Last season, with 4 games to play, Leeds were in 2nd place, 3 points ahead of Sheffield Utd. How did that turn out? Leeds picked up just 1 point from the last 4 fixtures, to Sheffield Utd’s 10 points, with Sheffield Utd turning a 3 point deficit into a 6 point advantage. Of course Leeds shouldn’t be promoted now, because a 7 point turn around is possible, with 9 (?) games still to play, based on last season’s bottle job.
It seems that some would Leeds to do a "bottle" job again. In the past it has been funny, but I have come to the conclusión that they deserve better than playing Cardiff, Birmingham, Forest repeatedly based on this season's form, their big support, and the fact they like to bring through players from their own academy.
Not awarding promotions and titles to sides currently in pole position would be hard for those sides to stomach. But it would be 100 times worse to relegate sides who happen to currently occupy the relegation positions. Hence why you can't just call an end to the season, and have sides finish in their current positions. Whether it's through waiting until the season can be completed, or introducing some form of predicted/average results (I note that the pools panel put us down for an away loss to Watford last weekend - that might have begun to make things a little squeaky for us), if promotion and relegation is to take place then all matches must be "completed" first. Otherwise annul the season entirely.
I went to Boothferry Park once, they promptly knocked it down. As to clubs being promoted (or relegated/made champions etc) when it's still possible not to be, bollocks to that. We've all seen great escapes and teams grasping tragedy from the brink of triumph. As money grabbing clubs pack out the season with more complex competitions we'll end up with weather disrupted games being 'awarded' on probability to keep the £££ cogs turning at this rate. Anyway with fun in short supply the sight and sound of wailing 'Pool, Leeds and Portsmouth fans rending their garments in unison is not to be denied us I feel.
Unlike Liverpool and Leeds, Pompey are in the play-off zone. I'd take that even if it resulted in defeat, as most Pompey fans realise the team would struggle in the Championship unless there was heavy investment. That won' t hapen. When Saints got out of League Oñe, they had a team ready to challenge for promotion in the Championship, plus attendances that Pompey can only dream about. The likes of Sheffield United and Wolves, clubs with similar finances to SFC, it took 2 or 3 years?
I feel sorry for Rotherham. Second in League 1. I know one of the players - my son is/was to be a groomsman at his wedding in June. Looks like that`ll be postponed, so a double whammy!