Much discussion has taken place over the opening weeks of the new season about the thousands of empty seats at Premiership grounds, and the perceived lack of exciting, attacking football on the pitch.Much discussion has taken place over the opening weeks of the new season about the thousands of empty seats at Premiership grounds, and the perceived lack of exciting, attacking football on the pitch.

It is a widely held view that both topics are intrinsically linked and will be solved if incentives to play in a more attractive manner are introduced.

Some suggestions are bonus points for away wins, no points for goalless draws, additional points for more than three goals scored in a game, extra points for ten shots on target and so on.

Those who believe that the beauty of football is that it is a simple game, and should stay that way, will be encouraged by the findings of a US study that reveals that - opposite to the seemingly universal accepted perception - even the increase to three points for a win has had a negative effect.

‘Sabotage in Tournaments: Making the Beautiful Game a Bit Less Beautiful’ is an exhaustive statistical analysis produced by Luis Garicano of the University of Chicago and Ignacio Palacios-Huerta from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

They conclude that, in cases of changes in professional leagues aimed at encouraging more attacking play and goalscoring, there has been a response but not what might be reasonably expected: “Although teams increased offensive effort, they also increased destructive effort (`sabotage’) substantially, resulting in no net change in scoring.

“When ahead, teams became more conservative, increasing their defenders, scoring less goals, and allowing fewer attempts to score by their opponents.

“We also find that teams that engage more in sabotage activities depress the attendance at their rival’s home stadiums, and that indeed attendance suffered as a result of the incentive change.

“Thus, teams responded to stronger incentives, but in an undesirable way.“

More details of the study can be found on the Centre for Economic Policy Research web site. (Ref: DP5231)

Anyone for two points for a win?

Three Chelsea players were also named in the World XI team.

Two headers from Sol Campbell give Arsenal a comfortable victory against struggling Everton at Highbury.- Ronaldinho and Wayne Rooney were the big winners at the first FIFPro awards night in London. Barcelona’s Ronaldinho was named World Player of the Year while Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney won the Young Player award. Chelsea’s John Terry, Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele were selected in the World XI team. Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United won a special young player award and Pele was also honoured. FIFpro is the worldwide representative organisation for professional players. Except for Ronaldo’s award, which was decided by the public, the winners were voted for by their fellow professionals. 38,000 professional footballers - members of the 40-strong player organisations across the world which form FIFPro - voted to select the world XI.

- Two headers from Sol Campbell give Arsenal a comfortable victory against struggling Everton at Highbury. The England defender netted twice in the opening half-hour of his first Premiership appearance of the season.

- Manager Graham Barrow is sacked by Bury. Youth coach Chris Casper takes caretaker charge of the struggling Shakers who are next-to-bottom in League Two.

- Didier Deschamps resigns as head coach of Monaco. The former World Cup winners’ decision follows yesterday’s 2-0 home defeat by Stade Rennes that leaves them in 15th place in France’s Championnat. Monaco have lost four of their first seven league games and failed to reach the Champions League group stage.

Alan Shearer opened the scoring in, what could be, his last appearance at Ewood Park.

Liverpool and Manchester United battle out a cautious 0-0 draw at Anfield.- Michael Owen scores his first goal for Newcastle United as the Magpies win 3-0 at Blackburn Rovers. Alan Shearer opened the scoring in, what could be, his last appearance at Ewood Park. Liverpool and Manchester United battle out a cautious 0-0 draw at Anfield.

- Norwich City gain a much-needed 1-0 in the East Anglia derby at Ipswich Town. 11 yellows and 1 red card is shown in Derby County and Southampton’s 2-2 draw, and Saints boss Harry Redknapp is sent to the stands by referee Nigel Miller.

The champions have still to concede a goal this term.

Sunderland earn their first point of the season but are denied their first win by a last minute West Bromwich Albion equaliser at the Stadium of Light.- Chelsea win the battle of the top two in the Premiership with a 2-0 victory at Charlton Athletic. The champions have still to concede a goal this term. Sunderland earn their first point of the season but are denied their first win by a last minute West Bromwich Albion equaliser at the Stadium of Light. Promoted West Ham United continue their fine start with a 2-1 win in the London derby at Fulham.

- In the Championship, Sheffield United come from two-down at 3rd placed Watford to make it eight wins from their first nine games. Millwall are off the bottom with their second away win in a week. They are replaced by Sheffield Wednesday after a 2-1 win at Hillsborough.

- In League One, Huddersfield Town grab victory for the jaws of defeat with two added time goals against Brentford. Southend United’s impressive return to the third grade continues with a 3-1 win against Tranmere Rovers.

- Grimsby Town are top of League Two after a 3-0 win against Torquay United at Blundell Park. Carlisle United are up to second with a 3-2 win at Cheltenham Town. Carlton Palmer resigns as manager of Mansfield Town following a 2-0 defeat at Rochdale.

- A Rudi Skacel goal opens up an eight-point lead at the top of the SPL as Heart of Midlothian win 1-0 at Livingston.

There’s better news for Middlesbrough and Bolton Wanderers who both record home first leg wins.

England drop out of the top ten in FIFA’s World Rankings.- Everton suffer their heaviest-ever defeat in Europe as they crash 5-1 at Dinamo Bucharest in the First Round of the UEFA Cup. There’s better news for Middlesbrough (vs Xanthi) and Bolton Wanderers (vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv) who both record home first leg wins. Hibs are held at Easter Road by Dnipro.

- For the first time since June 2004, England drop out of the top ten in FIFA’s World Rankings. Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side fell four places to 11th after losing 4-1 in their friendly in Denmark and 1-0 in their infamous World Cup qualifying match against Northern Ireland.

His Manchester United team mates hold out for a goalless draw at Villarreal in the Champions League.

Arsenal leave it late against Swiss outsiders FC Thun.- Wayne Rooney makes the headlines for the wrong reasons as his petulance sees him sent-off by Danish referee Kim Morton Nielsen. His Manchester United team mates hold out for a goalless draw at Villarreal in the Champions League.

- Arsenal leave it late against Swiss outsiders FC Thun with Dennis Bergkamp netting a last gasp winner after Robin Van Persie is sent-off.

Concerns are raised though with a crowd of less than 30,000 at Stamford Bridge.

There’s a higher attendance at Hillsborough where Sheffield Wednesday come out on top of the Yorkshire derby with Leeds United. - The group stages of the Champions League gets under way with wins for Chelsea, Liverpool and Rangers. Concerns are raised though with a crowd of less than 30,000 at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea record a 1-0 win against Anderlecht through Frank Lampard. Holders Liverpool enjoy a fine 2-1 at Real Betis while Rangers beat previous holders FC Porto 3-2 at Ibrox.

- In the Championship, there’s a higher attendance at Hillsborough than there is at Stamford Bridge as Sheffield Wednesday come out on top of the Yorkshire derby with Leeds United via a goal from Chris Eagles. Cross-city rivals United stay on the top of the table win a 1-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion. The surprise result of the night is at Molineux where bottom-of the-table stun Wolves with a 2-1 win.

- Newly-promoted Swansea City go top of League One with a 3-1 win at struggling Milton Keynes Dons.

The move follows yesterday’s 7-1 drubbing at Swansea City.

Bolton Wanderers play out a goalless draw with Blackburn Rovers at the Reebok Stadium.- Brian Tinnion steps down as manager of Bristol City following yesterday’s 7-1 drubbing at Swansea City. The ambitious Robins are in 22nd place in League One.

- With manager Sam Allardyce being touted as a possible successor to beleaguered England coach Sven-Goran Erikkson, Bolton Wanderers play out a goalless draw with Blackburn Rovers at the Reebok Stadium.

- Heart of Midlothian restore their five-point win at the top of the SPL with a 4-1 win at Livingston.

Chelsea and Charlton Athletic retain 100% records after wins against Sunderland and Birmingham City respectively.- A late Joey Barton equaliser means City remain above United after the Manchester derby. Chelsea and Charlton Athletic retain 100% records after wins against Sunderland and Birmingham City respectively.

- Sheffield United’s impressive start to the Championship season continues with a 2-0 win against Ipswich Town at Bramall Lane.

- Swansea City record their biggest win since 1978 with a 7-1 thrashing of struggling Bristol City at the New Stadium in League One.

- On the 113th anniversary of their first away league game, Grimsby Town complete a run of six consecutive away league wins for the first time in their history. The Mariners go second in League Two with a 1-0 win at Peterborough United.

Miss Alam claimed she was the victim of constructive dismissal.

Manchester City’s Stuart Pearce is named Barclays Premiership Manager of the Month- Faria Alam, the personal assistant who had an affair with England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, loses her employment tribunal claim against the Football Association. Miss Alam claimed she was the victim of constructive dismissal. At the end of a bad week for the FA, an official statement read: ‘The FA has consistently viewed the claims as unsubstantiated and without foundation. We were therefore determined to robustly defend our position.’

- On the eve of the Manchester derby, Manchester City’s Stuart Pearce is named Barclays Premiership Manager of the Month for August.

- Charlton Athletic new boy Darren Bent is the Barclays Premiership Player of the Month.