Thetownend.com

The League Two Play-Offs start this afternoon and I am unashamedly a big fan of them.

L2 Thursday
Colchester United vs. Exeter City @ 17:15
Northampton Town vs. Cheltenham Town @ 19:45

L2 Monday
Exeter City vs. Colchester United @17:15
Cheltenham Town vs. Northampton Town @ 19:45

Plenty of Swindon links - Norris, Nouble, Holmes, Ajose, Hussey, Tozer, Ince, McCormack, Turnbull, Williams, Marshall...

I don't think I can call it. I lean towards Exeter because they've been in the promotion picture for the majority of the season whilst Cheltenham offer an easy, yet stressful, away day.

(I am quite aware that there are turning points throughout the season but) Incredible to think that Northampton's goal at the County Ground essentially squeezed them into the Play-Offs.



Elsewhere....

L1 03/07:
Portsmouth vs. Oxford United @ 17:30
Fleetwood Town vs. Wycombe Wanderers @ 19:30

L1 06/07:
Oxford United vs. Portsmouth @ 17:00
Wycombe Wanderers vs. Fleetwood Town @ 19:30

Can't think of any Swindon links beyond the rivalry. Should be a case Portsmouth or Oxford (the latter had the form before the 100 odd day break).


FOOTBALL!

ABC tonight.- anyone but Cheltenham/ Colchester

 Bit confused here, a mate is a Cobblers fan and was going to wade in shortly because I thought they were playing tonight not tomorrow  :hmmm:

They are tonight - both games. 17.15 and then 19.45 for you lot in the UK.

21/10 for an Exeter win looks a decent bet

Yeah, both first legs are tonight. Hoping for Exeter to come out on top, as neither Colchester nor Northampton deserve to go up and Cheltenham are just, well, Cheltenham

I'm not much of a nuetral fan and I don't have any dogs in the L2 fights.

I think I'll be watching the Oxford games, though. As a self-appointed honorary Portsmouth fan of course.

Topless, stinking, shitfaced and waving a bell for no good reason I hope!

Sounds like a standard Saturday afternoon, I just need a bell.

Channel?

Sky

Also :

League 2 final - Monday 29th June  (7.30pm)
League 1 final - Monday, July 13 (7.30pm)

For those of us without Sky, does anyone know whether will we be able to dip in to ifollow or Now TV for example and pay £10 to watch any games?

I believe you can get it on NowTV, certainly I looked at doing that until I went down an IPTV route instead, and it seemed to be that you can get the games via the SkySports pass.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BpgqyUSCQAANW1o.png)

The gentleman in the mac and trilby from the Saudi investment fund assured me it was all quite legitimate

I shall listen on the wireless.

Now TV are doing Sky Sports for £25 a month no contract, with an additional £7 off via https://www.topcashback.co.uk/nowtv/?ihr=trin1.

All the play-off games are available to stream for free.

See https://socceronline.me/

I hope Cheltenham stay where they are. Not even the prospect of an all dayer nearby is enough to persuade me that it’s a good day out. It never has been!

I would prefer Cheltenham as luck has to change sooner or later and they will probably take up one of the relegation places if they do go up

Exeter for me as they are 1 local game I could attend.

Cheltenham would be my last option.

Colchester really easy for me to get to but god I hate that place.

I hope Exeter go up

Me too. I would be fine with Northampton, as well, though.

Don't really care, albeit rather it wasn't Cheltenham as they always beat us, and them and Oxford with us in a division would be four losses immediately without a ball being kicked.

This.

Rather it wasnt 'Numb due to their evil eye over us and also Cochester as its a horrible place to travel to midweek, horrible ground and they always seem to beat us too!

I want Fleetwood to go up, playing Pompey, Pox and High Wycombe again will be fun.

Aye.

Rich - not forgetting Conor Thomas who is now with Cheltenham. So that makes 12.

Whilst Fleetwood is geographically near to here its a complete twat to get to on public transport so if they go up so be it really.

Add Lloyd Jones at Northampton and is Theo Robinson still officially on loan at Colchester too? 13 and maybe 14?

I do like the location of Exeter and previous Torquay both stunning areas to live in if I could

Has Doris left the Colchester building?

No, he was mentioned by Rich.

Kodi plus Sports Devil is a cheaper option.

Exeter reckon it’ll cost them £150,000 to play these PO games

Worth it if they eventually get promoted I would think, if they don't then can they afford to soak up that sort of financial loss with no income?

I guess they will get some money from Sky for showing the games live that will cover some of that loss?

Seems that a dirth of sport means they are live over here through ESPN+

Exeter out of those for. I'm liking Colchester's little posse of cardboard rood bois.

Couple of players I always thought I’d like at SN1 - Ryan Jackson and Randell Williams. Now realise we have far better already.

Dogshit so far. Understandable perhaps.

yeah, you can't judge then after this layoff

I have just tuned in on Kodi, sounds like I haven't missed much so far then!

Why is Tom Kerridge co-commentating?

Well that was a weak goal to concede, keeper should have done better than being beaten at the near post from an angled free kick from 20 yards, poor keeping.

Exeter have had slightly the better play this half but Colchester relying on the long ball and pace down the wings as their main threat, Exeter for all their play have created hardly anything of note.

2 very average sides TBH with little quality.

Norris and Nouble have looked poor, Robinson done a bit better since coming on.

The only player on the pitch that has impressed me is Kwame Poku the Colchester young right winger who has pace and skill but lacks the final ball, reminds me of MacNamee.

Not a great advert for league 2 football TBH.

Turns our watching Diners, Drive Ins and Dives is better than watching L2 football, oh well.

This is a far better quality game already than the last match.

I had forgot about "one trick Tozer" throw that fucking ball........

This is not going well.

This match is terrible, both teams are just about set pieces, just long ball galore.

Don’t be so council house left wingish. You actually mean, The Repair shop don’t you.

ooh, what happens in The Repair shop?

Oddly, I was brought up in a Council House by parents who voted Labour I think, although UKIP got at least one of their votes more recently.

Northampton are basically a Swindon XI. Harry Smith on now!

Conor Thomas makes it 2-0

So was I, so was I.

The Colchester game was terrible, very little quality.

I thought Cheltenham played well and deserved their win over a one dimensional Northampton side. On what I saw today we’ll be meeting Cheltenham again in the league next season.

RobertT. On the repair shop punters bring in their treasured possesions that are in a state of disrepair and leave them to get mended by the expert crafts people.

Metalworkers, coopers, ceramics, clocks, mechanical engineers, basket weavers and many more.

The reunions are filmed for the tears.

I endured that sack of shit Colchester v Exeter.

Everything was woeful. The play, passing, water breaks...all shit.

Disappointed in Exeter. Colchester big and organised as usual....even the goal was shit.

Decided to give the cobblers a miss.

Commentators did their best to spin it into something exciting and a magnitude of excuses...I particularly enjoyed the skyed shot which was worthy of four replays.

Grecians will have to improve. I can see Colchester banging it long from the start at St James.

Understand the sentiment though I think it’s a bit harsh. You cannot have a programme that appeals to mass audience with a piece just turning up to Be repaired. Their has to be a backdrop. Dropping it off With a story is one aspect. The objects owners reactions vary from meh to nearly sobbing uncontrollably. For me it’s a 80% the repair and 20% the story behind it. In a similar vein X factor was all about the talent or not. Not it’s filled with hard luck stories and sobbing twats with no backbone and no talent. Give me the repair shop anytime.

Don't get me wrong, i like the program. Started watching as it was on Quest, just before or just after the EFL highlights program.

I like the fact that there are people with the skills on show still practicing them. It reminds me of my grandfather who was a carpenter for GWR on the coach building.

It also shows how inadequate i am at even the basic DIY

Sorry gone off track from the topic.

Anyway, Cheltenham look the best bet for promotion unless Exeter get their shit together for the second leg.

The repair shop is ace.

Felt a bit sorry for Northampton, missed penalty and a few missed chances or good saves by the keeper but Cheltenham looked decent and will be tough to beat as they have been all season. If we look at the season results/stats, Cheltenham deserve to go up, fewest defeats and least goals conceded. Fair play to Duff, club legend coming back and doing well. Despite all that, I hope they fuck it up.

Ryan Bowman is joint 3rd highest scorer in L2 - no wonder Exeter looked toothless - what an absolute donkey. I suppose Ajose was injured.

Looks like Cheltenhams to lose.

Meh. Not a shot on target tells its own story. Ajose is proving an expensive passenger, at 28 he should be in his prime, but obviously peaked early with you !

Half-time 0-1, all to play for.

Although their keeper was easily their MotM which says something.

game on in the Cheltenham second leg

I enjoyed the Exeter match, a bit of back and forth but the best team won. So far so good in this match too.

Cheltenham getting on top last 5. other than that, all Northampton.

finely poised

Go Cobblers!

If they can do the unexpected, then I'm good whoever wins the final.

I can't see them getting through, but they're giving it a good go

quality finish!

2-2 agg

One more, Cobblers, one more.

shame mcCormacks legs won't do the 90, he was rolling back the years with that performance

Oops!  :)

fake ginger pele!

F*ck off Cheltenham

 :wotjump:

Whoops.

That was reminiscent of our performance against Preston a couple of years ago. Out battled, out muscled, and knocked off the game plan. All they had to do was get the ball down and pass it around. Cheltenham looked so, so sluggish.

excellent reverse psychology on the football gods.

;)

The best Manager in the league, managing the best team in the league, with the best defensive record in the EFL....will be playing Barrow next season!

Hopefully we can now (re)sign Ben Tozer.

Yes, cos he was absolutely awful tonight!

Couldn't be bothered to watch Numb vs Famton, glad Numb lost just so we dont have to play them next season, jumped up wankers, Tozer is only effective if you have an 8 foot centre forward to rifle throw ins into the box at, as a centre back hes poor.

Glad Excetera won so I may well still get 1 local team next season to visit. Ambivalent towards Northampton TBH.

Which venue is the PO final being played at?

For some reason, Wembley.

Seriously? wow, that surprises me.

Each to their own - but he’s seen by their lot as the best player in a side that has conceded fewer goals than any in the league. From what I’ve seen of him, I’d agree.  Jake Doyle-Hayes, on loan from Villa, is their other star, along with Broom. Hayes is being released by Villa, Cheltenham want him, but have said there are L1 sides after him. We don’t really need more in the middle of the park, but he’d be a decent addition at a good age.

As I suggested a few days ago ;)

I must admit I have not been impressed with Tozer everytime I have seen him he just isn't a ball playing defender that Wellens wants and also we don't have any players capable of getting onto the end of his long throws currently, thats not Wellens style and is a huge part of his game.

FA are still paying back the money they borrowed to build it so not suprising that they're keeping the League to the contract

Have to agree with this (apart from the first bit!). I quite like Tozer, he's a decent defender IMO, but I don't think he fits how we play.

Think Tozer is a solid League Two centre back. He would have fit in perfectly in a David Flitcroft side!

Absolutely this.

I remember him playing for us first as a young un, so I had a look back at some old posts about him by myself about 12 years ago, God I feel old!

I thought Morrison was better than Tozer but that Flint was better and worth more than Morrison and Tozer....which it turns out he was, weird that they are both playing together now at Cardiff.

Good riddance Cheltenham I don't like bogeys!

This is why I am torn about Oxford going up, they have had the "evil eye" over us for a while much as 'Numb have.

That Di Canio team towards the latter stages of the season was ridiculous. Barely conceded, scored for fun and had some amazing players... Oxford still beat us 2-0... with 10 men... Think they just have our number for some reason. They definitely seem to want it to more going by the most recent games.

I blame me, I haven't seen Oxford beat us when I've attended. Home or away.

Me neither, I have seen us win at least 12 times since my first game vs them in 1978. Ironically the last Oxford game I attended was the last one we won when Turbo scored 2 goals to win 2-0 at the Manor.

Yes there is no rhyme or reason to it, they just have the evil eye of late.

Clearly a desperate attempt to shrug off your well-earned jinx tag :)

:D

I must admit I was thinking I was a jinx up until the Exeter game which was the first Town match I had attended that we have won since Yeovil away a few years back.

It was certainly my first home attended win since Bristol City in 2013!

I think its still safest and me and 4D not to attend too many ;) sorry 4D :D

Yep, you should both be kept in isolation for your own and others' well-being except for two occasions next season when we play that lot and then we can wheel you out to reverse jinx it before locking you both back up in storage again

Used to be every player's dream to play at Wembley. Very few would have imagined it being empty !

Was empty when i played there :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Might give the teams some tips on how to deal with the pressure

I've enjoyed the League Two play-offs more than any other football which has returned recently, I think my brain is rotted from too much lower league football. I hope Exeter win the final, nothing against Northampton but success at Exeter is success for sensible football club management, and it'll keep the annoying Plymouth fans occupied.

League One POs will be good too assuming Oxford lose, goes without saying but, come on Pompy.

You never mentioned that you played at Wembley?  ;)

I like to keep it quiet :D

Might be wrong,  but surely Liverpool have conceded less  ?.

Not quite in the same league, but I have scored a brace at Dunfermline Athletic's East End Park!

:D

Not sure what leagues, but I scored a penalty at St James Park in a full DJ set up whilst pissed at 1am.

I had Alan Shearer take the piss out of me when i missed a penalty. Closest i got to hitting the onion bag

No doubt you're all having a very relaxing day !

:beach:





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4D at Bormuff....

Yes thanks.

Good luck tonight, I personally would rather have you guys promoted than Curles hoofers, mostly because it would easily be my closest match this coming season to attend!

Going to be a tough one for you though, Curle has his troops trained to play his style and there are a lot of quality players in his squad.

Harry Smith, Alan McCormack, Jordan Turnbull, Andy Williams, Mark Mashall and Lloyd Jones (we were close to signing Paul Anderson pre season also) so they have some decent ex Town players there.

In the last 23 games between Excetera and Fampton the Grecians have only won 3 and drawn 3 of the last 23 meeting, with the Cobblers winning 17!

Exeter form since 1st Feb LWWWLLDDLLW so just 1 win in the last 7 games (inc 2-0 defeat by Northampton).

Northampton form WLLLLWLWLLW (1 of those wins vs Exeter).

Heart wants Exeter to win, living down not far from them I know a fair few of their fans and they seem a fair bunch.

Head says Curles experience of big matches and quality in the squad along with better form means I feel they will win 3-1 without the need for extra time.

On the Northampton forum they seem averagely confident, the Exeter forum they seem very confident they will win, lots of Exeter fans seem to think Northampton are a bunch of cheats for whatever reason.

I am glad we are not in the shoes of fans of either side, may the best team win at the souless stadium.

Would still like Exeter to win.  I know its pathetic, however I can hold bitterness for a long time and Northampton gained 3 points from a shit referee at our place, so come on you grecians. 

Some of us are still resentful of events in 65.   

Indeed, a bogey team for us, and the reason why we'd have preferred to meet the other lot.  :nod:

This being our fifth visit to Nou Wembley, albeit an empty one, that experience might count in our favour. For them, a bit more of a novelty, and had tickets been on sale we'd have been seriously outnumbered !

Anyway, cheers, back to chewing me fingers.....

Oxford were on a really good run when they beat us then - they promptly went on a bad one and missed the play offs! As though all they wanted was to beat us!

I just laugh thinking about Luke Williams trying to fire a team up for a derby game. Probably gave the players cake and a game of fifa

Its all selfish for me.

Exeter is a corking day...good pubs and not too complicated to get to on the Train.

Cobblers is a nice easy evening game..there and back like last season or stay at MK for work. Also a huge result beating the mighty Numb and pissed all over Sky Sports arse kissing of them.

But, for football reasons i back Exeter.

Turnbull, McCormack start with Williams, Smith and Marshall on the bench for Northampton.

Ajose on the bench for Exeter.

I hope Exeter win

Northampton 1 up. Deflected 2-0 yard shot.

Good game, this.

Exeter have a dodgy keeper!

I thought that in the last game, watching Northampton is like watching a Flitcroft side.

Exeter look pretty weak in front of goal too, not sure how those 2 strikers can keep out Ajose they both look pretty poor in front of goal.

Thought the Exeter keeper was lucky to get away with that face punch, only an inch in it, more luck than judgement.

Does anyone have a link for this please?

Makes you appreciate how important having a keeper like Benda is after watching the bearded clown for Exeter.

I am watching it on Kodi.

Damn right, hes useless!

Wharton won't finish the game, will be subbed or sent off.

I think it cleanses the soul sometimes to drop down the pyramid and watch these lower-league teams.

Exeter having a Swindon at Wembley day.

Yep 2-0 to Cobblers now.

hesgoal.com

Failing that, just look up and you'll see a decent amount of Northampton's build up play

Just put on a ludicrous £5 (of PaddyPower money) on Exeter to win and Bowman to score anytime...

...Got 33/1 (34.00)


 :pint: :pint:

You can see that Curle learnt his style of play from Wimbledon.....hooooffff.

Ah, I've missed the Venkman running commentaries  :pint:

I can only imagine what just came out of your mouth...

Somewhat diluted admittedly :) its just nice to have games back being played.

Two games against this next season is depressing, come on Exeter.

OMG what an awful miss by Bowman! fell over his own feet with just the keeper to beat, might have put your money on the wrong horse there Boo.

I am shocked you got odds that low, hes terrible so far.

I foresee that Exeter will win 3-2

Cheers

 :D :D

Exeter are playing the nicer football but that does win games does it Luke Williams? totally innefective in front of goal and with an incredibly weak keeper.

Northampton are like a $10 crackwhore, cheap, ugly to look at but effective and gets the job done with absolutely no frills.

Northampton fans think otherwise.

Haha, I wasn't looking. But heard the commentator jizz himself "Bowwwwmannnnnn.. Oh"  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:



Haha, I'm just glad it's PPs money and not mine. Love an underdog so to speak. I feel Bowman will get one but looking doubtful of the win part.  33s does seem poor but that's bookies for you, they seem to just add the odds together rather than multiply. I think at that point it was 28s for Exeter W and about 6s for Bowman to Score.

Game of two halves as they say  :pint:

Give him his due, the Exeter keeper made a couple of good saves. Looks as if he is a shot stopper, but isn't mobile and doesn't have any sort of distribution.

Northampton look a strong, quick and powerful team. Exeter being made to look poor.

As Exeter have blown this, are there any of their players you fancy after they're released?

Great optimism!

As it stands I can't see Exeter getting anything from this, unless there are big changes at HT.

Exeter can't cope with the long balls down the wings and to the big man up front, with better crossing Northampton would be 4 up already.

Just Williams on the wing, and hes been pretty innefective so far today.

Not from what we've seen tonight. Northampton fear Williams as they are kicking him up in the air all the time.

Williams is getting a lot of attention, and Northampton can get away with it as Exeter appear to have no other threats.

He hates the rough stuff, loves to play the pretty football but as soon as he gets a kick he loses interest, typical winger. He was the same against us at the County Ground. Caddis kicked him early in the 2nd half and he barely kicked the ball again after.

Agree, the fuckers have 30 mins to sort their house out  :pint:

Oh no...

That tackle from Moxey is so late that it might as well be next season.

Money: Stupid red.
McCormack should have had a yellow at least though.

Shock horror, Moxey gets sent off but McCormack very lucky to stay on there. Good at being a niggly cunt him. We should sign him up again.

McCormack is a niggly fucker, always was when he played for us too.

Have Exeter got anyone worth much in terms of selling? If not they are going to really struggle next season being ‘fan owned’ they are going to be extremely limited in terms of funding sources.

Randell Williams will be the hot property.

Not been overly impressed with him tonight. Flatters to deceive.

Not 1 other player in their side would even get onto our bench.

Championship teams after Williams.

https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/exeter-city/transfer-talk/news/championship-clubs-keen-on-exeter-winger_372505.html

I think he's a very good player, but mark Marshall has been better than him so far tonight

I always rated him at Town and was disappointed he didn't stay with us. Tricky little unit.

That should have been 3.

Turnbull being a twat

Unless hes not recovered fully from his injury a few months back what the hell does Ajose have to do to play a part in this game? Exeter have been awful in front of goal tonight.

Shit

Shame for Exeter.

Easy for Northampton.

Very soft goal to concede, poor positioning by the keeper but how the ball found its way through so many Exeter players is silly.

Sweeney the Exeter right back must have found a Northampton player with more than half his passes this game.

Exeter have no answer to Marshall.

Nothing wrong with Morton's workrate there for 20 years old basically battled to make that goal.

Game was over when Moxey got sent off.

Nice HD Stream on Palace v Burnley. NBCSN Burnley just scored. Stream about 1 min behind.

All too easy.

Indeed. 3-0 is 3-0. Credit to Norgampton there. Even if most our hearts were wanting Exeter. Think they know they need to do it automatically because POs just ain't their bag.

Sorry Banker. Shame your team didn't really turn up tonight, all the best for next season, I thought it would have been a bit closer, your defence and keeper were a bit of a shambles today.

Think it was over well before that.

4-0

It's probably been asked before, but how many ex Town players are playing / on the bench tonight?

0-4 and could have been more.

2 starting and 4 on the bench, only Ajose didn't get game time.

Only Ajose. The rest have all played!

Turnbull, McCormack, Smith, Marshall, Williams, Anderson was with us for a bit.

I hope Banker sticks around. They seem alright.

PV, I changed stream about 5 left to play. 3 nil 4 nil. Red pill blue pill. Big win that. Indeed Exeter have done a Swindon and Northampton have done a Preston. At least soem respite for Exeter fans is that they didn't have to go through the shambles and heartache at the Neu Wembley. Thst day was fucking horrible. Met and spoke with Lee Peacock though. He's a lovely bloke.

He is, was outside the Swindon end in a tent and radio truck doing radio interviews pre game etc, I met him there too.

Exeter deserved to lose tonight but I don't think Northampton were 4 goals better but they did want it more and deservedly won it.

Yes it did mention he was doing Radio bits as at HT he had to shoot off. He was sat one row in front about 6 seats away. In front of me were a few football friends of Byrne. At that time both Peacock and I were sporting pretty strong beards. So naturally, a mutual "attraction" ensued as he smiled and asked 'how long have you been growing yours for'

Genuinely lovely guy. I'm glad he is involved in the Town set up.

I know the spectacles get rose tinted when you watch your own team but I thought that was pretty awful watching, in terms of standard of football.  Northampton looked a better version of Flitcrofts team with us and Exeter looked like us against Preston.

I thought it was a good old game of Div 4 football... it's the first game since the comeback that I've watched for 90mins, I've tried with the Prem stuff but they've been truly terrible games, basically going through the motions, so have tended to give up after 20 mins. 

Div 4 by definition isn't going to be technically the best so the players need to make up for that in other ways..... effort, honesty and the occasional glimpses of some good skill.

Well, what a load of cobblers that was, congratulations to them.

Even our cardboard cutouts were leaving at half-time, it was that feckin' embarrassing.

The nightmare of PNE at Wembley was lingering tonight...Exeter like us, never turned up!

That was shit.

Feel sorry for Exeter.  (Commiserations, Banker.)  They were up there with us for most of the season, and only dropped away during the last few games.  But that's football.

As Wellens said on the highlights show last night, the most one sided play-off final since Preston v Swindon. I was impressed by Marshall when he came on, an assist and plenty of good crosses. Moxeys challenge was ridiculous but Exeter would still have lost with 11 on the pitch
  

I quite enjoyed it, I guess I slightly favoured Northampton because I've not seen us lose there, and parking is easy if us fans are allowed in :)

But Exeter looked as pathetic as we did last visit(s) to Wembley. So Banker, we know how it feels.

Actually, Exeter have lost 3 out of the last 4 po finals. at least ours were spread out.

onwards to next week. FFS PUP

I agree, it was a match between 2 pretty average sides, one better trained at their own brand of football than the other was.

Exeter hampered by a shoddy goalkeeper on a par with Moore and RCC for dithering ineptitude. Exeter also for a team managed by a defender could not defend.

They also were dire in front of goal, Northampton will struggle this coming season without huge investment in the team IMO.

But then its worked well for Wycombe playing that style in L1 so who knows.

Exeter would have lost with 12 on the pitch,  woeful performance.   Wouldn't mind seeing Goode or Oliver in a Swindon shirt, Goodes throw ins are a major bonus for any team.

Any team that have players that can win headers, so wouldn't work in our team ;)

For those of you that did the same as me and took advantage of Skys football channels offer of  £18 a month on a 31 day rolling contract,  ùnless you wish to continue through the summer now is the time to cancel,   did mine this morning,  subscription runs out on August 1st, enough time to see the last games of the season.   Must admit only really purchased it to watch the play off games,  but have watched quite a few games in the premiership.  Must be the only time I have been able to say that I got good value from Sky !!.

Ahh, it would,  as we would take Oliver as well  !!.

Presumably, had Exeter secured promotion, That Nestor Lorenzo Heade would point to this (alongside Bayern's success in the bundesliga) as further evidence of the benefits of community ownership.

Saw the highlights on quest. Exeter’s GK was MOTM, in my humble opinion. Sure four went past him but bloody hell, could have been double that, as for their defence, where was it?

Has a week gone by already?

Admittedly their defence was shocking but I thought he was awful, didn't come to claim crosses, his handling was terrible, almost every shot he saved was straight at him.

If it was 1 foot to the left or right of him it went in, even Exeter fans were slating him as they have most of the season when he has played. His attempt at the 4th was comical.

Northamptons keeper wasn't much better but has so little to do all game.

Makes me so glad we had Benda this season, easily the best keeper in L2 by a country mile.

I mostly agree, however, those in front of him didn’t cover themselves in any form of glory by going down fighting and the chap sent off needs a good kicking from his peers, no need for that tackle. My point indirectly was the saves he made, 0-4 could easily have been 0-6 or 0-8

Exeter’s keeper is a clown - maybe not RCC levels of clownishness but a clown nonetheless. No wonder the defence was all piss and panic with Krusty between the sticks.

They were saves any keeper would make it doesn’t mean he had a good game, it’s the ones that he didn’t make that matter. Take RCC or even Belford, some of our fans rated them as they made a few saves, ultimately the saves that they made any pro keeper would make whereas as if you look at some of the stops Benda made they wouldn’t have got near them.

Exeter had a good few years of goalkeeping stability with Christy Pym or Bobby Olejnik as number 1 with James Hamon as the settled back-up.

I know Maxted played yesterday but Lewis Ward's performance at the CG this season was one of the poorest I've seen in a good while and he largely got away with it.

If you compare Maxted to Benda in regulation league games, you find that Maxted has played 17 games to Benda's 24, both have kept 10 clean sheets.  Maxted has conceded 19 goals, Benda 23.  Maxted concedes at a rate of just over 1 a game Benda just under 1.   Benda has a clean sheet % of 43%, Maxted 59%.   Exeter's defensive seems generally solid, but is then prone to shipping a few if conceding a goal.... perhaps an issue of game management.

Welcome back

Not sure clean sheets tell the full story. 

So basically what you are saying is that Maxted is as good as Benda?

Have you ever actually watched Maxted play? if you think he is anywhere near as good as Benda or for that matter even McCormack then I do not trust your judgement on goalkeepers, sorry.

Do not judge purely by stats judge by performances.


He conceded more in 1 game than Swindon have conceded with any keeper since Wellens first game in charge.

RCC would have kept that many clean sheets behind that defence this season IMO, one of the tightest in the whole football league.

Don't think you can underestimate the impact of playing behind closed doors, especially in bigger stadiums, plus the long lay off.  I've no idea how good or bad the keeper is usually, but the beard did not help.  Big beards on keepers set alarm bells ringing for me, they are likely to be shit, FACT!

Tim Howard?

Not been away 😉🤭

As clearly indicated Maxted concedes at a marginally higher rate than Benda, ergo he isn't quite as good, however the clean sheet ratio suggests that if all Grecians defensive parts are working he can keep a clean sheet, which is a desirable attribute.

I agree that clean sheets are only part of the answer to whether a keeper is a good one.
The quality of the rest of the defence can impact adversely on whether a clean sheet is achieved - our team under Cooper with Foderingham is an example of that - some very poor goals conceded in the second half of that season.
The other point is distribution when in possession - Benda’s ability in this regard was a major contribution to our style of play this season - he did mix it up / go long too, and he understood the importance of playing it wide rather than central when defending at the Stratton end in the wind tunnel - unlike some of the comedians other teams had between the posts.

The keeper as footballer is now a thing again thanks to Guardiola.... Joe Hart has just been released by Burnley, as his form had nose dived, since PG binned him off for not being good enough with the ball. That it's not quite a new thing was shown by Hoddle leaving out Fraser for Nicky Hammond who he felt was better at distribution.

Personally, I doubt too many sides in Div 3/4 will fanny about with that sort of stuff, where the old fashioned hoof is probably more sensible.

Black cloud lifted.  :D

Appreciate the empathy rather than ridicule, which I'd anticipated, and it threw me somewhat until I discovered we both now share the 'heaviest defeat at a play off final' record !  :beers:

Fine margins, what could have been, hey ho. You now look forward to swelling your coffers playing Sunderland, Huddersfield, Ipswich, Rovers and co. and we welcome Morecambe, Macclesfield, and Barrow once again.

COVID19 and fixture list permitting, it'll be my solemn duty to be with you in the Town End v Argyle, cheering your boys on.  :D

I did mention somewhere before the POs started that 30 teams that played in red and white stripes and black sorts have contested the POs - and not one has won the thing!

Always liked Exeter and was hoping you'd come up with us. Northampton have some real quality in their squad but still play like shithouses... It felt like your manager had never seen them play.

We know all too well what it's like to have your team not show up at all in a PO final. If it's a small crumb of comfort, at least you weren't there and didn't spend a fortune!

Most Town fans will appreciate that you, like us, support one of the shitter teams in the league by definition, we didn't get where we are today by winning games consitantly!

You do get some fans doing the "Billy big balls" "too big for this shit league" from some but in the main we know we are where we are becuase we have not been good enough. Some fans will always think they are far better than where they are, Bolton will be one like this for you this coming season. Bradford to an extent also.

We have been there as fans, going to Wembley (you guys watching on TV) and then the entire team decide to start their Summer holiday a day early. We know EXACTLY how that feels and its difficult to stomach.

It has taken a lot of Town fans many years to get over the utter capitulation we suffered at the hands of Preston in the L1 play off final, it took the stuffing out of a lot of fans for a long long time. The lack of effort and quality, the conceding of many soft goals.

It genuinely took me until this season to fully get over it (5 years), how a team can turn up and just look like not 1 of them are bothered about winning made me and several fans question if they deserved mine/our support.

It actually took the stuffing out of the entire club and we soon fell down the league and then were relegated within 2 years.

I hope it doesnt affect your fans and players as it did many of us and all the best for next season.

Agree on both counts. Spent several hundred quid on a perfectly nice family day out in London which was slightly spoiled by an absolute shitshow for 2 hours in the middle. Best of luck next season Banker, just go up auto and dodge the play-off hoodoo (and expense)

This is what it's all about. Top man. Good luck for next season (whenever that may be) but do stick around. I'll return the favour and say, I'll be in the away end v Mansfield (I live up North) when Exeter play there. I'll wear the Swindon shirt for good measure.

Funny, thats exactly how we all described it! Thankfully I was pretty inebriated for the game so my memory of it is a bit hazy. Spent a fortune in the second half on hot dogs and beer. To compound our misery, Nando's in Swindon had run out of chicken when we got there after the game.

Spent the night near Wembley and got drunk with some Preston fans who were understandably in good spirits but very good natured.  The idiots were the Middlesborough fans who had decided they were some sort of monster club with the best fans int he world and had taken over London prior to their game the next day.  It at least distracted from the football match that I had witnessed.

You saw a football match? Where?

Same !!,  left about five minutes into the second half,  went into the pub/restaurant opposite,  think it may have been an indian, that's how pissed I was even before I went in, only thing I can remember was they certainly helped me lighten my wallet to the tune of around sixty quid, god only knows who the people were who benefited from free beers !!.  Was worth the  expense just to get out of that lifeless shithole called Wembley.

tbf in a London restaurant, that's probably only 3 or 4 pints so you probably just paid for your own :)

6 pints and 6 hot dogs inside the ground  :)

I won't forget the 1 can of Carlsberg and a 6 inch hotdog inside Wembley for £11.50p.

Glad I ate outside the ground before going in.

I remember not going.

I turned the tv off after 5 minutes.

I'm glad I was there. It makes the good times even better.

I was in Magaluf watching it in some bar getting pissed up with some bloke who was playing for Carlisle United at the time. Nice bloke.

Just been promoted with Barrow

Well it wasnt me that benefited!!?

It really hurt me. Lost interest.

That and the Williams season, which for me was the worst.

I even forced myself to watch the trophy being handed to Preston, just to ensure I appreciated every success thereafter.  I'm not sure I expected the next 4 years after that though.

Me too, there were about 1,000 of us left inside Wembley when they lifted the trophy. We were shocking but yes I never thought it would take this long to get over.

Yep. Anyone whos says the play-offs are great needs to remember that day.
Otherwise the play-offs are only great when your team isn't in them.

I stayed to "watch" too. The best thing I remember about that day was meeting and subsequently meeting again a fantastic Kosovan guy, who worked as a Bus Driver at Golders Green station. He told me his story of how he managed to get to the UK in the 90s, losing many loved ones and being able to rebuild a new life. The way he talked about nodnoL. He beamed, he was unashamedly thankful to be alive but also to come here. His sadness of his native home, always being his home yet never being able to return. That he would always be a Kosovan but he was proud to adopt the UK as his home.

In that double chance meeting, my trivial sadness quickly disappeared. An instant and stark perspective of a life seemingly eradicated, yet born out of that a new one rebuilt.

A much too familiar story that I'm sure many have heard similar. But an important one it was. Amongst all the despair of a post match hammering, he was a Phoenix personified that day.

'…never has a greater Phoenix metaphor been personified'

2010 finished me off with Wembley...didn't go to the Paint Pot Final in '12 or the Preston abomination in '15. Best two decision I ever made...

Paint pot 12 was ok for me, was pressed off we lost but only for a few hours.

10, and especially 15 had me down for days.

but I know I'd go again, just in case...

I've been to every Wembley appearance we've made since 1990   :pint:

Didn't go because I am a shit fan, plus from recollection it was an early evening kick off and you could not do it in a single day from up here (felt for the Preston fans, just another example of the EFL not giving a shite about fans), also seen us enough times against Preston to know that we would be shit (we always seem to be) and just couldn't face a hotel cost on top of Wemberley costs!

Watched it on the Telly, as expected we were shite but  the stats seem to give us more credit than we deserve.

                 Preston    Swindon
Possession    32%    68%
Goals scored      4             0
Shots on targets  6        3
Shots off target   3        10
Fouls committed 14       7
Corner kicks     3        6
Yellow cards     0        1
Red cards     0            0

thus allowing Luke Williams possession stats football (yeah cooper was manger then, I know) can be utterly pointless

There were rail strikes on if I remember correctly? I drove, so I was sober  :suicide:

I drove down from Preston. It was not an enjoyable journey home, but the train would have been much worse had they been running!

I was behind the goal and stayed for the presentation but the stewards ushered everyone out shortly afterwards.

I was on a National Express from/to Derby. Enjoyable much?! But reflective on the journey back after chatting to the Kosovan bloke.

I drove with my Liverpool supporting best mate and Arsenal supporting daughter. Took me nearly 3 hours, managed to park at Harrow and Wealdtone for free for the day, easy being a Sunday. 3 stops down to Wembley Central on the overground.

Couldn't use the train as there were no trains back from Waterloo to Crewkerne on a Sunday after 7.30pm and with the EFL deciding not to KO the match until 5.30pm if we had managed to get to extra time (even without it) we wouldnt have made it back to Waterloo before about 9pm well after the last train had left on a Sunday.

Its a bloody long day if you take the train from here, a minimum of a 3 hour train trip to Waterloo, then Underground to Marylebone 20 min trip and 5 min walk after, then Marylebone to Wembley overground 20 mins making it almost impossible to do in less than 4 hours.

And at the end of that it was really not worth it.

300 mile round trip at least it only cost me about £25 in diesel and £3 each in train tickets compaired to costing £180 for 3 of us on the train!

Went to the JPT on the train and got home at 11.30pm after leaving at 7.30am, never again on the train.

Yes I am still bitter and yes I would have to think hard about going if Town got there again.

I parked in some streets I know about 1/2 mile from Stamford Bridge, kept away from the usual haunts  :)

I'd have to get a flight, still think I'd do it.  Madness.

It is ey? I think we've all healed a fair bit now. I'm sure had we got in the POs the following year or two later, lots would not be able to stomach it, despite any form.

But similarly, I think now even if I lived abroad, I'd very likely end up going again.

Spare a thought for Preston thoughh. They had to have a break some stage. I'm certain they'd lost their last 9(nine) PO appearances (3 or 4 of them finals) before winning against us. Possibly fate because their fans must've feared the worse. Had they beat Col Utd on the last day, they would've gone up automatic and we would've ended up playing MKFranchise but they slipped out of the autos losing 1-0. So potentially fated that they would win the POs on the 10th occasion.

But guess who could've made a big difference had he still been at Chesterfield in Preston's SF win? He scored a hattrick v PNE in the league for the Spirities. I also forgot he had an on field fight with Beckford when he was at Preston a couple of years later (a la Dyer & Bowyer. Gareth Barry played peacemaker that day. Angel was some player though https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd0dtRoLFdI); which eventually saw him out of favour?

None other than, the Ginger Messiah.

Maxwell's daughter arrested through implication with Epstein sex trafficking while Maxwell was alive. Lovely lot: see Rix, Alsop etc

‘If you tolerate Rix,
Then your children will be next’

Where is the connection with the play offs ??.

Was bad enough watching it pissed, fair play if you watched it sober.  Painful.

Assume we're all Pompey today then?

Natch, I have a fair few Pompey supporting mates so I will be wishing them well today!

Although it would be nice to see the Pox get to the final and fail miserably ala Swindon v Preston or Exeter last week :)

It's a tough one isn't it? Do you want them to have that temporary elation and then fall flat on their faces in the final, or just get miserably humiliated over two legs in the semis?

It really is mate! final heartbreak will probably win overall for me though :) twist that knife.

Or the glory of a play off final win at Wembley followed by a very long, miserable season and finishing bottom by 15-20 points.
While at the same time we win another title with a record points total.

I have a suspicion that they may well win it. Therefore, I like the proposed outcome WB.

Off to the pub with my Pompey mate tonight. Red 'n' blue, hopefully with no piss-stains.  :(

It's a bit of a blow to the short-changed fans that they can't see this on their curtailed iFollow subscription, only on Sky.

Is someone gonna pipe in that fucking bell during Pompey's home leg?

(And yea, we're all Pompey!)

On the flip side, it costs very little to get a NOW TV pass for these games compared to buying tickets for both legs...

Seriously? That's really shit. The league really does bend over backwards to do everything possible to display it's complete and utter contempt for loyal fans at every opportunity doesn't it?

Fuck ‘em.

Or these guys show pretty much every game, yes sometimes there is a lag or delay and the quality at times is poor but they have shown every game so far.

http://www.hesgoal.com/

I predict a piss stain victory

Other than Liverpool Pompey boast the only other unbeaten home record in English football.

They won 12 of their 18 home games scoring 36 and conceding 15 goals.

The Pox by contrast have won 6 drawn 6 and lost 6 of their away fixtures scoring 28 goals, 4 more than conceded.

Pompey are not so good away so would really need a decent win today to set them up for the 2nd leg.

All of my Pompey mates have been moaning about the style that Kenny Jackett has them playing this season saying its very dull but quite effective and wouldn't actually mind if he was replaced win or lose in the play offs.

They spread the goals around the team and play normally fairly direct, Marquis not starting today has surprised a lot of their fans.

4-0 Pompey

I think it will be 2-1 Pompey with them trying desperately to hold on in the 2nd leg.

I don't know, that Oxford side looks strong to me.

Can't call this one.

And even when we think we can see from a mile off what will probably happen often its exactly  the opposite!

That really is the beauty of football.

Even more so in play offs and even more so with the current climate, so much at stake, its brilliant.

Pompey are more direct than the Pox, Pompey having the better of the chances so far, hit the post and Pox defence not at the races yet.

Massive gulf in quality between the L2 play offs and the L1 play offs.

But I think we would give either side a good run for their money though.

Pompey edging it with a far more direct style which is actually not as bad to watch as a Curle or Flitcroft side, Pox passing it accross midfield more but with no killer edge at all.

Pompey currently looking the better side in terms of chances created.

1-0 Pompey, been coming.

was the Pompey groundsman bored? the pattern on the pitch is twisting my melon man

1-1 Pox first shot actually on target all game.

1-1 now all the keepers in play-offs have been awful.

ffs

Pretty soft goal to concede from 25 yards out really.

Every attack for the Pox has gone through Browne, Pompey need to get closer to him.

Definately 2 soft goals today already.

Pompeys Ellis Harrison is the sort of target man we could do with but then again he should be for a £500k signing.

HT 1-1

I would take Pox's Browne and Curtis, Harrison and Burgess from Pompey, the rest are not much better than what we have, even Woodburn hasn't shown that much quality really.

Pompey should be winning but as they say "thats football".

Again, rose tinted specs maybe on, but our side would give these two a good game.  The passage of t8me may have dulled the memory but the 2014 and 2015 season play off teams seemed much better than these are offering.

The Portsmouth right back has been awful.  Both the goal scorers are easily their teams best players.

Tbf, piss stains look good on the ball with some crisp passing, but . . . The ball still ends up being just crossed into the box. Whether our preferred option of passing the ball on the deck in the box where possible will prove to be as effective in L1 we’ll soon find out.

Karl Robinson's moobs are really off-putting.

Meh 1-1 in the end.

I had a dodgy stream on the laptop, who was co-commentating? Sounded so familiar.

Wycombe 1-0 up at Fleetwood after 1 min.

I am watching on a dodgy stream too so cant help you mate!

1-1 already 4 mins.

At least their mob will be able to put a ladder up against the six foot fence and watch the second leg with plenty of optimism!

2-1 to Wycombe 6 mins.

Some more great goalkeeping!

Danny Gabbidon... sounds just like Tom Kerridge...

I've seen more quality in village level football!

Exciting though!

Danny Gabbidon

We could easily beat either of these 2 teams thats for certain. No better quality that Exeter v Northampton.

Fleetwood defender sent off now with 60 mins left!

Keeper made a great penalty save though!

Wycombe 3-1 up now just before HT.

can only assume keepers had to be woken out of lockdown hibernation and are still a bit groggy

Poor game between 2 bang average teams.

Can't see Fleetwood coming back from this now.

Pox got away with at least two pens.

Cod game more blood and guts...

Ainsworth thinks he's the Fonz!

Don't ever enjoy the running to the referee etc etc....Wycombe done it for years.

Shit ref will mean the beast will come on and notch no doubt.

Haha, he sounds just like Tom Kerridge, that’s why he sounded so familiar 😂

*Ahem*...have you fuckers got me on ignore or something?? (Wouldn't blame you if you did)

4-1 Wycombe.

Some absolutely attrocious goalkeeping in these play offs.

Sorry, I completely missed your post! Glad i'm not the only one who thought that! :)

Oh and Barrie McKay has a 4th division footballers haircut.

Maybe it was Tom...I just assumed it was Danny Gabbidon ;)

Celebrity chefs as football pundits...could work  :hmmm:

Sorry I am ignoring you :D

Trouble with Ginginho is that his fringe gets in his eyes!

Fleetwood have another player sent off, I have a feeling Wycombe may snatch this ;)

How the fuck did a smoke bomb get on the pitch!

More gamesmanship from Wycombe, and Akinfenwa looks like the Michelin man!

Does anyone have any unused red smoke bombs left over from our Championship season?

L1 play off 2nd legs today.

Pompey v Pox could easily go either way, Pompey had the better of the 1st leg IMO but Pox can easily grab a goal as they did down South last week. At leat both teams want to play a bit of football even if Pompeys is a little more route 1 than the Pox who prefer a slow build up.

If Pompey keep Browne quiet then they will win, one man team the Pox but they need to take their chances better than in the 1st leg.

In the other tie Fleetwood are as good as buried at 4-1 down vs Wycome, 2 dull as dishwater teams that both use dirty tactics and long balls to break down the opposition, can't see Fleetwood overcoming them today.

Just had an outbreak of hives  :D

Doh I messed up there! :D

Home end looks fuller than normal today at the 3 sided eyesore.

Oxford had one half decent long shot otherwise all Pompey playing the more attacking football and Pox passing it around with no end product, much like most of the first leg.

Harrison should have scored that from a lovely cross from the right winger, the Pox left back is being skinned every single time so far, most of Pompeys pressing focussed on the poor left back.

Other than the Pox's 2 massive (and pretty useless) centre backs they are a small team, Pompey are like a team of men up against a developing Pox U23 side, lightweight and shirking from a lot of 50-50 balls so far.

Pompey are a far more physical and direct side, Pox are a lightweight passing team who try to keep possession but with no end product and poor from set peices.

I have seen nothing in any of the 3 L1 play off games so far to bother me as to what we will face next season TBH.

Harrison misses another good chance with just the keeper to beat!

Browne misses a chance 1 on 1 with the Pompey keeper, best chance for half an hour for them, poor finish though straight at the keeper.

1-0 Pompey on the break!

Long kick by the keeper from after the save from Browne, onto Harrisons head 30 yards out and he nods it onto Harness who hits a low 20 yarder into the net with the keeper wrong footed.

Probably a higher overall IQ level too.

1-1 OG in from a corner, poor Pompey defending, defender headed it out of the keepers hands. Right on Half Time.

Still only looks like 1 team going to win this and its not Pox.

Pompey the founders of their own demise, again.

If ever there was a dodgy looking goal then that was it!

He must have put money on Pompey losing today, that should go to the "questionable goals panel".

Bugger ! Forgot about this !!!!

Cmon Pompey!!!

And this is top end L1 football?

Bring it on!

Comparing this to all three of our most recent visits to the League One Play Offs is like night and day, and I'm not just saying that as a comparison to us.  The other teams we had in those play offs were far better than this serving. 

Not much constructive footy on show absolutely no flow to the game. The Foul count is ridiculous.

My money's on Taylor getting a late pen, he screamed and shouted for one almost every time he's touched the ball. 

The standard is no better than most L2 games we havs een this season in all honesty.

I see absolutely nothing to fear in any of these  play off sides.

I think that could go for most games behind closed doors. Standard has been poor and almost like a training session.

Poor. But Oxford the better team. 🤫

Yeah excepting the premier league games which have been mostly decent, any of the Championship/L1/L2 PO's have been pretty poor, I think the goalkeepers seem to have suffered most from lockdown.

Pompey paid Doncaster £2m for Marquis!
What a waste if money.

Best bit of this has been hearing a bit of Teenage Kicks on the tannoy!

Think they should have agreed beforehand for these playoff games to go straight to penalties after the 90, the extra 30 minutes when not fully match fit looks brutal.

They could have just done something productive and had them see how many Masks they can make in 90 minutes to judge the winner.  This has been awful.

Glad it wasn't just me thinking it was a poor game. I'm hoping that Fleetwood come out of the traps in the next one and score a quick 2 goals. That would make that tie interesting.

Did you watch the first game at Fleetwood? it was shockingly shit I am not expecting much out of that game, the standard of all 4 teams in L1 has been no better than say Exeter were in our league.

Southend must have been absolutely terrible if this lot are good enough for the play offs, all four teams included.

and how have Sunderland managed to fuck up in this division?

Pretty good pens so far.

Ah well, final heartbreak for the Pox hopefully then.

 Bollocks!!
They won't lose to either Fleetwood or Wycombe. Fucking yellow piss stains, all of the sides in this year's playoffs have been so poor and typically they make it in.

10 penalties on target, even the saved one was pretty good.

So, an M40 Derby for the final it seems.  Be amazed if either of them survives more than a season in the Championship - goes to show how bad our team was to get relegated from that!

Diabolical match that was. Endured that for fuck all. Glad I'm hitting the booze or I'd be in a right pissy now after that shower.

fucking hell.

Wycombe, I can't see them turning Oxford over .

And to pick back up a comment from Venks - Marquis isn't worth a pair of football boots, let alone 2m!!!!!  They were sold a dud there, if the past two games were anything to go by.

On the Wycombe/Fleetwood showing from last week there is no way on hell Pox will get beaten by either of those sides. Hoooooooooffffffffffffffffffffffffffff.

I think Oxford will go up and I'll be able to avoid them to be honest...

 :)

Not a bad start to the second game, which you'd expect given Fleetwood have to chuck the kitchen sink at the game.

Judge me in 5 years ;)

Cmon Fleetwood! 1-0 (2-4)

Joseph Anthony Barton looking like a fucking animated version of Harry Potter.


Anyway my bet is going well.

Viborg Win - Viborg 4 - 3 NFC :check:
BTTS - Oxford v Portsmouth   :check:
BTTS - Wycombe v Fleetwood (half done)
BTTS&O2.5 - Spurs v Everton (ongoing)
BTTS&O2.5 - Sevilla v Eibar (KO 21:00)

I would piss myself if Wycombe fucked this up btw. Ainsworth can then go back to playing air guitar with an Aerosmith cover band  :soapy tit wank:

Yep, they’re a decent side with good players throughout the side. To rationalise this in my head on the same day as having GP (likely) leave us has been a hard ask.

I didn't think Oxford looked that good. Looks as if the Fleetwood Wycombe game is petering out too. Would have been interesting if Fleetwood had scored a second before half time.

I watched most of the second half of that oxford thing and it was shocking.  Massive lack of quality from both sides.  If thats the standard we're going into Im not worrying.  GP or not!

I’m talking generally. Didn’t watch anything except pens tonight. Dickie, Browne, Taylor - they’re good players. They’re not in the Grant, Doughty, Yates class but, ya know...

Wow. Suicidal defending from Souttar there. He looks fucking terrible.

I was interested see Soutter against Akinfenwa.  6 foot 6 tall against the heft of Akinfenwa.

Anyway my bet is going well.

Viborg Win - Viborg 4 - 3 NFC :check:
BTTS - Oxford v Portsmouth   :check:
BTTS - Wycombe v Fleetwood :check:
BTTS&O2.5 - Spurs v Everton (currently 1-0 HT)
BTTS&O2.5 - Sevilla v Eibar (3 mins in)

 :pint: :pint: :pint:

We were shite in both matches and I would not have been at all surprised had they won it.

Hopefully we'll actually play some  football in the final.

I have a feeling Wycombe will beat you but they will be straight back down.

Having watched all off the PO matches so far, I can safely say that the Tottenham v Everton match was worse than all of them and even more boring than Gary Neville's voice.

Oxford play the better football but wouldn't be at all surprised if Wycombe shithouse the final. Kind of like how we've been physically overpowered in our last two play off finals v Preston and Millwall.

Wycombe seem as tight knit as a squad can be with Akinfenwa leading the rally in the post match huddle and the rest of them lapping it up.

Convinced myself Wycombe will pinch the final 2-1 and go on to be obliterated in The Championship!

Can't see where to put this: it relates to who STFC will play next season.

Luton winning at 'udders has really upset the applecart at the foot of the Champ. Stoke & Hull now in danger of relegation.

You're forgetting to put Wigan in the mix. Hull are in danger as can't buy a win but the likes of Stoke, Charlton, Hudders & Middlesbrough are likely to get a reprieve.

It'll be between Hull and Wigan I think (Luton I think is one of those false dawns that we are all too aware of. Hudders have ben shite all season and are lucky regarding Wigan situation)  but also remember, Wigan have to get points to ensure a 12pt gap. In theory Hull - don't have to do anything although it would be a risky game to play.

Tight as a Nun's chuff though.

It is good to see the likes of Wycombe get promoted as it gives some hope to other clubs with similar resources.

I cant see anything other than an Oxford win on monday to be honest. Only way i can see Wycombe win is if they utterly shithouse the game

Their chairmans 5 year plan or whatnot seems to have worked after 2 if they go up ;)

If that is to be the case, let’s hope it’s a Yeovil repeat.

I don’t think there’s an ‘if’ about Wycombe’s shithousery

This is their only style of play, Oxford players looked pretty weak in the tackle against Pompey so this may well work, grab a goal from a set peice and bully the yellows into submission.

On paper I see nothing more than a Pox win though TBH but I thought that about Exeter v Northampton and was very wrong.

Weak ref and Wycombe are up.

Strong ref off the bat and Wycombe will struggle.

The night when Taylor scored that missile free kick at Wycombe still boils my piss....Beast took the piss all night whilst the Ranjit in the headlight ref let it all go.

Anyone know when league one fixtures are released or do we have to wait for the Premiership & championship to finish

Will be after they have finished i suspect

Cheers and it's all gone abit quiet regarding fixtures and next season start dates etc

Last i read they were working to September 12th

Just seen some video on sky bet about the play off final. Some oxford bloke says that ‘oxford united need to be in the championship, were the same size as Derby’

Thats incorrect on every level, as a club, historic average attendance and city size.

Oxford... has more letters in it?

Number of sides of ground?

Just looking at the figs for Derby v. Oxford and its clearly a nonsense, I also compared with Swindon and it threw up this interesting point about Swindon.

In 2015, Public Health England found that 70.4% of the population was either overweight or obese with a BMI greater than 25.

Lardy Cake?

Also this!

I fully expect Oxford to win promotion this evening.

Just remember the last page or so when you all declare yourselves 'not bothered'.

 ;)

Derry?

I fully expect the Pox to win too, I am actually not bothered really but would find it amusing if they failed due mostly to the reaction of their fans when we failed vs Preston a few years back.

Not for any other reason really. I have no problem with not playing them for at least 2 seasons - next season and then the season after when are promoted and them relegated ;)

For footballing reasons Pox will do better in the Championship than Wycombe, they play beter football but lack a killer edge, Wycombe play horrible ugly football but have the killer edge and will definately struggle against better skilled players in the Championship.

Either side will have to invest in better players after promotion.

It will be a battle of wits, slow passing build up from the Pox vs brutal kick and rush of Wycombe. If they dont let themselves be bullied then it could finish very one sided.

But as I said before...I thought the same about Exeter vs Northampton and that proved me wrong when brawn overcame brains.

It bothers me in the sense it’s another club who has surpassed us over the last 15-20 years. They’ve come from non league in that time.

I mean we are the point where we’d settle for just a season in the second d tier for novelty value.

it's bad enough that they will be in a higher League than us for at least another season, but that it's the championship really rubs salt in the wounds.

Mind you, Wycombe doing it would also bemuse...

if they go up I hope it's a complete fucking disaster that brings them to the point of destruction and sends them on a yeovilesque death spiral to non League.

other than that, not bothered either way.

Did Gareth Ainsworth piss on your shoes in the loo? :D

You know who I meant you tinker

From Wycombes own fans....


OMG how ironic a comment from possibly the worst L1 shithousery team since the Cowleys left Lincoln....

McAnthony using his press stooges to press his point more.

This will be Oxfords first ever League play off final having never even qualified for the play offs in the league previously.

Wycombe will be in their 3rd final having a 50% win/lose ratio previously with 2 other defeats in the semi stage as well.

If this is anything to go by, its going to be a classic!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKMPWmLjxkQ

Form guide last 12 games -

Oxford won 6 drew 4 lost 2  scoring 21 conceding 14

Wycombe won 6 drew 1 lost 5 scoring 19 conceding 21

Wycombe have conceded 40 goals, the highest of the top 12 sides in Div 1 .

Oxford have conceded only 3 less which is also pretty high.

Wycombe have scored just 45 league 1 goals.

Whereas Oxford have scored 61, equal 2nd highest scorers in L1 with just the moaning Peterborough having scored more.

Jacobson and Akinfenwa have contributed 50% of all Wycombes goals with 11 and 10 goals respectively. Bayo hasn't even started either of the play off games yet.

Oxford have 3 players in double figures with Matt Taylor on 15 and James Henry on 14 with Fosu-Henry on 10.

I predict a few goals with Pox winning 3-2 possibly after extra time.

I think it has 0-0 written all over it.

Just hope that Pox don't win on penalties which would mean them not winning a game in the play-offs.

Either way, a poxy little club gets a random shot at the Championship, just like Burton and Yeovil before them. I'm sure both will settle back to their rightful levels.

That might sound a bit like jealousy

More a statement of fact. I see both Oxford and Wycombe as similar clubs, neither of which historically belong in the second tier (if anyone belongs anywhere?).

Nor do we by the way...

Bunch of cunts.

4 red cards and a couple of broken legs will do.

I would say Pox are bigger than Burton & Yeovil much the same size as Bournemouth and Burnley but I'll still be routing for Wycombe

The tedium of we're big so we deserve to be in a bigger league.  Its really is the dullest part of the year isn't it. 

Big = good so we should be in the premier league.  The level of argument of a 4 year old.

Or a sixth finger.

1-0 Wycombe.

Come on you Chair Boys!  :clap:

pmsl

Set piece goal, almost straight in direct from a corner.

Kocked to the far post and the shakey Pox keeper lets the ball be knocked out of his hands from 1 yard out and into the net. Almost a carbon copy of the Pompey OG goal last week.

Game is going very much to the script.

Wycombe tackle hard and win the ball then hoof it up to the strikers to win. Press for corners and free kicks and then get the ball in the box.

Oxford passing it around with no killer instinct at all, its just like watching Swindon under Luke Williams, no goal threat at all.

Excellent :clap: :clap: :clap: :pint: :pint:

they've scored too early :(

Let the shithousery begin!

Just saviour the moment  ;D

Every time Wycombe get the ball it comes down with Boeing 737 fuel on the ball!

Ugly to watch but Pox have no answer to it so far.

Pox attack...pass..dribble a little...pass, stand still look around, pass back, dribble, pass, stand still, look around, pass....then the ball goes past the half way line.

Wycombe attack....ball goes to centre back just utside of own box...hoooooof....its on the edge of the Pox box.

And lots of it

Pox have their first real shot, 15 yards out just the keeper to beat and he hits it well wide, shopuld at least test the keeper there.

Wycombe going to ground very easily.

I would simply like to express my indifference at this point.

There is never a bad time to score a goal, just a bad time to concede one.

I will be indifferent if the Pox go on to win ;)

The real question is whether they can cope with the reality of being a goal ahead? (c) Luke Williams

Did the ball drift into the hordes of poxford fans behind the goal :D

And just like a Luke Williams team...the Pox get the ball into the corner of the box and manage to play the ball with 3 passes back into their own half!

They may pass the ball ok but they are dull asdishwater to watch, absolutely no killer edge.

Both teams have flappy keepers, especially from corners.

Wearing white change kit at Wembley. Schoolboy error

Dodgy keeper

Great almost goal line interception by the Wycombe scorer stops a certain goal for the Pox with the keeper well beaten.

I must say, I’ve really enjoyed Lee Hendrie as a co-commentator for these play off games.

With the wife working from hom until about 9pm I haven't had any sound on during the games!

What about his style has impressed you mate? just curious as I haven't heard him yet.

Some half time ska

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWvRr8XxDhU

It’s just seemed that he’s actually done his homework on the sides he’s been commenting on, usually these play off games you have someone who hasn’t watched a football league game all season.

Browne is a really dangerous player. Other than that Oxford look relatively easy to defend against. Not a great deal of pace anywhere else on the pitch.

Also agree Hendrie is doing a good job on comms.

Yay. So far so good.

HT Wycombe 1-0 up poor quality game really for me, 2 dodgy keepers, 2 totally different styles of football, Pox have zero killer edge, Wycombe seem happy to sit back and soak up any pressure the Pox do put on them and hit them on the break with a high hoof out.

Pox can't cope with the physical game at all and look like an U21 team against men.

Very unimpressed with both Taylor and Henry for the Pox, Browne has looked their best attacking option but hes not playing as well as he did vs Pompey.

Be very happy if Wycombe do go on and win for 2 reasons....1 is obviously I would rather the Pox stayed down, but 2 I would not want us to play against this Wycombe team who are like Newport, a bullying long ball team who play shithouse tactics.

Cheers, I will try and turn the sound on a little 2nd half then!

Yes they do usually get a clueless person on comms in the lower leagues I agree.

Talking about commentaries....

Pox fan

Wycombe fans

Seems like they don't agree! :D

I just had a look on the cow shit forum, just for Oxford and giggles.

Frustrated and angry arent they :D

Wycombe going down like lead balloons at every challenge.

Oh dear! 😟 A Hockaday Vs Shilton goal. 😟

1-1 cross goes in, shit keeping.

No way did he mean that.

a fucking sliced cross too

Get Bayo on to bully those 2 limp Pox centre backs.

Fucking let off for Wycombe, should have scored there but Hentry bottled the shot and passed it instead.

Decent save from the corner by Wycombes keeper there.

All Pox now, Wycombes heads have dropped and Pox are the only team creating anything now.

Penalty to Wycombe!

The Pox keeper should have been sent off for that.

Get in

2-1 Wycombe!

Hahaha.

Come on Wycombe!

That penalty was totally against the run of play!

Who, Hockaday? 😂

Eastwood is a fucking liabilty for the Pox!

Oxford panicking a bit now.

I have Russian commentary because it's the only reliable stream I could find.

http://www.hesgoal.com/news/64104/Oxford_United_vs_Wycombe.html

This is English mate. Decent quality too.

There are Russians bothered enough about Wycombe vs Ox to provide a commentary? Seriously?!

Pox are architects of their own demise, an OG and a penalty that was almost an assault.

The same thing crossed my mind.

That's not loading for me JJ. Nevermind, it's nearly over anyway (touches wood).

The slavetraders actually paid good money for Matty Taylor!

Hes been awful in all 3 play off games.

Good block by Stewart almost on the goal line again keeping Wycombe in front.

Save by Wycombes keeper, 2 mins normal time to go.

5 mins added time.

Another save by Wycombe.

I always thought European players sounded better because they had more exotic sounding names.

But you should hear these English names being said in Russian.

The Wycombe manager looks like Liam Neeson.

I would be so impressed if he was actually Liam Neeson.

Poxford Wembley final heartbreak!

Perfect.

You were running round Wembley with fuck all...
You were running round Wembley with fuck all...
You were running round Wembley...
You were running round Wembley...
You were running round Wembley with fuck all...

Get in.

What a season  :pint:

You fucking beauty!  :pint: :pint:  :pint: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

(https://media1.giphy.com/media/noqUFXGNuZDLG/giphy.gif)

Love it, the Pox bottle it again!  :bye:

I expect Poxford have already sold out their home allocation for their big game against us next season.

That'll do pig...

Their forum will make pleasant reading over a cuppa tomorrow morning.

fan fucking tastic!

This is precisely how you'd have chosen them to get not promoted, really.  Perfectly scripted end to the season.

So here's to you Agent Robinson,
Fcuk off with your 7 in a row

Where's Testicle Scrote?

Odd for Wycombe fans.  Probably the greatest day in their history, and not one of their fans there to see it.

That'll do.

See you next season piss stains.

The only disappointment is those wankers up the A420 didn’t get financially shafted on a day out to Wembley.

And as for the other lot, the shame/crushing embarrassment of losing a play off final to a local rival should wear off in a decade or two.  It's not all bad.

Thought the penalty was shades of Chalky and Kevin Poole in 1993. The Swindon gods are shining on us....

Oxford - 76% possession, according to Beeb. What a poxy performance.

Great to see another small fry club beat the odds and get into the championship. I would be quite content with a season of what I see has been dubbed 'shithousery' if it ends what may be seen as a period of stagnation.

My mates a Wycombe fan and his missus posted a photo of him in tears :D

Home on Boxing Day, Away last game of the season. Please.

Yeesh. Oxford won't get many bigger opportunities than that.

Who's Big Kev on their forum? Own up  ;D

Don't forget that what goes around comes around. There will come another time when we are in Oxfords position. Im glad they didn't win, although I didn't particularly care for Wycombe, but I'm not going to rub their noses in it.

Just seen that decision by James Henry to pass to Taylor instead of shooting. That'll hurt.

Wise words. I quite like Ainsworth...I have to say although over the season Oxford were supposedly the better footballing side compared to Wycombe I feel like the Cooper squad from our last play off final had a lot more quality (based on watching this seasons semi finals and final only). On the flip side if we were to be judged on our last final performance  :suicide:

I think man-for-man both Millwall and Preston had better sides than us. 2013 was the opportunity though. That was the one.

 :(

Yeah. They’ll be scrabbling around for their allocation of ZERO tickets.

Had to look in on their forum. Joyously fuming on there!

Of course, their obvious fallback position of ‘at least we’re guaranteed 6 points off Swindon next season’ was followed, hilariously, by ‘the chance to make 7 in a row, 10 in a row’.

Isn’t it strange they’ve chosen to forget that Tinpot Cup game we won on pens so it isn’t even 7 in a row - especially as a good number of that ‘7’ was in the self same competition.

They are very salty at the moment. They fear the plump bin dipper will be off and taking any decent players with him as he’ll get no backing from the little Thai fella ( or whoever actually provides the money - some kind of Thai Gareth Barry).

It’s all very glorious!

None sure I’d agree about Millwall. They definitely had the experience and mental strength to deal with the occasion, far from a bad side don’t get me wrong but if we’d turned up...hell, even if Austin’s bobble goes in I’d have fancied our chances from there...

Was anyone impressed with any of the Oxford players? I think the Wycombe centre back Stewart looked good, otherwise no one from either side really impressed me.

Definite similarities! However, unlike Chalkie, who could have stayed on his feet (!), I’m not sure Wycombe’s forward could have if he had the size of two Akinfenwas. But then, a left footed Welshman also stepped up for the pen, just like Bodin. I think that’s where it stops. I can’t see Ainsworth getting Lampard’s job by the end of the week though.

Marcus Browne (loanee, so not theirs) I would have here. And Rob Dickie at the back. Liam Kelly (ex Reading) is a tidy midfielder who seemed to increase the tempo when he came on. But like all games at the moment, low on quality, and energy.

yeah, impossible to judge them on the playoffs. they must have been up there for a reason that they didn't show.

not impossible to laugh though

Oxford supporting mate thinks they will lose Brannagan, Dickie, Eastwood and Taylor at least

BBC radio oxford was a spectacular listen last night. Ive never heard such entitled bullshit from a sports programme.

Is Eastwood the keeper? He looked dreadful!

He went full Vigouroux during that game. Had a shocker

Looked closer to Schumacher and Battiston to me. Never in doubt.

Double celebration today, along with le quatorze juillet  :pint:

So it should, completely bottled it.

Merely giving back what they dished out to us in after our play off defeats. I could find hundreds of posts from their forum absolutely mocking us for both Millwall and Preston, I have zero sympathy for them, thats football rivalry.

I'm the first to admit that I don't really partake in such 'banter' and/or 'dickswinging' but Oxford fans have hardly behaved in a way makes them immune from being absolutely roasted by Town fans for this.

I found it interesting how in the minutes immediately after full-time many were posting messages along the lines 'at least the Scumdon derby is back'. I don't get that. I'd happily never play Oxford again if Town were on an upward trajectory.

Having a derby instead of games against some of those Championship sides wouldn't act as a consolation to me in the slightest but I guess that says more about me than anything. They would have had Reading too, so...

Yeah, 2010 and 2015 were strong years in League One when you think Leeds, Norwich in the auto places 2010 and the money Bristol City chucked at promotion in 2015. Plus getting pass Sheffield Utd in the play offs which left us mentally shot.

2013 was a mess up really, mucking about with a poor result on the last day of the season to end up with Brentford in the play offs when we'd comfortably dealt with Yeovil in the March game.

We always seem to have strong teams in strong years and don't take advantage in weaker years. One day.....

Definately this.

I am sorry to say that Oxford deserve all the shit they get for dishing out the shit previously.

Slavetraders and Gas do it but not to the extent that Oxford do it, and rightly so really, they are after all our fiercest recent rivals. 30 years ago it would have been either Bristol club that were stronger rivals.

The Oxford press haven't helped things in fairly recent years either. I remember one story about how great Oxford was and how awful Swindon was by comparison, making the Adver post a reply stating about how both Towns/Cities have their good and bad points.

Also things like...

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18470833.fake-oxford-city-council-poster-bashes-swindon/

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/14733275.john-lundstram-taken-aback-intensity-oxford-uniteds-rivalry-swindon-town/

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/5064176.oxford-faces-music-swindon-rivalry/

The hatred seems far more biased from them to us as the Adver often tries to print positive stories.

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/15709068.a-match-made-in-heaven-oxford-keen-to-be-linked-with-swindon/

A few more of the links to the rivalry from nationwide press.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17224115

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/2790804/swindon-oxford-violent-clashes-league-one-five-arrested/

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/biggest-rivalry-uk-football-liverpool-5363972

https://smfyfe.wordpress.com/2019/11/23/uks-greatest-football-rivalry-part-3-the-top-ten/

https://blog.betway.com/football/football-league/ranking-the-8-biggest-derbies-in-the-efl/

http://wearegoingup.co.uk/2011/08/19/rivalries-we%E2%80%99ve-had-a-few-but-then-again-just-one-to-mention/

And finally from the Washbag.

https://thewashbag.com/2011/08/19/swindon-oxford-the-birth-of-a-rivalry/

Just a little light reading :)

I get some of you aren't tribal/think local derby's are more hassle than they're worth...

but for the rest of us, it's open season!

what's the point of rivalry if you can't dish it out when the time comes. You know it's coming back when fortunes swing, and rightly so.

I’m the same which is why I’d have had no issue with them going up therefore avoiding the tedious (to me) ‘banter’ next season.

Part of that though is down to fact I’d don’t think it’s a great rivalry anyway

Looking forward to finally playing a club as big as Derby next season. I was worried it'd be a dull season with a league full of minnows like Pompey, Sunderland, Ipswich.

I am also meh when it comes to Oxford. It might be due to the fact that I have never lived in Swindon and have not regarded Oxford as local to me.

Talking of which...

The bottom of the Championship is getting tight as to who will join us next season in L1!

All with 3 games left to play.

Stoke 49
Birmingham 49
Middlesborough 47
Huddersfield 47
Charlton 46
------------------
Hull 45
Luton 44
Barnsley 43

Wouldn’t want Luton or Barnsley to come back down, they are the sort of clubs who would be right back in the promotion mix, yo-yo clubs.

Whereas the likes of Hull and Birmingham would have to shed the higher wage earners and may need a season or 2 to sort things out.

I think Barnsley are gone but some of those other sides can easily get sucked in. Cowley brothers getting relegated with Huddersfield would certainly destroy a lot of their stock.

I wouldn't mind playing a team we haven't played in the League in ages like we have with Ipswich and Sunderland.

Come on down, Middlesbrough! Need to avenge the 'night of three braces'. Also, Birmingham.

* Forgot about Wigan's pending point deduction.

Assuming that Div 3 does go ahead in some form, it would be nice to get Luton at the CG for the opener as in 1920/21.  We could then revisit our first ever FL in the centenary season.  I doubt any other club has managed such a convincing win on their opening game.

Local derbies are kinda like the play offs.

Brilliant when you win, nothing better. Absolutely fucking atrocious when you lose....and we’ve lost them all recently....

I've never seen Oxford beat us, I shall be in attendance next season. If crowds are allowed back by then.

And for Swindon never since equalled for goal quanity by a Swindon side in the league.

Not forgetting Wigan who with their 12 point penalty are effectively bottom on 42 points.

For away days (if they happen at all next season) would be nice to see Luton, Charlton and Birmingham coming down. I therefore fully expect it to be 3 of Barnsley, Wigan, Huddersfield and Hull!

Some 6 pointers still to play:
Wigan v Hull 14/7
Birmingham v Charlton 15/7
Charlton v Wigan 18/7
Hull v Luton 18/7

I'm shocked that we feature in their local rag so much, especially the one about the music  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: We really fucking rattle them don't we

You are right I had forgotten Wigan.

More than they rattle us I would think, long may it continue!

Fair play to Adebayo Akinfenwa too for making The Championship for the first time in his career at 38 years of age. He scored his first goal against Swindon for Boston in 2003!

I always associate him with Torquay United but he was only with them for a season. I remember that strike partnership with Leon Constantine and Jo Kuffour causing us all sorts of problems (they still went down).

Hmm, he hasn't yet. The team he plays for have been promoted to play in it next season, I'd be (pleasantly) surprised if he's part of that team when the season starts.

I'm sure they'll keep him around.

Love the idea of Akinfenwa coming on in the 90th minute to cause havok around the corner flags of Championship stadia.

I think Bayo is a great target man but after watching him last night I think hes now past it, he may be kept around for 1 more season as a lucky talisman for them though.

When he came on he could barely jump to win the ball like his boots were made of lead and he was put clean through half way inside their half with nobody in front of him and it was like he was treading in treacle, the defender, who he had a 5 yard head start on him had dispossessed him within 10 yards.

A couple of years ago he was easily the best target man we faced in L2, now I am afraid hes past his useful level.

I also think he must have bulked up by at least another stone since we last played against him.

TBF I don't remember him ever nipping around the pitch like a gazelle

Oh never gazelle like in fleetness of foot but I would say he has lost the last yard of pace he had, he was even bundled off the ball a couple of times by the huge Oxford centre back marking him.

Whilst Bayo is of course a cult figure and fair play to still be playing at 38 in league 1 is a great achievement, bringing him on for the last 28 minutes effectively meant Wycombe were playing with 10 men. He barely touched the ball, barely moved and literally had no effect on the pitch at all. Had Oxford taken the game to extra time he surely would have had to have been sacrificed for a proper player.

It will be fascinating to see if he goes into coaching/management or gets a job in TV.

He was a passenger, and if you didn't watch the game you certainly wouldnt have seen how awful he was.

As for a job after football...I recommend he goes into the building industry, as a building.

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Well here is a big pile of shit, and here is an ol' boy from Botley. I am circulating his head, face-down around said pile, to make sure it's right up both his nostrils.

I feel so warm & fuzzy that I am giving bamboo a virtual hug, and giving JBZ a virtual spooning!

I believe that his goal for Boston against us in 2003 was his first in English football.

I would be very surprised if they don't bin him off this summer, there is no sentiment in football.

Thought his post match interview was great and nice touch from Klopp as well.

Actually thinking about it, perhaps they could give him a 1 month deal so he can at least have 5 mins somewhere so he can say he played at Championship level.

If he's as popular as it looks then I imagine a player-coach role might be offered. They don't have a lot of experience in the coaching staff beyond the manager.

Popular players are great to have around the dressing room wether playing or not, his heart seems in it for Wycombe so your suggestion could well be proved correct.

Its also something us fans don't hear much about, if a player is a great influence in the dressing room as its the inner sanctum, it is rarely leaked out, thats one reason a lot of managers like to have players they know wont upset the apple cart and have a positive effect on morale.

Good luck to him, at 38 hes been around a long long time and he is also the sort of player you don't argue with, if he says you jump, you would say how high.

On last nights performance whatever he said, it would be higher than he can jump!

Not wrong there! saying that hes actually about the same size (hes maybe an inch or so taller) and build as me, although he is marginally more musclular than me!

I was on-board with everything you were saying until you used the word marginally...

:) even with my metal back I can bench press 200lbs still, although the ability to walk a few days after may be a problem :D

It's uncanny, Akinfenwa is the same height as me and about 10 lbs  heavier  :)

You must look pretty much like twins

Havent looked back.

Pox blew it...and Wycombe stuck to their guns and had a slice of luck ref the last ditch blocks etc.
Actually Wycombe didnt do too much of the Shit Housery!!

Why did the Pox fella not shoot!?

Why did the Pox keeper win the race for the ball and then attempt to catch it.....should of been a Superman horizontal punch....snick the ball...clatter the lad.

Anyway...they blew it, so two cup finals next season.

Lets hope it will be full houses as the League and Plod would be happy for reduced capacity and no away fans.

BTW nice to see Wycombe sponsored by Cherry Red Records!

Saheed Adebayo Akinfenwa has had a decent lower league career.  I suspect he could still do a job in league 2.

Wikipedia suggests that he can bench press 200kg rather than 200lbs.

Your point being? I never said he could bench press just 200lb I said I could.

I took it that you were comparing your physical talents with his and you were a bit confused when it came to certain units of measurement. You have helpfully clarified your previous post. Many thanks for that.

You took it wrong then.

He is a professional athlete only an idiot would compare an overweight 54 year old with a professional athlete for anything other than comic value, or even consider it as such.

Wigan 7-0 against Hull at half time. Wtf.

Hmm you say that ...

Yes I did, well spotted, your point being?

There wasn't one really but, as you come to mention it, I have been sat in the town end on many occasion and heard comments to the effect of 'I can do better than that professional athlete'.  Those making such statements are not usually in the best shape and, one would venture to observe, are probably not the brightest.  The looks on their faces suggest they actually believe it.

 :icecream:

Well on this occasion you assumed incorrectly.

Yes, you mentioned something to this effect in an earlier post.

It was such a good point I thought I would mention it again.

Just to confirm, I note that you didn't intend to compare yourself to the chap who likes to use the phrase 'beast mode'.

Nuance and wit never goes down that well on the screen.  Some of us have had the pleasure of meeting PV and could very quickly see he was pissing about.

The only good thing about the weekend. Travesty that Wycombe are in Tier 2. But as mentioned on another thread, ket their fans enjoy the moment. Absolute shite football though.

Should make though for some interesting fixtures with the yellow ones. Two sides that like to play footy. Could be ourselves and them pushing for a PO spot next season, or maybe even go one better. Should make for a lively and fairly exciting season. Whenever that may start.

It’s not really a travesty Wycombe getting promoted is it. Yeovil and burton both did it in recent decades. Even when Brentford made it they did so after a gap of 20+ years (and look at them now)

I don’t doubt god forbid we ever made it to the championship a lot of fans of other teams From the championship and league one would see it as similar to those

Ohhh come on. I mean travesty via their style of play. They won't last in the /championship playing like that. It's absolute trollope but I did go on to say, let their fans enjoy it. You took one word wayyy too seriously. You bogus nitpicking cunt ;)

I mentioned Yeovil and Lincoln on the other thread in regards to getting up the leagues via an equally shit style of play. I'd argue Burton's was a tad bit better. Clough did prefer it on the ground at least some of the time. As did Peschisolido

Bentford is a little moot tbh, they chucked a good chunk of money at it (well more than Yeovil & Wycombe) and had two very decent coaches in this "purple" time period, in Warburton and matey boy...Rosler. Rosler essentially built a squad good enough to go up, Warburton finished the job with a few tweaks. and nearly got them to the Prem. Dean Smith sustained/stabilised Championship footy. This Norwegian fella, funtime Frankie or whatever looks like he might sneak them in autos on the last game, if not they will be the form team in the POs. Different kettle of hamsters to the likes of Yeo-Town and the Wandering Bucks.

RE: Teams up the pyramid, thinking of us as small fry. Possibly from some in the Champ, BD but there are plenty of clubs up there that we have had some good history with that would be more than happy to rekindle previous scores. Derby (esp the 70s with Dave McKay and poaching Rod Thomas) would be a good one and there's plenty of others that will think of us "fondly".

For a good time we have mostly been a team that does like to play some kind of football, regardless of division. Flitcroft aside, even Malpas (gulp really still don't get that appointment) liked us to get it down every once in a while. We've been noted as much for our playing style by many a team higher up; part of the reason we've been loaned players from higher up too. No point sending a ball playing midfielder on loan to Wycombe is there? He wouldn't fucking touch the ball.

Anyway, more than happy that Wycombe have taken the place over Oxford. Either would struggle up there but I do think they could sniff the POs again. Always harder when you go so close, without much reinvestment into a squad as we know too well. Look forward to Town playing them again.

Must go, my late night combination of Ovaltine & Courvoisier await. Gute Nacht oh Bogus one  :girlgiggle:

It does seem that some people post without really reading what they are responding to, and think they are being smarter and funny.. 

I find it amusing how my one post to PV's chat about Bayo, which was obvious to him that it was full of sarcasm and prompted his jovial response, turned into him having to dissect and explain himself.. 

Some people just need to chill a little..  I know PV relatively well (without actually having met him face to face) but there seems to be a few examples at the moment of people taking everything that somebody posts way too seriously. 

Some people need to re-review the forum rules, stated in the banner above.  Maybe it's the lock down effect kicking in, or the lack of STFC related football news to talk about.  Sometimes it's just a bit of a laugh, that's all..

Absolutely mate, I am pleased there is an end in sight for lockdown and getting football back on track, hopefully things will settle down a bit sooner rather than later.

What are you talking about you total melt?

TBF I know where he is coming from and agree with Berni, there are a lot of short fuses, not just on here but in general at the moment.

Lock down does seem to have bought the inner twat out in a lo0t of people. When it all started I took a deliberate few weeks or so off social media as I just couldn't be arsed.

I was just messing with Berni PV. :)

FWIW I agree. I know you relatively well also on here so completely understand where you were coming from. The problem with forums is that you only really see words, so don't completely understand the character of people until you have been on there for a while.

I think on the whole there are a large number of 'mature' posters that have been on here for a while and the newer posters don't quite 'get' the language or behaviour of others and with the pressures of Covid, these spats tend to occur.

To bring this back on track.  Oxford lost.

FUCK YEAH!!

Don't worry, i took it how it was intended, you cock womble.. :D

Speaking of Cock Wombles - FUCK YEAH!!

FUCK YEAH!!! ©

Spot on BO....Oxford lost! FUCK YEAH!!! ©

 :wotjump: :beach:

We all know I like to talk, won't change that for any cunt, especially not a rubbish play on words trolly mctrollface poster who gets a turned on about teams with equally mature names as their own handle.

Talking of trolls, has anyone seen Hobodan lately or is it just Valid Pint (still a shit name) on another account and IP?

Oh, and PV (JJ) never met him in person but of what I do know, seems to love live music, comedy and a good laugh. Considering other shit that has gone on...absolutely top bloke. Hopefully will get to have a pint with you one day and chew your ear off regarding the adventure of the English language  :D

Well Oxford lost, Yessss. I want to say FUCK YEAH too but I'm nowhere near as cool as you seasoned fuckers. So I'll go with FUCK NOYEAH!!! A favorite Americanism, which I'm sure will go down about as well as Peptac.

Aww thats cute, did you let out a little bit of happy wee. :kisses:  :girlgiggle:

I heard an interview with Gareth Ainsworth where he indicated that the veteran players like Akinfenwa, Bloomfield and Jacobson will be around next season. Not sure Craig Mackail-Smith will though... Two loan spells in the last two seasons - Notts County and Stevenage. Both relegated into Non-League.

Elsewhere, those Championship Play-Offs should be fun. Even more so if Brentford make the automatics.

Just so we don't forget: let's hope the yellow piss stains are still smarting.

I love Akinfenwa: black SIZE matters!

Harrogate are leading Notts County in the Bananarama Play Off Final

If anyone fancies a watch of it for free....

http://www.hesgoal.com/news/65102/Harrogate_Tow_vs_Notts_County.html

C'mon you Sulphurites!

2-0 to the Sulphurites, shit defending, scored from 1 yard out!

2-0 now... bloody hell!

I thought the Macclesfield/Stevenage relegation was yet to be decided. If Harrogate win are they guaranteed to go up? If yes, what’s the point of the EFL inquiry?

From the way I read it...Harrogate will be guaranteed a promotion place but depending on the Macclesfield possible points deduction then Stevenage are hoping for a stay of execution with Macc being relegated in their place. I think, but I could be wrong.

Oh and County are shocking, Harrogate are fitter, play better football and look like that want to win, County players have just turned up for a day out, like us vs Preston.

But Barrow are already promoted. Is it 2 down 2 up or not. Pointless PO Final if there’s no promotion guaranteed.

Harrogate hit the post there, that should have been 3-0.

1 down 2 up to fill in for Burys demise.

Ah!

Thanks for the link PV, didn't realise it was today let alone knowing about the link.   Thanks.

Notts County hit back,  now 2-1.

County threatening an equaliser at the moment.

3-1 now

Harrogate back in control 3-1.

Apologies for any swearing you may have picked up on our pitch side microphones...

Oh do fuck off😖

FT 3-1.

Fair play to Harrogate👏

Is this Harrogate Town, Harrogate Railway or both?  :pint:

Town I believe...

Looks like Railway are still around... Northern Counties East League something something something...

I kind of knew it was mostly Town but for some reason thought Railway had linked/amalgamated with them (to keep going) but you're right.

Thinking of it, haven't Railway made it to several FA Cup 1st and 2nd rnd proper(s) on quite a few occasions?

You are welcome mate.

Good win for the Sulphurites, congrats on entering the league for the first time in your 106 year history. Deserved winners today.

They have. They're one of the teams I always want us to get drawn against in the first round of the Cup, along with Billngham Synthonia and Whitehill Welfare...well you might as well get knocked out by a team with an interesting name rather than Woking or Eastleigh...

Whitehall Welfare are Scottish! They’ll be doing well to draw us :) that said would be epic to draw Keith or Burntisland Shipyard from us there also!

Are Folkestone Invicta still going? Just looked up Railway and noticed their ground holds 3.5k. I know it doesn't take much but teams like Scunny should only have a ground of that size. Considering they only hold 9k but their average gates are only about 4k!

Don't normally side with the overdogs, but I'm sorry to see Notts fail to return to the League.  Decent club that suffered the dreaded drop chez nous.  Sure they'll be back soon.

As for Harrogate, I was there in the week for work.  And there was no sign at all of anything football related.  Congrats on their elevation.  Hope the locals back the club.

I wondered if they might be the case as I typed it...got a bit confused obviously 😆...there are some fantastic team names in Scotland... I would love to see a 3 team tournament between Keith, Barry and Arnold😉

They’ll be piling out of the tea rooms to watch!

Surely Swindon Supermarine is the best team name in the country.

To be fair, that is also one of my favourites...

Just looked up the history of Supermarine....never realised they used to be Vickers FC, who were always one of the strongest teams in the Swindon and District League in which my home team, Aldbourne, competed!!

Didn't realise that harrogate manager is the chairmans son, could be an awkward Christmas dinner if they are struggling come December....

Manager was there first I think.
Been in charge for 11 years.

Anyone know of any free streams for tonight's play off final ???.

Hesgoal.com is usually pretty good

Always check here.

http://www.hesgoal.com/news/65195/Brentford_vs_Fulham.html

I think you're right.  Also had a bit of a soft spot for Shepshed Charterhouse in my younger days.  Sadly now renamed to the far less interesting 'Shepshed Dynamo'.

Oh my. That goalkeeper is going to have nightmares.

160 million of them.

Thanks China and PV,  managed to get on to it,  boring 90 minutes but final 15 minutes of extra time made up for it.  Wouldn't  expect either side to survive in the premiership on tonight's performance,  but stranger things have happened ........

Thought Fulham played some good link up and possession stuff at times. Not saying they'll rip up trees but I've seen worse teams in the Prem. One of them finished 3rd bottom  ;)

https://twitter.com/JohnnyWalker059/status/1290753912673316864?s=19

VAR will be licking its lips next season. Mitrovic is a nutter.

Incidentally that was before the Bryan free kick that went in was taken. Not only did Fulham still get the free kick they sent themselves on the way to the Premier League by scoring it!

Unless VAR conveniently fails at a key moment ;)

Good old Bodyslam Betty, Mid-throat Chakra Mitrovic. The boy doesn't mess about does he  :D

Not a problem, I watched about an hour of it and thought Fulham looked the most likely to score and created far better chances than Brentford.

Personally I don't see much special in Brentfords football at all, too many short pointless passes and nothing much in the danger areas at all, their defence and goalkeeper all looked pretty shakey too.

Not a great game but a million miles from the dross served up in the L1 play off, poles apart in class and quality all over the pitch.

Not only VAR licking its lips - for purely partisan reasons I'm praying Ollie Watkins is moved on quickly for a bumper fee as a result of a Leeds v Palace bidding war.

Rumoured 20% sell on should help see us through the CV19 aftermath to fight another day !

Similar to us with Bogle at Derby who is said to be the target of a £10m+ tranfer bid with us (or whoever has ownership Club/Power/Standing/Barry/Clem) getting 20%.

Must admit I wasn't very impressed with Watkins on that showing in the play offs but he has to be judged on a whole season and has had a cracking season on paper although I have only seen him in the play offs so am in no position to judge.

Hopefully he will get the move and you guys get some much needed financial help, 20% of the figure touted as £30m would be a huge windfall for you guys.

This left me confused. Was trying to work out why we'd get a sell on for Ollie Watkins...then it clicked  :doh:

Buy out clause of £18m activated as they didnt go up

Yep..ah well, any 'bidding war' should prove lucrative for Watkins (and agent) instead.  :D Still, shan't be sniffing at a circa £3.25 million cut, should he go.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53662774

 ;D

Sorry about that. I'm a Swindon red.... only a different variety !