I just realized that the big soccer leagues in Europe, Premiership, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and most of the other prestigious Europe club leagues DON'T have playoffs...
As an American sports fan, where professional sport has playoffs, I couldn't imagine a sports league without it. With playoffs you have more action or pressured packed moments. There's more excitement at the end of the season. A dominant team can waltz thru the regular season but still choke and lose and that adds more drama.
If Major League Baseball had Euro soccer's format, the NY Yankees would be the champs practically every year.
Isn't the end of the season pretty dull then, for most Euro leagues? How come they haven't instituted playoffs for more of the leagues? Is there a cultural element?
0
To remove first post, remove entire topic.
I just realized that the big soccer leagues in Europe, Premiership, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and most of the other prestigious Europe club leagues DON'T have playoffs...
As an American sports fan, where professional sport has playoffs, I couldn't imagine a sports league without it. With playoffs you have more action or pressured packed moments. There's more excitement at the end of the season. A dominant team can waltz thru the regular season but still choke and lose and that adds more drama.
If Major League Baseball had Euro soccer's format, the NY Yankees would be the champs practically every year.
Isn't the end of the season pretty dull then, for most Euro leagues? How come they haven't instituted playoffs for more of the leagues? Is there a cultural element?
Composite, it's a highly debated topic but I personally like it the way it is. It makes every game during the season worth much more.
Is it too much to think that maybe if American sports had this format, some teams would play the regular season tougher and the "Yankees" of the leagues would have a much more difficult time winning?
0
Composite, it's a highly debated topic but I personally like it the way it is. It makes every game during the season worth much more.
Is it too much to think that maybe if American sports had this format, some teams would play the regular season tougher and the "Yankees" of the leagues would have a much more difficult time winning?
talking about dominant team choke, last year we have MU and City head to head till finish line, drama is there not only couple of days (talking about nba grand finals), the drama is started from February. It is there for couple last month of the league.
in Italy, Milan and Juventus also head to head till finish line, the drama is there every weekend, talking about who will be the one to drop point to minnows, it turns out Milan drop point to minnows, however Juventus later on give a crazy goal to Lecce (buffon miscontrol the backpass) to keep Milan in reach of the title.
in Germany, it decided by a missed penalty of Robben during Dortmund vs Munchen.
Talking about non-drama in league plays is ignorant.
0
talking about dominant team choke, last year we have MU and City head to head till finish line, drama is there not only couple of days (talking about nba grand finals), the drama is started from February. It is there for couple last month of the league.
in Italy, Milan and Juventus also head to head till finish line, the drama is there every weekend, talking about who will be the one to drop point to minnows, it turns out Milan drop point to minnows, however Juventus later on give a crazy goal to Lecce (buffon miscontrol the backpass) to keep Milan in reach of the title.
in Germany, it decided by a missed penalty of Robben during Dortmund vs Munchen.
Talking about non-drama in league plays is ignorant.
Good points---I think his point is more that in a playoff scenario a team that barely makes the playoffs can get hot and win it all. Like wildcard in baseball or football. Whereas, in a season-long format the big dogs will always be on top, just a matter of which big dog. Lots of people like to root for the underdog.
0
Good points---I think his point is more that in a playoff scenario a team that barely makes the playoffs can get hot and win it all. Like wildcard in baseball or football. Whereas, in a season-long format the big dogs will always be on top, just a matter of which big dog. Lots of people like to root for the underdog.
I think the regular season should be worth a lot more....pissed off the Kings(NHL) walk around like big champions when they pretty much did nothing for 82 games but rely on their goalie then streak in the playoffs...the thing is everyone knows that's the way it is so I suppose the Kings played it perfectly....
0
I think the regular season should be worth a lot more....pissed off the Kings(NHL) walk around like big champions when they pretty much did nothing for 82 games but rely on their goalie then streak in the playoffs...the thing is everyone knows that's the way it is so I suppose the Kings played it perfectly....
Thanks for everyone's input. I guess I must've struck a nerve.
Being from the U.S., I'm used to playoff formats because there's no American sport that lacks a playoff. I was curious what were the reasons for a non-playoff race. With that in mind, I wanted to respond to some of the comments. This is all just my opinion, and I'm sure there's no right or wrong answers on this debate.
@CoFred - baseball teams do treat the regular season very seriously because they want home field advantage throughout the playoffs. I don't think they'd try "harder" in the regular season if there weren't playoffs.
@bbkdta #1 - there are playoff oriented tournaments in each country but no one values them. IIRC, Alex Ferguson mentioned publicly once that the FA Cup was an important tournament, but he said that b/c everyone knew the top teams didn't take those tourneys seriously.
@bbkdta #2 - the MU/MC race this year was exciting, but announcers even said it was the most exciting race in 15+ years. In other words, normally the end isn't that thrilling. Look at the 2010-11 Premiership. MU clinched the EPL over Chelsea in the 37th match with an unbeatable 7 pt. lead. But even while the races are exciting, they're only a 2-horse race. Contrast that with the NFL where the 2007 NY Giants barely made the playoffs as a #6 NFC wild card team but eventually dethroned the heavily favored 17-0 NE Patriots. That's a 12-horse race even as the regular season ends.
-------------
The other thing I've wondered about - is what maintains fan interest when so few teams have a chance to win? In EPL, only 3 (MU/MC/Chelsea) teams have a realistic shot @ winning. In Spain, after RM & Barca, everyone else's odds to win La Liga are 60-1 or worse. What do Everton or Valencia fans root for, when they know their team has zero chance @ first place?
0
Thanks for everyone's input. I guess I must've struck a nerve.
Being from the U.S., I'm used to playoff formats because there's no American sport that lacks a playoff. I was curious what were the reasons for a non-playoff race. With that in mind, I wanted to respond to some of the comments. This is all just my opinion, and I'm sure there's no right or wrong answers on this debate.
@CoFred - baseball teams do treat the regular season very seriously because they want home field advantage throughout the playoffs. I don't think they'd try "harder" in the regular season if there weren't playoffs.
@bbkdta #1 - there are playoff oriented tournaments in each country but no one values them. IIRC, Alex Ferguson mentioned publicly once that the FA Cup was an important tournament, but he said that b/c everyone knew the top teams didn't take those tourneys seriously.
@bbkdta #2 - the MU/MC race this year was exciting, but announcers even said it was the most exciting race in 15+ years. In other words, normally the end isn't that thrilling. Look at the 2010-11 Premiership. MU clinched the EPL over Chelsea in the 37th match with an unbeatable 7 pt. lead. But even while the races are exciting, they're only a 2-horse race. Contrast that with the NFL where the 2007 NY Giants barely made the playoffs as a #6 NFC wild card team but eventually dethroned the heavily favored 17-0 NE Patriots. That's a 12-horse race even as the regular season ends.
-------------
The other thing I've wondered about - is what maintains fan interest when so few teams have a chance to win? In EPL, only 3 (MU/MC/Chelsea) teams have a realistic shot @ winning. In Spain, after RM & Barca, everyone else's odds to win La Liga are 60-1 or worse. What do Everton or Valencia fans root for, when they know their team has zero chance @ first place?
Other fans are rooting for Cup titles. Or, to not be relegated. For many teams, they're used to playing in the second or third tier of their country's leagues (think AAA baseball) and just playing in the top flight is a victory in and of itself.
And yes, no playoffs makes the regular season a lot more important. The title isn't about beating the top teams - its about being able to consistently take care of the bottom teams. There's enough playoff formats in the Cups that they complements the Regular Season perfectly.
0
Other fans are rooting for Cup titles. Or, to not be relegated. For many teams, they're used to playing in the second or third tier of their country's leagues (think AAA baseball) and just playing in the top flight is a victory in and of itself.
And yes, no playoffs makes the regular season a lot more important. The title isn't about beating the top teams - its about being able to consistently take care of the bottom teams. There's enough playoff formats in the Cups that they complements the Regular Season perfectly.
sure there are playoff oriented teams, they aim for FA cup or carling, top teams do care about it (bullshit if they dont, they dont care only if they get eliminated, if they even only BARELY goes through, they still care), they just doesnt give full effort sometimes because they have to conserve energy for regular season play, or other tournament.
the race is exciting every year, the difference is how long it last? dont forget there is relegation battle too, and battle to get european tournament spot (it rewards you with a lot of money upon qualification). this is what middle team root for, and they are happy enough to sneak into CL qualification spot (everton fans). maybe you should read levante story last season, they hardly have any star, but they able to cope, constantly around 4-6 spot and manage to finish on the top half of the league.
my point is that regular season didnt eliminate the drama, and team is forced to play consistent through out the year, it looks easy, but with other team adjusting to your formation and strategy every week, it will be hard for your team to constantly winning every week, and when you drop points, you have someone at your back trying to sneak in your spot.
0
@composite :
sure there are playoff oriented teams, they aim for FA cup or carling, top teams do care about it (bullshit if they dont, they dont care only if they get eliminated, if they even only BARELY goes through, they still care), they just doesnt give full effort sometimes because they have to conserve energy for regular season play, or other tournament.
the race is exciting every year, the difference is how long it last? dont forget there is relegation battle too, and battle to get european tournament spot (it rewards you with a lot of money upon qualification). this is what middle team root for, and they are happy enough to sneak into CL qualification spot (everton fans). maybe you should read levante story last season, they hardly have any star, but they able to cope, constantly around 4-6 spot and manage to finish on the top half of the league.
my point is that regular season didnt eliminate the drama, and team is forced to play consistent through out the year, it looks easy, but with other team adjusting to your formation and strategy every week, it will be hard for your team to constantly winning every week, and when you drop points, you have someone at your back trying to sneak in your spot.
If you choose to make use of any information on this website including online sports betting services from any websites that may be featured on
this website, we strongly recommend that you carefully check your local laws before doing so.It is your sole responsibility to understand your local laws and observe them strictly.Covers does not provide
any advice or guidance as to the legality of online sports betting or other online gambling activities within your jurisdiction and you are responsible for complying with laws that are applicable to you in
your relevant locality.Covers disclaims all liability associated with your use of this website and use of any information contained on it.As a condition of using this website, you agree to hold the owner
of this website harmless from any claims arising from your use of any services on any third party website that may be featured by Covers.
Hot Forum Topics
