As you know, in recent seasons some matches are decided on the basis of a golden goal in extra time, ie the first goal in extra time wins the tie.

It occurred to me after yet another win coming from behind on Saturday (is this a record?) what would the net effect be on United's season if all the Premier games were decided on a golden goal, ie all matches finish 1-0 or 0-0? The papers were saying this was our 13th win coming from behind (is that right? sounds very high) so that is actually 13 defeats on a GG basis ie deduct 39 points! Of course some games go the other way so it's not quite as bad as that. However - it does look as though we would be staring relegation in the face if games were ever decided on a GG basis. I wonder if Softie's database is able to supply the info here. Of course we can't do it for the other teams and the points for many of them would change too, but points in general would rise as there would be far fewer draws.

Idle speculation but it intrigues me anyway...

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2002

Answers

Aimless Pondering

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2002

Depends what you classify as a golden goal I suppose. Would West Ham count? We were already winning when we scored the last goal and that`s happened a number of times this season even after we fell behind.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

In this sense ADK, a golden goal is the first (and only) goal of the game, same as it is the first and only goal of extra time. So the only possible results to a match would be 1-0, 0-1, or 0-0. WHU was a 0-1 defeat on this basis.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

Oh, sorry, I see what you mean. I don`t think a league table produced on that basis would make pretty reading at all, we`d be down there with the Mackems!

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

Just done a quick count and I reckon we would have 49 points but haven't checked very carefully. Not many games where we end up getting more than we got in reality but loads where we get less!

Haven't you got some knitting you can be getting on with Jonno, instead of asking bliddy silly questions like this?

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

Thanks for taking time out from the knitting to supply an answer there Jacko! I'll ask no more silly questions if you'll do me a nice woolly jumper...

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

I'll ask no more silly questions if you'll do me a nice woolly jumper...

Is that a promise Jonno? I'm afraid I can't knit any wooly jumpers, but there's a canny few in the field ootside my winda.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

They're jumpees Screach. :-{E}

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002