Don't forget the possibility of Millwall, although if they do win it makes a bit of a mockery of the playoffs (in my opinion). They finished 13 points off the automatics and 9 points behind Scunthorpe in 3rd.
There have been larger differences between the clubs in all divisions since play offs were introduced. Imagine if the Fowls had beaten us. They were 15 points behind Brighton whilst we were only 6 behind them. Don'-the think Brighton fans will have been impressed either way.
I was fully expecting Fulham might well be the team that went up in the play offs, wasn't to be, pity for TC & SA.
Aye, I suppose it depends on whether you're in or out of them. If you're out or you finish 3rd you probably think they're just a money-spinner, if you finish 4, 5 or 6 you're probably all in favour. Can't remember how I felt in 2007-08 or 2015-16, probably as above.
Maybe mockery's a bit strong but it doesn't seem right that a team 13 points away from automatic promotion goes up over a team just 4 points adrift. I suppose I'm saying what's wrong with just the top 3 going up without having play-offs.
As I pointed out to a fan of TWS at work at the time in 2008, we would have gone up anyway without the play offs. Having been to Wembley I told him that going up that way was better than automatic for an experience, something our next performance confirmed. Losing a play off final must be an awful feeling, especially if you were the highest plain team. And gutting for fans of a lower placed team who thought they should, and would,go up because they are massive and have millions of fans as I enjoyed pointing out to a Wednesday fan.
I think it would be fair if they started the tie at a deficit of say one goal per X points away, for example 6 in this case, so Millwall would have had to start the tie 2-0 down (rounding 13 down to 12). But we've been saying this for years and so far the FA/EFL has shown no inclination towards changing the status quo.
The play-offs have massively improved the end of the season, in the past lots of teams had nothing to play for, they've been a brilliant success.
I can see that up to a point but the 3rd placed team that doesn't get promoted, and all their fans, would probably disagree. But if play-offs are thought to be a good thing why doesn't the PL have them for top 4 places?
If you are having play offs you can only decide it on places, not points gained. It is a money spinner and keeps interest going amongst fans of a lot of clubs which would be out of the running for a chance of promotion weeks before the end of the season. Rugby league have always done it, partially as they didn't have enough clubs to have a long enough season. That ended up with teams having a chance of playing in a Grand Final who were nearer the bottom of the division in terms of points than the top, and the winners of the Grand Final getting more publicity and recognition than the team which won the league.
