In the CL it probably is an advantage on average provided that you can score in the away leg. If you fail to score in the away leg you are instantly under pressure, especially if you concede early in the home leg. Last night was a perfect example of this. In the play-offs I don't think it makes much difference to be honest as away goals do not count.
It's a two legged cup tie against Wigan or Reading About time we enjoyed it even if we don't deserve it ... what have we to lose?
In my view more matches are won on the away leg and therefore the home advantage has become less important.
I suppose a few million quid to The Football League FFP pot and even more millions to the legal eagles trying to prevent us having to pay it if we stick around in this league for another year.
I honestly don't get this whole home advantage thing in the modern game. In some very specific circumstances (e.g. QPR at home to the scum) the crowd can genuinely make a difference but most of the time you would like to think that professional players were able to stick to a game plan home or away. And of course the impact of long distance travel is much less of an issue these days. So why is that game plan usually so negative from the away team? The Champions League and other European tournaments have long been blighted by this factor and first legs are often very tedious affairs. Would it really be so unfair to switch to a single leg for all ties? To bring this back to QPR: unless he undergoes some kind of Damascean change between now and the play-offs we know for sure that HR will follow the well trodden path and be uber defensive away from home. Is that the best choice? If we end up playing Wigan they will likely be attack minded when they come to LR.
Good post AAgh and of course you are right. Theoretically it should make no diffrence whether we play at home as this is a group of profeesionals doing thier jobs. Thing is though, a lot of games are won by the opposition making a mistake and a place like Loftus RD in the evening under floodlights can have a somewhat intimidating and almost sinister feel to those who arent welcome there, whilst building our players belief and confidence up beyond belief. A single venue would undoubtedly be the fairest but would rsult in lost revenue for the club. Add to that the question, why should the team finishing 6th have the same as tghe team finishing 3rd. Surely be finishing 3rd & 4th we have earned the right to have an advantage? I hope and believe that our fans will make HQ a real couldron and do everything they can to help us make a Wembley final. As DT says, at this moment in time we have nothing to lose. Lets get behind them and Harry. You never know, they may just surprise us.
