2018/19 L2 Play-Off Semi-Final: Tranmere Rovers v Forest Green Rovers

[FGR Stroud]

At start of last game of season Forest Green Rovers and Tranmere Rovers are the only two clubs yet confirmed in promotion play-offs.
Both clubs have recent history in play-offs: this will be FGR’s 4th in five years and Tranmere’s 3rd in three years.
Both clubs have made two appearances at Wembley with one win and one loss a piece.
It is looking likely that the two Rovers will meet in the semi’s rather than final, but whoever wins match will be favourite to win promotion at Wembley.

The history between the two clubs has been very recent but has been heightened by fact FGR have had four successive wins, including win at Wembley. However this season the stats of both clubs have been remarkably similar. They stand next to each other in table in 5th and 6th spot with just 6 [goals] GD separating the two teams.
Both clubs have had three players sent off during season and are both mid-table in the disciplinary table: Tranmere slightly worse sinners at 10th with 384 pts & while FGR are 16th with 338 pts.

After Wembley FGR fans were as one in saying what terrific supporters Tranmere have.
They took that defeat on the chin and wished FGR well. Agreed Tranmere had one or two first teamers missing that day, but it was same for FGR a year earlier against Grimsby.
And both sets of fans will agree that of late Lady Luck has been favouring FGR. But sadly a few Tranmere fans have been letting their team down. For instance I wrote that a Tranmere fan boarded the FGR coach to berate the pensioners and women on board and that a Tranmere fan was aggressively insulting FGR fans including me:
Tranmere supporter Reremnart wrote in reply:
“Awww did the naughty man say something nasty to you then ya snowflake. If you bothered to read our forums you would soon find out that my low opinion of your club and it’s anti football is pretty much universal.”
I’ll say to Reremnart that the seething angry guy was younger, fitter and bigger than me and was with three or four of his mates. I was alone and am not embarrassed to say I walked away as any sane and intelligent person would have done including you Reremnart, including you Reremnart.
The fact that you have a low opinion of FGR matters not because your anti FGR opinions are distorted, lop-sided and shows you to be a pathetically poor loser.
BTW Shame on you Reremnart, your post did not include an apology to the FGR pensioners and women on the coach who were terrorized by a Tranmere supporter.

On the same thread Pablosammy wrote about the accidental broken seats at Prenton Park:
“Yup, the fat shirtless pissed up fella caught on camera kicking the shit out of our seats definitely did it accidentally. Moral high ground my arse.”
What Pablo failed to mention was that the pictures caught on camera were of an exuberant set of FGR supporters celebrating the winning goal during heatwave. No video has been produced showing deliberate trashing of Tranmere’s seats.

I’m looking forward to the clubs probable meeting in semi’s and suspect both clubs will be regular League 1 opponents in a few years time.
Bring them on, these games are building up their own momentum. Great fun.

 

[Chris FGR]

Pretty poor that some Tranny fans were threatening senior citizens and women, spitting on our players and waiting outside to abuse our team and fans.

You might not like us as a club but you'd never see any of our fans doing that.

 

[birkenhead tranny]

well let me say that what you describe is bang out of order well and truly and let me say sorry to the good folk who had the misfortune to be confronted like that . thats not what any fan likes to hear about there fellow supporters actions , or represent the club , yes it got heated in the ground toward s your team and ref but its not your supporters fault , there has to be a line between banter and passionate support , swa swa

 

[Chris FGR]

well let me say that what you describe is bang out of order well and truly and let me say sorry to the good folk who had the misfortune to be confronted like that . thats not what any fan likes to hear about there fellow supporters actions , or represent the club , yes it got heated in the ground toward s your team and ref but its not your supporters fault , there has to be a line between banter and passionate support , swa swa

Fair play mate, no issues with a lot of you and tbh don't mind a bit of spice to a game makes it fun. But like you say no need for it to cross the line.

Almost certain to be playing you in the semis, should be a cracking couple of games given we're starting to find more cutting edge again and George Williams should be back. That lad is a match winner on his day. Think you'll see a much more attacking approach from us.

 

[birkenhead tranny]

Pretty poor that some Tranny fans were threatening senior citizens and women, spitting on our players and waiting outside to abuse our team and fans.

You might not like us as a club but you'd never see any of our fans doing that.

a few fans do not represent the club or fans in general . you must see the connection in the way your team played and acted in a sporting manner as to the crowds re action , look at bury the other night came played well got promoted , celebrated no problem s reported , your manager must have words with your players as to there conduct and behaviour in our next game , if you act like the last game well who knows how it will go , red cards galore i reckon , swa swa

 

[birkenhead tranny]

Fair play mate, no issues with a lot of you and tbh don't mind a bit of spice to a game makes it fun. But like you say no need for it to cross the line.

Almost certain to be playing you in the semis, should be a cracking couple of games given we're starting to find more cutting edge again and George Williams should be back. That lad is a match winner on his day. Think you'll see a much more attacking approach from us.

i agree a bit of banter leading up to it is great , game of thrones will have nothing on these 2 games . military on standby , !!!!! all police leave cancelled in a 50 mile radius ,,,,,,swa swa

 

[Pablosammy]

Mods, can you delete this deliberately incendiary post?

 

[Chris FGR]

Mods, can you delete this deliberately incendiary post?

Thought he worded it well tbf. No need to cry to the mods about it. No one is forcing you to read it.

Anyway this can become the match thread if/when it's confirmed.

 

[birkenhead tranny]

Thought he worded it well tbf. No need to cry to the mods about it. No one is forcing you to read it.

Anyway this can become the match thread if/when it's confirmed.

yes was worded well but it is un confirmed and obviously propaganda put out to cover your seat smashing antics , and most shocking of all your teams disgraceful display of the dark arts ever witnessed at pp . did you even bring a coach to pp thought it was a couple of eco taxis ! , you got your just deserts at crewe own goal , pathetic goal keeping display him of the ghost injury , trying to hack crewe players and missing , thought we had delt with your footballing crimes obviously not swampy ! swa swa

 

[Chris FGR]

We average about 200 this season so bringing 170 was a bit below average but we're a small club tbf.

Seen much worse shithousery from other teams, inc Barca last night. Bwa bwa

 

[Reremnart]

your manager must have words with your players as to there conduct and behaviour in our next game

There no chance of that happening as Cooper is the man responsible for their underhand tactics. They are a completely different set of players from the ones they had in the VNL yet we all sure that yet they again displayed another master class in the dark arts. The only constant in the footballing side of the club is Cooper.

As for the incidents including FRG fans at Prenton Park recently yes its unfortunate and unacceptable but there a hell of a lot of angry fans at that game due mainly to the usual "shithouse" tactics deployed from Forest Green and sadly some of that anger was aimed at their supporters.

 

[birkenhead tranny]

There no chance of that happening as Cooper is the man responsible for their underhand tactics. They are a completely different set of players from the ones they had in the VNL yet we all sure that yet they again displayed another master class in the dark arts. The only constant in the footballing side of the club is Cooper.

As for the incidents including FRG fans at Prenton Park recently yes its unfortunate and unacceptable but there a hell of a lot of angry fans at that game due mainly to the usual "shithouse" tactics deployed from Forest Green and sadly some of that anger was aimed at their supporters.

maybe but was it true our fans on there coach ?, agreed about manager total disgrace if players carrying out his instructions , only one way of putting them in there place thats on the pitch , swa swa

 

[JJ1532]

Pretty poor that some Tranny fans were threatening senior citizens and women, spitting on our players and waiting outside to abuse our team and fans.

You might not like us as a club but you'd never see any of our fans doing that.

What, both of them?

 

[Chris FGR]

What, both of them?

A Wum as mod lol. Predictable material but fair play for having a go.

We brought 250 to your gaff and outsang you all game.

 

[Si Robin]

Mods, can you delete this deliberately incendiary post?

It's typical of what the guy does on forums - throw out unsubstantiated allegations of wrongs against FGR and their fans, then point out that there's no video evidence of an allegation made against FGR fans.

 

[Reremnart]

The fact that you have a low opinion of FGR matters not because your anti FGR opinions are distorted, lop-sided and shows you to be a pathetically poor loser.


.

Yes I do have a low opinion of your club and not because I`m a poor loser. We get beat on a regular basis by Swindon for example and I bear no ill will towards them or their fans whatsoever. Its just the way it is. My problem with your club is that every single time I have seen us play against yourselves (and I include the Wembley game in that) you have used some of the most disgusting tactics I have ever seen consistantly from a football club. I`ve seen many a team dive, shirt pull and time waste their way through games ( Eastleigh and Dover in our first season in the VNL being prime example) but usually as a one off. FGR do it every time and quite frankly I, most of the people who sit around me and I would think many other Tranmere fans, have had enough of it. What making it more annoying is that your current crop of players seem talented enough, certainly based on what I saw in the first half , to win games without that sort of nonsense yet revert to type as soon as you got into the lead.

And I , of course, apologise for the behavior of a few hot heads . There is no excuse for that but you have to accept that we are a passionate crowd who care deeply about our club and there were a lot of angry people around after the Good Friday game and some of that was aimed at your fans. Thankfully it was only, as far as I know, of the verbal variety. Hopefully there will be no repeat of it at the Play off games, if indeed we play you which seems pretty certain.

 

[FGR Stroud]

Yes I do have a low opinion of your club and not because I`m a poor loser. We get beat on a regular basis by Swindon for example and I bear no ill will towards them or their fans whatsoever. Its just the way it is. My problem with your club is that every single time I have seen us play against yourselves (and I include the Wembley game in that) you have used some of the most disgusting tactics I have ever seen consistantly from a football club. I`ve seen many a team dive, shirt pull and time waste their way through games ( Eastleigh and Dover in our first season in the VNL being prime example) but usually as a one off. FGR do it every time and quite frankly I, most of the people who sit around me and I would think many other Tranmere fans, have had enough of it. What making it more annoying is that your current crop of players seem talented enough, certainly based on what I saw in the first half , to win games without that sort of nonsense yet revert to type as soon as you got into the lead.

And I , of course, apologise for the behavior of a few hot heads . There is no excuse for that but you have to accept that we are a passionate crowd who care deeply about our club and there were a lot of angry people around after the Good Friday game and some of that was aimed at your fans. Thankfully it was only, as far as I know, of the verbal variety. Hopefully there will be no repeat of it at the Play off games, if indeed we play you which seems pretty certain.

I've been to every Rover's games between our two clubs and don't recognise your analysis.
I suspect your ire is simply because FGR have done you twice in front of two big crowds
One at Wembley and other a couple of weeks ago at your biggest home crowd of season [for a league match].
If I were a Tranmere supporter I'd also be getting peeved off at FGR.

BTW are you going to have a drink with me before next game in that great Tranmere marquee? I'll pay.

 

[FGR Stroud]

It's typical of what the guy does on forums - throw out unsubstantiated allegations of wrongs against FGR and their fans, then point out that there's no video evidence of an allegation made against FGR fans.

Here’s a few irrefutable facts:
FGR managed to secure place in play-offs a year earlier than when Cheltenham Town were promoted to Football League.
FGR have had quite a few recent wins against Cheltenham, including this season, but the last Cheltenham win was 33 years ago in 1986.
This season FGR have never been in bottom half of table while Cheltenham have never risen as high as even half way.

Now go away and worry about how Cheltenham will try to avoid relegation next season.

 

[birkenhead tranny]

Yes I do have a low opinion of your club and not because I`m a poor loser. We get beat on a regular basis by Swindon for example and I bear no ill will towards them or their fans whatsoever. Its just the way it is. My problem with your club is that every single time I have seen us play against yourselves (and I include the Wembley game in that) you have used some of the most disgusting tactics I have ever seen consistantly from a football club. I`ve seen many a team dive, shirt pull and time waste their way through games ( Eastleigh and Dover in our first season in the VNL being prime example) but usually as a one off. FGR do it every time and quite frankly I, most of the people who sit around me and I would think many other Tranmere fans, have had enough of it. What making it more annoying is that your current crop of players seem talented enough, certainly based on what I saw in the first half , to win games without that sort of nonsense yet revert to type as soon as you got into the lead.

And I , of course, apologise for the behavior of a few hot heads . There is no excuse for that but you have to accept that we are a passionate crowd who care deeply about our club and there were a lot of angry people around after the Good Friday game and some of that was aimed at your fans. Thankfully it was only, as far as I know, of the verbal variety. Hopefully there will be no repeat of it at the Play off games, if indeed we play you which seems pretty certain.

well said even though swindle did turn the lights off when we was 2 up i think it was , the eco propaganda is un proven though not like the seat smashing thuggery , i could not understand how they played 2nd half weird but they got pay back at crewe , footballing justice , maybe they will learn how to conduct themselves like for example bury the other night ,,,, swa swa

 

[birkenhead tranny]

can you spot chris with the fgr ultras ? swa swa

 

[Si Robin]

Here’s a few irrefutable facts:
FGR managed to secure place in play-offs a year earlier than when Cheltenham Town were promoted to Football League.
FGR have had quite a few recent wins against Cheltenham, including this season, but the last Cheltenham win was 33 years ago in 1986.
This season FGR have never been in bottom half of table while Cheltenham have never risen as high as even half way.

Now go away and worry about how Cheltenham will try to avoid relegation next season.

Come back when FGR have won a League Two playoff final, have spent more than one season in the 3rd tier of English football and have spent more than one season as the highest placed team in Gloucestershire.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and actually average a higher attendance than Cheltenham - a team having a shit season against a team having their best ever...

 

[Chris FGR]

Come back when FGR have won a League Two playoff final, have spent more than one season in the 3rd tier of English football and have spent more than one season as the highest placed team in Gloucestershire.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and actually average a higher attendance than Cheltenham - a team having a shit season against a team having their best ever...

Could well happen quite soon tbf. Not impossible we could be a league 1 side by the end of this month.

Comparing attendances is childish tbh, especially when it comes to our two clubs. Two bald men fighting over a comb springs to mind.

Cheltenham are a bigger club then us, but it's not something I care about whatsoever. The main thing is we build a solid foundation as a league club and continue to grow our fanbase. What Cheltenham do is irrelevant to any of that. Never had anything against them, they're just another club. Good for the Shire to have as many successful clubs as possible.

 

[Si Robin]

I agree - what concerns me though, as someone who used to enjoy watching FGR when Cheltenham were away and before I had kids, is that if DV doesn't get his stadium (I understand there's a planning meeting soon) what does he do then? I only see bad things for FGR because they simply can't be sustainable without his cash injections.

 

[Chris FGR]

Good question, impossible to answer. He's getting good publicity out of owning us at the moment though, is at UEFA today giving a presentation and now is even involved with the UN, all thanks to his ownership of us. Doubt he'll give all that up in a hurry.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

Well this is boring already.

 

[Mark kavanagh]

So bored of this now. Why dont you all go and buy a set of golf clubs and any time you feel like posting anything detrimental go and take it out on a golf ball .

Failing that adopt my policy. Do not post anything you wouldnt say face to face

 

[localhero]

This is destined to become the worst thread we’ve had on here in a long time. It’s even making the Notts/Mansfield ones look good.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

So bored of this now. Why dont you all go and buy a set of golf clubs and any time you feel like posting anything detrimental go and take it out on a golf ball .

Failing that adopt my policy. Do not post anything you wouldnt say face to face

I’d quite happily tell Oldham fans their “boycott” is laughable and FGR their manager is a skinny Steve Evans.

But yes, agree with you.

 

[FGR-Star]

Come back when FGR have won a League Two playoff final, have spent more than one season in the 3rd tier of English football and have spent more than one season as the highest placed team in Gloucestershire.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and actually average a higher attendance than Cheltenham - a team having a shit season against a team having their best ever...

I wouldn't get too cocky.

Cheltenham brought 600 to us this season and FGR sold your end out.
I'm sure you will have your excuses, but that's pretty damn embarrassing for Cheltenham as a club.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

I wouldn't get too cocky.

Cheltenham brought 600 to us this season and FGR sold your end out.
I'm sure you will have your excuses, but that's pretty damn embarrassing for Cheltenham as a club.

How many would you realistically bring in the playoffs? 400? The club were looking into putting away fans elsewhere in the ground for the playoffs as it’s a waste of a stand.

There aren’t really any 400 seat sections in the ground but there’s smaller sections than the cowshed stand which is 2000+