The L2 Playoffs

[Lancs@(Bantam)]

Still in the balance and a nightmare to call, but one thing is for sure is Vale are deffo not going up as they're our conjoined twin and unfortunately for them we've had an absolute disaster of a season so they're stuck down here with us another season.

 

[valefan16]

Still in the balance and a nightmare to call, but one thing is for sure is Vale are deffo not going up as they're our conjoined twin and unfortunately for them we've had an absolute disaster of a season so they're stuck down here with us another season.

We came a down a year before so we need to go up a year before you to keep the equilibrium flowing between the two VPs!

 

[leedsvaliant]

Still in the balance and a nightmare to call, but one thing is for sure is Vale are deffo not going up as they're our conjoined twin and unfortunately for them we've had an absolute disaster of a season so they're stuck down here with us another season.

Can't disagree with that logic. As long as it happens next year for both of us!

 

[Lancs@(Bantam)]

Can't disagree with that logic. As long as it happens next year for both of us!

Not a problem if it doesn't happen for you guys this season then just hold on tight to us as next season I'm almost certain Hughes is taking us up Next season.

 

[Gassy]

Not a problem if it doesn't happen for you guys this season then just hold on tight to us as next season I'm almost certain Hughes is taking us up Next season.

Whilst I would probably agree on a basic logic of fans base, budget and his experience - what makes you say that?

As for tomorrow game - intriguing. Swindon are at their best away from home but in fine form. Vale have DC back though and their win against Exeter was absolutely massive.

Really tough one to call

 

[saddler78]

Played both recently and Swindon were a lot better being completely honest in fact i would say they are the best attacking side in the division including Forest green Rovers and Exeter.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Played both recently and Swindon were a lot better being completely honest in fact i would say they are the best attacking side in the division including Forest green Rovers and Exeter.

Rovers, in the form we were in, would have beaten all of these. No Coutts and we still won 7-0.

Swindon the best ive seen too though but id love Garner to fail

 

[Indian Dan]

Tell you what I’ve noticed in most of the PO games - teams just aren’t brave enough to carry on playing. Last night Mansfield we’re cruising at 2-0 then, 2nd half, go all hoofball and piss and panic and let Cobblers dominate them. Based on that, whoever wins the other semi will win at Wembley.

COYR!

 

[Indian Dan]

Rovers, in the form we were in, would have beaten all of these. No Coutts and we still won 7-0.

Swindon the best ive seen too though but id love Garner to fail

So, just why did Garner fail at the Gas? I’d imagine his brief was similar to ours, possession football, bring in players, improve them and sell on for a profit, give youth a chance. I’d also imagine your budget would have been well more than ours and we’re also under an embargo.

 

[Trapdoor]

The mental side of the game is so hard in these ties. Once a little bit of doubt sets in it can rapidly snowball into a complete collapse. Game plan often goes out the window and players who are normally calm and collected start punting % balls for fear of making mistakes.

It's bad in the semi finals, even worse in the final.

 

[Gassy]

So, just why did Garner fail at the Gas? I’d imagine his brief was similar to ours, possession football, bring in players, improve them and sell on for a profit, give youth a chance. I’d also imagine your budget would have been well more than ours and we’re also under an embargo.

He came into a winning team who were 4th in L1 at Christmas and destroyed it by brining in absolutely terrible players who were young and not ready for EFL football. (Signed people from youths of other clubs).

He had a huge amount of pressure and budgets, which at yours has been the opposite. He’s obviously learnt from his mistakes as well tbf to him, because my god - he would refuse to admit he got anything wrong after losing 5-0 at home and that his game plan was working.

Guy was deluded. In fact, so bad that I still think you’re the outsider in seeing him do ok. Let’s see what he can do next season with some actual budgets and pressure

 

[Indian Dan]

That’s fair enough. But, surely, if Garner told the club when interviewed what his vision/plan was, then the owner must have agreed with him. He’s done exactly the same with us - albeit from ground zero. Average age here is 23. To be sure, he’ll have a decent budgie next season whether we go up or not.

 

[Gassy]

That’s fair enough. But, surely, if Garner told the club when interviewed what his vision/plan was, then the owner must have agreed with him. He’s done exactly the same with us - albeit from ground zero. Average age here is 23. To be sure, he’ll have a decent budgie next season whether we go up or not.

That was absolutely the plan, but when you’re fighting for promotion to relegation because of that manager - suddenly long term plans go out the window.

And we felt it for a while, terrible back room staff and he didn’t even have an assistant manager as he thought he didn’t need one

Honestly I think the whole thing humbled him a bit tbh, we was cocky and arrogant coming from big teams’ coaching setups. A harsh lesson for both of us. It took Barton the season to completely tear apart his work and that’s still ongoing as well tbh.

I will give him credit though as he’s never spoken ill of us really, considering the amount of stuff that’s come out about him.

Do you think you’d get a good budget for L1 level next year if you go up?

Looking forward to todays game, you hammered us at our place - although we were a very different team. Then at yours you weren’t great and it seems we’ve both stepped up another few gears since then

 

[Indian Dan]

Tbh, I don’t know what a decent budget would be. We’re still clearing Power’s debt mountain but attendances are well up on what was budgeted for, looking forward to £1m from the Twine sell on. I’d imagine STs would increase hugely. Don’t know how much the POs are worth. Probably try and buy Simpson from Ipswich. It looks like our most important players are keen to sign extensions if we go up or not. McKirdy has already signed.

You’re right, though. Every game we’ve lost we should have won if it wasn’t for that pesky ref. I was very anti before Xmas - the football was mind numbingly pedestrian but when we lost players in January he was forced to change tack and it’s been for the better.

Hopefully we’ll show that this afternoon!

 

[Spanishstag]

Love it that most seem to be writing us off ,not only that but a few are writing the winners of our game of as well ,both of us have shown resilience throughout the season so there could be egg on a lot of faces come 28th may

 

[Gassy]

Tbh, I don’t know what a decent budget would be. We’re still clearing Power’s debt mountain but attendances are well up on what was budgeted for, looking forward to £1m from the Twine sell on. I’d imagine STs would increase hugely. Don’t know how much the POs are worth. Probably try and buy Simpson from Ipswich. It looks like our most important players are keen to sign extensions if we go up or not. McKirdy has already signed.

You’re right, though. Every game we’ve lost we should have won if it wasn’t for that pesky ref. I was very anti before Xmas - the football was mind numbingly pedestrian but when we lost players in January he was forced to change tack and it’s been for the better.

Hopefully we’ll show that this afternoon!

Surely Ipswich won’t let Simpson go out in a permanent? Wasn’t the loan cancelled so that they can extend his contract to keep him?

 

[Indian Dan]

Oh, he’s off for sure. They triggered the extension to ensure they get a fee. They e shat on the lad just because he wouldn’t sign a new contract. He was in with the Town fans at Walsall last week - as were Kessler-Hayden and Joe Tomlinson who we had on loan.

 

[Gassy]

Oh, he’s off for sure. They triggered the extension to ensure they get a fee. They e shat on the lad just because he wouldn’t sign a new contract. He was in with the Town fans at Walsall last week - as were Kessler-Hayden and Joe Tomlinson who we had on loan.

Fair enough, that’s disappointing to hear he was with your fans as I’d quite like us to sign him

 

[kieran_vale]

Not asking for much from Vale today. Just to give their all and have a 5-0 lead by half time.

UTV

 

[The Evil Dead]

Arse like the Japanese flag. Fuck sake.

 

[valefan16]

Arse like the Japanese flag. Fuck sake.

Yeah fairly nervous this morning, just hoping we get one of those huge away performances we’ve put in against sides doing well this season and pick up a decent result to take back to VP.

Super Vale Away!

 

[EricSabin]

Just watched that game back. Our penalty shout in the last minute how is that a Mansfield free kick haha. Christ alive. First also offside but what can you do.

Mansfield looked ropey in that second half, set up nicely for Wednesday.

 

[EricSabin]

Looking forward to today’s game as well. The two times I’ve seen them each I think Swindon have looked the better side.

 

[valefan16]

Interestingly we are in our gold away kit for the first time in months! We’ve only won in it once… that was at Swindon.

 

[Claret Forever]

I think the free kick was almost certainly a pen, but then again I'm not convinced Guthrie really won that foul at the end when Oates was almost free 1-on-1, so swings and roundabouts.

Port Vale I saw first game of the season, and I thought they gave us a good game even with 10 men for 45 minutes and were unlucky to lose. Thought they'd be there and there abouts even after that first 90 minutes. Swindon obviously did horrible things to us away .It was with the benefit of that 3 week covid break rusting us up, but they've definitely got quality to punish teams if they want to.

 

[Indian Dan]

Back from the beach. Had a swim, pissed in the sea, saw some old German woman topless with the world’s saggiest tits.

Hoping for something more uplifting this afternoon!

 

[EricSabin]

Back from the beach. Had a swim, pissed in the sea, saw some old German woman topless with the world’s saggiest tits.

Hoping for something more uplifting this afternoon!

Now to watch 22 more tits for 90 minutes!

 

[AdamStag]

I think looking back last night we were probably just in the fortunate side to win given our no show in the 2nd half.

We sat back too much and gave northampton too much respect when we should have just carried on doing what we did so well in the 1st half.

Playoffs are never simple and i’m sure wednesday will be a tense affair.

 

[Indian Dan]

I’ll keep abreast of the game

 

[kieran_vale]

Looks like it’s going to throw it down in Swindon before the game, give us the full experience of that away end. I hope Carol has got the workmen ready to remove the roof off the Bycars by Thursday