My problem with the playoffs is penalties. In my mind, the playoffs is the chance for a lower finishing team to beat a team that finished just above them. If they can't do that after 90 minutes and extra time, then they have failed and the higher finishing team should progress. Taking it to penalties, when people who never take a penalty in their career - (eg goalkeepers!!!) can decide the outcome is ludicrous, unfair and purely for the theatre. Penalties are OK in cup games when teams genuinely do start equal, but in the playoffs one team has already outperformed the other and that should be recognised.
Like in the latter stages of speed chess tournaments when they play bullet, a draw counts as a win for black?
It's good, except it also incentivises the higher placed team to play cautiously for the draw. Imagine a hypothetical world where we had played Russell Martin-era Swansea in the playoff final after they'd finished third above us. That team was bad, but they were masters at possession without purpose and might well have won by default.
Higher seeded team playing cautiously….yes. Total risk reward they have earned by being the higher seeded team after a season. An “awful team being a master of possession” impeaches the “awful team” descriptor. Think this through.
Yes, there is room for nuance on the chaos thing and I’m really channeling my personal frustration with how Gus affects the rest of the team when he’s on the pitch :/ The locations and moments on the pitch from where Gus chooses to risk it. Riley mentioned Femi in respect of this but this is different in terms of the team for me.
My problem with the playoffs is penalties. In my mind, the playoffs is the chance for a lower finishing team to beat a team that finished just above them. If they can't do that after 90 minutes and extra time, then they have failed and the higher finishing team should progress. Taking it to penalties, when people who never take a penalty in their career - (eg goalkeepers!!!) can decide the outcome is ludicrous, unfair and purely for the theatre. Penalties are OK in cup games when teams genuinely do start equal, but in the playoffs one team has already outperformed the other and that should be recognised.
Like in the latter stages of speed chess tournaments when they play bullet, a draw counts as a win for black?
It's good, except it also incentivises the higher placed team to play cautiously for the draw. Imagine a hypothetical world where we had played Russell Martin-era Swansea in the playoff final after they'd finished third above us. That team was bad, but they were masters at possession without purpose and might well have won by default.
That was a reply to @Martin Vasey!
Higher seeded team playing cautiously….yes. Total risk reward they have earned by being the higher seeded team after a season. An “awful team being a master of possession” impeaches the “awful team” descriptor. Think this through.
oooh i like this angle a lot. no penalties in play-offs does feel notionally fairer (although still an over complication)
The only aspect of your statement is it is accurate and spot on.
Great Pod!
Yes, there is room for nuance on the chaos thing and I’m really channeling my personal frustration with how Gus affects the rest of the team when he’s on the pitch :/ The locations and moments on the pitch from where Gus chooses to risk it. Riley mentioned Femi in respect of this but this is different in terms of the team for me.