Watching the playoffs and it seems that the 'advantage' of a home second leg in the semi-final is thin pickings when there might be such a big points difference between third and sixth Was thinking an alternative would be a mini league between all 4 clubs (i.e. 3 games each) with the club that finished higher always playing at home Would really reward those teams finishing higher, and still mean the same number of games to win promotion So in the case of this season... Brighton vs Hull Brighton vs Derby Brighton vs Sheff Wed Hull vs Derby Hull vs Sheff Wed Derby vs Sheff Wed
And no one gets the big day out at Wembley and the telly can't go on about 'the richest game in sport'? Tempting.....
.......or perhaps the Scottish way, where potential relegation candidates fight for the right to remain in their division over teams from the next division down. SPFL PLAY-OFF DATES 2015/16 Ladbrokes Premiership play-offs Wednesday 4 May, 2016 Premiership play-off quarter-final, 1st leg 4th in Championship v 3rd in Championship Raith Rovers 1-0 Hibernian, kick-off 7.45pm Saturday 7 May, 2016 Premiership play-off quarter-final, 2nd leg 3rd in Championship v 4th in Championship Hibernian 2-0 Raith Rovers, kick-off 12.30pm Tuesday 10 May, 2016 Premiership play-off semi-final, 1st leg 3rd or 4th in Championship v 2nd in Championship Hibernian v Falkirk, kick-off 7.45pm (live on BT Sport) Friday 13 May, 2016 Premiership play-off semi-final, 2nd leg 2nd in Championship v 3rd or 4th in Championship Falkirk v Hibernian, kick-off 7.45pm (live on BT Sport) **Thursday 19 May, 2016 Premiership play-off final, 1st leg 2nd or 3rd or 4th in Championship v 11th in Premiership Live on BT Sport, kick-off 7.45pm **Sunday 22 May, 2016 Premiership play-off final, 2nd leg 11th in Premiership v 2nd or 3rd or 4th in Championship Live on BT Sport, kick-off 3.00pm ** If Scottish Cup finalists Hibernian reach the play-off final, the dates will be Tuesday 17 May & Wednesday 25 May. Ladbrokes Championship play-offs Tuesday 3 May, 2016 Championship play-off semi-final, 1st leg 3rd in League 1 v 2nd in League 1 Peterhead 1-4 Ayr United, kick-off 8.00pm Wednesday 4 May, 2016 Championship play-off semi-final, 1st leg 4th in League 1 v 9th in Championship Stranraer 5-2 Livingston, kick-off 7.45pm Saturday 7 May, 2016 Championship play-off semi-final, 2nd leg 9th in Championship v 4th in League 1 Livingston 4-3 Stranraer, kick-off 3.00pm (AET) Saturday 7 May, 2016 Championship play-off semi-final, 2nd leg 2nd in League 1 v 3rd in League 1 Ayr United 2-1 Peterhead, kick-off 3.00pm Wednesday 11 May, 2016 Championship play-off final, 1st leg Stranraer v Ayr United Live on BBC ALBA, kick-off 7.45pm Sunday 15 May, 2016 Championship play-off final, 2nd leg Ayr United v Stranraer Live on BBC ALBA, kick-off 2.45pm Ladbrokes League 1 play-offs Tuesday 3 May, 2016 League 1 play-off semi-final, 1st leg 3rd in League 2 v 2nd in League 2 Clyde 3-1 Elgin City, kick-off 7.45pm Wednesday 4 May, 2016 League 1 play-off semi-final, 1st leg 4th in League 2 v 9th in League 1 Queen's Park 2-0 Cowdenbeath, kick-off 7.45pm Saturday May 7, 2016 League 1 play-off semi-final, 2nd leg 9th in League 1 v 4th in League 2 Cowdenbeath 1-0 Queen's Park, kick-off 3.00pm Saturday May 7, 2016 League 1 play-off semi-final, 2nd leg 2nd in League 2 v 3rd in League 2 Elgin City 0-2 Clyde, kick-off 3.00pm Tuesday 10 May, 2016 League 1 play-off final, 1st leg **Clyde v Queen's Park, kick-off 7.45pm Saturday 14 May, 2016 League 1 play-off final, 2nd leg **Queen's Park v Clyde, kick-off 3.00pm ** Fixtures reversed as Broadwood is unavailable on May 14 Ladbrokes League 2 play-offs Saturday 7 May, 2016 League 2 play-off final, 1st leg Highland League or Lowland League champions v Club 42 Edinburgh City 1-1 East Stirlingshire, kick-off 3.00pm Saturday 14 May, 2016 League 2 play-off final, 2nd leg Club 42 v Highland League or Lowland League champions East Stirlingshire v Edinburgh City, kick-off 3.00pm http://spfl.co.uk/playoffs/
Actually, the play offs came into being a long time before Sky! Introduced to stop half the matches played in April being between two sides with nothing to play for not giving a damn. It was dreadful to watch! Change the format by all means, but don't take us back to those days of yore.
Totally agree... I think it's a much better way to generate interest in the end of season for more teams, but it just seems that there might be a way to weight it a little more to reflect the finishing positions
I have to admit I am a great fan of the play offs, our home semi against Wigan and the final will live with me forever. Watching Plymouth v. Portsmouth now, fantastic drama
Agreed, not suggesting the playoffs are inherently bad, I just think they don't necessarily reflect the final table
I agree with what you are saying, it seems unfair that a team that finishes say 12 points behind another then gets promoted
Yes, I have enjoyed these lower league playoff matches too. Just watching the tail end of this one. So Plymouth it is with that late winner. Well done Grimsby too, having their day out at Wembley, now promoted to League Two, beating Forest Green 3-1, didn't realize that the other "beast" Jon Parkin played for FG. They will be disappointed as they finished the season 9 pts ahead of Grimsby, and were likely shell shocked conceding two goals in two mins just before HT. I see a second trip to Wembley on the cards for Grimsby too:- The promoted Mariners return to Wembley on 22 May for the FA Trophy final against FC Halifax. http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36244418
As Kilburn stated, the playoff situation up here in Scotland definately rewards the higher placed sides, although it is weighted in favour of the Premier League side who finish 2nd bottom of that league. It retains all the fervour towards the end of season, but there is no final, as the matches are all played over two legs. This season we get a new team in the league - Edinburgh City finally breaking into the SPFL from the Lowland League, and the expense of East Stirling, whilst at the other end of the leagues, Hibs have paud the cost of not finishing 2nd by having to play 4 games in 9 days, and falling short - Falkirk going through to play Kilmarnock in the final round of matches.
Perhaps next season our partnership with relegated Basingstoke Town will assist them in returning to the National League (South).
As an alternative, one of the play off scenarios here is quite good, it reduces the number of games to 4 and favours the higher placed teams: 3v4 (winner straight to final) and 5v6 (loser goes home) Loser of 3v4 v winner 5v6 (winner to final)