Out of my 60 odd years of roaming around this planet about 54 of them have been for the lesser or greater part been involved in watching and attending football matches. A highly emotional, satisfying, frustrating and enjoyable pass time.
For as long as I can remember, and the memory aint as good as it was, there have been 46 games in lower leagues to decide the season. Then came along some allegedly clever person and designed the whole play off debacle.
What is the point of playing 46 games and then entering a lottery ??? just spare a moment and think about the predicament of Paul Sturrock right now, brassed off to the back teeth and then some. Just consider if it had been Town in that position, could you imagine DiCanio, well on second thoughts, better not !!
Now whether I'm right or not, the biggest winners in all of this are the Football League and perhaps the FA get a cut of the action as well, what action, well money of course.
I always thought promotion was all about the best over the season, and if its good enough for the top three, then why not the forth
Southend gained 83 points opposed to Crewe who only managed 72points, and Cheltenham who scraped up 77 points and in the process scored a raft more goals and won more games than both, during the season, but not in the lottery of the play offs. It's only my opinion, but one now I suspect that will be shared by many others, the play off's do not reflect the true nature of the game and as such exist to further feather the nests of the governing bodies of our sport as opposed to reflecting fairness to the clubs who have played all 46 games. I'm not a Southend supporter, but I have always respected Paul Sturrock, and while he was at Town did an honest job while the club was falling apart around him, he deserves better, so I wish him better luck for next year.
Don't forget the Wembley final is all about the winners and there is no place for who comes second, but the costs involved apart from the ticket which costs enough, once you are in there are way over the top, a further endorsement of the money culture as opposed to the sporting spectacle we are supposed to witness.
Justice ? or just plain greed ??
posted on 22/5/12
Good post as usual S'Fan. But I don't altogether agree with you.
The play-offs were created to provide interest to fans of those clubs who might have been in 8 or 9th place with a month to go. That encouraged bigger gates for those clubs, who otherwise would just have played out their fixtures. Also, giving them something to play for in those games, would affect both top & bottom of the table. OK, others have made money out of it, but, on balance I think it a good idea.
There will be what we think are "travesties of justice", but as long as we all know what the rules are at the start of the season, then everyone should accept that it might happen to them. For me, 2 of my best days out were v Sunderland & Leicester. OK Millwall wasn't so good, but I could have suffered the performance had the weather been better.
posted on 22/5/12
I can see both sides here but I'm tending towards Red's view. I think the impetus the play-offs give to fixtures in the last few games makes for a more entertaining season. It's true that teams who've had a mediocre season up to that point can go on a run and maintain it into the play-offs and thus win the prize with considerably less points than the team finishing just outside the automatics and there's a certin injustice in that. I can see Crewe doing just that on Sunday.
It's worth remembering that we've been beneficiaries of the system. In 1993 Portsmouth finished 3rd on 88 points, missing automatic only on goal difference. We finished 5th with 76 points, a massive 12 points less. Portsmouth then went out to Leicester who finished 6th, we beat Tranmere who finished 4th, so the Play off final was contested by the teams finishing 5th and 6th. The rest is history..of course I was ecstatic when we won but if I'd been a Portsmouth supporter I'd have felt very badly done by.
posted on 23/5/12
Don, perhaps I didn't make my main point clear. The play-offs mean that mid table sides have something to play for. That affects teams at the bottom as well as the top.
It adds energy to the whole season.
In the old days, a club 19th playing at home to 10th place could have had a relatively easy fixture. Knowing that their opponents had nothing to lose nor gain. Now it is different. The 19th club needs the points, so does the 10th one, maybe leading to glory.
That, IMO, makes a match which will encourage guys to pay to see.
posted on 23/5/12
Red, I agree with the point you're making, it adds to the season in a big way. It's hard if you just miss automatic and then go out in the play-offs but everyone knows the rules at the start of the season. So, on balance, I'm with you.
posted on 23/5/12
Evening chaps.
Being the victims of a close run thing this season I could feel bitter towards the play-offs, but I think they do create more excitement for more clubs supporters than if they did not exist. Bottom line for Southend was that we choked at precisely the wrong time, the play-off semis! It could be argued that had our away game at Aldershot not been called off when the lights failed (we were winning 1-0) we would have got one of the automatic promotion places. I personally think it was because you gits took 6 points of us.
Good luck for next season
posted on 24/5/12
Roots, I feel for you. It's very tough to miss out in that way.
Hopefully you'll do it automatically next season; good luck, I'll be looking out for your results.
Keep posting on here, it's good to talk!
posted on 24/5/12
Roots,
All things considered, it's better to lose in the play offs, than be at the other end of the table. I know, 'cos we've been there. I'd settle for a play off place next season!