemouth's, there would be no little Swansea's and there would be no little Wimbledon's ever given the chance!

Let's put the cat amongst the pigeons.........

Who are the 16 biggest clubs in the league system?

Exactly. There are clubs in the Championship who are bigger than clubs in the Premier League. For example, and whatever people may think of them, Leeds United are bigger than us and Swansea put together. Aston Villa will probably be in the Championship next season, too. Possibly Newcastle and/or Sunderland. While Bournemouth, (no disrespect), might still be in the Premier League.

Hopefully a 'non-starter' as it would effectively be the start of an American-style 'franchise' system, where clubs are set-up mainly for their location and ability to attract finance (maybe something our current owner would like?)

It would also raise the question of 'Welsh' involvement and (assuming the status quo remained on that front) it could even mean the eventual creation of a single club in this area, as I do not believe the current Welsh-based Premier League club have either the infrastructure or the catchment area to take on such a 'franchise'

Cardiff City FC could 'handle' it, as we are streets ahead in the capital with our infrastructure and experience of many different 'big' occasions

Personally, I couldn't watch a team that seeks to 'unite' us with a certain other club for such a purpose, such is my dislike of their sycophant supporters (not the actual football team) in the main

Premier League is okay as it is (as is the promotion system) and that is why it is the best League in the world for competition!

But, other clubs must have the ability to realise they're 'dream' to play in it; otherwise, there would be no little Bournemouth's, there would be no little Swansea's and there would be no little Wimbledon's ever given the chance!

Imagine if they tried to create a single franchise club in Bristol! It's a big city, but they hate each other.

Hopefully a 'non-starter' as it would effectively be the start of an American-style 'franchise' system, where clubs are set-up mainly for their location and ability to attract finance (maybe something our current owner would like?)

It would also raise the question of 'Welsh' involvement and (assuming the status quo remained on that front) it could even mean the eventual creation of a single club in this area, as I do not believe the current Welsh-based Premier League club have either the infrastructure or the catchment area to take on such a 'franchise'

Cardiff City FC could 'handle' it, as we are streets ahead in the capital with our infrastructure and experience of many different 'big' occasions

Personally, I couldn't watch a team that seeks to 'unite' us with a certain other club for such a purpose, such is my dislike of their sycophant supporters (not the actual football team) in the main

Premier League is okay as it is (as is the promotion system) and that is why it is the best League in the world for competition!

But, other clubs must have the ability to realise they're 'dream' to play in it; otherwise, there would be no little Bournemouth's, there would be no little Swansea's and there would be no little Wimbledon's ever given the chance!

Imagine if they tried to create a single franchise club in Bristol! It's a big city, but they hate each other.

Could be an awful reality. This would destroy football as supporting a club, in my view at least, is about a large community. Random people becoming freinds due to a common interest. Combining pure hatred of Bristol City and Rovers would destroy any sense of community. If this was a reality all across the country the support would vanish.

May stop teams spending silly money trying to get there.

Money Money Money....Abba I believe.
Terrible idea,(smaller) clubs will eventually disappear.

I know it won't happen but I am hoping for the day that football as we know it implodes.

We are just off the back of protests against ticket prices and now we have already rich clubs wanting to close shop.

If there was a movement to set up a new governing body with a new club in every town and city that employs players within a wage cap. I would be there in a shot.

Let the money grabbing owners managers and players carry on without fans, playing each 'ROUND OF GAMES' in some empty stadium in an oil rich country.

I'm sure I get more and more anarchist, socialist or even communist with every passing year.

they cannot pick choose who will stay in premier its obvious that if time comes to reduce it to 16 in that season there will be relegation to facilitate this? 5 bottom teams relegated and 6th bottom in playoff with championship side so 2 champ clubs promoted following seasons as stated! unless someone as brighter idea?
and of course football league will just tag along with idea

I read that in November Greg Dyke said he wanted to reduce the number of teams to 18 but the next day the FA then said they would not do it.
A bit easier?
If they did this they would relegate 4 teams and promote 2 teams for that season. Just like in 1995

I read that in November Greg Dyke said he wanted to reduce the number of teams to 18 but the next day the FA then said they would not do it.
A bit easier?
If they did this they would relegate 4 teams and promote 2 teams for that season. Just like in 1995

it wont be biggest teams chosen to be in premier it would be on basis of who dont finish in relegation positions?

If anything they will extend the Premier League, if the current trend of small clubs punching above their weights with big teams suffering relegation continues they will seek to protect that by making it even less possible. Plus the PL makes it's money off TV rights, less teams equal less TV games.

How could it be good for the English national team when half the league His full of foreign players and mangers if it went to 16 teams they would have less to pick from

My feeling is within 10 years we will have franchises, with a Premier One with 16 teams and a Premier 2 with 24 teams and no relegation. Possibly 4 up and 4 down to give everyone a chance at the big money. With us and Swansea as the Welsh representatives, and Celtic and Rangers from Scotland and a couple of clubs from Northern Ireland. The franchise system works well in American sport and I can see it moving here. The old style supporters will have long gone by then.

My feeling is within 10 years we will have franchises, with a Premier One with 16 teams and a Premier 2 with 24 teams and no relegation. Possibly 4 up and 4 down to give everyone a chance at the big money. With us and Swansea as the Welsh representatives, and Celtic and Rangers from Scotland and a couple of clubs from Northern Ireland. The franchise system works well in American sport and I can see it moving here. The old style supporters will have long gone by then.

Maybe right about franchise but not Celtic/rangers to many obstacles in way, unless of course uefa is on board with idea?

Hopefully a 'non-starter' as it would effectively be the start of an American-style 'franchise' system, where clubs are set-up mainly for their location and ability to attract finance (maybe something our current owner would like?)

It would also raise the question of 'Welsh' involvement and (assuming the status quo remained on that front) it could even mean the eventual creation of a single club in this area, as I do not believe the current Welsh-based Premier League club have either the infrastructure or the catchment area to take on such a 'franchise'

Cardiff City FC could 'handle' it, as we are streets ahead in the capital with our infrastructure and experience of many different 'big' occasions

Personally, I couldn't watch a team that seeks to 'unite' us with a certain other club for such a purpose, such is my dislike of their sycophant supporters (not the actual football team) in the main

Premier League is okay as it is (as is the promotion system) and that is why it is the best League in the world for competition!

But, other clubs must have the ability to realise they're 'dream' to play in it; otherwise, there would be no little Bournemouth's, there would be no little Swansea's and there would be no little Wimbledon's ever given the chance!

Imagine if they tried to create a single franchise club in Bristol! It's a big city, but they hate each other.

Indeed!

I think a number of cities could probably cope with more than one team, e.g. London (obvious), Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. Beyond that there wouldn't be any IMHO and I include certain 'regions' in that, too (inc. South Wales and the West of England)

An even bigger worry for me, is the possibility of certain one or two team cities gathering momentum for a Euro League that has 'exclusive' membership and 'voted' membership rather than relegation battles (a bit like the old Conference to Football League system that once existed over here!)