Momentum - does it matter? - Printable Version +- Sports Babble - sports forum (https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk) +-- Forum: Football (https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?fid=1) +--- Forum: English Football Leagues (https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?fid=2) +---- Forum: Sky Bet League One (https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?fid=79) +----- Forum: Huddersfield Town (https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?fid=70) +----- Thread: Momentum - does it matter? (/showthread.php?tid=5251)

Momentum - does it matter? - theo_luddite - 19-04-2017 About a week or so back Colin Wanker spouted off in the Yorkshire Post about the promotion race. He reckoned that the team finishing 6th, i.e. at the time Wendies or Fulham would have the most momentum and be favourites to go up. "Momentum can be huge once they get under way." So was he talking out of the top of the head or is there any truth in it? The Easter weekend (as it often does) has stood the race for the Play-off's on their head and Town, Reading and Leeds might no longer be considered odds-on to qualify. Looking at the twelve seasons (so far) of "The Championship" throws up the following facts: For the first 5 seasons momentum had no bearing what-so-ever. It's had a bit more of a bearing since, but finishing 6th isn't the best place to launch a trip to the Prima Donna League from and being the club with the most momentum doesn't guarantee much either, but it probably doesn't hurt as much as it used to. I'd say it's still as much to do with who is up for it on the day as it is form coming in. Yes, play-off's have been around longer but I've picked these 12 seasons as the results are as easy to find as any. In addition Clubs finishing as Champions 6 times are still in the Prima Donna League. This includes Sunderland won it twice so only 5 different clubs, Burnley who have gone up in all 3 positions and WBA who also went up as runners up. Clubs finishing 2nd 7 times are still in the Prima Donna League but this includes WBA who also went up once as Champions, Burnley as above who have gone up from all 3 positions, WBA as above, Watford who also won the Play-off final. 8 winners of the Play-off final are still in the Prima Donna League but West Ham have done it twice, Watford have also finished 2nd, Hull have done it twice and also finished 2nd,  Burnley have the hat-trick as above. Clubs that have so far gone up once and made it stick are Leicester (1st), Bournmouth (1st), Stoke (2nd), Southampton (2nd), Swasnsea (Play-off) and Palace (Play-off). Middlesbrough finished 2nd last year and it remains to be seen whether they will be back down again along with (likely) Sundrland and one other from Swansea, Hull or anyone else that goes on a bad run in the bottom third. 15 clubs that went up at least once are still in The Championship or lower. Overall - being a yo-yo club isn't that bad an option. Not making it back up before the parachute payments run out might not be a good thing though. The data Season 2004-5 Season 2005-6 Season 2006-7 Season 2007-8 Season 2008-9 Season 2009-10 Season 2010-11 Season 2011-12 Season 2012-13 Season 2013-14 Season 2014-15 Season 2015-16 You've got to be in it to win it RE: Momentum - does it matter? - SHEP_HTAFC - 20-04-2017 That's an excellent article theo. What interested me most when reading it was the points total of all the teams. Of those 12 seasons you talk about, only the 2014-15 season would not have given us a play off spot as we currently stand. We are currently on 78 points with 4 games left......we would be in the play offs in 11 of those 12 seasons. So your overall point is that momentum does count for something, but it's better to be up for it on the day. I hope you are right, because our momentum is slipping. Fulham are the momentum team at the moment...but that can all change with 3 games to go for them...and 4 for us. Surprised me....but the play offs have been around for 30 years!!! 27 years in the current format....jeez!!! And whether this matters or not.....we do have a good record of promotion from the play offs. 8 play off attempts...4 finals at 4 different venues....3 wins. Only that horrible day at Old Trafford spoils the party when it comes to finals. So I would fancy our chances if we did get to the final. And Reading and L666s have lost finals at 3 different venues...not good. And Reading, L666s and Fulham have NEVER won a play off final. Only Sheff Wed once have been promoted via the play offs. Now it all starts to get interesting. RE: Momentum - does it matter? - Lord Snooty - 20-04-2017 It's a lottery. Four of the top six teams in the division playing each other. It all depends on who turns up on the day. If our team that beat Brighton turn up, we'll be promoted. If the team who got stuffed at Craven Cottage turn up........ RE: Momentum - does it matter? - jjamez - 20-04-2017 I don't think momentum matters in the playoffs. I think its more a case of who is the most confident as a side and who deals with the pressure best. Obviously momentum is nice, but its one of those things that counts for nothing come the playoffs RE: Momentum - does it matter? - theo_luddite - 20-04-2017 Obviously I've only based this on the last 12 seasons of The Championship, you might come to a different conclusion if you studied all 30 seasons though didn't some of those early seasons include a side from what is now The Prem (and so on down the Leagues)? I don't think it's any coincidence that the team finishing 3rd has won half of the last 12 as they have proved themselves to be better over the whole season than the other three sides. There are some saying that the playoff should be more like Rugby League or Aussie style where 3rd plays 4th and 5th plays 6th. Winner of game 1 goes to the final, winner of game 2 plays loser of game 1. Winner of game 3 plays winner of game 1 in final. This would stop 5th and 6th both getting to the final, but in my sample it hardly happens and 6th could still win even if they finish 20 points behind 3rd. RE: Momentum - does it matter? - WakeyTerrier - 26-04-2017 Nice article Theo and one that has involved plenty of research and time. Does Momentum matter in the play offs? My Answer- Not one bit Evidence- 1/1/11- 7/5/11 25 League games 15wins 10draws 0defeats 2draws in the play off semi finals followed so 27 unbeaten going into the final final result- Town 0 v 3 Peterborough