The L2 Playoffs

[kieran_vale]

You've forgotten a 3-0 lead (1 of which scored by William Paynter later of this parish) at VP in which we came back to 3-3 with goals from Mooney, Parkin and Fallon IIRC

Billy is our academy coach now. That would have been the game which helped get you a playoff spot over us ultimately that season.

When we collapse we do it in style like when we blew a 4-0 lead against QPR once on TV.

 

[valefan16]

Billy is our academy coach now. That would have been the game which helped get you a playoff spot over us ultimately that season.

When we collapse we do it in style like when we blew a 4-0 lead against QPR once on TV.

That was actually before the bad run of results against Swindon began but yeah we battered Swindon first half, McPhee tore them apart cruising then fell apart... If I recall Briscoe hit the post late on as well! (Sure it was delayed due to floodlight failure!)

 

[Randolph Haggerty]

Cheers squire! I reckon I could get there for 6 ish, if I can get away from work early enough, do you think the estate is worth the gamble or just the £5 car park?

Mate, I’d be tempted go towards federation rd(look for household waste centre)/dimensions leisure centre (not sure about the charges here) with you being in the bycars.
Park estate means you got walk literally all round the ground

 

[Big Bird]

That was actually before the bad run of results against Swindon began but yeah we battered Swindon first half, McPhee tore them apart cruising then fell apart... If I recall Briscoe hit the post late on as well! (Sure it was delayed due to floodlight failure!)

McPhee was so good on Champ Man 01/02. Had 20 finishing.

I digress.

 

[kieran_vale]

100 left now for Sunday, ticket office open until 7pm tonight so may not make it to tomorrow.

Just had a call back from the club to order a ticket to collect tomorrow. Apparently there is between 2 and 300 left if anyone without wants to try.

 

[Big Bird]

Be a lot of disappointed Swindon fans tomorrow I think. 300 tickets for the away leg were left at around 2pm this afternoon. Be gone within minutes of general sale i think.

 

[Gassy]

Genuinely excited for the play offs here, good luck to all.

Have to say January onwards has been such a whirlwind that I kinda miss the games already.

The end of the season is so intense that you quite literally count down the days until the next game - now after such a high it’s a bit flat tbh.

Hoping for some cracking games & atmospheres

 

[EricSabin]

Genuinely excited for the play offs here, good luck to all.

Have to say January onwards has been such a whirlwind that I kinda miss the games already.

The end of the season is so intense that you quite literally count down the days until the next game - now after such a high it’s a bit flat tbh.

Hoping for some cracking games & atmospheres

Fuck off

 

[BRFC_Gas]

 

[BRFC_Gas]

 

[Big Bird]

Looking forward to watching Sheff Utd Forest, the FA Cup Final and Mansfield Northampton tomorrow then I can commence trying to avoid soiling myself until Sunday lunch time.

I do love the play-offs despite them always ending badly when we're involved!

 

[Conker]

I’m very relaxed about it this time round, the last time we were in the play-offs just before we needed a point in our last five to get automatic, lost them all then got done dirty in the semi-finals by the officials and our shite finishing.

It feels different this time round, expectations at the club are nothing like the ‘project promotion’ under Steve Evans and David Flitcroft, Mansfield are in a good position as a club as anybody can tell whatever happens this time round. Obviously if we lose it due to a last minute goal at Wembley I’ll probably have a bit of a poorly head mind.

 

[Big Bird]

I’m very relaxed about it this time round, the last time we were in the play-offs just before we needed a point in our last five to get automatic, lost them all then got done dirty in the semi-finals by the officials and our shite finishing.

It feels different this time round, expectations at the club are nothing like the ‘project promotion’ under Steve Evans and David Flitcroft, Mansfield are in a good position as a club as anybody can tell whatever happens this time round. Obviously if we lose it due to a last minute goal at Wembley I’ll probably have a bit of a poorly head mind.

Was that when you lost on pens to Huddersfield or have I gone too far back? Seem to remember a young Liam Lawrence missing a penalty but there's a fair chance i've made that up in my head.

 

[kieran_vale]

I’m just very much looking forward to it whatever happens. It’s great to be involved in this after such a hard fought season and as has been mentioned before it’s been 29 years since our last playoffs. I can just about remember that one beating Stockport in the semis and that 7 foot head on a stick they used to have Kevin Francis before Peter Swan got sent off in the final and WBA beat us 3-0 at Wembley. With the exception of Stoke WBA have been my most hated team ever since.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

I still cant get over the Rochdale game we were out of the play offs at one point, and the next game we clinched autos at the death. Just shows how close it all was.

So glad I can watch it as a neutral!! Good luck guys

 

[PuB]

Goodness me, there appears to have been quite a few knobheads in this section this season, can’t they just move upstairs now and play with Masi instead?

I can see that being a right barrel of laughs…

 

[Conker]

Was that when you lost on pens to Huddersfield or have I gone too far back? Seem to remember a young Liam Lawrence missing a penalty but there's a fair chance i've made that up in my head.

No I was on about the Flitcroft season few years back we lost to Newport in the semis.

Thanks for bringing up that dreaded day in 04 at millennium though, I remember the Lawrence ‘penalty’ in the final very well, what made it even worse is we actually scored late on but it got (wrongly) disallowed

 

[leedsvaliant]

Me too actually. It's a lottery. We might get walloped, we might breeze through. They're one off cup games. Feel like Swindon have the better individuals but we have the better collective. I guess it's just who performs best on the day.

I feel confident that Clarke will have them prepared and we will definitely have a game plan. Each game is a project. He seemed quite relaxed, Gibbo seemed quite relaxed...be intrigued to see how we approach it.

If we lose, so be it.

 

[Big Bird]

No I was on about the Flitcroft season few years back we lost to Newport in the semis.

Thanks for bringing up that dreaded day in 04 at millennium though, I remember the Lawrence ‘penalty’ in the final very well, what made it even worse is we actually scored late on but it got (wrongly) disallowed

Sorry mate had a feeling i'd probably overlooked a more recent play-off appearance but wasn't sure!

 

[kieran_vale]

Me too actually. It's a lottery. We might get walloped, we might breeze through. They're one off cup games. Feel like Swindon have the better individuals but we have the better collective. I guess it's just who performs best on the day.

I feel confident that Clarke will have them prepared and we will definitely have a game plan. Each game is a project. He seemed quite relaxed, Gibbo seemed quite relaxed...be intrigued to see how we approach it.

If we lose, so be it.

I think in a game which will be about fine margins one area I do feel we might have the edge is the manager. Not a criticism of Garner at all as the football his team plays is excellent for this level but DC I think has the proven experience in these situations to lean on and also generally his teams will adapt to do whatever it takes even if it means winning ugly like at Exeter.

 

[valefan16]

Me too actually. It's a lottery. We might get walloped, we might breeze through. They're one off cup games. Feel like Swindon have the better individuals but we have the better collective. I guess it's just who performs best on the day.

I feel confident that Clarke will have them prepared and we will definitely have a game plan. Each game is a project. He seemed quite relaxed, Gibbo seemed quite relaxed...be intrigued to see how we approach it.

If we lose, so be it.

Yeah feel more positive after listening to the Dazzler tonight, he seems chilled and his experience at this kind of stage could be crucial.

Sunday feels key, if we can take some kind of lead back to Vale Park we can set up like an away side at home as they’d have to come at us and that would possibly suit us. If we lose then we’ve got to put in a “home” performance and their away form comes into play.

Just hope we don’t get walloped so whatever happens we can have VP rocking Thursday and the Hamil End bouncing as the atmosphere from even a small number of away fans in there sounds decent.

 

[AdamStag]

No I was on about the Flitcroft season few years back we lost to Newport in the semis.

Thanks for bringing up that dreaded day in 04 at millennium though, I remember the Lawrence ‘penalty’ in the final very well, what made it even worse is we actually scored late on but it got (wrongly) disallowed

Basically in the away game at newport it was a foul on the last man and he gave a yellow.

It wasn’t a yellow at all, ever, but heyho.

I look forward to being screwed over by some ridiculous decision in the playoffs, the decisions against mansfield this season have been extraordinary

 

[Conker]

Basically in the away game at newport it was a foul on the last man and he gave a yellow.

It wasn’t a yellow at all, ever, but heyho.

I look forward to being screwed over by some ridiculous decision in the playoffs, the decisions against mansfield this season have been extraordinary

The bad decisions could go either way to be fair, I’m sure something controversial will happen in the L2 play-offs to one of us atleast.

 

[Big Bird]

Probably being harsh on Garner but he's my biggest concern going into these matches. Not particularly sure why as he appears to have created a great togetherness in the squad and we've won our last 4 when we absolutely had to.

Might be because i've only made it to home games this season and most of our best performances have been away.

Our biggest strength i would say is our number of potential match winners - Jonny Williams, Jack Payne, Harry McKirdy, Louis Barry and Josh Davison have all popped up with important goals and could shine in this tournament format. Or not. It's intriguing.

Wilson worries me for Vale. Did one piece of skill in the game v Newport that looked beyond League 2 level when he made one of the defenders look a total fool.

 

[Gassy]

Fuck off

Sorry fella, but my post was actually genuine.

Still hoping you join us

 

[kieran_vale]

Probably being harsh on Garner but he's my biggest concern going into these matches. Not particularly sure why as he appears to have created a great togetherness in the squad and we've won our last 4 when we absolutely had to.

Might be because i've only made it to home games this season and most of our best performances have been away.

Our biggest strength i would say is our number of potential match winners - Jonny Williams, Jack Payne, Harry McKirdy, Louis Barry and Josh Davison have all popped up with important goals and could shine in this tournament format. Or not. It's intriguing.

Wilson worries me for Vale. Did one piece of skill in the game v Newport that looked beyond League 2 level when he made one of the defenders look a total fool.

Wilson has that in his locker. One of the most intelligent players I’ve seen in a Vale shirt. Against Bristol Rovers at home he showed some brilliant technique to put Dan Jones through on goal although the finish didn’t lead to anything. His workrate has been the biggest revelation to me, when he signed I feared he’d be a bit of a luxury but he never stops running at all.

If going on pure individual match winners it’s Swindon hands down but then if it becomes a more pragmatic type affair then the needle moves to us. It’s a great contrast in styles really.

I’m very much looking forward to the Mansfield v Northampton playoff. I don’t think missing autos is going to affect Northampton too much in all honesty. My feeling is for Mansfield to go to Wembley they need to take a lead from the game at Field Mill as Sixfields is also a very hard place to go. I’ve said it before though I love Lapslie in that Mansfield midfield and think he might be the difference tomorrow.

 

[AdamStag]

The bad decisions could go either way to be fair, I’m sure something controversial will happen in the L2 play-offs to one of us atleast.

maybe but that game at newport, it was a red,

no ifs no buts no maybes it was a red.

they then go on to equalise. nah.

 

[leedsvaliant]

I'd like to sign Lapslie. Looked class.

As you say it's a contrast of styles. Our workrate and energy overcomes some of our inefficiencies in terms of quality. If Garrity is on song he is the stuff of nightmares for the opposition but we miss Conlon as the class.

We need to be on it and don't let Swindon knock it about while we sit and admire.

 

[valefan16]

I'd like to sign Lapslie. Looked class.

As you say it's a contrast of styles. Our workrate and energy overcomes some of our inefficiencies in terms of quality. If Garrity is on song he is the stuff of nightmares for the opposition but we miss Conlon as the class.

We need to be on it and don't let Swindon knock it about while we sit and admire.

Garrity is the one as an opponent I’d be most worried about because you look at Wilson and Proctor you plan to defend against them, Proctor in the air, Wilson don’t give space as technically he’s a level or two above… he had that one slight bit of space at Exeter and great finish 1-0 game defining moment.

Garrity though for most of the game just runs, complete nuisance but then he’s randomly popping up with a late run into the box and goal (Swindon Away a good example, although they were both quality strikes). 12 goals for someone we were told was crap by Oldham fans has been surprising!

He is easily going to win player of the season and deservedly so and would consider him harder to defend against because he does that late run into the box and pops up often about 6 yards out from nowhere with a tap in.

 

[AnotherStagsFan]

Wilson has that in his locker. One of the most intelligent players I’ve seen in a Vale shirt. Against Bristol Rovers at home he showed some brilliant technique to put Dan Jones through on goal although the finish didn’t lead to anything. His workrate has been the biggest revelation to me, when he signed I feared he’d be a bit of a luxury but he never stops running at all.

If going on pure individual match winners it’s Swindon hands down but then if it becomes a more pragmatic type affair then the needle moves to us. It’s a great contrast in styles really.

I’m very much looking forward to the Mansfield v Northampton playoff. I don’t think missing autos is going to affect Northampton too much in all honesty. My feeling is for Mansfield to go to Wembley they need to take a lead from the game at Field Mill as Sixfields is also a very hard place to go. I’ve said it before though I love Lapslie in that Mansfield midfield and think he might be the difference tomorrow.

He might not even start tomorrow!