Play-offs 2015

[AdamStag]

Cox was a bit of a dinosaur tactically - his long ball bullying tactics worked down here, but league sides sussed him out quickly and had we not had the start we had last season we could have come back down - this season has hardly been amazing either - though we do expect better next term.

Think our budget is around £750k - should be about £900k next season - not sure how that compares to sides here

 

[Luke Imp]

Not completely, just cut down considerably I think. He pulled his Cox out a while ago, though.

So they haven't 'cut the cloth' then?

 

[DarkSithLord]

The best thing about Arnold's first goal is the bloke walking behind the nets in the brown coat. Doesn't look up as he is striking and still doesn't turn round when it hits the onion bag and the fans react. Totally oblivious.

I spotted that too. Hilarious!

 

[Master D]

I've got a bad feeling for both Grimsby and ourselves in the second leg. Don't even know why really, those one goal leads can be tricky for mentality and I feel we're struggling for attacking firepower a little without Ellis. Can't help but have in my mind about FGR beating us at ours earlier in the season. We'll see.

Na, you'll be absolutely fine at home with a lead. Grimsby are more likely to fuck up tomorrow than your lot are in my eyes.

 

[rudebwoyben]

I've got a bad feeling for both Grimsby and ourselves in the second leg. Don't even know why really, those one goal leads can be tricky for mentality and I feel we're struggling for attacking firepower a little without Ellis. Can't help but have in my mind about FGR beating us at ours earlier in the season. We'll see.

Channeling Urban....

 

[miagsygas]

Channeling Urban....

Slight difference between a one goal lead and the lead you lot had!

 

[Urban]

Slight difference between a one goal lead and the lead you lot had!

Which, barring an 88th minute goal from Saint Modeste (hallowed be his name), we very nearly blew.

Sure both of you will be fine now. You won't mess this up at home.

 

[CrazyImp]

Brovers should progress with relative comfort.

Despite their fans' fears of this, I can see Grimsby grinding an ugly, nervous 0-0 to get to Wembley.

 

[Master D]

Grimsby could do an us. 2 playoff semi defeats followed by a final defeat.

 

[pontoonlew]

It's a risky play if we do, I wouldn't begrudge us considering doing it. 2-1 is a very dangerous lead, if we concede an early goal it'll be a long afternoon.

I'd like to say Hurst wouldn't be so stupid but he's capeable of a masterclass or an absolute circus in equal measure as we've seen in the past 2 play off campaigns. I sense there's something different this time around.

 

[FishyMackem]

Club chiefs expecting an 8,000 gate. Not bad!

 

[Southern Shayman]

They are all dinosaurs, living in their historic world.
If crowd sizes were all that mattered, then Pompey would be top of the Championship every season.
Facts are, they were poorly run, in massive debt and paid the price for being poorly managed off the field. Just like every single ex FL club currently competing in non league football. The single fact that BR get around 8k for home games means absolutely zero and its time you all woke up & smelt the coffee. There are new footballing teams coming through the ranks, who work with different models, they don't base their whole financial status on gate receipts, because as previously stated, that only makes up 10-15% of turnover. Enjoy your big home gates, because they get you zero points per season, nor do they guarantee your financial safety.

Gate receipts are 10-15% for the majority of clubs. They are for you because season tickets cost fuck all, you like to let people in for free and your owner has loads of money.

The pompey statement is just absolutely laughable. They would be mid to higher table in the Championship on their crowds, not top. Clueless doesn't cover it

 

[Si Robin]

I also worry for you both, especially if you fail to score early. I'd really like to see Grimsby come up, its an enjoyable awayday with great fish & chips and some proper fans. I'd happily visit Nailsworth as a tourist but see no benefit in promoting a "Cheltenham Lite" that is wandering the Cotswolds looking for a home crowd. On balance I can see the possibility of a comfortable Gas win and The Mariners grinding out a trip to Wembley without needing extra time.......but I can also see lots of scope for cocking it up.

http://www.redlion-histon.com/

If all goes well, I'll pop down the road and raise a pint to Wembley success, when I'll probably be in The Mariners corner. Most fellow U's are glad to see the back of any non-league connection but I find it a bit addictive - and a very different atmosphere to being with the big boys like Morecambe, Accrington, Bury and Dagenham (& Redbridge).

You're going to have to help me out here. We went up from the Conference averaging 1,500-2,000 and until the last 2/3 years averaged over 3,000 home fans, attendances dropping over the last two seasons which were our worst in our Football League years both in terms of performances and finishing position. How is that wandering the Cotswolds looking for a home crowd?

 

[GTFC1979]

Definitely needed to get Cox out.

Sounds like the start of a Porno.......

 

[GTFC1979]

They are all dinosaurs, living in their historic world.
If crowd sizes were all that mattered, then Pompey would be top of the Championship every season.
Facts are, they were poorly run, in massive debt and paid the price for being poorly managed off the field. Just like every single ex FL club currently competing in non league football. The single fact that BR get around 8k for home games means absolutely zero and its time you all woke up & smelt the coffee. There are new footballing teams coming through the ranks, who work with different models, they don't base their whole financial status on gate receipts, because as previously stated, that only makes up 10-15% of turnover. Enjoy your big home gates, because they get you zero points per season, nor do they guarantee your financial safety.

How could Pompey be top every season, they would be in the Prem after the first season then wouldn't they?
Plonker.

 

[CrazyImp]

North Play-Offs:

Fylde 1-2 Guiseley FT (agg 1-3)
Boston 2-2 Chorley ET (agg 2-2) - Boston were two goals up there...

South Play-Offs:

Boreham Wood 2-2 Havant FT (agg 4-2)
Basingstoke 0-1 Whitehawk FT (agg 1-2)


So, Boreham Wood or Whitehawk. It's going to be like choosing between Gonorrhoea and Syphilis.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

At least Fylde bottled it!

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

Big crowd for us tomorrow which makes things infinitely harder. Last time we won at home in front of a decent crowd was 3-1 against Lincoln in 2011/12 probably but since then we've had Lincoln x3, Scunthorpe, Huddersfield, two play-off games and maybe a couple others with a decent attendance, no victories. Blundell Park is a death trap these days.

With that said I'll go out on a limb and say should we shake off the home pressure and proceed to the final, we'll win it all. We'll probably be a lot more comfortable playing at Wembley to be honest.

Speaking of which I'm pretty sick of seeing "back the boys' bid for Wembley" shite in our telegraph and such. We're not playing to get to Wembley, we're playing to get promoted. There's so much focus on us just getting to Wembley that it seems a lot have forgotten the whole point.

 

[Gladders]

Tomorrow isn't about getting promoted though its about getting to Wembley, we can't get promoted if we don't get to Wembley first.

 

[Aberstone]

Boreham Wood in the Conference, let it happen. In fairness to them they did finish 2nd and unlike Whitehawk they are sustainable with their outlay.

Also, I'd prefer a Saturday away trip to the coast and not on the M25.

 

[Ian Richardson]

Looking forward to our trip to Cleethorpes. Just happy to still be in it.
Should have been all over after ten mins Thursday.
But they failed, so lets hope our away form dosn't desert us. Should be interesting

 

[Son of Cod]

I'd like to say Hurst wouldn't be so stupid but he's capeable of a masterclass or an absolute circus in equal measure as we've seen in the past 2 play off campaigns. I sense there's something different this time around.

Looking forward to seeing if those splinters smell of shit or roses when you get off that fence after tomorrow...

 

[Son of Cod]

Looking forward to our trip to Cleethorpes. Just happy to still be in it.
Should have been all over after ten mins Thursday.
But they failed, so lets hope our away form dosn't desert us. Should be interesting

Seen this "we should have been clear by 8mins" shit by plenty of people. We had two chances in the opening ten minutes. One of them hit the back of the net. I'll take that.

 

[immariner]

We had 3* chances. Arnold's goal you would class as a half-chance at best.

*Pearson headed over, should have scored
Arnold went near post, probably should have gone across keeper
Palmer hits the post when it's easier to score.

 

[Greenacres]

You're going to have to help me out here. We went up from the Conference averaging 1,500-2,000 and until the last 2/3 years averaged over 3,000 home fans, attendances dropping over the last two seasons which were our worst in our Football League years both in terms of performances and finishing position. How is that wandering the Cotswolds looking for a home crowd?

I think the poster meant that we (FGR) are "Cheltenham Lite"...not you! There is little love on here for my team, but frankly that doesn't bother me at all, I think you might get off a little more lightly as you have actually arrived here from the Football League.

It is probably fair to say that you, like ourselves, are competing for support in an area that is largely rugby daft or has many residents who support more established teams. That the three main clubs in the county, if we include your cat-like tenants, can muster around 4,000 supporters between us is little short of miraculous and should be applauded.

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

Tomorrow isn't about getting promoted though its about getting to Wembley, we can't get promoted if we don't get to Wembley first.

But the whole point of the playoffs is to get promoted. Since the start all I've seen is "Let's get to Wembley". Yeah great let's get there and have a big day out and enjoy the occasion. This isn't the FA Trophy. I'd like to see more focus on actually going up.

 

[Gladders]

But the whole point of the playoffs is to get promoted. Since the start all I've seen is "Let's get to Wembley". Yeah great let's get there and have a big day out and enjoy the occasion. This isn't the FA Trophy. I'd like to see more focus on actually going up.

Like I said when/If we get to Wembley we can focus on going up, one game at a time as the saying goes.

 

[Habbinalan]

You're going to have to help me out here. We went up from the Conference averaging 1,500-2,000 and until the last 2/3 years averaged over 3,000 home fans, attendances dropping over the last two seasons which were our worst in our Football League years both in terms of performances and finishing position. How is that wandering the Cotswolds looking for a home crowd?

Apologies if I misled and hit a nerve at a difficult time by associating you with your irritating neighbours. Cheltenham are one of my favourite non-league teams already. I'd be happy for you to come straight back up (with Barrow).

Forest Gumpers (who I saw as Cheltenham Lite) are the pretenders who I understood were looking at Stroud as their next home and much as I enjoy the pubs in Nailsworth, they are inferior to Cheltenham's and a drive up the hill from their current ground.

Have I dug a deeper hole?

 

[Gassy]

I tell you what, I'm actually not very nervous for tomorrow. Which is strange, I thought i'd be bricking it. I wasn't for the away leg either, maybe I used all my nerves up against Alfreton before the game!

Fingers crossed we'll do the job tomorrow, but it wouldn't surprise me no matter what happened.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Shitehawk v BoringWood for a place in the Conference... Thank god we went down!