Title decided on goal difference!

[Guest Kaizer]

The most likely scenario next Sunday is that the mancs will win the title because of their goal difference.

 

When was the last time this happened apart from the dreadful 88/89 experiance?

 

Is this the correct way to decide things?

 

Would it have been better to hold a play off match between the teams that finished on equal points.

 

If I`m not much wrong this is how they used to do it in Italy earlier, but this seasons its down to head to head between the two teams so I`m not sure.

 

Either way, any thoughts on this?

 

Personally I think a final between the two teams would have been a better way than deciding it on goal difference.

[Guest Raisbeck]

A one off game doesnt really do justice to something thats been played over 38 games though does it?

[Mike]

they use head to heads la liga rather than goal diff i believe

[surf]

Don't see a problem with GD myself. It won't decide the title very often and when it does the losing team can have no complaints, knowing full well what the rules of the league are. I think it's fine.

[Guest Kaizer]

A one off game doesnt really do justice to something thats been played over 38 games though does it?

 

Well to be able to play this one off game you would have had to have a superb season, just like the other team you are up against, so it would be the same for both teams.

 

There are a lot of factors to consider with the goal difference, like When you play the different teams most off all.

 

Found this about Serie A.

 

Before the 2005–06 season if two or more teams were tied in points for first place, for only one spot in a European tournament, or in the relegation zone, teams would play tie-breaking games after the season was over to determine which team would be champion, or be awarded a European tournament spot, or be saved or relegated. Since 2005-06, if two or more teams end the season with the same number of points, the ordering is determined by their head-to-head records. In case two or more teams have same total points and same head-to-head records, goal difference becomes the secondary deciding factor.

[surf]

Wehn you play different teams doesnt affect just goal difference, but also points. All teams have a poor spell, if somehow you played all teams during their poor spells that's a massive advantage. In the end over a 38 game season luck is supposed to even out.

[MFletcher]

The system is fine as it is.

[dorgie]

That late Heskey goal against Chelsea is looking more & more crucial now. Too much to hope that he'll do it again next Sunday I guess !

[Guest Kaizer]

That late Heskey goal against Chelsea is looking more & more crucial now. Too much to hope that he'll do it again next Sunday I guess !

 

I have been thinking about this as well, if there was a time when Heskey should not have scored it was right there and then.

 

It was a real blow.

[Gary Wolf]

The most likely scenario next Sunday is that the mancs will win the title because of their goal difference.

 

When was the last time this happened apart from the dreadful 88/89 experiance?

 

Is this the correct way to decide things?

 

Would it have been better to hold a play off match between the teams that finished on equal points.

 

If I`m not much wrong this is how they used to do it in Italy earlier, but this seasons its down to head to head between the two teams so I`m not sure.

 

Either way, any thoughts on this?

 

Personally I think a final between the two teams would have been a better way than deciding it on goal difference.

I would go for the golden match. It happened several times in Russia and USSR and was always an exciting game to watch.

As to the occasiaons when the English title was decided on goal difference, the first things that come to my mind are the first Huddersfield title (the sufferers were Cardiff) in 1924 and MU over Leeds in 1965.

But there must be more.

[surf]

THe last time (i believe) was '89 and that doesn't really count, cause the game was played between the two top teams. Liverpool and Arsenal both knew exactly what they needed and so it resembled the second leg of a cup match.

 

I think the system is fine and doesnt need tuning at all.

[psl]

Tevez's goal at Blackburn was the crucial one.

[Gary Wolf]

Also found out about two more occasions:

1950 - Pompey over Wolves and

1953 - Arsenal over Preston.

Seems to be all there have been.

[Guest Kaizer]

Also found out about two more occasions:

1950 - Pompey over Wolves and

1953 - Arsenal over Preston.

Seems to be all there have been.

 

Cheers mate, so thats only 5 times it has ever happened then, thats a quiz question right there.

[Raj]

they use head to heads la liga rather than goal diff i believe

 

That is correct.

 

Both methods are valid.

[Guz]

Tevez's goal at Blackburn was the crucial one.

 

That and Chelsea's Wigan result. Mancs being held to a draw at Blackburn isn't a huge surprise to be honest because Blackburn are a decent team and obviously the point will turn out be very valuable for them. But in the run in, at home to a relegation candidate - you shouldn't be drawing a game like that and dropping 2 very sloppy points. They f***ed it up with that result.

 

Fat head will no doubt be celebrating with the mancs next week, up to big Emile to sort it out

[_00_deathscar]

Kaizer, weren't you banging on about changing the whole system to a "GD = points" one a few months back?

[Bo Benn]

If teams are level on points, total amount of corners accumulated during the league season should be the decider.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

That is correct.

 

Both methods are valid.

 

I'd much prefer goal difference, as it reflects form over a season the same way point tally does. Head to head means you could lose the title by accident of form and fixture draw. It's not something that evens out over the course of a season.

[Hassony]

If teams are level, then the points/ goals gained from playing the bottom three clubs should be removed, so the title will be decided from matches against the top 17 clubs.

[Billy Dane]

They should use whichever method denies Utd the title.

[Romario]

ManU V Steve Bruce? Not really fair is it!

[Ostrich Man]

just think if liverpool could challenge for a whole season and have some ex-players go into management instead of going into punditry where they just end up being hated by their old fans for trying to be honest about how they see things instead of just saying "liverpool are the bestest at everything, all our players are great and the manager never makes a mistake", we too could indulge in conspiracy theories.....alas its been a while.

 

 

and wigan could easily get a draw or win at their place, will that result in people saying, of course Bruce sent his team out there to win and fight to the end, but if they lose...ah cheats/conspiracies/backhanders etc etc

Edited May 6, 2008 by Ostrich Man

[Billy Dane]

So you're not denying Bruce will have gift wrapped the three points for Ferguson when he turns up at the JJB then?

 

Course it will be a travesty if Utd don't win the league, cos they are the bestest team wot we eva saw.

[Hassony]

just think if liverpool could challenge for a whole season and have some ex-players go into management instead of going into punditry where they just end up being hated by their old fans for trying to be honest about how they see things instead of just saying "liverpool are the bestest at everything, all our players are great and the manager never makes a mistake", we too could indulge in conspiracy theories.....alas its been a while.

 

 

and wigan could easily get a draw or win at their place, will that result in people saying, of course Bruce sent his team out there to win and fight to the end, but if they lose...ah cheats/conspiracies/backhanders etc etc

 

I have a feeling that Wigan will get something, there was no hope that West ham will get anything because Curbishly's teams always lack any balls to fight, But Steve Bruce has actually done very well with wigan and I can see them making it difficult for United