The Divisional Play-Offs still seem to attract criticism. When we finished third in Div.2 and lost in the Play-Off to the 6th placed mackems I was well dischuffed with the concept.
However, they are now firmly established as part of the end-of-season scene. I've watched part of all three Divisional finals this year and thought they were all excellent - passionate, colourful crowds, good up-and-at em exciting games, decent football and total committment, all of them emotionally charged.
IMO, the Play-Offs have definitely taken a little something away from the FA Cup Final for other than the fans of the two finalists. However, they have spread 'the Wembley Experience' to far more people, and for fans of Clubs who might never ever get to a FA Cup Final.

So all in all, what's the verdict? Are the Play-Offs good for football in this country or not?

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

Answers

I personally quite like the play-off idea, but as you say, when we lost to the Makems I wasn't so enamoured with the concept.

I wouldn't totally agree that it takes a bit away from the FA Cup Final, playing the 'final' match at Wembley. Lets face it, most of the teams that get to the play-off 'final' are not the teams that are likely to get there for the cup final anyway, so they may as well let them have their day of glory between the twin towers.

They can't play there anymore, and I suppose when the stadium is rebuilt (and that's as far down that road I an going) they could compromise and continue to use a neutral ground instead.

Taking this last weekend into consideration, I didn't see much of the Darlo game on Friday, but the other two matches were reasonably good quality football.

I would say now that it is so seemingly embedded into the season, it is here to stay, although I must say that I much prefer the way they did them in the first season to the way they do them now.

My final point would be to ask, why does the team that wins at Wembley gets a trophy, it is beyond me......you can finish sixth and get some silverware yet 3rd 4th and 5th get nowt. I know its not much in the bigger scale of things, but silverware is silverware to most clubs.

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

They are hideously unfair on the third placed side but add great drama to the end of the season and they have all been better than this year's Cup Final. They give all sorts of sides something to make the season last beyond Christmas as well.

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

I think that's why I raised it dougal. There was no expectancy for the FAC Final - possibly because we had lost in the semi - and the game itself was so utterly dreary and lacking in incident.
In contrast to this, all the Play-Off games - where in truth there is so much more at stake - were played as though all the teams were desperate to win. There was no negativity, and all the teams give it a real go. It all seemed so fresh and vibrant somehow.
Perhaps the PL teams are just far to blase now about Wembley appearances.

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

Dougal, You are right in saying that they are hideously unfair on the third placed side, but then at the same time, all of the teams in the first second and third divisions know at the start of the season that if they finish between 3rd and 6th, they have to take their luck in the play-offs.

It is probably too simplistic to say that the best way get promotion but avoid the play-offs is to play a little better and finish first or second, but in reality that is the only way to avoid them

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

Watched the Gills+Ipswich victories+ loved every minute of both matches. This coming from someone who more often than not turns footie off unless theres a NUFC player on the pitch.

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

It does seem to go against the grain that you finish an arduous league season in 3rd and then need to go to sudden death with those who did less well. However, as has been mentioned, you know at the start what the rules are and as has also been said it keeps the season alive until the last match for so many more clubs than would otherwise be the case. That is certainly why they were introduced and in that respect they serve their purpose very well.

I held the same view even when we were victims and failed to go up in 3rd place. It is very important for the game and in particular for the fans that we are not lumbered with too many meaningless couldn't- care-less games at the end of the season. The Premiership has a similar effect with the qualifications for Europe stimulating interest for more clubs than would otherwise be the case. It is a shame that the Euro qualifications can be so labyrinthine however and it would be nice to know at the outset that (say) 6th place qualifies you for a Euro spot regardless of who else won what.

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

I would like to see the old sysyem of one of the relegated positions in the PL fit in.

Maybe the 18th placed team in the PL replace the 6th placed team in the 1st Div.

It might stop some of this up, down syndrome of some of the recent seasons.

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

The play-offs also mean there are less flat, meaningless games at the end of the season beacuse a lot more clubs are involved in either getting into a promotion/play-off place or dropping into automatic relegation. English teams getting back into Europe has also added to the Premiership - there's more to play for than just the championship itself.

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

I used to like the old style of the play-offs where the bottom two in the top flight went down, the third from bottom then played off with those in the lower division...Wimbledon would have had the false dawn of a play-off, been murdered by Ipswich, Barnsley and Brum before finally realising that they had no chance next year. ah well. Perhaps they'll get 13,000 Gillingham fans filling the ground next year.

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

The weekend's playoff finals were good, entertaining football. Can't remember if other seasons have been so, but of course that penalty shootout a couple of years ago involving Charlton and somebody else was very, very entertaining indeed. They certainly add spice to the end of the season.

Actually, I think some sort of playoff for relegation would bring even more spice to the end of season too. Can't decide whether it should be within the same league or teams from both leagues playing for winner to stay/go up.

On another related thing, I'd hate to see the advent of a "Top 6 playoff" to decide who is champion, as in other (RL??) sports. Like ITK, it seems strange to me that such a hullaballoo is made fro 3rd place yet 2nd doesn't seem to get so much recognition. I guess a playoff tournet involving the top 6 could focus the razzamatz on those promoted but IMHO would not be right.

No - I think the playoffs for promotion are a positive aspect of the game. Perhaps the introduction of "demotion playoffs" could also be good - certainly for the FA/FL and no doubt, Sly Sports as well.

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000