Beware of the fourth!

[West London is Rss]

Injuries haven't helped but Twitch should of done a better job and his constant pissing about with the formation has cost us many points.

Prime example if hadn't of mucked around with the formation at home to Blackpool we would still have a chance of auto now Drawing that game completely killed all the momentum we built up by beating Boro and Wigan

agree with you there Rangers

[Rangersw12]

100%!!!!!

Injuries haven't helped but Twitch should of done a better job and his constant pissing about with the formation has cost us many points.

Prime example if hadn't of mucked around with the formation at home to Blackpool we would still have a chance of auto now

Drawing that game completely killed all the momentum we built up by beating Boro and Wigan

[West London is Rss]

100%!!!!!

and I think had Derby had McLaren and Wigan had Rosler and not been in Europe, they also may have got Autos.. Hindsight is a wonderful thing

[Nick]

And maidstone mate, i reckon without the worst luck with injuries in the history of football, we would of got autos. Thats how it goes, but the only thing that matters is the reality.

100%!!!!!

[12321]

Sorry if appearing pedantic, but Top divison's 4th bottom team only appeared in the first 2 playoffs -
Charlton in 1987 (they Won it and stayed up) then
Chelsea in 1988 (they lost in the final and went down (Ha Ha) with middlesborough going up.

After that, since 1989 for 25 seasons, ALL 4 teams involved have come from the 2nd tier.

There have been a few other anomolies when reducing/increasing the size of the 1st tier, 22 to 20 and of course in 1990 when Sindon won the Playoffs only to be denied Promotion due to financial irregularities allowing Runners Up Sunderland to go up instead.

I'll get me coat.....

You are right of course, I think I'll start an Adel thread instead.....

[QPR1976]

Yes, see QPR1976 post above (no 38).
My stats relate only to the last 18 years when the the remaining promotion spot was decided between the 3rd to 6th finishers in this division.
Prior to that one team from the top league was included. The year you're talking about was one of those years.

Sorry if appearing pedantic, but Top divison's 4th bottom team only appeared in the first 2 playoffs -
Charlton in 1987 (they Won it and stayed up) then
Chelsea in 1988 (they lost in the final and went down (Ha Ha) with middlesborough going up.

After that, since 1989 for 25 seasons, ALL 4 teams involved have come from the 2nd tier.

There have been a few other anomolies when reducing/increasing the size of the 1st tier, 22 to 20 and of course in 1990 when Sindon won the Playoffs only to be denied Promotion due to financial irregularities allowing Runners Up Sunderland to go up instead.

I'll get me coat.....

[12321]

I think your stats are a bit dodgy, we (Leicester) were first in the play-offs 22 years ago, and they certainly weren't the first play-offs,
having said that we finished fourth and lost!

Yes, see QPR1976 post above (no 38).
My stats relate only to the last 18 years when the the remaining promotion spot was decided between the 3rd to 6th finishers in this division.
Prior to that one team from the top league was included. The year you're talking about was one of those years.

[sly_old_fox]

In the 18 years that the play-offs have been in operation,

The team finishing fourth has only won it once!!!!

3rd has won it 7 times
5th """"""""""""6 times
6th """"""""""""4 times.

Quirky or significant? Stats can be spooky....

I think your stats are a bit dodgy, we (Leicester) were first in the play-offs 22 years ago, and they certainly weren't the first play-offs,
having said that we finished fourth and lost!

[HoopDoggyDogg]

It doesn't matter who we get it's all about who puts in the performance on the night. Also it doesn't matter if we play home or away first, people say we want the 2nd leg at home but what if we are 3or 4 down from the 1st leg the second leg will be insignificant anyway. Just take what comes our way and perform...simples

It doesn't matter who we get it's all about who puts in the performance on the night. Also it doesn't matter if we play home or away first, people say we want the 2nd leg at home but what if we are 3or 4 down from the 1st leg the second leg will be insignificant anyway. Just take what comes our way and perform...simples

All season we have had certain players come out and say how bad the squad feel about the performance they put in etc, how there needs to be improvement but it never came really.
If we do make the play offs, then from an outside view you looked at the squads most neutrals would say we would walk it.

Yet, for us we just have to sit there before kickoff worrying what will turn out when called upon!!

[QPRWEBBIE]

It doesn't matter who we get it's all about who puts in the performance on the night. Also it doesn't matter if we play home or away first, people say we want the 2nd leg at home but what if we are 3or 4 down from the 1st leg the second leg will be insignificant anyway. Just take what comes our way and perform...simples

[HoopDoggyDogg]

who we play is of no importance, what team of ours turns up is the thing to worry about

Totally agree mate.
If we get into the play off semis, the squad simply has 3 games to give it there all.
Can't be any excuses, just get the job done.

[bushcelt1]

we shall overcome...

[Quaz]

who we play is of no importance, what team of ours turns up is the thing to worry about

[QPR1976]

Good research there, I had forgotten about the one from above contesting the play offs.

Do you still think it would work today or is the present system better?
In some ways the top three finishers going up seems fairer, but the playoffs are more exciting in a gladiatorial way esp for the neutrals.

Playoffs are a lottery, but they are exciting and currently 9 clubs are hopeful of getting promoted with just 4 games to go. Last season, there was almost as many still capable on the final day !
Of course, less exciting & more nerve wracking if your team is actually involved.

There probably is a case for top 3 promoted automatically but after 30 years of playoffs, I doubt it will change anytime soon.

I do think involving the 3rd bottom team from Top division as they did the first 2 years in 85 & 86 was unfair as that team would be in the habit and mindset of losing regularly, whereas the 3rd, 4th & 5th teams in the second tier, would be in much greater form. Also 3 teams would have played 8 more games than the other team.

[12321]

Not correct Sir

27 years of Playoffs from Our Division to the Top division (bearing in mind name changes)
Highest placed placed team (3rd now, but was initially 4th bottom of Top Division) have won 10 times - 37% approx.)
Second highest (4th currently, but originally 3rd) have wonit 5 times (18.5% approx.)
Third highest (5th, or 4th originally) have won it 7 times (26% roughly)
Forth highest or lowest (6th currently) have won it 5 times (again 18.5% approx.)

I could provide evidence and all teams involved, but you're possibly bored already.

Good research there, I had forgotten about the one from above contesting the play offs.

Do you still think it would work today or is the present system better?
In some ways the top three finishers going up seems fairer, but the playoffs are more exciting in a gladiatorial way esp for the neutrals.