Promotion thread

[AdamStag]

A win tomorrow over stevenage will all but secure playoffs and put us 1 behind 3rd.

Just a shame that easter has hobbled us, admittedly i thought we’d bottle it and finish 9th - hopefully im wrong for once.

 

[Spanishstag]

Nothing to apologise, us mansfield fans are the same in apologising for spanish stag, every club has a few fans who are a few sandwiches short of a picnic.

The ignore button is a wonderful tool.

As i’ve said confidently across the board we wouldn’t go up, and today has confirmed it.

I wish the top 3 the very best of luck in league 1 next seas

A win tomorrow over stevenage will all but secure playoffs and put us 1 behind 3rd.

Just a shame that easter has hobbled us, admittedly i thought we’d bottle it and finish 9th - hopefully im wrong for once.

 

[Spanishstag]

Erm wrong for once

 

[leedsvaliant]

After having had time to dwell on it, I can't help thinking that if we don't go up from here we'll have wasted a massive opportunity.

As said previously, any other team in our position, 5 points clear with 4 games to go, would have had this sewn up by now.

I can't see us doing anything in the playoffs and the teams in this division next year are going to make it harder for us to repeat. Stockport, potentially Wrexham joining us, AFC Wimbledon have just had a really smart new stadium in a really good spot in London that will start to generate income, Doncaster and Gillingham will be tough places to go, Hughes will spend big at Bradford, Swindon if they don't make it, likewise Tranmere. Salford will throw money at it again. Plus any of the others that don't make it up.

I suspect we might be waiting some time for another chance as good as this.

 

[Devon_Lad]

The reds are going up

 

[valefan16]

After having had time to dwell on it, I can't help thinking that if we don't go up from here we'll have wasted a massive opportunity.

As said previously, any other team in our position, 5 points clear with 4 games to go, would have had this sewn up by now.

I can't see us doing anything in the playoffs and the teams in this division next year are going to make it harder for us to repeat. Stockport, potentially Wrexham joining us, AFC Wimbledon have just had a really smart new stadium in a really good spot in London that will start to generate income, Doncaster and Gillingham will be tough places to go, Hughes will spend big at Bradford, Swindon if they don't make it, likewise Tranmere. Salford will throw money at it again. Plus any of the others that don't make it up.

I suspect we might be waiting some time for another chance as good as this.

I think whatever happens (and i still have hope), once the dust settles its been a remarkable achievement regardless.

You need some luck for a promotion and we've had pretty much everything go against us, if we go up they should make a statue of AC/DC in that embrace at Hartlepool because it would be an incredible achievement. If not maybe its a step to far with what we've had against us.

Knowing how close knit the squad is for example and knowing what happened to DC when you think to that Tranmere game for instance days after for them boys to dig that equaliser out with what the place had gone through in the days before was phenomenal.

If we fall short once the dust settles and as fans the emotion of it passes I think we will look back with huge pride on this season, with better fortune I am sure we will do all we can to put it right next season.

 

[leedsvaliant]

I think whatever happens (and i still have hope), once the dust settles its been a remarkable achievement regardless.

You need some luck for a promotion and we've had pretty much everything go against us, if we go up they should make a statue of AC/DC in that embrace at Hartlepool because it would be an incredible achievement. If not maybe its a step to far with what we've had against us.

Knowing how close knit the squad is for example and knowing what happened to DC when you think to that Tranmere game for instance days after for them boys to dig that equaliser out with what the place had gone through in the days before was phenomenal.

If we fall short once the dust settles and as fans the emotion of it passes I think we will look back with huge pride on this season, with better fortune I am sure we will do all we can to put it right next season.

I think that's a decent shout. I'm currently coming from a place of disappointment but I'm sure once the dust settles we'll look back on this as a really good season out of massive adversity.

 

[kieran_vale]

After having had time to dwell on it, I can't help thinking that if we don't go up from here we'll have wasted a massive opportunity.

As said previously, any other team in our position, 5 points clear with 4 games to go, would have had this sewn up by now.

I can't see us doing anything in the playoffs and the teams in this division next year are going to make it harder for us to repeat. Stockport, potentially Wrexham joining us, AFC Wimbledon have just had a really smart new stadium in a really good spot in London that will start to generate income, Doncaster and Gillingham will be tough places to go, Hughes will spend big at Bradford, Swindon if they don't make it, likewise Tranmere. Salford will throw money at it again. Plus any of the others that don't make it up.

I suspect we might be waiting some time for another chance as good as this.

I don’t see why you think if we make the playoffs we couldn’t go and win them. All the teams in the playoff race are relatively evenly matched and all have their own flaws. I certainly wouldn’t fear playing any of them and likewise anyone else to us. We’d also have Gibbo back and maybe Brad Walker also by then. I do think some of our fans haven’t helped lately with all the nervous energy they keep showing either during games or online etc. Some of this seems to be feeding to the team and then increasing it in the other direction. To me there’s nothing be nervous about unless league status was at risk. This is just something people should be excited for.

Regards next season you’re also making an assumption we won’t strengthen also from a higher base than the other teams mentioned. I am almost certain we will as DC and Flitcroft will have been working on this in the background. In terms of money it should also be noted I believe in a month or two we will have finally paid off the fat prick for VP and that will free up a lot of finance for us.

 

[Indian Dan]

I think most of our fans are quite relaxed about tonight in particular and the final games in general.

Most feel we’ve blown our chances with such pathetic home form. The feeling around the club is that we are on the up come what may this season - nearly out of debt, embargo finishing, revamped ground in the pipeline and crowds up massively.

 

[Devon_Lad]

I think most of our fans are quite relaxed about tonight in particular and the final games in general.

Most feel we’ve blown our chances with such pathetic home form. The feeling around the club is that we are on the up come what may this season - nearly out of debt, embargo finishing, revamped ground in the pipeline and crowds up massively.

I've got you down as PO winners after your victory tonight against the villagers.

 

[Indian Dan]

Can’t see it, tbh. We’ll probably beat FGR then lose to Barrow

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Can’t see it, tbh. We’ll probably beat FGR then lose to Barrow

Lets get the first bit out of the way and then worry about Saturday then shall we?

 

[valefan16]

I don’t see why you think if we make the playoffs we couldn’t go and win them. All the teams in the playoff race are relatively evenly matched and all have their own flaws. I certainly wouldn’t fear playing any of them and likewise anyone else to us. We’d also have Gibbo back and maybe Brad Walker also by then. I do think some of our fans haven’t helped lately with all the nervous energy they keep showing either during games or online etc. Some of this seems to be feeding to the team and then increasing it in the other direction. To me there’s nothing be nervous about unless league status was at risk. This is just something people should be excited for.

Regards next season you’re also making an assumption we won’t strengthen also from a higher base than the other teams mentioned. I am almost certain we will as DC and Flitcroft will have been working on this in the background. In terms of money it should also be noted I believe in a month or two we will have finally paid off the fat prick for VP and that will free up a lot of finance for us.

Exactly, we've taken four points of Mansfield, 3 of Bristol Rovers, 3 of Swindon, 3 of Sutton, 2 of Tranmere so no reason we can't beat anyone in the play offs, it will be four even sides by league position so anyone can beat anyone... no bookie would be able to give a clear favourite and are a lottery of sorts.

Gibbons will be back for Newport and up to speed as will Pett so we should hit them far stronger than we have been in recent weeks and have to enjoy whatever happens.

I do think Northampton will drop points so hopefully we can just relax, enjoy the two matches and try and at least force them into winning both to go up... if we fall short we have to focus on the play offs which is still a great achievement regardless and a chance of Wembley (first time at the new one if we did).

 

[kieran_vale]

Exactly, we've taken four points of Mansfield, 3 of Bristol Rovers, 3 of Swindon, 3 of Sutton, 2 of Tranmere so no reason we can't beat anyone in the play offs, it will be four even sides by league position so anyone can beat anyone... no bookie would be able to give a clear favourite and are a lottery of sorts.

Gibbons will be back for Newport and up to speed as will Pett so we should hit them far stronger than we have been in recent weeks and have to enjoy whatever happens.

I do think Northampton will drop points so hopefully we can just relax, enjoy the two matches and try and at least force them into winning both to go up... if we fall short we have to focus on the play offs which is still a great achievement regardless and a chance of Wembley (first time at the new one if we did).

Yeah tonight and Saturday will be interesting to watch. At least we will know what we have to do by the time our game kicks off on Monday. Also regardless how things play out if we beat Newport we take it to the final game with it still all to play for and if you had offered me that prior to Northampton on opening day I would have snapped your hands off.

If we do make the playoffs depending who we play I think the club should make very plain to any opponent that the away allocation they get is dependent on what we get. So if there is a team who will only give us 1000 that is all they will have in return. I know it’d reduce gate receipts for that one game but it’s worth it not to give a team any sort of advantage there.

 

[valefan16]

Yeah tonight and Saturday will be interesting to watch. At least we will know what we have to do by the time our game kicks off on Monday. Also regardless how things play out if we beat Newport we take it to the final game with it still all to play for and if you had offered me that prior to Northampton on opening day I would have snapped your hands off.

If we do make the playoffs depending who we play I think the club should make very plain to any opponent that the away allocation they get is dependent on what we get. So if there is a team who will only give us 1000 that is all they will have in return. I know it’d reduce gate receipts for that one game but it’s worth it not to give a team any sort of advantage there.

100% and try and split the stand like Walsall did Saturday, even if you leave a larger block, why give say Bristol Rovers 4500 when we get 1500? or Mansfield for example 1800? Give them the same and open a couple of blocks of the Hamil to home fans.

 

[denzel ecfc]

100% and try and split the stand like Walsall did Saturday, even if you leave a larger block, why give say Bristol Rovers 4500 when we get 1500? or Mansfield for example 1800? Give them the same and open a couple of blocks of the Hamil to home fans.

I don't think Rovers can physically give any more than 1000 or so but you can, so it would seem a bit churlish to restrict them to that.

 

[Indian Dan]

Well, unless we get in the POs the likely candidates that will all have tinpot away allocations.

And that will bite them on the arse if they go up and can’t take advantage of some very big away followings in L1.

 

[valefan16]

I don't think Rovers can physically give any more than 1000 or so but you can, so it would seem a bit churlish to restrict them to that.

Its a fair point that why should we give an advantage to a side giving them 4500 allocation when we get 1000 for instance? It would be a big boost to have a large away following to their side, assuming we would sell out the home ends we should split it as I believe you have been doing in recent matches.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Well, unless we get in the POs the likely candidates that will all have tinpot away allocations.

And that will bite them on the arse if they go up and can’t take advantage of some very big away followings in L1.

To be fair even the current top 3 have smaller away allocations.
Also there are a fair fews clubs in L1 with piss poor away fans that will struggle to half fill them anyway

 

[Trapdoor]

The problem with playoffs is it's just a lottery. You have an off day and boom, the worse team is getting promoted.

Sometimes the best of the 4 teams win, but not often enough. Can't be dealing with that shit again. Seen us implode far too often at Wembley.

 

[Devon_Lad]

Its a fair point that why should we give an advantage to a side giving them 4500 allocation when we get 1000 for instance? It would be a big boost to have a large away following to their side, assuming we would sell out the home ends we should split it as I believe you have been doing in recent matches.

Do you have the same opinion if you get a big club in the FA cup? They only give you 4,500 because that's all they'd get at your place? What a pathetic thing to say

 

[Devon_Lad]

I wonder if Wembley and the EFL will only give Port Vale 14.5k tickets if they make it that far in the Play Off's, as that's all they fit in their home stands so why give them anymore?

 

[Conker]

Be too much Hassle if there is not a precedent to split the stand especially in such a important game anyway. Mansfield would love to offer more than 1800 tickets but until we sort out the bish that’s the lot, and to be fair that’s a perfectly reasonable allocation for L2 anyway.

During our non-league days we used to put a lot of teams in a block in the far left corner of our main stand. We should do the same when Sutton, Salford, FGR, Crawley etc come to visit if still allowed.

 

[Indian Dan]

1800 is OK. But just how do clubs with such small capacities ever hope to progress beyond yo-yoing between L1/2.

 

[Devon_Lad]

1800 is OK. But just how do clubs with such small capacities ever hope to progress beyond yo-yoing between L1/2.

Ask Burton, Yeovil (granted they're doing crap now, but they made the Champ), Wycombe.. None of them are exactly big grounds

 

[BRFC_Gas]

1800 is OK. But just how do clubs with such small capacities ever hope to progress beyond yo-yoing between L1/2.

Yeah may as well just shut up shop and not bother.....

 

[denzel ecfc]

Its a fair point that why should we give an advantage to a side giving them 4500 allocation when we get 1000 for instance? It would be a big boost to have a large away following to their side, assuming we would sell out the home ends we should split it as I believe you have been doing in recent matches.

Is having more home fans really an advantage? I can think of plenty of occasions where we have gone away to a side where they are having a big crowd, due to some cut price promotion or whatever, and we have spoilt the party

 

[denzel ecfc]

I'm pretty sure that last time we were in league one, there were only 3 or maybe 4 occasions when our away end was full, it had a capacity of 1300 in those days. These were the likes of Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton. Have things changed that much in ten years that we would expect this to be fill more often, will there be hordes coming down from the likes of Fleetwood, Accrington and Burton?

 

[valefan16]

Do you have the same opinion if you get a big club in the FA cup? They only give you 4,500 because that's all they'd get at your place? What a pathetic thing to say

FA Cup has different rules and our away end is similar in capacity to many Prem clubs! If 16000 Vale fans wanted to attend a play off semi at home then split the away end.

 

[Devon_Lad]

FA Cup has different rules and our away end is similar in capacity to many Prem clubs!

Not sure of the point you're trying to make. I'm aware the FA Cup has different rules, but you're not talking about rules. Your suggestion is to nullify the current 10% rule and simply give the opposition what your club was given at their place. Ludicrous. I'm sure you'd want to take more than 4,500 to Liverpool away, wouldn't you?