Not that it matters to us championes, but I just can't think of another reason we have this format, other than the extra revenue it generates. We all played the same number of home and away matches, we are all awarded (or not) points after each game. Why then, at the end of the season the top three teams do not automatically go up on merit? There are no play-offs for the relegated threatened teams in the premiership. As it stands there are probably only four teams consistently playing for the title, plus another two of three in the mix for Champions League and Europa places, the rest are simply playing to avoid relegation. So if there are to be play-offs, I think it should be to stay in the Premier League. Personally, I'd rather stick to three down and three up.
No, never scrap the play-offs. It's just so fun watching Baaaaaaaaadiff get their hopes up and then fail. Besides, the play-offs is why the championship is so unpredictable, it gives everyone something to play for.
There are plans to extend the playoffs in the future from what I hear. The idea is that the teams who finish 7th and 8th will play one game away to the teams who finish 5th and 6th, and the winner of them ties plays the teams who finish 3rd and 4th.
It was brought in originally to give the mid-table teams something to play for in the last couple of months, like Reading, who came from nowhere with 8 wins in a row. They used to include the team in the highest relegation place but that was dropped after a couple of years. It would be more fun if they had relegation play-offs as well for the 3rd relegation place, so this year it would have been Derby v Preston and Palace v Doncaster with the losers going into the final and the loser going down!
It could happen on the grounds of ill health that it causes the stressed out supporters, I believe the British Heart Foudation are looking to banning the play offs as we speak for these reasons.
Should The Play-Offs Be Scrapped? Only if your team is in the top three. If your team finishes 4th, 5th or 6th then they shouldn't be scrapped.
Guys - it could be worse, we could do it like the Rugby, then we would now be in a playoff with the top 4 to decide who was going to win the league... that we had just won. Bonkers if you ask me - the FA are probably considering it as we speak.
No, they're great. Last 6 games of the season , sometimes half the teams can still go up. The old timers on here will remember how many dead rubbers there used to be!
You're right Northolt. Once top two were clear, the season was dead. Talk about a meaningless finish. Yet here we are waiting for the play-off final. Just don't think it merits the global stage though when the best teams played local throughout.
Without the playoffs the last two months of the season become pointless for maybe 6-10 teams, we wouldn't have the most exciting games of the season and it makes a lot of money. No-brainer really.
Without the Play-Offs we wouldn't have the privilege of watching Dave Jones and the Baadiff "massive" crying cos they've bottled it again! - keep them going, cos we ain't gonna get pulled into that mire again if NW gets his way and makes us an established PL team. COYRssssss
Especially after we lost to Cardiff right at the of that playoff final. The one that they were given home advantage.
As a neutral I love the play offs. As fan of one of teams involved, they are a nightmare. Despite how much of a nightmare they can be I would not want them scraped. They are generally good entertainment (well, the 2nd legs are) and the Final is occassionally mad (Sunderland v Chelsea; Cardiff v Blackpool are 2 very good examples)
I really would love to see Stevenage go up though the playoffs, would be a huge achievement. If they get past Accrington Stanley I am going to go to the final. Thanks to the bloody champs league though i'm going to have to go to Old Trafford.
Looking well forward to the Swansea v Reading final... BUT the one I really want to see is the Conference one, AFC Wimbledon v Luton. I've been following the fans' team results every week since they got started and ain't they done well? AND if they go up they're just one league behind M Fake Dons and the most intriguing grudge match of all time!!! Come on Wimbledon, show 'em what true fans can do when you jack their football club!!!!!
I totally agree, BrixtonR. AFC getting League football will be the cherry on the icing on the cake this season; another two fingers to the shambles that is the FA.
