Play offs need to be restructured...but how?

[Guy Fawkes]

The play offs, though exciting, ruin the integrity of football. If Sheffield Wednesday were to get promoted via the play offs, they have finished 15 points behind Brighton. That can't be right!! It may sound like sour grapes but surely the play offs can be restructured to give the third play team more of an advantage? Perhaps they should get a bye to the final and await the winners of the 4th and 5th placed teams? Any other thoughts?

And if all 4 teams in the play-offs had finished within a point of each other, then what? Do you propose having different systems to reflect the different points gaps?

Everyone had agreed to and were happy with the existing structure before the season started

Surely the team finishing that far ahead should take a lot of confidence and belief from that points gap into the play-offs because it shows how good a side they are

 

[trueblue]

Just one of those things. A bye to the final for the 3rd placed team seems a more fair structure (although still wouldn't always work that way) but would still throw up problems - not least the fact they wouldn't play for 3 weeks so it could actually end up a disadvantage!

The play-offs are great. Just a shame we got the wrong end of the shitty stick this time.

 

[GT49er]

The play-offs make for good TV so don't expect them to disappear anytime soon. I did hear of an idea to give 3rd place an advantage. If level after 2 legs go through without extra time and pens.

That's not a bad shout - the team that finished lower in the league should actually have to beat the team that finished above them to progress. That way, you'd have the same amount of tension we had yesterday, and the revenue streams wouldn't be affected,

 

[Hillian1]

The current system is floored but it's just the way it is. If we fail to go up through them then so be it.

I'd like to see, in future, 6 v 5, winner plays 4, winner then plays 3.

Or.

18 in prem v 3 in Championship.

 

[southstandandy]

My view (and always has been) is that the 3rd team automatically goes to Wembley for the final, and there is a one off match with the 4th team playing at home to the fifth team so they have an advantage finishing higher. This way the 3rd team at minimun is guaranteed a big pay day and a day out at Wembley. Also then there is some weighting to the teams finishing 3rd, 4th, and 5th. No 6th team should be involved.

 

[MrSnuggles]

It might make good tv and a lot of money but it's the intergrity of the game that concerns me. Can you say hand on heart that a team finishing 6th and 15 point behind 3rd has an equal right to get promoted? It needs to be restructured or abolished. I like the idea of involving the 3rd from bottom v 3 from top suggestion

 

[GT49er]

Everyone had agreed to and were happy with the existing structure before the season started.

Point of order: we may or may not have been 'happy' about the existing structure before the season started - the reality is that we didn't have any choice except to accept it.

 

[BensGrandad]

The biggest problem with that idea would be the 3rd placed team would be fresh and if a team played through from 6th they wouldn't have sufficient recovery time between games or we would still be playing when the fixtures come out in June.

 

[MrSnuggles]

I know that GT49er and l know they can't change it this season. It is what it is and we have to put up with it, but l would like to see it restructured to give more of an advantage to a team finishing third.

 

[inland seagull]

The play offs are a good thing as they do continue the excitement at the end of the season. I do believe however that the semi finals should just be a one leg affair with the team finishing in the table enjoying home advantage. This will at least give some recognition to the team finishing in the higher league position which the current format certainly does not.

I guess its probably all about money so nothing will change

 

[worthingseagull123]

The play offs, though exciting, ruin the integrity of football. If Sheffield Wednesday were to get promoted via the play offs, they have finished 15 points behind Brighton. That can't be right!! It may sound like sour grapes but surely the play offs can be restructured to give the third play team more of an advantage? Perhaps they should get a bye to the final and await the winners of the 4th and 5th placed teams? Any other thoughts?

We wouldn't be moaning if we were 6th, 15 points behind 3rd.

We can't demand changes just because we support Brighton

 

[seagulls4ever]

No they don't. It is sour grapes. Doubt we complained when we finished 5th and got promoted from League 1.

Agreed. But we finished 4th that season.

 

[TSB]

We finished a long way clear of Wednesday = we should be able to best them over two legs.
The current system is fine..except that it takes far too long. May 28th, FFS.

 

[OzMike]

4th, 5th and 6th play one game against each other in mini three game league and the winner of that plays us in the final, suits me.

 

[JC Footy Genius]

Only two changes needed ... if we are involved automatic bye to the Final and then a three goal head start.

 

[sparkie]

We wouldn't be moaning if we were 6th, 15 points behind 3rd.

We can't demand changes just because we support Brighton

Is anyone demanding changes this season ?

Isn't this about ideas for future changes ?

 

[Pavilionaire]

Once the regular season is over none of the four teams have an advantage over the other. That actually doesn't make any sense when you've just played 46 matches.

The right thing to do would be to make the play-offs a one leg affair with 3rd and 4th playing at home, with no replay. Then those top two sides who have earned that advantage will get it. This arrangement seems to work well in rubgy union.

The other factor is that often teams that are in 4th and 5th spot have secured their spot with a game or two to go, while 3rd fight to the last game. This means 4th / 5th can rest players, levelling the playing field.

This last week or so could not have gone any better for Hull City.

 

[KZNSeagull]

The only way to ensure that a team finishing 15 points below us do not get promoted is to beat the buggers! I am sure that we will, but there is always a nagging doubt when playing a MASSIVE team like Wednesday.

The 5th vs 6th, then playing 4th, then playing 3rd idea is a good one. Over 2 legs for all games though.

 

[MrSnuggles]

I accept that Worthingseagull123 but if the rules were changed at the start of a season then we all know what we need to achieve. A team finishing 6th means that there are 5 better teams over 46 matches. In the current system there is no recognition or advantage for a team finishing 15 points ahead of them! We may just as well scrap the league and have an FA cup style knockout tournament for promotion!! That's not a serious comment btw before everyone jumps on my back. But the point I am making is we have a disadvantage in trying to push to the last kick of the season. Other teams have tested players and we are likely to be two key players short. Our players may possibly be a bit more game weary and have to pick themselves up from the disappointment of missing out on the last game. I hope we do it, we deserve it, but do Sheffield Wednesday!!?

 

[pasty]

There should be a points difference threshold. For example, if the team finishing 3rd is say 10+ points clear of 6th, then 6th miss out and 3rd go straight to the final to play winner of 4th v 5th.

And no, I am not just saying this because of our situation. I said it as far back as '91 when we were in the play-offs finishing 6th it would have been unfair if we got promoted, and the same 2 years ago when we finished in 6th, something like 13 points behind Derby.

It makes a complete and utter mockery of a league based system that a team can finish 15 points clear of another team, who then get a chance to knock that team out of a promotion race.