[Football] Unfair EFL play-offs

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

The problem with this approach is the team that finishes third won't have played a match for weeks. It might keep them somewhat fresh but they won't have played any competitive matches, which I would think is a disadvantage.

Yeah it would require the games to be pretty quick after the season. For example if the league finished on the 11th, have play off round one on the 15th, round two on the 20th and the final on the 25th.

Third place team would essentially have the same length of break as they would in an international week. It would allow them to fully refresh. They could have a few days warm weather training with a friendly chucked in while the other teams risk injury and get knackered physically and mentally from grueling play off matches.

I'm not sure if it's logistically possible and it might not be perfect but it feels like it would be a fairer system than the current one.

 

[US Seagull]

The problem with this approach is the team that finishes third won't have played a match for weeks. It might keep them somewhat fresh but they won't have played any competitive matches, which I would think is a disadvantage.

Right, it can cut both ways. The team could be refreshed and rested. Or they could be rusty and lose focus. The extra time is definitely not a clear cut advantage

 

[Theatre of Trees]

Play-off systems in other countries:

Spain/Poland
Same as England

Germany/Portugal/Sweden
Team 3rd from bottom in top tier play team finishing third in second tier

France/Scotland/Norway
Team finishing 3rd from bottom in top tier play winners of second play-offs: winners of 4th v 5th then play 3rd.

Italy
Teams finishing 3rd-8th qualify for play-offs in Series B. 5th-8th play each other over two legs with the winners then playing 3rd and 4th. Winners of that match then play two legged final to see who gets promoted.

Netherlands
The most convoluted system. 7 teams take part, 6 from tier 2 and the other finishing third from bottom in tier 1. You can qualify for the play offs in the second tier in two ways: First, the season is split into four periods of 9-10-10-9 games - if you have the best record in any of the periods that will guarantee a place in the play-offs wherever you finish over 38 games (Den Bosch topped the league after the first 9 games this year and eventually finished 9th). At the end of the season any winners of the four periods who finish in the top 2 or have won more than once are discounted throwing qualification open to those finishing 3rd downwards (unless you are a reserve team ineligible for promotion). It is possible to get into the promotion play-offs finishing 12th or 13th in a 20 team league

Play-offs themselves involve the 6 teams from tier 2 in the first round; the three winners and 3rd from bottom in the Semi-Finals and finally the final (this year involves the teams finishing 3rd from bottom and 7th.

Previous system involved teams finishing 2nd and 3rd from bottom joining 6 teams from tier 2 (same system used to determine) being placed in two groups with winners of each playing in the top division the following year.

Belgium
Teams finishing 3rd-7th in Tier 2 playa knock out with the winner playing off against the team who finished 3rd from bottom in tier 1

Czech Republic
Teams finishing 2nd and 3rd from bottom play teams finishing 2nd and 3rd in tier 2 over two legs. Two winners play in the top division the following year.

Turkey
Five teams from tier 2 qualify for the play-offs - Knock out completion between those finishing 4th-7th with the winners playing off against the team who finished 3rd

Denmark/Greece
No play-offs

 

[Eeyore]

In 15-16 it was very annoying that we finished 15 points ahead of Massive but for no tangible advantage. In fact, us having a potential promotion-winning game 6 days before while they had nothing to play for in their final regular-season game was a definite disadvantage and felt bloody unfair at the time.

However, the play-off system has proven to be very successful in providing drama and entertainment. At the end of the day that’s what sells tickets and gets people watching on telly - the whole purpose of professional sport. I can’t see the format being changed, and personally I really enjoy it every season.

This is the issue. Albion were involved in a bruising match at Middlesbrough whilst Massive were able to rest players. So an unfair advantage. Sunderland seemed to be resting for weeks.

I like the National League format.

 

[PascalGroß Tips]

This is the issue. Albion were involved in a bruising match at Middlesbrough whilst Massive were able to rest players. So an unfair advantage. Sunderland seemed to be resting for weeks.

I like the National League format.

If they were to make a change - I doubt they will - I agree that the National League format does the job.

 

[US Seagull]

possibly give the higher placed team, a 1 goal start in each play-off tie.

Hmmm...that way they can just park the bus for a full 90 minutes. Sounds exciting.

 

[happypig]

For the Championship I would make the playoff contenders 3rd and 4th place in the Championship and 16th/17th in the PL.

 

[Sorrel]

Agree with those who say copy the national league format. It also is a single match each play-off round - with those higher in the league always getting home advantage.

 

[withdeanwombat]

I’d go for the Denmark/ Greece option.

 

[BrightonCottager]

In Portugal the team that finishes 3rd in the second div plays the team that comes third from bottom in the 1st. Didn't we have that here at the start of play-offs?

 

[Weststander]

In Portugal the team that finishes 3rd in the second div plays the team that comes third from bottom in the 1st. Didn't we have that here at the start of play-offs?

From memory, didn’t the higher division club usually win? Far better players. Could be wrong, a gen ago!

 

[AZ Gull]

From memory, didn’t the higher division club usually win? Far better players. Could be wrong, a gen ago!

I believe it was only in place for two seasons; in the first (1986-87), top-flight Charlton beat Leeds United but only after extra-time in a third match after the original two legs finished 1-1 on aggregate, and in the following season top-flight Chelsea lost to MIddlesbrough over two legs.

 

[Muhammad - I’m hard - Bruce Lee]

3rd team straight to the final
4th team home advantage in a one off semi final
5th team home advantage in a one off game against 6th

 

[nickbrighton]

It is inherently unfair that the team in third usually is fighting to the last day of the regular season, risking injury, tiredness etc while those teams in 4, 5 and 6 are often set a week or so before and can rest players, take it a bit easy. And when 3 is a substantial number of points ahead of the rest its even more unfair

i always thought that the higher up you finish the more of an advantage you should get, rather than the opposite which seems to apply now

so I think that a system like below would mean its worth finishing 3rd over 4th, 4th over 5 and 6

5th v 6th
winner plays 4
winner plays 3 for the promotion spot

 

[Braggfan]

It is inherently unfair that the team in third usually is fighting to the last day of the regular season, risking injury, tiredness etc while those teams in 4, 5 and 6 are often set a week or so before and can rest players, take it a bit easy. And when 3 is a substantial number of points ahead of the rest its even more unfair

i always thought that the higher up you finish the more of an advantage you should get, rather than the opposite which seems to apply now

so I think that a system like below would mean its worth finishing 3rd over 4th, 4th over 5 and 6

5th v 6th
winner plays 4
winner plays 3 for the promotion spot

The playoffs are not unfair though. Most teams would take 3rd and playoffs at the start of the season. It only ever seems to be a gripe when the team in third goes out.

Ultimately the top two teams are the only two that deserve automatic promtion. And if you finish third, like Sheff Utd did this season, 14 points ahead of 4th, then on paper you should win the playoffs. If you don't then it just underlines that you weren't good enough.

When we played Sheff Wed in the playoffs and they beat us, they finished lower than us and your argument suggests that gave them an advantage. I think any advantage was negligible. They didn't beat us unfairly, they just had the better of the luck over two legs. Suggesting that they had an advantage because they finished lower just seems like a complete cop out.

 

[Braggfan]

Nop don’t change it format works every one knows the rules before that start , all this let’s tweek this change that no just leave it alone

100% this.

 

[Berty23]

The national league play offs are the way to go. One off matches with the team higher in the league at home. It won’t happen though because of the day out at Wembley.

 

[nickbrighton]

The playoffs are not unfair though. Most teams would take 3rd and playoffs at the start of the season. It only ever seems to be a gripe when the team in third goes out.

Ultimately the top two teams are the only two that deserve automatic promtion. And if you finish third, like Sheff Utd did this season, 14 points ahead of 4th, then on paper you should win the playoffs. If you don't then it just underlines that you weren't good enough.

When we played Sheff Wed in the playoffs and they beat us, they finished lower than us and your argument suggests that gave them an advantage. I think any advantage was negligible. They didn't beat us unfairly, they just had the better of the luck over two legs. Suggesting that they had an advantage because they finished lower just seems like a complete cop out.

If we go by the the best teams over the course of the season deserve to go up then whichever way you organise the play offs is unfair. \The top three teams over 46 games go up is the only fair way of doing it.
obviously not every season will those in 6,5, or 4 have an advantage, but as happens often , teams are secure in a play off place, with no chance of automatic, with a couple of weeks to go, Why then would you not rest players, or run yourself ragged, whilst the team that may have a chance of securing automatic right to the final match will be trying all out to get it. It automatically builds an advantage. Whether or not those teams take advantage of it is another matter

. The idea that after finishing say 10 points or more ahead of another team, but then have an off day and miss out , proves you arent the better team or deserving promotion means that we should be league champions because we beat an on the beach, hungover Liverpool! we definitely arent better over the season, but were on one evening

The league is a ladder , with the better teams rising, and worse teams falling, The play offs are unfair and have become simply a method to make money by adding extra games. Great for the teams that get promotion, but to say they are fair is IMO demonstrably wrong and actually go against the whole principle of promotiuon and relegation through merit. Thats not to say they arent often exciting , because they are, but fair? no way. They call the play offs a lottery for good reason