Quote Barnacle Bill="Barnacle Bill"Like it or not the SL competition is split into two parts. The first part (the league) is simply a competition to decide the 8 teams that will play off for the title of SL Champions.
Considered that way the play offs at least make some kind of sense.'"
In that case, why should people be interested in the former especially when more-than-half quality for them? You have more chance of finishing in the play-offs, then not. Where's the drama in that? Why not just tune in for the last 4 weeks of the season? Especially when there is less weight in significance for finishing first, second, third, etc... (essentially the privileges for finishing first are the same for the rest of the teams within the top 4).
It only makes sense for a play-off system to be exclusive, rather than inclusive. And the top 8 as it stands, ruins both parts - 29 weeks spent waiting to see who will finish in positions 1-4, and 5-8, whilst the majority of those teams KNOW they will qualify for the play-offs weeks in advance, and a play-off system which spreads too thinly, resulting in teams who deserve more of the pie - don't. (oh, and the chance of repeat fixtures from the "qualifying play-offs" to the "qualifying semi-finals" is a joke too)