Unlucky Number 3?
Tue May 01, 2012 9:37 am
Allardyce sounds like a desperate man, whereas Malky sounds like a shrewd manager keeping his cards close to his chest. I honestly fancy us to pinch it, all the signs are there. Westham are no Liverpool and we should have beat them, so its certainly very doable. On top of everything there is no way they can just forget they just missed out on an auto spot.
The team finishing highest in the league (third) has succeeded in winning promotion nine times out of twenty five seasons up to 2011, with 4th managing four promotions, 5th six and 6th five.
The 'unlucky' third place was notorious for being the one place that would almost certainly result in failure.
In the first 10 years of the Play-offs following the inception of the Premier League, only Bolton Wanderers were successful in the Play-offs after finishing third, this was in 1995.
Promotion for Ipswich Town in 2000 and Bolton again the year later did seem to buck the trend.
It wasn't until five years later when Watford successfully defeat Leeds in the last game to be played at the Millennium Stadium, that things changed.
Four of the last six Play-off finals have been won by the team finishing third.
Derby County picked up a 1-0 win over West Brom in 2007, before Hull got the same result against Bristol City the following year.
Wins for 5th place Burnley in 2009 and 6th place Blackpool in 2010 ended a spell of 3rd place successes.
It was Swansea City who took 3rd place in 2011, with the Swans picking up a 4-2 victory over Reading at Wembley and bring the glory back to 3rd.
Over the course of the championship finishing 3rd seems to have evened itself out, and it no longer seems to be a curse.In this instance though I believe it will be a curse for West-ham, who should be up by now, and that will weigh heavy on them. Its not just about 3rd being a jinx its the manner of how you reach 3rd that can make or break you. When Swansea did it it was unexpected, West-ham should have done better.
Remember the old saying, an empty vessel makes the most noise.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17902475?
The team finishing highest in the league (third) has succeeded in winning promotion nine times out of twenty five seasons up to 2011, with 4th managing four promotions, 5th six and 6th five.
The 'unlucky' third place was notorious for being the one place that would almost certainly result in failure.
In the first 10 years of the Play-offs following the inception of the Premier League, only Bolton Wanderers were successful in the Play-offs after finishing third, this was in 1995.
Promotion for Ipswich Town in 2000 and Bolton again the year later did seem to buck the trend.
It wasn't until five years later when Watford successfully defeat Leeds in the last game to be played at the Millennium Stadium, that things changed.
Four of the last six Play-off finals have been won by the team finishing third.
Derby County picked up a 1-0 win over West Brom in 2007, before Hull got the same result against Bristol City the following year.
Wins for 5th place Burnley in 2009 and 6th place Blackpool in 2010 ended a spell of 3rd place successes.
It was Swansea City who took 3rd place in 2011, with the Swans picking up a 4-2 victory over Reading at Wembley and bring the glory back to 3rd.
Over the course of the championship finishing 3rd seems to have evened itself out, and it no longer seems to be a curse.In this instance though I believe it will be a curse for West-ham, who should be up by now, and that will weigh heavy on them. Its not just about 3rd being a jinx its the manner of how you reach 3rd that can make or break you. When Swansea did it it was unexpected, West-ham should have done better.
Remember the old saying, an empty vessel makes the most noise.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17902475?
Re: Unlucky Number 3?
Tue May 01, 2012 2:32 pm
Good post.
Re: Unlucky Number 3?
Tue May 01, 2012 2:38 pm
MM doesnt really need to say a lot at the moment, oddly Sam has heaped even more pressure on himself and his players.