Championship Play-Off Vote

[Grey Blade]

That's just silly,

The whole concept of play offs is silly as it turns a league competition into a knockout competition. However it's organised, 'you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear'

 

[bakeblade]

The whole concept of play offs is silly as it turns a league competition into a knockout competition. However it's organised, 'you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear'

I disagree the play offs are great. Extend interest in the season for quite a few teams and the championship final is probably the best game out of all the leagues.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

I disagree the play offs are great. Extend interest in the season for quite a few teams and the championship final is probably the best game out of all the leagues.

Some Blades might disagree.

 

[bakeblade]

Some Blades might disagree.

I'll rephrase that to the winners and neutrals

 

[The Fox]

Yeh that’s a decent point.
Altho we get that in the current play-off set up too.

Last season Sunderland qualified a few weeks before the season ended…started playing weaker teams resting players
And they went totally out of form…..they weren’t that great in the semi-final either but still won the play-offs.

Yeah true , but when you get to 8th its going to very likely if 3rd and 4th can't reach autos and cant be reached by 7th and 8th .

Just a problem waiting to happen

 

[jt64]

Well, it would have given us more than half a dozen games this season that mean something, which was the whole point of introducing playoffs in the first place...

 

[The Fox]

So pleased some of our fans aren’t running the club….they have no idea about business.

I think a lot of fans and people on here are pretty business savvy .

If we we're running the club then that would be our job and we'd make the same decision.

However we're not running the club , we're speaking at supporters and whilst we absolutely understand why the decision has been taken we can still think its a bad idea .

 

[john Mathison]

Last season, remember the points gap between ourselves and Bristol city???? You could have a team 30points behind 3rd place in 8th, getting lucky and winning the play off, only to get absolutely annihilated in the premier League.

 

[Keen Blade]

No, but we are a club that could benefit

You dream of winning a play-off ?
After 10 failures ?
I admire your optimism my friend !
3 up 3 down would have been fair last season

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

No that’s over done….to many teams and whoever finishes 10th has a reasonable chance of winning the play-offs and that is wrong.

The new format is best….where whoever finished 3rd and 4th have a huge advantage over the other clubs.

3rd v 10th at the 3rd's home.............thats currently Ipswich v Bristol City in a one off game played on the first Tuesday/Wednesday after the final league game.

 

[YES Blade]

Last season, remember the points gap between ourselves and Bristol city???? You could have a team 30points behind 3rd place in 8th, getting lucky and winning the play off, only to get absolutely annihilated in the premier League.

Then we destroyed them over two legs because we were a much better team.

If a team is 30 points better than another but bottle it on the big day, they don’t deserve to go up.

 

[blade67]

I personally think it is good, it makes the league more exciting and clubs will be open to spend more in January to gamble on getting 7th or 8th place.

I do think they should have done this instead though and only increase it by 1 team instead of 2:

3rd get an automatic place in the play-off final.

4th play 7th in a quarter final (4th have home advantage)
5th play 6th in a quarter final (5th have home advantage)

Then the winner of those 2 teams play each other in a 2 leg semi final and the winner of that gets to play 3rd place at Wembley.

Then it actually makes finishing 3rd worth it.

As ever, they've missed the chance to make the 46 qualifying competion mean more. There could be a number of variations on your suggestion, for example

match 1 - 5 play 8 at home - loser goes out
match 2 - 6 play 7 at home - loser goes out
match 3 - winner match 1 plays winner match 2 at highest finisher ground - winner goes into semi final
match 4 - 3 plays 4 at home - winner in final, loser goes into semi with home advantage
semi final - loser match 4 plays winner of match 3 in semi
final - winner match 4 versus winner semi-final

The only advantage of this over your sugestion is 3rd place get to pay at least 1 game, so aren't sat on their arse for a month.

matches 1,2 and 4 happen on 1 weekend, match 3 is midweek, semi final is a few days later. Final is a per current set up, a couple of weeks later

 

[Headshrinker]

there's 2 types of football , league a measure of your consistency over 46 games
and cup football , win on the day games

Yeah and it is football so one wrong decision (a wrong red card, for an example) kan dictate the outcome of the whole season, in the play off.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Waste of time really.
It just means we'll finish 9th instead of 7th!

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

EFL chief executive Trevor Birch said the play-offs have become a "highlight of the domestic football calendar, capturing the drama, suspense and jeopardy that make the EFL so special".

But that drama, suspense, jeopardy (and gut-wrenching disappointment when you don't go up despite being the better team over a season) does nothing for the fans of that team.

It simply entertains the 'neutrals' of those who failed to get a chance so they can have a laugh at supporters who are hurting.
Nice.

 

[NotTheSharpest]

Next they will make the third relegation place a playoff with 3rd to 8th bottom - that should give every team something to play for

 

[Selly]

Next they will make the third relegation place a playoff with 3rd to 8th bottom - that should give every team something to play for

NGL - I'd love to see relegation playoffs (as long as they aren`t inter-divisional) - the entertainment would be incredible.

Bottom 2 down automatically.

6th bottom v 5th

loser plays 4th bottom

loser plays 3rd bottom

loser down...

 

[The Fox]

In the intrests of diversity and equality the country should be split into 6 regions with a maximum of 3 clubs being allowed in the PL from each region.
The other 2 wildcard places are allocated using a calculation based on the clubs with the most diverse fanbase , community programs and free school meals.

Its the only way .

 

[Blade59]

Not totally against it but would like to see a proper advantage to the third placed team. Under this system the third place team still has to play 3 marches to go up. It just introduces an additional 2 teams into the overall mix. Would much prefer the third team to automatically go through to the final while the rest compete to go through.

 

[SuperSonicBlade89]

If play-offs are so good, then why are they almost never included in honours and titles for clubs? It is after all a mini cup competition.

Seems like it is an embarrassment to clubs to say they won a play-off.

Maybe they should also change the way they record winners of play-offs to make a bigger deal out of it?

I don't mean full on MLS style though where the season is all about the play-offs, rather than the "League leaders shield".

Just simple, small scale changes.

But then some would argue that it is the same for the team that finishes 2nd place. They never get much credit for it. It's a weird gray area 2nd place, not as much "glory" as finishing top or as winning the play-offs either. Meh.

I believe we had probably the best system we could logically do for the play-offs for 30+ years, (although my thoughts are that 3rd from bottom in the Premier League should be included in play-offs). Just enough places to have a short tournament, whilst not compromising sporting integrity too much.

 

[YES Blade]

If play-offs are so good, then why are they almost never included in honours and titles for clubs? It is after all a mini cup competition.

Seems like it is an embarrassment to clubs to say they won a play-off.

Maybe they should also change the way they record winners of play-offs to make a bigger deal out of it?

I don't mean full on MLS style though where the season is all about the play-offs, rather than the "League leaders shield".

Just simple, small scale changes.

But then some would argue that it is the same for the team that finishes 2nd place. They never get much credit for it. It's a weird gray area 2nd place, not as much "glory" as finishing top or as winning the play-offs either. Meh.

I believe we had probably the best system we could logically do for the play-offs for 30+ years, (although my thoughts are that 3rd from bottom in the Premier League should be included in play-offs). Just enough places to have a short tournament, whilst not compromising sporting integrity too much.

Depends on the club, for example I obviously enjoyed the League One championship season, but I wouldn’t class that as much of an honour. A club of our size should be aiming for bigger honours than that. Whereas a smaller club would class a League One championship as something major.

Same with the playoffs, some clubs it will be a massive achievement whilst for others it isn’t.

 

[Blades1971]

The whole concept of play offs is silly as it turns a league competition into a knockout competition. However it's organised, 'you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear'

I agree totally. It is a league over 46 games.Not a cup competition. The team in 8th could be 20 plus points behind the team in third. So 6/7 wins more. It should be first past the post. Top three. That says they have been the best teams in the division over 46 games.Likewise the bottom three are the worst teams.

 

[joe casey]

For everyone moaning about 8th beating 3rd to get to the prem. I haven't checked the data so correct me if I'm wrong, but is there ever really that much in it between 8th-6th. Its basically a joke now 6th can make it - so another two teams who maybe finish 3/4 points behind 6th really isn't going to change much imo

 

[carthesis]

I agree totally. It is a league over 46 games.Not a cup competition. The team in 8th could be 20 plus points behind the team in third. So 6/7 wins more. It should be first past the post. Top three. That says they have been the best teams in the division over 46 games.Likewise the bottom three are the worst teams.

Think of it as like Champions League qualification... your final league position earns you the right to go into a special "mini-league" to win something else. I never used to like the idea of the P/Os, but since i started thinking in those terms i have slightly reconsidered.

I always thought, with a 4 team playoff scenario, it should be a mini Royal Rumble / winner stays on type arrangement... all One-off games.

1) 6th goes away to 5th.

2) Winner of 5v6 goes away to 4

3) Winner of 4v5/6 goes to Wembley to play 3.

Three games in total. Start the Saturday after the last day of the season. Play Saturday (1) - Wednesday (2) - Sunday (3). That's 3 full days between each game, and a week from the end of the season. Means 3rd place is only not playing for a maximum of 2 weeks after the final game - like an international break.

 

[LBA_Blade]

Are you saying have no playoffs at all? Or just keep as is?

If it was just top 3 promoted then the teams currently in 7th to 17th would have nothing to play for. That would be a pretty shit situation when half the division have nothing to play for with 11 matches still to play.

I think a good solution and a fair one, is to have the top 3 go up without playoffs, you have proven over a 46 game season they are the best teams.

To compensate the potential loss of interest in the League, I would get rid of the "Vertu Trophy" (EFL Trophy) to allow League 1 & 2 sides a few more breaks within the season. I would then restructure the "Carabao Cup" (EFL Cup) to....

1) Remove the European place associated with it if needed hand that to the next ranking PL side
2) Remove all Premier League sides.
3) A brand new tournament similar set-up to the EFL Trophy with

18 groups of 4 teams per group drawn at random but trying where possible to keep local rivalries at play, Each team plays 3 matches, the first 2 held where the "traditional" Round 1 and 2 dates are held in the current season for the League cup. Round 3 would be held Start of March. With Teams advancing being the 18 group winners and 14 best runners-up leaving 32 teams to qualify for knockouts.
Play 32 Knockouts end of March
Play 16 Knockouts Start of April
1/4 finals end of April
Semi Finals Mid May
Final being at Wembley at the end of May when the playoff final normally is. It would give teams a chance of winning Silverware plus stop the powerhouses of football winning the EFL cup every year. Realistically the top 2 sides in the country this season shouldn't be in the final for the League cup just because they have the cash and bloated squad to cope with playing in 4 different competitions.

 

[Panini]

Last season, remember the points gap between ourselves and Bristol city???? You could have a team 30points behind 3rd place in 8th, getting lucky and winning the play off, only to get absolutely annihilated in the premier League.

In Italy, if the 3rd placed club finishes 9 pts or more ahead of 4th, there's no playoffs.

Nothing stopping our playoffs from evolving and improving.

 

[YES Blade]

I think a good solution and a fair one, is to have the top 3 go up without playoffs, you have proven over a 46 game season they are the best teams.

To compensate the potential loss of interest in the League, I would get rid of the "Vertu Trophy" (EFL Trophy) to allow League 1 & 2 sides a few more breaks within the season. I would then restructure the "Carabao Cup" (EFL Cup) to....

1) Remove the European place associated with it if needed hand that to the next ranking PL side
2) Remove all Premier League sides.
3) A brand new tournament similar set-up to the EFL Trophy with

18 groups of 4 teams per group drawn at random but trying where possible to keep local rivalries at play, Each team plays 3 matches, the first 2 held where the "traditional" Round 1 and 2 dates are held in the current season for the League cup. Round 3 would be held Start of March. With Teams advancing being the 18 group winners and 14 best runners-up leaving 32 teams to qualify for knockouts.
Play 32 Knockouts end of March
Play 16 Knockouts Start of April
1/4 finals end of April
Semi Finals Mid May
Final being at Wembley at the end of May when the playoff final normally is. It would give teams a chance of winning Silverware plus stop the powerhouses of football winning the EFL cup every year. Realistically the top 2 sides in the country this season shouldn't be in the final for the League cup just because they have the cash and bloated squad to cope with playing in 4 different competitions.

So to compensate for a loss of interest in the league, you want to create a tournament that will have very little fan interest?

 

[LBA_Blade]

So to compensate for a loss of interest in the league, you want to create a tournament that will have very little fan interest?

Depends doesn't it, the major problem with the additional play off places for me personally is if we did get to them is the additional cost of another game. Potentially 4 games if we are lucky in May is bad enough but imagine a 5th. The clubs have no interest at protecting the fans interests, they are driving the cash cow that is modern day football and let's be honest about it even if we did get up in the play offs from an extended version. We wouldn't have the budget to stay in the Premier League and it then becomes a season of sticking and getting battered and genuinely our biggest achievement from being in the Premier League last time was not getting a worse points record than Derby. We don't have the money to compete and probably never will in this current format, the rich get richer and the gap is widening. Both Leeds and Sunderland spent over £100million in the summer and something like 15 squad changes each, they aren't the same side that got promoted. Even Burnley spent over £85mill in the summer.

Currently the EFL Trophy has a decent format however it is limited due to the congestion of fixtures, the EFL Cup unless you get past the Premier League 2nd string sides and start to get somewhere near the last 16, teams aren't interested as they know. A 2nd string Liverpool or Arsenal will more than likely be too strong especially if they pack the bench.

Imagine sticking a group of South Yorkshire clubs together, us, Wednesday, Barnsley and Rotherham as one group. You could have Wrexham, Cardiff, Swansea and Bristol City in another group, things of that nature where there is a bit of pride to play for or Yorkshire/Lancashire sides however it divides there are a few possibilities. Ultimately as we have seen in every playoff final failure it costs £100's to go to Wembley, £100's across the 2 semi's. There will be a breaking point at some point where people will become detached from clubs because of the cost element

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

I think a good solution and a fair one, is to have the top 3 go up without playoffs, you have proven over a 46 game season they are the best teams.

To compensate the potential loss of interest in the League, I would get rid of the "Vertu Trophy" (EFL Trophy) to allow League 1 & 2 sides a few more breaks within the season. I would then restructure the "Carabao Cup" (EFL Cup) to....

1) Remove the European place associated with it if needed hand that to the next ranking PL side
2) Remove all Premier League sides.
3) A brand new tournament similar set-up to the EFL Trophy with

18 groups of 4 teams per group drawn at random but trying where possible to keep local rivalries at play, Each team plays 3 matches, the first 2 held where the "traditional" Round 1 and 2 dates are held in the current season for the League cup. Round 3 would be held Start of March. With Teams advancing being the 18 group winners and 14 best runners-up leaving 32 teams to qualify for knockouts.
Play 32 Knockouts end of March
Play 16 Knockouts Start of April
1/4 finals end of April
Semi Finals Mid May
Final being at Wembley at the end of May when the playoff final normally is. It would give teams a chance of winning Silverware plus stop the powerhouses of football winning the EFL cup every year. Realistically the top 2 sides in the country this season shouldn't be in the final for the League cup just because they have the cash and bloated squad to cope with playing in 4 different competitions.

That sounds bloody awful.

 

[LBA_Blade]

That sounds bloody awful.

Appreciate the feedback, I personally think the playoffs are a terrible idea paying out near on £1000 over the 3 legs for tickets, travel and food/drink, now we could be adding in an additional match, to really tally it up. What would you do differently go out in the 1st round to Brum away, and Mansfield in the FA cup at the 1st time of asking and sit on our hands whilst we end up in a dead rubber season? We have tomorrow, Wednesday night and Blackburn as the 3 fixtures for teams that are currently below us in the table. None of those are gimmes either, the big games against sides pushing for playoffs will be difficult.