2023/24 League Two Play-Offs

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Demetriou in the team of the year is hilarious

Is it?

 

[jacobncfc]

Once in a lifetime run from Doncaster, fair play. Must be having so much fun.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Cheers Jeff.

De nada

 

[Wootball]

Well that went exactly as everyone expected, including us.

We are fucking abysmal, it didn't matter who we were matched up against we were never going to get a result. I wish we'd finished 8th.

 

[valefan16]

Donny looked a level above there once they scored, Crewe played some ok stuff in patches, early on especially but had nothing up front and seemed to run out of gas or confidence once the first went in.

 

[Wootball]

The problem is, our league position is a bit of an over achievement. Even when we were flying high, it wasn't on the back of great performances bar one or two - it was fight and determination getting us late goals and equalisers we probably didn't deserve. Couple it with injuries and players being knackered, and it's unfortunate now that we have to watch the collapse broadcast live to everyone. Nobody, and I mean nobody, expected anything other than defeat today. We knew it was coming. It's not like we've been lording it up over people - we're embarrassed.

 

[Super_horns]

What a great run of form Doncaster are on .

Seem unstoppable.

 

[JJ1990]

Forgive his pessimism but I believe it'll pretty much be a similar attendance of around 9000. The weekly pay brigade get their packets today so a fair few are shifting this afternoon. If 7000 home fans will turn up in the freezing cold to watch us play Barrow, I'm sure we'll get well over 7000 home fans plus your lot in attendance for this Bank Holiday playoff fixture.

Lets not bring up the allocation again. You've already got nearly 700 more than the minimum allocation we were obliged to give anyway and even the World famous Wrexham FC were only given one stand the other week.

I'd simply be grateful Nevitt scored in the last minute last week, else 1100 of your fans due in attendance on Monday would've been watching your playoff game vs Crawley in the pub or at home.

Hmm, 6,700 home fans there today, 700 less than for the Wrexham game. Just a touch over 8k in attendance. Guess it wasn't so pessimistic after all.

Oh and as for everyone's complaints about the Donny allocation, their attendance was 1,502. Ok, I think a few seats were likely segregated, but that's 180 less than the full away end.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

It’s only halftime if we concede early it will put a very different complexion on things

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Hmm, 6,700 home fans there today, 700 less than for the Wrexham game. Just a touch over 8k in attendance. Guess it wasn't so pessimistic after all.

Oh and as for everyone's complaints about the Donny allocation, their attendance was 1,502. Ok, I think a few seats were likely segregated, but that's 180 less than the full away end.

They were all sold so no idea why they weren’t there.

 

[Crewelad87]

We have no place being in these play offs and that was clear this evening. We had relegation form for the last 2 months, Forest Green would put up a better showing currently. In February we looked like an automatic promotion team, but this team now is a million miles off the one that did the hard work I getting us in these play offs.

Doncaster literally made 0 mistakes today, looked we organised, did nothing fancy or spectacular but made sure they got the job done, without really getting out of 2nd gear. Fair play to Doncaster it's been some run they've been on and they must just think there going to win every time they take the field. Reminds me of our run when we went up in 2012, I think we finished the season 17 games unbeaten and even the play off final I just knew we would win.

 

[JJ1990]

Today was largely a continuation of the issues which have plagued us for months. No experience in midfield, forwards all woefully out of form except for Nevitt and the defence is under too much pressure, which is leading to an increasing number of mistakes. And the mentality of the group just looks shot. Had a good opening 20, but then the heads dropped, mistakes crept in and Donny took advantage.

They are full of confidence, well drilled with square pegs in square holes and just looked very much at ease. We're still scrambling to find a workable formation, throwing players in wherever we can, partly due to injuries and partly due to them not having a settled formation all season.

If(when?) our season ends on Friday, Bell has a massive job ahead of him this summer. Still, let's see what happens on Friday.

 

[JJ1990]

We have no place being in these play offs and that was clear this evening. We had relegation form for the last 2 months, Forest Green would put up a better showing currently. In February we looked like an automatic promotion team, but this team now is a million miles off the one that did the hard work I getting us in these play offs.

Doncaster literally made 0 mistakes today, looked we organised, did nothing fancy or spectacular but made sure they got the job done, without really getting out of 2nd gear. Fair play to Doncaster it's been some run they've been on and they must just think there going to win every time they take the field. Reminds me of our run when we went up in 2012, I think we finished the season 17 games unbeaten and even the play off final I just knew we would win.

Saddest thing is, they did make mistakes. That first 20 minutes they were, as the kids say, rattled. Had Rio done better with that header and had Tracey actually discovered some freaking end product for once and squared Nevitt in(Nevs run was poor also), then we could have been 1-0 up and nobody could have complained. But they blew their shot and once Donny recovered from that early wobble and got ahead, there was only 1 winner.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Hmm, 6,700 home fans there today, 700 less than for the Wrexham game. Just a touch over 8k in attendance. Guess it wasn't so pessimistic after all.

Oh and as for everyone's complaints about the Donny allocation, their attendance was 1,502. Ok, I think a few seats were likely segregated, but that's 180 less than the full away end.

You say not so pessimistic after all, I say poor. Very poor

But it is what it is, blame the neighbours

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Up until February we just couldn’t put out a decent first 11 due to the ridiculous amount of injuries we had, we still have 8 out injured which is the least all season. The thing is most of the team have only played half a season so they are pretty much fresh which is obviously helping us now

 

[Wootball]

Up until February we just couldn’t put out a decent first 11 due to the ridiculous amount of injuries we had, we still have 8 out injured which is the least all season. The thing is most of the team have only played half a season so they are pretty much fresh which is obviously helping us now

Effectively what you had at the start of the season, we've had at the end of it. You know what it's like for us right now seeing what's going on with us, the players we have left are knackered because they're being forced to play every minute and often out of position. Doncaster deserve to get to Wembley, and hopefully go and win it.

 

[Y Ddraig Goch]

Shame for Crewe, a good season but limped into the playoffs looking knackered where as Donny roared into them on a madness of a run…anything can happen in the playoffs, but that was entirely predictable, easy money backing that result.

 

[Wootball]

Shame for Crewe, a good season but limped into the playoffs looking knackered where as Donny roared into them on a madness of a run…anything can happen in the playoffs, but that was entirely predictable, easy money backing that result.

It's quite nice to see posts like this, thank you. We're not a completely shit team/club, we're exactly what you described. We limped in on the back of results before it all went wrong, we're knackered (both players and supporters), the fans have had enough of the season, and it got to the point where we really didn't even want to be in the playoffs.

 

[Master D]

Crewe have lost about 10 games in a row at home without scoring now.

 

[JJ1990]

You say not so pessimistic after all, I say poor. Very poor

But it is what it is, blame the neighbours

And I'll refer you back to my comments made a few pages back. Poor on who exactly? Not the club, did all they could. Not on the 6,700 that came. No, it's poor on the 600 who only came for Disney, but then they aren't the fans I want anyway, as I said all along.

But the fact is, 6,700 home fans, 10% of the population of our town, a 33% increase on our average home attendances, isn't poor at all.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Entirely predictable. Excellent at home under Bell for most of 2023 and yet in 2024 we've not put in one good performance at home. Even in the very few games we've won.

5 goals scored in 2 months is a shambles. 4 of them have come from one player. Every time we have a big crowd at home these players seem to wilt instead of rising to the occasion. Yet they can go to the Top 3 away and put in excellent performances.

I wish I could offer an explanation as to why we're so disappointing at home especially. But I can't. The seasons turning point was Dicker's subs vs Morecambe in March when Bell was suspended. We were 2-0 up and going up to 2nd. We then collapsed in that game and collapsed in general. One poor performance like that shouldn't evaporate a team's confidence. Maybe there's more to it? Who knows?

Injuries have played their part but that squad today was strong and should've given a better account of itself. The midfield needs major surgery in Summer and I'd argue that our January recruitment plus losing White and COR played a part in sinking us too.

Tie is as good as lost for me. We just don't create, let alone score. We'll get behind them one last time then we need a rebuild to get us out of this injury ridden rut. Some durable reinforcements for next season are a must!

 

[lordofthepies]

We started quite brightly yesterday but as soon as Donny scored, there was no way back.

The players just look physically and mentally shot, there was some awful decision-making. You know they must be shattered when even Demetriou and Adebisi are making mistakes as they've been magnificent all season.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

And I'll refer you back to my comments made a few pages back. Poor on who exactly? Not the club, did all they could. Not on the 6,700 that came. No, it's poor on the 600 who only came for Disney, but then they aren't the fans I want anyway, as I said all along.

But the fact is, 6,700 home fans, 10% of the population of our town, a 33% increase on our average home attendances, isn't poor at all.

Poor on the commercial team? Poor on the marketing department? Did they really do "all they could" for the biggest game of the season. Well it should have been the biggest game of the season.

Could they have pulled more support in from the surrounding areas?

You may not want the extra fans but I very much doubt the club, the people who own it, pay the bills etc feel the same.

 

[DippyDon]

Attempt 2 today then… I can’t imagine the pitch will be in any decent state judging by the videos yesterday, but hopefully it’s at least playable.

 

[Wootball]

Poor on the commercial team? Poor on the marketing department? Did they really do "all they could" for the biggest game of the season. Well it should have been the biggest game of the season.

Could they have pulled more support in from the surrounding areas?

You may not want the extra fans but I very much doubt the club, the people who own it, pay the bills etc feel the same.

Whilst I disagree with JJ about wanting more fans, realistically what could the club do? The prices were reduced (thank fuck, we charge way too much), the marketing was good, the tickets were easily available.

You've got to remember that we'd just been beaten 0-3, 0-3, 0-3 at home consecutively, we've been playing terrible football since March, and there's absolutely no optimism at the club or in the supporters base about the playoffs. It isn't a big game for a club that already know they've got no chance of making it past the semi-final and won't put up a fight. I had no excitement for the playoffs. None, not a single bit of optimism or hope. I've been a season ticket holder for 33 years - so if I don't give a shit about the game, what hope does the club have of attracting people that aren't as invested?

You underestimate just how depressing the last few months have been for us, to the point where we literally didn't want to get into the playoffs because we knew it would just be another disappointment.

 

[Scum.]

Attempt 2 today then… I can’t imagine the pitch will be in any decent state judging by the videos yesterday, but hopefully it’s at least playable.

Given how many people are no longer able to go, if they postpone again, I predict a riot. Or at least some enhanced frustration on our forum.

 

[Casey]

What a difference a day makes. Clear blue sky's and 17 degrees here at 9:30.

I did warn people not to go with my picks when I suggested Crewe might turn over Donny.

Casey

 

[Conker]

Potential always been there for Mansfield to grow the gates but as Adam mentioned we lost out a lot due to the time period under Haslam and then being relegated in to NL and nearly going under.

You’ve got to get everything right, improve the experience at the stadium (it’s a slow burner but getting better every year) while also keeping it affordable, then the football actually being entertaining is massive too. It may have took Clough three years to get us promoted but we’ve been really entertaining and scored lots of goals while he’s been the manager, so I look back fondly at previous season even though we failed to achieve our aim.

Mansfield pick up a lot of fans from the Ashfield district (Sutton/Kirkby etc) which when I was younger more a Forest area but now is very much Mansfield, even Shirebrook which is actually just inside Derbyshire is a Stags stronghold.

 

[mozzavale]

That Craig in midfield for Doncaster completely ran the game yesterday. Very impressed with his performance. Notice he's on loan from Spurs. We had Devine from Spurs first half of the season who at times was on a different level (Arblaster from Sheff U was even better). Craig's awareness off the ball to always find so much space makes him look like he has all the time in the world when he has it. Molyneux got the motm on Sky but Craig was the stand out for me.

Crewe fortunate to keep it 0-2, which flattered them in the end. Demetriou was horrendous. Looked Sunday league standard. Attendance looked poor for such a big game. Gresty Road End apparently sold out but plenty of seats empty closer to the Doncaster fans. Odd.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

What a difference a day makes. Clear blue sky's and 17 degrees here at 9:30.

I did warn people not to go with my picks when I suggested Crewe might turn over Donny.

Casey

Not sure how many needed the warning tbf Casey Felt like free money for the reasons the Alex fans stated on here.

I'm going score draw in tonight's encounter.