BRIGHTON’S PREDICTABLE FAILURE

a ProPosaL from Brighton to introduce a predictive element to the formula used to determine league positions in the event of next season being curtailed has been rejected by the Premier League.

Under Brighton’s model average points- per- game would be calculated as a starting point before being projected over a 38-match season, adding different weightings to account for the number of home and away matches remaining, and the strength of the opposition.

While accepting the logic behind the proposal the Premier League board concluded that straightforward average points- per- game should be used because it would be more easily understood by fans, and due to concerns that predictive models would not adequately reflect the shock results that often occur towards the end of the season.