The L2 Playoffs

[AdamStag]

Football is wank.

For what it’s worth to northampton fans all we had to just get a draw at MK several seasons ago lost 1-0 and got a mystery trip to newport (which no-one ever wants)

 

[Bottega Don]

Really feel for Northampton with everything that happened, wanted them to win the play-offs.

Think they'll come back stronger and push for autos next year, don't think any of the L1 relegated teams will threaten. Really hope they go up next year.

 

[Back in the DHSS]

From what I saw of the game, Northampton didn’t get any of the big decisions.
Didn’t think Mansfield had it in them to defend like that, so well done to them for that.

 

[Lancs@(Bantam)]

Well done and congrats to Mansfield on reaching Wembley, I predicted you to go up through the play offs earlier in this thread. There wasn't a huge amount of insight that went into that prediction as my game knowledge of L2 this season was very limited to say the least, as once our season went to sh1t again lol my toys were well and truly out the pram and as a result I only saw limited amount of games, but one game I did see was Hughes first game in charge at VP to witness Mansfield absolutely demolish us in every department possible, and remember thinking they have the ingredients to succeed at this level if they turn up like this every game.

 

[AnotherStagsFan]

Just got home, can’t say that was enjoyable having no possession and constant balls into the box but superb defensive performance, didn’t think we had it in us.

Not sure what everyone is crying about decisions but I didn’t have the luxury off replays so could be talking rubbish. It seemed like everytime Northampton got the ball near the box they would just dive and hope for a pen.

Northampton day trippers running onto the pitch while we were surrounded by cops.

 

[Casey]

Just watched the highlights and I've got to say that (from them) Mansfied had the ref on their side. Definitely a pen for me from the throw in. Goal should have been ruled out as the Mansfield striker went for the ball, a possible red for a wild tackle and a sure red for smacking the Northampton player round the head.

Regardless, you have to feel for Northampton. That's a very harsh end of season for them.

I will say I'm hoping for a Vale v Mansfield final with Port Vale winning but only because Port Vale normally beat us.

Casey

 

[kieran_vale]

Just watched the highlights and I've got to say that (from them) Mansfied had the ref on their side. Definitely a pen for me from the throw in. Goal should have been ruled out as the Mansfield striker went for the ball, a possible red for a wild tackle and a sure red for smacking the Northampton player round the head.

Regardless, you have to feel for Northampton. That's a very harsh end of season for them.

I will say I'm hoping for a Vale v Mansfield final with Port Vale winning but only because Port Vale normally beat us.

Casey

It’s quite heartwarming to know that the Vale are the peoples champions in these playoffs. We’ll skip past any possible ulterior motives.

 

[AdamStag]

From what I saw of the game, Northampton didn’t get any of the big decisions.
Didn’t think Mansfield had it in them to defend like that, so well done to them for that.

it’s refreshing to get the decisions for once.

Surprised about tonight, both in our defensive ability but also northampton’s attempt at attaching.

They should focus more on football than just diving all the time.

 

[Stagat]

To the normal stags on here, enjoy Wembley

Thanks mate.

 

[Super_horns]

Just watched the highlights and I've got to say that (from them) Mansfied had the ref on their side. Definitely a pen for me from the throw in. Goal should have been ruled out as the Mansfield striker went for the ball, a possible red for a wild tackle and a sure red for smacking the Northampton player round the head.

Regardless, you have to feel for Northampton. That's a very harsh end of season for them.

I will say I'm hoping for a Vale v Mansfield final with Port Vale winning but only because Port Vale normally beat us.

Casey

VAR might have viewed things differently.

Then again you might still be playing !

 

[Indian Dan]

From what I’ve seen from the POs this year the refs seem unwilling to make any big call for fear of getting it wrong - pens, red cards, even yellow cards most of the time.

Anyway, we’ll done Mansfield. See you at Wembley!

 

[EricSabin]

Just got home, can’t say that was enjoyable having no possession and constant balls into the box but superb defensive performance, didn’t think we had it in us.

Not sure what everyone is crying about decisions but I didn’t have the luxury off replays so could be talking rubbish. It seemed like everytime Northampton got the ball near the box they would just dive and hope for a pen.

Northampton day trippers running onto the pitch while we were surrounded by cops.

The fans who ran on the pitch were your lot FYI, hence the orange flare and the fact they went straight over to our players

 

[Uncle Pastuzo]

Puzzled why it wasn't given as offside when a player standing yards off hares after the ball but stops in his tracks when a teammate who is onside presumably gives him a call. Albeit briefly he's occupying defenders' thought processes and field of vision and therefore interfering, surely?

 

[EricSabin]

Puzzled why it wasn't given as offside when a player standing yards off hares after the ball but stops in his tracks when a teammate who is onside presumably gives him a call. Albeit briefly he's occupying defenders' thought processes and field of vision and therefore interfering, surely?

And the lino feints to put the flag up as well so everyone hesitates for half a second.

I think Peter Walton said by the letter of the law the goal should stand so. (Yes, sadly that boring old drone is a Cobblers fan so we have to put up with him on radio Northampton too)

 

[Gassy]

And the lino feints to put the flag up as well so everyone hesitates for half a second.

I think Peter Walton said by the letter of the law the goal should stand so. (Yes, sadly that boring old drone is a Cobblers fan so we have to put up with him on radio Northampton too)

Yeah it is a goal, the stupid rule is that the lino can’t flag until the offside player has touched it.

Not sure if that overrules the interfering with play rule these days though - assuming it does?

 

[Uncle Pastuzo]

If it does override interference, a canny coach could engineer a tactic where a group of players deliberately stand offside and chase down the ball but with instructions not to touch it, while one stays just onside and takes possession.

 

[Soz]

im amazed at that law change then if you have to touch the ball to be offside. he was passing to quinn who chased after the ball and was 5 yards off.

 

[Conker]

I think the yellow card for Wallace was bang on, so was Pinnock for Northampton very similar challenge, both poor challenges not helped by the conditions.

The ‘penalty’ from the throw in, I see stuff like every weekend at L2 to be honest, like I mentioned I’m with Curle and McClean on this, a few of the penalties shouts after this were comical. Lack of appeal for a lot of them from the players says it all to me.

IMO referee biggest mistake was not booking Quinn for being a tit, other than that I thought he had a strong game blanking out the noise.

 

[Soz]

not sure if this has been posted but as expected the police are blocking access to bycars lane for home supporters after the game.

pyro dogs can't be a real thing surely?

We would ask that all home supporters who would normally use Bycars Lane as a way of leaving the stadium seek an alternative route at the end of the match.


To facilitate this, stewards and police will be on hand to prevent home fans accessing Bycars Lane for a period of time after the final whistle.

If Bycars Lane is an essential route for you when leaving the ground, we ask that you be patient and wait as we work to clear away fans to their transport.

Measures in place will include:

• No pedestrian egress (access) allowed for Home Supporters on to Bycars lane from Access road A (At the back of the Railway Stand) for a period of time after the final whistle
• No pedestrian egress (access) allowed for Home Supporters from off Lorne Street car park (Car park D) on to Bycars Lane for a period of time after the final whistle
• No pedestrian access from the Railway Paddock Stand via the exit route that runs alongside the corner stand towards Bycars Lane for a period of time after the final whistle
• No pedestrian access from the Railway Stand towards Bycars Lane for a period of time after the final whistle

Tommy Cheadle's will also be open prior to the game for home supporters only.

Please be aware that Pyro Dogs will also be in attendance at Vale Park.

 

[EricSabin]

I think the yellow card for Wallace was bang on, so was Pinnock for Northampton very similar challenge, both poor challenges not helped by the conditions.

The ‘penalty’ from the throw in, I see stuff like every weekend at L2 to be honest, like I mentioned I’m with Curle and McClean on this, a few of the penalties shouts after this were comical.

IMO referee biggest mistake was not booking Quinn for being a tit, other than that I thought he had a strong game blanking out the noise.

The penalty second half on Appere was a pen. Appere gets there ahead of the defender and defender gets the back of him.

 

[EricSabin]

not sure if this has been posted but as expected the police are blocking access to bycars lane for home supporters after the game.

pyro dogs can't be a real thing surely?

They were at both legs of ours

 

[EricSabin]

The exodus has started as well. Our assistant Colin Calderwood (who many credit with our defensive solidity) is off to Swansea. Couldn’t even have a few days before everyone went.

Expect Roberts, Horsfall and McWilliams to go too.

 

[Spanishstag]

Brilliant performance last night ,it was a classic away performance and tbh i didnt think we had a clean sheet in us ,

 

[Indian Dan]

We haven’t got that sort of performance in our locker. If we go through it’ll be by going for it.

 

[AnotherStagsFan]

The fans who ran on the pitch were your lot FYI, hence the orange flare and the fact they went straight over to our players

Well if they were then they’re idiots for throwing on orange flare (colour nothing to do with us) and pushing Bowery (doubt a stags fan would do that)

 

[Arbury]

Feel a bit sorry for Northampton, quite clearly didn’t get the rub of the green last night with certain decisions going Mansfield’s way, hopefully they’ll come back stronger next yr although I do fear for them hanging onto there best players, think we was interested in horsfall at some stage.

KTF

 

[Claret Forever]

I think Horsfall is the third highest rated centre-back in the league based on whoscored.com ratings, just below Guthrie and Turnbull (and by god, we know a good centre-back at least based on all of those playing for us in the last 3 years), so he'll definitely be off up the leagues though I would't be surprised if he goes a bit higher than Camrbridge. If Goode went to Brentford, Horsfall isn't that far behind him on quality in honesty. Roberts will be gone, Calderwood is off to Swansea as mentioned, and likely lose McMilliams but he's the only one who might not get a higher move being a unfanciable DM and being abit injury prone.

Still, compared to the year we went up and last year, the squad needs far less surgery than previous years. 3 of the back 4 are under contract, Aperre has two years on him, Sowerby, Pinnock and Hoskins in midfields still have another year. Most of the out of contract players are fringe ones that aren't good enough like Rose, Ashley-Seal, Pollock, Mills, Harriman or loanees who other than Eppiah were all failures, that we'll be looking to improve on.

Going to be tough again to recruit, as we've got a midtable budget that might be squeezed further if Stockport and Wrexham come up with big spending owners, and most of our succesful signings came from Foyle who picked them up from Scotland (McGowan, Pinnock, Apperre, Guthrie) who has already left, and Calderwood going as well leaves us very light on recruiting experience.

Brady has got a very tough job for his second year manging a professional team, but the bones are there so we shouldn't struggle at least.

 

[leedsvaliant]

More examples of the arrogance coming from the Swindon camp....this time from their captain:


We play better football than them, we're better footballers, so we’ve just got to take care of the physical side of the game and we’ll be alright.

“We don’t need to give anyone elbows, we just need to compete with them. We’re a fit side, we’re a strong side, we are very good with the ball.

“We don’t choose to lump the ball in the air, but when we needed to, we’ve obviously shown that we can.

"On Thursday, we've just got to do what we did [on Sunday] and that's compete. Hopefully we can get the clean sheet on Thursday and we'll be through to Wembley ".

I'd be embarrassed if our players talked so disparigingly of the opposition.

 

[Indian Dan]

No you wouldn’t. You’d love it.

 

[Conker]

The fans who ran on the pitch were your lot FYI, hence the orange flare and the fact they went straight over to our players

'Not safe anymore': Mansfield player attacked by pitch invader who threw flare at team

Another pitch invasion turned nasty during the EFL play-offs as a Mansfield player was targeted on Wednesday night. After Sheffield United’s Billy Sharp was assaulted by a Nottingham Forest f…

talksport.com

No idea why one of your lot had a orange flare.