Its being so cherfull that keeps you going then eh!

Well not really as the team finishing 1st will have lost in week one and given up the advantage that had been gained

Still, they should be rewarded with it for being the best over 27 rounds, not one game. A one-off can go either way.

"Highest rank week 1 Qualifier WINNER" gets to choose.

Still my personal preference to have the league leaders be champions and have a separate lesser trophy on offer two weeks later played for between the winners of the two major trophies, or where those trophies are won by the same team, the top two teams in the league.

That way the team that finishes top is rewarded for its consistency over the season and a) it gives more time for the international squad/s to get together and prepare, and b) it gives the players a bit more recovery time in the off-season.

The most intense games of esch year tend to be local derbies or play off games, with the lack of a SOO style competition we need these games so our players are battle hardened when it comes to internationals. Too many games in the league allow players to switch off for 20 mins, do that in the play offs and you can be out.

Eight out of 14 is probably too many, but seven wouldn't work (I'm of the opinion that the five team system was the best) and with the scrapping of relegation (a good thing given the amount of youth starting to be used by the teams in the lower end of the table) means that lower ranked teams have something to play for. The only problem with the eight is that there is no difference between first and second, if a poor team gets into the eight, they will be knocked out the first week.