The Playoffs

[WhiteRussian]

I can't see past Rotherham and Wigan for the autos which leaves the playoffs for the rest of us.

So just 5 points between 3rd and 8th with games in hand for some teams. That would be mad enough but with Ipswich and Bolton on charges and Portsmouth 11 points behind 6th with 3 games in hand, it means it's still open all the way down to 11th. It's just to manic to call with 13 games left for most clubs.

For no other reason than to give us some breathing space I want Ipswich, Bolton and Portsmouth to have a few bad results that will drop them out of the reckoning leaving a 4 from 6 scenario. However I can see certainly Ipswich sneaking up to playoff level.

If I call it now I can see Plymouth, Wycombe, Sheff Wed plus one of us, Oxford and Ipswich for the last place but I'm a cup half empty person!

It's going to be one hell of an end to the season and then followed by the playoffs where no one will fancy their chances I expect, whoever it is.

 

[masi51]

Strongly fancy our chances if we get to wembley against anyone there lies the problem getting there.
Agree it goes down to Pompey in 11th.
Expect we will miss out this season because we cannot handle shithouse teams on quagmire pitches

Next season i expect us to be challenging more especially if we keep Dapo and add Fossey over the summer and add a couple of Bastards who can mix it in the winter months

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Of our fifteen games, nine are at Home Park and 6 away. We are on a short good run, with four wins and a draw, with only Rotherham equally this. Confidence is oozing, and Scheuy is managing brilliantly our four strikers, which means we always have a chance late on against tiring defences. We are going to miss Scarr in the back three he has been immense, and he may not be back this season or if so not until the very end.

At one level I am confident of a top six - we really are beginning to play well and we have depth of squad now. However, we are playing eight of those in the top ten. This makes me think that either we’ll have a run of bad results against those, and so drop out. Or we will do well and actually put pressure on those above us. The latter is not likely, but could happen.

Bottom line is who knows, but I am loving it.

 

[K-Win]

For no other reason than to give us some breathing space I want Ipswich, Bolton and Portsmouth to have a few bad results that will drop them out of the reckoning leaving a 4 from 6 scenario.

You shouldn't have to wait too long for our bad results. We have a couple of winnable games coming up away to Shrewsbury (although I'm expecting a draw at best) and then Fleetwood at home. After that we have seven tough games on the bounce - Oxford, Accrington, Ipswich, Plymouth, Wycombe, Bolton and Rotherham. We have been really predictable this season - we have a great record against bottom half teams and a dreadful one against top 10 teams. League table-wise, we're pretty much where we should be.

 

[James PAFC]

It’s getting very interesting now with plenty of teams still in contention. I expect Rotherham and Wigan to get top 2 and then it’ll be a real dogfight for the remaining positions. Ipswich and Sheffield Weds worry me a little and feel they could get in if we or anyone else has a slump in form. However, I am quietly confident we can get in there provided we don’t suffer too badly with any more injuries in defence. We are well covered in midfield and attack in particular with Schumacher rotating Hardie, Jephcott, Ennis and Garrick to great effect.

 

[Borehamwood Royal]

I hope Oxford and Sunderland miss the playoffs.

 

[GeneralLee]

I hope Oxford and Sunderland miss the playoffs.

Thanks!

 

[Boletus Edulis]

I hope Oxford and Sunderland miss the playoffs.

Why? I don’t particularly want any side to miss the playoffs, I just want my team to be in it.

 

[WhiteRussian]

I wouldn't mind meeting Oxford in a Wembley playoff final. Mainly because KR has been our best manager, despite being a moaning minnie. I have always felt he was let down by the club on our one sojourn into the Championship.

 

[SMH]

Hope Plymouth make it in, felt bad for them after Lowe fucked them over mid season. Can't see past Sheff Wed to win them though.

 

[masi51]

Hope Plymouth make it in, felt bad for them after Lowe fucked them over mid season. Can't see past Sheff Wed to win them though.

Apart from Rotherham and you said through gritted teeth... There is nothing between 3rd and 11th all are capable of beating each other on there day....Its still a longshot but i would fancy us mullering any team at Wembley in this league

 

[SMH]

Apart from Rotherham and you said through gritted teeth... There is nothing between 3rd and 11th all are capable of beating each other on there day....Its still a longshot but i would fancy us mullering any team at Wembley in this league

Sheff Wed have the players to handle the pressure of play-off football. That's why they're my pick. Can see a Wednesday Wycombe final if they don't meet beforehand.

 

[TractorBoys]

I expect us to make them.

 

[K-Win]

Inevitably, Jacobs has now picked up an injury. This weakens our remote playoff hopes considerably.

My prediction is MK Dons, Sheff Wed, Ipswich and Oxford to make it, although I'd really like to see Plymouth get in there. They've exceeded expectations this season and overcome the loss of their manager well.

 

[masi51]

Make them we win it.......Think we will fall short.......Oxford are my tip for that third spot though they are very reliant on Taylor. No arquements with the other teams bar maybe Wycombe.............shite football

 

[BarrieOwl]

Make them we win it.......Think we will fall short.......Oxford are my tip for that third spot though they are very reliant on Taylor. No arquements with the other teams bar maybe Wycombe.............shite football

You won't make them so I'd leave this thread alone

 

[DippyDon]

I’m still not 100% confident that we’ll even make them right now, though the win on Saturday helped. If we can win on Tuesday and get at least a point on Saturday against Bolton I’ll be happier but still won’t be convinced unless we still have a healthy gap between us and 7th after we play Wigan on March 12th.

 

[masi51]

You won't make them so I'd leave this thread alone

your maybe right we are playing well without making to much inroads on the top 6
Not really bothered if we dont come next August we will have a right go at this league

 

[White horse]

For Bolton to make the plays offs they would have to win something like 10 of the last 13 games, possible but unlikely. Away form is still not brilliant. We have to win the home games against Plymouth. Portsmouth and Sheffield Wednesday , there is no margin for error at home. But we have not even gained much on Ipswich in ninth despite the good run, only Sunderland seem to be completely melting down. Lose at MK Dons and we are really struggling , we have given ourselves so much to do, and for that reason and I would be really surprised if we finish top 6, but who knows, the team has been transformed since January, it really is a complete new team from November, when, because of injuries I think only Afalayan , Declan John and the centre backs were playing, even Santos was suspended for some of that period,

 

[WhiteRussian]

I’m still not 100% confident that we’ll even make them right now, though the win on Saturday helped. If we can win on Tuesday and get at least a point on Saturday against Bolton I’ll be happier but still won’t be convinced unless we still have a healthy gap between us and 7th after we play Wigan on March 12th.

We played Sunderland at exactly the right time. They can't carry on being shit, can they?

 

[BarrieOwl]

We have the following injury list and somehow are still in the hunt

Gregory
Iorfa
Dunkley
Dele-Bashiru
Adeniran
Windass
Hutchinson
Mendez-Laing
John-Jules
Dean
Shodipo

 

[DippyDon]

We played Sunderland at exactly the right time. They can't carry on being shit, can they?

I'm less worried about them than I am about Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich and to an extent Bolton. As it stands right now in no particular order I'd see the play offs as being Oxford, Plymouth and then two of those three, us and maybe Wycombe.

 

[masi51]

We have the following injury list and somehow are still in the hunt

Gregory
Iorfa
Dunkley
Dele-Bashiru
Adeniran
Windass
Hutchinson
Mendez-Laing
John-Jules
Dean
Shodipo

We have 4 out long term and 3 are ex Owls.......Lee Katchunga and Isgrove.....Your bloody jinxed

 

[BarrieOwl]

Kachunga is shite though

 

[stevowanderer]

Kachunga is shite though

He started fairly slowly for us but after starting 5/6 games in a row he was beginning to look really good pre injury. I’m guessing he didn’t really have a run of starts for you to play himself into form? Tbh either way I’m not sure how he gets into the team now with the change of shape when he’s back.

 

[masi51]

He started fairly slowly for us but after starting 5/6 games in a row he was beginning to look really good pre injury. I’m guessing he didn’t really have a run of starts for you to play himself into form? Tbh either way I’m not sure how he gets into the team now with the change of shape when he’s back.

Agree i dont see him getting game time and though he done nothing wrong since he signed for us he simply no longer fits in.
I think he is a player who needs a arm around him and was getting that with Evatt. He maybe was at his level after playing in the premier and championship with Huddersfield and Shef Wed.

Bodvarsson is the same maybe he also has found his level with us after playing higher and not fitting in.
Though 62 caps for Iceland says theres a player in him.

Evatt will have some unhappy players between now and summer who want more game time. I dont see many starts for Dixon,Gordon,Baptiste,MJ Williams,Isgrove,Katchunga,Bakayoko and new signing Sadlier who was the only one decent last week at Burton

 

[stevowanderer]

Agree i dont see him getting game time and though he done nothing wrong since he signed for us he simply no longer fits in.
I think he is a player who needs a arm around him and was getting that with Evatt. He maybe was at his level after playing in the premier and championship with Huddersfield and Shef Wed.

Bodvarsson is the same maybe he also has found his level with us after playing higher and not fitting in.
Though 62 caps for Iceland says theres a player in him.

Evatt will have some unhappy players between now and summer who want more game time. I dont see many starts for Dixon,Gordon,Baptiste,MJ Williams,Isgrove,Katchunga,Bakayoko and new signing Sadlier who was the only one decent last week at Burton

Baptiste is probably biding his time until retirement in the summer. Evatt loves MJ and he will still start all the big games especially away from home. Isgrove will rotate with Fossey and will give us a chance to rest him with his injury record. He’s played virtually every minute since he’s come in. I think Sadlier will start tonight as well as Baka … with a view to starting Dapo and Bod against MK. John needs a rest too at some point. He’s been fantastic in this run but has played virtually every minute. Even if it’s just for 20-30 mins at the end of the game for Gordon. Amaechi doesn’t get in at all for me now with the other options even with Kieran Lee now injured.

 

[masi51]

Baptiste is probably biding his time until retirement in the summer. Evatt loves MJ and he will still start all the big games especially away from home. Isgrove will rotate with Fossey and will give us a chance to rest him with his injury record. He’s played virtually every minute since he’s come in. I think Sadlier will start tonight as well as Baka … with a view to starting Dapo and Bod against MK. John needs a rest too at some point. He’s been fantastic in this run but has played virtually every minute. Even if it’s just for 20-30 mins at the end of the game for Gordon. Amaechi doesn’t get in at all for me now with the other options even with Kieran Lee now injured.

Evatt already said MJ starts tonight...I would have saved him for Saturday. Fossey is streets ahead of Isgrove for me. Ameichi may be our best player, certainly on paper and his cv but i am afraid we will never find out.
We cannot keep playing our best 11 on a Saturday then making 4/5 changes midweek and expect to push for the play offs

 

[stevowanderer]

Evatt already said MJ starts tonight...I would have saved him for Saturday. Fossey is streets ahead of Isgrove for me. Ameichi may be our best player, certainly on paper and his cv but i am afraid we will never find out.
We cannot keep playing our best 11 on a Saturday then making 4/5 changes midweek and expect to push for the play offs

But we don’t even know what our best 11 is? We lost to Burton due to the conditions and a few minutes of madness. We would have probably lost it even with no changes because we are awful in those types of games. Sadlier looked superb when he came on against Wimbledon although they were pretty awful themselves.

Fossey has been a revelation but Isgrove was arguably one of, if not our best player before he got injured. Filled in at full back too. I think wing back would be his perfect position.

 

[masi51]

But we don’t even know what our best 11 is? We lost to Burton due to the conditions and a few minutes of madness. We would have probably lost it even with no changes because we are awful in those types of games. Sadlier looked superb when he came on against Wimbledon although they were pretty awful themselves.

Fossey has been a revelation but Isgrove was arguably one of, if not our best player before he got injured. Filled in at full back too. I think wing back would be his perfect position.

I would say our best 11 was near to the team we put out on Saturday........Maybe a fit Lee included
Isgrove will have to step up if he is to take his shirt back. Sadlier agreed looked good but the reason we lost to Burton was Jones,Morley.Dapo and Charles did not start.
I think we can afford to rotate one maybe 2 each game but not 5 of our best players all at once