[Red Warrior]

Avram Grant said last night that Chelsea have been playing "the best football" over the Premier League run-in, though he conceded also that his side could end up losing the title on goal difference with the Israeli, albeit optimistically, suggesting the trophy should be decided in a play-off match if the top two finish level on points.

"Of course I have an interest in saying this now but I liked the system in Italy," said Grant. "They played a play-off match if they were level and the title was decided like that. It is a better way, so ask the Premier League to change to this.

 

[Red Devil]

Avram Grant said last night that Chelsea have been playing "the best football" over the Premier League run-in, though he conceded also that his side could end up losing the title on goal difference with the Israeli, albeit optimistically, suggesting the trophy should be decided in a play-off match if the top two finish level on points.

"Of course I have an interest in saying this now but I liked the system in Italy," said Grant. "They played a play-off match if they were level and the title was decided like that. It is a better way, so ask the Premier League to change to this.

Grant: Shut yer gob!!

 

[dlan4327]

He's got a point. Look for me the Premiership's goal difference system is nonsense, a absolute bit of cods wallop. I love old fashioned sayings. Anyhow he's right both Spain and Italy have systems that are fairer to

the two teams at the top. Look at things this way. Teams like Tottenham or Aston Villa might go on a run of four successive 1 - 0 losses and then win their next two games 6 - 0. That just seems to be the way they do

things. Now on paper their goal difference looks respectable 12 goals for and 4 against, goal difference = +8. However ultimately that doesn't reflect the fact that they lost four games on the trot. Currently Man Utd's

goal difference is +56, it's fantastic! To highlight the near comical gulf, Blackburn, a very respectable team, are sitting on +5. On paper that would mean United are so far ahead of Blackburn that Rovers

might as well pack up and go home from Old Trafford before even playing. Yet they are capable of stretching United to the limit. They drew with us.


My point is that goal difference doesn't reflect a teams ability or worthiness to win a trophy. All it say is that maybe when they win they win big and maybe when they loss they lose by narrow margins.

Man City have a negative goal difference yet would you say this season has been a failure for them? They did the double over us. Looking at La Liga their system, if the top two are inseparable, go by the top two

teams head to head record. Last Season when Madrid reclaimed the title for the first time in four years they were trailing Barca by goal difference which would have see the title go to Barca under the English system.

However nobody can deny the comeback Madrid made that year due to some out of this world comeback performances from Becks, once again proving people wrong, and Van Goal. The title deservedly went to them

because they had the superior record over Barca and undoubtedly deserved it more.The premier league should at least be open to the possibility of trying either the head to head system or the playoff system. It's

only fair.

 

[Jay007]

A one off game doesn't show whos the best team either.

When United got beat by Wolves 1-0 a couple of years ago, did that mean Wolves were a better team than Man Utd?

Also, looking at the teams who have won and lost the most games doesn't mean anything. Man Utd have won more games than Chelsea, but have lost more. So that doesn't prove anything either.

Imo, goal difference is probably the best way to do it.

 

[Red Devil]

If a team scores more than another and finishes that fraction ahead, tough cacky poo's on the second team - its called playing over 38 games and finishing on top.

No, dead against any playoff, even if United were the team behind. WE are on top because we have a goal scoring team.

Chelski are second because they like to play 1-0!!! Tango Sierra baby.

 

[ADAM_85]

The reason it is down to GD, then goals scored, is due to the wish for attacking, flowing football, the same reason that the points were changed from 2 for a win, to 3, to promote attacking football. Something our club strives on, and its whole policy, and nature is built around.

dlan4327 So, are we saying then, that this season, Barsnley are the best team in the country? They beat Chelsea, who beat us? No. The league winners are the best team in the country, because you can do it, week in week out, take the pressure of other games, knowing that next week, you have another BIG game to play.

Liverpool MAY be the masters of trohpy football, because they pkay their 'weekend' team using reserves. Which is no good for the league, and hence the 18 or so point gap back to them, from us.

Goal Difference, then goals scored is the best way to settle the league.

 

[RedAlexSmith]

Don't like Avram.
but if we where in Chelski's place, we would have wanted a play-off too!
let's first win the league, and talk about it next year!

 

[dlan4327]

dlan4327 So, are we saying then, that this season, Barsnley are the best team in the country? They beat Chelsea, who beat us? No. The league winners are the best team in the country, because you can do it, week in week out, take the pressure of other games, knowing that next week, you have another BIG game to play.

When United got beat by Wolves 1-0 a couple of years ago, did that mean Wolves were a better team than Man Utd?

Okay fair enough, ladies and gents, I was wrong about the playoffs. Still it'd be fun to see Wolves win or Barnsley grab the league title in a playoff wouldn't it? Admit it, everyone loves a playoff.

So assuming the playoff idea is scrapped I still feel that La Liga's system has more merit. Assuming Man Utd and Chelsea ended up tied they go by head to head record between the two clubs. Our last two fixtures have

seen a win apiece but Man Utd lead on aggregate goals 3 - 2. So we'd still win but it feels somehow more deserving than goal difference.

 

[sparkic]

A play off would be a good idea and one the FA should look into..

 

[Dynamite]

Get a coaching job in rugby league avrum grunt, all because we have a far superior goal difference

 

[spellbound]

Mr Sunshine have spoken again. Maybe he should attack better and more next season.

 

[eoininho]

there should ALWAYS be an incentive to play atacking football and scoring lots of goals!! This situation is a rare reward for it!!!! He certaily wouldn't be saying these foolish words had the tables been turned..

 

[cjl_safcfan]

trying to find a way to give his team a chance...it doesnt matter about the run in...it is a premier league SEASON

 

[32_Mame_Diouf]

This is just another way of grant saying- We are not good enough, so give us another option!

 

[ADAM_85]

Don't know how true this is, or how trustworthy the source is, and I can't verify it anywhere on TheFA.com, but http://www.sporting-life.com/football/live/tables/premiership.html says that if the clubs are level after Goals scored; then a playoff will be played? Never heard that before, it says this is for relegation battles too.

 

[futbol]

Grant: Shut yer gob!!

Seconded ! Its the rules and you must follow it ! What a sore loser !

 

[Titface]

sooooooooooo annoying.

shut it arvam.just shut it.
you havent been as good as us.FACT.
we beat teams all season by bigger goal difference than you.
when i heard what he said i couldn't help but to 'eff n jeff.....(swear)

 

[ADAM_85]

Seconded ! Its the rules and you must follow it ! What a sore loser !

I totally agree. I always thought it was 2head to head" until i decided to trawl the net for an answer, and even thefa.com doesnt have one to the contrary.

So which "rule" is it futbol?

 

[Keano!]

Here's the situation:

Should Chelsea somehow claw back and level on points with us as well as goal-
difference then there would not be a playoff.

The league would then look at head to head meetings and on that basis, United
would win this season (3-2)

Should there still be a draw there, then other things like discipline, and goals
scored only would come into play.

There is no chance of a playoff ever being introduced to settle a Premier League
winner. Do you really think the winner may do so on a penalty shoot out??

Ridiculous.


End Of.

 

[ADAM_85]

Keano. For one, you have it the wrong way round, as goals scored is before H2H. Otherwise, I think we need a source here, I've got one saying the opposite of the rest of you (which proves me original thoughts wrong) and Avram right.