39th Game

[hugh jardon]

From the main onlinegooner site:

One Night In Bangkok?
By AISA

AISA requests your views on an Arsenal Premier League match being played abroad
The Premier League is exploring the possibility of holding competitive matches overseas. The idea of potentially huge changes to the game has arisen without any discussion with fans.


Or maybe Cape Town instead?
The Arsenal Independent Supporters Association (AISA) opposed this previously after carrying out a widespread consultation, and is again seeking views from all Arsenal supporters. The National Football Supporters’ Federation has responded to the news by saying “If the reaction to previous incarnations of 'Game 39' and the idea of matches abroad is anything to go by, we expect this proposal to be met with the strongest possible opposition from supporters.

“The potential impact on the value of season tickets, which would see fans of half the Premier League clubs missing out a home match, could be enormous. Inevitably some of the fixtures to be moved will be either local derbies or other high-profile fixtures. The FSF is against the proposals as they have been reported, and will be consulting with Premier League fans' groups and individuals to formulate an appropriate response.”

All Arsenal supporters are invited to let AISA know your view by emailing [email protected] or tweeting @AISA_Arsenal

[hugh jardon]

Personally I am strongly opposed to the proposed 39th league game or ANY competitive English game being played abroad. The game is being so far removed from the common match going fan it's insulting. The very core who keep the clubs where they are.

• Rip off ticket prices
• Rip off replica shirts than change every year!
• Changing fixture dates and kick off times to suit foreign TV rather than the people who will actually bother to go to the game
• Unwanted all seater stadium with no atmosphere

The proposed 39th game must be stopped! The people supposed to be running the game are killing it in the interest of lining their own pockets!

[augie]

It wont happen (at least in the next decade anyway) but let me question 1 little point.....how the fcuk would season ticket fans be losing out on 1 home game ? The proposal is for 1 EXTRA game so if your season ticket price remains the same then you are getting the same 19 home league games for the same price so what the fcuk are they going on about ??

I'm sure the premier league at looking at the success of the nfl and nba games in the uk, and are thinking that they can do the same if they took their games abroad - the big difference for me is that there is professional football in almost every corner of the globe so exporting a league game cannot have the same impact as playing an nfl game in a country where the game itself isnt that big (and I say that as a HUGE nfl fan )

[gp543]

A 39th game cannot logically be a competitive fixture. How would they determine who plays whom?

As an overseas supporter, I would never want this match to happen knowing it was jeopardizing the integrity of the competition and the health of our squad.

Don't bring the game to me, I'm perfectly happy to go over there thanks. It's a far more thrilling experience and feels genuine. No need to sit inside a soulless American ground paying for overpriced beer with stewards who are more jumped up than at the Emirates and families with little children who ask you to sit down so they can see over their plate of nachos and foam fingers.

[Gunner Rob]

things have moved on augie.

it is no longer a 39th game that is being discussed - rather playing 1 round of the 38 PL rounds each season abroad.

although I am against it I would be more in favour of it if there were 2 rounds played each season abroad with every team having to play a "home" match abroad. it would make sense to have a double header between 2 teams in January between the 3rd and 4th round of the FA Cup - that also would address the winter break that they have also been talking about for years. 2 matches v for example Stoke City in Indonesia with 99% support for Arsenal would probably get us more points I suppose. Bangkok is also a much better location than Stoke

[DB10GOONER]

Totally against it.

LEAVE FOOTBALL ALONE YOU MONEY HUNGRY CÚNTS!!!

[QuartzGooner]

I am in favour of competitive games overseas as both a respect to the many overseas fans of English clubs, and for a holiday idea for English fans.
But not games that are taken from the Premier League season because it is not right that English fans who have paid for season tickets would miss out.

I have two ideas of how it might be done:

1.) A Pre-Season Tournament.

Teams are going overseas for pre-season friendly tours anyway, why not make it a bit more official with a tournament during August, a trophy at the end of it etc.
Move the league season back a small amount to start at the start of September, which would allow some holiday makers from the UK to go to the summer tournament.
August League games are odd anyway, too many fans are overseas at that time.


2.) The League Cup.

I regard this as a chance for younger players and players returning from injury to get a run-out, rather than a full on competition.
It is almost irrelevant for the big clubs.

Maybe most of it can be played in one hit overseas during January?

You could have the early rounds in England, then take the last 16 teams overseas.
Group stage with four groups of four, only the winners of each group go through to semi finals.
That means group games are competitive.

Avoids the bad weather here in January, allows for mid-season training camps for senior players and adds a bit of spice to the final.

[Supagoon]

it's going to happen because there is money to be made. If you were a shareholder you would vote yes for more money.

With Americans on an offensive by bringing a British 'football' NFL based side, surely Scudamore will go on the counter attack and bring PL games around the world including the states. Americans finally get to see superstars like Borini, Debuchy, Fabianski up close and personal, throw in an ageless Rio Ferdinand. They'll love that sh*t them.

I don't want it, personally I don't care if world fans only see the Arsenal on a tour vs a local random XI, but who am I to stop progress, and it will happen.

[northbank123]

Won't happen in the foreseeable future. Just about all fans are opposed to it and even though some clubs will be seeing dollar signs given the consensus of popular opinion against it I can't see clubs being keen to speak out in favour.

Think the more realistic solution is to perhaps formalise some sort of pre-season tournament abroad but clubs will kick and scream that this detrimentally affects their pre-season prep and commercial income from organising their own tours in the case of the bigger clubs. If the FA are that desperate on instituting it then they will eventually form some form of resolution but I thnk it will be a lengthy discussion/consultation process and not end up in the 39th game format. Certainly not straight away anyway.

[SteveO 35]

Totally against it.

LEAVE FOOTBALL ALONE YOU MONEY HUNGRY CÚNTS!!!

I bet Stan and Ivan are already voting in favour and working out how many additional marketing opportunities it will bring in Asia

We'll hear how vital it is to make us a global brand that can compete with the world's elite clubs

[Herd]

I am in favour of it only if we can play home games at the Singapore National Stadium which is 5 mins walk from my flat across a small footbridge .

Tonight I will be mostly attending the Japan Brazil game the first sell out of the new stadium ,they've spent gazillions on it but the pitch is pure cack !

I think the modern game looks more and more towards Aisia and the US where TV rights are soaring so I can see it happening !

[RespectTheUmlaut]

I can see it happening because of the £££ but I 100% vehemently reject this idea.

I honestly feel that any competitive fixture being paraded around the world for no reason other than money would be a further, and possibly the worst, dagger blow imaginable to the spirit of the game.

As DB10 says, leave our game alone you money grabbing bastards.

[dPmunky]

my opinion on the 39th game is the same as my opinion on wenger

100% against!

also 100% against any of the other 38 games being played out of country.


This is LITERALLY WHY WE HAVE TELEVISION and pay out of our asses for "premium" sports packages

[hugh jardon]

Black Scarf Movement statement suggests it may not be a "39th Game" but one or more of the existing 38 league games:

Announcement:
Arsenal's Black Scarf Movement opposes Premier League plans for overseas matches
Recent news reports have suggested that once more, the Premier League is looking at the possibility of staging a round of competitive matches overseas, this time one of the 38 games which make up the league season. This follows the collapse of previous plans in 2008 and 2010 to host a "39th game" abroad.

Once again it seems as if those running our game have got pound signs in their eyes, and have completely forgotten the widescale condemnation the proposals received when previously mooted. As Arsenal's largest supporters' group we receive a lot of correspondence from fans both in the UK and abroad, concerned with the direction our national game is taking; this proposal for overseas Premier League matches only further strengthens these concerns.

We therefore strongly oppose any plans to host Premier League matches overseas, and there are a number of reasons for this.

The English football leagues are loved across the globe. As the country which brought the beautiful game to the world, we have a long standing history of passionate, honest competition that has received millions of admirers at home and abroad, over many years. This integrity will be shattered if the Premier League is allowed to ratify competitive matches overseas, which are designed purely as a money making exercise.

In the interests of fair competition we also question how the idea of a 38th match overseas will work. Playing one round of competitive matches at neutral venues will mean one less home match for at least 10 Premier League teams, and with that there is the loss of advantage in home support. Does that really work in the interests of fair play?

Those clubs facing one less home game in the Premier League season should also be made to reduce season ticket prices accordingly, as fans will miss out on that fixture. However, knowing how our own club works and seeing similar practices employed elsewhere in the Premier League, we feel that season ticket prices could well remain the same and therefore fans will be hit with a stealth increase in the amount they pay to watch their team.

It should never be forgotten that matchgoing fans are the life and soul of our game. We appreciate that monster commercial and television contracts have ensured the Premier League and its clubs are rolling in cash and that there is less reliance on income from ticket sales, but without the attendance and passion of the fans at matches, the Premier League would have no brand to sell.

While it's fantastic that the Premier League has acquired millions of new fans across the globe, the idea of playing a round of matches abroad and the associated issues that come with it, could be disastrous. Let alone the immorality of tweaking the competition's rules purely as a means to bring in even more cash, with the complexity and problems that overseas matches could bring, certain clubs also stand to lose millions of pounds bearing in mind one decision or a single goal under enforced different circumstances could mean missing out on European qualification, or relegation.

When the plans for the "39th game" were previously aired, we had foreign supporters saying to us that they disagreed with the idea, and we assume that these views still stand. Of course many clubs are now including overseas tours into their schedules, and this allows fans abroad to witness their teams in action. This has brought additional revenue for the clubs that take part in such tours, and we feel that this is the perfect way to ensure supporters outside of the UK are made to feel a true part of the club(s) they follow without ruining what our game stands for.

The integrity of English football is at risk, but as ever it seems as if those at the top are focused purely on short term cash over the long term interests of the game. With clubs continually pressing the loyal, matchgoing support for more and more money - despite the huge amounts now coming into the game from commercial and television contracts - it is important that those running our clubs, and the FA, see sense in this matter.

Football without the fans is nothing.

Up The Gunners.

[DB10GOONER]

I am in favour of competitive games overseas as both a respect to the many overseas fans of English clubs, and for a holiday idea for English fans.
But not games that are taken from the Premier League season because it is not right that English fans who have paid for season tickets would miss out.

I have two ideas of how it might be done:

1.) A Pre-Season Tournament.

Teams are going overseas for pre-season friendly tours anyway, why not make it a bit more official with a tournament during August, a trophy at the end of it etc.
Move the league season back a small amount to start at the start of September, which would allow some holiday makers from the UK to go to the summer tournament.
August League games are odd anyway, too many fans are overseas at that time.


2.) The League Cup.

I regard this as a chance for younger players and players returning from injury to get a run-out, rather than a full on competition.
It is almost irrelevant for the big clubs.

Maybe most of it can be played in one hit overseas during January?

You could have the early rounds in England, then take the last 16 teams overseas.
Group stage with four groups of four, only the winners of each group go through to semi finals.
That means group games are competitive.

Avoids the bad weather here in January, allows for mid-season training camps for senior players and adds a bit of spice to the final.

Wudda wudda wudda! What part of...

"LEAVE FOOTBALL ALONE YOU MONEY HUNGRY CÚNTS!!!"

...did you not get?