The L2 Playoffs

[F!RTHY]

Anyone know how many tickets have been sold?

 

[EricSabin]

Anyone know how many tickets have been sold?

50,000 for Wembley already, just neutrals

 

[Saxon Red]

Might watch the game tonight. All academic if we don't do the business tomorrow, but am interested to see whose style of play we might match up best against should Swindon get to the final.

Mansfield I thought were going to storm it at one stage. But I've not seen them play. Heard they are a good attacking side but leaky in defence. So a bit like us, but we've improved in the latter regard since Conroy and Baudry formed a partnership.

Northampton we stuck 5 past earlier this year. But weren't they a bit of a brick outhouse team, which is often the style we come unstuck against.

 

[Spanishstag]

50,000 for Wembley already, just neutrals

Ah the pull of the stags

 

[Spanishstag]

50,000 for Wembley already, just neutrals

Nervous as fook but hey ho its gonna come out in the wash its gonna be a right old night good luck to everyone involved

 

[leedsvaliant]

As I've said before, I think they've got the technically better players than us but we've got more heart for the battle. It just depends what comes out on top.

Swindon have had moderate success in recent years. We've had 1 promotion in 30 years and that was 10 years ago! We deserve it as a club, our owners deserve it, our manager deserves it and our long suffering fans deserve it. Let's hope that's enough.

 

[Indian Dan]

If your players aren’t careful you may not end up with 11 on the pitch.

 

[leedsvaliant]

If your players aren’t careful you may not end up with 11 on the pitch.

I think this has been overplayed a bit. Charsley made a few stupid fouls but there was nothing massively malicious about it. I think we're just a more physical side than you which might help in a cup like game. Williams and Payne don't seem to fancy a physical battle. If they can play their way around us then fair play but I just hope the ref doesn't fall for Williams constantly on his arse. I can see some significant shithousery coming our way.

If you think we are bad, you wanted to play against Bristol Rovers the other week!

 

[valefan16]

I think this has been overplayed a bit. Charsley made a few stupid fouls but there was nothing massively malicious about it. I think we're just a more physical side than you which might help in a cup like game. Williams and Payne don't seem to fancy a physical battle. If they can play their way around us then fair play but I just hope the ref doesn't fall for Williams constantly on his arse. I can see some significant shithousery coming our way.

If you think we are bad, you wanted to play against Bristol Rovers the other week!

We need a strong referee, he was weak at the weekend with Williams and the dive by McKirdy, the lad holding his face when Charsley caught him in the gut, We know what they do, they were doing it Sunday and did it at VP in January but as long as we are physical not dirty it’s fine.

I never felt we were at risk of a red on Sunday for instance.

It’s like Crewe in the early 10s when Micky Adams used to send Griff out to land one of them early doors.

If we don’t press and get in their faces we will end up with a long night.

 

[Indian Dan]

Most sides have been more physical than us this season - it won’t come as much of a surprise - but we are a lot more resolute of late.

Depends on what your player’s brief is. Hell for leather from the start, or a bit more circumspect and play a waiting game.

I’ll guarantee we’ll score.

 

[Conker]

had a feeling Clough would change things round today, very interesting line up and I’m not sure how he’s gunna set us up.

Longstaff and Murphy dropped.

 

[Strawberry_Jam]

Only really without McGowan for us...although that is a big weakness with us playing LB Mills at RB.
Also a worry on the fitness of Eppiah and Appere. Lewis back on the bench is notworthy if not interesting.

 

[Saxon Red]

I think this has been overplayed a bit. Charsley made a few stupid fouls but there was nothing massively malicious about it. I think we're just a more physical side than you which might help in a cup like game. Williams and Payne don't seem to fancy a physical battle. If they can play their way around us then fair play but I just hope the ref doesn't fall for Williams constantly on his arse. I can see some significant shithousery coming our way.

If you think we are bad, you wanted to play against Bristol Rovers the other week!

The point is, Vale players were allowed to get away with a lot of bad challenges early on. Had a yellow card or two been given - as they should have been - then our creative but small midfielders would have been able to play a bit more. As to the 'clash of heads' that the referee did not even stop the game for at first - it wasn't a clash of heads but an elbow in the back of Egbo's head. Definitely a yellow, arguably a red. Need a much stronger ref for the second leg.

 

[Conker]

No Maris at all for Mansfield, comfortably one of our most important players in midfield, our main guy to distribute the ball. Concerning.

Very slow midfield, personally like to see Lapslie in.

 

[Gassy]

Good luck both - may the best team win!

 

[Conker]

Considering that line-up, I doubt you’ll see the good football like we did in the first half in the first leg.

 

[kieran_vale]

No Maris at all for Mansfield, comfortably one of our most important players in midfield, our main guy to distribute the ball. Concerning.

Very slow midfield, personally like to see Lapslie in.

Is Lapslie just not getting a look-in? He’d be one my first names on the teamsheet.

 

[valefan16]

Most sides have been more physical than us this season - it won’t come as much of a surprise - but we are a lot more resolute of late.

Depends on what your player’s brief is. Hell for leather from the start, or a bit more circumspect and play a waiting game.

I’ll guarantee we’ll score.

I think both sides will score it’s going to be a question of if we get one more or not but I expect us to be patient rather than gung ho and leave the back door open.

 

[Cas]

Watching on a dodgy stream with a window size that Josef Frtizl would be proud of. Hopefully be a good game for the neutral. Really impressed by Mansfield when they beat 2-0 so will just go for them. 2-1.

 

[Conker]

Is Lapslie just not getting a look-in? He’d be one my first names on the teamsheet.

He’s had a stop-start season with injuries and inconsistency to boot, he is a threat goal wise but gone missing a lot this season too.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Most sides have been more physical than us this season - it won’t come as much of a surprise - but we are a lot more resolute of late.

Depends on what your player’s brief is. Hell for leather from the start, or a bit more circumspect and play a waiting game.

I’ll guarantee we’ll score.

I think you'll score too but I always thought we would have to score minimum 2 at home. Even if you score first, we shouldn't panic.

I think we need to press sensibly in the right areas otherwise we'll leave ourselves too open.

I just hope it isn't one of those stop/start games punctuated by loads of soft fouls. It gets on everybody's nerves.

 

[leedsvaliant]

He’s had a stop-start season with injuries and inconsistency to boot, he is a threat goal wise but gone missing a lot this season too.

I always see him as one of your best. I'd be happy to take him next season.

 

[Indian Dan]

Helter skelter stuff so far. Not much quality on show.

 

[YEO YEO YEO]

Whats happening with Northamptons far stand? Is it being extended etc?

 

[Conker]

Poor quality overall and a nervous start from Mansfield as expected.

Stags fans sound good though.

 

[Indian Dan]

Don’t think anyone has strung more than 2 passes together yet.

Suit Stags

 

[Bartonyellow]

1-0 stags. Driving seat.

 

[Indian Dan]

Distinct lack of fouls/free kicks

 

[Gassy]

Northampton been on the front foot here, but apart from the chance in the first min, haven’t really done anything.

Mansfield soaking up the pressure well

 

[SVH]

Looked a stonewall penalty to me that.