Are playoffs fair?

Is the current format for the playoffs a fair way of deciding the third promoted team? Could there be a system that rewards a higher league position?

They should add away goals and give the 3rd and 4th teams the 2nd leg at home.

One been looking specifically at the mcintyre formats used in Australia, the super rugby playoff system which involves 6 teams, and the afl playoff format. All three give higher placed finishers home advantage over a one off game.

How about 18th in the Prem with 3rd, 4th and 5th in Championship
- 4 team group
- Play each other once
- 2 pts for a win
- 1 pt to the winner of shootout if the game finishes in a draw after 90 mins
- Group Winner gets promoted

The do that in the Non League CDM.

2th vs 5th
3rd vs 4th
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5th vs 3rd would mean they play the play off final at the club in 3rd's ground so the higher team get advantage in both matches essentially.

Fernando wrote:The do that in the Non League CDM.

2th vs 5th
3rd vs 4th
---------
5th vs 3rd would mean they play the play off final at the club in 3rd's ground so the higher team get advantage in both matches essentially.

When we got promoted to the Conference South we were the 5th team. Beat Bath and then Chippenham.

Play offs are fine IMO. Only thing i may add is the away goal rule.

They're fine barring the lack of the away goal rule, the first legs of these things are always so cagey cos of that

The playoffs are great, that Watford/Leicester game finish was off the hook bruv ting innit brap

VDT that's very similar to the kvalserien that ive seen before its potentially a very exciting system.
Fernando I wasn't aware of that, so do you think it's fairer. Personally I dislike away goals in any competition, no two games are alike so you end up rewarding the team that benefits the most from the more open of the two fixtures imo.

Do like the idea of away goals rule.

Always find it a bit harsh on the team who finishes 3rd, say 15-20 points clear of the team in 6th, but dont go up.

End of the day every team knows the score with play offs.

They would'nt do it, but another option is scrap them.
3rd up automatically.
Could still be exciting last day of the season, could have 2-3 teams fighting for 3rd, bit like you do with teams at the bottom.

3rd up automatically is the "fair" thing to do.

Play offs as they currently stand are money.

Mini league/round robin wouldn't have the cup final type day and the £40 million pound match so it will never happen.

CFCNick wrote:give the 3rd and 4th teams the 2nd leg at home.

They do

I dunno about fair, I think they were instigated to keep some interest going at the end of the season and give more clubs the chance to get promoted.

You could say its unfair if the 3rd placed club has a significant points gap to the others, but this season there are 4, 5 & 6-point gaps between all 4 teams.

Overall, I'd say they are fair as there are usually only 1 or 2 teams that really run away with the league. I think the chasing pack all deserve a shot, though maybe the way the play-off system works could do with some tweaking. Not sure how though.