Always lots of chat around this time, about who the play-off favourites are. Obviously still a huge effort needed for us to finish top 6, but thought I'd have a dig into the stats. Particularly interested in the views that do the rounds that the in-form team, or the team that scrapes into 6th, are often deemed favourites the team finishing 3rd goes into play-offs on a low, through missing out on automatic Based it on the last 20 years (couldn't bring myself to include 2000). Few things jumped out: - teams finishing 3rd and 5th have been promoted the most teams finishing 4th and 6th the least only 4 promoted teams have had a 'top 3' form finish in the last 6 games the promoted team has only had a 'top 6' form finish in 12 out of 20 season So in summary, from here we would ideally either smash everyone and finish 3rd, or steady away and finish 5th Enjoy..
Some good analysis there. To summarise, I'd say the playoffs are a lottery and anyone can win them. It's all on the day(s)
yep. few on there where the wheels properly fell off going into the play offs. derby, hull, palace, huddersfield, would have probably gone into those under real pressure.
I would not want to play us. No expectations,lowest buget/wage bill,no pressure of parachute payments ending,no big time Charlie's.
Can’t remember the last decent Play off final, 2010 Blackpool perhaps? They tend to be boring watches, both teams too scared to go for it.
On the contrary there have been some belters. Sunderland v Charlton Man City v Gillingham Notts Forest v Blackpool Us v Swansea
Another stat just noticed that in the years finishing in the number 1 ie 2001-2011 have been won by teams in third .
Charlton own goal, Sunderland messed up big time not going for the jugular but I'm not sure I'd describe it as a belter.
I seem to remember we scraped into 6th place a lot of points behind Walsall (3rd I think) and we absolutely annihilated them over two legs. Then there was that tedious match at Wembley where we made such good friends with everyone from Miwaww
Am I right in thinking Wembley’s a massive pitch? It certainly seems it from the stand. I’d say that’s a disadvantage for us with our high pressing style. There’ll be a bigger gap between the keeper & the defence unless we alter our style.
I walked down olympic way after that chatting to a man-mountain (I'm not small at 6'2 and 20 stone) but this Millwall fan made two of me, looked like an ex-docker and an absolute gentleman. Shook my hand, said, "you've beaten us three times this season and I've no complaints, the best team won" Have a distinct impression a lot of them live down the exploits of some kn@b heads- a bit like us then.
Good story. I know that not all Millwall fans are scum, but they have that reputation. Nice to hear the exception.
