The L2 Playoffs

[Dirk Diggler]

Sure, when we played you at the County Ground you played a very pretty short passing game but were unable to adapt to when we pressed you and you paid the price. I just don’t think if you are challenged physically your teams strength is to adapt to that. Nothing disrespectful but that’s just how I see it.

Fair enough. If I remember you pressed us the CG and came away with the result. At VP you didn't, hence..... You now know what you have to do.
Should be two good games. I will take a draw in the home leg as we have been dynamite away from home this season, Barrow, Crawley and 1 or 2 others not withstanding

 

[kieran_vale]

Fair enough. If I remember you pressed us the CG and came away with the result. At VP you didn't, hence..... You now know what you have to do.
Should be two good games. I will take a draw in the home leg as we have been dynamite away from home this season, Barrow, Crawley and 1 or 2 others not withstanding

Aye and if our press doesn’t work you will win it easily. The game at VP where we looked very lethargic showed that.

Truth be told there’s about three or four very strong arguments you could make in favour of Vale or Swindon and all being told it wouldn’t surprise me if this tie goes the distance to pens. Will be great to watch for everyone else due to the clash of styles but torture for the fans of both clubs is my prediction.

 

[Soup Ladle]

Four strong teams must be said, all looked way superior to us in at least one of the two games they played against us. Mansfield a bit less so and probably the outsider of the four I'd say.

Swindon by far the most dynamic. Good midfield and McKirdy is far too good for L2. They're bang in form so they're my tip.

 

[EricSabin]

4 wins and a draw from our last 5, if we can get over the gut punch of not going up automatically I fancy us.

 

[masi51]

I fancy Tranmere in the play offs

 

[denzel ecfc]

Still a bit of disappointment after yesterday but the big picture is that I am so glad not to be involved in these.

Vale were effective without being particularly dominating, think they will need a bit more than that though.
Mansfield looked the best side against us at their place, but that was a while ago and not sure why they fell off so much since.
Northampton have a bit of sympathy after yesterday's results, they can produce results, but I still recall two seasons ago and they can have another season here for that reason.
We beat Swindon twice, but they play good football and it would be a good story for them if they went up.

So, no clear favourites. Heart says Swindon, head says Mansfield.

 

[PuB]

4 wins and a draw from our last 5, if we can get over the gut punch of not going up automatically I fancy us.

Yeah, you guys still have the momentum if you ask me. Get over what happened yesterday quickly and I see you doing very well

 

[Huntsman94]

Swindon would be my pick for the playoffs. If Northampton can get over yesterdays heartbreak then can see them two contesting the final.

 

[Agombar stool]

Que sera.

 

[Conker]

Still a bit of disappointment after yesterday but the big picture is that I am so glad not to be involved in these.

Vale were effective without being particularly dominating, think they will need a bit more than that though.
Mansfield looked the best side against us at their place, but that was a while ago and not sure why they fell off so much since.
Northampton have a bit of sympathy after yesterday's results, they can produce results, but I still recall two seasons ago and they can have another season here for that reason.
We beat Swindon twice, but they play good football and it would be a good story for them if they went up.

So, no clear favourites. Heart says Swindon, head says Mansfield.

Not many picking Mansfield, actually generally quite dismissive of our chances but I can’t say anything because I am aswell.

I think it’s four very closely matched teams mind.

 

[Big Bird]

Love and hate the play-offs in equal measure.

Will be a horrendously long week. Whatever happens next Sunday i'd put my last quid on it coming down to the last minutes at Vale Park and whoever going out thinking they should be the ones going to Wembley.

Good luck all but not too much.

 

[chipmunx]

I don't care which team goes up really - I just hope Northampton don't lose the play off final by a goal after leading with minutes left.... I think their fans would rather lose the semi-final than have a heartbreak as bad as yesterday again.

 

[Trapdoor]

I can see Northampton winning it but I would much rather Swindon did. We NEVER win at Sixfields whereas the county ground is often quite a happy hunting venue for us.

(Plus it's pretty local and we need to ensure L1 becomes "the southern EFL league".)

 

[kieran_vale]

In theory I don’t think Northampton need to pick themselves up too much. They pretty much did their job it just took a once in a lifetime type story for Rovers to get ahead of them so it’s not as though they blew it. If forced into a pick right now I slightly lean towards Mansfield as their attacking threat is greater but as is the case in both ties it will go down to the wire.

 

[FGR-Star]

Think it'll be Swindon too, but I want Vale to go up. Had a few seasons of rubbish and tough times like us so those are the ones I'll be cheering for.

Come on the Vale!

 

[Conker]

Mansfield

Strength - High class midfield

Weakness - Notorious chokers

Choose your fighter I guess!

High class midfield is definitely a big strength for Mansfield but I actually think Clough has ruined it a bit trying to fit in Murphy and Akins from January. If he can get the midfield diamond balanced right we will stand a much better chance.

 

[cookiemonster]

Vale I hope after all that DC has been through.

Just try and avoid going behind at the County Ground or I predict you will come away arguing for the 60-minute stop-clock.

 

[kieran_vale]

I’m guessing we are looking at moving Swindon fans elsewhere and giving home fans the Hamil for this game reading between the lines

https://twitter.com/x/status/1523244650991136768

 

[Indian Dan]

No absolutely not. Swindon should get 2000 maximum and that is it. I am sick of us playing nice with other clubs on this and not getting anything in return. Frankly if it was up to me find the most restricted view section in the ground and stick them there.

It’s not down to being nice. It’s down to whether your club wants to cash in or not. If not, then fair enough - just give us what we give you.

 

[valefan16]

It’s not down to being nice. It’s down to whether your club wants to cash in or not. If not, then fair enough - just give us what we give you.

We will get cash though as home fans would be in the spare areas.

 

[Vale on Trent]

Give Swindon the same allocation as they give us. Fill the ground with more Vale fans not more away fans.

 

[Vale on Trent]

It’s not down to being nice. It’s down to whether your club wants to cash in or not. If not, then fair enough - just give us what we give you.

We can cash in by having extra home fans, not away fans.

 

[Indian Dan]

Be funny as fuck if you don’t sell out, though!

Would have thought you’d have been better off doing the restricting away fan numbers for the Newport game - you may have been in the autos then.

 

[kieran_vale]

Be funny as fuck if you don’t sell out, though!

Would have thought you’d have been better off doing the restricting away fan numbers for the Newport game - you may have been in the autos then.

We might not but given the significantly reduced home capacity at least it gives more Vale fans the opportunity to be there. Same as what Swindon are doing for the first leg. Other clubs have been doing it too such as MK and I don’t think they will sell out either.

 

[Indian Dan]

Seems to be a new thing this year for some reason.

 

[hellogregory]

Port Vale can go up - they beat us twice - we beat all of the others though

But should Barrow have won the two games? That’s the biggest and most important question.

 

[Randolph Haggerty]

I would imagine Swindon would sell their allocation at vale easily, that’s 60-80k with no home games for three months...
We haven’t had more than 14k home fans for many years, can we really do without that cash?
I’ve not been in the Hamil end for some time, is the concourse even splittable?
I’m not sure, but if is only 900 they are giving us (confirmed is it that?) I can see why people are unhappy.

 

[kieran_vale]

Seems to be a new thing this year for some reason.

I suppose clubs are making the calculation that they can make up any shortfall with the TV revenue so will go to press the home advantage. This is a whole new learning experience for us as we haven’t been in a playoff game for nearly 30 years but I believe the gate receipts are all pooled together over the ties and then split between the four clubs evenly.

 

[The Terminator]

I fancy Swindon, just think their style of play and excellent away form may be enough to get them over the line.

 

[Indian Dan]

I suppose clubs are making the calculation that they can make up any shortfall with the TV revenue so will go to press the home advantage. This is a whole new learning experience for us as we haven’t been in a playoff game for nearly 30 years but I believe the gate receipts are all pooled together over the ties and then split between the four clubs evenly.

But the POs have always been televised. I’d happily keep things as they are. We can give you a max of just over 3,000 - you give us your max. Numbers don’t really matter at this level. It’s when the tinpotters with only room for 1,000 away fans need to be restricted to a similar amount.