In the end your view on it presumably comes down to

how much weight you put on some concept of 'fairness' - in particular the idea that the team that's done the best over a league season should be the one promoted - vs putting more weight on getting some extra money from fans, and keeping season alive for more teams for longer.

I'm drawn more to the former, so I don't like it. But then I'm old and set in my views - indeed I remember not really liking the shift to having POs at all.

Obviously SCC will step in and tell us all that it's simple and that anyone who disagrees with his view is just wrong and stupid. But I do think it's a bit nuanced - depends on what you value.

Posted By: Tricky Hawes on March 5th 2026 at 11:48:12

Message Thread

Expanded play-offs from next season confirmed (n/m) (NCFC) - Klobo04, Mar 5, 11:15:01
- 3rd and 4th teams now have a bigger edge than before. (n/m) (NCFC) - usacanary, Mar 5, 12:39:09
  - Ww2 but yes (NCFC) - SCC 28, Mar 5, 12:49:28
  - Or they don't, because they have a longer gap between competitive fixtures. (n/m) (NCFC) - norwaay, Mar 5, 12:41:43
    - A loss of rhythm can definitely be factor (NCFC) - norwaay, Mar 5, 12:57:21
      - Pulled out of your arse.....yet we vast amounts of data on playing off rest. (n/m) (NCFC) - usacanary, Mar 5, 18:05:35
    - No, I think they definitely do (NCFC) - Old Git, Mar 5, 12:43:53
      - They absolutely do. (NCFC) - usacanary, Mar 5, 18:09:44
- Not sure what I think (NCFC) - Basil Wrathbone, Mar 5, 12:01:59
- We're actually the poster boys for this aren't we? (NCFC) - norwaay, Mar 5, 11:58:09
  - Yeah but we don’t deserve the playoffs due to the start. (n/m) (NCFC) - Legacy Fan, Mar 5, 12:02:00
    - btw, my contribution to Tombs thread yesterday, was just that (NCFC) - Lentil Weaver, Mar 5, 12:16:10
    - its the total number of points over 46 games that count (NCFC) - ghostof barry butler, Mar 5, 12:05:28
  - Beautifully put (NCFC) - SCC 28, Mar 5, 12:01:54
    - It was Cov in 85 (NCFC) - norwaay, Mar 5, 12:07:11
      - Although, yes - they did play Everton who were already champions (n/m) (NCFC) - norwaay, Mar 5, 12:08:23
        
        Ah yes of course (NCFC) - SCC 28, Mar 5, 12:10:03
  - And Sheffield United (NCFC) - jamesward, Mar 5, 11:59:04
- Booo (NCFC) - Charles21, Mar 5, 11:44:24
  - Yep how dare they make it better (n/m) (NCFC) - SCC 28, Mar 5, 11:47:19
- plainly a shit idea (n/m) (NCFC) - paulg, Mar 5, 11:39:12
  - £££ (n/m) (NCFC) - Old Git, Mar 5, 11:42:38
    - In the end your view on it presumably comes down to (NCFC) - Tricky Hawes, Mar 5, 11:48:12
      - I attach a good deal of weight (NCFC) - paulg, Mar 5, 11:53:35
        
        The best 2 teams not getting autos are now rewarded (NCFC) - SCC 28, Mar 5, 11:57:29
      - More misguided I’d say (NCFC) - SCC 28, Mar 5, 11:51:13
      - I think everyone can agree that it reduces fairness (NCFC) - norwaay, Mar 5, 11:51:06
        
        Yes (NCFC) - SCC 28, Mar 5, 11:53:54
        
        I'd actually prefer back to top 3 (n/m) (NCFC) - Legacy Fan, Mar 5, 12:17:01
        
        I can live with the current system (NCFC) - paulg, Mar 5, 13:08:08
        
        I’m sure you’re not alone (NCFC) - SCC 28, Mar 5, 12:20:30
    - And entertainment (NCFC) - SCC 28, Mar 5, 11:46:12
- Sorry to be thick but how does that work? (n/m) (NCFC) - Old Git, Mar 5, 11:37:48
  - 5th to 8th in first round, two of them go through to face 3rd and 4th. (n/m) (NCFC) - norwaay, Mar 5, 11:39:57
    - No thanks, made me wait far too long for my free information which I could have googled (n/m) (NCFC) - Old Git, Mar 5, 11:42:18
      - 😂 (n/m) (NCFC) - norwaay, Mar 5, 11:42:33
    - WW2 (n/m) (NCFC) - jamesward, Mar 5, 11:41:29
      - But pithier (n/m) (NCFC) - norwaay, Mar 5, 11:42:48
        
        You used one more word (NCFC) - jamesward, Mar 5, 11:44:31
        
        Details (n/m) (NCFC) - norwaay, Mar 5, 11:51:35
  - ... (NCFC) - Henclrikus, Mar 5, 11:39:33
    - Also thanks but too many words (n/m) (NCFC) - Old Git, Mar 5, 11:41:26
      - It’s the best explanation as shows 1 off game first round (NCFC) - SCC 28, Mar 5, 11:43:41
        
        True (NCFC) - Old Git, Mar 5, 12:04:40
        
        Well fuck you then! (n/m) (NCFC) - jamesward, Mar 5, 12:56:05
        
        Accepted (n/m) (NCFC) - Old Git, Mar 5, 13:43:03
  - 3rd and 4th straight to semis (NCFC) - jamesward, Mar 5, 11:39:24
    - Thanks (n/m) (NCFC) - Old Git, Mar 5, 11:41:07
- GTFI (n/m) (NCFC) - SCC 28, Mar 5, 11:36:49
- Current 8th 15 points behind third if scum win their game in hand (NCFC) - jamesward, Mar 5, 11:27:21
- It's copying the NBA "play-in" then is it? Not sure i like it (n/m) (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Mar 5, 11:16:33
  - NFL post-season isn't dissimilar (NCFC) - CWC, Mar 5, 12:51:45
  - I wouldn't like it if I came 3rd by a mile and lost to a team that scraped in to 8th (NCFC) - norwaay, Mar 5, 11:38:59
    - I wouldn't like it (NCFC) - jamesward, Mar 5, 12:57:10
    - If he absolutely fuming (NCFC) - SCC 28, Mar 5, 11:41:26
      - Absolutely made for Wolves next season (NCFC) - norwaay, Mar 5, 11:43:48
        
        Maybe Spurs I mean! (n/m) (NCFC) - norwaay, Mar 5, 11:44:01
        
        Or Leeds, who could fail in the play offs in a whole new way (n/m) (NCFC) - jamesward, Mar 5, 11:45:37
      - I’d be (n/m) (NCFC) - SCC 28, Mar 5, 11:41:46
    - And gives every team down to about 16th with 10 games left a chance (n/m) (NCFC) - jamesward, Mar 5, 11:40:05
      - We could still finish 8th and would probs go in as one of the favourites (n/m) (NCFC) - norwaay, Mar 5, 11:41:57
        
        Yep, only 6 points off (n/m) (NCFC) - jamesward, Mar 5, 11:43:04
  - Non league has very similar (NCFC) - SCC 28, Mar 5, 11:37:32
    - It's all fun and games until you have to play in the Prem the next season. (n/m) (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Mar 5, 13:09:05

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