The playoff thread

[Jamo]

I agree with others, very tough to call. Wigan were well off their game Sunday but smashing the champions in their own back yard is still no mean feat. Walsall are a different team to the one under O'Dismall. Bradford are about as miserly as they come. Millwall have got better as the season has gone on. Hard to pick a clear favourite (or even a slight favourite tbh). I'd back us away from home over Oakwell at the moment but league form usually goes out the window in these games.

Walsall do football a favour and beat Barnsley.

Lol

 

[Mighty_Bantam]

Barnsley and Millwall have both been in the Championship far more recently than City and Walsall.

Only fair that it should be a City v Walsall final.

 

[valefan16]

Hard to call as always, it's been a poor division hence a side that lost nine in a row made the top six, this shows how even teams have been.

Millwall easily the best side we've played over two games this season, looked a class above Bradford who appear pants due to the brand of football they play but are effective, similar to Stoke under Pulis to a degree, didn't see Barnsley this season and Walsall have been hit and miss lately.

Millwall v Barnsley final I reckon with Millwall to edge it.

 

[Millwall_Matt]

We actually have only won 1 of the 6 games against the player playoff contenders in the league.
Lost 1, won 1 vs Walsall
Drew 1, lost 1 vs Bradford
Lost 2 vs Barnsley

Surprised so many on here are tipping us to win it.

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

We actually have only won 1 of the 6 games against the player playoff contenders in the league.
Lost 1, won 1 vs Walsall
Drew 1, lost 1 vs Bradford
Lost 2 vs Barnsley

Surprised so many on here are tipping us to win it.

I'm not.

 

[Jockney]

We actually have only won 1 of the 6 games against the player playoff contenders in the league.
Lost 1, won 1 vs Walsall
Drew 1, lost 1 vs Bradford
Lost 2 vs Barnsley

Surprised so many on here are tipping us to win it.

I think our record against the top six got progressively better as we got better. I really thought the rest of the top six was a lot better than us before 2016, and they were, but we have continued to improve as the season has gone on and I think we're a match for anyone now.

 

[blademan89]

Millwall to beat barnsley in the final. I'm hoping walsall win as it's the worst away trip.

Looking favourable

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Well Barnsley made easy work of Walsall in the end, very disappointing from them to finish 3rd and be pasted by the team sneaking in on the last day. Can see them losing a few key players this summer so probably a rebuilding job there. If Barnsley make it up would this be one of the biggest turnarounds in a season?

 

[darren gregory]

Bizarre comments ( excuses ) from Whitney. The disappointment of such a fantastic win at Vale and missing out took it,s toll . Did they really expect Burton not to get a point or win at Donny ? Walsall were always a long shot on the last day.

On the contrary i,d of thought a 5-0 mullering which ought to of been more would actually give a massive confidence surge. 6-1 on aggregate is a thumping rarely seen in play-offs but to be fair they had no option last night to leave themselves open.

Presuming Millwall see the job out tonight it will be a 50/50 call as both in great form, and to think Barnsley lost 7 on the spin in November.

 

[Jockney]

In recent years, Preston and ourselves have missed out on the final day only to go on to achieve promotion at Wembley, so I've never understood that excuse. Both Accrington and Brighton made an excellent fist of their respective semi-finals, too. Walsall rolled over and let Barnsley tickle their belly.

 

[Millwall_Matt]

In recent years, Preston and ourselves have missed out on the final day only to go on to achieve promotion at Wembley, so I've never understood that excuse. Both Accrington and Brighton made an excellent fist of their respective semi-finals, too. Walsall rolled over and let Barnsley tickle their belly.

To be fair, Barnsley played exceptionally well in both games. Those loan players they have on the wings (Isgrove and the Utd kid) both look very dangerous and they have a goal scorer in good form. Walsall didn't 'not turn up', they were just beaten by a far better side IMO.

 

[FiRTHYY]

Reece Burke and Billy Clarke fit. Massive boost!

 

[finley]

Hanson still missing though.Shame this type of game is what he thrives upon.

 

[valefan16]

Expect Millwall will comfortably make the final now, tough call between them and Barnsley though for the final!

 

[Saddlerrad]

Comfortable beaten by a better team over 2 legs. If Barnsley had played like this all season they'd have won the league by 10+ points. Easily the best side I've seen us play for probably 2+ seasons. Very good. The only issue I have is, a lot of their side are premier league loan players, the limit should be capped much lower than it is. You could argue that losing out on the final day was the blow for us having not really thought about the playoffs for 8 months of a season. Missing out left us on a downer, regardless of what results or scorelines were, whilst Barnsley are buzzing from an amazing run since Christmas.

Confidence and momentum are massive in football, in any sport.

They will win the play-offs, quite comfortably IMO.

 

[Craig]

Comfortable beaten by a better team over 2 legs. If Barnsley had played like this all season they'd have won the league by 10+ points. Easily the best side I've seen us play for probably 2+ seasons. Very good. The only issue I have is, a lot of their side are premier league loan players, the limit should be capped much lower than it is. You could argue that losing out on the final day was the blow for us having not really thought about the playoffs for 8 months of a season. Missing out left us on a downer, regardless of what results or scorelines were, whilst Barnsley are buzzing from an amazing run since Christmas.

Confidence and momentum are massive in football, in any sport.

They will win the play-offs, quite comfortably IMO.

Three premier league loanees and Toney isn't a regular. Hardly a lot of our side.

 

[Millwall_Matt]

Three premier league loanees and Toney isn't a regular. Hardly a lot of our side.

5 of the players who played last night were on loan, albeit not all from the Premier League. I tend to agree with the saddler's fan that when almost half your side is on loan its probably gone a bit far but its not up to Barnsley to set the rules.

 

[Cas]

Barnsley vs Millwall then. Hope Barnsley do it, just for you Craig.

 

[SaddlerJonny]

Hope Barnsley win it.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Fancy Millwall to see the job through tonight against Bradford, just think a 2 goal deficit will be too much to turn around at The Den, but you never know complacency could be kicking into a few of the Millwall players.

2-1 Millwall.

 

[Craig]

5 of the players who played last night were on loan, albeit not all from the Premier League. I tend to agree with the saddler's fan that when almost half your side is on loan its probably gone a bit far but its not up to Barnsley to set the rules.

Don't know why you've quoted me to make that point, I mean it's not as if you're correcting the information provided in my post, I've made no claim that we didn't have five loanees play last night. Saddlerrad suggested a lot of our team are premier league loan signings, I corrected him. Wigan and Bradford are two other clubs in the top 6 with a couple of premier league loan players. I'm sure they're not the only other clubs in this division either.

Seeing as you have quoted me though I agree completely, however, I feel the real issue is with premier league clubs hording most of the young talent in this country. I also would like there to be no transfer window mid-season and only an emergency loan system in place at that time of year as we have had seasons ruined pretty recently by clubs with bigger budgets coming in and poaching our better players, which is maybe one of the reasons our board has decided to take advantage of the loan system in such a way.

Also, the current loan system is at the disposal of every club in this league, so excuse me if I find it a bit bemusing when folk criticise our activity in that market, I mean it's not as if we have some unfair advantage is it? our backroom staff have simply made better choices than some other clubs when it comes to loan signings.

 

[Agombar stool]

Don't know why you've quoted me to make that point, I mean it's not as if you're correcting the information provided in my post, I've made no claim that we didn't have five loanees play last night. Saddlerrad suggested a lot of our team are premier league loan signings, I corrected him. Wigan and Bradford are two other clubs in the top 6 with a couple of premier league loan players. I'm sure they're not the only other clubs in this division either.

Seeing as you have quoted me though I agree completely, however, I feel the real issue is with premier league clubs hording most of the young talent in this country. I also would like there to be no transfer window mid-season and only an emergency loan system in place at that time of year as we have had seasons ruined pretty recently by clubs with bigger budgets coming in and poaching our better players, which is maybe one of the reasons our board has decided to take advantage of the loan system in such a way.

Also, the current loan system is at the disposal of every club in this league, so excuse me if I find it a bit bemusing when folk criticise our activity in that market, I mean it's not as if we have some unfair advantage is it? our backroom staff have simply made better choices than some other clubs when it comes to loan signings.

A few opposition fans also moaned about our use of the loan market last season when we got to the play-offs.

 

[Craig]

It's bizarre AS, there are examples of teams not having successful seasons even though they have made use of the loan market in a similar fashion.

 

[Indian Dan]

It's hardly any club's fault if they can attract PL loanees and other clubs cannot.

One of the reasons we attract them is because of the fannying around at the back type of football we play.

 

[JoeJoeJoeJoe]

All our loan players worked out pretty well for us to be fair.

 

[Millwall_Matt]

I'm not moaning about your use of the loan system, we have used it too this season (Chris Taylor, Shane Ferguson and Jed Wallace).
If a system is there for everyone then its only fair that everybody looks to exploit it as far as possible. I just happen to thoroughly dislike the state of affairs that have resulted in such a system being necessary and quite so widely exploited.

 

[Indian Dan]

Joe Cole?

 

[JoeJoeJoeJoe]

Joe Cole?

He actually signed permanently after being disappointing on loan so he could be our own disappointment.

 

[Indian Dan]

We've had Jordan Turnbull from Southampton on loan for 2 successive seasons.

He's been at the CG longer than quite a few of our 'permanent' signings!

 

[Big Bird]

A few opposition fans also moaned about our use of the loan market last season when we got to the play-offs.

Bristol City fans loved having a moan about us signing loan players then went on to have about 68 themselves this season.