How many times. You, George, Jukesays, Rogues and Jennings sat round a table in the Anvil are not classed as experts.

This is almost certain to happen among the top 4 which is what makes it so tough to reach the GF. It's tough to beat any of the top teams twice on the way to the final whereas finishing outside the four still leaves a Herculean task but without having to face someone twice. Apologies for going o/t..

Deliberately losing the first game should easily stop that problem then.

to be fair AC they are pretty much experts of their field

Unfortunately nobody knows what their field is

Fields we are experts in - Rugby not so much!



But I'll get you a pint anyway

I'm sure Jukesy will be well chuffed that you have bundled him in with.......should I say it........"our more seasoned supporters"..!!

Talk of the devil.

I was going to leave him out but I didn't want to make the others feel too old so I lowered the ave age a little

Talking of the Anvil and sitting round a table.....

And raise the average I.Q at the same time!

Allow me to check my diary

You're not comparing like with like though. For a start, we are in Europe so perhaps the public will respond to it, but most sports have playoffs out of necessity, but we have playoffs because it makes money and not for sporting reasons.


It doesn't make sense to play every other team home and away then have a playoff to decide the championship.

Imagine in Formula 1 the top 8 drivers have one final playoff race to decide the champion? 'its about doing it on the big occasion'

Imagine each match of tennis being decided on who won the 5th set, with the previous 4 sets just to determine who serves first.

imagine an Ashes series where only the 3rd test matters and not the first 2 tests.

imagine a work colleague receiving a bonus and you not, because he produced more in the last month of the year, even though you produced more in the first 11 months. you wouldn't bother working hard for the first 11 months would you? well players may start doing that in SL. we'd have a proper crap tournament then wouldn't we.

it doesn't make sense when you have a complete even home and away round robin tournament to decide with a playoff.

the entire season just becomes a cup tournament when we already have one and that has lost its glamour because of Sky's playoffs too.

I agree. Most sports which have a play off, ours included historically, do so because not everyone plays each other the same number of times. We won the league last year. Which was a great achievement, whether acknowledged by others with a vested interest or not.
I was reading Schofield in League Express the other day, who was complaining about Leeds' crowd while simultaneously praising them for being able to win they want to, but not be bothered prior to September. I am not sure he is capable of spotting the link.
I don't know how others support, but I follow my team every week. How Wigan go in the last game affects how the next 7 days go. That investment is why I follow sport, and as a supporter I subscribe to one game at a time approach. Surely it's more natural than some disengaged one eye shut approach for 7 months?

I won't be missing this that's for sure! If people can't get up for this game we have problems. Wigan are being written off which should fire your team up.

I totally agree

They were. I've only been watching since 1966 and it was top 16 then. I may be wrong, but I'm sure there was a season in the seventies (it may even have been 73-74) when the play off positions were decided by games won in all competitions (league and the various cups). Rogues may be able to give you more info on that one.
Anyway, back to the thread, it will be a good crowd and an absolute cracker of a game, despite what some on here seem to think.

Ok, so whats the necessity of the play-offs in pretty much all European RU, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Rugby League, Handball. Outside football very few sports, even in europe, use a straight league system.

why?
None of these things are similar to a league and then play-off system. Also bar international series Cricket does use a league/play-off system. Nobody is suggesting a league/play off system for international series.

That isnt even sport. It is in no way comparable.


It makes perfect sense, we also dont have an even home and away round robin tournament.
Or it becomes what it is. A tournament with both league and play-off components.

Looking at the ticket sales it appears that Wigan have sold around 15,000 tickets. so if those season ticket holders who have not renewed decide to be part of the walk up, we should still be looking at 19 - 21 K if Wire bring 3 - 4K fans.

N.B. There are less than 200 tickets left in the South Stand so if you are wanting to sit there I suggest you book them quickly.

What's capacity again in the away end, 5k?

5500 (ish) but 10% taken off due to unreserved seating rules so a tad under 5k would be allowed in

So Wigan fans' "apathy" will equate to a crowd bigger than every other team will see other than FC (once) and Leeds (twice)? Not much ammo there for Wire stirrers.

The thread was started and perpetuated by the Wigan doom mongers for the most part.

I think one or two may have had a bit of slight nibble but we've nobody else to blame on this score other than some of ourselves.

God forbid any of them went into the season with jimmy birts, rocket ronnie, Barry Williams etc.
I'm sure they'd have hung there selves

Are there cash turnstiles tomorrow? Which stand?

They change their minds every game, or is it buy a ticket from the office?