GIMH
Norwood's on Fire
Gotta say, ethically I actually think the top 3 should go up as it doesn't seem right that a team can be challenging for automatic promotion all season and then miss out to a team that is basically on a good run of form. BUT everyone knows the rules and the play-offs certainly achieve what they set out to do, which is keep things interesting. As you said, we'd have been done and dusted long ago but for the play-offs, mind you it would have saved me some heartache
Though sometimes the play-offs can cause things to get a bit dull in the last couple of games. I remember in 94 the play-off teams were all settled, and all that was left to play for was who played who. However under the old system it would have been a ball ache of a last day, with us, Millwall, Derby and Leicester all gunning for the 3rd promotion spot. And in 05 when we finished 3rd, we were basically the only team with a chance of automatic promotion aside from those who got it (luton and hull, ftr) and as such once we knew we weren't going to achieve that, things got very dull as the players waited for the play-offs. It cost us as well, as you need momentum going into the play-offs - our own fault, that though
In all honesty, I felt bitter at finishing 3rd and beaing beaten to promotion by a Sheffield Wednesday team that we were better than in every way but I wouldn't have turned promotion down this season had we finished 6th, even though Millwall & MK Dongs have both shown themselves to be better sides than us this season (refuse to accept that Leeds are though, partly because I hate them and partly because they looked pretty crap, league table never lies, except when it comes to Leeds, they're ****)
Bean counters love the play offs
Neutrals love 'em as do supporters of whoever comes 4th 5th and 6th
The only fans who moan about them are those who support teams who come third but can't get through them and that's just a pathetic whinge
............. mind you it's completely different when you have a season when there is only one automatic place into the premiership thus the runners-up have to go into the play offs - that is totally unfair, a complete f***ing lottery and contrary to the rules of natural justice, supporters human rights and the gut reaction of right minded football supporters everywhere
That was a joke that season. They should have relegated 5 prem teams. That season was an epic fail from us. We looked amazing all season, went top with five games to go. Needed 9 points from 15 to give us the title and therefore promotion, we lost our next three games 0-5, 1-5, 0-2 before drawing with Wolves and Boro to scrape the final play-off place. The name of the team that came to PP and did a number on us in the play-offs escapes me, all I know is that we'd beaten them home and away already that season
Was supporting Reading in the final though, couldn't believe it when the filth came from behind to win. I was on holiday with my dad at the time and I was so incensed that I ranted and ranted (I was 10 at the time) and he banned me from mentioning it for the rest of the holiday
) - if Kay does indeed go, I'll probably go into the season without a favourite player, and one will capture my heart early doors just like Greenacre did with his master strike against Blackpool in his second game 
