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When did they begin, why were they introduced and should they still exist?
I don't know the answers to the first 2, but the whole system seems to be a grossly unfair way of deciding a promotion spot IMO, just give 3 promotion places, to the top 3 teams after 46 games (or whatever season total of games in the given league is).
I disagree. That would make the season very boring. Play offs add a bit of extra excitement at the end of the season and keeps the league more competitive for a longer period of time as otherwise games become dead rubbers early on. However, I think there should be 4 teams that go up. I also think that should 3rd place be say 10 points ahead of 4th, that they should go up, or a similar rule. I think other leagues do this.
I think they should exist as it is exciting for fans but also prevents the number of dead rubber games towards the end of the season.. such as this year.. what would derby/ posh/ Wycombe have left to play for now if they did not have the opportunity for a play off place and chance at promotion?
That said I think the 3rd place team should so straight to Wembley 6th place plays away at 5th (1 leg) The winner then plays away at 4th (1 leg)
The winner then advances to the final.
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Football Play-Offs on 10:01 - Apr 12 with 3505 views
If you knew your ITFC history you would know that we were in the first ever play offs.
In those days it was one team from the first division, Charlton who finished 19th, three from the second division, 3rd, 4th and 5th (us).
At the time they were reducing the top division from 22 to 20 teams, so they had either an extra team go down or one less go up and the play offs was the way they chose to do this. Three went down automatically, two went up automatically, then either another went up and one down, or it stayed as it was depending on the play-offs.
As for our participation, we played Charlton from the first division at FPR and were superb, we were much the better of the two teams but could not put the ball in the back of the net and it ended up 0-0. In the away leg at Selhurst Park we were dreadful. Went 2-0 down early in the first half, didn't put up much of a fight, the crowd were singing "you're not trying anymore", then we wok up for the last ten minutes, Steve McCall pulled one back with five minutes to go but we had left it to late and that was our lot.
It makes the season a lot ore interesting but gives the higher placed teams no advantage other than being at home 2nd leg. I prefer the play-off system they use in non league. 1 leg only. 2nd v 5th, 3rd v 4th. 2nd & 3rd at home. That way there is a definite advantage to finishing higher. Perhaps they could abolish the penalty shoot out and have the higher placed team going through after extra time.
I hate the play offs. The table should dictate who goes up, not some random cup competition at the end of a long season. The worst offender is the National League, but I hate the concept in general.
They won't be going anywhere though as the media love the money the "drama" generates from extra coverage, because this season hasn't been dramatic enough already...
It's easy to say no they shouldn't exist when we're sitting in 3rd, but I'm a big fan of them in that they keep the season alive for a lot of sides. Even if you're in 10th with 10 games to go you've generally got an outside sniff of the playoffs at least. Plus the Championship P/O final is my favourite game in the English calendar.
Football Play-Offs on 10:01 - Apr 12 by GeoffSentence
If you knew your ITFC history you would know that we were in the first ever play offs.
In those days it was one team from the first division, Charlton who finished 19th, three from the second division, 3rd, 4th and 5th (us).
At the time they were reducing the top division from 22 to 20 teams, so they had either an extra team go down or one less go up and the play offs was the way they chose to do this. Three went down automatically, two went up automatically, then either another went up and one down, or it stayed as it was depending on the play-offs.
As for our participation, we played Charlton from the first division at FPR and were superb, we were much the better of the two teams but could not put the ball in the back of the net and it ended up 0-0. In the away leg at Selhurst Park we were dreadful. Went 2-0 down early in the first half, didn't put up much of a fight, the crowd were singing "you're not trying anymore", then we wok up for the last ten minutes, Steve McCall pulled one back with five minutes to go but we had left it to late and that was our lot.
I was at Selhurst park for that away game. The ground seemed a throw back even then. Seem to remember my view of the pitch wasn’t great: blocked by a pylon or fencing or something. Can’t quite remember. I do remember it being an anti climactical afternoon, and a bvgger to get to the ground.
GhostOfEscobar
2
Football Play-Offs on 11:20 - Apr 12 with 3293 views
Football Play-Offs on 10:01 - Apr 12 by GeoffSentence
If you knew your ITFC history you would know that we were in the first ever play offs.
In those days it was one team from the first division, Charlton who finished 19th, three from the second division, 3rd, 4th and 5th (us).
At the time they were reducing the top division from 22 to 20 teams, so they had either an extra team go down or one less go up and the play offs was the way they chose to do this. Three went down automatically, two went up automatically, then either another went up and one down, or it stayed as it was depending on the play-offs.
As for our participation, we played Charlton from the first division at FPR and were superb, we were much the better of the two teams but could not put the ball in the back of the net and it ended up 0-0. In the away leg at Selhurst Park we were dreadful. Went 2-0 down early in the first half, didn't put up much of a fight, the crowd were singing "you're not trying anymore", then we wok up for the last ten minutes, Steve McCall pulled one back with five minutes to go but we had left it to late and that was our lot.
It was 86/87? End of my first year as a season ticket holder. I remember both legs and my first away game on the coaches from PR.
I missed the golden years but it wasn’t long before we had some success. I started bringing a new gen to PR only a few years back. Is history about to repeat 🔠it is time!
I hate the play offs. The table should dictate who goes up, not some random cup competition at the end of a long season. The worst offender is the National League, but I hate the concept in general.
They won't be going anywhere though as the media love the money the "drama" generates from extra coverage, because this season hasn't been dramatic enough already...
At least in football they haven't given in to the TV companies and made the Title Winners based on a play-off, as they do in other sports (rugby league, netball, speedway).
My daughter is a big netball fan, and thinks it's normal that the team finishing first aren't necessarily the league champions. Strange girl sometimes.
I was at Selhurst park for that away game. The ground seemed a throw back even then. Seem to remember my view of the pitch wasn’t great: blocked by a pylon or fencing or something. Can’t quite remember. I do remember it being an anti climactical afternoon, and a bvgger to get to the ground.
Was there and as you say from what I can remember the view wasn’t great. I was with a group of work mates and it seemed a bloody long journey home in the car, probably because of the result.
1
Football Play-Offs on 13:17 - Apr 12 with 3142 views
Football Play-Offs on 10:01 - Apr 12 by GeoffSentence
If you knew your ITFC history you would know that we were in the first ever play offs.
In those days it was one team from the first division, Charlton who finished 19th, three from the second division, 3rd, 4th and 5th (us).
At the time they were reducing the top division from 22 to 20 teams, so they had either an extra team go down or one less go up and the play offs was the way they chose to do this. Three went down automatically, two went up automatically, then either another went up and one down, or it stayed as it was depending on the play-offs.
As for our participation, we played Charlton from the first division at FPR and were superb, we were much the better of the two teams but could not put the ball in the back of the net and it ended up 0-0. In the away leg at Selhurst Park we were dreadful. Went 2-0 down early in the first half, didn't put up much of a fight, the crowd were singing "you're not trying anymore", then we wok up for the last ten minutes, Steve McCall pulled one back with five minutes to go but we had left it to late and that was our lot.
I hate the play offs. The table should dictate who goes up, not some random cup competition at the end of a long season. The worst offender is the National League, but I hate the concept in general.
They won't be going anywhere though as the media love the money the "drama" generates from extra coverage, because this season hasn't been dramatic enough already...
Couldn't agree more. If fans love play offs so much, why not make them include 1st to 24th, just to keep everyone in the mix? Ok slightly tongue in cheek maybe, but if being third over 46 games isn't enough to merit promotion, why should first be good enough? Why don't they do playoffs for the 3rd and 4th champions league spots in the PL? I could go on...
1
Football Play-Offs on 13:39 - Apr 12 with 2935 views
Football Play-Offs on 11:20 - Apr 12 by PioneerBlue
It was 86/87? End of my first year as a season ticket holder. I remember both legs and my first away game on the coaches from PR.
I missed the golden years but it wasn’t long before we had some success. I started bringing a new gen to PR only a few years back. Is history about to repeat 🔠it is time!
A grim day ... insipid display summed up our decline at the time ... defeat also ended the managerial reign of Bobby Ferguson.
Wikipedia claims he became the first Town manager to be sacked in the club's professional era, is that true?
I thought he resigned before the inevitable, replaced by John Duncan who was eventually sacked.
0
Football Play-Offs on 13:49 - Apr 12 with 2898 views
Football Play-Offs on 12:01 - Apr 12 by ITFC_Forever
At least in football they haven't given in to the TV companies and made the Title Winners based on a play-off, as they do in other sports (rugby league, netball, speedway).
My daughter is a big netball fan, and thinks it's normal that the team finishing first aren't necessarily the league champions. Strange girl sometimes.
I'm not averse to play-offs to determine champions in sport, but I think the amount of games played matters. A couple of two legged games followed by a one-off final is ridiculous. You can lose the entire season because of a bad day at the office. Best of series of 5 or greater are better IMO. I love the NHL play-offs and the compete level and thrills of the post-season is great, but I don't think you can replicate it in football.
1- Historical Precedent - it's never been a part of football to do this. It is intrinsic to most sports that do play-offs (not so much some of the latecomers you mention) 2- Fixture congestion - If you had enough games to make it a good format, you'd need to massively extend the season, congest fixtures further, or possibly still need to do both. In sports like Ice Hockey, Baseball, Basketball, etc... you can play a game every 2-3 days. You can't do that sustainably for football. Plus those sports protect time for it and always have. 3- Devalues the regular season - Let's say you had a 1-8 playoffs for league 1. Well it makes the fight at the top so much less intense. Yes you want to get the seeding, but you're not going to bust a gut as a player as you know you need reserves in the tank for the play-offs which now matter. Obviously the flipside is it makes the play-off games more intense, but because I don't think you can get enough games in, it wouldn't feel as thrilling as a proper playoff battle.
0
Football Play-Offs on 13:55 - Apr 12 with 2849 views
I was at Selhurst park for that away game. The ground seemed a throw back even then. Seem to remember my view of the pitch wasn’t great: blocked by a pylon or fencing or something. Can’t quite remember. I do remember it being an anti climactical afternoon, and a bvgger to get to the ground.
I too was at Selhurst. It was a doddle to get a ticket and the terrace we were allocated was only around 2 thirds full if I remember correctly:which demonstrates the lack of support in those days relative to now. Highlights of the day were the burger procured from a van at the top of the open terrace and seeing the players on the way back as we passed the team coach. Lowlights were the result, poor performance, and in particular the near miss by Dozz at the death. We were definitely the best team over the two legs.
0
Football Play-Offs on 14:27 - Apr 12 with 2739 views
Football Play-Offs on 11:20 - Apr 12 by PioneerBlue
It was 86/87? End of my first year as a season ticket holder. I remember both legs and my first away game on the coaches from PR.
I missed the golden years but it wasn’t long before we had some success. I started bringing a new gen to PR only a few years back. Is history about to repeat 🔠it is time!
Here is the Anglia Soccer Special of the first leg game at Portman Road against Charlton.
From memory, it was certain what sort of crowd there would be so the Cobbold Lower was actually closed, but I remember being in the Churchmans and thinking there felt more in their than normal.
Just found the second leg which I've never seen the recording from, even though I was there.
The play offs give excitement to the league. Am I right in thinking of the bottom placed teams were put in the pot of the league below play offs? But that said, the top three in league one are so far ahead (even on Barnsley) - a difference of 14 points which is 4 wins and two draws. That’s a lot and those three clubs deserve to go up. Maybe 4 go up? Who knows but if one of tbe top three don’t go up it’s a travesty given how they have performed over the whole season.
0
Football Play-Offs on 16:01 - Apr 12 with 2544 views
The play offs give excitement to the league. Am I right in thinking of the bottom placed teams were put in the pot of the league below play offs? But that said, the top three in league one are so far ahead (even on Barnsley) - a difference of 14 points which is 4 wins and two draws. That’s a lot and those three clubs deserve to go up. Maybe 4 go up? Who knows but if one of tbe top three don’t go up it’s a travesty given how they have performed over the whole season.
The first format in 86/87 had Charlton basically fighting to retain their place in the First Division. If they lost to either us or in the final, they were relegated.
And the other 3 teams were obviously the teams chasing a promotion place.
I was at Selhurst park for that away game. The ground seemed a throw back even then. Seem to remember my view of the pitch wasn’t great: blocked by a pylon or fencing or something. Can’t quite remember. I do remember it being an anti climactical afternoon, and a bvgger to get to the ground.
I must have been near you! Behind the pylon. Being not really an Anglian Charlton were a bit of a second team for me, my best mate supports them so I’m hoping it finishes a bit better than last time we played on Saturday!
1
Football Play-Offs on 16:19 - Apr 12 with 2494 views
Getting rid of the playoffs would be a disaster. Even amid all the dross, there were still seasons in the Evans era where we had realistic chances of getting into the top six until at least April. 2007-08, 2013-14 and 2015-16 weren't great seasons by any stretch but without the playoffs they'd have been just as dull as the Keane/Jewell years. Last season would have been a write off from mid-September after the awful start we made.
Think of all the chaos that would have been missed as well. The Deeney goal, Man City v Gillingham. Town's best moment of the last 40 years was in the playoffs. That's without even going into all the dramatic last minute goals which have taken teams into 6th place on the final day. They'd have all been dead rubbers.
It's harsh on the team that finishes 3rd and loses out but everyone knows the rules beforehand and it makes the season much more interesting. If we narrowly miss out on automatics and lose to Bolton or Derby after they finish 15 points behind us it will be frustrating but it's all about who turns up on the day.
Plus if we go up in the playoffs we'll all get a memorable day at Wembley.
Football Play-Offs on 10:01 - Apr 12 by GeoffSentence
If you knew your ITFC history you would know that we were in the first ever play offs.
In those days it was one team from the first division, Charlton who finished 19th, three from the second division, 3rd, 4th and 5th (us).
At the time they were reducing the top division from 22 to 20 teams, so they had either an extra team go down or one less go up and the play offs was the way they chose to do this. Three went down automatically, two went up automatically, then either another went up and one down, or it stayed as it was depending on the play-offs.
As for our participation, we played Charlton from the first division at FPR and were superb, we were much the better of the two teams but could not put the ball in the back of the net and it ended up 0-0. In the away leg at Selhurst Park we were dreadful. Went 2-0 down early in the first half, didn't put up much of a fight, the crowd were singing "you're not trying anymore", then we wok up for the last ten minutes, Steve McCall pulled one back with five minutes to go but we had left it to late and that was our lot.
My dad was telling me a story about that 0-0 Charlton game. He had to work that night so he stayed away from the result and asked a family friend to record it for him.
After his shift he went back to the friend's house to collect the tape of the game and as he left he said "don't tell me the score"
The friend replied "don't worry, there wasn't any"
Keep playoffs but change the format to similar to the IPL.
Top 2 up automatically, then the teams finishing 3rd to 6th go into the playoffs:
Qualifier 1: This is between the third and fourth placed teams. Eliminator: This involves the teams finishing fifth and sixth, the loser of this game is immediately eliminated. Qualifier 2: The loser of Qualifier 1 will then take on the winner of the Eliminator. Final: This is contested between the winner of Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2.
More incentive for teams to finish higher whilst also fairer to teams finishing higher. No more 2 legs, highest placed team in each game plays at home, except for the final that’s at Wembley.
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