I have not been paying much attention to Scottish football other than keeping an eye out for the results of a small handful of teams so what utterly astonished this morning when I checked out what time the Scottish Cup Final was being played today to find that the Final is between Falkirk and Inverness! How refreshing to see the Final being played by two of the lesser sides. For me it makes it more worthwhile watching as it is likely to be less predictable, if perhaps not pretty to watch. I shall root for Falkirk but think Inverness will be far too good for them.
It also looks as if Rangers will be facing another season in the second tier, they've an uphill task now in their play-off semi-final second leg against Motherwell. Motherwell are in the playoffs trying to retain their SPL status and I would like the playoffs changed in England so that the third bottom club in the PL fights it out with third, fourth and fifth in the Championship. IMO finishing sixth in the Championship is not worthy of a tilt at the PL and to have three clubs automatically relegated from the top flight is too many. I'm not just saying this because we've just been promoted either, its a long held belief of mine.
Good, though not for the fans. All the shouts that Scottish football would implode because 'Gers' were not in the PL always was total bollox. The only team to suffer in the last 2 years was Hearts, and that had nothing to do with Rangers dropping to Div 3. It has made the SPL a darn sight more comparative this season too, although sadly Celtic ran away with the title again.
It is a refreshing change for sure. At least we disposed of Chelski and Citeh in the early rounds. Well, when I say we............
You don't think the Premiership team would have a massive advantage over the Championship play off sides?
Yes I do, the team that finishes between third and fifth place would have to truly justify replacing them by winning the playoffs. As it is the sixth placed Championship team could finish 10 or 12 points behind second and still get promoted that's wrong IMO Carrabuh.
You're over-complicating matters...the top three in the Championship should be automatically promoted, the bottom three in the Prem should be relegated, straight forward and simple, success rewarded, not failure.
The playoff system means that so many sides have something to play for normally right up to the last game of the season just like Ipswich this term and in no way should they be abolished. It's not rocket science Welly, you substitute the sixth placed Championship side for the third bottom PL side, how's that over complicating it? Bloody hell mate if we went back to the old system your lot would never play PL football again!
Why give the team that finished 3rd bottom in the Prem another chance? (wasn't that done some years ago and abolished?). No, top three up, bottom three down, simple and straight forward, success rewarded. (I thought that you was old skool )
It was and I don't think a div 2 side beat the div 1 side at any time (could be wrong). I am quite happy as it stands today, although perhaps the play off for the 3rd place, if there has to be one, ought to be between 3rd and 4th placed teams only, and not extend it to 5th & 6th.
That's even more bizarre, so the team that finishes 3rd has to play the team that finished 4th to see which team effectively took the 3rd promotion place? Think about it...
I can understand a view of disagreeing with 6th being promoted. Although you might as well take it to just saying you disagree with the play-offs. I certainly do not think the Premiership side playing the Championship side is a fair game to play.
The play offs have done so much to keep the season alive for a lot of clubs. I really don't see how they could be scrapped. As I've argued before, though, I think if the play offs are level after 180 or 90 minutes (semifinal or final), the team who finished higher in the league should go through or go up. That would be fairer than penalties and would ensure that one of the two teams had to attack at all times during the play off games because they knew they were going to lose out.
The problem that could arise with third playing third bottom is, like this season, the last round of matches are not on the same weekend, meaning one team could go into the playoff cold. I suppose the fixtures could be arranged to finish together, but that would need the PL and FL reaching agreement. To get back to the thread, police are looking into trouble between players at the end of the match.
Despite Middlesbrough beating Manchester Citeh in the FA cup and holding Liverpoo to a 2-2- draw in the league cup, losing 14 - 13 on pens? They more than held their own against two of the perceived 'big six'
I think the play-offs have contributed to the championship financially is a significant manner and that's what counts. An alternative play off system that could be sold by Murdoch for more cash would be a shoo-in
I don't see the relevance. You could probably name at least 3 times more games where the Premiership side won. In addition, a mid round FA cup match hardlt bears the same importance as a play off final. You certainly wouldn't get anybody being rested for that one.
