Promotion Thread

[miagsygas]

To be honest, not sure if the full house is a good thing or a bad thing.

Good thing if Barnet go a goal down or something along those lines
Bad thing if the pressure starts to rise and things aren't going our way to begin with.

 

[BeesKnees]

Definitely a good thing for us regardless of the result as this could repair some of the damage caused by the move and also speed up the completion of our half built stadium.

All our players have played in front of bigger crowds and won so I don't really see the crowd being an issue, go a goal down and we will be encouraging the team even more imo. Pressure will be if Rovers go ahead and we aren't playing well or it starts looking like one of those days where the ball refuses to go in.

 

[rudebwoyben]

It sounds that there will be hardly any Heed fans at the Hive as it has been announced that the ground won't be segregated for Saturday's match.

 

[BeesKnees]

Allen has announced the team for Saturday:

Stack, Yiadom, Johnson, N’Gala, Stephens, Togwell, Weston, Vilhete, Clifford, Gash and Akinde.

So we will play narrow, overlapping full backs with the aim of swamping midfield and preventing the Gateshead passing game.

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

Not sure I agree with announcing the team so early. The preparation for this match should be as normal as possible.

 

[BeeSting]

Knowing Allen its a double bluff and he'll make about 4 changes.

 

[Harrier94]

How Allen hasn't named Villa to start amazes me

 

[GTFC1979]

It sounds that there will be hardly any heed fans as it has been announced that the ground won't be segregated for Saturday's match.

That is shock news..........!

 

[DoorBuzzer]

How Allen hasn't named Villa to start amazes me

That's what I say every week. The most skillful player in the squad by a country mile. If we don't go up it would be a colossal waste of his abilities to spend another year in this division.

Gateshead wont be easy. They could well turn up wanting to impress in front of the cameras to find new clubs or move to Wrexham with Mills. Plus they have John Oster! Personally I think we will draw 1-1. What then happens at Rovers is what matters.

 

[Gassy]

Well I have been a wreck of nerves for the last few days now. This week has gone so slow

 

[Gashead]

Well I have been a wreck of nerves for the last few days now. This week has gone so slow

Imagine how bad it would have been if we'd won on Saturday?

I've gone from my state of dejection on Saturday to a slight optimism over the last day or two - we've got nothing to lose I suppose. We've just got to do our thing and hope there's a few twists and turns at the Hive. Unless there's an early Barnet goal, I think that may well be the case.

 

[Master D]

That's what I say every week. The most skillful player in the squad by a country mile. If we don't go up it would be a colossal waste of his abilities to spend another year in this division.

Gateshead wont be easy. They could well turn up wanting to impress in front of the cameras to find new clubs or move to Wrexham with Mills. Plus they have John Oster! Personally I think we will draw 1-1. What then happens at Rovers is what matters.

Pretty sure we will announce Mills tomorrow, and even if we don't I can't see any way in which he can take charge of the match when everyone knows he's been talking with us. Whether his exit will make a difference who knows as they've been in poor form anyway but seeing as Gateshead are a funny team, if it clicks with them they can beat anyone.

 

[BeesKnees]

Pretty sure we will announce Mills tomorrow, and even if we don't I can't see any way in which he can take charge of the match when everyone knows he's been talking with us. Whether his exit will make a difference who knows as they've been in poor form anyway but seeing as Gateshead are a funny team, if it clicks with them they can beat anyone.

He took training at Gateshead today.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Jesus, I don't miss the nerves that Barnet and Bristol fans must be feeling right now. 2 years ago us and Kidderminster went into a Final day show down, We played a Wrexham team made up of the only 11 fit players then had and Kiddy played a Stockport side who were shite. It was the worst day of my life. The atmosphere around the town in the morning started great, hundreds of fans out enjoying themselves but as kick off got closer and closer it got worse.

Thankfully we went 1-0 and held onto it so we never lost 1st place all afternoon. Good luck to you both though!

 

[Master D]

He took training at Gateshead today.

He might well have done, but whether he'll be there come Saturday is a different question!

 

[miagsygas]

Can only agree with those who said above, this week has been a pain in the ass. It's dragging like mad. Seems like the 5 kick off is going to make Saturday drag too. And Barnet will probably win 2-1 with a last minute winner which will make that ninety minutes drag.

As for Mills, I still don't know how that'll effect Gateshead. Could go either way, if he stays or goes. Just another variable.

 

[BeesKnees]

Certainly not dragging for me, I'm lapping it up.
Whatever happens Saturday is going to be brilliant. I never expected us to have this chance so I'll make the most of it. Give me a promotion battle over a relegation scrap every season, whatever happens the buzz this has created has got the enthusiasm and excitement back from before those 5 desperate years where in the end relegation was a relief.

 

[hellogregory]

Hopefully Bristol Rovers get back up at the first attempt, whether that be automatically or playoffs.

It will also be nice to see Barnet again next season.

 

[BeesKnees]

I know we are unlikely to ever match Bristol Rovers, Grimsby and Wrexham for support but I've been massively impressed by the numbers for both ours and the Bristol Rovers game. We will have over 5000 home fans which is our second best in over 20 years, only beaten by the day we left Underhill. There are 22 tickets left for Gateshead fans and a few in hospitality.

 

[PBBee]

It is going to be weird (although not at all uncommon for the conference) to have basically no away fans at 2 sold out grounds tomorrow.

How many are Alfreton taking? Having you given them a small section compared to normal?

 

[Luke Imp]

Well I have been a wreck of nerves for the last few days now. This week has gone so slow

Better than waiting on a relegation decider!

 

[DarkSithLord]

How many are Alfreton taking? Having you given them a small section compared to normal?[/QUOTE]

The club has paid for an extra coach. We are expected to taking around 100 fans. A pretty poor effort (even by our standards) for what rests on the game for us.

Unfortunately though its well documented how the people of Alfreton dont care. We only managed to muster an extra 850-900 fans on "Pay what you like day". The majority of which took the piss and paid pence to get in. Long gone are the days when we regularly attracted 1000-1200 week in week out in our first season at this level.

 

[miagsygas]

Certainly not dragging for me, I'm lapping it up.
Whatever happens Saturday is going to be brilliant. I never expected us to have this chance so I'll make the most of it. Give me a promotion battle over a relegation scrap every season, whatever happens the buzz this has created has got the enthusiasm and excitement back from before those 5 desperate years where in the end relegation was a relief.

I'm sorry, I just can't see how you can say it'll be brilliant no matter what happens on Saturday. We've not been in poll position all season looking like Champions Elect and yet I'll still feel a little disappointed should we not win the title on Saturday. Don't get me wrong, I'd definitely take playoffs and after a day or two i'll be fully geared up for the playoffs but there would certainly be a bit of what could we have had. Obviously i'm not telling you how you feel, but I cannot imagine you'd be happy if the title was thrown away on the last day, that's just natural as a football fan.

 

[Gashead]

It is going to be weird (although not at all uncommon for the conference) to have basically no away fans at 2 sold out grounds tomorrow.

How many are Alfreton taking? Having you given them a small section compared to normal?

Yes, we have given the 'away terrace' to home fans and reduced their numbers in the stand. But they're still bringing more than a few teams have this season, fair play to 'em.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

While both southern its abit win win for me sat....If Rovers come up they at least bring good numbers despite distance and if Barnet come up we can at least renew that ridiculous OTT rivalry between Carlisle/Barnet which at least makes to nothing matches abit of fun on the forums.

I think its barnet's anyway, If Bristol were to have been destined for this title they'd won last week when given their opportunity. I suppose the only positive they have is not having to look over shoulder and just going for it.

and hopefully macc can nick a play-off place I'd rather not have Eastleigh or FGR's up as neither adds anything for Carlisle (no away fans and inflated wages in the division).

 

[BeesKnees]

I'm sorry, I just can't see how you can say it'll be brilliant no matter what happens on Saturday. We've not been in poll position all season looking like Champions Elect and yet I'll still feel a little disappointed should we not win the title on Saturday. Don't get me wrong, I'd definitely take playoffs and after a day or two i'll be fully geared up for the playoffs but there would certainly be a bit of what could we have had. Obviously i'm not telling you how you feel, but I cannot imagine you'd be happy if the title was thrown away on the last day, that's just natural as a football fan.

I thought the title had been lost a couple of months ago and fully expected Bristol Rovers and Grimsby to go past us ( I even bought playoff final tickets ), then with 2 minutes to go last weekend it was definitely all over.

Having the chance to go up without caring about other results is a massive bonus and takes the pressure away as far as I'm concerned. If we win we deserved to go up, if we don't win then we deserve the play-offs and can look forward to 2-3 more games so I can go and enjoy it. I'd rather that than your situation were you could end up watching your team win only to discover it wasn't enough ( We had that when we played Fulham some years back when trying to get into the playoffs and the feeling when you find out your win wasn't enough is horrible).

I suspect my view is very different to yours as I would rather see us enjoying success in the conference than struggling in league two. For me it's not about which league in the pyramid we play, it's how enjoyable it is to go and watch us play. We are not a big club and have no right to believe we should be playing 1-2 divisions higher so give me drama at the right end of the table any day.

We have had a tough few years with our fan base reduced by relegation dogfights followed by some not coming to the new ground when we moved, the fact we will have a good crowd and atmosphere tomorrow means more to me than the silverware as it's a sign things are turning round and people are enjoying the football.

After supporting Barnet for over 40 years days like tomorrow are there to be enjoyed as they only come around once in a while.

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

Surprisingly, this week hasn't dragged like I thought it would.

Nice little pub crawl last night in St. Albans, absolutely knackered this morning and looking forward to crashing tonight. Early start tomorrow for the Watford game, pub at 12, and then before you know it, into the ground for 4. Then the nerves might kick in.

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

I'd rather that than your situation were you could end up watching your team win only to discover it wasn't enough ( We had that when we played Fulham some years back when trying to get into the playoffs and the feeling when you find out your win wasn't enough is horrible).

If memory serves, the game before the Fulham game we threw away a win at Leyton Orient, conceding right at the end through a goalkeeping error which meant it wasn't in our hands anymore. It was a sickner to play Fulham off the park but knowing that results weren't going in our favour elsewhere.

 

[miagsygas]

I thought the title had been lost a couple of months ago and fully expected Bristol Rovers and Grimsby to go past us ( I even bought playoff final tickets ), then with 2 minutes to go last weekend it was definitely all over.

Having the chance to go up without caring about other results is a massive bonus and takes the pressure away as far as I'm concerned. If we win we deserved to go up, if we don't win then we deserve the play-offs and can look forward to 2-3 more games so I can go and enjoy it. I'd rather that than your situation were you could end up watching your team win only to discover it wasn't enough ( We had that when we played Fulham some years back when trying to get into the playoffs and the feeling when you find out your win wasn't enough is horrible).

I suspect my view is very different to yours as I would rather see us enjoying success in the conference than struggling in league two. For me it's not about which league in the pyramid we play, it's how enjoyable it is to go and watch us play. We are not a big club and have no right to believe we should be playing 1-2 divisions higher so give me drama at the right end of the table any day.

We have had a tough few years with our fan base reduced by relegation dogfights followed by some not coming to the new ground when we moved, the fact we will have a good crowd and atmosphere tomorrow means more to me than the silverware as it's a sign things are turning round and people are enjoying the football.

After supporting Barnet for over 40 years days like tomorrow are there to be enjoyed as they only come around once in a while.

I think you'd be suprised at how similar things are for us.

The last 5/6/7 years for Rovers fans have been miserable. Stadium issues, a drastically underperforming team year in year out under terrible owners with highly overpaid players not fit to wear any football shirt. Last year we had players who absolutely ran the asylum, rumours of regular drinking, alledged rumours of heavier stuff going on and then a painful relegation on the last day.

This season has been a pleasure.

Clarke has got players playing for the squad, we might not be the best team in the world but I genuinely thought midtable. Passion that I haven't seen in this club for years. Not all fans can take the conference like I have personally, there are one or two that won't see success in the conference like success at all. I know that sounds ridiculous, but a few of the older ones who have seen us actually be pretty good just can't really take it.

That being said, I really didn't see a time we'd be getting 11,000+ at home this season.

At the end of the day, we could have virtually won the league on Saturday and you could have definitely won the league. We both missed a chance. You are rightfully big favourites - check the bookie odds - and many don't think you'll slip up.

I think our positive to take is that we were, what, 11 points behind? Would have been a mammoth task to take you and if we don't, we're in the playoffs, which I would have took. But I genuinely think, whoever loses it, will have disappointment, you'd have to be to have a sniff at the title and lose it in 90 minute.

Also, even if you yourself aren't feeling any nerves, pressure, anything, I'm sure individuals in both teams will be. 8 or 9 times out of 10 we hold on to that lead against Dover but for some reason we didn't. Allen adjudged to your team feeling the pressure in the first half against Kiddy, Akinde I believed missed a chance to win it that I'm sure he usually tucks away. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying you're going to choke it away, your as likely to as we are and I have a feeling we both win on Saturday, just saying that it's perfectly natural to feel some sort of pressure.

 

[rudebwoyben]

The later kick-offs will make things worse for the fans' nerves, that's for sure.
Thankfully, for me, I am doing a couple of energetic things beforehand that will take my mind off the match until I get to the Hive!
I agree with Steve, that it is much nicer to be involved in a final day cliffhanger at the right end of a league table. Being involved in a never-ending struggle against relegation was corrosive to my sense of optimism, faith in human nature and sanity!