Would you guys object to a playoff if...

[400lb Gorilla]

Ok guys don't immediately flame me. I'm not talking about an every season playoff. What i'm saying is would you object to a one game playoff to settle a tie in the standings at the end of the season. For example this year, there is a perfectly reasonably chance that Chelsea and Man U could end the year tied, instead of going to goal differential wouldn't having a one game playoff at either Wembley or the home of the team that would of won the tiebreaker perhaps be a better solution?

[Teso Dos Bichos]

No.

[Jono-NZ]

No.

Why not just make it another knock-out competition while we're at it.

Winning the league is about consistency, if it comes down to goal differential some people are always going to throw questions around. At the end of the day the most consistent team over the season wins the title.

Besides the last 2 games of the season are going to be like tiebreaking finals for the top 2.

[Makandal]

No, it's fine as it is. I like the fact that goal scored and conceded count in the final standings! If they have playoff, it would become useless.

[ranny fash]

no. BUT, the nhl stanley cup playoffs is one of the most intense, exciting spectacles in any sport - so it can work very well.

however, the cultures and traditions are very different, so i don't think it would ever work in football in England.

[BoltonMassiv]

How is the NHL playoffs any different to the NBA ones? And it may be exciting but it's not fair.

[roykeanes_safc]

No it wouldnt be right, if Chelsea lost the title on goal difference it may teach them to try and win games by attacking rather than sitting on leads.

Playoffs are exciting just look at the championship, league 1 and 2 but i think if they should be scrapped, the only reason they arent is there are no european places on offer in the lower leagues so playoffs are needed so the last 6 games actually mean something.

[nlsanand]

This system was used in Italy up until quite recently, and I think it's not without its merit. I remember quite an exciting relegation playoff between Reggina and Verona several years ago.

[The_ChelseaSupporter]

No this is a terrible idea. I think they should keep it the way it is. I would rather keep the goal difference rule or let there be co-champions than have an extra game.
I think that promotion should be based on points and not a playoff system too, btw.

[BoltonMassiv]

Co-Champions.. that's ridiculous. I think Playoffs are a possiblity already if the teams are already equal in every possibility: Points, GD, GF, GA, Wins, Head-to-head, if all of them are equal I think there is a playoff or it is just done Alphabetically, there definitely used to be an extra deciding game anyway.

[The_ChelseaSupporter]

Co-Champions.. that's ridiculous. I think Playoffs are a possiblity already if the teams are already equal in every possibility: Points, GD, GF, GA, Wins, Head-to-head, if all of them are equal I think there is a playoff or it is just done Alphabetically, there definitely used to be an extra deciding game anyway.

As I said earlier, I was posting some odd stuff yesterday. Co-champions? :o

[chelsea new yorker]

Those are the rules...besides, it would add to fixture congestion. And, since this is a Euro year, how would you feel if you supported Portugal and Carvalho and Ronaldo both went off injured in a playoff - the CL final will work well enough. Besides, I see no dishonor in losing due to a tie-break, and it would also reward attacking football...

Asking to change the rule would be so ..Liverpool.....

[BoltonMassiv]

How would that be so typical of Liverpool? You can't go around avoiding matches just incase someone gets injured, why have friendlies if that's the case.. These guys aren't gods they are just people that are quite good at football, and if the rules change so that they have to play an extra game they can play a ********ing extra game.

[chelsea new yorker]

How would that be so typical of Liverpool? You can't go around avoiding matches just incase someone gets injured, why have friendlies if that's the case.. These guys aren't gods they are just people that are quite good at football, and if the rules change so that they have to play an extra game they can play a ********ing extra game.

whin(g)ing to change the rules.....apparently you don't recall (or fail to see my point)why a Liverpool side which had finished fifth bitched and moaned to get into the CL several years back....and I know that risk involved might not be an issue for you, as Ingerland are staying home this summer, but if you were a Geordie you might recall one Michael Owen being injured in Germany2006....

[BoltonMassiv]

He got injured in the tournament not a playoff.. that's exactly my point thanks. Liverpool didn't bitch and moan about it, UEFA did it all because they didn't think it was right that you could have a tournament where the holders don't compete for it, I think any other team in the world would have enquired to see what could be done if they were in Liverpools situation, and it's not like they kicked anyone else out, they had to enter it from before round 1 with a game against TNS if I remember correctly.

[BoltonMassiv]

Can I also make it clear that I care very little about the success of England as we won't win another trophy for a very long time, I only care about Bolton Wanderers, and would have no problem with us playing extra competitive games, if this really was such an issue they wouldn't have FA Cup Replays would they?

[chelsea new yorker]

He got injured in the tournament not a playoff.. that's exactly my point thanks. Liverpool didn't bitch and moan about it, UEFA did it all because they didn't think it was right that you could have a tournament where the holders don't compete for it, I think any other team in the world would have enquired to see what could be done if they were in Liverpools situation, and it's not like they kicked anyone else out, they had to enter it from before round 1 with a game against TNS if I remember correctly.

well, I would think that any playoff would have the same intensity as a game, even a preliminary rounder, at a WC Finals. Some made a point - and I can't completely disagree- that season match fatigue affected some major nations, particularly at WC2002.

You're correct about 'Pool playing at TNS in Wales. To UEFA's credit, they did NOT kick out the 4th place side in the Prem that season to accommodate Liverpool. (Who wazzit? Everton? Villa? West Ham? Spurs? Bolton? The usual suspects, I reckon).

My objection was to the sense of "entitlement" so typical of the Red merseysiders- but I do agree that a champion should be allowed to defend their crown - and we see some sides in the CL/UEFA Cup competitions who are NOT doing that well in their season (Getafe screams out, I'm sure there are several others who are merely languishing in their domestic leagues).

Now, back to the grind. Good evening to you.

[BoltonMassiv]

Bolton kind of screams out like a child getting raped. Yes.

[chelsea new yorker]

Can I also make it clear that I care very little about the success of England as we won't win another trophy for a very long time, I only care about Bolton Wanderers, and would have no problem with us playing extra competitive games, if this really was such an issue they wouldn't have FA Cup Replays would they?

Our missives crossed -
glad to see that. I think that's why the Champs league has exploded with globalization. I don't care (and I'm sure my friends in North London would agree) how many Englishmen play for my side - as long as they field the best 11 they can. Besides, nationality is not a great construct - when you have naturalized citizens, children of split nationality, (I know - my sister's a citizen of Belize!), players who elect to play for the nation where they make their money, etc..
re: FA Cup replays. It's one of the places where the "little guys" (Divs 2, 3, 4 and the Conference- I refuse to call it "The Championship"- it's Div 2, and always will be), win - they get their home ground, then get the replay (and half the gate) at the ground of their larger opponent.

[chelsea new yorker]

Bolton kind of screams out like a child getting raped. Yes.

Forgive me my grinning....What I wanna know is- how did Big Sam lose the plot so much at Newcastle?