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Post by riochforthereebok on May 1, 2024 19:14:34 GMT
Well, it’s almost upon us.
What can we expect??
As some have said, it’s a clean slate for both. Seasons results count for naff all now, it’s a 3 game win or bust mini league, but it doesn’t harm to mention our poor returns with the top 6 sides and it’s not the best reading…
Recent history suggests we can expect the usual drawsin both games and who knows, perhaps penalties 🤔
I cannot be even 50% confident we’ll get through to the final. I want to be, but it’s clear to see, apart from that Derby home win, we’ve hardly laid a glove on the top 6
D 1-1 then D 2-2 with Barnsley D 0-0 then W 5-0 v Oxford D 1-1 then D 3-3 v Peterborough W 2-1 then L 1-0 to Derby L 2-0 then D 1-1 v Portsmouth
That’s 12 points out of a possible 30, so if we are really going to make headway and prove we are worthy to get up a league, we simply have to do it over these games
Good managers know what’s required to do this. Have we got a good manager???
So far, he’s on a par with Phil Neal - won promotion from the lowest of leagues and a tin pot trophy, so he now needs to up his game to get himself on the Phil Parkinson league of BWFC managers and sort us promotion
Failure and it’s time to leave Over to you Evatt
COYWM Let’s do this, let’s lay a real marker in the first leg ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
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Post by whitesince63 on May 2, 2024 6:22:39 GMT
Looking at it with a slightly more positive edge Rioch we actually lost only 2 of those ten games against Derby, which we really deserved to win and Pompey away where if Dion hadn’t missed that sitter it could have been a different result altogether. Even on Saturday we threw away a good lead probably through minds being on Derbys score so forgivable. Even away at Barnsley we were unlucky to only draw after our second half performance so I’m nowhere near as pessimistic as you and think we’ll see Barnsley off over the two legs. The finals then a one off and can always go either way but I still feel this team is now finding its feet and will succeed. If we don’t, if we do fall down and depending on how that happens, should Evatt go? Personally I’d say no, we’ve certainly improved on last year and if we can add again there’s no reason we can’t make automatics next season but I’m not contemplating that. We’re favourites to do it this year and I think we will. 😁
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Post by riochforthereebok on May 2, 2024 8:06:04 GMT
Looking at it with a slightly more positive edge Rioch we actually lost only 2 of those ten games against Derby, which we really deserved to win and Pompey away where if Dion hadn’t missed that sitter it could have been a different result altogether. Even on Saturday we threw away a good lead probably through minds being on Derbys score so forgivable. Even away at Barnsley we were unlucky to only draw after our second half performance so I’m nowhere near as pessimistic as you and think we’ll see Barnsley off over the two legs. The finals then a one off and can always go either way but I still feel this team is now finding its feet and will succeed. If we don’t, if we do fall down and depending on how that happens, should Evatt go? Personally I’d say no, we’ve certainly improved on last year and if we can add again there’s no reason we can’t make automatics next season but I’m not contemplating that. We’re favourites to do it this year and I think we will. 😁 To quote you W63 “If if’s and and’s were pots and pans” 🤣🤣🤣 Favourites being the largest of pressures I guess Oh, and me, you, chip and a few, are not getting any younger😬😬😂😂,
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Post by whitesince63 on May 2, 2024 8:36:37 GMT
I suppose our not getting any younger means we’re old farts who’ve seen pretty much everything and know well that nothings ever a certainty but you can only go on what you can see now and I see the Tykes as a very disorganised disillusioned outfit and one we should be confident of beating. Many over here aren’t even going to the game they’re so brassed off and ticket sales are currently woeful with the prospect of half empty home stands which won’t do a lot for the atmosphere and if they do lose this first leg there will be even less at the Reebok for the return. I know pressure can apply but it’s pretty clear half of the Barnsley team that starts won’t be here next year with 2 or 3 already lined up for moves and others out of contract and surplus so will their heart really be in it? Add in the much maligned system they’ve been playing plus the lack of a credible defence after the main 3 were sold last summer and the only decent replacement Pines out injured I think the Barnsley fans have every reason to be despondent. If we can’t win this and win it well then there certainly will be big questions asked. We didn’t turn up in either game last year nut I’m confident this time we will and I expect us to win both legs without too much problem. 😎
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Post by whitesince63 on May 2, 2024 9:25:52 GMT
My thoughts have now turned to the squad for tomorrow. I think the starting eleven is pretty much nailed on with Paris back in to replace Demps with the rest the same as at Peterborough. With the news that Victor is now fit the biggest problem for IE is not so much who is on the bench as who isn’t? Will he have Coleman there or risk it without in such an important match? If he’s in that only leaves 6 spots for all the other positions. Demps, Morley and Iredale must be there leaving only 3 other places so will he leave Cameron out to allow a match unfit Victor in, especially after Cameron’s recent goal scoring? It’s going to be a tough one and I’m glad I’m not choosing because for once Evatt’s going to feel the pressure of having a surplus of players to keep happy! 🫣
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Post by davidm on May 2, 2024 12:03:41 GMT
My thoughts have now turned to the squad for tomorrow. I think the starting eleven is pretty much nailed on with Paris back in to replace Demps with the rest the same as at Peterborough. With the news that Victor is now fit the biggest problem for IE is not so much who is on the bench as who isn’t? Will he have Coleman there or risk it without in such an important match? If he’s in that only leaves 6 spots for all the other positions. Demps, Morley and Iredale must be there leaving only 3 other places so will he leave Cameron out to allow a match unfit Victor in, especially after Cameron’s recent goal scoring? It’s going to be a tough one and I’m glad I’m not choosing because for once Evatt’s going to feel the pressure of having a surplus of players to keep happy! 🫣 I agree with the return of Maghoma and then we have pretty much our strongest team. He MUST include a sub keeper on the bench. The match is too important to risk otherwise. Dempsey, Morley, Iredale, Coleman, Jerome (based on recent performances), Ogbeta and a striker (Adeboyejo if he is fit or Nlundulu).
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Post by davidm on May 2, 2024 12:11:31 GMT
By the way, what a farce the ticket situation was for next Tuesday’s match.
I went online to buy. It offered me my ticket and my sons but I couldn’t get my brother’s ticket despite him being in my group. Just no way would it give me the option. I spent 50+ years in employment in the computer industry so I feel that I can find my way around most computer systems but this one is flawed.
So, no problem I thought, I will ring them. I rang 22 times and endlessly got the engaged tone.
So season tickets were to be released for general sale at 4pm so I had no choice but to drive over (good job I am retired and have the time!) – this is a 30 mile round trip.
Drove over and found the queue stretching up the steps into the Middlebrook shops.
A 2 hour wait in the queue (fair dos, they brought bottles of water round – it was roasting) and eventually reached the ticket office. Just 3 windows open but I got them in the end.
We had better win!
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Post by riochforthereebok on May 2, 2024 12:14:43 GMT
What about Dempsey for GT?? Demps tends to play his part with high pressure games, he’d be my choice to start, probably not Evatt’s
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Post by riochforthereebok on May 2, 2024 12:17:28 GMT
By the way, what a farce the ticket situation was for next Tuesday’s match. I went online to buy. It offered me my ticket and my sons but I couldn’t get my brother’s ticket despite him being in my group. Just no way would it give me the option. I spent 50+ years in employment in the computer industry so I feel that I can find my way around most computer systems but this one is flawed. So, no problem I thought, I will ring them. I rang 22 times and endlessly got the engaged tone. So season tickets were to be released for general sale at 4pm so I had no choice but to drive over (good job I am retired and have the time!) – this is a 30 mile round trip. Drove over and found the queue stretching up the steps into the Middlebrook shops. A 2 hour wait in the queue (fair dos, they brought bottles of water round – it was roasting) and eventually reached the ticket office. Just 3 windows open but I got them in the end. We had better win!So you didn’t get interviewed by Granada telly then davidm?? I saw the queues up the steps and 3 deep. Pretty crap only 3 windows opened
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Post by whitesince63 on May 2, 2024 15:41:13 GMT
What about Dempsey for GT?? Demps tends to play his part with high pressure games, he’d be my choice to start, probably not Evatt’s No, not for me rioch, Demps hasn’t been anywhere near the player of last season and one of George’s superb passes could make the difference so he’s a definite keep for me. I think Paris returning to midfield will take pressure off him and along with Sheehan I don’t see a better midfield in L1, including Pompey and Derby.
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Post by riochforthereebok on May 2, 2024 16:23:41 GMT
What about Dempsey for GT?? Demps tends to play his part with high pressure games, he’d be my choice to start, probably not Evatt’s No, not for me rioch, Demps hasn’t been anywhere near the player of last season and one of George’s superb passes could make the difference so he’s a definite keep for me. I think Paris returning to midfield will take pressure off him and along with Sheehan I don’t see a better midfield in L1, including Pompey and Derby. Think someone mentioned it somewhere else about Derby, I don’t get it, they’re veterans when it comes to age and I can see them really struggling for next season. This isn’t sour grapes by the way, if we had managed to get up with an aging squad we’d struggle too, but Warne got a tune out of Mendez Lang, Forsyth, Barkuizen, Bradley, Waghorn, Washington, Gayle, Nelson, Hourihane, Collins, all with an average age of 31, so you’d have to say that our youngish squad can only grow into the Championship if we ever get there, but Warne knew enough to get his side over the line, whereas Evatt struggled
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Post by davidm on May 3, 2024 7:43:27 GMT
I am usually the eternal optimist but, for some reason, I am worried about tonight.
I think it is because we shouldn’t be here – we should have already been promoted but we blew it.
So on to tonight.
I expect what is more or less our best side:-
Baxter
Jones, Santos, Toal
Dacres-Cogley, Sheehan, Thomason, Maghoma, Williams
Collins, Charles
There may be discussion on Ogbeta instead of Williams and maybe how to fit Dempsey in to the starting line up but I would be happy with that team.
We certainly need to defend better than recent matches.
Thomason also needs to find some form. He has been pretty average recently.
One question – who will be the first Barnsley player to kick Sheehan? They certainly know the dark arts and get under our skin. We need to combat that.
If we could somehow replicate the 2nd half of the league match earlier this season, we will be OK.
A tense match – maybe a 1-1 draw.
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Post by whitesince63 on May 3, 2024 8:04:09 GMT
I can understand the doubts David, I don’t think we go into any game with full confidence because we never know what team will turn up. I’d go with the team you’ve put out, I think it’s our strongest eleven although I still feel Iredale on the left makes us stronger defensively than a right footed Toal but we know Evatt won’t leave either him or Jones out. I think we should certainly expect the dark arts and whilst it will be a tough game physically I don’t think Barnsley are anywhere near the team of last year, particularly defensively where they lost all their 3 key defenders last summer. Only Dominic Pines looked a decent replacement but he’s injured which is a big concern for them and the thoughts over here are that if we really get at them we can win big. None I’ve spoken to are expecting a win and several just want to keep the score down before the second leg. I hope their pessimism is right but we all know that players can rise to the occasion and surely a possible Wembley appearance must excite the players to bring their best game? If we turn up I see a 1-3 win for the Whites but as usual the question is will they? 🫣
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Post by one2many on May 3, 2024 8:17:03 GMT
In preparation, this week I watched the highlights of the 1991 play off final with Tranmere. I still remember that pain. We only avoided going up on goal difference i recall and Tranmere were well behind us in the league, yet an extra time goal and that was the season and our hopes finished.
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Post by riochforthereebok on May 3, 2024 8:26:55 GMT
I think my reasoning for KD over GT, I just think GT will be targeted more than Sheehan and unlike Sheehan who, for me, goes down far too easily and also quietly, Barnsley won’t get a rise out of JS unlike GT, so perhaps Demps might have been the ‘sensible’ option as he can mix it and probably dish out a few tasty tackles himself without getting carded.
Instead of Evatt moaning about the ref change at Peterborough, the game was over, we knew our fate, so instead of ruffing up all of the refs en masse, would he not have been more savvy as to say something along the lines of “I just hope the referee of the Barnsley game pays particular attention to watch the Barnsley tactics on fouling our players!
If i was that referee I’d be reading comments in the Barnsley and Bolton local press to see what both managers are saying ahead of the game and with this, getting the comments into the refs head.
I’m also worried for tonight as I’m generally not a positive person 😬😬😬
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