THE VIEW FROM THE STANDS

Is there an issue you feel strongly about? Contact us: MORE PLAY- OFFS, PLEASE

I’ve thought of a more exciting way to settle relegation and promotion from/ to the Premier League and Championship. Whoever finishes third in the latter isn’t good enough to go up automatically, so why not have a Bundesliga- style relegation play- off to settle things up? They could face off with the 17th- placed Premier League team, who have most likely given little. Traditional play- offs could still happen, using the teams that finish 4th- 7th. It’d surely crank up the late drama.

Oli Collins, via email

TIME FOR TIME- OUTS?

Football’s restart brought the unfittingly named ‘ drinks breaks’, but what the rule makers didn’t take into account is that summer in Britain is no more than a long weekend of poorly blown up paddling pools and dodgy tan lines. Instead, they became quickfire tactical meetings, much to people’s annoyance. But I actually think time- outs could be positive. Thomas Frank used one to particularly great effect for Brentford, with his team trailing 1- 0 to Charlton after 70 minutes. The Bees swiftly bagged two goals to win, and should have gone up automatically. So, simple question: time- outs... yes or no? Finley Law, via email FFT: [ shudders] Sorry, Finley...

I WAS JUST WANDERING...

Wycombe Wanderers. Ring a bell? Let’s look at your 2019- 20 prediction [ of 23rd]. Can you tell me where we ended up? Certainly above a team that folded. Above at least five former Premier League sides. Need more help? [ some more ‘ help’ edited for brevity – Ed.] It wasn’t 23rd, or bottom. It wasn’t relegation either. It wasn’t safety via PPG. Ask Gareth Ainsworth what was pinned to his office wall. By the way: we finished as play- off winners. Thanks, FFT – hopefully with your predictions for 2020- 21, dare we dream of the top flight? [ Er, better not turn to p61 of our Season Preview – Ed.]

Chris Jones, via email