They are an outdated concept.
It would be better to promote the winner and runner up.
The third place should go to the team that will benefit the league above the most from position 3 -6.
Shrewsbury are a backwater Shropshire town that barely contribute to league one and will only degrade the championship.
There are already two underachieving Sheffield teams in the championship. It doesn't need Rotherham.
I don't even know where Scunthorpe is.
Charlton are the pride of south London. With facilities and fans that would grace and league in the world.
It's a shame the championship isn't more selective in its membership.
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Besides, what he suggests did actually happen in 1915. His argument seems no more illogical to me than Henry Norris's one.
1. Seed the teams and organise the competition as follows so that higher placed teams get an advantage: 5th and 6th placed teams play each other in a single match (5th place team at home). The winner of this game get to play the 4th placed team in a single match (4th placed team at home). The winner of this match gets to play the 3rd placed team in a Wembley final.
2. Introduce relegation play-offs along the following lines: 19th and 20th placed teams play each other in a single match (19th place team at home). The winner of this game stays up, the loser has to play the 22nd placed team in a single match (highest placed team at home). The winner of this match stays up, the loser has play the 23rd placed team in a relegation decider (highest placed team plays at home).
3rd and 4th get a bye through to the Semi Final
5th home to 8th & 6th home to 7th, just 1 leg.
Winners away to 3rd and 4th, again over 1 leg.
Same number of matches before Wembley but 2 extra teams involved.
I hope I am right because I have told many, many people this.
To an extent its not a bad one... teams that finish 5th to 8th will play the same amount of games that you do now to win the Play-Offs, teams in 3rd or 4th will only have to play two games as the two legged ties will be chucked
I've no idea whether the playoffs were supposed to be a two-season wonder and then disappear but their existence certainly keeps more clubs' seasons alive longer than a standard three-up-three-down system would have done.
Personally, I don't think that the playoffs should be two legs, the higher-ranked team should have home advantage. The format used in the National League this season was better but I also like the systems used in Australia whereby teams qualifying in the top places get a second chance i.e. if they lost their opening playoff match they get another life as a reward for finishing higher.
So, from the perspective of a 'winning' fan, I would say it's a fantastic format and they should extend it to all leagues. The advantages are that it keeps more teams in the play-off fight for more of the season, and I also think the single leg play-off matches were much more exciting that the two-leg affairs we're all used to.
Putting on a neutral hat, however, I do have to admit it's pretty ridiculous that we've been promoted from 7th place in the League when there are another 5 teams who finished above us who haven't.
Personally I think the best approach would be to stick to four teams, but perhaps reduce the semi-finals to one leg, to be played at the ground of the club that finishes highest. I think that would open the games up considerably as you wouldn't get the 'stronger' team in the first leg being cagey and playing for the draw so they can win at home. It would also provide more of an advantage to finishing higher in the league which I think is only fair.
It would never happen though - can't see the Leagues going for anything which is going to reduce the number of matches and therefore their revenue!
After all its not like the League makes the decision halfway through the season.
There is only one team that truly deserves promotion at the end of the day... the team that finishes 1st
Semi-finals: 1 v 2, 3 v 4
Preliminary final: Loser SF1 v Winner SF2
Playoff Final: Winner SF1 v Winner PF
If you finish first or second you are guaranteed a home playoff match. (see edit)
If you finish first or second and you win your semi-final you get an extra break ahead of the final.
If you finish first or second and you lose your semi-final you get a lifeline of a home match against the winner of the other semi.
If you finish third or fourth you would have to beat the other three teams in order to win promotion.
If you finish fourth you would have to win all the playoff matches away from home.
EDIT: just noticed - if you finish second you won't get a home playoff match if you win the semi-final as you'll go straight through to the final at Wembley!
Charlton has a proud record as the only team from the higher Division to survive the process. Chelsea went down the following season.
The football authorities saw how exciting the concept was and decided to make it a permanent feature.
The three games against Leeds and the best match seen at Wembley against Sunderland as voted by neutrals last century. Plus the best quality hat-trick scored at the old Wembley by super Clive.
Scrap the playoffs ?
Losing to Palace, Swindon, Shrewsbury etc made me feel sick.
Looking at the bigger picture the season would be over by Easter for many teams if no playoffs.
If a certain team from Bermondsey, with connections to the sewage industry, qualify for the play offs, then their opponents are automatically awarded a bye.