gerd
Retired Footballer
I'm starting this somewhat unusual thread, because of the Jupiler League and the exciting way this year's season will end.
Two years ago the big Belgian clubs wanted to do something about the fact that they are midgets in Europe. They decided that Belgian teams needed to play more big matches and made a new competition format. I will not bore you with everything, but after the regular competition the best six teams play a round robin: eacht team plays the other five teams home and away: a win is 3 points, a draw 1 and a loss 0. The points earned in the regular competition ar halved and that is the starting point for the play-offs.
On top of that there are useless play-offs for the other teams.
Last year's play-offs were boring because Anderlecht had made a huge gap in the regular competition and were never threatened in the play-offs. On top of that big teams like Racing Genk and Standard didn't even made it to the play-offs.
This year's play-offs are exciting. Anderlecht ended the regular competition with aa one point bonus on Racing Genk. Gent was third, Brugge fourth, Lokeren fifth and Standard sealed the last play-off place in the last minutes of the last match. They had a poor season due to loads of injury.
Anderlecht collpased in the play-offs and Standard was fantastic, after 9 of the 10 matches Standard has 25 point out of a possible 27.
Tomorrow is the last day of the play-offs: Standard and Genk have equal points and they play each other in Genk. So the calender has made a real final for the season which is exciting. Standard have to win, Genk are champions with a draw (due to the halving of the points, Genk lost a a semi moint and Standard didn't, this is taken in account when both clubs have equal points).
Initially is was against play-offs. A regular competition is a very fair way to decide wich is the best team (after 30 matches).
After what i've seen in the play-offs this year, i'm not so sure...we have seen lots of great matches with spectacle, everything that makes football exciting.
What are your thoughts?
Do you prefer a fair competition without play-offs or spectacle with play-offs?
Two years ago the big Belgian clubs wanted to do something about the fact that they are midgets in Europe. They decided that Belgian teams needed to play more big matches and made a new competition format. I will not bore you with everything, but after the regular competition the best six teams play a round robin: eacht team plays the other five teams home and away: a win is 3 points, a draw 1 and a loss 0. The points earned in the regular competition ar halved and that is the starting point for the play-offs.
On top of that there are useless play-offs for the other teams.
Last year's play-offs were boring because Anderlecht had made a huge gap in the regular competition and were never threatened in the play-offs. On top of that big teams like Racing Genk and Standard didn't even made it to the play-offs.
This year's play-offs are exciting. Anderlecht ended the regular competition with aa one point bonus on Racing Genk. Gent was third, Brugge fourth, Lokeren fifth and Standard sealed the last play-off place in the last minutes of the last match. They had a poor season due to loads of injury.
Anderlecht collpased in the play-offs and Standard was fantastic, after 9 of the 10 matches Standard has 25 point out of a possible 27.
Tomorrow is the last day of the play-offs: Standard and Genk have equal points and they play each other in Genk. So the calender has made a real final for the season which is exciting. Standard have to win, Genk are champions with a draw (due to the halving of the points, Genk lost a a semi moint and Standard didn't, this is taken in account when both clubs have equal points).
Initially is was against play-offs. A regular competition is a very fair way to decide wich is the best team (after 30 matches).
After what i've seen in the play-offs this year, i'm not so sure...we have seen lots of great matches with spectacle, everything that makes football exciting.
What are your thoughts?
Do you prefer a fair competition without play-offs or spectacle with play-offs?