The idea of allowing other teams to join the HGL is interesting. I think it's fair that to join this league, teams must face the bottom-placed teams from each season. This is intended to make the HGL more competitive. [...] The bottom-placed team from the previous season faces the best of those aspiring to join the league. The best of the "outside" teams is decided in one-off matches on neutral ground.
Thank you for your response, SventraCanestri!
I'm glad to hear your share the view on fairness of that logic (of having to beat the worst HGL team, in order to open an entrance to HGL) - that would ensure the best teams are playing each Season. As for whether or not the match (HGL Relegation/Promotion Final) match should take on neutral court,or on the home court of better team (IRL team playing in higher league - in this case HGL - is often considered team that receives a home court advantage for the series if they face a relegation threat in that match series/match).
But regardless, you pretty much condensed what I had proposed before, so maybe it reaches more managers being more manageable post in terms of a character count.
Also, as for certain suggestion (yes, not your suggestion) about possible "relegation playoffs" (among 'then current HGL teams'), I don't think that should be a thing with HGL teams at all, for so many reasons, but also to minimize the effect of relegation threat to committed HGL teams, and also because in practice "the pecking order" is already determined by ORSR-rankings at the end of RS.
And, while some might disagree on this, I think it's still easier to find success when utilizing selling and buying-strategy within currently accepted HGL limits (as HGL policy is to allow certain trading currently).
So then to minimize the benefit of such potential actions (especially at the middle/at the end of the Season, if team is facing a relegation threat), and make sure it doesn't put (totally non-trading vs. trading) teams in different "level/starting point" in terms of being able to avoid relegation during those so called "relegation playoffs", no such playoffs should exist at all I think. As mentioned in reply to MrJ, also injuries would play too big of a part there. (Yes, I understand they affect normal Playoffs as well, but in Playoffs, teams haven't got "nothing to lose" compared to 'fighting for their life in relegation battle', as facing a relegation threat in HGL means team is playing for it's future (for next Season), which is a big thing.
Note: That doesn't mean worst team couldn't be subjected to relegation threat, but I'm talking about including multiple 'then current HGL-teams' being subjected to relegation threat. (With risk of repeat; I
don't think multiple teams per Season should be subjected to that).
If one would have some "reserve players" out there in the world (sold to other BB teams) and would be in a relegation threat, they could simply try to gain an edge over non-trading teams by buying player back for the relegation playoffs, and that's exactly what I want to avoid in HGL, as relegation is in a way most critical thing team would face. (Of course this would be possible also for the worst HGL team or best HGL-PL team to utilize such strategy, but I hope you all understood my point).
Last edited by Wagner at 6/1/2026 6:40:34 PM