I've just duplicated this from a thread I've posted on the Pompey board [hope you don't mind] When the promotion playoffs were introduced, in the 1986-87 season, it was with the intention of keeping the season alive for more clubs later in the season. Although thereâs the annual âwe woz robbedâ complaint from supporters of the 3rd placed side (it happened to Pompey in â93!) it has done just that. Nowadays the Championship playoff final is described as the richest fixture in domestic football. So what are your thoughts of a similar thing at the other end of the tables? The bottom two [three from League One] would be relegated as usual, with the next four in the playoffs. This time of course it would be the semi final LOSERS n the âfinalâ, with the winner staying up and the losers being relegated. Take last season as an example. From the Premier League, Reading and QPR would have been relegated in the usual way, but Wigan would have been in the playoffs against Aston Villa, with Newcastle and Sunderland battling out the other. In the Championship Wolves and Bristol City would still be down, but Peterborough would have a playoff semi against Huddersfield while Millwall would have played Barnsley. In League One Pompey, Hartlepool and Bury would still be down but Scunny would have another chance, against Stevenage initially, while Oldham and Colchester would no longer be safe. In League Two Aldershot would still be down, but Danenham & Redbridge, Plymouth Argyle and AFC Wimbledon would still be fighting for their league survival, with the latter playing Barnet. I personally think it [like the promotion playoffs] will be great for the neutrals, although I realize it would provide extra squeaky bum time to supporters of those teams in the lower echelons of each division. What do you think?
I don't know, it seems a bit negative. Winner of promotion playoffs gets promotion, it's something to really celebrate, winner of relegation playoff would get nothing (other than relief) whereas the loser would be relegated, which seems kind of cruel, to focus the despair of being relegated into one match, where you would blame the winners for your misfortune. It's bad enough to be relegated anyway but if you had the hope of salvation, and the whole focus of the national footballing media was on you, I dunno, it just seems a bit cruel and would probably engender a lot of ill-feeling.
Personally dont think its a good idea. You'd have two teams after having a poor season face each other and the chances of fighting between the fans would be greatly increased.
Not for me. The 3 worst teams should go down. It would be harsh on the 18th placed side if they ended up going down instead of the 21st place side - there could be a big points gap between the two.
for me they should scrape promotion playoffs, top 3 should go up. Imagine finishing 3rd but loosing in the playoffs
Not as bad as the Belgian system. I don't really think it would work, the last day drama wouldn't be the same. You could do it so the Championship play offs are 3rd, 4th, 5th and the 18th team in the Prem, winner goes/stays up.
I like this idea more than the original one. There's no chance of the Premier League clubs ever agreeing to a system that means you could finish 15th and get relegated.
Agree there is a positivity to the promotion play-offs...extension of hope. Top 2 go up automatically, then next 4 play off...may seem harsh if team 6 go up at expense of team 3, but it is decided by games of football in the end. Couldn't bear extending the relegation pain...should be bottom 3 of the league.
I'm not even sure I like the Promotion play-offs. It seems to me every team played the same schedule, so if you finish in third place you are a better team than the team that finished behind you. It's already settled, so why have a play-off? But I just try to look at that last position as a "bonus" slot. Only the top two teams get to go up, and "deserve" to go up. There is a third spot open for teams to qualify for a lottery. One lucky team wins the lottery. But at least that's a good lottery. A play-off for relegation would be like a Shirley Jackson lottery.
Having the play-offs for promotion does keep the League more competitive right up until the end, so it serves more purpose than just to annoy the team finishing third. Saying that, it is still very harsh on that team!
I'll pose another question: Would removing the play-offs for promotion be a good idea? i.e the top 3 from the championship go up automatically.
It probably would from a sporting point of view, but the spectacle is good, the fans enjoy going to wembley, and it's a real money-spinner for the football league so they're here to stay.
