20-05-2016, 04:49
Walsall were hammered by Barnsley over two legs, not just one game!! On that basis they don't deserve their place in the final!! In fact all three divisions have gone the same way with us knocking out Brighton and Wimbledon knocking out Accrington. Of course we have nothing but praise for the whole playoff system currently!! 
Of course they is an element of unfairness to it when Brighton finished 15 points ahead of us, but of course the old cliche does apply that everyone knew the rules before the season started!! Had there never been a straight 3 up and 3 down in past years we wouldn't even give it a second thought!! Prior to their being a 2nd division and the introduction of relegation in the 1800s I bet fans and clubs were saying how unfair on the bottom teams that now had to be relegated!!
As regards the money aspect, for once football made a change that increased revenues for the clubs involved or challenging for a playoff spot, but for about the first time it's a money generator where the money goes to clubs who really need it rather than just the Prem. The playoffs generate a lot of money for those clubs who get into them but they also generate money for teams playing games towards the end of the season who are involved in games that could effect the playoff places. Take us for example, our last two home games attracted crowds well over 30k, has it been the old way then we would have lost revenue, as would have Cardiff and other teams playing to bigger crowds because the games mattered. I don't see any problem in making changes to the game that give the likes of Accrington Stanley or Walsall or Barnsley or Plymouth etc the chance to improve revenues by having the season be meaningful right up to the final games, that is what sport should be about!!
I think I read somewhere that this is the very first time though that all the 3rd (4th in Lg2) placed teams did not progress to the final. Over the 20 odd years that the playoffs have been around the 3rd placed team has won promotion more than the other places, so on average it does work out how the table ends, just not this year! But as I say, your OP won't get any approval or agreement from any Owls fans on here this season!!!
Of course they is an element of unfairness to it when Brighton finished 15 points ahead of us, but of course the old cliche does apply that everyone knew the rules before the season started!! Had there never been a straight 3 up and 3 down in past years we wouldn't even give it a second thought!! Prior to their being a 2nd division and the introduction of relegation in the 1800s I bet fans and clubs were saying how unfair on the bottom teams that now had to be relegated!!
As regards the money aspect, for once football made a change that increased revenues for the clubs involved or challenging for a playoff spot, but for about the first time it's a money generator where the money goes to clubs who really need it rather than just the Prem. The playoffs generate a lot of money for those clubs who get into them but they also generate money for teams playing games towards the end of the season who are involved in games that could effect the playoff places. Take us for example, our last two home games attracted crowds well over 30k, has it been the old way then we would have lost revenue, as would have Cardiff and other teams playing to bigger crowds because the games mattered. I don't see any problem in making changes to the game that give the likes of Accrington Stanley or Walsall or Barnsley or Plymouth etc the chance to improve revenues by having the season be meaningful right up to the final games, that is what sport should be about!!
I think I read somewhere that this is the very first time though that all the 3rd (4th in Lg2) placed teams did not progress to the final. Over the 20 odd years that the playoffs have been around the 3rd placed team has won promotion more than the other places, so on average it does work out how the table ends, just not this year! But as I say, your OP won't get any approval or agreement from any Owls fans on here this season!!!