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Post by whitesince63 on Mar 27, 2024 13:12:19 GMT
So is this the crunch game? Whilst Derby must obviously still be favourites with points on the board and a better GD, how will they fare with their injury and suspension situation. Just a couple of results for any of the four challengers for that second promotion spot could tip the balance, good or bad. On paper you’d think Posh and Barnsley maybe have the easiest run in but we all know that football isn’t played on paper. I’m assuming that Pompey take the top spot of course which I believe they will as they have a good lead and have been the most consistent but what about us? Will Dion be back on Friday because he didn’t feature for NI either from the start or the bench. I’m surprised at that and other than Dion will Baxter be back? There are not only questions about his fitness but also rumours of a fall out with IE? Surely not. So will we be stronger come Friday or not? For me it’s a must win. In fact I see every game as that now because I don’t see four teams all slipping up. We’ll probably have a better idea on Monday night but for me win all our games and we’re up, fail and it’s play offs again. 🤨
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Post by riochforthereebok on Mar 27, 2024 13:26:06 GMT
I think it would be easier to just accept that we are in the play-offs W63 and anything more positive than that and we’re up
Theoretically, had Derby won that game v Northampton, the above sentence would probably be more obvious and that the 7 points would have been more of a stumbling block to overcome
The Derby result has given us some belief and I would hope that the players and manager have more positivity than I do, but if we fail on Good Friday, even a draw, then it’s definitely play-offs for me and this is where we will have to be clever and thoughtful
Can’t remember how the play-off format is if you finish 3rd? Does that mean you get to play (say Lincoln) home or away first??
We need to be using players wisely (if fit) We could even bring back Dion and Baxter to get match fitness in readiness for the play offs so long as we’ve assured ourselves of any of the playoff spots
Hold on to your hats, it’s going to be one hell of a finish 🏁🏁🏁
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Post by whitesince63 on Mar 27, 2024 17:42:22 GMT
Well it doesn’t look like we’ll have Dion or Baxter any time soon going by Evatts rather short comment that neither will be available. He doesn’t say they’re injured so maybe the fall out rumours have some credence? So that means we have to with what we’ve got but to be fair I’m not unhappy with that, it may quell Evatts need to make so many unnecessary changes? Like you I think I’m settled on the play offs at least so if we do fall short at least we have a fall back and maybe by then both Dion and Baxter should be back, assuming alls well on the off field front? 😟
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Post by OohMac on Mar 28, 2024 7:25:48 GMT
I think it would be easier to just accept that we are in the play-offs W63 and anything more positive than that and we’re up Theoretically, had Derby won that game v Northampton, the above sentence would probably be more obvious and that the 7 points would have been more of a stumbling block to overcome The Derby result has given us some belief and I would hope that the players and manager have more positivity than I do, but if we fail on Good Friday, even a draw, then it’s definitely play-offs for me and this is where we will have to be clever and thoughtful Can’t remember how the play-off format is if you finish 3rd? Does that mean you get to play (say Lincoln) home or away first?? We need to be using players wisely (if fit) We could even bring back Dion and Baxter to get match fitness in readiness for the play offs so long as we’ve assured ourselves of any of the playoff spots Hold on to your hats, it’s going to be one hell of a finish 🏁🏁🏁 1st Leg Team 6 vs Team 3 Team 5 vs Team 4 2nd Leg Team 3 vs Team 6 Team 4 vs Team 5 Some would argue that this needs a bit of a shake up and the advantage isn't big enough for 3rd place team. The national league do it differently and the rugby super league. I think the 4th and 5th places are genuinely tight like us and Barnsley last season but often the 3rd place is so much ahead of 6th it doesn't seem fair like MKDons and Sheff Weds. Although Owls did turn it round I would argue they should have been allowed the advantage of a one off home tie. Argument may be if 3rd and 4th was really close it's too much of an advantage for 3rd. Anyway for tomorrow. I have a bad feeling. People have commented on Ian Evatt being barbed. Is that game face on or are things happening in the changing room that is going against Evatt. Well we won't see Evatt Evans at the dugout. Which would have been interesting. He's suspended.
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Post by riochforthereebok on Mar 28, 2024 10:08:48 GMT
Evans did say that he was ‘looking forward’ to the battle with the Wanderers!!! Does he know summat we don’t?? You’re not meant to ‘look forward’ to a supposed better team turning up on your turf and potentially hammering you.
It’s not like you’ve been tearing it up to the point that we’d be crapping ourselves. (only just scraped a 2-2 draw with Carlisle ffs) so why then is Evans ‘looking forward’ to it, especially from a seat in the stands
I’m like you OooooooM, I’m not confident either as i think we too might only scrape a draw and that’ll be no use
Noticed Mendez-Lang is fit for Derby😬
COYWM ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
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Post by davidm on Mar 28, 2024 10:22:03 GMT
Unless we fall apart and lose game(s) over Easter, every match from now on in is classed as a “must win” in my eyes.
We are more than capable of winning this because we have better players than Stevenage who, actually, are in worse form than us – 5 games without a win.
BUT they are an “alehouse” sort of team. Just lump it up and get bodies in the box. We don’t tend to cope well with up and under sides so it is time our defence stood firm and actually defended properly.
I watched their match away to Peterborough recently. They dominated most of the play but it was just up and under football. Launch it forward and push and shove. Awful football.
Other comments are true when people say that our defence is the problem with our recent poor run. We are just conceding too many poor goals and dropping points as a result so it is time they performed.
The line up will be interesting for this match. Jones has travelled all around the world this last week so I wouldn’t expect him to start. I also think we need to find a place for Iredale as we will need some tough defending and, for all his attacking capabilities, Ogbeta is not a strong defender. The rest of the side presumably remains the same.
Coleman
Forrester, Santos, Toal
Dacres-Cogley, Sheehan, Thomason, Maghoma, Iredale
Collins, Bodvarsson
As always, I am optimistic and think that this is the game were Coleman stays calm, Santos learns to head a ball from corners/free kicks and we keep a clean sheet.
I will go for a 2-0 win.
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Post by OohMac on Mar 28, 2024 10:31:13 GMT
Evans did say that he was ‘looking forward’ to the battle with the Wanderers!!! Does he know summat we don’t?? You’re not meant to ‘look forward’ to a supposed better team turning up on your turf and potentially hammering you. It’s not like you’ve been tearing it up to the point that we’d be crapping ourselves. (only just scraped a 2-2 draw with Carlisle ffs) so why then is Evans ‘looking forward’ to it, especially from a seat in the stands I’m like you OooooooM, I’m not confident either as i think we too might only scrape a draw and that’ll be no use Noticed Mendez-Lang is fit for Derby😬 COYWM ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ Well we looked forward to Arsene coming to The Reebok. Why? We knew we were much tougher than them and they were very pretty and tactically very good but we knew we had them beat in the tunnel. So is that how Evans sees us. Is that how others see us? Pretty, tactically very good but don't like the scrap.
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Post by whitesince63 on Mar 28, 2024 11:52:14 GMT
Well we’re not a scrappy team OM, that’s for sure and we have struggled against teams with a hoof it up attitude in the past but I do believe this team has learned how to deal with that kind of play over recent months. If we start on the front foot, move the ball quickly and go for their throat we can win this comfortably but my fear is that we go with the slowly slowly sideways stuff and give the initiative to Stevenage. The biggest problem for me is that we don’t have a consistent pattern of play and we never know what team will turn up until the day. Teams seem to know that if they implement a high press we don’t cope well and are likely to make mistakes but you’d like to think that without Dion and Victor up front we’d be more likely to go over the top to Bod and AC who can at least control the ball and bring midfield into play. I just can’t call this but I have to keep positive and believe we’ll win by the odd goal.
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Post by kenglowhite on Mar 28, 2024 20:23:18 GMT
I had been expecting to watch the game on WanderersTV as it is taking place on an unusual day and there are no PL games, but there is no indication on the BWFC site. Was I too optimistic, and do I need to know that magic stream detail?
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Post by OohMac on Mar 28, 2024 20:46:59 GMT
Well we’re not a scrappy team OM, that’s for sure and we have struggled against teams with a hoof it up attitude in the past but I do believe this team has learned how to deal with that kind of play over recent months. If we start on the front foot, move the ball quickly and go for their throat we can win this comfortably but my fear is that we go with the slowly slowly sideways stuff and give the initiative to Stevenage. The biggest problem for me is that we don’t have a consistent pattern of play and we never know what team will turn up until the day. Teams seem to know that if they implement a high press we don’t cope well and are likely to make mistakes but you’d like to think that without Dion and Victor up front we’d be more likely to go over the top to Bod and AC who can at least control the ball and bring midfield into play. I just can’t call this but I have to keep positive and believe we’ll win by the odd goal. That's what I don't understand about how we play? You would think the emphasis now would be get the ball moving faster, and faster. I know Pep Lite think he's cracked it but I've never seen City play so slow and laborious. They keep the ball but it's always movement. Always tempo. They very rarely just keep the ball at the back for 55 passes. Gary O'Neil touted for a Man Utd role today with Wolves set to fend off with improved contracts. Before Evatt there was probably every chance he could have taken the job here. (Im sure he was in the mix before Keith Hill) And there would have been huge question marks. Mousinho at Pompey similar doing wonders. So when people ask "who would you get?" Well I don't know but there will be some credible candidates and it's up to Sharon and Co to find them and put them in place. If she thinks that's Ian still then fair enough, I just get a sense he's like Keith Hill. Snappy, looking to turn on fans, if he mentions onions red flags get raised.
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Post by whitesince63 on Mar 29, 2024 7:43:41 GMT
I had been expecting to watch the game on WanderersTV as it is taking place on an unusual day and there are no PL games, but there is no indication on the BWFC site. Was I too optimistic, and do I need to know that magic stream detail? Both today’s game and Mondays are available on Wanderers TV Kenglo but the site didn’t show it earlier in the week for some reason. It is there now though. 😁
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Post by kenglowhite on Mar 29, 2024 10:35:03 GMT
Many thanks, Whites. Job done and keenly anticipating the game. If we can contain their kick and rush we should succeed. Hopefully Ian will put the right team out - you never know !!!
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Post by whitesince63 on Mar 29, 2024 11:02:57 GMT
Let’s hope so Kenglo, this really is a must win game in the full sense of that phrase, fail to do so and its play offs for sure. I just hope they get at Stevenage from the start, just as against Oxford and don’t resort to the sideways stuff which will give Stevenage every chance with their physical style of play. At the end of the day though, we just need to convert the chances we will make which has been our downfall in recent weeks. Heaven knows what’s really happening with Dion and Baxter but it’s certainly creating paragraphs on social media. I hope it’s all false and we’ll see them both back soon? Anyway, here’s to a good win today and 3 points nearer the Championship. 🙂
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Post by chip on Mar 29, 2024 12:04:58 GMT
I'm of the opinion if we win our next 2 games we are 99% certain of the play-offs so let's give it everything we have to win our next 2 games and fingers crossed we will get some more players back for our away game at Bristol Rovers and beyond COYWM
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Post by whitesince63 on Mar 29, 2024 13:05:15 GMT
I'm of the opinion if we win our next 2 games we are 99% certain of the play-offs so let's give it everything we have to win our next 2 games and fingers crossed we will get some more players back for our away game at Bristol Rovers and beyond COYWM Crikey Chip that’s a bold statement, I certainly hope you’re right but even two wins might still see us behind Derby. Obviously we do need to win these two to have even a chance but I believe we will have to win all our games to do it. I still have Derby as big favourites especially with NML back after his hammy issue which must be a huge plus for them. We should have a better idea by Monday night so at least not long to wait. 🙂
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