Much Debate About the Playoff System

[west_ham]

We still have alot of complaints from the team that finished third in the league about the playoff system. Naturally Ipswich are not pleased with the way it's gone and that's understandable.

SAFC fans were complaining about it earlier this season because they were third and have finished third before and lost the playoffs. Strangely enough they seem to have gone all quiet about it now. Funny how people only dislike a system when it goes against themselves. :(

Anyway, although I think your destiny is in your own hands in the playoffs, if we were to have a new system, what do you think it should be?

I reckon the top two should go up as usual and the next two compete with the teams third and fourth from bottom in the PL. So this season Derby would play West Brom and Preston would play Palace.

So potentially up to two, three or four teams could go up depending on the playoff results.

I know this means that we would have got nothing this season but I do think it woud be a fairer system for third place teams. It would also give PL teams at the bottom an extra chance to survive and avoid the financial strain that comes with relegation.

[torontohammer]

Not a bad idea. As it stands, I don't like the long wait between the semi and the final. Takes some momentum away.

[TheNewOrleansHammer]

I like the idea too, but unlike most I believe the play-offs to be fair. The rules are written, the competition is set, its been the same for years and everybody involved in football knows that if a team is in a lower league the play-offs are a reality.
I think the main problem players and managers have with them is reverting from a league to (what is) a cup competition. Its okay to have three medioca games in October (Sunderland, Wigan, WHU) but not in May. Each game must be won and must be played to win i.e. attacking. This is where Pardew has to be given some credit, I remember him saying at the end of March "every game from here on out is a cup game for us" and we have played well since then. Lets hope the last hurdle is'nt a problem. I don't belive it will be, but I thought the same last year and we we horrific!!!


P.S. They are also bloody exciting and/or nerve shaking. :eek:

[Sxboy66]

I think it should be about points.

i.e. ALL Prem. clubs who finish the season with less than 40 points should be relegated and the same number of clubs from the CCC go up to replace them.

About 5 or 6 relegations from the Prem each year would see a much more even distribution of the TV money.

[west_ham]

I like the idea too, but unlike most I believe the play-offs to be fair. The rules are written, the competition is set, its been the same for years and everybody involved in football knows that if a team is in a lower league the play-offs are a reality.

Yes. Like I said your destiny is in your own hands in the playoffs. If a team finishes 3rd and 15 points ahead of 6th and lose in the playoffs then it is of their own doing. There's now doubt about this. Taking responsibility for your own results is a harsh lesson we have had to learn over the last 3 years or so.


I think it should be about points.

i.e. ALL Prem. clubs who finish the season with less than 40 points should be relegated and the same number of clubs from the CCC go up to replace them.

About 5 or 6 relegations from the Prem each year would see a much more even distribution of the TV money.

The trouble with this Sx is there would be no money made from the playoffs and all the hype it brings. Also, potentially, many more teams could be relegated in one season and part of the problem here is the financially crippling effect that being relegated has on teams.

Imagine 6 teams being £20m worse off minus parachute money, which would be more cost again. Some would go into administration and be punished for it (a rule which I have never really understood).

Let's face it. The real reason why clubs want out of the CCC is because it's too expensive to be there.

Also this would reduce the race for a top 3 spot in the CCC thus making this league less comptetitive, especially if the teams are watching the PL teams on less than 40 points.

You possibly could combine your rule with mine though. Top two go up for the bottom two in the PL. Teams third bottom in the PL upwards with less than 40 points partake in playoffs with teams third downward in the CCC... :confused:

[hammer_scout51]

They are all good ideas in my opinion. The play off system is a lottery but it does give everyone more to play for. I wouldn't mind the play off winners playing the 3rd from bottom team in the EPL. This would give the 3rd bottom team a chance to stay up. Also 3-6th place championship the chance to go up.
With regard to tv money, administration etc. surely its time a universal wage structure was put in place. Ashley Cole on 27,000 wanted 75,000 to sign a new deal. Thats the face of human greed even Arsenal can't go there. In my book a maximum wage for a long serving player, similar for an established international and so on. Michael Carrick at West Ham at 20 had 3 cars worth 200,000 pounds or so. Pro footballers have to much spare time to much money which is why the drug parties and thugery. Lets get real and make the game more even for all. In doing that we would also be saving the games future. Next season Chelsea Arsenal Man U maybe Liverpool will be top 4 same the following year.