Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on April 28, 2024, 02:59:08 pm
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It is not often a small miracle happens but it has in this instance, if we step back and take it in we realise just how unlikely this game coming about was to happen, the only confident person publicly Grant McCann who never gave up, and to be fair quite a few of us must have thought in your dreams Grant.
I admit that after losing to Bradford in the EFL trophy game I just hoped for a good reasonable finish to the season away from the drop that was drawing us in, and adding Close and Connor Carty to season ending injuries just seamed to top our troubles off, How lucky we were with Adeluken and Craig signed as replacements, their contribution to our season has been outstanding and now on the the hardest challenge of all, the lottery that are the playoffs, and hopefully Close and Carty recover well and get back to full fitness.
So it's on to a new start to a competition, one where everything including current league form goes straight out of the window, and every player taking part knows they have a chance for a Wembley appearance and promotion up the league, all that has gone before apart from giving them this second chance meaning nothing, nada, and only the three potential games having everything riding on them.
Crewe will be just as up and confident as we are, the results will be who handles the pressure and play with confidence the best, and their whole concentration over the coming days until the game will be on how to defeat us, the way we play, the weaknesses we have and how to nullify our strengths, it will not by any stretch of the imagination easy, after all for much of the season, in fact until just this week they have been the better side.
The playoffs are where the manager has the most influence on the final result I have always thought, not always do the best sides win these mini competitions, where just one individual mistake or a piece of brilliant skill can win a game with little time to nullify the resulting outcome. We can be confident in our management team that they will be well prepared and they will want the team to play with no fear, we just have to go for it, to be fair most sides we will come up against have been better organised defensively than we have over the season.
So a full seasons work comes down to a lottery of three games at the most and luck will most probably play some part in just who wins the mini competition, lets hope for a change it is on our side.
Crewe's home record is not that good or bad scoring 35 goals but also conceding 35 their season tailing off somewhat since their loan players in the first half of the season left and a number of injuries took a toll of their playing strength, although Nevitt with 16 league goals will want some watching and came up with the equaliser at Colchester yesterday. Our run means nothing now in this new mini competition.
So a little extra time to gather our strengths and rest to this bank Holiday fixture, tension will rise over the week, and we need to do what we have been doing well and go into the game in the best possible frame of mind and composure and carry on the good things we have been doing. The club is in the best place it has been for a long time no matter what happens, it can only get better, the prize is there for us to grasp, give it our all and if we fail giving our all and are beaten by a better side so be it, the ride has been fantastic and promises even more if we play well and have a little luck on our side.
Just go for it.
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Not great home form.
They finished with 12th best home record, way below their finishing position of 6th. It is their away record that we need to be more concerned about (6th best in League Two).
Recent form really not good. They've won twice in their last 12 and only one of these was at home, and that was a 1-0 win against Sutton United.
They are currently on a three game losing streak at home, including against Forest Green and Grimsby (and Wrexham) losing each of them 3-0, with a 9-0 aggregate result at home over these games.
This is not a side in any kind of form and certainly not at home.
Their last three home games of the season were all defeats
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All that has gone before for both clubs mean nothing, it is a new competition where all four teams start on equal footing, and what happened in yesterdays games gives no indication of what lies ahead.
It is knock out football and there is no second chances, the first round is over two legs, a different format from league games where tactics can make a big difference, and teams feel the pressure they have to do well in their home fixture, which can inhibit a teams performance.
If you get over that hurdle you come up against the fact that the football world are watching you play at the National Stadium Wembley in a one off game with the whole world watching and a winner takes all outcome.
These are not just games of football, they are a mental and personality test as much as skills set, the teams that handle all that the best, and not always the best football team generally take the day. There are many examples of teams not having much of a chance by so called experts in the past that have overturned the odds Barnsley, Blackpool, Hull City, and little old Doncaster Rovers to name just a few who handled the qualifying and final games better than more fancied sides.
We have to be on it attitude and playing wise to win the day and do not underestimate any of the teams we have to overcome, confident yes, but then prove it.
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Apart from the winning football, the best thing that has happened is the coming together again of the club and supporters.
It is the best part of the story.
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Brian, I think you're downplaying the importance of form going into these games. None of the teams will relish playing a side that seems to have forgotten how to lose.
Of course, anything can happen in football, but if we play to our full potential, I can't see any of these teams beating us.
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I'm more worried that nobody has said they can't make it yet. This could sell out to season ticket holders
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“Our run means nothing now in this new mini competition”.
Sorry, I usually enjoy the summaries you provide, but I can’t agree with this one. The run means everything. It’s just another game, that’s all
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Have they announced the red card decision yet?
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Not great home form.
They finished with 12th best home record, way below their finishing position of 6th. It is their away record that we need to be more concerned about (6th best in League Two).
Recent form really not good. They've won twice in their last 12 and only one of these was at home, and that was a 1-0 win against Sutton United.
They are currently on a three game losing streak at home, including against Forest Green and Grimsby (and Wrexham) losing each of them 3-0, with a 9-0 aggregate result at home over these games.
This is not a side in any kind of form and certainly not at home.
Their last three home games of the season were all defeats
21st in the 10 game form table behind FGR and Accrington to name a few.
They only scored 5 goals in those 10 games too.
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Not great home form.
They finished with 12th best home record, way below their finishing position of 6th. It is their away record that we need to be more concerned about (6th best in League Two).
Recent form really not good. They've won twice in their last 12 and only one of these was at home, and that was a 1-0 win against Sutton United.
They are currently on a three game losing streak at home, including against Forest Green and Grimsby (and Wrexham) losing each of them 3-0, with a 9-0 aggregate result at home over these games.
This is not a side in any kind of form and certainly not at home.
Their last three home games of the season were all defeats
21st in the 10 game form table behind FGR and Accrington to name a few.
They only scored 5 goals in those 10 games too.
Good stats in here. On a 10 game basis it's top Vs nearly bottom.
https://thefishy.co.uk/formtable.php?table=4&tab=tab-last10
If only it was that simple. But it's a form Vs out of form side no doubt.
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I am not downplaying our form at all Steve, and I am not downplaying the respect I have for the other three teams in the competition for promotion.
What I do know is the minute anyone does not respect the opposition is asking for trouble, just as Tyson Fury did a couple of months ago you are likely to end up with all the trouble you want.
We can be confident, we can be proud of what we have achieved just getting into this position, and hopefully we will take that form into the next three games if we are fortunate enough to get to the final. They will be a hard games, with a different feel to them, more pressure and against a team looking at the game just the same as we are, it is their chance of promotion earned over a full season and they will want it as much as us .
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I think the end of the winning run takes a bit of the pressure off a little bit, we're not trying to win for the history books, we can relax in to the games - keep it tight and even at their place then knock five in at the Keepmoat - the 'Southend' as it's known.
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Let’s hope after the first leg that TLT is not regretting his decision to come for the ball at Gillingham.
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Let’s hope after the first leg that TLT is not regretting his decision to come for the ball at Gillingham.
we have so many goals in the side, we can suely overcome a first leg deficit?? (not that there will be one)
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Let’s hope after the first leg that TLT is not regretting his decision to come for the ball at Gillingham.
Do,you mean perhaps that Jones will have had a blinder and TLT can’t be sure of his place for the second leg and final. ;)
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Let’s hope after the first leg that TLT is not regretting his decision to come for the ball at Gillingham.
Do,you mean perhaps that Jones will have had a blinder and TLT can’t be sure of his place for the second leg and final. ;)
He won't need to, he's going to have nothing to do :)
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Selby ( Brian ) The fact is though Crewe have not been better than us up to the last week.
Look at the league table from 2nd Feb to now. We are top of that league. Crewe are nowhere near. Way down.
Now that doesn’t mean we will beat them obviously but going into these play offs with the momentum we have is massive.
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Out of interest what has caused Crewe’s drop in form? Do they have a lot of injuries?
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Out of interest what has caused Crewe’s drop in form? Do they have a lot of injuries?
Injuries and they over achieved earlier in the season. They weren’t quite as good as their position reflected.
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Out of interest what has caused Crewe’s drop in form? Do they have a lot of injuries?
Injuries and they over achieved earlier in the season. They weren’t quite as good as their position reflected.
Over 46 games they are the 7th best team.
Yes they did better than I thought they would do but over 46 games the table does not lie.
Injuries look at injuries we had and we have finished 5th.
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Out of interest what has caused Crewe’s drop in form? Do they have a lot of injuries?
Injuries and they over achieved earlier in the season. They weren’t quite as good as their position reflected.
Over 46 games they are the 7th best team.
Yes they did better than I thought they would do but over 46 games the table does not lie.
Injuries look at injuries we had and we have finished 5th.
Sorry to be pedantic, Camps, but they are the 6th best team. Crawley are the 7th best.
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I'm sure McCann and Byrne will have done their homework. If you recall McCann said one of his regrets was the way they approached the first leg v Charlton, saying they were maybe too cautious. Of course with the first leg away, it's a slightly different dynamic, but the way we've approached all games home and away these last couple of months has been brilliant. More of the same please.
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Out of interest what has caused Crewe’s drop in form? Do they have a lot of injuries?
Injuries and they over achieved earlier in the season. They weren’t quite as good as their position reflected.
Over 46 games they are the 7th best team.
Yes they did better than I thought they would do but over 46 games the table does not lie.
Injuries look at injuries we had and we have finished 5th.
Sorry to be pedantic, Camps, but they are the 6th best team. Crawley are the 7th best.
Put reply in wrong place SS so deleted. I will try again.
Just put that it was a deliberate mistake just to test your football knowledge.
You will be pleased to know you passed with a distinction. :facepalm: :) :) :)
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The team they fielded for the last game was very young, quite a few 19/20 year olds. Even brought another 20 year old. Is that because of Injuries?? I know Crewe were always one for bringing on new young talent though so maybe not that significant. When you know we have the better form, better team, way more Goals and a better manager. Hopefully that will all go in our favour
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It is our biggest game of the season, the TV and national coverage is like nothing we have come across this season, and it is a different competition with just teams that have been moderately successful this season, non of us being top draw in division 2 over the season playing second fiddle to three teams that have left us all in their wake.
But set off with the same chance of promotion, the Crewe players , management, and supporters well aware that we have finished better than any team can seriously expect to gate crash the play offs at the last possible moment.
We will be looking to take that form into the play offs and they will be equally determined to upset the apple cart and progress to Wembley instead of us. Like us they are a decent side on their day, like us will want to play well and are capable of doing so, it will not be easy although I think we have more than enough in us to overcome them, but in no way is it a certainty and people need to accept that we have a fight on our hands and need to play well ourselves to have any chance, it is not a given.
The sense of over expectancy in some supporters frightens me slightly and I hope it doesn't spread to the players, its football the unexpected is what makes the game so great, I am confident and think we can win if we play well, that is the crunch, performing on the day, and I repeat it will not be easy, but a game to look forward to.
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We underestimate them at our peril
2 one off games form goes out the window
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Anyone who thinks this will be Easy, just cast your mind back to half time v barrow?
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Let’s hope after the first leg that TLT is not regretting his decision to come for the ball at Gillingham.
Do,you mean perhaps that Jones will have had a blinder and TLT can’t be sure of his place for the second leg and final. ;)
If you want to put that way hound then that’s your choice it’s not the way I’m thinking. But I hope he does have a blinder and can get to crosses and move his feet better.
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Last time we were in the playoffs under Grant Marco Marosi lost us the first leg with two errors let’s hope its not duplicated away at Crewe
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Marosi did not lose us that tie
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We underestimate them at our peril
2 one off games form goes out the window
I am not underestimating them one bit.
If they re capture the form they were in earlier in the season then they will be very dangerous.
All I am saying is we have momentum and they have almost but not quite the opposite.
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Both their goals were at the near post and he allowed both to get past him one went straight through him the other he patted out straight to their player.
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And the other 10 players?
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We are due a win there to be honest regardless of current form, from my recollection we haven’t won’t there since 2013 when we won the league.
Remember a few seasons back this game being dubbed “el crapico” or whatever it was hah
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Hope Jason price and billy paynter will be watching, for luck !
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Out of interest what has caused Crewe’s drop in form? Do they have a lot of injuries?
Injuries and they over achieved earlier in the season. They weren’t quite as good as their position reflected.
Over 46 games they are the 7th best team.
Yes they did better than I thought they would do but over 46 games the table does not lie.
Injuries look at injuries we had and we have finished 5th.
Sorry to be pedantic, Camps, but they are the 6th best team. Crawley are the 7th best.
Put reply in wrong place SS so deleted. I will try again.
Just put that it was a deliberate mistake just to test your football knowledge.
You will be pleased to know you passed with a distinction. :facepalm: :) :) :)
Thanks, Camps. I always like to keep my fans on here riveted.
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Let’s hope after the first leg that TLT is not regretting his decision to come for the ball at Gillingham.
Do,you mean perhaps that Jones will have had a blinder and TLT can’t be sure of his place for the second leg and final. ;)
If you want to put that way hound then that’s your choice it’s not the way I’m thinking. But I hope he does have a blinder and can get to crosses and move his feet better.
You did see “the winkie” emoji Steve, didn’t you.
Jeez, this site still needs that tongue in cheek emoji.
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TLT is now able to play in the first leg now and will most probably start the games, a question though, if the games went to penalties would you consider subbing Jones on with minutes to go after his heroics in the EFL cup?
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The good thing is that Grant and Cliff have to lads grounded and focused on this being another game that requires discipline and professionalism. If you listen to every interview, they’re all dialed in to this. No easy game, but the preparation will be top notch.
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TLT is now able to play in the first leg now and will most probably start the games, a question though, if the games went to penalties would you consider subbing Jones on with minutes to go after his heroics in the EFL cup?
In one word NO Brian.
I think TLT would have just as much chance of saving them.
Louie did well though that night. Credit to him.
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A lot of questions to be answered in this game, are Crewe really decimated by injury, our run of wins coming to an end with a draw, has our luck changed? can we continue our goal scoring exploits?, Olowu or Anderson? How big is the fact TLT can play? a two legged game, not our usual format, will it effect our game plan and inhibit our style of play? will we benefit from a full weeks rest from the last league fixture?
And the BIG ONE, it being a Bank Holiday, will the chippy be open?
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We know the answer to one of those questions that our game plan won't change we will attack every chance we get McCann knows that's the best way of beating Crewe
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A lot of questions to be answered in this game, are Crewe really decimated by injury, our run of wins coming to an end with a draw, has our luck changed? can we continue our goal scoring exploits?, Olowu or Anderson? How big is the fact TLT can play? a two legged game, not our usual format, will it effect our game plan and inhibit our style of play? will we benefit from a full weeks rest from the last league fixture?
And the BIG ONE, it being a Bank Holiday, will the chippy be open?
If the chippy is open don’t ask for a chip butty or you’ll get some weird looks like I did…
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We need to do a “Southend” to Crewe!
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We need to do a “Southend” to Crewe!
Hopefully not the first leg version - a 0-0 draw with our striker sent off for violent conduct.!!!!
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I would take a draw all day long. I think we can beat anyone in this league at home and would massively fancy our chances.
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With Crewe saying they could be without up to 10 players I wondered how many Rovers player are unavailable:
Miller
Close
Biamou
Lawlor?
Senior
Faulkner?
Ravenhill
Goodman
Lavery
I think Taylor is available but hasn't played for quite some time
That's 9 I can come up with including some important players
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I don’t think any of them would be starters at present, though. Miller, Biamou, Close and maybe Senior would be on the bench. Hopefully Crewe are missing key players!
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I was thinking about Miller, and that he was ahead of schedule.
I’m wondering if the final (yes I know) would be too early for him to stick him on the bench?
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None of those would start right now. The ones that we have fit are our best 11.
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Miller and Taylor could be available. If miller is fit that's a huge boost if we can get 15 mins out of him as a sub.
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From the DFP: McCann teased the possibility of injured pair George Miller and Jon Taylor being available to feature in this play-off campaign.
Miller has been out for almost the entire season whilst Taylor hasn't been seen since Sutton in February.
McCann told the Free Press: "Jon's training well for the last few weeks, as has George. He's trained for the last seven or eight days.
"Are Jon and George going to be available for Monday? Who knows. We'll see."
It would be an extraordinary feat if Miller was to play any part at all in the next few weeks, given the original prognosis suggested his return may not be until next season.
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It is good to have them back something like fully fit at this time of the season and Faulkner too who is training with the group.
Some way to go to be match fit though but great they are there for any emergency if needed, which I hope they are not needed.
The fact we have big numbers in the squad, and the length of recovery some have undertaken to get fit has worked in our favour over the last month or two, while some clubs who were well in front of us at the turn of the year have looked weary and as though they have run out of steam.
We don't want to let it distract us though, just keep doing what we have been doing, if we play well and steer clear of injury we have as good a chance as the other clubs to go all the way.
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Taylor currently slated to play in a charity game at Shrewsbury Town on 12 May.
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Taylor currently slated to play in a charity game at Shrewsbury Town on 12 May.
That's his level now. Please can we keep him away from the first team squad and finally get shut in the summer.
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GM is going to try and have the lads kill this off in the first leg, and have less of a task to perform on Friday. If Rovers do what Bolton did to the Dingles I would not be surprised. 1 - 3.
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We underestimate them at our peril
2 one off games form goes out the window
I don’t quite agree with this. I think form is everything. If you look at teams promoted via the playoffs, it’s often (not always, I know) the team in form that goes up. It’s hard just suddenly switch good form on in two games, but I appreciate anything can take place.
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Colin, as you say, not always.
I remember that Southend were the form team going into the play offs back when we played them in the semi final.
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It is not often a small miracle happens but it has in this instance, if we step back and take it in we realise just how unlikely this game coming about was to happen, the only confident person publicly Grant McCann who never gave up, and to be fair quite a few of us must have thought in your dreams Grant.
I admit that after losing to Bradford in the EFL trophy game I just hoped for a good reasonable finish to the season away from the drop that was drawing us in, and adding Close and Connor Carty to season ending injuries just seamed to top our troubles off, How lucky we were with Adeluken and Craig signed as replacements, their contribution to our season has been outstanding and now on the the hardest challenge of all, the lottery that are the playoffs, and hopefully Close and Carty recover well and get back to full fitness.
So it's on to a new start to a competition, one where everything including current league form goes straight out of the window, and every player taking part knows they have a chance for a Wembley appearance and promotion up the league, all that has gone before apart from giving them this second chance meaning nothing, nada, and only the three potential games having everything riding on them.
Crewe will be just as up and confident as we are, the results will be who handles the pressure and play with confidence the best, and their whole concentration over the coming days until the game will be on how to defeat us, the way we play, the weaknesses we have and how to nullify our strengths, it will not by any stretch of the imagination easy, after all for much of the season, in fact until just this week they have been the better side.
The playoffs are where the manager has the most influence on the final result I have always thought, not always do the best sides win these mini competitions, where just one individual mistake or a piece of brilliant skill can win a game with little time to nullify the resulting outcome. We can be confident in our management team that they will be well prepared and they will want the team to play with no fear, we just have to go for it, to be fair most sides we will come up against have been better organised defensively than we have over the season.
So a full seasons work comes down to a lottery of three games at the most and luck will most probably play some part in just who wins the mini competition, lets hope for a change it is on our side.
Crewe's home record is not that good or bad scoring 35 goals but also conceding 35 their season tailing off somewhat since their loan players in the first half of the season left and a number of injuries took a toll of their playing strength, although Nevitt with 16 league goals will want some watching and came up with the equaliser at Colchester yesterday. Our run means nothing now in this new mini competition.
So a little extra time to gather our strengths and rest to this bank Holiday fixture, tension will rise over the week, and we need to do what we have been doing well and go into the game in the best possible frame of mind and composure and carry on the good things we have been doing. The club is in the best place it has been for a long time no matter what happens, it can only get better, the prize is there for us to grasp, give it our all and if we fail giving our all and are beaten by a better side so be it, the ride has been fantastic and promises even more if we play well and have a little luck on our side.
Just go for it.
it’s not a small miracle, it’s a bloody gigantic miracle, I did predict a great last 9 games and we will go on to win this 2 game leg with Crew,
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:turd:as you say, not always.
I remember that Southend were the form team going into the play offs back when we played them in the semi final.
hound you are not wrong. Just had a look. Won 9 drew 5 lost 1 of their last 15 games. That’s 32 points.
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Our change in form this season takes some taking in, the truth is we were abject the first half of the season, most games getting beaten easily, in many not even competing, and teams with half the player investment like Newport and Harrogate easily brushing us aside as we constantly got over run in mid field and consequently at the back.
Basically only Ironside , Bailey and to an extent Molineux with Westbrook up to his injury can say that they have had a good full season, most of the rest having periods of poor to very poor form.
Sterry we couldn't get on the field along with a number of others who were constantly injured and along with Miller and Faulkner who have been out all of the season the injury crisis added to our troubles and was that bad our medical team went under a change of personnel to see if we could improve things as we were heading to become a proper basket case and staring down the abyss.
The work Terry Bramall and our management team led by Grant has been phenomenal since the January transfer window, our run in the EFL trophy giving us a glimpse of better things and the rest has been history, that EFL trophy run being the thing that seemed to start off the gelling of the club and supporters to an extent, some light releif and hope when all seemed lost.
Whatever it was, the ride has been fantastic, only Grant publically stating the play offs were possible, whether he realised just what the team had to do to achieve what they have done and the run of victories required, or was it bravado only he alone knows, but fair does he stuck to his statement week after week, while us disbelievers were slowly converted.
So on to the Crewe game in the playoffs, not an easy game, none of the teams would be easy, and losing now would be a disappointment but no recriminations here, it has been wonderful, we are back as a club after staring down the barrel, we have some pride again and can look forward whatever the outcome of the playoffs, and that is the best part of the story, and whatever happens I know that the playing staff and everyone at the club will do their best to take the last steps to try and fulfil one of the greatest come backs in football history, just go for it lads, and we the supporters can be right behind them loud and proud whatever the outcome.
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Agreed, Selby.
Obviously we’ll all be disappointed if we don’t make it but far from disillusioned or disheartened.
That’s the difference. The pride is back.
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:turd:as you say, not always.
I remember that Southend were the form team going into the play offs back when we played them in the semi final.
hound you are not wrong. Just had a look. Won 9 drew 5 lost 1 of their last 15 games. That’s 32 points.
The other perspective is the comparison between Crewe and Rovers. I haven’t totalled the Rovers points in those final games of 2007/08 and we did losing a few very narrowly, but against some tough opponents, yet we were still sustaining reasonable form and were not lacking confidence as a team, so altogether far better than Crewe recently. I nevertheless agree that nothing can be taken for granted!
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:turd:as you say, not always.
I remember that Southend were the form team going into the play offs back when we played them in the semi final.
hound you are not wrong. Just had a look. Won 9 drew 5 lost 1 of their last 15 games. That’s 32 points.
The other perspective is the comparison between Crewe and Rovers. I haven’t totalled the Rovers points in those final games of 2007/08 and we did losing a few very narrowly, but against some tough opponents, yet we were still sustaining reasonable form and were not lacking confidence as a team, so altogether far better than Crewe recently. I nevertheless agree that nothing can be taken for granted!
Yep, like avoiding defeat at Cheltenham.!!
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If football was predictable and lacked drama then with our excellent form v Crewe’s tail off, we go through, simple
Then you look at the Gillingham game, they’ve nothing to play for, we are totally in control at 0-2, heading for a club record breaking win.
Then it’s a bad moment, form suddenly doesn’t matter a jot. Drama, panic, we fall apart for 10 mins…. That’s footy, that’s the play offs …
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Tbf we did get cheated at Gillingham though…
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:turd:as you say, not always.
I remember that Southend were the form team going into the play offs back when we played them in the semi final.
hound you are not wrong. Just had a look. Won 9 drew 5 lost 1 of their last 15 games. That’s 32 points.
The other perspective is the comparison between Crewe and Rovers. I haven’t totalled the Rovers points in those final games of 2007/08 and we did losing a few very narrowly, but against some tough opponents, yet we were still sustaining reasonable form and were not lacking confidence as a team, so altogether far better than Crewe recently. I nevertheless agree that nothing can be taken for granted!
Yep, like avoiding defeat at Cheltenham.!!
You perhaps haven’t looked at our run in back then. If you have, and feel that the defeat at Cheltenham was the factor which contradicts my general point, I can’t agree.
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No I meant that there was a feeling at the time we would beat them easily - I was actually agreeing with you that nowt should be taken for granted, not contradicting at all.
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Tbf we did get cheated at Gillingham though…
Surely officials making bad decisions is just one of the many possible reasons for a result to fly in the face of the form book.
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I'm very surprised that your odds to win tomorrow have lengthened considerably today.
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Somebody in Rotherham will have put a big fifty pence bet on Crewe and the bookies have panicked.
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Two legged games have a different approach to one off games. I would take a draw at their place and tonk them at ours, doing a “Southend”.
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I would be happy with a draw too Les.
I do feel though that we are good enough to win tonight.
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I agree we are good enough to get a win, with the second leg at our place, the pressure is off us to get a first leg. If we do great, if not, everything to play for at ours.
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COYR.
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As we all know the team picks itself these days.
TLT
Sterry
Maxwell
Wood
Anderson
Molyneux
Craig
Bailey
Biggins
Ironside
Adelukan
SUBS
Jones
Olowu
Hurst
Broadbent
Rowe
Westbrooke
Nixon
TLT in goals and without being too harsh on Louis, I very much doubt either of Gillingham's goals would have beaten him.
Then in the middle, the return of Biggins timing his runs from deep,and beyond Ironside stops defenders from sitting in and holding a steady line,it was this that changed the game v Barrow, and is a tactic that is more or less unplayable if the service to him is right. His excellent finishing complete the picture here.
Simply put, we have far too much for anyone in our division at the moment, our run is not luck, it's because we're a damn good side with strength in depth and a simply brilliant manager. Fans aren't too bad either.
RTID
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As we all know the team picks itself these days.
TLT
Sterry
Maxwell
Wood
Anderson
Molyneux
Craig
Bailey
Biggins
Ironside
Adelukan
SUBS
Jones
Olowu
Hurst
Broadbent
Rowe
Westbrooke
Nixon
TLT in goals and without being too harsh on Louis, I very much doubt either of Gillingham's goals would have beaten him.
Then in the middle, the return of Biggins timing his runs from deep,and beyond Ironside stops defenders from sitting in and holding a steady line,it was this that changed the game v Barrow, and is a tactic that is more or less unplayable if the service to him is right. His excellent finishing complete the picture here.
Simply put, we have far too much for anyone in our division at the moment, our run is not luck, it's because we're a damn good side with strength in depth and a simply brilliant manager. Fans aren't too bad either.
RTID
Waters on the bench for me. He’s not done a great deal but he has the potential to come on and get a goal if we really need it. I like Nixon but Rowe and Olowu can cover the full backs so he’d be the one to miss out.
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I’ll be happy when I see Haks on the team sheet. Something still doesn’t sit right with me about him not being in the MOTM group photo. I’m 90% certain his name will be there but just that chance he might have an agreement somewhere else and isn’t risking an injury.
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Just setting off now, most excited I've been for a game in a long long time! Safe journey over lads and lasses. Let's raise the roof this evening!
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I’ll be happy when I see Haks on the team sheet. Something still doesn’t sit right with me about him not being in the MOTM group photo. I’m 90% certain his name will be there but just that chance he might have an agreement somewhere else and isn’t risking an injury.
I thought this the other day. Then also thought how good Hurst has been the last month and more.
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As we all know the team picks itself these days.
TLT
Sterry
Maxwell
Wood
Anderson
Molyneux
Craig
Bailey
Biggins
Ironside
Adelukan
SUBS
Jones
Olowu
Hurst
Broadbent
Rowe
Westbrooke
Nixon
TLT in goals and without being too harsh on Louis, I very much doubt either of Gillingham's goals would have beaten him.
Then in the middle, the return of Biggins timing his runs from deep,and beyond Ironside stops defenders from sitting in and holding a steady line,it was this that changed the game v Barrow, and is a tactic that is more or less unplayable if the service to him is right. His excellent finishing complete the picture here.
Simply put, we have far too much for anyone in our division at the moment, our run is not luck, it's because we're a damn good side with strength in depth and a simply brilliant manager. Fans aren't too bad either.
RTID
If Timmee hadn't handballed he wouldn't have been sent off and there wouldn't have been a direct free kick to save in the 1st place . Just saying
-
As we all know the team picks itself these days.
TLT
Sterry
Maxwell
Wood
Anderson
Molyneux
Craig
Bailey
Biggins
Ironside
Adelukan
SUBS
Jones
Olowu
Hurst
Broadbent
Rowe
Westbrooke
Nixon
TLT in goals and without being too harsh on Louis, I very much doubt either of Gillingham's goals would have beaten him.
Then in the middle, the return of Biggins timing his runs from deep,and beyond Ironside stops defenders from sitting in and holding a steady line,it was this that changed the game v Barrow, and is a tactic that is more or less unplayable if the service to him is right. His excellent finishing complete the picture here.
Simply put, we have far too much for anyone in our division at the moment, our run is not luck, it's because we're a damn good side with strength in depth and a simply brilliant manager. Fans aren't too bad either.
RTID
Waters on the bench for me. He’s not done a great deal but he has the potential to come on and get a goal if we really need it. I like Nixon but Rowe and Olowu can cover the full backs so he’d be the one to miss out.
Great minds, Grant.
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Molyneux and Adekulan have got to try and hold the ball up better up front, they have been very poor for me up to press and most attacks have broken down with their poor control of the ball.
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Great goal great that Moly took notice and just put his foot through it.
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We have played better the longer the game has gone on, but have not had the same fluency going forward that we have shown in previous matches to me.
If we can step it up the game looks there for the taking, but I expect a reaction from Crewe second half with the pull of their supporters if we let them get on top and exert pressure, a second and third goal would settle me down.
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A first half of 2 quarters.
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Simply brilliant!! Well done boys
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What a performance, what a result.
Our steamroller just keeps moving relentlessly forward.
Of course Crewe had their moments but we were by far the better team.
Absolutely unbelievable what this team is achieving.
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Great performance, they never looked like scoring
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TLT's contribution not to be underestimated. A magnificent presence in the defence and confidence inspiring for the whole team.
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Great performance, they never looked like scoring
They looked like scoring from Wood’s slip in the FH. Criminal they didn’t score there really.
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I don’t think Iv seen a game where there’s been so many slips by the way. They were all at it.
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Great performance, they never looked like scoring
They looked like scoring from Wood’s slip in the FH. Criminal they didn’t score there really.
Anderson did brilliant there.
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Once we settled into it, f*cking quality. What a day.
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I don’t think Iv seen a game where there’s been so many slips by the way. They were all at it.
Adelakun slipped a few times. I think he had blades on. The pitch got a watering and to me looked like it needed a full stud.
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What was the beef with the lad in the Crewe end? Bald head, beard. Adidas t shirt. Proper giving it the big un? When you are over weight, it’s never a good idea to draw attention to yourself like he did. Lol.
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Great performance, they never looked like scoring
They looked like scoring from Wood’s slip in the FH. Criminal they didn’t score there really.
Anderson did exceptionally well there but they shouldn’t have allowed him to, should have been buried before he had their chance. That vs our second goal highlighted a big difference between the teams - we also were let in by a slip and bang, we were clinical and scored. They weren’t and let the chance go begging.
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Shocking that Crewe sold seats that were behind the sky camera stands in the away stand.
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Loved seeing Matty Blair at the game! Proper legend
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Shocking that Crewe sold seats that were behind the sky camera stands in the away stand.
However, if it was a choice of not going or buying the restricted view tickets (then standing somewhere with a view of the pitch), i know what i would do.