10 comments

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  twakum

  1 year ago

  I think it is well... Fantastic! Unlike the other 456,234 negative posters at the Guardian blog..it is wonderful. It makes the Premier League in the best position to be the BEST league by far.
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  LemmusLemmus

  1 year ago

  This idea is completely nuts. In more detail, my view is here.
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  Jeff Hash

  1 year ago

  Being an American, I want to see the PL come here. I would go to these games that are being proposed. And I know others who would.
  
  But I have a major problem with it: the unbalanced scheduling. This isn't fair. Two matches per team is fair and right. Adding a third match against just one team, possibly Derby on one end or Arsenal on the other, is wrong. ESPECIALLY having it count in the standings. This is just wrong.
  
  I also worry about the rumored January scheduling for these games. There is already concern over scheduling, and we see teams get completely run out during the holidays. Now a foreign trip gets added to that? Sounds like a receipe for collapse to me.
  
  I do like the idea of 2 game weekends per host site. Make it a weekend festival instead of just one-offs.
  
  But honestly, it doesn't matter. This is inevitable. Hell, they might as well go ahead and say it's done, otherwise they wouldn't bother with the announcement.
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  olivert

  1 year ago

  The venues that will work well for EPL in January:
  
  Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, Sydney, Dubai, Johannesburg, and Los Angeles
  
  I don't believe Beijing, Shanghai, or New York (New Jersey) will work for EPL in January because those cities do NOT have domed stadiums.
  
  The EPL should concentrate most of its "international round" matches in East and Southeast Asia, where they can be played on Saturday and Sunday evening, so that they can be broadcast in the UK around lunch time.
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  Michael

  1 year ago

  Olivert, I can't really speak about Beijing or Shanghai, but the EPL can play in New York (more specifically as you mentioned, New Jersey) in January. The weather in that particular area, East Rutherford and North Jersey, is cold in January, but not as much snow as you'd think actually falls there.
  
  If they can play games in Scotland in January and in the northern cities in England, they can certainly play them in New York.
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  Dave M

  1 year ago

  This league is plenty popular in the US and it's growing all the time. Based on the number of shirts teams sell in Asia, I'd say they're not suffering there either.
  
  While I would love the games to come to me, and I'd line up to buy the tickets if a match were to be held in the Eastern USA - I believe the game is better served and preserved by playing in England. Period.
  
  20 out 20 clubs have apparently signed on, but just wait until a title is lost over three points when Liverpool has to play Tottenham and Chelsea draws Crystal Palace. Clubs and supporters will scream bloody murder.
  
  I love the game, and will make the pilgrimage to Old Trafford when I can afford to, but I will go to it so that I can get the full experience.
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  ben

  1 year ago

  Moving the English Premier League outside England will make it a circus - fullstop
  
  I'm from Australia but moving the English Premier League is moving the game away from what makes it great - the atmosphere and the English stadia
  
  What are the chances USA or Dubai will sing YNWA or Forever Blowing Bubbles etc
  
  Nothing can beat a trip to Stamford Bridge, Anfield or Old Trafford - playing it in America or Australia will not bring the same feeling
  
  Searching for extra money despite making loads makes the Premier League the call girl than a football league
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  wanderer_abroad

  1 year ago

  Its totally ridiculous to propose a full round of matches in different countries, especially if they're proposing to have them at the same time. It would be totally pointless to have all 10 games abroad only for 4 being able to be shown on TV. I was opposed at the suggestion on just 1 game being played abroad. The soul of the game is being flushed down the toilet as quickly as those chairmans silk toilet paper! I won't be surprised if this goes ahead but only a couple of games. Would be very surprised to see all 20 teams of the Premiership have a game abroad. I'm still crossing my fingers and praying that this wont happen though!
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  Charlie

  1 year ago

  Am I the only American who doesn't think this is such a good idea?
  
  The Prem wants to do this on one weekend in January -- five games on Saturday, five games on Sunday. The teams get the week before and after the trip off. Hope you don't have to worry about any FA Cup Replays, or else an already congested schedule is going to end up being completely plugged.
  
  Bottom Line: This is nothing more than a massive money grab by the Premier League. Hope they rig the draw so no one outside of the UK has to fork over big money for Wigan v Derby County.
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  Athel

  1 year ago

  the whole idea is a scandalous money driven perversion of football, a travesty!! the premier league is English football for the English, while I obviously have no problem whatsoever with an American or Chinaman or anyone gaining pleasure from the beautiful game and have no problem with pre and post season exhibition games (in fact I'd encourage that as a fair way to allow said American or Chinese person to see the clubs in action as I have) it is still the ENGLISH league and already is the best in the world acclaimed across Europe and the wider world, moving it out of England makes it a joke! this is beyond belief! if the fa wants to start a world super league then start one in the vein of the European champions league! the best from each country's league, not this! the English league has already watered itself down too much by having so few English players (my team, Liverpool fielded a maximum of just 3 in the poor performance against under strength Milan) but this is way too far!
  
  http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/EPLabroad/
  
  British citizens sign and get this stupid idea stopped
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