No, not irritable bowel - international break. Just a few questions to alleviate the boredom!
What do you think of the possibility of extending the play-offs to six teams? Personally I'm against it. The idea of a team finishing eighth getting to the Prem ahead of the team finishing third would be too much to stomach. The existing format is just fine and in any event I cannot see the Prem agreeing to it for all sorts of reasons. It's difficult enough for any promoted team to compete in that league and a team finishing eighth could be a relative minnow financially. Relegation could be even more of a disaster than it can be at present. Of course the prospect of an even more competitive Championship may sound enticing but not sufficiently so for me.
I suspect all on here would agree that if and when Langas regains full fitness and is the same player as he was prior to injury then he should play. BUT who is sacrificed for him? If JE opts for three at the back then no problem but he says he favours a back four. It would be really hard on Sanderson if he was left out but then the same can be said of Ebou. Similarly re Clarke and anyway a leftie as a central defender is such a bonus. I do wonder if Sanderson could act as the "missing" midfielder we so crave? He is very athletic, strong, and can spray the ball around really well. Just a thought.
Finally, what about VAR for the Champ (if not for the lower leagues)? This is the hardest one. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages or vice versa? I am totally ambivalent on this.
Over to you all.
I B relief
posted 4 days, 3 hours ago
I think the play-offs are already wrong as there is little benefit to finishing third. I would favour 6th visiting 5th for the right to visit 4th and then the winner of that being away to 3rd. Scrap Wembley. It will never happen of course but would be fairer and more exciting than the Disneyesque final we must currently endure. Failing that, have a situation where is big enough gap - 10 points say - between 3rd and 4th obviates the need for play-offs at all. The same for the other play-offs places - if 3rd and 4th are well clear of the rest then you just let them fight it out between them. It would be fair reward for the season's toil.
Langas will return but there is no great rush with Sanderson playing well. Maybe those who habitually write off a player after a game or two should re-think their strategy. Interesting thought about maybe being a midfield option. Has he ever played there? High-risk if not.
VAR is a scourge. An unmitigated disaster that spoils all game that it is used in. No no no no no no no. Bound to happen though because of the numpties we have running the game.
posted 4 days ago
I’d quite like to see a mix of what we have and what Germany has. Change the playoffs in the Championship from 3rd to 5th and throw in 18th in the premier league too.
A little tougher for championship clubs but would be very exciting.
posted 4 days ago
I seem to remember that was tried at the very start of the play-off system but was almost immediately scrapped. I cannot see the Prem ever agreeing to that again!
posted 3 days, 5 hours ago
3rd should go straight into the final. 4th into the semi final. 5th v 8th and 6th v 7th (One off game)
Winners play each other in a one off game with the home leg being decided on the best goal difference from the opening games.
Winner of that (5th v 7th) play 4th at the home of 4th
Winner plays 3rd at Wembley
Games would be all single leg to keep the timescale at a minimum so 3rd aren't left without a game for a couple of weeks.
Personally Id open up 7th and do 4th v 7th with 5th v 6th. Winners of those two legs play 3rd at Wembley.
posted 2 days, 7 hours ago
You could do it so every team plays all the others, home and away. Then the top 3 teams go up. I wonder why they haven't thought of this idea?
posted 2 days, 3 hours ago
This is a genius idea VC. I'm all for it.