Comments on: EPL Non-Playoff System Is Disgusting http://www.rnningfool.com/23472/epl-non-playoff-system-is-disgusting Burning Money Wed, 17 May 2017 15:31:26 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5 By: Queef http://www.rnningfool.com/23472/epl-non-playoff-system-is-disgusting#comment-10786 Wed, 17 May 2017 15:31:26 +0000 http://www.rnningfool.com/?p=23472#comment-10786 It’s one league where everyone plays each other twice. The best team will prevail. You can’t say that about any of our sports leagues because we have divisions and play certain teams more than others. The format is great. I liken it to college basketball (without conference tournaments) – there are multiple leagues and the winners/top teams of those leagues (more # of spots for better leagues (ACC)) move on to the champions league (NCAA tournament). It’s essentially one big round robin tournament, get over it.

]]> By: bbritcher http://www.rnningfool.com/23472/epl-non-playoff-system-is-disgusting#comment-10781 Sun, 14 May 2017 19:17:32 +0000 http://www.rnningfool.com/?p=23472#comment-10781 Every soccer league in the world (besides the MLS) uses this format. Unlike American sports, there are other elements to the “Table” than simply winning the league or not. Points accumulation (or lack of) produces battles for relegation – which given the revenue accrued by staying in the top league can change the direction of teams for years. There is also the Champions League spots. Champions League is the most prestigious tournament in club soccer. Each league is awarded X number of spots based on the leagues performance in past CL tournaments. Italy has 3, the EPL has 4, etc. Placing in the top 4 of the EPL gives you a spot – which again, is a huge financial boon and also makes your club more attractive to top players. So, there is a lot going on in the “Table” vs. simply wins and losses.

While it is frustrating to often see the final few games of a season have no bearing on the league champion, it seems the fairest way to decide a champion. The best overall team over the course of the year always wins the league. One-game playoffs seem like a terrible way to “fairly” determine the best team.

The format is not without its gripes though. Over a 2-year window, Spur have handily accumulated the most points in the league – but have not won it any given year.

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