Thread for the upcoming EFL and National League play-offs.

We kick off tonight with Jordan Cropper's Barnet hosting Erico Sousa's Boreham Wood in the first quarter final. Woking and Bromley play tomorrow.

I'm glad we're watching from a safe place this time after last year's excitement. I'd be watching through my fingers if I were a Notts County fan. They're surely favourites but I think Chesterfield have a good chance of sneaking through after finishing the season in reasonably good form.

To be honest, I'd be shitting it now if I was a Notts County fan. If they were to miss out now after the season they've just had it'd be a travesty.

I’m a little torn on who I want up through the play-offs. In terms of any promotion aspirations we might have next season it’s probably best Notts County somehow manage to bottle it. But then again, it’s a great potential away day.

And of course they must be the first team in history to finish on 107 points in a professional league in England and not win the title or promotion. They deserve to go up, don’t they? Then again, it would also be rather hilarious if they didn’t, wouldn’t it?

Then you’ve got Cropper at Barnet, whom we owe so much for his play-off exploits last year. And then Podge at Woking, who played such a huge part in getting us up the first time round. I even quite like Luke Garrard at Boreham Wood; I wouldn’t mind seeing him in the BP home dugout one day when Hurst eventually moves on.

It does get easier after that, though. Chesterfield are just a horrible club consistently doing horrible things. They can get fúcked. Likewise the morbidly obese Woodman at Bromley. They’re made for each other and I’m sure that matrimony will happen one day.

So in summary then, anyone but Chesterfield and Bromley will do for me.

Cropper starts for Barnet. No Sousa in the Boreham Wood squad. Presumably injured.

There's already:

Arsenal
Tottenham
Brentford
Fulham
Crystal Palace
Chelsea
West Ham
Millwall
Watford
QPR
Charlton
Leyton Orient
Sutton United
& Wimbledon
from within the M25 so I would prefer a team from elsewhere to be promoted so that's a no to:
Barnet
Boreham Wood
Bromley
& Woking (just 3 miles outside the M25)
from me.

0-1 to Boreham Wood

Last season Liverpool got over 111 points for a 46 game season (pro rata).  They still did not finish as champions of course.

Wrexham got 98 points and still did not finish top.  They lost in the playoffs as well.

Personally I can't see past Notts County but would like to see Woking do well as they're a good club.

Hopefully it won't be Barnet, Chesterfield or Bromley

Quoted from BenBB

0-1 to Boreham Wood

Sounds like Barnet could do with that weapon!

To be fair, they’re all fairly doable by train and could all potentially be a decent away trip but Bromley & Borehamwood are definitely at the bottom of the list.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Sounds like Barnet could do with that weapon!

0-2 now

Seems like Cropper's having a mare.

Quoted from BenBB

0-2 now

Seems like Cropper's having a mare.

This supposed home advantage in the play-offs seriously isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, is it?

Lee Ndlovu with the goals. Son of Peter.

Ray Stubbs readying himself for some voiceover work.

2-1 BHWood, decent game this.

National League Play-offs never disappoint. 1-2.

Cropper injured.

Cropper off

Got to feel for Cropper. I really think there’s a player in there but, like Max Wright, he just seems so susceptible to injury.

How different might last season have turned out if Cropper had done his hammy in the play-off eliminator?

Quoted from Poojah

Got to feel for Cropper. I really think there’s a player in there but, like Max Wright, he just seems so susceptible to injury.

How different might last season have turned out if Cropper had done his hammy in the play-off eliminator?

Could never have happened, the Gods' FM Game would have just been re-booted from last save

What’s wrong with the commentators voice ?

Keeps calling collins ‘collinshhh’ and called the Hive ‘the highsshhh’

Idris Kanu worth a look. Didn't work out for him at Peterborough but he's got too much technical ability for the National League and a fair bit of pace. Borehamwood man-marked him for the first hour

7 mins added time. It’s never over ‘til it’s over. A lesson I learned at Meadow Lane last year after texting the wife that I was on my way back. I was not, as it turned out.

Shocking crowd for two teams five or six miles apart.

Quoted from immariner

Idris Kanu worth a look. Didn't work out for him at Peterborough but he's got too much technical ability for the National League and a fair bit of pace. Borehamwood man-marked him for the first hour

Be a very quick look for me before turning elsewhere.

He's summed Barnet up tonight. Lots happening 30/40 yards out no end product.

The Borehamwood 'keeper hasn't been able to walk for all of the second half yet Barnet have failed to test him bar the odd cross. Based on this showing neither of these would do anything but struggle in the league.

Quoted from GYinScuntland

Shocking crowd for two teams five or six miles apart.

Literally surrounded by Prem clubs - no one cares. Spurs’ ground is about as close to Barnet as Barnet’s is.

Difficult to compare the mentality of followers of lower and non-league clubs in London to those of comparatively remote, provincial clubs like Town. It’s a different equation.

Well, we're definitely not playing Barnet next season!

Good game that. Barnet mostly on top the second half - should've done better.

Notts vs Wood then.

Barnet just weren't able to apply enough pressure in the second half, BW were impressively solid in defence. You'd imagine that Notts will comfortably sweep them aside though.

Real shame for Cropper, his hamstrings just keep failing him.  

Quoted from BenBB

Well, we're definitely not playing Barnet next season!

Good game that. Barnet mostly on top the second half - should've done better.

Let’s get in for Harry Smith then. He won’t be hanging about at the hive.

Quoted from MarinerDevil

Notts vs Wood then.

Barnet just weren't able to apply enough pressure in the second half, BW were impressively solid in defence. You'd imagine that Notts will comfortably sweep them aside though.

You’d expect so, but could Boreham Wood rocking up to Meadow Lane in that light blue kit be triggering for them?

Quoted from Poojah

You’d expect so, but could Boreham Wood rocking up to Meadow Lane in that light blue kit be triggering for them?

One of our most legendary kits. Should always have it on standby for big away matches, I'm sure myenergi would understand!

Quoted from diehardmariner

Be a very quick look for me before turning elsewhere.

He's summed Barnet up tonight. Lots happening 30/40 yards out no end product.

The Borehamwood 'keeper hasn't been able to walk for all of the second half yet Barnet have failed to test him bar the odd cross. Based on this showing neither of these would do anything but struggle in the league.

All about opinions. Like I said, considered dangerous enough to be man-marked but found enough space in the first half to almost stick it in the top corner, denied by a fantastic save. Showed flashes of why Peterborough paid a fee for him a few years ago. Barnet largely huffed in the second half but Borehamwood are really solid defensively. Barnet still should've scored with a free header.

I keep getting this funny feeling that Chesterfield are going up this season

Boreham Wood coming up I reckon.

We finished 6th last season, they finished 6th this season. We began our play-off campaign with a 2-1 away win, they begin their play-off campaign with a 2-1 away win. It's written it the stars I tell thee.

Quoted from Les Brechin

Boreham Wood coming up I reckon.

We finished 6th last season, they finished 6th this season. We began our play-off campaign with a 2-1 away win, they begin their play-off campaign with a 2-1 away win. It's written it the stars I tell thee.

Bloody hell Les,that hadn't eased my nerves one bit 😆

County 2-0 Borehamwood and 3-0 v Chesterfield in the final. Can’t see past them tbh

it all comes down to who wants it more and being clinical in those moments.  Personally I want County to come up, and I think it will be Notts v Boreham wood final.  Chesterfield I can see bottling it.

No ifs.  No buts.

It's going to be County playing us next season.

So long as it's not Chesterfield. Horrible club.

It’s going to be a proud night for Boz as Podge’s Woking look to despatch the somewhat more than podgy Andy Woodman’s Bromley. The kind of tinpot sponsor Woking will have to leave at the non-league exit doors should they manage to pull off promotion.

https://twitter.com/wokingfc/status/1653784309264797697

I wonder who will be sponsoring Scunthorpe next season. No one as glamorous as Boz that’s for sure.

Woking 1-0 up

Bromley will be kicking themselves at the mo, been much the better side. Jaaskelainen been busy in the Woking goal (and looked good). Haven’t seen him play before but he looks solid.

1-1  now

1-2 Bromley

Woking have completely shít the bed here.

Yep, shot to bits!!

Bromley vs Chesterfield then.

Cruel the play-offs, both teams from behind and away sides through.

Good when it works in our favour though  8)

Bradford lose at Crewe tonight so now can't go up automatically.

Crewe's winner in the 11th minute of stoppage time.

Quoted from promotion plaice

Bradford lose at Crewe tonight so now can't go up automatically.

Crewe's winner in the 11th minute of stoppage time.

Beating Crewe isn't for everyone.

Quoted from BenBB

Bromley vs Chesterfield then.

Cruel the play-offs, both teams from behind and away sides through.

Good when it works in our favour though  8)

4 straight play-off eliminators in a row where the away team has won.

Quoted from promotion plaice

Bradford lose at Crewe tonight so now can't go up automatically.

Crewe's winner in the 11th minute of stoppage time.

Nice story to this.

The reason for the large amount of stoppage time was that, after Bradford got the equalizer to make it 2-2, some of their fans
threw flares onto the pitch and started scrapping with Crewe stewards.

Bradford had been on top (coming back from 2 down), but after the delay it was Crewe with the momentum again.

So rather pleasing that Crewe won it at the death.  ::)

Quoted from Meza

it all comes down to who wants it more and being clinical in those moments.  Personally I want County to come up, and I think it will be Notts v Boreham wood final.  Chesterfield I can see bottling it.

It's Notts v Borehamwood in the semi.

Bradford have to play Leyton Orient, who you would think want to end their title winning season with a bang.  If Bradford fail to win and Mansfield beat Colchester with 3 goal swing over the two games, Mansfield don't even make the play-offs.

Incredible how tight it is. I fancy Tranmere to act as party poopers to Northampton too on Monday with a draw, Stockport (home to a miserable Hartlepool)  only needing a win to snatch the automatic spot thanks to superior goal difference.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Bradford have to play Leyton Orient, who you would think want to end their title winning season with a bang.  If Bradford fail to win and Mansfield beat Colchester with 3 goal swing over the two games, Mansfield don't even make the play-offs.

Mansfield are 3 points behind Bradford, so Bradford have to lose at home to Orient for them to have any chance whatsoever. However, potentially crucially, Mansfield are 3 behind on GD but with a comfortably better goals for column.

So, if Bradford were to lose by a single goal, a win by a margin of two goals for Mansfield would see them make the play-offs ahead of the bantams. If Bradford were to lose by more than a single goal, then any win will do for Mansfield.

It's not a foregone conclusion. That late goal will have got bums twitching at Valley Parade, make no mistake.

Yeah, I meant to say "Bradford don't even make the play-offs".  

Too early.  Not enough caffeine yet.

As someone mentioned earlier, is there a financial aspect to finishing higher up the table or just a todger swinging contest?

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

As someone mentioned earlier, is there a financial aspect to finishing higher up the table or just a todger swinging contest?

I don't think there is any prize money in League Two. Every club gets the same sized slice from broadcasting revenue and Premier League solidarity payments.

Quoted from Son of Cod

It's Notts v Borehamwood in the semi.

Yeah i opened my brain and gunge fell out.  I realised afterwards thanks for the correction.

Struggling to work out how Bradford managed to mess it up v a Crewe side with nowt to play for. Or maybe Crewe’s style of play just suits us…

On the three occasions I've seen us play Crewe, they've looked poor.

Strange that they've turned over Bradford who, on both occasions I've seen us play them, looked good.

Hartlepool are probably wondering something similar about us. How could we lose to them twice yet do the double over Stockport?

Ah, it's a funny old game!

Notts County 0-1 Boreham Wood ??)

0-2 now

Oh dear county... 2 down

Les called it.

That sixth place is becoming a bit enchanted, isn't it?

I am going 3  -  2. County.

Keep the faith county fans,

If anyone wants to know what 15,000 people simultaneously hyperventilating sounds like, get yourself down to Meadow Lane, pronto.

An absolutely huge second half of football for County. Conventional wisdom says they’ll just win the league next year, but they’re highly likely to lose the bloke who scored about 70 goals for them along with their manager and several other key players. It’s do or die for the pies.

Rather than a Notts v Chesterfield derby final I'm looking at a Boreham Wood v Bromley derby final. One of them would attract a huge crowd the other would attract about 10,000 and bring yet another tiny southern team into the league.

County lacking a finishing touch , mental considering how many they've scored this season . Wood picking them off on the break with ease  . I can see Wood getting more goals if County become even more open

Quoted from BlackandWhiteBarmy2

Rather than a Notts v Chesterfield derby final I'm looking at a Boreham Wood v Bromley derby final. One of them would attract a huge crowd the other would attract about 10,000 and bring yet another tiny southern team into the league.

Would probably be better for us though in terms of it being another less competitive team probably in league 2 if it was one of the so called smaller clubs .In reality we want as many as possible in there .

Notts County have got to come out with a massive winning mindset.  All guns blazing

The pressures gonna be immense for both player and fans of notts county for the next 45/ 50 mins.
Ps. When did getting 107 points ever get you promoted anyway 😁

flipping hell if we end up with bromley or boreham wood coming up next season it'll be an absolute disaster

Quoted from Mayaman

Notts County have got to come out with a massive winning mindset.  All guns blazing

They have.  COme on County.  My stream is pants

What are Notts playing at?

1-2

Sousa actively running away from the Notts player there instead of trying to close down the shot before it went flying in. Very strange decision (but also good, cheers Erico!)

Where is this being shown?

Quoted from 123614

Where is this being shown?

BT

Thank you.

Plymouth up. So three teams we beat in the cup will be in the Championship next season. Unless Luton go up.

MK Dons relegated, along with Morecambe and Accrington.

County miss a pen

Bet bw keepers lovin it

How many chances do Notts County want? They're terrible at finishing for a team that scored 117 goals this season

Cruel if BW go through. 35 point gap. I remember being gutted when we lost to Cheltenham but it was nothing like that big.

Quoted from MarinerDevil

MK Dons relegated, along with Morecambe and Accrington.

Two lovely little Northern away days there. And one day to do some bits around the house and listen to JT

BW keeper’s got cramp. Played in the final for Solihull last season. Wonder where he picked up that trick.

2-2

2-2 97th minute equaliser

96th minute again

quite entertaining these vanarama playoffs aren't they

They are ‘doing a Grimsby’

Brings back memories

Oh, that should be a pen.

Quoted from MarinerDevil

Oh, that should be a pen.

I think so

I was just typing they've spent too much time passing it sideways when they finally put a good ball into the danger area.

It's funny but I not half as nervous watching this year's play off.  :(

Wa a probably a penalty to Borehamwood at the death to be fair…

County need this, desperately…

County don’t look much to worry about based on this showing even if they do go up

3-2

They need to adopt the national league play off system in the other leagues, just seems to produce cracking games, and its a fairer system

Totally deserved, but the keeper has to save that.

Quoted from grimsby pete

I am going 3  -  2. County.

Keep the faith county fans,

Well done County now get ready for wembley .

Best defence in the division conceded 3 goals against the best attack.

Bromley currently winning 1-0 at half time

Bromley or Chesterfield. It’s like choosing your favourite cancer. Can’t they both lose?

Quoted from Poojah

Bromley or Chesterfield. It’s like choosing your favourite cancer. Can’t they both lose?

Poojah, that is disgraceful! Made me laugh, but really it shouldn’t do.

Late goals in added on time and extra time are great aren’t they 😎

THAT was some game,I don’t want to go through that again 🤪

Quoted from Chalky

Late goals in added on time and extra time are great aren’t they 😎

THAT was some game,I don’t want to go through that again 🤪

As things stand there are 3 teams left in the hunt, and county are the only team that any town fans find even remotely palatable!

Good luck at Wembley.

1-1 Bromley down to 10 men

2-1 Chesterfield

2-2 in the 99th minute!!!! These playoffs!!!

Dreadful defending by Chesterfield.

Expect a last minute 120th minute winner if the pattern is to be followed. Anyone who leaves these games early is bonkers.

3-2 to Chesterfield

Kidderminster could get promoted even though they lost 15 games.

Quoted from Barrattstander

There's already:

Arsenal
Tottenham
Brentford
Fulham
Crystal Palace
Chelsea
West Ham
Millwall
Watford
QPR
Charlton
Leyton Orient
Sutton United
& Wimbledon
from within the M25 so I would prefer a team from elsewhere to be promoted so that's a no to:
Barnet
Boreham Wood
Bromley
& Woking (just 3 miles outside the M25)
from me.

That went well.

It’s the best playoff final we could have hoped for from a financial and decent away day perspective. Chesterfield coming up would be less of a threat from a competitive perspective I would assume.

Quoted from LH

It’s the best playoff final we could have hoped for from a financial and decent away day perspective. Chesterfield coming up would be less of a threat from a competitive perspective I would assume.

It’s a proper playoff final in the same sort of mould of Town v Bristol Rovers.

Quoted from Barrattstander

That went well.

Wish granted!

Bloody hell - just seen the results!  County must have been crapping their pants - I'm glad they made it to final - that would have been brutal to get so many points then not even get thru first knock out game,

I agree - the play off format is excellent - single leg games are the way to go!!

Either of those two will do us , not to far for an away day and they both should fill our away end

Notts County are repeating the same mistake they made in 2020 when they lost the Final to Harrogate Town.

Rather than travel down the day before and stay in a hotel they are going down via coach on the day of the match from Nottingham. They did the same in 2020 and lost to Harrogate who stayed the night before the match at the Hilton next to Wembley Stadium.

An absolutely bonkers decision to have over 2 hours on a coach on the morning of the biggest game of the season.

Desperate for notts to win final no team should accumulate that many points & not get promoted , but as we showed in a one off game form & points get left behind

Quoted from fishcake63

Desperate for notts to win final no team should accumulate that many points & not get promoted , but as we showed in a one off game form & points get left behind

I just want County to win because it really dislike Chesterfield.

I’m behind County, but if it is true that they are travelling down on the day (don’t know if it is), I’d say that’s nuts, and I hope it doesn’t cost them.

Quoted from chaos33

I’m behind County, but if it is true that they are travelling down on the day (don’t know if it is), I’d say that’s nuts, and I hope it doesn’t cost them.

Maybe when Luke Williams was interviewed for the job he got it because he gave the right answer to the question…Wembley final - stay over or travel on the day?

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Notts County are repeating the same mistake they made in 2020 when they lost the Final to Harrogate Town.

Rather than travel down the day before and stay in a hotel they are going down via coach on the day of the match from Nottingham. They did the same in 2020 and lost to Harrogate who stayed the night before the match at the Hilton next to Wembley Stadium.

An absolutely bonkers decision to have over 2 hours on a coach on the morning of the biggest game of the season.

Surely you’d only do that if it worked? Seems mental…that said, aren’t Notts technically in a world of bother financially?

Even Fenty paid for an overnight stop for Wembley…

Notts nor Harrogate stopped over the previous night because of COVID restrictions,I can't believe that they would risk going down on the day when Notts, Chesterfield and Forest are all heading in the same direction at the same time

Quoted from Chalky

Notts nor Harrogate stopped over the previous night because of COVID restrictions,I can't believe that they would risk going down on the day when Notts, Chesterfield and Forest are all heading in the same direction at the same time

Harrogate stayed over the night before the match at Hilton Wembley.

Notts stayed over the night after the match in central London and had a party (wake) with their families.

My source is incredibly reliable. He drove the Notts team bus to and from the match. He had to have covid tests the week before the game and was paid to self isolate at home.

The Final was on 2nd August 2020 and the day before eat out to help out started so restrictions had been loosened significantly by then.

Notts have sold 20,000 tickets so far; thought they might have shifted a few more given that it’s their first fan attended game at the new Wembley, their last trip their (with fans) being 1991.

Not sure how many Chesterfield have shifted but it looks as though our record, shared with Bristol Rovers, for the highest ever on-league attendance of 47,029 looks safe for now. I’m slightly surprised by that.

Quoted from Poojah

Notts have sold 20,000 tickets so far; thought they might have shifted a few more given that it’s their first fan attended game at the new Wembley, their last trip their (with fans) being 1991.

Not sure how many Chesterfield have shifted but it looks as though our record, shared with Bristol Rovers, for the highest ever on-league attendance of 47,029 looks safe for now. I’m slightly surprised by that.

Notts have played at Wembley twice with fans since 1991.

10 points to anybody who can say when. (Chalky is disqualified)

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Notts have played at Wembley twice with fans since 1991.

10 points to anybody who can say when. (Chalky is disqualified)

Seems I'd forgotten the 1995 Anglo-Italian Cup final against Ascoli, along with just about everyone else who isn't a Notts County fan over the age of 35.

You might have to help me out with the other one...

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Notts have played at Wembley twice with fans since 1991.

£10 to anybody who can say when. (Chalky is disqualified)

1996 Play-off final

1995 Anglo/Italian Cup Final

Quoted from Grantham_Mariner

1996 Play-off final

1995 Anglo/Italian Cup Final

Turns out they were in the 1994 Anglo-Italian Cup final too, so that's 3 times at Wembley, with fans, since 1991. I take much solace in the fact that although I was wrong, so was the usually stupendously accurate Golly.

Ooh yeah, IIRC Gheorghe Hagi played in that one didn't he? (For Brescia, not Notts).

Quoted from Abdul19

Ooh yeah, IIRC Gheorghe Hagi played in that one didn't he? (For Brescia, not Notts).

Turns out he did, with Gary Lund lining-up for County. What a bizarre and oddly fascinating competition the Anglo-Italian Cup was…

https://youtu.be/wZjvvrH0cjI

Quoted from Poojah

Seems I'd forgotten the 1995 Anglo-Italian Cup final against Ascoli, along with just about everyone else who isn't a Notts County fan over the age of 35.

You might have to help me out with the other one...

They also lost the Anglo-Italian Cup Final at Wembley the year before (1994) to Brescia.

Quoted from Grantham_Mariner

1996 Play-off final

1995 Anglo/Italian Cup Final

3 times then!

Quoted from Poojah

Turns out he did, with Gary Lund lining-up for County. What a bizarre and oddly fascinating competition the Anglo-Italian Cup was…

https://youtu.be/wZjvvrH0cjI

Hagi. What a player.

My mate (the former coach driver) just rang me. He’s a County fan by the way. When we spoke on Tuesday he was depressed about the coach/hotel situation after what he experienced 3 years ago.

He said the coach company received a call yesterday afternoon to confirm the itinerary for this weekend from a member of the NCFC footballing staff and the club were expecting one of the coaches they have booked (for players and staff) for Friday to Sunday and the coach for family members on Saturday to Sunday. This wasn’t what the company had down as booked.

Sounds like a disorganised mess whatever the reason. But my mate has gone from “another 4 years in this s***hole” or “it’s our year” in a couple of days.

The 90's was good times for Notts going to Wembley and seemed like we was going there all the time for one thing or another,I knew a Swindon supporter who told me that they won the first Anglo Italian cup back in 1970 even though they didn't finish the game to due to rioting, Napoli fans didn't take to kindly to being down at home from what I remember him telling me

Just before the Anglo Italian cup was the Anglo Scottish cup,who remembers that? I'm pretty sure that Grimsby was involved at some time or other, Chesterfield still retain the cup after winning the final in the last season that it was held against Notts County.... I hope that it's not an omen!  

Quoted from GollyGTFC

My source is incredibly reliable. He drove the Notts team bus to and from the match. He had to have covid tests the week before the game and was paid to self isolate at home.

.

I stand corrected then Golly,I had it in my head that they went down on the day due to covid and played in an empty Wembley but I bow to your superior knowledge 😎

Got my electronic tickets through today, really looking forward to it. Watching Town against Solihull last season was like going through a grinder  Will sit back and enjoy this one at Wembley without any stress May the best team win.

Me too. E tickets through today.  Weather looking cracking and can relax as a neutral.
Feel a bit sorry them them with the rail strike, so no return trains on.
Here's to a return to Meadow lane next season and 3 points ;)

Got my ticket as well,emailed Wembley to see if I could be moved to the Notts section and they told me that a new ticket will be sent Friday,if I don't receive it then got to the Wembley ticket office with my email and it will be moved there and then

Notts did a Grimsby last Sunday so I'm hoping that the trend continues but then again we are "Wrexham" in this round aren't we? 🤔

I'm going on Saturday as well. Hoping for a Notts victory over cheaterfield but looking for a good game watching as a neutral and a stress free football experience

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Notts County are repeating the same mistake they made in 2020 when they lost the Final to Harrogate Town.

Rather than travel down the day before and stay in a hotel they are going down via coach on the day of the match from Nottingham. They did the same in 2020 and lost to Harrogate who stayed the night before the match at the Hilton next to Wembley Stadium.

An absolutely bonkers decision to have over 2 hours on a coach on the morning of the biggest game of the season.

Notts County are at Wembley now checking out the pitch and facilities, so unless they plan on driving back up to Nottingham tonight to then set off for Wembley again tomorrow, I assume they’re staying over.

If Posh keep up scoring, 2-0 before HT, we may be playing Wed earlier than we thought.

Quoted from Poojah

Turns out he did, with Gary Lund lining-up for County. What a bizarre and oddly fascinating competition the Anglo-Italian Cup was…

https://youtu.be/wZjvvrH0cjI

And I think another ex Town player in Phil Turner, lining up for County as well.

Massive Wednesday getting a massive hiding at Peterborough. 3-0 down after an hour. This after recording 96 points; a football league record to not win automatic promotion.

Not a great omen for County ahead of their final tomorrow.

4-0. This is turning into the biggest kicking Darren Ferguson has given anyone since his ex-wife answered him back on his dad’s driveway.

Huge bottle job from Wednesday this last couple of months. Cruising towards auto, drop out with a month to go and now all but out in the POSF1L. Ha!

Quoted from Poojah

4-0. This is turning into the biggest kicking Darren Ferguson has given anyone since his ex-wife answered him back on his dad’s driveway.

might mean Harry's departure is nailed on??

Quoted from forza ivano

might mean Harry's departure is nailed on??

He’s be better off going to Posh if he wants his career to go further.

We had more shots, more shots on target and far more corners.  They did mess-up big time.  So close to automatic promotion as well.  Fine margins and then big margins.

It’s often the team who just miss out on automatic promotion that mess up the playoffs. Look at Northampton and Wrexham last year, and now Wednesday.

Better to sneak up into the playoffs on a roll than drop into them from above. As we know!!!

Such is the absolute mental nature of the play offs, I wouldn't be surprised if Wednesday somehow pull it off in midweek!

There's nothing in football that comes close to the play-offs for me.

Most of the season Wednesday have been in the auto promotion spot. A catastrophic loss of form when they thought they were home and hosed saw them just nudged out. Tonight being hammered by Peterborough who finished nigh on 20 points behind them don't sit right with me. I think that many of them(players) have had eyes on fancy holidays and never thought they would be playing football any more, only to find out at the last minute, that they can't go on them(the holidays) & they have to raise themselves again and play on for a few more weeks. Holiday plans in chaos, gone, lost & serious abuse from the wags. I think some of them have thought F this, i am going on that holiday. Maybe controversial thinking, but i wouldn't put anything past what human nature can do, if it needs to, to get the short term result at the expense of what would seem to the rest of us, a complete reverse of what we would expect. Also don't forget that promotion would have inevitably meant that many of the players would have been replaced next season as deemed not up to Championship standard. Just my pennies worth to try and explain a very very strange result.

Quoted from Shipwrecked In Gainsborough

Most of the season Wednesday have been in the auto promotion spot.  .

As the Posh fans were singing last night "Top of the league and you copulated it up"  ;D

Looking forward to watching Chesterfield v Notts County today (15:30 BT Sport 1)

We know how tough it is to get out of the National League, the loser will be gutted.

Quoted from Shipwrecked In Gainsborough

Most of the season Wednesday have been in the auto promotion spot. A catastrophic loss of form when they thought they were home and hosed saw them just nudged out. Tonight being hammered by Peterborough who finished nigh on 20 points behind them don't sit right with me. I think that many of them(players) have had eyes on fancy holidays and never thought they would be playing football any more, only to find out at the last minute, that they can't go on them(the holidays) & they have to raise themselves again and play on for a few more weeks. Holiday plans in chaos, gone, lost & serious abuse from the wags. I think some of them have thought F this, i am going on that holiday. Maybe controversial thinking, but i wouldn't put anything past what human nature can do, if it needs to, to get the short term result at the expense of what would seem to the rest of us, a complete reverse of what we would expect. Also don't forget that promotion would have inevitably meant that many of the players would have been replaced next season as deemed not up to Championship standard. Just my pennies worth to try and explain a very very strange result.

Nothing worse than a modern wsg scorned ........

Mullin on the pitch next to Chris Hargreaves talking to BT.

I hope Chris trips him up as they leave the pitch . :(

Slocombe has had a shocker.

Notts County keeper needs subbing already with the way he's started

Notts County goalie - WTAF! Worst opening 5 minutes for a goalie ever!

County keeper having an absolute mare! 1 - 0  to chesterfield

Do county have a keeper on the bench?

That Everywhere We Go song is really starting to do my head in.

Notts with their back 3 and high wing-backs being undone by a team playing 4-2-3-1 and getting at them down the flanks again.

Bostock is exactly the kind of player we need

Has Dallas signed for Chesterfield or just on loan?

Quoted from Belfast Town

Has Dallas signed for Chesterfield or just on loan?

Just on loan

Chesterfield should be disappointed to only go in 1 up, surely county can't be that bad in the second half. You'd think Chesterfield will end up rueing those missed opportunities.

Quoted from out of town

Bostock is exactly the kind of player we need

Lots of clubs have thought the same and had their fingers burnt. Classy on the ball, but that’s about it.

Quoted from MarinerDevil

Slocombe has had a shocker.

Good! He used to manage a team out Scunny way(Burton) whilst playing for scunny they were 2-1 up against us as title rivals and the ball went out for a throw and he booted it into a nearby field, always hated him from that day. Petty I know 😂

What’s worrying is that we’ll get this referee next season. Utterly dreadful.

Notts been absolute guff so far

Good by Bostock that

Quoted from jimgtfc

Lots of clubs have thought the same and had their fingers burnt. Classy on the ball, but that’s about it.

He’s been the best player on the pitch by a mile

Hahaha both keepers having Forecasts.

Hope it goes to pens.

I love a penalty shoot out as long it's not Town or England .

Really enjoyable game, love the playoffs!

Quoted from Abdul19

Hahaha both keepers having Forecasts.

Yep!

Would love to see this go to pens as a neutral.

County Best across the season clearly, Chesterfield best in this match clearly

Well it’s 2-2 now

The level of goalkeeping on display in the national league final has been very poor.

This is very entertaining.

Wow keeper sub for penalties. It never works does it ?

Cracking game, that is one big keeper county have brought on for pens!

All eyes on the County keeper.

Jeez, great for the neutral but horrible if you're invested. Horrible memories of the Rovers final, though it spurred us on for the next year.

Quoted from supertown

Wow keeper sub for penalties. It never works does it ?

Only when Bristol brought Mildenhall on against us

Prize for the winner: a trip to BP

Run from the halfway line and welly it !

Gonna work today. Two great saves

Congrats to Chalky and Notts. Completely deserved over the season.

Notts do it and Chalky is an ecstatic man.

Completely deserved when you look at where they finished over 46 games.

Well done Notts. It would have been seriously mad if they’d achieved that points total and not ended up promoted. Bostock though 🤯

Was the 2nd penalty save just lucky or did he mean to do that ?

Bostock showed himself up there, embarrassed for him

Feel a bit for Paul Cook, one of the most honest managers in football.

Oh well, wanted Chesterfield to win as they would be less of a threat nextbseason but hooters away is a decent consolation prize! Can c why county brought that giant on he was good at saving pens!

An extra challenge for us next season, yes, but a victory for football and common decency.

Quoted from LH

Well done Notts. It would have been seriously mad if they’d achieved that points total and not ended up promoted. Bostock though 🤯

Not that bothered, but glad Notts County went up with the points they accrued over the season. Still think it should be two automatic promotion places and a third for the play-offs.

Another cracking game in the play offs.  Really enjoyed that .

Really enjoyed that

Quoted from Nelly GTFC

Not that bothered, but glad Notts County went up with the points they accrued over the season. Still think it should be two automatic promotion places and a third for the play-offs.

They say turkeys don’t vote for Christmas, but I do agree with this.

Quoted from Heisenberg

They say turkeys don’t vote for Christmas, but I do agree with this.

Unless you are in League Two  ;)

Welcome back Notts

Well done Notts. Not great today, but justice done over the season.

Well done county and already looking forward to a quality away day.

Really good game of football but if notts defend like that next season they are going to get ripped apart from a lot of teams.

And contrary from someone else of this thread, I thought the ref was excellent!!

Enjoyed that and thought County would win in the end.

Did not deserve it today but did on the season's effort.

Welcome back Notts and Chalky .

Well done Notts, over the season you deserved it. Looking forward to a day out in Nottingham.

Quoted from promotion plaice

Unless you are in League Two  ;)

That’s what I’m getting at. We ARE in League 2, but I still believe there should be a 3-up 3-down system.

Hoping Salford lose to Bradford in l2 final

Just got back from a great day at Wembley. Friend bought the early bird tickets in the neutral zone, then transferred to the Notts end, but £10 for Club Wembley seats is some compensation for last years rip off
Notts were like rabbits in the headlights for 30 minutes, especially the keeper who had a complete mare. The Notts fans behind us reckon he's 30 and never saved a penalty of any sort in his entire career, hence the 119th minute sub.
Although Notts grew into the game, chesterfield were the better team on the day and were a bit unlucky not to win. Not sure if Dallas is much better the the conference to be honest, Langstaff never got a sniff but had no service. Bostock was Notts best player by a mile, but wants shooting for the penalty!!
Overall a great day watching a big game as a neutral with no pressure

Just back.....from the pub, and seen the result. Really chuffed that Notts won in the end as they deserved it after the season they had. Glad they didn't sh1t the bed like Sheff Weds.        

Chuffed for Chalky of this parish as he took last seasons defeat to us with grace and magnanimity.

Welcome back to the EFL.

The FL should agree to 3up/3dn as long as they can use the NL’s play off format.

Thanks for the kind words everyone,it's very nice of you ,a great game for the neutral but my nerves are all shot,over 240 minutes of playoffs Notts have only been in front for one single minute but we still go up,it was agony,pure agony but that's football I suppose,thank God we are out of non league at last and get back to playing some proper teams like Grimsby,really looking forward to next season now that the nightmare of non league is over and can look out for our fixtures,thanks again for the messages on here,it's appreciated

Quoted from Chalky

Thanks for the kind words everyone,it's very nice of you ,a great game for the neutral but my nerves are all shot,over 240 minutes of playoffs Notts have only been in front for one single minute but we still go up,it was agony,pure agony but that's football I suppose,thank God we are out of non league at last and get back to playing some proper teams like Grimsby,really looking forward to next season now that the nightmare of non league is over and can look out for our fixtures,thanks again for the messages on here,it's appreciated

Throughly deserved mate. Looking forward to some banter with you next season. Hopefully we both finish above Wrexham!!

Well done Notts. Watched the game and, despite being up twice, Chesterfield spent most of the game on the back foot. Deserved Nott win imho.

I wanted to watch the highlights without knowing the score. In looking I saw the Sky Sports headline Nott County in league 2.  Thanks a bunch.  Great to see Notts County go up, thoroughly deserved over the season.  Two great saves from their keeper.  Some good pens there too from both sides. Welcome back to the EFL Chalky.

Quoted from Mayaman

I wanted to watch the highlights without knowing the score. In looking I saw the Sky Sports headline Nott County in league 2.  Thanks a bunch.  Great to see Notts County go up, thoroughly deserved over the season.  Two great saves from their keeper.  Some good pens there too from both sides. Welcome back to the EFL Chalky.

You didn’t want to know the score but went on a sports site . 🤨

I thought the ref did well yesterday. In ET a Chesterfield player went down screaming and the ref waved the physio on. The physio of course knew he was just a cheating, time wasting prat just stood on the touch line refusing to move. The ref insisted he came on so the "injured" player had to leave the pitch.
It made no real difference but it was good to see a ref trying to do something to tackle the cheating

Quoted from supertown

You didn’t want to know the score but went on a sports site . 🤨

To be fair he probably thought that since Wrexham already got promoted that the media coverage of non League would have fallen back behind WSL coverage.

Quoted from Chalky

Thanks for the kind words everyone,it's very nice of you ,a great game for the neutral but my nerves are all shot,over 240 minutes of playoffs Notts have only been in front for one single minute but we still go up,it was agony,pure agony but that's football I suppose,thank God we are out of non league at last and get back to playing some proper teams like Grimsby,really looking forward to next season now that the nightmare of non league is over and can look out for our fixtures,thanks again for the messages on here,it's appreciated

Congratulations it was a cracking game I was looking forward to it and it did not disappoint .

I have really enjoyed the style off football from your team in the last couple of years it's a far cry from most NL and dare i say it even league 2 teams - open passing football that's a joy to watch at times ,Chicksen i rate highly and think he will play higher than league 2 , it will be interesting to see if there are any big tempting offers for Langstaff in the summer also  .

How this matches up to the higher quality of around 10 teams in league 2 will be interesting to see - you would have thought adaptation is needed with the high line otherwise teams who are good on the counter will pick Notts off at ease .

Hopefully you give us that full away end !

York City fans said that County played the best football that they saw their last season. Wrexham were seen as mainly a long ball team playing to Mullin. (Even if very successful during the season).

Know the score beforehand:

The Likely Lads episode for avoiding the England score was very original.  With a surprising end.

Oxford City 4-0 up in the NLS play-off Final.

Because 3 very southern teams were relegated from the NL this season there’s going to have to be one of the remaining teams from NL South transferring to the NL North.

The most northern team left is Braintree Town!

Braintree Town in the NL North?

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Oxford City 4-0 up in the NLS play-off Final.

Because 3 very southern teams were relegated from the NL this season there’s going to have to be one of the remaining teams from NL South transferring to the NL North.

The most northern team left is Braintree Town!

Braintree Town in the NL North?

Well scunny have done their bit to keep NLN northern ;)

Think Bishops Stortford were in the NLN a few years ago, must be similar southerness.

Quoted from Abdul19

Think Bishops Stortford were in the NLN a few years ago, must be similar southerness.

Yes, the other possibility is Hemel Hempstead Town. Slightly further south than Braintree but on the M1 so easier to reach the NLN sides in the West Midlands and further north.

Kiddy have been promoted to the NL.

https://twitter.com/khfcofficial/status/1657784537831870464?s=20

Quoted from MarinerDevil

Kiddy have been promoted to the NL.

https://twitter.com/khfcofficial/status/1657784537831870464?s=20

really pleased for them. great club n probably my favourite away day

1st leg results:

Salford 1-0 Stockport
Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

Not a lot of quality in either game from what I saw, hopefully they'll open up a bit in the second legs.

20,000 at Bradford.
Just under 4,000 at Salford for a local derby!

Quoted from mimma

20,000 at Bradford.
Just under 4,000 at Salford for a local derby!

Let’s not kid ourselves that Salford have that many fans. Their allocation for Stockport was dreadful and let’s face it, they only went to catch a glimpse of the ginger toe sucker and the Welsh wife whacker…

Hoping Stockport wallop em on the second leg

Quoted from mimma

20,000 at Bradford.
Just under 4,000 at Salford for a local derby!

I think the Salford game was more or less a sellout. Salford split the away end in half to allow more home fans in, which required a large area of segregation in the middle of the terrace to split the two sets of supporters.

I’m sure Stockport could have added another 10,000 to that attendance if capacity allowed.

Quoted from mimma

20,000 at Bradford.
Just under 4,000 at Salford for a local derby!

Salford are a joke. I know they’ve obviously got giants on their doorstep, but there is no need for that football club. I just hope they don’t go up. I like Gary Neville, but he can f#ck off with that bullsh#t.

[quote=120888]

Salford are a joke. I know they’ve obviously got giants on their doorstep, but there is no need for that football club. I just hope they don’t go up. I like Gary Neville, but he can f#ck off with that bullsh#t.[/quote
Salford have existed for a long time, it’s just their position in the pyramid is not their historic one. They are the other side of the coin to Bury’s decline. Eventually the wheel turns around and natural order is restored.

Quoted from Abdul19

Think Bishops Stortford were in the NLN a few years ago, must be similar southerness.

Weren't Gloucester City once in the Northern division?? It's gonna be harsh on one team.

I wonder if they get any financial support otherwise must be a massive disadvantage as the whole point of regionalised football is keeping cost down.Must cause problems for part time players as well with longer trips for midweek away games.

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

I wonder if they get any financial support otherwise must be a massive disadvantage as the whole point of regionalised football is keeping cost down.Must cause problems for part time players as well with longer trips for midweek away games.

I used to play in a step seven/eight league when away games could be as far as 200 miles away as we were the most northerly and easterly club..

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Yes, the other possibility is Hemel Hempstead Town. Slightly further south than Braintree but on the M1 so easier to reach the NLN sides in the West Midlands and further north.

Bishops Stortford it is then......


https://www.thefa.com/news/2023/may/15/national-league-system-club-allocations-steps-1-6-2023-24-season-20231505

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

I wonder if they get any financial support otherwise must be a massive disadvantage as the whole point of regionalised football is keeping cost down.Must cause problems for part time players as well with longer trips for midweek away games.

Gloucester have flitted between the NLN and NLS for the last 15 or so years. There is absolutely no way anyone would ever say Gloucester and Banbury for example are remotely northern but they are 2 of the most northern 24 teams at that level, so into the NLN they go.

It must impact budgets and recruitment, but whilst you can control to some extent the northern and southern split of those coming up, those teams coming down are from national football.

So 8 of Scunny’s league opponents next season will be south of Leicester, and some of them very much south. In a so-called regionalised league, only Alfreton and Farsley Celtic are within a 90 minute drive of Glanford Park. Several of their away trips will be more than double that.

The one theoretical upside you would assume of being relegated to regional football, and it doesn’t even materialise. Ouch.

Quoted from Poojah

So 8 of Scunny’s league opponents next season will be south of Leicester, and some of them very much south. In a so-called regionalised league, only Alfreton and Farsley Celtic are within a 90 minute drive of Glanford Park. Several of their away trips will be more than double that.

The one theoretical upside you would assume of being relegated to regional football, and it doesn’t even materialise. Ouch.

Much closer to Ilkeston

What with Wrexham and Notts County going up, and Scunny, Torquay and Yeovil going down, the NL looks a bit more traditionally "non-league" for 23/24.

In other news, Scunny now play just one level above Hashtag United - a club founded by a YouTuber which entered the pyramid in 18/19 and just got promoted to the Isthmian League. Football's a weird game.

Quite like the new mini-stadium they used for the County v Chesterfield final. Makes sense for games with smaller crowds.

[img]https://content.invisioncic.com/r37672/monthly_2023_05/252394121_Screenshot2023-05-15102149.png.723cb354a03d175215c6789468e15193.png[/img]

Quoted from kafunanapar140909

What with Wrexham and Notts County going up, and Scunny, Torquay and Yeovil going down, the NL looks a bit more traditionally "non-league" for 23/24.

In other news, Scunny now play just one level above Hashtag United - a club founded by a YouTuber which entered the pyramid in 18/19 and just got promoted to the Isthmian League. Football's a weird game.

Since when have Yeovil been a traditional Football League club? 2003-2019. That’s 16 seasons.

I don’t count a Wycombe Wanderers as a proper League side. If you weren’t in the league in 1988 then you don’t count!

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Since when have Yeovil been a traditional Football League club? 2003-2019. That’s 16 seasons.

I don’t count a Wycombe Wanderers as a proper League side. If you weren’t in the league in 1988 then you don’t count!

Haha, have I opened a generational can of worms there? In my defence, Yeovil's 16 years in the FL represent (just) more than half of my life, so from my perspective they've pretty much always been a FL side. Though as the Fishy poster ages thread the other day showed, I'm a relative baby on here.

I wonder if there are any current non-league clubs which people of various generations look at and think "they should really be in the FL".

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Since when have Yeovil been a traditional Football League club? 2003-2019. That’s 16 seasons.

I don’t count a Wycombe Wanderers as a proper League side. If you weren’t in the league in 1988 then you don’t count!

They may not meet the definition of traditional but they were certainly established, just like other "unfashionable" clubs like Crawley, Fleetwood, FGR, Salford etc.

It will be interesting to see how FGR fare next season, the upper limit for many of these clubs now seems to be League 1.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

They may not meet the definition of traditional but they were certainly established, just like other "unfashionable" clubs like Crawley, Fleetwood, FGR, Salford etc.

It will be interesting to see how FGR fare next season, the upper limit for many of these clubs now seems to be League 1.

You could argue it's the upper limit of many 'traditional league clubs' (including ourselves) at this moment in time .

Quoted from Mappers

You could argue it's the upper limit of many 'traditional league clubs' (including ourselves) at this moment in time .

Kieran Maguire said recently that the Championship is essentially a billionaires playground now. Maybe that is the method to the madness of Gareth Jennings advising us; he is going to bring in a Sheikh to take us beyond our ceiling?

I suppose him being brought in is part of the strategy for  the   '10 year plan' they have been talking about .

I am not so sure it's to raise capital investment as they seem like they have not had any problems doing that in the past .

It will be interesting to see what happens when we do get to league 1 , as I am sure we will within the next 5 years and then where we go from there .

If they can find the investors who will fit in to their framework and ideas , Stockwood & Petit are willing to budge on their ideals for significant investment or we stay a lower end league 1 club at best with what we have now as 'sustainable ' as we can be .

Reading between the lines in the interviews it sounds like they will both invest us up  to league 1 level or when (if) the regulator comes in and then they want it self sustainable or/and other investors involved .

Will be interesting to see how the next few years shape up .

Google added a nice touch after the game,if you typed Notts County into Google fireworks went off,I'm not sure that I've seen this before

Quoted from Chalky

Google added a nice touch after the game,if you typed Notts County into Google fireworks went off,I'm not sure that I've seen this before

I wonder what Google should display when you type Scunthorpe in?  8)

Quoted from kafunanapar140909

Haha, have I opened a generational can of worms there? In my defence, Yeovil's 16 years in the FL represent (just) more than half of my life, so from my perspective they've pretty much always been a FL side. Though as the Fishy poster ages thread the other day showed, I'm a relative baby on here.

I wonder if there are any current non-league clubs which people of various generations look at and think "they should really be in the FL".

As it stands..

Oldham
Southend
Chesterfield
Bury
Torquay
Scunthorpe
York
Chester
Hartlepool
Rochdale
Darlington
Halifax

Maybes

Aldershot
Southport


A bit of a case for Hereford, and before my time, Bradford Park Avenue and Gateshead..

Yet to earn their stripes in the EFL..

Wycombe (nearly there)
Fleetwood
Burton
Cheltenham
MK Dons
FGR
Stevenage
Salford
Sutton
Harrogate
Crawley

I'm probably in the camp of there's no divine right anymore, and if you're strong enough as a club, you'll return..

Quoted from RonMariner

I wonder what Google should display when you type Scunthorpe in?  8)

[img]https://media0.giphy.com/media/fEZXym04F4fwk/200w.gif?cid=6c09b952cmdgicfgr74861abt1tiebjtacg82356xzzjq3e6&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=200w.gif&ct=g[/img]

Look at the play-offs to get into The Prem. Both Luton and Coventry involved.

It's not that long ago that both were in League 2, Luton in The National League even.

Now, I'm not saying we're going to emulate them but at least it gives a bit of hope what can be achieved.

Quoted from Poojah

[img]https://media0.giphy.com/media/fEZXym04F4fwk/200w.gif?cid=6c09b952cmdgicfgr74861abt1tiebjtacg82356xzzjq3e6&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=200w.gif&ct=g[/img]

Wonderful! Once again you hit the nail on the head with aplomb!

Latest score after 20 minutes:

Luton 1-0 Sunderland (now 2-2 on aggregate)

Quoted from Bigdog

As it stands..

Oldham
Southend
Chesterfield
Bury
Torquay
Scunthorpe
York
Chester
Hartlepool
Rochdale
Darlington
Halifax

Maybes

Aldershot
Southport


A bit of a case for Hereford, and before my time, Bradford Park Avenue and Gateshead..

Yet to earn their stripes in the EFL..

Wycombe (nearly there)
Fleetwood
Burton
Cheltenham
MK Dons
FGR
Stevenage
Salford
Sutton
Harrogate
Crawley

I'm probably in the camp of there's no divine right anymore, and if you're strong enough as a club, you'll return..

So what exactly do you have to do to earn your stripes? Thought it was a bit hard on Wycombe to be honest.

For me, franchise scum, Stevenage and Salford will never earn their stripes; all three are completely irrelevant and will fit we remain that way. Franchise are the scummiest of the scum…

Luton 2-0 up and way better than Sunderland

Quoted from Bigdog

As it stands..

Oldham
Southend
Chesterfield
Bury
Torquay
Scunthorpe
York
Chester
Hartlepool
Rochdale
Darlington
Halifax

Maybes

Aldershot
Southport


A bit of a case for Hereford, and before my time, Bradford Park Avenue and Gateshead..

Yet to earn their stripes in the EFL..

Wycombe (nearly there)
Fleetwood
Burton
Cheltenham
MK Dons
FGR
Stevenage
Salford
Sutton
Harrogate
Crawley

I'm probably in the camp of there's no divine right anymore, and if you're strong enough as a club, you'll return..

I would move Aldershot up from maybes and add Workington to maybes

If Luton go up their ground needs £10m in renovations. How much would it cost us if we were to emulate?

Any club that wasn't in the 1888/89 Football League isn't proper in my book.

Quoted from HerveJosse

I would move Aldershot up from maybes and add Workington to maybes

Both are good shouts. Forgot about Workington..

Mcatee 1 game away from being a potential Premier League player....
Wonder if we had a promotion clause in the deal ?

Would be funny if we had even though he hasn't played fir Luton yet 😁

Quoted from HertsGTFC

So what exactly do you have to do to earn your stripes? Thought it was a bit hard on Wycombe to be honest.

As I said, Wycombe are nearly there, only one more generation of football fans away from being fully fledged..

Quoted from Plankton

If Luton go up their ground needs £10m in renovations. How much would it cost us if we were to emulate?

More or less the same, I’d have thought. It’s not really about improvements to the fan experience, but rather that for the global TV audience (cos that’s where all the money is, innit).

Super-duper floodlights, 50 odd camera stations, enhanced media areas, maybe some bigger dugouts and changing rooms to accommodate your typical PL entourage. The ground won’t be much different for the fans in the ground. Luton are building a new one anyway.

[quote=491]

and changing rooms to accommodate your typical PL entourage. quote]

Will there be a sink for the ladies ? 🙈

Quoted from Plankton

If Luton go up their ground needs £10m in renovations. How much would it cost us if we were to emulate?

TV money from 1season in the prem could build a new ground if used wisely

Quoted from Wedidntdidwe

TV money from 1season in the prem could build a new ground if used wisely

I seem to recall reading they are having a new ground built for £100 million and, if promoted, money won't be a problem.

Quoted from DB

I seem to recall reading they are having a new ground built for £100 million and, if promoted, money won't be a problem.

True, but they won’t be able to sign any of experienced Prem players if they use the windfall on a stadium. I still think it’d be the right plan though, going forward, as Kenilworth Road is garbage.

Quoted from Heisenberg

True, but they won’t be able to sign any of experienced Prem players if they use the windfall on a stadium. I still think it’d be the right plan though, going forward, as Kenilworth Road is garbage.

It’s garbage but out of Luton away and Brighton away, liton was the far better away day, result aside, I dunno why but Luton away is decent, if a little tricky getting a pint…

I love Kenilworth Road. Needs a proper stand to replace the weird exec boxes but other than that it's exactly what I want from a football ground.

Kenilworth Road is a brilliant stadium, will be a real shame when it's replaced.

Luton will play Coventry in the Championship play-off final at Wembley. Both recently of this League Two parish. Both recently broken in their own unique way.

Got to take heart from that.

Goes very under the radar but what a manager Mark Robins is and what a job he’s done at Coventry. They were bottom of the league and didn’t even have a home ground earlier in the season, now one game from the big time. Top top manager.

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

Goes very under the radar but what a manager Mark Robins is and what a job he’s done at Coventry. They were bottom of the league and didn’t even have a home ground earlier in the season, now one game from the big time. Top top manager.

Tell that to Scunny!

Great for Cov - after all the sh!t the fans have had to put with having their stadium stolen by a rugby franchise. Great story whichever club goes up now. I wonder if it will be on BBC News 24 every hour…

Funny that he replaced Russell Slade at Coventry.. careers very much gone in different directions since 🤣

I have no ties to Luton at all but I'd love to see them promoted. Mainly because of the excrement they're receiving constantly online for how 'poor' (oldschool) their ground is.

Cracking game going on at Hillsborough

Wednesday 3-0 up now.

Peterborough their own worst enemies. So negative and constantly turning back towards their own goal, bringing Wednesday onto them. Cracking game though

Wednesday equalise in the 98th minute. Even after what I witnessed a year ago, this is til almost incomprehensible.

Kinnell, Holohan time

WOW.....4-0 Wednesday

Quoted from Theimperialcoroner

Kinnell, Holohan time

Similar goal to Manni’s, as well. He just fúcking threw himself at it.

Quoted from Poojah

Wednesday equalise in the 98th minute. Even after what I witnessed a year ago, this is til almost incomprehensible.

Yep. And Peterborough have got exactly what they deserve. Cannot fathom their tactics at all

Extra-time

In other news.....

West Ham reach the Europa Conference League Final.

Not a big fan of the massives but fair play for that comeback

Mourinho done it again I see, another cup final with Roma, bigger fish this time - UEFA Cup.

Quoted from immariner

Yep. And Peterborough have got exactly what they deserve. Cannot fathom their tactics at all

They have just become a case study in complacency. Surely you approach the game with the score line to the back of your mind and treat it like a league game - set up solid and organised and try and nick a goal. Impossible place for them to come back from now.

Quoted from Poojah

Wednesday equalise in the 98th minute. Even after what I witnessed a year ago, this is til almost incomprehensible.

Wrexham beating Notts County in a League game with some goals and a penalty save can never be surpassed...

Peterborough deserve this situation. To set up and play that negatively and with such a lack of desire was just anti-football.

Peterborough ahead again! Own goal too.

The playoffs deliver yet again!

Peterborough back in front

Not for long!

What a game

5-5 now

What a game. 5-5

Mad game ;D ;D ;D

I think we can justifiably claim we started all this football playoff version of bazball though...

“Football. Bloody hell!”

The play offs have to be the best thing to ever happen to English football.

Quoted from bradzmilne

The play offs have to be the best thing to ever happen to English football.

I think our first experience of it against Fulham was completely pedestrian compared to this. I see Tshimanga is on for the shootout.

Peterborough have nothing and fully deserve that. How they can play like that after starting a game 4-0 up is unforgivable. Well done to Wednesday, lovely to see

They've done it. Got to hand it to the Yorkie feckers...

Didn't see that coming after the 1st leg

Decent game  ;D

Jesus, Mary and the wee donkey!

Unbelievable.

What a come back by Wednesday, Peterboroughs tactics were so defensive but credit to the home team they bossed the game and got the just desserts.

On another note Tshimanga comes on for last 30 seconds of extra time. Not first choice for Borough so might be available for loan next season  ;)

Quoted from Stew0_0

What a come back by Wednesday, Peterboroughs tactics were so defensive but credit to the home team they bossed the game and got the just desserts.

On another note Tshimanga comes on for last 30 seconds of extra time. Not first choice for Borough so might be available for loan next season  ;)

I am absolutely baffled why they didn’t leave a man forward in normal time.

We see it happen on a weekly basis. A team with backs against the wall, defending a one goal lead - often “like warriors” but with no exit ball.

Ultimately, defending team gets suffocated & either merely rides it out or concedes.  

Stick a fast striker on the halfway line for Christ sake. Offers both an attacking outlet & stops the ball immediately coming back into the box.

Nothing special. Simply common sense.

What a game and pens shoot out, very enjoyable, footy really is the best sport and the playoffs seem to bring out the best of it!

Quoted from bradzmilne

The play offs have to be the best thing to ever happen to English football.

100%.

Simply the best change the footballing authorities ever made.  Every year it delivers, you can always guarantee at least one 'wow' game.  For most of the season I'm pretty much only half interested in what's going on away from BP.  Soon as it gets to play-off season I'm completely hooked.

Quoted from bradzmilne

I am absolutely baffled why they didn’t leave a man forward in normal time.

We see it happen on a weekly basis. A team with backs against the wall, defending a one goal lead - often “like warriors” but with no exit ball.

Ultimately, defending team gets suffocated & either merely rides it out or concedes.  

Stick a fast striker on the halfway line for Christ sake. Offers both an attacking outlet & stops the ball immediately coming back into the box.

Nothing special. Simply common sense.

I agree. There are very few teams good enough to play a totally defensive game effectively. Parking the bus tends to result in the game being played almost entirely in your own half.  I see why Peterborough would think they simply had to see the game out. A four goal lead had never previously been overturned. But after the first couple of goals they should have changed direction and tried to take the game to the opposition. As we saw from the first leg, they clearly had the players to do it.
    

As much as there's a part of me that still has a slight dislike for Wednesday, dating back to their massive shouts 20 odd years ago (I think it's 20 years since we last played them now...incredible!) I just can't stomach Darren Ferguson.  

He always has and always will just like look an absolute anus, not to mention a wife-beater.

Much like Parkinson at Wrexham, Peterborough's relative success comes in spite of Ferguson sitting at the helm.  Ironically I can see him ending up at Wrexham when Parkinson finally gets the shove.

Seeing the Bolton fans at Barnsley in that huge stand reminded me of us at Notts County last year.

I can see why home teams only give the minimum number but something just doesn't seem right about it all.

How about having to give at least the same allocation as the league game?

Ridiculous having so many empty seats when the demand is so big.

Hopefully, Stockport will now get promotion. Think they would be nailed on to challenge again next season, they would have had automatic comfortably but for their terrible start (and us taking 6 points off them).

Interesting to hear that Salford use a lot of data analysis even down to data on penalties but at the end of the day success is down to the players and not data as it did diddly squat for Salford.

Stockport in the final on pens.

Interesting in the Div 1 promotion final (South Yorkshire) that the 2 teams averaged over 91 points.  A higher average than Leyton Orient got, who were clear champions.

Quoted from TownSNAFU5

Stockport in the final on pens.

Interesting in the Div 1 promotion final (South Yorkshire) that the 2 teams averaged over 91 points.  A higher average than Leyton Orient got, who were clear champions.

Looking at the money they spend either club will see not winning the promotion spot a failure.

Quoted from arryarryarry

Interesting to hear that Salford use a lot of data analysis even down to data on penalties but at the end of the day success is down to the players and not data as it did diddly squat for Salford.

Well said. The trouble with data is it can take you down blind alleys if not used with the whole picture in mind. You think you have pinpointed the problem,  but it turns out it something else that led to that point. The oft quoted data led success of one or two clubs involved a lot more than data, and in any event most clubs use data to a greater or lesser extent and most still fail.

Use it by all means if you wish but it is certainly not a panacea.

Three goals in extra time in the Carlisle game so far. Entertaining stuff.

Quoted from RonMariner

Three goals in extra time in the Carlisle game so far. Entertaining stuff.

No idea what the Bradford goalkeeper was doing there. Was as if he become terrified of the ball.

I'd be sacking the keeper if i was Bradford, he's been absolutely shite for both goals they've conceded in extra time. Reaction times of a sloth for the Carlisle's second and positioning was over the shop for the third.

e: lmao sky have lost the feed with about 2 minutes left and Bradford on the attack, incredible scenes

We will never find out the result as Sky Sports has turned itself off.

Quoted from RonMariner

Three goals in extra time in the Carlisle game so far. Entertaining stuff.

Must be great for Carlisle having the luxury of having a 20 goal striker on the bench and not bringing him on lol.

Looks like that Barclay who scored the potential winner for Carlisle won't be able to play at Wembley if they get there, he's on loan from Stockport.

Well done Carlisle! Just checked, one thing for sure it will be 10+ years since one of the play-off final teams were last in League One.

2013–14 League One - Carlisle United
2009–10 League One - Stockport County
2003–04 League One - Grimsby Town (Well old second-division)

Quoted from Chrisblor

I'd be sacking the keeper if i was Bradford, he's been absolutely shite for both goals they've conceded in extra time. Reaction times of a sloth for the Carlisle's second and positioning was over the shop for the third.

e: lmao sky have lost the feed with about 2 minutes left and Bradford on the attack, incredible scenes

I’d be sacking Hughes - consistent failure with top of the table resources…

Over 36,000 watched the two games, incredible

Over the two games, Bradford deserved to lose. Plain and simple.

They were good in the first half at Valley Parade but offered nothing thereafter. Bradford is a better away day than Carlisle (certainly easier to get to) so I’m not unhappy.

However, it does mean there is another side down here who will be able to outgun us next season.

Not the play-offs but as it stands City win the title and Forest are safe.

HT....Forest 1-0 Arsenal.

Play off games entertaining again esp Salford Stockport which I thought wouldn't be as good. Sky managed to f up the feed for the 2nd mind. Hopefully Carlisle go up as Stockport is an easier away day and bring plenty away to BP. A good consolation if Stockport do go up is they are the bigger spenders so helps us out next season

Quoted from promotion plaice

Not the play-offs but as it stands City win the title and Forest are safe.

HT....Forest 1-0 Arsenal.

Well done Nottingham Forest. Stayed up! Man City Premier League champions again...... (sleeping)

Bradford seem to under achieve or bottle it year in year out ,everyone thinks they will go up every year but they never do so probably will just get in the Play Offs again next year and repeat.

Don't mind Stockport or Carlisle so will be happy whoever goes up ,I suppose as an achievement and motivation for us would be Carlisle as it's another unfancied team who did not go bonkers money wise but made it .

I'm personally shocked that Man Citeh managed to win the PL again after barely strengthening during the summer, apart from bunging a few quid to sign the world's most highly-rated young striker for a couple of generations.

Pep does spend those petro-dollars well.

Bradford, another club who seem to throw cash and everything else at it, much like Mansfield and ultimately bottle it when things get serious.

I don’t mind either of Carlisle or Stockport but I guess, Carlisle going means we keep a nearer away game…

A quick report on the asterisk * which follows Citeh's results in recent years (until it has been legislated):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/65648139

If I was to be cynical, the fact that UEFA and the PL have both accused them of dodgy financial dealings might indicate there was something in the story.

Probably not a great deal different in the way that Chelski paid their way to success, truth be told.