Play Offs - the big picture

[Parahandy]

For those of us who like to know the stats the table shows the entire history of the play offs over 16 seasons.

THE STORY OF THE PLAYOFFS
1988-89 to 2003-04
Won competition
	C'ship	Lge 1	Lge 2	All	%
1st	4	5	11	20	41.67
2nd	4	4	1	9	18.75
3rd	5	1	3	9	18.75
4th	3	6	1	10	20.83
Semi -finals
	C'ship	Lge 1	Lge 2	All	%
1st bt 4th	8/16	10/16	13/16	31/48	64.58
2nd bt 3rd	8/16	12/16	9/16	29/48	60.42
Finals
				All	%
Higher beat lower				27/48	56.25

 

[Parahandy]

The most notable stat by far is the performance of the top qualifier in League 2. In 11/16 seasons this team has won the competition. Will Southend do it this time?

Otherwise there's no real pattern anywhere.

[keemanan]

Obviously '1st' denotes the team finishing the place below automatic promotion and so on ?
just to clarify of course

[Parahandy]

That's right keema.

[GETT1NLOTS]

Interesting Parahandy.

I would have sworn that the best placed qualifier had done much more badly than that prior to reading those stats.

I'm actually shocked to be honest.

[Parahandy]

League 2 apart, which distorts the overall trend, you're right Gett1n.

[crowie]

Para,

I posted something similar in the Div 2 thread based on RFO stats this week. Div 2 best placed has qualified for final 9 times out of last 10 seasons and gone up 8 times out of 10. I am on Southend at 3.65

[kompressaur]

sorry lads ive been a bit busy and put footie on hold really till the new season but i am gonna be getting into Norwegian football this summer. Im trying to bring some Wegians in etc.

good info Parahandy and cheers mate.

[Parahandy]

Those who place importance on Stats would have been happy to see Southend make it to Division 1 yesterday. Crowie for one

Have to say I haven't had a bet on the playoffs.

[Keith]

My only bet in the play offs this year was to tip Preston to qualify against Derby. I couldn't understand why Derby had been made favourites and suggested that the layers had put too much emphasis on the last game of the season when the Rams had triumphed 3-1.

On that occasion Preston had already qualified for the play offs and decided to rest several first choice players.

I was on holiday when the semis took place. I have heard that West Ham were impressive but I myself had formed the view that Ipswich's form on the run in had on occasions been a little rocky. I think therefore that there could be a danger of over estimating West Hams achievement.

I would certainly not make them favourites to gain promotion as I believe that Preston have shown a good level of consistancy all season long.

As the other two finals have demonstrated, it was not a good idea to attempt to pick a winner over 90 mins. However, I did see that Preston were as big as 3.50 on Betfair this morning to do so.

As this is the last major game of the season (and because I have already proved how useless I am at Aussie footy and horse racing) I have decided to go out with a bang and have backed Preston with 10pts @ 3.50.