Rival watch

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I see the third placed team gets a trophy. Does the second placed team? Always thought the playoffs (which I was originally against but now must admit keep the season alive) were a bit tough on the runners up. The winners get the champions trophy, the playoff winners get to go to Wembley and a trophy, but the runners up are almost the most forgotten of them.

The third placed team do not get a trophy. the winners of the play offs get one. I know this is pedantic but as a watford fan i'm never going to tire of pointing out that we actually finished third!
 
I know the play-offs have been with us for 25 years (so I should be used to them), but I still think they are very unfair after the 3rd placed team has outperformed the other teams over a 46 game season.

Not as bad as both rugby codes though. You play all season to finish top, but a team from halfway down the league wins the title <yikes> Ridiculous.
 
I know the play-offs have been with us for 25 years (so I should be used to them), but I still think they are very unfair after the 3rd placed team has outperformed the other teams over a 46 game season.

Not as bad as both rugby codes though. You play all season to finish top, but a team from halfway down the league wins the title <yikes> Ridiculous.

Couldn't agree more. Feel free to send the U21s trophy to where it belongs.
 
I know the play-offs have been with us for 25 years (so I should be used to them), but I still think they are very unfair after the 3rd placed team has outperformed the other teams over a 46 game season.

Not as bad as both rugby codes though. You play all season to finish top, but a team from halfway down the league wins the title <yikes> Ridiculous.

As a big RFU fan and ex player, I completely agree. Any league championship should be about consistency over an entire season. It's not a cup competition. We all know why it's done, for one reason, and one reason only - money.
 
You could argue that the play-off evens out discrepancies in the league and ensures that the best team goes through though...

The team in third could have had the rub of the green with refereeing decisions over the course of the season and finished a point above the team in fourth who had consistently bad luck such decisions. In this case wouldn't it be just if the team in fourth progressed rather than the team in third?
 
You could argue that the play-off evens out discrepancies in the league and ensures that the best team goes through though...

The team in third could have had the rub of the green with refereeing decisions over the course of the season and finished a point above the team in fourth who had consistently bad luck such decisions. In this case wouldn't it be just if the team in fourth progressed rather than the team in third?

Maybe but its just as likely that the team in fourth has a poor season and finishes 10 points behind the team in 3rd but gets a lucky decision in the playoff game. Points over the season is the fairest way to judge which teams are better
 
Maybe but its just as likely that the team in fourth has a poor season and finishes 10 points behind the team in 3rd but gets a lucky decision in the playoff game. Points over the season is the fairest way to judge which teams are better

That's true, but does it make for a fairer league overall if more teams have something to play for towards the end of the season?
I've no idea, to be honest, but it was very annoying to watch a bunch of sides strolling about at the end of this Premier League campaign.
 
I didn't give that story much credit at first Dave, but it seems to be hanging around.
Maybe Moyes wants to move on Carrick while he still can and bring in Fabregas and Fellaini?
They'd make a fairly frightening pairing, though I'm not sure why Barca would want to sell him.
 
http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/209491.html

what do you guys think about this, no question our midfield needs improving but I would have thought Fellaini is more realistic.

Fellaini seems a good bet, Fabregas...no chance.

Barca spent 2 seasons trying to get him back, he is the natural successor to Xavi and I believe Arsenal would get a percentage of any sale too meaning Barca would be out of pocket (may be wrong though). Really can't see it.
 
They seem to have decided that they're better without him anyway following stunning victories against Newcastle and Fulham