The play-off thread

[Sestonpoolie]

He’s a flat track bully who mainly just stat pads against crap teams.

He acted like an A grade bellend at Pools when he played for Barrow.
This season he's been sent off & knocked out of the play offs by us.
I love Karma.

 

[Sestonpoolie]

Already booked the train tickets so I bloody hope so . £45 return, I'm guessing it'll be a damn sight pricier from your kneck of the woods though.

I'm a season ticket holder so assuming the club gives us priority (which they always have in the past) then I'm fine as we don't sell anywhere near 3000 season tickets.

How about you?

£180 by train.
£117 to fly,but terrible flight times.
Looks like some schmuck will have to drive.

 

[chief]

He’s a flat track bully who mainly just stat pads against crap teams.

I personally didn't get the hype when he was here and was fine seeing the back of him.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Definitely, I don't think I'm out of line to suggest that this could be the one chance you guys have of getting back for quite a few years with the calibre of the sides that are stacking up down here.

Of course exactly the same applies to us, can't see us replicating this next season.

Yeah I didn’t see the game today (too painful) but I thought Torquay looked a good fucking team yesterday and it’ll take a decent side to beat you, Strong at the back and you take your chances.

50/50 next week. Also, 7 playoff campaigns for us and we’ve either won them or been beaten by the winner, so there’s that as well.

 

[GTFCfish]

£180 by train.
£117 to fly,but terrible flight times.
Looks like some schmuck will have to drive.

If you set off now you might just get there in time for the second half kicking off.

 

[Chief Rocka]

£180 by train.
£117 to fly,but terrible flight times.
Looks like some schmuck will have to drive.

Aye it’s fucking terrible innit, 4 and a bit hours in the motor, some poor sod is going to have to be the sober one all day.

Season ticket holder so I’ll be sorted, looks like there’ll be a mad scramble for the remaining 1,500 tickets, gonna be some pissed off fans next week.

 

[TheShayWay]

I personally didn't get the hype when he was here and was fine seeing the back of him.

When your last names Rooney I guess people expect something. I've never seen him play too well against us either. Delivers a decent set piece but he turned down the football league to return to this league for more money. So the term mercenary might be applicable.

 

[Wooderson]

Seen a lot of criticism of the atmosphere, ‘flat as a pancake’ etc, odd one that, of the four games I would have expected Edgeley Park to be just about the loudest, any reason they were so quiet?? I mean midday on a Sunday doesn’t help, but the Torquay fans made a decent racket at the same time a day earlier.

 

[nuffsaid]

a

He acted like an A grade bellend at Pools when he played for Barrow.
This season he's been sent off & knocked out of the play offs by us.
I love Karma.

 

[nuffsaid]

I haven't been on this board for long but in the time that I have it seemed to be quite civilised (compared to most), plenty of banter for sure but nothing nasty. This atmosphere continued throughout the first 3 play-off games but strangely after we were knocked out it seems that it is open season for attacking each and every aspects of my club - now why is that?

 

[Seventyseven]

So, it's down to two... Us and Hartlepool.

What I don't get though is all this 'moaning' about the travelling distance to Bristol and that it somehow favours us. It's still approx 100 miles to Bristol from the 'Bay so hardly 'local' and the fact that Gary Johnson has 'connections' at Ashton Gate is hardly relevant. It's a neutral ground for both teams. Yep, Pools have to add an extra 15 miles to their journey but, to be fair, fans of both teams would travel to wherever the final is being held despite the distance - and as both of us are at opposite ends of the country we're both used to having to set off early and arrive back late from away days.

For some reason we haven't even mentioned ticket sales on our website despite the fact we've had an extra 24 hours to get it sorted. Seems from what I've read that Pools have been allocated 3 sides of the ground with the Yellow Army being all lumped into one stand (I'd take that to be honest because the atmosphere will be so much better than being spread all around).

Tickets for this are going to be as rare as hen's teeth (even at £41 per pop and no concessions - robbing bastards). Not sure how many ST holders we have but if this game had been played somewhere sensible (Villa Park et al) then we'd have all had a chance of purchasing one. As it is, it'll be another case of dial/re-dial ad nauseum or sitting in front of a screen hitting re-fresh every 30 seconds in the vain hope that the 'book now' button will appear and then sit their watching the spinning wheel of death and then smiling inwardly as the 'Error 404' appears across the screen. Re-boot, re-dial ad fucking nauseum.

As an exile I've been fortunate on both occasions ( v Barnet, and more importantly, v Notts) to obtain tickets but only because I had 4 other members of the family all trying at the same time.... fingers crossed for this one,

The countdown begins.

 

[Chief Rocka]

Yeah playoff final location is pretty irrelevant, I'd imagine both teams will travel down/across a few days in advance anyway so it doesn't make a difference.

Our tickets go on sale today and tomorrow for season ticket holders and general sale on Wednesday, apparently it's all in person sales or telephone sales only, can't do any online purchases, people are already talking about camping out Tuesday night to grab a ticket Wednesday morning first thing!

We've seemingly got everything above the blue line.

 

[Chief Rocka]

We certainly got off the hook a couple of times yesterday, Madden's miss in the first half was a stinker, he looked like a player rushed back to semi fitness, Holohan lucky to not get sent off for a Mortal Kombat style attack and Richie Bennett must have an eye on a contract at Pools next season with that header, should've buried it.

 

[Wooderson]

Yeah playoff final location is pretty irrelevant, I'd imagine both teams will travel down/across a few days in advance anyway so it doesn't make a difference.

Our tickets go on sale today and tomorrow for season ticket holders and general sale on Wednesday, apparently it's all in person sales or telephone sales only, can't do any online purchases, people are already talking about camping out Tuesday night to grab a ticket Wednesday morning first thing!

We've seemingly got everything above the blue line.

Advantage Torquay if that is the case

 

[Master D]

It’s all lined up for Johnson FC to win. Pools up against it BIG TIME.

 

[Chief Rocka]

BT Sports and Adam Virgo in particular hate Pools, I can already picture the Torquay/Johnson wank fest.

 

[Soup Ladle]

We certainly got off the hook a couple of times yesterday, Madden's miss in the first half was a stinker, he looked like a player rushed back to semi fitness, Holohan lucky to not get sent off for a Mortal Kombat style attack and Richie Bennett must have an eye on a contract at Pools next season with that header, should've buried it.

We should've had a penalty though so it evens out. Holohan on twitter saying it was a red but he was 7 beers down so couldn't care less.

I'd have Richie Bennett next season as back up to Armstrong and Oates and give a deal to Danny Elliot regardless of the league. If we're still here though we'll probably only sign up Elliot.

Stockport were disappointing to be honest but we played a good tactical game to frustrate them. We'll need to be spot on again Sunday to beat Torquay. It does feel set up for another Gary Johnson day in the sun.

 

[B2TF]

Imagine if HAHAHAHartlepool rubbed out that 5-0 home tonking by taking what had looked like Torquay's nailed-on place in the Football League. Can't quite work out which one i want to fail more, although i can think of more reasons to keep Torquay down- that last day at Guiseley in 2016 for one, plus they've already had a go back in the League and didn't last long there. Neither side have done their penance down here anywhere near long enough to have earned my blessing to go back up yet.

 

[Shrimper92]

Would rather see Hartlepool go up. Torquay for the weekend in August would be nice

 

[Stocky]

We've been underwhelming all season. I've droned on about it all season. The fans don't have connection to this manager or players at all.

I think if we get fans back, we'll create more of a connection next season. We'll be right up there. We've only just got started really. We were in the North for 5 or 6 years. I still have concerns over Rusk though.

It's do or die next week for Torquay and Hartlepool. You feel both of those clubs have a lot of eggs in this seasons basket.

 

[Wooderson]

The Notts/Stockport season trajectory nearly ends with semi final defeat for both. What’s the concern over Rusk? Too cautious?

Still expecting both clubs to be up there again next season (plus whoever loses on Sunday)

 

[EnglishRed]

The Notts/Stockport season trajectory nearly ends with semi final defeat for both. What’s the concern over Rusk? Too cautious?

Still expecting both clubs to be up there again next season (plus whoever loses on Sunday)

I expect one of Notts and Stockport to be the most likely champions. Then ourselves, Grimsby, Chesterfield, Dagenham and maybe some tinpot dark horses competing for play offs.

No idea about Pools or Torquay (whoever stays down) because Im not sure how stable either are financially. A lot depends if they can keep this seasons squads together and/or improve them.

Should be an exciting season!

 

[Chief Rocka]

We've had a slashed budget this season and it's been our most successful down here, it's all down to DC, couldn't tell you the chairman's plans for next season whatever league we end up in, he's been publicly crying out for outside investment, we're certainly not in a shit or bust scenario but with the calibre of sides down here next season, some of which have some serious wedge behind them, we're never gonna get a better opportunity to escape than this.

 

[Seventyseven]

I expect one of Notts and Stockport to be the most likely champions. Then ourselves, Grimsby, Chesterfield, Dagenham and maybe some tinpot dark horses competing for play offs.

No idea about Pools or Torquay (whoever stays down) because Im not sure how stable either are financially. A lot depends if they can keep this seasons squads together and/or improve them.

Should be an exciting season!

IF we don't make it on Sunday, I expect our chances of being in a similar position next season to be very slim. I'm sure Lemonheigh-Evans (PoTS) will be off to pastures new (and higher) and we know that Randell (YPoTS) is going back to his home club (Argyle). However, the fact hat Gary Johnson has extended his contract into next season gives us all a glimmer of hope providing he can keep the nucleus of the current squad and adding a bit more experience to replace the two departures. There may be more, but I guess that all depends on what happens on Sunday.

Needless to say, that with the likes of Grimsby and Southend joining the throng next year and megabucks Wrexham buying there way out, and strong challenges again from the likes of Pools (hopefully), Notts and Stocks etc, it's going to be a bloody hard season.

League 3 in all but name.

 

[Jerry]

Tickets sorted . Can't choose where you sit so just got to hope we get seats where we can see the game! I don't think £41 is too bad for adult tickets (we paid £35 for this game at Wembley in 2008) but the lack of concessions is taking the piss. £41 for kids is ridiculous, especially as someone pointed out on twitter that Hartlepool and Torquay are both in the top five places for child poverty in the country.

 

[Soup Ladle]

We've had a slashed budget this season and it's been our most successful down here, it's all down to DC, couldn't tell you the chairman's plans for next season whatever league we end up in, he's been publicly crying out for outside investment, we're certainly not in a shit or bust scenario but with the calibre of sides down here next season, some of which have some serious wedge behind them, we're never gonna get a better opportunity to escape than this.

He keeps asking for investment but nobody's interested because they will get nothing in return. He is a control freak and will not give anyone else a say in the club. He also treats local businesses (him and maguire) like shit and very unprofessionally. We are at the mercy of when he decides to pull the plug. It's not if just when. Being in the league makes us easier to find another buyer and we really need to be there for the club to survive anything beyond short to medium term.

The only hope we have under him is his corrupt Tory friends that he donates to can help us out in some way although my suspicions are he's using them to get his hands on the ground.

It's remarkable we've had this season bearing in mind the way the club is run.

 

[Fyldefan]

If you Wembley bound fans want me to put a word in for you with the stewards to let you drink in the stands I will. We’ve been there that many times I’m on first name terms now with most of the staff. Massive day out for the majority on here. Just a regular old day to us fylde faithful though

 

[EnglishRed]

If you Wembley bound fans want me to put a word in for you with the stewards to let you drink in the stands I will. We’ve been there that many times I’m on first name terms now with most of the staff. Massive day out for the majority on here. Just a regular old day to us fylde faithful though

and the best thing of all is that you can all fit into one minibus.

 

[Stoney Ground]

If you Wembley bound fans want me to put a word in for you with the stewards to let you drink in the stands I will. We’ve been there that many times I’m on first name terms now with most of the staff. Massive day out for the majority on here. Just a regular old day to us fylde faithful though

Is that because they all know your fans by name, it’s easy to remember half a dozen names.

 

[Chief Rocka]

If you Wembley bound fans want me to put a word in for you with the stewards to let you drink in the stands I will. We’ve been there that many times I’m on first name terms now with most of the staff. Massive day out for the majority on here. Just a regular old day to us fylde faithful though

If only you had a connect in Bristol you'd be onto something!