Final day fixtures

[thewwfc]

As you might expect, there's a good few dead rubbers here to be dutifully plodded through, but a surprising number of games still matter, so a quick summary of those ones:

Barnsley v Cobblers - the former have shat the bed form-wise which is a terrible outcome heading into the playoffs, even taking the drastic step of canning their manager. They are still not guaranteed a playoff place either.
Derby v Carlisle - DCFC all but guaranteed an auto-slot being 3 points ahead of Bolton with a superior GD, but never say never...
Exeter v Oxford - the latter are just outside the playoff spots, behind Lincoln on GD only, so they need to do better than Lincoln tomorrow
Fleetwood v Burton - Burton really need to win here to be guaranteed a higher finish than Chelts, but Chelts have to win to stand any chance of finishing above Burton
Lincoln City v Portsmouth - Lincoln will want the win here to seal their playoff spot, it's a nothing game for title winners Pompey.
Posh v Bolton - weirdly this could be replayed as the Playoff final soon after. Marginally more meaningful for Bolton, who could mathematically seal an auto spot should Derby lose and they make up lost GD - but that's pretty damn unlikely. Otherwise both teams are effectively guaranteed 4th and 3rd spot respectively.
Vale v Cambridge - Cambridge need a point to guarantee safety, or Cheltenham not to win
Reading v Blackpool - incredibly unlikely it'll happen but Blackpool could bag the last playoff spot, would require poor showings from both Lincoln and Oxford though
Stevenage v Chelts - what looked until relatively recently a stinker of a final day fixture for relegation dogfighters Cheltenham now looks considerably less daunting, what with recent poor SFC form, and (love him or hate him) the loss of figurehead Steve Evans to Rotherham. Only a win is good enough for Cheltenham, and even then that may not be enough depending on the Cambridge and Burton results


Ours is a total nothing game vs what is becoming a team of draw specialists in Charlton, if we have to face Alfie Fucking May (to give him his full name) better that it happens in a dead rubber.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

It won’t affect anything but for the betting people carlie have been shocking this season apart from away at Portsmouth, away at Barnsley, away at Bolton, away at Peterborough……a little trend.

 

[kieran_vale]

Not much to say on us other than I hope we name the youth team as I just cannot tolerate seeing that useless bunch of wankers we have for senior pros any more.

Either way by full time I’m pretty certain Cambridge fans will be wondering what all the fuss was about.

 

[Si Robin]

View attachment 20132

As you might expect, there's a good few dead rubbers here to be dutifully plodded through, but a surprising number of games still matter, so a quick summary of those ones:

Barnsley v Cobblers - the former have shat the bed form-wise which is a terrible outcome heading into the playoffs, even taking the drastic step of canning their manager. They are still not guaranteed a playoff place either.
Derby v Carlisle - DCFC all but guaranteed an auto-slot being 3 points ahead of Bolton with a superior GD, but never say never...
Exeter v Oxford - the latter are just outside the playoff spots, behind Lincoln on GD only, so they need to do better than Lincoln tomorrow
Fleetwood v Burton - Burton really need to win here to be guaranteed a higher finish than Chelts, but Chelts have to win to stand any chance of finishing above Burton
Lincoln City v Portsmouth - Lincoln will want the win here to seal their playoff spot, it's a nothing game for title winners Pompey.
Posh v Bolton - weirdly this could be replayed as the Playoff final soon after. Marginally more meaningful for Bolton, who could mathematically seal an auto spot should Derby lose and they make up lost GD - but that's pretty damn unlikely. Otherwise both teams are effectively guaranteed 4th and 3rd spot respectively.
Vale v Cambridge - Cambridge need a point to guarantee safety, or Cheltenham not to win
Reading v Blackpool - incredibly unlikely it'll happen but Blackpool could bag the last playoff spot, would require poor showings from both Lincoln and Oxford though
Stevenage v Chelts - what looked until relatively recently a stinker of a final day fixture for relegation dogfighters Cheltenham now looks considerably less daunting, what with recent poor SFC form, and (love him or hate him) the loss of figurehead Steve Evans to Rotherham. Only a win is good enough for Cheltenham, and even then that may not be enough depending on the Cambridge and Burton results


Ours is a total nothing game vs what is becoming a team of draw specialists in Charlton, if we have to face Alfie Fucking May (to give him his full name) better that it happens in a dead rubber.

Can I just say thank you to thewwfc for doing these on every matchday. I'll miss them next season if we go down on Saturday.

As for the game - we've sold out our initial allocation of 500 tickets and are waiting on a new load to be released. Fortunately, I bought mine and my son's on Sunday, but a few friends of mine are now fretting (they'll be alright though).

All we can do is our best - do our part then pray.

 

[Floreat Salopia]

Leyton Orient (H)

Thank God we got that point on Saturday at Charlton or we’d be needing something here, thankfully we’re on the beach and I hope we field as many reserve/youth players as possible for this. Result doesn’t matter one bit, just happy this nightmare season is finally over.

Goodluck to Cheltenham, Burton and Cambridge on the final day. Whoever ends up dropping it’ll be a shame for this forum as all fans of those clubs that post on here are sound lads who offer positive, sensible posts to the League One forum.

 

[The Terminator]

Leyton Orient (H)

Thank God we got that point on Saturday at Charlton or we’d be needing something here, thankfully we’re on the beach and I hope we field as many reserve/youth players as possible for this. Result doesn’t matter one bit, just happy this nightmare season is finally over.

Goodluck to Cheltenham, Burton and Cambridge on the final day. Whoever ends up dropping it’ll be a shame for this forum as all fans of those clubs that post on here are sound lads who offer positive, sensible posts to the League One forum.

Do the buses still run to the ground from the bus station by the Premier Inn? Also after the game how quickly do you think the first one back will depart after the game?

First visit here in ten years and wanting to plan a quick trip home!

 

[EricSabin]

Barnsley (a)

For the teams hoping for a favour I’m not sure it’ll happen, I think we’ll get beat

Taking 1,300 or so up which is decent for a 5 hour round trip and an early kick off. Looking forward to it as I’ve never been to Barnsley.

 

[Arbury]

Barnsley (a)

For the teams hoping for a favour I’m not sure it’ll happen, I think we’ll get beat

Taking 1,300 or so up which is decent for a 5 hour round trip and an early kick off. Looking forward to it as I’ve never been to Barnsley.

Lovely ground and a short walk from the centre with a decent amount of boozers for all of your drinking needs, would recommend Annie Murray’s for Guinness if that strikes a cord, lovely drop in there with a decent atmosphere.

KTF.

 

[Floreat Salopia]

Do the buses still run to the ground from the bus station by the Premier Inn? Also after the game how quickly do you think the first one back will depart after the game?

First visit here in ten years and wanting to plan a quick trip home!

I’m fairly confident they still run but not 100% certain if I’m honest as I walk from the town centre to the stadium (only a 20-25 minute walk). If they do run, then then won’t leave the stadium until about 15 or 20 minutes after full time whistle as they try and clear the car park and block off cars that are exiting Lidl which can take some time. By the time they reach the town centre, it would have just been quicker to walk in all honesty.

 

[Arbury]

So here we are in very annoying circumstances but no point dwelling on could have been’s, we just need to get a result. think it’s natural to think the worst though and after last year when we was in Cheltenham’s position and managed to stay up so anything is possible.

Annoyingly I can’t make the game as I’ve already booked a trip with the kids but hoping and praying we perform and vale just aren’t interested and are already in holiday mode.

KTF.

 

[thewwfc]

Can I just say thank you to thewwfc for doing these on every matchday. I'll miss them next season if we go down on Saturday.

Thanks, although I have to say the L2 ones are better/more detailed than mine, so I don’t think you’ll miss out, regardless of results on Saturday.

Good luck to all the sides with something to play for, I’m pleased we’re not having the brown trouser experience on final day, but we all know how fragile football clubs can be so any of us could be a season of mismanagement away from the same.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Looking at finishing the season 10 unbeaten so I don't think it will be the doddle that Oxford fans think.
Full house and we are painting the stands red, apparently.
Should be a good game, think we can win it though and secure our visit to the three sided ground next season

 

[valefan16]

Our farewell to League One... cant wait..

As for the game it will likely annoy me in one of two ways... either we are as crap as we have been, half arsed and show zero pride

or

We will come out, put in a performance, get a positive result and that will irritate me even more if they put in a show now the horse has bolted.

Cambridge have asked for the full allocation so one bonus to them still being in with a chance of doom is £££ for us I guess! A Cambridge fan on here said after the reverse that both sides will be fine this season! Criminal that either side has got into this position really from a decent start.

Looking forward though to watching the game with absolutely zero pressure and looking forward even more to 14:25ish on Saturday when this whole saga is over and hopefully a proportion of this squad never wear the Vale crest again!

 

[gijsbert_bos]

Reading v Blackpool - incredibly unlikely it'll happen but Blackpool could bag the last playoff spot, would require poor showings from both Lincoln and Oxford though

Not necessarily. If Barnsley lose, as they have done on a regular basis lately, and one of Lincoln or Oxford fails to win, Blackpool will make the playoffs with a win at Reading.

Tricky still, with Reading's home record, but not "incredibly unlikely" in my opinion.

 

[Tangerine_tart]

Not necessarily. If Barnsley lose, as they have done on a regular basis lately, and one of Lincoln or Oxford fails to win, Blackpool will make the playoffs with a win at Reading.

Tricky still, with Reading's home record, but not "incredibly unlikely" in my opinion.

Agreed. We have a good a chance as any going into the final match. Sneaking into the playoffs on the final day would be typical Blackpool.

 

[SF_]

Yeah, I do think Blackpool will rag it to be honest, they're just scabby bastards.

 

[coronakopite]

Even though Burton should be at home on Fleetwood's tight muddy beach that'll have had two days rain, I can see Fleetwood winning to save Cheltenham's bacon. They must have a decent chance of rolling over Stevenage and if they do, deserve survival.

A win at Vale would be a nice way to round off a forgettable season. Disappointed to be missing Burslem's finest hostelries but not to be missing the game. I'll probably even pass up the chance to watch it on iFollow as I sit waiting to get on a boat in Portsmouth - a holiday agreed to in an unguarded moment 2 years ago.

 

[YEO YEO YEO]

Lovely ground and a short walk from the centre with a decent amount of boozers for all of your drinking needs, would recommend Annie Murray’s for Guinness if that strikes a cord, lovely drop in there with a decent atmosphere.

KTF.

Agree with the above, except the Guinness. Really enjoyed my last 2 trips to Barnsley. Expected far worse, but a proper old school ground sandwiched in and rising above all the terraced houses. Winning on both visits helps of course

 

[Bartonyellow]

Fleetwood away. What should have been a dead rubber is now a potential must win.
We have sold 550 tickets as of last night so could nudge 1000 by Saturday which is decent.
I think we will play for a draw but if we do go for it like we did Saturday we are more then capable of winning.
And that is the most annoying part. We rarely play well as have set up all season with 5 at the back and 1 up front. And when we mixed it up Saturday we scored 3 goals - 2 in ten minutes.

Prediction 1-1

 

[leedsvaliant]

Even though Burton should be at home on Fleetwood's tight muddy beach that'll have had two days rain, I can see Fleetwood winning to save Cheltenham's bacon. They must have a decent chance of rolling over Stevenage and if they do, deserve survival.

A win at Vale would be a nice way to round off a forgettable season. Disappointed to be missing Burslem's finest hostelries but not to be missing the game. I'll probably even pass up the chance to watch it on iFollow as I sit waiting to get on a boat in Portsmouth - a holiday agreed to in an unguarded moment 2 years ago.

It's much maligned is Burslem....it used to be a fine town, at the heart of a thriving industry. If you look up at some of the buildings, you can see it was once a prosperous place. It now resembles a former model who has had a 20 year smack habit. Stoke-on-Trent Council has to be the single worst in the country. The city centre is worse! However, it must be a half decent away day. It's not positioned on one of these horrible retail parks like Derby, or with a Premier Inn/Brewers Fayre next to it like our lardy neighbours. It's got character and some really good old school pubs within walking distance. I've been to many worse away days.

As for the game, if Cambridge don't get a point from us then they deserve to go down. Our record against some of the teams around us, some of whom are worse than us, has been appalling. So a game with nothing riding on it is hardly going to transform these bunch of losers into winners. If I see players like Loft playing for us again it will be too soon. How has this man made a living as a professional footballer?

 

[GeneralLee]

Looking at finishing the season 10 unbeaten so I don't think it will be the doddle that Oxford fans think.
Full house and we are painting the stands red, apparently.
Should be a good game, think we can win it though and secure our visit to the three sided ground next season

I'm not sure anyone thinks it'll be a doddle. I actually don't see us winning. If any OUFC fan thinks it'll be a doddle they have obviously forgotten the entire season and last!

We are horribly unpredictable and need to recruit well in the summer. If we do make the play offs it'll be a hell of an achievement...

 

[denzel ecfc]

I'm not sure anyone thinks it'll be a doddle. I actually don't see us winning. If any OUFC fan thinks it'll be a doddle they have obviously forgotten the entire season and last!

We are horribly unpredictable and need to recruit well in the summer. If we do make the play offs it'll be a hell of an achievement...

Just going by the poll on your forum

Away Match Build Up - 27/04/2024: L1 - Exeter City v OUFC

Link to Pre Match Pack

yellowsforum.co.uk

 

[The Terminator]

I’m fairly confident they still run but not 100% certain if I’m honest as I walk from the town centre to the stadium (only a 20-25 minute walk). If they do run, then then won’t leave the stadium until about 15 or 20 minutes after full time whistle as they try and clear the car park and block off cars that are exiting Lidl which can take some time. By the time they reach the town centre, it would have just been quicker to walk in all honesty.

Thanks for the help, google maps has it down as a 50min walk from the station (not always accurate) so wasn't sure whether to get the bus again like I did on our last two visits. I don't mind walking so will probably do that then.

As for the game, Wellens has been messing about a bit with the team for a few weeks and our levels have dropped. We might play our back up keeper Sam Howes with nothing riding on the game, neither of us are potent in front of goal so this will be a 0-0 or 1-0 either way. Dan Agyei will start up front again and probably play 70mins, sadly when he inevitably goes off we don't have a decent fit enough replacement and our goal threat will probably go with it.

 

[dannylad01]

Thanks for the help, google maps has it down as a 50min walk from the station (not always accurate) so wasn't sure whether to get the bus again like I did on our last two visits. I don't mind walking so will probably do that then.

As for the game, Wellens has been messing about a bit with the team for a few weeks and our levels have dropped. We might play our back up keeper Sam Howes with nothing riding on the game, neither of us are potent in front of goal so this will be a 0-0 or 1-0 either way. Dan Agyei will start up front again and probably play 70mins, sadly when he inevitably goes off we don't have a decent fit enough replacement and our goal threat will probably go with it.

Going slowly is max half an hour from the station. As Floreat says, no more than 20-25 minutes really. I walk it most home games, usually encounter a few away fans walking up

 

[denzel ecfc]

Hopefully we can actually play at Shrewsbury on a Saturday next season..

 

[Throbber_for_Dunk]

Am I watching us, Cheltenham or Burton this weekend?

Bricking this, purely on the basis of equal and opposite reactions after last year. And a dodgy lasagna for our centre backs.


If we go down, we'll have not been in the relegation all season AND missed a string of opportunities to get safe. Praying we don't go full Bristol Rovers and spend only the final 10 minutes of the season in the drop zone!

 

[dannylad01]

Hopefully we can actually play at Shrewsbury on a Saturday next season..

And likewise Shrewsbury at Exeter at a weekend. My wife's got friends in Exeter who we would stay with for a weekend game

 

[Bar Carousel]

Looks like we'll be giving a run out to some of our squad players who have failed to break back in to the team earlier in the season after recovering from injuries.

Mousinho says he's aware of needing to provide a competitive team out of respect to all those in the mix for a play off place.

Imagine it would still be a strong line up regardless given the strength in depth we've had this season.

 

[LordJord]

Not really fussed about Saturday, just want to avoid any crazy injuries on the last game of the season. Would be nice to finish mid table but honestly im not overly fussed.

Do you get more money for finishing higher up the table? I know you do in the premier league but not sure if the same applies down the pyramid.

All eyes for me are on Monday when the retained list will come out.

 

[dannylad01]

Thanks for the help, google maps has it down as a 50min walk from the station (not always accurate) so wasn't sure whether to get the bus again like I did on our last two visits. I don't mind walking so will probably do that then.

As for the game, Wellens has been messing about a bit with the team for a few weeks and our levels have dropped. We might play our back up keeper Sam Howes with nothing riding on the game, neither of us are potent in front of goal so this will be a 0-0 or 1-0 either way. Dan Agyei will start up front again and probably play 70mins, sadly when he inevitably goes off we don't have a decent fit enough replacement and our goal threat will probably go with it.

Club have announced that the buses are running from the bus station to the ground at 10:45 and 11:45 Saturday. Not sure on heading back