The L2 Playoffs

[kieran_vale]

With Covolan being a bit of a penalty expert I believe could it be McKirdy v Covolan to decide the tie if we threw him on just for pens!

That would be some story. Mind you I remember seeing an interview with Lucas a while ago about that conference playoff goal and he was saying it was the best moment of his career. He did kinda neglect to mention they actually lost the shootout in the end so his antics didn’t actually amount to much but never mind.

Doubt we’ll ever see him play for Vale again though. Just don’t think DC trusts him.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Any team with a decent midfield will cause us problems at Vale park because it's a big pitch and you don't feel tight in on it like some grounds. If we press and harry as well as we're capable then I'm sure we'll cause errors. We seemed better at it on Saturday.

Swindon at home was one of those games where we just sat and admired you knocking it about. We've had 3 or 4 this season where we've just turned up and haven't pressed....Walsall at home was another one.

If you like passing for passing's sake then I think we'll do well out of it. We thrive on teams knocking it about and then stealing possession high up the pitch. You've got a very strong front 5/6 but I'm not sure on your defence. You've only recently turned your form around with a fairly easy run in (apart from FGR), so there must be weaknesses there for the poor run you had before that.

I think all 4 playoff semis will be tight. We may get our first penalty of the season! Swindon have had 10!

 

[GEORGE]

I'm going for and hoping Port Vale win the play offs --Nothing against the other teams but purely for the fact DC was our manager. And before Swindon fans say "Ben Garner " was your manager as well --- Was he ?

 

[valefan16]

I'm going for and hoping Port Vale win the play offs --Nothing against the other teams but purely for the fact DC was our manager. And before Swindon fans say "Ben Garner " was your manager as well --- Was he ?

Seen loads of Rovers fans on social media declaring us their support for the play offs... sure we can count on Walsall fans to rally behind us with the love for DC too!

Was nice to see Saturday we did a guard of honour for Exeter and most of their players and staff gave DC words/cuddle.

 

[kieran_vale]

Seeing Widdringtons name mentioned there in charge of recruitment at one point at Rovers was a bit of an eye opener. Can’t speak to him post playing career but as a player the bloke was an absolute lunatic. Think he still holds the record for our quickest sending off ever by going two footed in on a Birmingham player one time straight after the kickoff and also got himself red carded against us when he was at Southampton for a challenge that would have been x rated even in the 1970s. Not the calm analytical mind I’d be having in charge of that.

 

[valefan16]

Any team with a decent midfield will cause us problems at Vale park because it's a big pitch and you don't feel tight in on it like some grounds. If we press and harry as well as we're capable then I'm sure we'll cause errors. We seemed better at it on Saturday.

Swindon at home was one of those games where we just sat and admired you knocking it about. We've had 3 or 4 this season where we've just turned up and haven't pressed....Walsall at home was another one.

If you like passing for passing's sake then I think we'll do well out of it. We thrive on teams knocking it about and then stealing possession high up the pitch. You've got a very strong front 5/6 but I'm not sure on your defence. You've only recently turned your form around with a fairly easy run in (apart from FGR), so there must be weaknesses there for the poor run you had before that.

I think all 4 playoff semis will be tight. We may get our first penalty of the season! Swindon have had 10!

The game at home to Swindon we hadn't played for 5 weeks in the league and had only played Brentford so probably explains why we hadn't the energy to press as it was a really bizarre set up.

I expect had Cov not gone Bruce Lee then we would have changed it to 3 up front second hald with Politic on and its a different second half but if you give Johnny Williams the space we gave him that day it will be an even bigger ask to get to Wembley. He literally had 20 yards of space every time he got the ball to spray it around and he is a quality player for this level.

It was one of two games I thought DC really got it wrong as we did identical away at Mansfield Town and had to defend for our lives to get a point.

 

[valefan16]

Seeing Widdringtons name mentioned there in charge of recruitment at one point at Rovers was a bit of an eye opener. Can’t speak to him post playing career but as a player the bloke was an absolute lunatic. Think he still holds the record for our quickest sending off ever by going two footed in on a Birmingham player one time straight after the kickoff and also got himself red carded against us when he was at Southampton for a challenge that would have been x rated even in the 1970s. Not the calm analytical mind I’d be having in charge of that.

Hasn't he done a decent job recently somewhere in non league?

 

[Crewelad87]

Hoping Swindon go up personally. We traditionally do terribly away at Swindon so getting rid of them would be good. Also they're the longest journey of the 4. I wouldn't be terribly unhappy with anyone but Vale being promoted though.

 

[valefan16]

Hoping Swindon go up personally. We traditionally do terribly away at Swindon so getting rid of them would be good. Also they're the longest journey of the 4. I wouldn't be terribly unhappy with anyone but Vale being promoted though.

You generally do terribly home and away against us!

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Hasn't he done a decent job recently somewhere in non league?

Well he relegated Kings Lynn although blames everything on his predecessors and facilities

 

[Big Bird]

Going for two away wins personally:

Swindon 0-1 Vale
Vale 1-2 Swindon

What happens thereafter is anyones guess.

 

[Indian Dan]

All this willy waving regarding away attendances forgets that a whole host of tinpotters in L2 have piss poor capacity for away fans sosome are sold out with less than 1,000.

Yes, I’m looking at you Rovers!

 

[BRFC_Gas]

All this willy waving regarding away attendances forgets that a whole host of tinpotters in L2 have piss poor capacity for away fans sosome are sold out with less than 1,000.

Yes, I’m looking at you Rovers!

You are surprised some (ex ) L2 teams have piss poor away capacity?? Strange...

 

[Indian Dan]

Some, yes.

 

[LordJord]

Not feeling confident about our chances against Mansfield. They seem to have a really strong midfield and I worry that we might get overrun. That and the fact that the squad are going to have to deal with being in the playoffs after the last days results.

Not having Roberts is terrible also, he was excellent up at Mansfield earlier in the season and has been voted our player of the season. Would absolutely snap your hand off for an away draw now.

That being said, we have started to find our shooting boots in recent weeks, so hopefully that can continue. Hopefully its just my pessimistic view and the squad can again prove a lot of doubters wrong. Think most thought we would fall away in the auto race (which i guess we did in the end!) and we are not fancied by anyone really for the playoffs. That was the case last time we were in this position and we came from behind against Cheltenham and dealt with Exeter comfortably.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Some, yes.

Better get up to the Championship then our kid

 

[Indian Dan]

We’re giving Vale our full allocation - approx 3,000. Hopefully this will be reciprocated.

 

[Indian Dan]

Better get up to the Championship then our kid

Probably will. Before some, I’d guess.

 

[kieran_vale]

We’re giving Vale our full allocation - approx 3,000. Hopefully this will be reciprocated.

If that's the case then I absolutely expect we'll give you the 4000 in the Hamil. Can't go up to 4500 I believe as the police usually net off the front couple of rows.

 

[Indian Dan]

We’re giving Vale our full allocation - approx 3,000. Hopefully this will be reciprocated.

Sensible all round. Probably what all the behind the scenes shenanigans were about.

 

[valefan16]

If that's the case then I absolutely expect we'll give you the 4000 in the Hamil. Can't go up to 4500 I believe as the police usually net off the front couple of rows.

Wonder if for the home end we could work a temporary concourse for the new part of the Lorne Street (even if reduced capacity) like fencing it on the walk way outside with portaloo's and a burger van or something?

 

[kieran_vale]

Wonder if for the home end we could work a temporary concourse for the new part of the Lorne Street (even if reduced capacity) like fencing it on the walk way outside with portaloo's and a burger van or something?

There must be a way of doing it you'd think. Obviously the corner of that stand where the Childrens Centre is Sky used that for the Bradford game to present from so assuming they will be live at the ground not in a studio not sure if that complicates things. It shouldn't do. Good news as well we should fit more than 8700 home fans in naturally for this one as flex 10's are not reserved seats now and also JV season tickets if one isn't purchased that one then goes to general sale too.

 

[Indian Dan]

Don’t know what’s worse for away fans. Our Home game kicking off at midday on a Sunday or Vale 7.45 on a Thursday.

Thanks, Sky.

 

[valefan16]

Vale have confirmed Swindon have given us a 2200 allocation.

 

[kieran_vale]

Aye, this season we will have been on TV four times now and potentially five depending if we are fortunate enough to get through. Normally don't get shown that much over the course of a decade so this is all new to us as well as being involved in this.

We are of course yet to win on TV this season so no time like the present lads...!

 

[Indian Dan]

Vale have confirmed Swindon have given us a 2200 allocation.

Yeah. You get the open Bank only. I thought a club had to offer a certain amount of covered seating.

 

[kieran_vale]

Been on that open end twice. First time Jan Fjortoft (sp?) tore us an absolute new one and the second time I just remember it absolutely pissed it down all day. Back in the heady days of us both being Championship clubs. Still once you've done Gillingham away anything is a doddle in comparison. Weather should be decent too.

 

[valefan16]

Aye, this season we will have been on TV four times now and potentially five depending if we are fortunate enough to get through. Normally don't get shown that much over the course of a decade so this is all new to us as well as being involved in this.

We are of course yet to win on TV this season so no time like the present lads...!

If we go to Wembley it will be 4 matches in 5 live on Sky! Feel like the new Leeds!

 

[FGR Stroud]

Checking previous EFL2 play off winners shows that 7th placed club has more promotion successes than the others (some comfort for Mansfield)

4th - 4 wins, 5th - 3 wins, 6th - 4 wins, 7th - 6 wins.
Of those winner three have since been relegated to non-league: - Southend, Stockport & Dagenham Redbridge. Bizarrely Southend are only team to have won two play-offs.
Northampton are once again appearing in play-offs two years after promotion win.

 

[valefan16]

Has anyone in the EFL (except relative new comers to the EFL like Salford or Harrogate) been out the play off picture for as long as we had? 29 seasons since our last appearance!