And surely the team at the end of 38 games which has scored the most goals and defended the best to concede the least amount deserves recognition……….

Goal difference, by the way, is not sufficient, it is a dumb, semantical concept that should not be the first tiebreaker.

I think the most common solution we’ve come up with is that the champion should be determined after 38 games, but the CL and UEFA Cup places could be won in some sort of playoff format much like the Dutch League does it. It seems like most people agree that something has to be done to shake the current system up, but to what degree and how that shake up would be formatted is the great debate.

This has been a good debate and I’m not picking on you personally Michael but something you posted struck me: “I like my champions as teams who can rise to the occasion on a big night. I like the teams who can show up when it truly, truly matters most. No one will ever convince me that every game means the same; you can’t tell me that the 13th game of the year is the most important as the last one, and I like teams who are able to turn it on at the end of the year for that stretch run.”

What about the team that plays consistently and wins matches against any or all opposition. The Liverpool side of the last couple seasons would mop up after having rested through ‘nothing’ league games against Wigan and the like.

What I would say to that argument is that if the league games are essentially going to be made less meaningful then why play them at all? Just make the league a big cup runoff and be done with it. Playoffs have their use but at what cost?

In the NHL, only half the teams are eliminated after the end of the regular season. They then play another two months to decide a champion. Hockey in June? It’s ridiculous.

Even baseball has gotten a bit overblown with the playoff format. The divisional champions are rewarded with very little after a grueling 162 game schedule.

Clearly, a compromise would be a better way to go.

I much prefer the idea that the title still goes to the team that accumulates the most points over the course of the season. This ensures some integrity to the regular season. Let the playoffs settle the “money” positions for European play and I would also adopt the Dutch relegation/promotion playoff system. The more I look at it, the more it makes sense.

I know Kartik advocates the Mexican league system but being relegated only after a second poor season seems a bit too generous. If your poor, then you need to step aside and rebuild. Can you imagine Derby County staying up for another season. Good lord, what would be the point? Not to be too harsh to the club but even if they did stay up due to the “mexican rules” what would they accomplish next season? They could finish 10th and probably be relegated anyway.