Thetownend.com

Now we have safely negotiated this league, we can sit back and relax without the agony of the play-offs.

So, who do we want to get promoted through the play-offs. For me, after gifting the Pox 6 points, which to be fair we haven't really missed, I think it would be hilarious if they missed out and personally I am backing Crewe to make the last play-off spot.

As for promotion, I think Torquay probably deserve it although I wouldn't be surprised if Crewe managed to do it, as they have good momentum. Would be nice for Billy Bodin as well I guess.

Paul Sturrock has a decent record, I wouldn't write them off.

I think the Gills have a decent chance to oust Cheltenham for the other spot as well

I hope Crawley fuck up and Torquay take third spot

Then I hope Gills v Crewe in the final, with Crewe narrowly shading it 5-0 :)

I can see Oxford creeping back in to either 6th or 7th place - despite the fact that some of their fans are openly calling for the manager's head after 44 games; and just 2 points off the play off places.  Heart-warming display of unity, that.  Cheltenham are on a poor run and Crewe have a tough couple of games.  On balance, I think Oxford will be there, probably with Crawley, Southend and Crewe.  Play offs are all about momentum - as Oxford themselves showed in 2010 - so, of that lot, I would probably go for Crewe.

I grew up thinking of us as definitive play off masters but, lately, we haven't been as fortunate...so delighted we're not involved in the melee this time around.

anyone but oxford....unless....they get to the final and lose and Cunstable misses a chance to equalize due to a bobble...

Would like to see Crewe go up. Some excellent young talent, football played in the right way and an easy away trip for me

Oxford vs. Southend
Torquay vs. Crewe

Two potentially great games (given the scenario).

It's a relief that we do not have to deal with the Play-Offs this season.

It has to be Southend

I think Crawley will get the last auto spot unfortunately!

If thats the case then a Crewe v Torquay final would make for good viewing, think Oxford will sneak in ahead of Cheltenham but will implode in their first match. Dont want them going up.

Interesting fixtures this weekend, massive:

already mentioned:

Oxford v Sarfend
Turkey v Crewe

but also:
Crawley v Hereford.

Hereford have a lot to play for ;).

Thats the stuff dreams are made of.

Or nightmares when it applied to us  :(

The play-offs are ace when your not in them.

Reckon Crewe will win them this year, but would like to see Torquay win them should they not go up automatically.

I'd like to see Torquay beat Crawley to that third automatic spot and Crewe to win the play offs.

I want Cheltenham to go up so we have a close away game next season.

a close away game we never win...

Even better if you win them of course. I'm not sure that we'll make them this year.

I thought you'd push on after beating us.

Forever reason it hasn't happened, I'm not going to pretend that I know why (other than not winning enough games).

:nod:

Would be good...Div 3 is likely to be a mundane league next year, could do with Torquay making it as well.

Thank goodness we've added ourselves to the mundaneness.

Me too - I like to have an away game I can walk to.
And I want a chance to see us win at Whaddon Road for the first time.

I like to have an away game which I could walk to, so all we will have to to do is get into the championship next

Oxford not making the play-offs would be like a premature ejaculation - short-term satisfaction.

Oxford getting to the play-off final and losing - aaaaaaah  oooooooooh    go oooooooon     mmmmmmmmm

Don't want the cunts making the play offs let alone Wembley - too much income. Keep the fuckers starved of money and keep them in their place

Dont want Cheltenham to go up.....we want Marlon Pack!!

Providing we have the cash for marlon I can see this a real possibility if Cheltenham fail. This is what will happen to the teams that fail to gain promotion pretty much like what happens with us with paynter and Austin. Marlon is good friends with Ritchie and I bet DiCanio made the most of an opportunity of a lonesome marlon at the league two awards. Do believe he shared a table with Ritchie and DiCanio who both travelled up. U sly old Italian fox u DiCanio.

I can see Southend sneaking into the automatic spots.

Its going to be very very close all 3 teams vying for that spot have games against poorer sides of this division, Saarfed do have the easiest game by the look of it though.

Won't be the first time a Sturrock team sneaks it on the final day

They're 5/2 to go up. Get on it people! I'm also gonna lump on Crewe at 5/1.

Come on Crewe - you can do it

Assuming they don't get third place, I'm right behind Torquay if only for the Ling/Taylor factor.

Got to support Town legends (when it doesn't clash with supporting Town!)

Who do you fancy to go up in the Championship?

West Ham?

i can see a good old punch up  for sure :nod: :nod:

Will be even better in 3D :D

Yes, so they keep their manager and stop eyeing up ours!

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

I reckon Birmingham will do it, but would like to see Blackpool go back up.

Play off picks:

Championship-Blackpool
League 1-Franchise (if Sheff Wed don't go up auto then I'll change my pick---n.b Sheff Utd not much hope with Wilson's track record in that division in the play offs)
League 2-Crewe
Conference-York City

So happy were not involved with these, about the watch West Ham vs Cardiff. Hoping West Ham win these.

My house-mates a west ham fan. He's also trying to finish a dissertation for tomorrow.

Stressed does not cover it.

1-0 West Ham. Awful defending.

2-0. All rather easy for the cockneys.

Yep, Cardiff have been shit.

Paul Buckle's doing the business at Luton this evening.

Luton, Wrexham, Mansfield, York - I wouldn't like to say who'll go up from them but needless to say that Wrexham (98 points) fans won't be as confident than Luton's (81 points) at this moment.

Cardiff walked off at half time looking like a beaten team, if they take that attitude in the 2nd half the Hammers will have it won before the second leg, if they haven't already.

They don't seem to do pressure very well.  Unless they manage to turn it around, it'll be the third consecutive year they've missed out in the play offs.

Can't stand Cardiff as 1) they're Welsh and 2) they always seem to play at Wembley (and lose mind)

As mentioned in an earlier post I think Blackpool will go up in a final against West Ham! You heard it here first folks!!!

Didn't hear it here first if mentioned earlier :-)

Good point, I'll cover myself by saying you heard Blackpool beating West Ham in the Play Off final here first, rather than Blackpool being my pick for the championship  :D

Birmingham will beat Blackpool, fact!

Think you might be right there. No idea why, but just can't see Blackpool getting through.

It wouldn't be the same without Cardiff choking in the play offs. :D

Good job Cardiff sacked Dave Jones for bottling the play offs two years in a row. This new bloke has really turned things around. Heehaw!

I don't think that you can really blame Cardiff for wanting to explore different options can you? They did it at the right time etc. It's not like Middlesbrough who canned Southgate when they were in a competitive position for Gordon Strachan who thus turned them in to mediocrity.

I suppose not but if i was Jones i would be pretty peeved. Finished top 6 two years in a row and still get sacked. How harsh is that!

Cardiff obviously seem to think they have a god given right to be playing top division football even though they haven't been up there for donkey's years. They have a big cunt element amongst their fans too so I find it pretty amusing.

It's the money element. They are in shit loads of debt having spent bucket loads in the past 10 years trying to get up the leagues. They really need to go up as soon as they can. It's quite amusing when you have teams like Blackpool and Reading who in recent years haven't been big spenders but have gone up.

Good to hear money doesn't always buy success

Jones would of known his job was to get promoted not keep getting to the play offs and getting beat.

1-0 Blackpool, wicked deflection

Blackpool 1 up against Birmingham. Would love to see them go up, I think Ian Holloway is brilliant.

Well Blackpool 1-0 up after 1st leg, still all to play for though!!

I want Wrexham to go up from Conf but Luton look to be in a good position now.

Amazing to think that Charlton was 2 years ago tonight at home 2-1 and that great game at the Valley followed.

Charlie austin xx

I was thinking that earlier.  Why are Leagues 1 and 2 finishing later this year?

Are they doing the play offs the wrong way round again because of the Euros?

Yes.

Without being anal, the Charlton PO game at the County Ground was played on Friday 14th May 2010...

http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MatchCentre.asp?MatchID=20100401

Not really sure who I want to go up in league 2. Torquay four the ex player link. Or Cheltenham for the only local game next year, don't mind Southend or Crewe either.

So may the best team win I guess.

Crewe for me, they improved massively since the opening day, almost tempted to have a flutter

I wanted the Pox to go up....

Alas, I still get to laugh at them anyway.

Lubbly jubbly

Who does anyone want to get promoted from League 1 in play-offs?

Possibly Stevenage because it would be a crap ground to go to?

But I think Hudds or Sheff U as getting rid of them would take out one of the teams likely to be strongest opponents next season (notwithstanding the Danny W 2nd season theory)

Udders and Sheff U for the reasons mentioned. And I've not been to Stevenage.

Well Sheff Utd deserve it, only the 2nd team ever to get at least 90 points and not get auto promotion.  Think they will struggle to raise themselves though after their little collaspe.  They have now lost Beattie for 3 games after his red card so are struggling up front now big time.

Would like to get them out of the division ahead of next season.

They won't be much good next season

A 90 point team would have to have a pretty sharp downfall to not be relevant the following season.

The Danny Wilson 2nd season syndrome is a guarentee

As sharp as play off finalists one season and relegation the next?

West Ham in the final. 3-0 on agg.

Game over 2-0 to the 'appy 'ammers.

Cardiff really have shown no fight have they.  :gay:

 I notice that York, have to play the FA Trophy final and then the PO final both at Wembley, the following week. Poor sods.

The decision to play the Conference PO at Wembley was farcical....much better when it was Villa Park or a similar venue.

3rd year on the trot that Cardiff choke.

Will Huddersfield do the same ?

I totally agree, it should be at a place pretty much the same distance from each club competing but have a core of possible stadiums, such as Leicester, Villa, one of the Manchesters, Arsenal or Spurs etc.

"Congratulations to Cardiff on another successful campaign in their annual battle against promotion." - Funny from BBC site.

I hope Luton go up. Oxford hate them for some reason.

I like that!

And its not a summer transfer window without Luton making an offer for Constable

Has to be Southend for me please

Family connections to York, so I'll be going to cheer them on with the family as a plastic for the day at Wembley!

Wrexham have got another one back, 2-3 on agg.

Cardiff look like they ran out of steam.

It's not very often that you fail to score in either game in play-off games.

Watching this via a stream. Looks like the Luton fans are down the side now, away fans always used to be behind the goal.

Why have Wrexham closed that big terrace? Best thing about the ground.

what stream?

Games finished now. Luton into the final.

9,087 at Wrexham today.

Luton will take a good 40k to Wembley, how many York will take I have no idea as they're playing there twice in 8 days...costly to say the least!

York took 9,000 when they played Oxford.

Doubt Luton will take 40k.

30k yes.

Luton took 40K when they won the Skoda hubcap about 3 seasons ago....but the price was remarkably low that season...I thought it was the thing for the FLT, until we got there.

Got to feel a bit sorry for Wrexham, they finished 17 points ahead of Luton.  Mansfield weren't far behind and neither made it to the final.  That's the play-offs for you though.

Why feel sorry for wrexham? Theyre welsh and shouldnt be in the english league along with cardiff and swansea anyway ;)

Along with the two Bristol teams  :)

Unlike City, I don't think Rovers have ever won the Welsh Cup, so they can stay.

Isn't just being Rovers a good enough reason though.

I don't like Luton and they don't like us either. I don't really want them to come up but it would make for two very interesting fixtures.

Just hope this time next year mate that your fans are not saying so what we didn't go up we beat luton twice.

:D

It will be interesting to see what happens in the League One play offs for Danny Wilson and Sheff Utd. They have missed out on auto promotion to the Wednesday and Danny Wilson faces the play offs again and has lost James Beattie to suspension on top of the Chad Evans situation. I think it is something like his 4th attempt at the League One play offs as he got to them twice with City, once with us and missed out.

I remember two years ago when we were flying at the top of League One, a Bristol City fan I knew from school told me that Danny Wilson was a nearly man, in that he builds good teams but when it comes to the crunch they fall short. History repeating itself maybe?

It would be a major surprise if Sheff U get through....on top of the Wilson record, I believe their record is also poor.  Millwall's record at Wembley was terrible mind, and that changed.

I hope that Wilson does make it through but Stevenage are tricky opponents with probably not too much to lose. If Sheff Utd go up it means one less bigger team in League One. If Wilson's record comes back to haunt him and they don't make a good start next year, you can see the current goodwill of the Sheff Utd fans evaporating

Blackpool 0-1 up, just before half-time. (0-2) Agg.

And that's that. 0-2, job done.

I can see Blackpool beating West Ham.

On evidence of the play-off games only, me too.

1-2 (1-3) Agg now though

may have spoken too soon!

2-3 on Agg

15 mins left.

2-2 (2-3 on agg) now

Best thing about the play-offs...no away goals rule.

Play-offs > Europa League

Doh, Blackpool v Wet Spam it is.

Me too.  I'd like to see Blackpool go back up, because it's always nice to see the smaller clubs do well plus Ian Holloway is so likeable.  On the hand if West Ham lose, there's a real risk they could give Allardyce the boot and come in for Paolo.

Apparently Blackpool have now won 11 successive  play-off games.

That is an impressive stat.

If we are to lose Di Canio at any time... It's best that it happens during pre-season.

Still can't see them taking a punt on our man.

yay up the pool

Sort of bored of saying it but the hammers board have shown over the years at previous clubs great loyalty to managers and certainly do not crave in to supporters unrest.

West Ham cannot really afford to pay off Allardyce and his assistants, let alone pay us the compensation figure that is in Paolo's contract (and what I hear it's not a small figure !!!)

West Ham v Blackpool PO Final...Told you so  ;) Come on the Pool!!!

Including good ol Charlie from Swindon.....18 years he was given!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Paynter

Four years taken up by WW2 though.

think West ham will win myself

Agree arriba although they have battered them twice this year so the way it works is they will lose now.

I'm not bothered whether or not West Ham win because I think it'll have no bearing on whether or not they come in for PDC. Even if the do sack Big Sam.

Stevenage vs Sheffield United is a bit dire, just no shots. Good ref so far though.

Stevenage in my accu. Falling at the first hurdle..

Not a great game tonight.  If these are 2 of the top league 1 teams then that gives me added confidence that with a bit of strengthening we'll be challenging at the sharp end next year.

Huddersfield's annual play off fuck up starts today.

It's maybe harsh to judge the first division on one game but having endured the St. Evanage Versus Sheffield Grinders last night I do not think we have much to worry about next season. Also bare in mind we did beat three teams in cup competitions last term from division one.

Franchise vs Hudds - one of those games when you desperately want both sides to lose.
On balance, come on Huddersfield !

Last night was dire but in fairness, when they played at Bramall Lane a couple of weeks ago and drew 2-2 it was an excellent game, which I imagine the second leg will be. I love the play offs (especially when we're already up) but semi final first legs are often not great.

Was Charlie Paynter Billy and Charlie's love child, I realise they had a good partnership but that goes a bit far. Explains why Billy buggered off straight after the play offs!

Stevenage scared the life out me....looked like a pub side on steroids. Don't think you should read too much into PO games.

Should St. Evenage get into the championship I foresee a swift return to div 1 the following season.

Did they even get a shot on target? Thought they were pretty pants. Sheff U are clearly had the better quality. The Stevenage RB looked like he might have potential.

and with a magnifcent crowd of 5,800, they clearly deserve their place in the Championship !

On that basis, we probably wouldn't either.

Pretty sure I just heard Franchise singing 'Wise Men Say'. (not very loudly mind your) Spit, spit. :(

Sean Morrison playing for Huddersfield.

Not sure what you mean.
Our lowest ever home playoff crowd is 12,416 (vs Blackburn in 1990), and our average home playoff crowd is only just under 14,000.

As far as I can tell, Stevenage are where they are on merit.

Of course they deserve it.

What an utter shite game.

I presume you mean Stevenage v Sheff Utd, The Franchise losing is never a bad thing :)

With Charlton and Wendies already up and probably either Udders or Blades joining them, just what teams will there be in League 1 to stop the mighty Town from powering upwards again.

Dont seem much to me to be scared of

Fuck off franchise!

Agreed

Atmosphere shite at Franchise. Fucking plastic club.

The stadium is too big for them....and they want to go to 30k.

Anyway they're 2-0 down at home...

Franchise manager still moaning about how Huddersfields second goal came about. Twat!

Was going to post something similar. Huddersfield looked pretty good and Franchise didn't. I know we shouldn't read anything into play off games, but nothing to fear from the Dons on that showing.

if you're basiing membership of the Championship on crowd size then we wouldn't deserve to be there. 5,600 is probably capacity for Stevenage.

I wasn't basing my comment just on crowd size - more a lack of enthusiasm
The capacity is 7100, but they can only get 5,800 for the biggest game in their history.

11,893 at Franchise, that's piss poor considering there was about 4,000 Huddersfield fans.

It is, 7.5k home fans is utterly pathetic for a play off.

It's not exactly a surprise though is it.

In some ways it is because their average home attendance this season was 7,778 with the average away attendance there 880.

To barely get that in a play off game with a lot at stake is poor, I guess it does show that Milton Keynes does not deserve a football club and certainly not a ground with a capacity of 22,000.

Actually there was 8,412 franchise fans there with 3,481 Udders, still a crap home turn out.

I reckon our crowds could be top 5 next season.

Coventry, Pompey and Huddersfield or Sheff Utd will only average more.

A lot depends on who is having a good season, Doncaster can easily get 9k+ average if they are on a good run, Preston average about 11k as well but I think we can easily be top 7 on attendances even if we have an average season but if we get off to a flyer we can be top 3 or 4.

Only if you're comparing our League 2 crowds with crowds of clubs 2 divisions higher though, surely?  Our average attendance this year was higher than that of 17 of the 24 teams in the division above.  We've had plenty of other discussions about this - but suffice to say I think promotion to the Championship (a level we've not played at for 13 years now) would see a step change in our levels of support.

I'm not so sure it would. I'm just looking at the averages this year http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/D1/attend.html and I can't see many teams we'd have a better average than. I'd like to be wrong but I'm not sure where these fans are going to consistently come from.

Bodin drops to the bench for Southend game.

Franchise had 6th biggest average this season in L1 - quite away above 7th highest.
Their average was a little higher than ours - made up by more away fans so they are comfortably supporting a L1 standard as we would be.
I agree though watching today there didn't seem like a lot passion there and most of the plastics probably would rather watch on TV anyway.
Was funny to see the Franchise manager mouthing off to 4th official about the 2nd goal - fuck off you whining Scouser.

If they had sold out the same people would moan about that.

Turn it around.  Where have the 11,000 odd watching Doncaster this season come from?  Where did the 16,000 or 17,000 watching Reading this season come from?  They certainly weren't there in the Elm Park days.

Or to answer another way, if a fraction of the 29,000 at Wembley came along more regularly, our crowds would rise significantly.

Another thing.  The high points of the last 15 years have been two promotions from Division Four and two play off failures.  As a fan base, we've had shag all to shout about for the best part of a generation.  And we're still averaging 8,400 at home in the bottom tier.  I think you're underestimating our potential.  Seriously.

I agree with you if we do well next season average will be around 10K even more if we are pushing for the play offs
What is happening at the club at the moment remains me when lou joined the club we are on the up

And while we're on the subject, this has just been linked on The Washbag's twitter feed.  No idea where it's come from...but it rates our chances of future success well above that of our nearest neighbour!   ;)

http://thetwounfortunates.com/geographies-of-football-economic-potential/

They had better hurry up and get their tickets in then.  Only 21,000 sold so far.

Crewe winning 1-0.

Decent header. Crewe look a good outfit

All that train-ing. ;)

The Southend keeper comes across as a bit of a dick head!

To be fair the crewe player booted it at him

Cameron Belford is popular with the kids...

[url width=306 height=423]http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/04/27/article-1380596-0BC4CD3200000578-849_306x423.jpg[/url]

Not just that though. He's been chirping away at the home fans!

Why is andy carroll at a bury game?

He seems to have an extra hand growing from his left hand.

Belford had a bad day.

[url width=375 height=249]http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/pix/2011/0428/Kosmo/Dunia/du_07.1.jpg[/url]

What a gay punch

Southend like a good moan don't they.

Billy comes on... With a minute to go.

TIMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMLIN.... Fluffs it.

Not too keen on Sarfend.  Few players in there thats seem to be for want of a better word, dicks.  That Moshni could start a fight in a nunnery.

don't you just love being champions and avoiding all this shit?

Southend were absolutely dog shit. Surely that West Indian looking fella Grant must be a half decent cricketer because he sure as hell wasn't a footballer. Apparently he played for Chelsea under Morinho!!

Crewe looked a class above and should have won by more.

The whole game was rubbish.  Rarely saw 3 passes strung together before losing the ball - both teams.

I think Southend can still easily get back into it, home advantage and all that.

However, we went to Roots Hall twice under the 'big game' scenario and had no problems.

Hoping Torquay can pull off a result against cheltnum today

I need Torquay to get promoted otherwise I will have no games close by to go to!

So was this at the Crewe match yesterday?

Because it is only pissy little Crewe they can't get away with there fans striking a player surely.
I am beginning to lose my life long love affair with little Crewe to be honest.

No Leefer, it wasn't. (not sure when or where this was from but it definitely wasn't yesterday)

Cheers,did wonder....i may start liking them again then ;D

And it looks like the young fella in the background has also be thumped - he's got no teeth

I think he is wearing a Bury jersey, so my assumption was that it was in a match in their derby with Rochdale maybe.

That was last season I think, and I *think* the opposition was chesterfied.

Yeah

http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/15979370

Be interesting to contrast and compare O'kane and Pack today.

I'm wanting Torquay to win this one.

BTW How old is Graham Turner - looks like a real dodgy syrup he's got on

That tunnel is mighty narrow - dont want to get a stiffy waiting in there

I take my hat off to Belford on seeing those pics,most keepers are nuts and would have lashed out i reckon.

The kid with the straightened McFly hair and the livestrong wristband infuriates me just to look at him.


In other news... Cheltenham are against the ropes at the moment.

Cheltenham 1-0 up. Scrappy but good game.

O'Kane looks lightweight and Pack anonymous

I've a mate who's a Numb fan, and he says their ideal scenario, is a losing PO final.  Get some dosh, create a bit of interest, but not have to struggle in L1 on a small budget.

O'Kane....potential next season scapegoat then before he's even our player  :)

Pack takes a free-kick like a Swindon player

:)

And I'm convinced that goal by McGlashen was meant as a pass not a shot

2-0 cheltenham now

Numb's full back Jombati looks decent

Is LB his normal position? He's completely right-footed.

Torquay need to score, if they lose by 2 or more I think they are toast.
Their strength this season hasn't been scoring goals, and I can't see them winning by 3 at home.

Ugh my four-fold was all correct bar the stevenage draw. Arghhhh.

I was looking out for O'Kane and Pack but it was McGlashan who caught my eye the most. I also thought Jombati was reasonable.

Looks like Di canio's replacements wont have to move to a club in the same division when he fucks off to West Ham ;)

Did somebody say that cheltnumb are the best team in the league!

Wasn't me nor Steve Evans - bet he's topping up his tan at the moment. Basting his lardy arse in Torremolinos and shifting a few octopus sarnies washed down with a barrel of donkey piss

I bet it's laughs all round when you two crazy men get together 8)

I thought Nam definitely deserved to win today - Turkey were far too lightweight and offered little.
Overall a better game than the Crewe / Sarfend one but most definitely League 2 standard.
Saw nothing from either O'Kane or Pack to suggest they'd strengthen our team.
McGlashan played at CG twice this season for Shots and Chelt and I think is a slightly better Mark Marshall (without the drugs) - trickery but little end product.
Jombati is a RB but also played well on left against us.
And I don't know any Nam fans who think that losing the PO final would be a good end result.  Having got this far they want to win the POs.

I love a Torquay roast dinner

What an awful atmosphere at the Cheltenham game. 2-0 up at home in the playoffs and the crowd weren't interested.

I was hoping for either Southend or Torquay to go up, so not looking too good after the first legs.

Although, I can see Southend turning it around, it will be much harder for Torquay.

Never quite as good after Christmas though.

Sheff Utd and Stevenage 2nd leg just starting, Can't look past a United win.

Bramall Lane is a great ground. Sheffield United will dominate this one.

CRUNCH!

looks half full!

nah looks half empty to me

What an utterly piss poor crowd.

Big ground Bramall Lane. I reckon there is about 20k there.

The away following is more of a joke than how many blades fans are there.

I put £20 on Sheff Utd at half time, so Stevenage will win.

Stevenage have got some absolute units in their side.

United one up.

Danny Wilson to fuck up at Wembley again ??

Assuming Huddersfield go through someone will lose the label of being a chocker.

I'd be happy for Wilson to take them up, can't bring myself to feel any bitterness toward him.

New ground to go to next season - being a bit of an anorak I'll take that!

Stevenage away. Sounds dreadful

One of the away days I'm looking forward to if i'm honest

I don't think many people dance a jig when faced with the prospect of a trip to Swindon.

never has a truer been written

:D

They'll just be cunts then

(Says a Swindoner that's not been to Swindon in 12 years)

I don't feel any bitterness, but would still feel pissed off if he did with Sheff Utd what he failed to do with us.

Why?

The players bottled it that day

The man took us to the brink of the Championship, and the best feeling of the last decade when we beat Charlton.

It went tits up and he rightfully paid the price. But I wish him well.

Just put tele on't watch 'uddersfield.

Can't see past a Terriers win.

agree, that cunt with the drum wants a good kicking :headhurts:

Piss poor turn out from Franchise.

We'd fill that away end.

Fuck off franchise.

Jordan Rhodes score his 40th goal incredible. 1-0 'udders.

Assist from Ward

Hudds v Sheff U.

M1 will be busy that day.

Bloody big crowd too.

Franchise get 1 back, have to say they've looked fairly decent.

has to be said, huddersfield do need the half time whistle, i'm not worried though, another 6 points from the bastard son of winkleman's mind for us next season

Its not his 40th, remember Huddersfield said playoffs dont count when they lost that game

Come on Hudders, you're in my accu  >:(

don't think you have much to worry about until wembley

To win the second leg I mean..

oh i see, they're the team in the ascendancy at the moment though

Good to hear.

Who should I back for the Champo Leago.

Chelsea have some nice odds. Though I can't see that happening.

i can't see chelsea beating BM, they're too fast for them i think (hope)

I couldn't see them beating Barcelona. The home advantage should see Bayern win, but you can never say never.

no, i agree entirely with that batch, but i just think it's a step too far for them.  i still can't get past hoddle going to them in '93 either so will always look for ways they will lose

I see your point KT.

Back to playoffs, Alan Smith appears for Franchise. Mighty...fallen.

And Smith just scored. 2-1 a minute to go.

All Yorkshire final.

Leeds, why did they let Grayson go :)

what on earth is all this 'aguero time' chat about?  it was never sheringham/solskjaer time or some such.  things have always happened in injury time and always will

Cause hes a shit manager.  Rather have that cunt Warnock in charge any day of Grayson

See Mad Dog commentating post game. What do we think would have happened to us if Martin Allen took over instead of Malpas, remember him, Nijholt and a few others declared interest at the time when we were looking for a manager.

I think we would still have finished mid-table in 2007-08, then Allen would have pissed everyone off, fallen out with the Board and been sacked part way through the next season, leaving us in a much worse position than when he had taken over.  Who knows what the next appointment would have been and how history would have then played out.

You are probably right chap, could have had Luc Nijholt as well I suppose, every time we have been looking for a manager he throws his hat into the ring! May have to Wiki him.

Bodin on the bench for Crewe again, game about to start. Thinking Crewe will edge this.

Cheering on Southend tonight. Nothing against Crewe, but Southend is a lot closer for me next season!

Just randomly found a pound in my Coral account so put it on Neil Harris to score first.
Only find then find out he's not in the starting line up.

Bollocks.

Edit: Probably not the best choice of words

 :doh:

 ;D ;D :-[

Should say Bollock instead.

Good luck Gorman but happy that franchise cunts failed!

I want Crewe to win.

Benyon, although joining us at a bad time, bailed pretty fecking quickly and therefore is on 'ze list'.

Crewe winning 1-0. Great finish

What a strike by Leitch-Smith!

I wonder how those Southend fans who were uploading pics of the L2 table in twitter after 10 games are feeling now? :D

It was Swindon's job to take them down a peg this season, put them in their place and all that.

Still, two goals at home is not impossible.

Wow, the keeper gave has had a nightmare, given Moore the ball on the edge of the box with no one near him and he skies it over the stand. Awful from both players.

Crewe should be 3-0 up by now.

Timlin and Benyon linking up extremely badly, how amusing.

With the inept Steve Phillips in goal for Crewe though, ole Southend always have a chance.

Game on, Neil Harris scores to make it 1-1.

He didn't take long.

Good game this.

Im sure I just saw a drop ball being competed for.  Been a few years since ive seen that.

Crewe score a really nice goal, surely they've won now.

Or not Southend score again! Great game!

Then again ...

A classy conclusion.

Easy injury-time for Crewe.

Southend  :bye:

Fair play to Crewe, they went on a run just at the right time.  I can see them going up now.  It's nice to see the youngsters holding their own.

Yea, well done Crewe think they'll go on and do it now because they have the momentum. Brilliant game tonight.

Crewe have my vote, if Cheltenham get to Wembley.

However, with a management of Ling and Taylor I still want them to get there.

Sturrock halted the free fall.

http://www.shrimperzone.com/vb/showthread.php?72027-STURROCK-go-and-do-one

Need to register, could you cut and paste the rant?

Hmmm I'm not registered.

It was a 'I've-just-watched-it-on-Sky-he's-got-to-go-he's-rubbish'.

I swear that Southend were in big, big trouble when Sturrock arrived.

Ah it says "It appears that you've exceeded the maximum number of posts you can view"

Must have had a nose at that in the past sometime. Ignore me.

We made a nice amount of money from Southend this season, they're most welcome.

Wonder if they fancy Kerrouche, Esajas, Lanzano...

I'd of thought fatty Evans might take a punt on Kerrouche after his performance at Crawley, seeing as he's been knocked back for Tubbs and the other fella.

If anyone wants a go on shrimperzone  I created an account a while ago; user name: username password: password

Enjoy

Well at this stage all of my picks are on so far for the weekend...Blackpool, Huddersfield, Crewe...hope I've got some £££££££ coming in!!!

Elliot Benyon....that is all.

Looking forward to Saturday as my dad's got us tickets in the Blackpool end. The hammers fan I work with is pretty confident they'll win it, but at the end of the day anything can happen over 90 minutes. Just like last time, Blackpool go there with no expectation.

Not really sure who I want to go up from League 1. It would be nice to see Uddersfield fail yet again, especially after the whole Lee Clarke thing, but I've never been to Bramall Lane...

As for League 2, I'm hoping it's Crewe or Torquay who go up. If they play each other in he final I won't be too fussed about the result. Torquay is a better away day if it's at the right time of year, but it rarely is...

Torquay trying to come back against cheltenham tonight.  Good luck to Lingy and OST but still nil nil at the mo.

Is it true that Marlon Pack is Matthaus-Zidane-Zico-Charlton-Horlock all rolled into one?

He looks evil:

[url width=607 height=400]http://static.givemefootball.com/gmf/files/fa/fad6cd21-8836-4e67-85e2-ac77965214e8_1345cd60-8db3-48f2-8f83-f6582915ad78.jpg[/url]

Got to say, O'Kane is looking good tonight

Never trust someone who's eyes are too close together.

Looks like it's going to be one of those nights for Turkey!

A friend of mine follows Northern Ireland home and away and he despises O'Kane due to the fact that he's another player who has benefited from IFA only to snub them once the FAI are interested.

Cheltenham just scored...

Yup.

Crewe or Cheltenham. I think Cheltenham because its a piss easy away day.

... and a banked loss :)

Mind you, Crewe away never strikes me as an easy away day.

So, Crewe v Cheltenham at Wembley, What sort of crowd will that be?

Wonder if it will be the lowest ever play-off final crowd

So why are Cheltenham fans giving stick to Lee Mansell??

Awful ground though and we always lose there. Can't be arsed to go there again so i'd rather Crewe.

Crewe please.  Completely selfish this one - it's less than an hour from home for me.  With Shrewsbury coming up with us that would be two easy games for me.

So what do people think of Pack? I can't say I've seen him do a massive amount in either of these games or at the CG. Am I missing something? :hmmm:

oooh, you never know - 3-1

Think he's done something now

Not a bad free kick, right on cue.

maybe you do...

indeed, pretty special that

Not bad? Are you kidding?

Come in Marlon, you know it makes sense!

Great free kick from Pack. I wouldn't mind him here but we already have players like him. We really need a player like O'Kane who looks like a good playmaker.

Have we actually ever been linked to Pack or is all this because he's chums with Ritchie?

4th and 5th out. 6th and 7th go to Wembley.

Well done Play-Offs, you've done it again.

I've heard it's pretty much a done deal.

because he comes from Gloucester.

From whom did you hear that?

HP. Works at the club.

Can't see us getting Pack. They put a 400k price tag on him back in January. That's a bit steep for us I feel.

What position does Pack play?

Harry Potter?  I wondered what he was up to. 

Pfft we buy who we want.  ::)

No but in all seriousness he is signing. They're keeping it quiet until Cheltenham's play off campaign is over, the fee is dependent on whether Cheltenham go up or not.

I see..so when I thought they were singing 'Boston rent boy' which would have been a bit random, it must have been 'Gloucester rent boy'.

With regards to Pack, it certainly was a fantastic strike (and impeccably timed ;)). He also takes a decent corner and long throw in. I just wondered what people thought about his general play.

I've been convinced for some time that we're going to sign him so I want him to be good.

I have to say, I also really liked the look of McGlashan and Kaid 'Swindon reject hello' Mohammed.

so, if this is to be believed we will have - potentially - ferry, pack, smith, risser, ritchie, devita, rooney, holmes and bostock for next season.  i'd give risser the old heave ho but it's not my decision to make, assuming he will only be a slightly versatile squad player then that midfield looks decent enough to me

Fair enough then - that's a good signing. 

Note: If he doesn't sign you will look silly.  But as you say, he is, so that won't happen.  Happy days.

Risser might become a defender.

The only problem with that is remove Risser and you have a very lightweight midfield. Think we need a hardman in there personally. Not sure who though.

I think Risser is now a back up centre back.  Not sure how PDC sees J Smith, but the midfield looks like its getting there - given that Pack is 100% definitely signing...

pack is a big old chap, smith knows how to put it about a bit and ritchie is a game son of a gun.

i see your point though, mind in our L1 PO year none of them were big boys really, it's a bit more of a footballing league

I think Pack would be a great signing.  Chelt fans have been raving about him all season and he looked good against us at CG.

McGlashan did look good today but that is first time I've been impressed with him in 4 times I've seen him.

Mohammed is like Road Runner - rapid in a straight line but 9 times out of 10 runs straight into a defender.

This.

He told me he wants to stay, has enjoyed it here since xmas.

However he knows he still has the booboys after him and is down about that.

You also need a few players who are willing squad players and don't piss and moan every time they are dropped but can come in and do a reasonable job.

Players I would put in that bracket are Risser, Connell and Devita. They're all invaluable IMO.

Great point.

But he's not that 'hard'... and even less so when his severe lack of mobility means he can't get near the fellas passing it round him.

He's pretty 'hard'. The amount of times he gets battered in a game is a joke.

I'll wait for the next instalment.

Bit slow on that nev,that was yesterday.Come on ketchup

The rumour came about purely from him sitting with his old mate Ritchie at the PFA awards back in March from a hugely unreliable source on the Cheltnumb forum. PdC has never stated he wants him so I doubt we will even bother making a bid which will be much more than he is actually worth.

Better off going for O'Kane who offers something different and PdC has stated he is interested in him.

He told me the same Tans, says he really loves playing at Swindon and has settled well in the area and is training all summer to get himself fit for next season.

You typed that with relish DRS.

You know me Nev,keen as mustard

You two are going to find yourself in a bit of a pickle if you don't stop punning.

I think we condiment each other.

Get a room you pair of chutney ferrets.

Don't say that you will put them into a pickle.

See Cheltenham have been allocated 20,000 Wembley tickets

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:   :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:   :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Crewe vs Cheltnumb could well be one of the lowest attended play off games at Wembley ever.

I doubt it will break 25,000 in total.

Why is that funny?  Traditionally, they're a Non League club - but for the last 15 years or so, they've established themselves in the league and managed to stay there.  They're not the best supported club, and they don't pretend to be.  If they take 20,000 to Wembley, fair play to them.

Their chairman or chief exec was on saying that Cheltenham never expected to finish so well. Fair play to them I say. They should beat Crewe.

I fancy Crewe to beat them, they're on a cracking run (unbeaten in 18 games or something?)

Should be a good game either way.

As a preference I want Crewe to win but I have a feeling it will go to extra time on the day maybe pens.

A tough one to call as both have been on good and bad runs but Crewe finished the season better so the momentum of a good run may get them through.

Cheltenham 4 wins in a row now and 6 wins from 8 games with 2 loses.

Crewe 18 games since a defeat but in the last 9 games have only won 3 games and drawn 6.

Are you having a larf? If they take 20,000 my cock's a kipper!

Now that Torquay have failed to get promoted, I have no games near me. Exeter relegated, Plymouth barely survived.

Will definately be going Plymouth v Exeter, got a bit tasty last time!

Billy Bodin has turned down the chance to play for Wales in order to go to Wembley with Crewe.

Wembley versus Country, he alreadly has a 2(?) year deal on the table.

Does this make him a scumbag for turning it down?

Where did this little bee in your bonnet come from? Where has anybody called any player a scumbag for not wanting to play for their country?

It's been pointed out that players like Carrick not wanting to play for their country epitomizes the general attitude of players that is largely behind the current indifference to the national team. And that if players don't want to play, then fuck them and bring in players that do. Did anybody call Carrick a scumbag once?

And does Carrick have any other commitments to meet anyway? Such as to a match for a club that is actually paying his wages?

I didn't mention Carrick once ;)

Somebody has a bee in their bonnet.

So that's not what you were referring to then?

If not, then what the bloody hell are you nattering on about?

It was a generalisation. I thought being glib was a part of football forum culture? :)

Sat outside Sheffield Utd box office with my partner (a sufc fan).  For wembley tickets I must crazy only 6hrs to go  :zzz:

How many have Blades been allocated ?? 37,000 ?

I can see West Ham winning comfortably today.  Paolo no doubt there to witness it.

I'm expecting a West Ham win, but Blackpool are always capable of the surprise result. Plenty of people wrote them off against Birmingham in the semis. Looking forward to seeing Ince play today - from the glimpses I've seen he's a very handy young player.

Just hoping Maynard doesn't score.

Blackpool didn't even sell their allocation apparently. They were 7k short. Normally the allocation is around 36k so that's only 29k tickets sold. The same as what we managed in the JPT final.

I would imagine most Town fans want West Ham to win just so they keep their hands off PdC.

But in some twisted way I am looking forward to a club making their intentions clear they want him just to see what would happen.

Will he be true to his word?

Correct - "29,235 Blackpool fans will head to Wembley for the npower Championship play-off final" - from their OS. In fairness, it's not a horrendous turnout from a club who were playing bottom tier football in an absolute dump of a ground not all that long ago.

I wonder how many of the JPT day trippers would have travelled if it had been 250 miles rather than 80?

Blackpool will regret those missed chances.

Spot on

Cole 1-0 WH

This Scottish Cup Final is good fun.

2-1 to Hearts at the moment.

1-1 Ince for Blackpool.

Blackpool on top at the moment.

Not any more.  2 - 1 WH

I was going to say that

Blackpool have had the better chances...but not took them.

At least the talk of PdC going there will disappear...at least until Big Sam loses his first game back in the Premiership...

Decent game of football, the better finishing made the difference in the end.

Big Sam talked fact claiming his side were no better than Blackpool, however, it's all about taking chances.

Oh yeah and I win a few quid...lobbed on west ham to go up....2:1

I thought his interview was very good, he gave Blackpool a lot of credit which they fully deserved.

Allardyce is a decent manager, who's to say he'll stay at the Boleyn. I'm sure the stick he's got from the fans wont have gone unnoticed.

N'ah he strikes me as a stubborn chap.

Unless Aston Villa want a bit Big Sam action.

Thought it was a cracking game and Blackpool played some very tidy football. West Brom and Villa should be looking at Holloway imo.

My first thought was 'Great, no WHU after DiCanio'

but then, I thought 'What if they're crap in the PL, down in the relegation zone come Xmas and sack Big Sam'

But, is DiCanio really a sort to get someone out of a relegation scrap?

Ah, fuck it, I'm off to the track

One good thing about them being in the Prem, is that if Sam does go, they'd perhaps consider PdC a greater risk than if they were in the Championship. I also wonder how much of a success he'll be at any club without free licence to completely rebuild the team to his every whim.

Can you imagine him going to a club like West Ham and trying to sign a whole new squad and release the current one? Forgetting WHU, imagine him at a decent Championship club where they've paid millions for players that have years left on contracts and he doesn't like the work ethic of any of them. He'd also ruffle a few feathers were he to make a couple of signings on a 3/4 year contracts for £Xm, then decide they're not good enough.

Even Di Canio, I imagine, realises he's got it pretty good here.

(On a related note, a Bristol Rovers player was at my sister's BBQ today - strange, I know - and he was raving talking positively about our club, how well it's being run and the fact that Paolo "is coaching at a level normally reserved for teams in the Champions League." Apparently quite a few players are talking about it positively.)

Go on then Bazza, who was the player out of interest?

I'll guess Woodards.

Is he anyone we should be thinking of signing? Good that it's being talked of in a positive light, bodes well for future signings

I doubt we'd be signing him and I will not entertain guesses as he was a nice bloke and wouldn't expect me to spout off. :)

He's regular on TEF too :)

It was Woodards wasn't it?

Yes Blades 37,800, think Huddersfield got 32,000?

In fact Sheffield utd allocated 39,800 and huddersfield 33,169

Under 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' rule, best of luck to Luton today!

Yes come on you hatters !! Oxford don't like Luton :D

Have to go for York for family reasons. But Luton fans really got screwed over by Gurney and didn't deserve what happened to them.

Used to live oop north. Lots of mates follow York. They missed out last year and have been knocking on the door for the last few - Gotta go for them.

Plus, more importantly......Simod Cup semi final defeat when that cunt Les Sealey gave it the big I am after Dave Bamber passed the ball back to him when though on goal and some fucker blew a whistle!  Never forgive and never forget!

P.S. There is also the plastic pitch and banning away fans debacle. Also, for some reason, I hated the Futcher brothers!

A narrow York win I reckon

Just looked to see if the Conf PO is on TV and its on Setanta in Ireland only.
What's that all about?

I am sure it will be streamed online if you look for it

premier sports (channel 433 on sky) have the rights, but you need to be subscribed to watch it over here.... think i can afford to miss this one.

Its on www.firstrowsports.eu

If anyone fancies watching it then there will be a stream of the match here

http://www.firstrowsports.eu/

Well that didn't take long!

1-0 Luton

1-0 Luton after 1 minute  :)

70 odd seconds in and a goal bloody hell

i want lootun to win, it'll really piss of the scummers

who is the co-commentator :zzz:
luton 28200 tickets sold, york 6500 sold as of friday

1-1 now, deserved equaliser.

that equaliser was always coming, luton sat back and tried to soak up the pressure from york. 1-1

york score 1.1 playing well are york

Next years play offs at old trafford aswell

Not really, I'm in two minds about it.

Luton fans are chav cunts, but we get good crowds and atmospheres against them. If they go up, our fixture list will be richer. If they don't, a nice club comes back into the league and Luton get to suffer for another season. Win-win.

Got a link here as well :

http://www.coolsport.tv/stream2.php (http://www.coolsport.tv/stream2.php)

Decent game so far, hopefully gets better in the 2nd half

2-1 York - dreadful decision by linesman - 2 yards offside

York are up. Another season of trips to Braintree and Alfreton et al for Luton.

Jonarhan smith will be happy

York would be a brilliant away day next season.  Another 2011/12 crumb of comfort for your disaffected fan base, I suppose, to go with the double over us.   :)

lolz

Well, you'd know all about those trips - bit of a mystery to us!

I thought some dumb predictable cunt would walk into that one. Congrats. We've never played them either.

A lazy generalisation on my part - but you get my drift

Rather York than Luton to be honest, hope they stay in the non league abyss

Fair play to York winning twice at wembley this season, and they got planning permission to build a new this week. Fair play to them

Bit late but re the championship play off final yesterday West Ham are going to have to spend a small fortune to stay up next year.  Blackpool took the defence apart at will at time yesterday and Prem team will make them  pay by taking the chances and a option up front of Vaz Te, Baldock, Cole and Maynard wont get 15 between them!

I expect many said the same about Holt and Morison at Norwich and look how they have done.

West Ham will need to improve but staying in the Premier League isn't the impossible mission many make it out to be.

Also Allardyce has a good track record of getting decent results on modest budgets.

York City are magic

Black magic?

Racist

The chocolates.....terrys of York and all that.

Honky bitch!

Don't suppose there is a non-football league show on with highlights anywhere. I assume not BBC as they seem to have spunked this weeks sporting budget on showing our greatest never olympian light a fucking torch.

Been looking everywhere for this myself, not a bloody thing anywhere.

Looks like the Beeb chose to show Dwain Chambers sprinting through the streets of Manchester (rather than Lewisham) today.

Try Speed Auction TV, its riveting

It was fucking funny they only put out 9 instead of 10 hurdles in the 100m hurdles though.

Quality for my family that York won and are back in the league after 8 seasons...wouldn't mind a trip up there in the FA Cup 1st round next season!

Possibly, but then Holt and Morison got 21 and 15 respectively in the Championship last season.. compared to Cole and Vaz Te's 14 and 10.

Vaz Te scored 12 in 18 games for West Ham and also got 10 league goals for Barnsley so had a fairly prolific season at that level.

Being reported that a crowd of 50,000 is expected for Udders v Danny Wilson's Bottlers.

Am I being over critical or is that a bit piss poor?

If the L1 play off final crowd really is 50,000 that would be quite a disappointing figure considering the two clubs involved.

Would have thought that both would be able to take over 30k to a play-off final.

30,000 Blades, 20,000 Udders apparently

Mind you, as Sheff Ud have lost every single playoff final and never scored a goal I would think twice, too!!

Ward and Morrison both starting for Huddersfield.

Wasn't there a big crash on the M1 ?? Loads of fans didn't make it due to queues. Both clubs could take 35 k easy

Someone tweeted that two Utd fans were killed in a crash. Tragic

Jesus - I hope that's not true

Seems very strange that there are only 20k Huddersfield fans. They were allocated 33k.

Not true apparently.

Good news, cheers

There was a crash though. Alan Parry just said.

Huddersfield seemingly only get good crowds at home at league games as they offer cheap ST's. When it comes to paying full price for play-offs/cup games, a number don't turn up. There were plenty of space in their semi at home against Franchise, and I remember 2 years ago when they were playing Millwall at home,they day after we played Charlton, I believe they only had a crowd of 11k.

Odd bunch. Nice day for walking the whippet I suppose.

http://www.htafc.com/page/TicketsNewsDetail/0,,10312~2787365,00.html

Says 21,500 advance tickets sold, suprised me aswell how little is there.

Parry saying that both clubs were big to take 50k to the League 1 play-off final.

There was over 70k two years ago....

But I think, for some reason, fans can pay on the day at Wembley today

So they took a couple of thousand more than the might of Chesterfield, for their biggest game of the season...

50 k is piss poor for league 1

Perhaps it's because they know jinxy Wardy is playing

How many did we take against Milwall - 30,000?

But the other jinx Wilson is on the other side. Something's got to give today !!

My opinion is that people dwell too much on other clubs Wembley attendances.

We shall see then. Can't be arsed to go watch it

You've not missed much.....

I'll stay dossing in the garden then. Let me know if anything happens

Maybe so, but that is a really poor looking turn out for two 'big clubs'. I'm quite shocked by it in fact.

Danny Ward fires one onto the bar.

Been boring apart from that.  MOTM so far, the referee

I think the weather is playing a huge part.

Wow really surprised to see so few fans from two self claimed big clubs. Funny seeing Danny Wilson stood there.

I would rather their home average attendances and that wembley turn out than what we had tbh

Testify  :nod:

Shame to see Danny ward with an huddlesfield shirt on. Liked him when he was on loan to us a couple of years back.

52000 how did that stack up against our attendance?

Yeah, he was great, pity we couldn't have signed him

We had just under 32k and 'Wall had, what 38/39k?

piss poor, didnt we have 73k :hmmm:

73,108

Extra time 0-0

Maybe their fans realised Wembley is a fucking massive pile of fucking shit?
I hate the place and don't think i'd go back

:nod

I believe that League One and League Two games should be held elsewhere.

My opinion has it's flaws but I just think it would be better in a smaller stadium.

We would probably  have only taken 20-25k  if we were coming from Yorkshire

Agree. I fucking detest Wembley. Everything last little thing about the place is something I hate.

Just maybe they knew what a rip-off Wembley is, inflated ticket prices, inflated drink prices, inflated food prices etc.

It's too nice a day for football.

They've gone down the park instead  :toocool:

I've been to this 'new' wembley twice and it feels souless, it doesn't feel right, like going to stadium with some character like the county ground, or fratton park. The problems with grounds like the madstad, emerites and that king prawn ground in leicester is if you've been to one then you've been pretty much been to the rest. Someone said that league 1/2 play offs should be held elsewhere i agree with that, you'd defiantly get a better atmosphere at somewhere such as the city ground in nottingham or villa park

I think we'd lose some fans playing elsewhere. The name Wembley is still magical, even if the reality is that it is a souless shit stadium built in the wrong place.

I'd like to experience playing well and winning there though, just to see if it changes my opinion. I suspect not, because I don't think it matters where you win something as long as you do. Take this season and the day we won promotion. We were sat in a shit hole on some scaffolding seats, but it didn't matter.

looks like its going to pens, i think that hudders may just edge it, based on wilson's record at wembley

Penalties....Danny Wilson may actually win one...

Danny Wilson will consider this progress!

oops, huddersfield miss 3/3 so far. Looks like the hoodoo is over. Or is it. sheff U miss 2/3! And huddersfielf level it but have taken 1 more.

can Danny actually use his arms or are they just welded to his chest?

Ridiculous.

Deary deary me.

3/9 scored.

This is hilarious.

doing a good job of trying to out bottle each other here....

Wow shit first 5, good sudden death!

This is one of the best penalty shoot outs i've ever seen

They just can't be separated.  Unbelievable.

The world hates Danny Wilson.

more fun in the pens than with the whole of 120 minutes of football
and Wilson screws it up again.

I think I prefer the way we lost!

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: Fucking hell, what does wilson have to do to win at wembley?

Ooops, can't help think I jinxed Wilson.

What a shoot out. Not seen one like it. Decided by Keeper v keeper. Unbelievable.

Think Swindon will come above Sheff Utd next season

Wilson is always a 1 season wonder, bet you he will be sacked by Christmas

Poor Danny Wilson. Has he ever won through the play-offs? It's funny how it must be like ground hog day for Danny.


Didn't he reach the play-offs 3 seasons running with Brizzle? Although I agree with you, I think he'll lose the plot again next season.

Normally the goalkeeper can only be a hero in penalty shootouts.  One of them had to miss.

Will be interesting to see how Sheff Utd fare next season or will the one good season continue for Wilson?

Nearly man Wilson. Oh well

Watched the ET, impressed with Quinn for Utd. Great shootout

Well, trying to attack and score a goal might be a good start.

None of this teams have even scored in the final have they?

What you need to find out is how many Sheffield United players are out of contract at the end of next season and when they're not doing too well then they'll think "fuck it, I can't be bothered."
Hmmm! sounds familiar.

Not sure that he should take too much blame for this. If his star striker kept it in his pants, They'd have been up automatically I reckon.

So Wardy isn't the jinx then, it's Wilson

Wilson bottled it weeks ago, even before Evans was put away. They were looking good for automatic at one point.

We were pretty fortunate getting to the final and were never really confident,were we?
Wilson has been bloody unlucky this season. Think they will be right up there if they can keep most of that side together.

Which is kind of what we said, wasnt it?

And we all know what happened there.....

Yeah we lost key players.
Will be interesting to see what goes on there over the next couple of months.

*We lost one key player. We were already crap before Austin left.

Plus Wilson decided not to play key players he did still have, namely Ferry.

*Actually, I forgot about Paynter and Ward.

Stil one hell of a dramatic turn around though.

 Think from our point of view, Sheff Utd is a more interesting fixture than Udders.

Did they actually ever get around to sacking Evans?

Agree with that one - we haven't played the Blades for years, and I've never been to their place.

The last time we played them, was our final fixture in Div 2, think Colin T*dd was in charge.

As my companies H/O is in Sheffield I shall be having a field day on Monday.

I also promised my missus a weekend up there if Huddersfield won, doh! I shall be looking to get a decent company rate in the hotel we stay in. I also rashly promised to take her to picorrinos for dinner and of course a cruise around Merry hell shopping centre.

Should be an action packed weekend by the sound of it.

Oh and Danny steel yourself for some stick mate. The penalties were shocking IMHO.

Hope Nam do it tomorrow.

PS. Rome was fantastic, need to take the IMF and ECB when you go out especially shopping.  

Yep, the blades will be having protests until he goes now i suspect

And the Blades will bring down more than Udders couple of hundred down to the CG.

Who wants Sheff Utd first up at the CG next season ?

Just checked train prices for say 11th August to Sheffield, no change out of £80, yuk

Agreed. I like Wilson and I still think he would have kept us up.

I like Wilson too. Great night at Charlton, a playoff final and a gnats dick away from the Championship. The shit that followed should not obscure this.

Not sure he'd have kept us up, the squad were on holiday from December. But it was rubbish timing sacking him. Needed to be done before the transfer window, or at the end of the season.

If Di Canio went tomorrow, and for some reason Grayson got the sack, i'd be all over getting him in

Didn't help having his best players sold either, anything would have been better than Hart

Hart was shit but I don't think any manager on Earth could have saved us after the fucking pile of shit situation Wilson left us in. As good as he was in the play off season, he was as fucking bad the next. 

No way was it irretrievable when Wilson left.
It was certainly looking bleak, especially as we hadn't replaced Paynter or Austin but a di Canio type character would have pulled it around.  I'm still not convinced that Wilson wouldn't have pulled it off too, but it was the right time for him to go.

I reckon we'd have stayed up with PDC. The players were capable of it but they just needed a kick up the arse, the right attitude and some motivation. Unfortunately, we got a walking advertisement for suicide instead.

He wouldn't because he'd completely lost the dressing room and the players weren't interested.

Which in itself would not have been an achievement, we were supposed to be going for promotion.

Word

Spot on.

I thought Bodin did the right thing in the end by dropping many of them and putting in youth players. Think that was the way to have shaken things up.

Still, its history. Everything happens for a reason and we are now on the up!

Slow day so . . .

If we had got promoted with Wilson and, presumably, kept that team, do you reckon it was better than what we have now?

I realise it would be comparing teams in different leagues but, FWIW, I reckon our present side with PdC has enormous potential - especially with the financial backing there seems to be.

I'd take Championship football over a team with potential.

Easily better. We played some bloody great stuff that season. OK we have done at times this season but the standard has been a fair bit lower than it was in L1 a few years back.

If you look at the key players we lost and see where some of them are now it tells the story. Greer doing well at Brighton in the Championship where they were not far off the play-offs, Austin scoring a few goals for Burnley and Danny Ward just promoted to the championship and has been playing at the top end of L1 ever since he left Bolton. I'll also include Paynter despite the fact his time at Leeds wasn't great.

When you look at the other players we had in the team they are now nothing more than average L1 players but this was exactly why we were so bad last season. The big players we had resulted in us being a very good team. When those 4 left we were an average team made worse by the replacements bought in.

The quality we have now (bar 4 or 5 players) doesn't really compare in my opinion. We have a better team spirit and manager now though and if we do get some decent signings in this summer there is no reason why we can't emulate 09/10.

I would have hoped that we wouldn't have kept the same team entirely.
At the time I thought we needed to sign about 4 or 5 players to establish ourselves in the Championship (this could have included Ward on a permanent).
If we had gone up and strengthened I could see us as being in a similar position to where Millwall are now.
If we had gone up and not strengthened I think we'd have come straight back down and I don't think we'd be in a better position than we are now.

Danny Ward was taken off by Huddersfield. You never know, they might decide a better player is needed in a higher division ...

SCreamer from Nick Powell.  Crewe 1 up.  Deserved too.

Great turn, great goal

Bodin not started then?

Never got around to sticking some dosh on Crewe either

Well I guess that means we can't sign Powell!

'Cheltenham cannot get their passing game together'

Just goes to prove how ofter they've seen Cheltenham in action....HOOF !!!

Starting to give Crewe a bit of a hard time

First half today much more entertaining than yesterday's.
Pretty evenly matched so far - difference was Powell's class finish compared with Mohamed demonstrating why he never made it at Swindon.

That goal was fucking mint.

Hopefully its enough to prevent 'best team in the league' from going up.

Barrel organ Elliot another reason I want them to say down.

Some good defending from crewe in last few minutes of the first half

Impressed by the nearly 10,000 Cheltenham fans packed into Wembley.
That's about half as many that Chippenham Town had in the FA Vase final at the real Wembley Stadium :)

Bollocks to signing Marlon Pack - he's done diddly squat in the play-off games

Saving himself for next season at SN1!

How shite is mohamhead? Their bench must be weak for him to still be on. Pack not mobile enough for me. They're chasing the game and he's lumbering about.

Get Leitch-Smith.

Plus, I just love that fella called Tootle - what a name!

Pack is a neat and tidy player,but wouldn't compliment Ferry imo. ferry's weakness is his stature and strength and Pack doesn't do enough off the ball to slot in there.I'd be looking elsewhere myself

Pack only looks good when he's the spare man in a 5 man midfield.

Welcome Crewe.

You obviously didn't see his goal from a free-kick at Torquay then...

Anyway, all over...2-0 Crewe

Well deserved 2nd for Crewe - that Byron Moore looks useful too

that goal there pack didn't track smith who passed for the goal. luxury palyer and we can't afford that

If we weren't keen on players who go missing at Wembley, we might need to have quite the summer sale...

Nice result.

The best team remain in league 2 for another season. I will not be disappointed at missing out on trip to numb.

Crewe have been unstoppable and I bet they were disappointed that the season ended when it did.

First game getting dicked by Swindon and the last game winning promotion.....sweet.

Guess Billy can open his contract offer now, shame he didn't get on. Enjoyable game, Num had their chances but finishing was woeful along with some resolute Crewe defending

This, if we were to sign him it would be to replace Ferry and not play alongside him. He'd probably be a better option than Ferry due to his goal threat but money would be better spent elsewhere.

Two more central midfielders are a must (unless Cox gets a look in) but I think you have summed up Pack nicely there.

Not fussed on Bodin - him playing about 3 minutes of the play offs speaks volumes. No doubt there will be outrage from some fans if he moves on.

Oh and nine of their players came through their academy, that's brilliant

Not at all impressed with Pack today, nor did he stand out in either of the Torquay games, free-kick excepted.
I don't think he's what we need for next season.

Mohamed continued to fluff his chances in the second half, he's fast but never has any end-product.

A good number of the Crewe players look handy for such young ages.  I thought they looked decent in the first game of the season against us - probably one of the best away team performances all season, but they've matured a lot since then.

At the end celebrations Bodin looked as though he didn't feel as though he belonged.  I reckon he'll re-sign.

Ashley Westwood looks a much better all round footballing prospect than Marlon Pack.

Obviously he doesn't have the physique of Pack.but i wouldn't be surprised if he has the
better long term career.He's also still only 22.

Just to allow a moment of gloating...when we started to hit form last autumn, it was infuriating that no matter how well we were playing ourselves, we just didn't seem to be able to reel in two of the teams at the top - Cheltenham and Crawley - who kept winning game after game themselves.  If you had told me back then that we would finish top, and that both Cheltenham and Crawley would stay down, I'm not sure I'd have believed you.  Marathon, not a sprint, etc. etc.

'cuse my ignorance but did Crawley not go up?

Quite possibly

I think this is a rather literal example of the way that everyone's feelings towards Crawley have followed Evans to Rotherham.

It is of course possible that he had a couple of off games. You don't get voted in the team of the year for nothing, and I saw enough in the home game v Cheltenham to be quite excited at the prospect of him joining.

It's been a long day.  Ignore me!  I think I was indeed thinking about Evans. :-[

Brilliant job Steve Davies has done there.  I didn't realise they were 19th when he took over in November.  That's one hell of a run to end up being promoted.  Good to see a team full of home grown youngsters as well.

Yates's post-match interview - "On another day we would have won."

I guess that's the same day that they're the best team in the league.  :D

You lot know he never actually said that yeah?

"We've seen the two best teams in the league and they are the most consistent, but on our day, we are the best team in the league by a country mile."

Unfortunately he did say it. Here it is in full.

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Mark-Yates-proud-Cheltenham-Town-efforts-despite/story-15496585-detail/story.html

Yeah but it's the good old 'on our day' comment isn't it.

It's not as if the bloke was banging on about how fucking great they were.

Well I believe my predictions were Blackpool, Hudders, Crewe & York, 3/4 not bad  :D

It's 12 years since we last played Sheffield United  :eek:

They sang 'when the Blades go marching in' for the entire match at the CG. Did my head in.

My abiding memories of the Blades' visits in the late 90's championsip years, were a comedy OG winner in front of the TE by David Holdsworth...and a packed Bank of Blades' fans being the only visitors to get excited by the Robinettes. Are birds in Sheffield particularly grim?

Was that a diving header reg?

was sheff utd at home where ndah scored that 18 yard scissor kick and leitch nearly scored what would have been the best volley i would have ever seen from about 45 yards was it not?  in the days of the TE being ousted to other parts of the ground?

Best team in the league will be even better next season...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18231027

I believe it was, My first ever match. Sheffield United kitted out in a lovely yellow and purple number.

There was a Sheff Utd game around the same timeframe where Chris Hay got a double in a 2-2 draw.  Can't remember if this was the last time they visited the CG or the one Ndah scored in was the last visit