Top 3 Promoted v The Play Offs

[Bombadier Botty]

Can't remember how many decades ago the system reverted from the top three going up automatically to the current play off format to make the season 'more interesting' but maybe it's time to revert back to the top three going up

To finish in third and go out in the play offs to a team that has accrued 10+ less points than you over the course of the season must be quite galling.

 

[T.G]

Can't have it both ways I would have take promotion when we sneaked in two seasons ago. Certainly there is a element of injustice for the third placed team, but adds to a more exciting end to the season.

 

[sparkie]

Certainly a case for rethinking the format.

Perhaps 6th could playoff at 5th, the winner of which plays off at 4th, the winner of which plays off at 3rd for promotion.

The wembley showdown could be a playoff between promoted 1st and 2nd for divisional glory.

 

[GT49er]

Can't remember how many decades ago the system reverted from the top three going up automatically to the current play off format to make the season 'more interesting' but maybe it's time to revert back to the top three going up

To finish in third and go out in the play offs to a team that has accrued 10+ less points than you over the course of the season must be quite galling.

This came up on the Football League show - 3rd. place team goes up more often than any other position - 10 times out of 26. Worst place to finish, statistically, is 4th. (4 out of 26).

 

[tomfitz12]

The old serie B system, i believe, was that if the team in third finished ten, or more, points above fourth then they went up automatically rather than going through the play offs.

 

[Sussex Nomad]

We got into the play offs via 6th place a couple of years back, I don't remember any threads then saying it wasn't fair?

 

[GT49er]

We got into the play offs via 6th place a couple of years back, I don't remember any threads then saying it wasn't fair?

True, but although we were disappointed, I don't think there were too many complaints about being tonked by the team that came third.

 

[Sussex Nomad]

True, but although we were disappointed, I don't think there were too many complaints about being tonked by the team that came third.

This is true.

 

[Bombadier Botty]

We got into the play offs via 6th place a couple of years back, I don't remember any threads then saying it wasn't fair?

You realise the post was tongue in cheek I take it?

 

[Sussex Nomad]

You realise the post was tongue in cheek I take it?

Ummm yeah, no, not sure... possibly!

 

[Mayonaise]

Certainly a case for rethinking the format.

Perhaps 6th could playoff at 5th, the winner of which plays off at 4th, the winner of which plays off at 3rd for promotion.

The wembley showdown could be a playoff between promoted 1st and 2nd for divisional glory.

I like this idea

 

[Brovion]

Playoffs. It keeps the season alive longer for more clubs. I know some people think it's unfair on the club who finish third, but actually (as I've said on another thread) the era of three-up-three-down between the top two divisions only existed for 13 years. It was introduced in 1974 and was replaced by the play-offs in 1987. For about sixty years prior to 1974 it was two-up-two-down.

 

[Bombadier Botty]

I like this idea

So do I, it's borderline genius! Make it so.

 

[Sussex Nomad]

Playoffs. It keeps the season alive longer for more clubs. I know some people think it's unfair on the club who finish third, but actually (as I've said on another thread) the era of three-up-three-down between the top two divisions only existed for 13 years. It was introduced in 1974 and was replaced by the play-offs in 1987. For about sixty years prior to 1974 it was two-up-two-down.

F*ck me I'm old, I remember that.

 

[peterward]

Certainly a case for rethinking the format.

Perhaps 6th could playoff at 5th, the winner of which plays off at 4th, the winner of which plays off at 3rd for promotion.

The wembley showdown could be a playoff between promoted 1st and 2nd for divisional glory.

or something similar to away goals rule..... if the matches of 3rd v 6th or 4th v 5th end up all square after 180 mins, the 3rd and 4th teams would go through based on superior league pos. the 6th and 5th based teams would need to win over 2 legs, 3rd and 4th could win or draw.... seems fair

 

[BensGrandad]

I prefer the original play off format of 3rd 4th and 5th plus 3rd bottom of the division above who had the chance to stay up.

 

[Sussex Nomad]

I prefer the original play off format of 3rd 4th and 5th plus 3rd bottom of the division above who had the chance to stay up.

And caused a riot (Boro v Chelsea).

 

[GT49er]

I prefer the original play off format of 3rd 4th and 5th plus 3rd bottom of the division above who had the chance to stay up.

Far too desperate - as I remember these inevitably turned into clog-fests, fights and all that was bad about football. Much better now (though personally I still don't like the idea of playoffs at all, but I acknowledge that horse has bolted now).

 

[BensGrandad]

Why should that format cause any more trouble than the existing assuming the play offs were Newcastle v Sunderland & Portsmouth v Southampton or similar. I think the trouble followed what was the norm at the time. We have all moved on from then and those days

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

I more than likely a crap idea but I think a system taking elements from the Rugby League format of old could work. Increase the number of teams in the play offs to 6, get rid of the 2 legged format and give home advantage to the team finishing higher. Two rounds, and then the final. Teams finishing 3 and 4th would get a bye to the second round.

So for example

Round 1

5th vs 8th
6th vs 7th

Winners go to second round losers are out.

Round 2

3rd vs lowest ranked side to go through from round 1.
4th vs other side to qualify from round 1.

Final at Wembley at normal.

No extra matches to be played as it gets rid of the two legged games and becomes a 1 game shoot out so won't take any longer to run. It would also mean Ipswich, Birmingham, Brentford, Preston, Leeds and QPR would still currently have a chance of making 8th (some quite a slim chance) so less meaningless games at the end of the season. Although it would be a bit galling to finish 3rd and lose to the team who finished 8th a massive 25 points or so behind.