Premier League in the USA — 5 Reasons Why It Shouldn’t Happen

Playing the Community Shield abroad first as well as incentivising overseas tournaments need to be played out for starters. Jumping into something so massive and game-changing should certainly not be entered into lightly. Even choosing to make the League Cup final, often held in February, into more of a showpiece event in the States would not only improve the pull of a neglected competition, but also help iron out the creases of the current idea.

The bottom line is that the fans voicing their opinions right now see the proposal in a very negative light. At the end of the day, if the supporters who uphold the game are in opposition to it, that's reason enough to say no – or at least, the powers that be should put forth a more comprehensive and engaging argument. So far, it's just money talking.

Although it's all still very much up in the air, the Premier League's Chief Executive has set his sights on a late-November, early-December schedule, something that could still clash with the MLS Cup. And even if it doesn't, it would remain a distraction, something that would hover over the games and could well take away from the attraction of the States' big games, a format that, although not perfect, has taken years to build from the ground up.

Adapting one of the existing Premier League matches to include a gameweek abroad in the States seems to miss the fact that successful, lucrative preseason tours already take place every summer. Granted, the games aren't competitive in the same sense, but the drama and excitement are equal. Pushing this agenda underlines Richard Scudamore's desire to monetize, rather than improve the British game.

Pouring money, time and effort into improving how the domestic game is run, thought about and managed is a much bigger conundrum, and it's one that isn't getting a shred of attention from the big-wigs compared to this. The grassroots system might not be in dire straits, but it certainly needs a rethink.