Cue the Jim Mora chestnut -- "Playoffs!?!"
Earlier this week I was listening to Bill Simmons post-NFL Sunday podcast and he bemoaned the lack of rhyme or reason to the league's postseason this year. Also brought into the argument was the MLB playoffs where a team only has to get hot at the end to win.
The NFL's most likely analogue around the world is the Premier League, perhaps only if we judge by revenue.
Just for fun, what would happen if the two league swapped their ways to decide a champion. Bear with me, it would never happen, but why not speculate?
In the NFL, the 16-game regular season would literally become a life of death struggle. Of course, if there wasn't a postseason, things like divisions would become immediately irrelevant. Other issues, what if teams finish with the same record? A one-game playoff?
Obviously this is a pipe dream, but maybe it will gain some merit if the Eagles (9-6-1 in the regular season) face off in Tampa in two weeks against the Ravens (11-5). Will the "best" team for the entire course of 2008-09 lift the Vince Lombardi trophy? Possibly not, but it's never seemed to be a problem in the past.
The NFL generates too much money and excitement during its month-long postseason to ditch it, unless it were to add more games. Bottom line, though, Americans want playoffs so its a moot point.
Now, if there were playoffs in the Premier League, yes shudder at the thought, it would create an entirely new way to look at the league. (Yes, England and the rest of the world have Cup competitions to satisfy this one-off, do-or-die urge.)
Take a team in the middle of the pack, say for example's sake Bolton. What exactly do they have to play for right now, aside from the specter of relegation? The UEFA/Europa Cup?
Suppose there were playoff spots for the top six teams in the league with first and second getting first round byes? Wouldn't that juice things up a little bit? Wouldn't players have more motivation and an actual chance to lift the championship silverware, than simply going through the motions?
Yes, this is blasphemy, I know. It's just that over the last couple weeks I've been thinking about the players themselves on the middle tier teams. What exactly pushes them each weekend? No need to disparage the work ethic of professionals, but it's it pretty easy to go through the motions from time-to-time? You'd hope not, but it probably happens.
As usual, I can scupper my own point, since this year's Premier League is going to be a thriller every weekend up until May with the title chase and the massive relegation lottery keeping our attentions full.
If you were offended by the last couple paragraphs, I sincerely apologize. At least I didn't bring up an MLS argument to the table.
Saturday
* Blackburn v. Newcastle United -- (Live, Setanta Xtra, 10 a.m.) Meet the old boss, same as the old boss. Newcastle seems due a road clunker. ... Blackburn 3, Newcastle United 1
* Bolton v. Manchester United -- (Live, Setanta, 9:30 a.m.) Guess we can put those Carlos Tevez to Inter rumors on hold, now that Wayne Rooney is out for a couple weeks. Must be nice to live a life were you can plug in Carlito from the bench. Bolton show a lot of defensive reserve last weekend at the Emirates. Who's to say they can't do it again against United, a team it's held its own against lately? This one won't be easy for United, especially with Patrice Evra and Rio Ferdinand on the shelf, too. Still, with the chance, amazingly, to wrest the top spot away from Liverpool if only for 30+ hours, Sir Alex's men aren't going to slip up. ... Bolton 0, Manchester United 1
* Chelsea v. Stoke City -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) How quickly has the bloom fallen off of Phil Scolari's rose? Does he even care? He knows that if and when he's relieved of duties at Chelsea another job will be waiting right around the corner. That's the right attitude. Perhaps the problem at Chelsea is a lack of hunger for anything aside from the Champions League trophy. Usually a team like Stoke would seem to be the perfect morsel for Chelsea to get fat against, but the Potters should be in the mood to roll over. That said, they'll eventually wilt sometime around the 77th minute. ... Chelsea 1, Stoke 0
* Manchester City v. Wigan Athletic -- A fun study in contrasts. City are shopping for new clothes at Sax Fifth Avenues, whilst Wigan are bargain hunting at Wal-Mart. After 21 matches, the savvy shoppers are nine points better. Early Wigan 2008-09 DVD title suggestion -- "Wigan Athletic: Turning Shittiness Into an Artform." Anyone else fatigued by the Kaka rumors? ... City 1, Wigan 1
* Sunderland v. Aston Villa -- Martin O'Neil, you can do it. Yes you can. ... Sunderland 1, Aston Villa 2
* West Brom v. Middlesbrough -- Good litmus test to see if either team has given up the fight this early. ... West Brom 1, Boro 0
* Hull City v. Arsenal -- (Live, FSC, 12:30 p.m.) If he wants, Arsene Wenger might be able to end the Hull City dream. He's holding the pin about a millimeter away from the balloon. The Tigers haven't won since Dec. 6, yet are still in eighth place. They can't live off their nice start forever, can they? ... Hull City 1, Arsenal 1
Sunday
* West Ham v. Fulham -- (Live, Setanta, 8:30 a.m.) Fulham hasn't played a league match in over two weeks? Will that help them rest and recoup or blow all of the club's momentum? ... West Ham 0, Fulham 0
* Tottenham v. Portsmouth -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) Give him the stick! ... Tottenham 1, Portsmouth 0
Monday
* Liverpool v. Everton -- (Live, Setanta, 2:45 p.m.) Is Liverpool going to show some fortitude, now that Manchester United is bearing hot-and-heavy down their backs? Or with Rafa's men wilt like Neville Chamberlain? Everton are likely relishing the chance to possibly keep Liverpool from the No. 1 spot. Everton is certainly playing better right now, but even as much as I like Mikel Arteta, Steven Gerrard's heroics likely win out here. ... Liverpool 1, Everton 0
Last round: 5-5
Season: 90-114 (two weather postponements)
Earlier this week I was listening to Bill Simmons post-NFL Sunday podcast and he bemoaned the lack of rhyme or reason to the league's postseason this year. Also brought into the argument was the MLB playoffs where a team only has to get hot at the end to win.
The NFL's most likely analogue around the world is the Premier League, perhaps only if we judge by revenue.
Just for fun, what would happen if the two league swapped their ways to decide a champion. Bear with me, it would never happen, but why not speculate?
In the NFL, the 16-game regular season would literally become a life of death struggle. Of course, if there wasn't a postseason, things like divisions would become immediately irrelevant. Other issues, what if teams finish with the same record? A one-game playoff?
Obviously this is a pipe dream, but maybe it will gain some merit if the Eagles (9-6-1 in the regular season) face off in Tampa in two weeks against the Ravens (11-5). Will the "best" team for the entire course of 2008-09 lift the Vince Lombardi trophy? Possibly not, but it's never seemed to be a problem in the past.
The NFL generates too much money and excitement during its month-long postseason to ditch it, unless it were to add more games. Bottom line, though, Americans want playoffs so its a moot point.
Now, if there were playoffs in the Premier League, yes shudder at the thought, it would create an entirely new way to look at the league. (Yes, England and the rest of the world have Cup competitions to satisfy this one-off, do-or-die urge.)
Take a team in the middle of the pack, say for example's sake Bolton. What exactly do they have to play for right now, aside from the specter of relegation? The UEFA/Europa Cup?
Suppose there were playoff spots for the top six teams in the league with first and second getting first round byes? Wouldn't that juice things up a little bit? Wouldn't players have more motivation and an actual chance to lift the championship silverware, than simply going through the motions?
Yes, this is blasphemy, I know. It's just that over the last couple weeks I've been thinking about the players themselves on the middle tier teams. What exactly pushes them each weekend? No need to disparage the work ethic of professionals, but it's it pretty easy to go through the motions from time-to-time? You'd hope not, but it probably happens.
As usual, I can scupper my own point, since this year's Premier League is going to be a thriller every weekend up until May with the title chase and the massive relegation lottery keeping our attentions full.
If you were offended by the last couple paragraphs, I sincerely apologize. At least I didn't bring up an MLS argument to the table.
Saturday
* Blackburn v. Newcastle United -- (Live, Setanta Xtra, 10 a.m.) Meet the old boss, same as the old boss. Newcastle seems due a road clunker. ... Blackburn 3, Newcastle United 1
* Bolton v. Manchester United -- (Live, Setanta, 9:30 a.m.) Guess we can put those Carlos Tevez to Inter rumors on hold, now that Wayne Rooney is out for a couple weeks. Must be nice to live a life were you can plug in Carlito from the bench. Bolton show a lot of defensive reserve last weekend at the Emirates. Who's to say they can't do it again against United, a team it's held its own against lately? This one won't be easy for United, especially with Patrice Evra and Rio Ferdinand on the shelf, too. Still, with the chance, amazingly, to wrest the top spot away from Liverpool if only for 30+ hours, Sir Alex's men aren't going to slip up. ... Bolton 0, Manchester United 1
* Chelsea v. Stoke City -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) How quickly has the bloom fallen off of Phil Scolari's rose? Does he even care? He knows that if and when he's relieved of duties at Chelsea another job will be waiting right around the corner. That's the right attitude. Perhaps the problem at Chelsea is a lack of hunger for anything aside from the Champions League trophy. Usually a team like Stoke would seem to be the perfect morsel for Chelsea to get fat against, but the Potters should be in the mood to roll over. That said, they'll eventually wilt sometime around the 77th minute. ... Chelsea 1, Stoke 0
* Manchester City v. Wigan Athletic -- A fun study in contrasts. City are shopping for new clothes at Sax Fifth Avenues, whilst Wigan are bargain hunting at Wal-Mart. After 21 matches, the savvy shoppers are nine points better. Early Wigan 2008-09 DVD title suggestion -- "Wigan Athletic: Turning Shittiness Into an Artform." Anyone else fatigued by the Kaka rumors? ... City 1, Wigan 1
* Sunderland v. Aston Villa -- Martin O'Neil, you can do it. Yes you can. ... Sunderland 1, Aston Villa 2
* West Brom v. Middlesbrough -- Good litmus test to see if either team has given up the fight this early. ... West Brom 1, Boro 0
* Hull City v. Arsenal -- (Live, FSC, 12:30 p.m.) If he wants, Arsene Wenger might be able to end the Hull City dream. He's holding the pin about a millimeter away from the balloon. The Tigers haven't won since Dec. 6, yet are still in eighth place. They can't live off their nice start forever, can they? ... Hull City 1, Arsenal 1
Sunday
* West Ham v. Fulham -- (Live, Setanta, 8:30 a.m.) Fulham hasn't played a league match in over two weeks? Will that help them rest and recoup or blow all of the club's momentum? ... West Ham 0, Fulham 0
* Tottenham v. Portsmouth -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) Give him the stick! ... Tottenham 1, Portsmouth 0
Monday
* Liverpool v. Everton -- (Live, Setanta, 2:45 p.m.) Is Liverpool going to show some fortitude, now that Manchester United is bearing hot-and-heavy down their backs? Or with Rafa's men wilt like Neville Chamberlain? Everton are likely relishing the chance to possibly keep Liverpool from the No. 1 spot. Everton is certainly playing better right now, but even as much as I like Mikel Arteta, Steven Gerrard's heroics likely win out here. ... Liverpool 1, Everton 0
Last round: 5-5
Season: 90-114 (two weather postponements)
Labels: English Premier League, Prem League, Prem Picks, Soccer
Of course if the NFL ditched their playoffs they could add at least three games to their season schedule, probably four, making ties less likely.
In the NFL there's one team every year that goes from 5-11 to the playoffs, in large part because the NFL gives bad teams easy (non-division) schedules.
So the big problem is that everyone needs to play everyone (ideally twice) in order for such a system to work. It would make far more sense in baseball, hockey and basketball, where the scheudle is long enough to accomodate this need.