The real difference to the English game would be the fact that, outside of Southern basement dwellers Reading and Queens Park Rangers, the non-playoff teams would all still have something to play for outside of relegation.

So we went under the website’s hood and looked at the analytics. And, we were able to rank our 11 most-read stories of the year. Now, we present them in order.

Stefan Frei can now say he has gone from the Reds to the Reds. Toronto FC announced Sunday that the Swiss goalkeeper will train with Liverpool FC until Dec. 18.

Sometimes, you just have to wonder if artificial surface is preferable to temporary grass fields. Manchester City beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 Monday night in their Herbalife World Football Challenge friendly at Empire Field. But the talk of the match won’t be the audacious strike from Shaun Wright-Phillips that gave Man City the win. It won’t be on an impressive …

The Vancouver Whitecaps are trying to use their strong links with Tottenham to their benefit. The MLS club confirmed today that Irish fullback Cian Hughton is on a 10-day trial. He’s the son of former Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton, who was sacked during the 2010-11 campaign.

Simeon Jackson will likely be plying his trade in the English Premier League next season. Jackson’s second-half goal gave Norwich City a 1-0 victory over Portsmouth in the penultimate match of the League Championship season, ensuring the Canaries will finish second in the table and earn automatic promotion to the Premiership.

Jackson scored all of Norwich’s goals, including the match-winner six minutes into stoppage time, as Norwich preserved its one point lead over Cardiff for second spot in the League Championship, which means automatic promotion to the English Premier League. Jackson scored with his head, then added a 20-yard drive to give Norwich a 2-1 lead. But Derby came back to tie the match. With Cardiff winning 1-0 over Preston North End, Norwich had to get the full three points to hold onto second place. Jackson obliged with a left-footed shot from inside the penalty area.

It was an insurance goal, but Mississauga Ont.’s Simeon Jackson got on the scoresheet against Norwich City’s most hated rival. Jackson, Canada’s 2009 player of the year, scored with his left foot from six yards out, the third goal in Norwich City’s 5-1 rout of Ipswich Town. The win puts, at least temporarily, Norwich into second place in the League Championship — two points ahead of Cardiff, which has a game in hand.

Assuming that there aren’t any more points to be thrown away, and both Arsenal and Chelsea win out — winning their games over United — the season would end in a… Three-way tie.

Simeon Jackson made the most out his 32-plus minutes on the pitch. Jackson, who has struggled to get onto the pitch for League Championship and promotion candidates Norwich City, scored a 69th minute equalizer as Norwich City drew Watford 2-2. He pounced on a ball headed over to him by teammate Grant Holt and made no mistake from just a few yards out.