Alternate playoffs

[DroitwichBlade]

It was discussed on talkSPORT earlier about the potential of a team with 22 more points (us) than their opponent (Bristol City), in the play off is fair.

So, they came up with an idea which is allow the third place team to be automatically entered into the play off final and the 4 places below battle it out to get to the final.

Or, do as the Italians do, if the 3rd place team finishes on more than 14 points than the 4th place team, they automatically go up ( no idea why 14 points).

Good or bad ideas?

If this has been posted elsewhere….apologies!.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

It was discussed on talkSPORT earlier about the potential of a team with 22 more points (us) than their opponent (Bristol City), in the play off is fair.

So, they came up with an idea which is allow the third place team to be automatically entered into the play off final and the 4 places below battle it out to get to the final.

Or, do as the Italians do, if the 3rd place team finishes on more than 14 points than the 4th place team, they automatically go up ( no idea why 14 points).

Good or bad ideas?

If this has been posted elsewhere….apologies!.

Sod the playoffs. Promote the top teams. It wasn't broken. It didn't need fixing.

 

[Chezzy Blades]

It was discussed on talkSPORT earlier about the potential of a team with 22 more points (us) than their opponent (Bristol City), in the play off is fair.

So, they came up with an idea which is allow the third place team to be automatically entered into the play off final and the 4 places below battle it out to get to the final.

Or, do as the Italians do, if the 3rd place team finishes on more than 14 points than the 4th place team, they automatically go up ( no idea why 14 points).

Good or bad ideas?

If this has been posted elsewhere….apologies!.

The Italian way is interesting. It would have certainly kept Sunderland's league season alive longer they've been meandering for weeks now and look in terrible form for the playoffs (cue them winning it!).

 

[jt64]

Sod the playoffs. Promote the top teams. It wasn't broken. It didn't need fixing.

Teams would be on the beach in February without playoffs this season

 

[Yellarbellyblade]

3rd straight to final
5th v 6th
Winner away to 4th to get to final

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

3rd straight to final at their home stadium
5th v 6th
Winner away to 4th to get to final

 

[PokerBlade]

I hate being in the playoffs. Too much stress and misery in my memory. I do like what it does for the league and wouldn't tinker with it.

 

[Yellarbellyblade]

Wouldn’t necessarily disagree ISZA ⚔️ but the EFL won’t sign up for that (or any change probably)

 

[CarlMcBlade]

I’ve always preferred the German system were third bottom plays third top over two legs…Thus negating the need to go to a neutral ground. But you can’t deny the play offs on the whole have been a successful way of keeping the season alive till the very end.

 

[skegblade]

Sod the playoffs. Promote the top teams. It wasn't broken. It didn't need fixing.

All to do with paying for wembley,

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

All to do with paying for wembley,

It was paid for years ago.

 

[ATL Recs]

Sod the playoffs. Promote the top teams. It wasn't broken. It didn't need fixing.

It did need fixing and it’s better for the game makes it competitive

 

[jt64]

It was paid for years ago.

Well, last year, but you are correct

 

[Bladesman]

3rd straight to final
5th v 6th
Winner away to 4th to get to final

That's probably the solution I think.

 

[YES Blade]

I think the playoffs could do with being freshen up after about 30 years of the same format.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Well, last year, but you are correct

Was it that recent?

Surprised it took that long with the amount of use they've had out of it.

It's hosted well over 500 games of football without adding all the revenue from music concerts, shows and other sports.

 

[jt64]

Was it that recent?

I was arguing with someone on another forum in relation to FA Cup semi finals last week and yes, seemingly it was

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

It did need fixing and it’s better for the game makes it competitive

Teams who finish 3rd and don't get promoted may beg to differ.

 

[Southend Blade]

It was discussed on talkSPORT earlier about the potential of a team with 22 more points (us) than their opponent (Bristol City), in the play off is fair.

So, they came up with an idea which is allow the third place team to be automatically entered into the play off final and the 4 places below battle it out to get to the final.

Or, do as the Italians do, if the 3rd place team finishes on more than 14 points than the 4th place team, they automatically go up ( no idea why 14 points).

Good or bad ideas?

If this has been posted elsewhere….apologies!.

I think a version of this system is in place in the National League to an extent. As far as i know the 4th place team plays 7th place team at home, and 5th place plays 6th place at home in a one leg eliminator. The winner of each eliminator then plays the 2nd place team and the 3rd place team to create a final. It seems a fairer system to me, with all the higher placed teams hosting the game and having home advantage, and not extending to 2 legs. Play offs, to me, are intrinsically unfair, particularly to a team who are so far ahead in 3rd place, but i suppose they add to the enjoyment of the league in some way. Anyway, lets hope we can finally shake up the tradition and smash all opposition to go on to returning to the PL so i can stay up until after midnight to see us on MOTD

 

[derfblade.3]

All teams know the rules at the start of the season so to start saying that a team that finishes 22 points ahead of the 6th placed team is being treated unfairly is wrong.
If it was us finishing 22 points behind 3rd place we would take the play off place with open arms.

 

[loyalblade95]

Playoffs are only fun when you're not in them, otherwise it's a nervous experience.

Wouldn't mind them trying the international way of doing things for the playoffs, make it 3rd Vs 4th in a one off game at Wembley, like how the beaten semi finalists in the tournament play each other for 3rd.

 

[Panini]

I’ve always preferred the German system were third bottom plays third top over two legs…Thus negating the need to go to a neutral ground. But you can’t deny the play offs on the whole have been a successful way of keeping the season alive till the very end.

I agree, but the German system works as they have 18 teams in each of their top two divisions. It'd never work with 24 teams, way too many dead rubbers in the second half of the season.

I like how the National League playoffs work and with a couple of tweaks could be made even better.

 

[BalticBlade]

The 19 teams who finish outside the automatic promotion and relegation places should compete in a weekend five-a-side tournament at the Birmingham NEC. Whoever wins the tournament gets promotion

 

[DI36O]

All teams know the rules at the start of the season so to start saying that a team that finishes 22 points ahead of the 6th placed team is being treated unfairly is wrong.
If it was us finishing 22 points behind 3rd place we would take the play off place with open arms.

The counter argument is that we all knew the rules at the start of the season so Sunderland have been tanking for the last couple of months because they know there's no advantage to getting 90 points instead of 70 points.

Om another note I'd be interested to see 17th and 18th in the prem alongside 3rd and 4th in the championship.

 

[WayneAllison]

The play offs is the best thing about the EFL

 

[Revolution]

I’ve always preferred the German system were third bottom plays third top over two legs…Thus negating the need to go to a neutral ground. But you can’t deny the play offs on the whole have been a successful way of keeping the season alive till the very end.

The 3rd bottom side has won something like 14 out of the last 15 ties. The German system makes it effectively 2 up 2 down.

 

[dsr-burnley]

It was discussed on talkSPORT earlier about the potential of a team with 22 more points (us) than their opponent (Bristol City), in the play off is fair.

So, they came up with an idea which is allow the third place team to be automatically entered into the play off final and the 4 places below battle it out to get to the final.

Or, do as the Italians do, if the 3rd place team finishes on more than 14 points than the 4th place team, they automatically go up ( no idea why 14 points).

Good or bad ideas?

If this has been posted elsewhere….apologies!.

It would be interesting to see how well it worked - the disadvantage for the team coming third is that they would have gone at least 3 weeks without a game before the final.

Of course, if 4th to 7th are battling it out on equal terms it has solved nothing. They would then have to find a way to stop 7th place (10 points behind 4th) having an "unfair" equal chance.

 

[BobbyDavison'sDebut]

I’ve always preferred the German system were third bottom plays third top over two legs…Thus negating the need to go to a neutral ground. But you can’t deny the play offs on the whole have been a successful way of keeping the season alive till the very end.

We've been there already coincidentally against Bristol City and that didn't end well

 

[Selly]

It would be interesting to see how well it worked - the disadvantage for the team coming third is that they would have gone at least 3 weeks without a game before the final.

There is no particular reason that it has to be three weeks though.

If you assume the format is

a) 5 v 6 @ 5 ground
b) 4 v winner of (a) @ 4 ground
c) 3 v winner of (b) winner goes up @ 3 ground

a) could have been played last night, (b) could then be played either Saturday or Sunday with c played next weekend. The only tricky part of this is getting 5 to sell their tickets in effectively 3 days - all the others are smaller away allocation, or the club can start selling the day after the end of the season.

It wont happen as the EFL seem wedded to:
- the two leg format
- Wembley

 

[YES Blade]

The counter argument is that we all knew the rules at the start of the season so Sunderland have been tanking for the last couple of months because they know there's no advantage to getting 90 points instead of 70 points.

Om another note I'd be interested to see 17th and 18th in the prem alongside 3rd and 4th in the championship.

No way the Prem teams would vote for it, but it would be interesting to have a relegation playoff.

With the promoted clubs finding it harder and harder to stay up, another chance for the 3rd bottom club against the 4th, 5th and 6th bottom clubs would be interesting to see.