Fonda
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Talking absolute football...
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Post by Fonda on Feb 25, 2009 11:16:34 GMT
The playoffs are essentially cup games: form counts for nothing. We just need to concentrate on actually getting there. Stevenage Borough, for example, are on a tremendous run of form. If they continue their unbeaten run until the end of the season then fair play to them. But it will not matter a jot when it comes to the semi-finals. Completely disagree with that statement. It’s exactly the attitude that resulted in our failure last season. We need to have some form going into the Play-Offs. If we ‘coast’ in as we did last season, and hope to suddenly find decent performances again at that point, we’ll be found wanting. In a strange kind of way, it’s almost an advantage to us that we are going to be scrapping to get in there now, as at least the players will remain focussed right to the finishing line this year. Historically, the team entering the Play-Offs in the best form, wins them, regardless of their finishing position. It doesn’t matter if we finish 2nd or 5th, what matters is that when the Play-Offs come around, we’re in them and in decent form. |
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chelstongull
TFF member
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Favourite Player: Jason Fowler
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Post by chelstongull on Feb 25, 2009 11:48:20 GMT
To me the Play Off's are a lottery, but favour the form team.
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Dave
TFF member
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Post by Dave on Feb 25, 2009 12:04:10 GMT
David Graham's Eighth Pint as it stands we have a chance to be in the play-off finals and as you will know, I always take the view as long as we can do anything in the league mathematically, then we must hope and believe it will happen.
There still can be worry and concern based on our current form and results and the fact remains if we do not start finding good form and turning that into wins, we will find that we will be going the wrong way in the table.
You are a positive person and many are liked minded, it will always be the case in life that some people are not such positive people and therefore often only fear the worse, but underneath all that is still the hope and expectations that the more positive ones will show on the outside, but thats what makes us all different and it will always be that way.
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Post by ohtobeatplainmoor on Feb 25, 2009 12:06:27 GMT
I'm with Fonda on that one. We want to be in peak condition both mentally and physically if we make the play-offs (although we repeat the same form of post-Xmas 2007 then we wont be involved!). Whether that is by steamrolling to victories or grinding then out it doesn’t matter so much - we need to get that 'winning feeling back'.
The poor displays against Cambridge, R&D and Crawley were the shape of things to come leading the Play-offs. Exeter on the other hand had to scrap all the way and boy did it matter come the end when we were on the ropes.
There was something else last night that I think we lacked - real leadership and encouragement from the back (although I thought Manse did well). I've been following Salisbury with interest and I cant see Todd being with them for a second month due to his excellent displays. I think his return to the team will be a massive lift.
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Post by David Graham's Eighth Pint on Feb 25, 2009 14:48:11 GMT
And what exactly happened last year? Exeter scrapped their way into a playoff place and Cambridge soared in like a majestic eagle.
I'm pretty sure we all know what happened in the final.
The way we played in the second half at Kettering and, by all accounts, last night against Forest Green, I would suggest that the boys are up for a scrap.
For me, form isn't an issue. You're obviously entitled to disagree, but I believe that if you want something that badly, you'll go out and get it. In this case, it would be a place in the Football League. It's the same at every level, right down to Sunday League.
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Fonda
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Talking absolute football...
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Post by Fonda on Feb 25, 2009 14:52:06 GMT
And what exactly happened last year? Exeter scrapped their way into a playoff place and Cambridge soared in like a majestic eagle. I'm pretty sure we all know what happened in the final. The way we played in the second half at Kettering and, by all accounts, last night against Forest Green, I would suggest that the boys are up for a scrap. For me, form isn't an issue. You're obviously entitled to disagree, but I believe that if you want something that badly, you'll go out and get it. In this case, it would be a place in the Football League. It's the same at every level, right down to Sunday League. As i recall, Exeter arrived in the Play-Offs in pretty good nick themselves. They went on a run at just the right time - as i said, it's not about what position a team finishes in, but what form it's in. As for 'wanting something, and going out and getting it', i very much doubt we're the only club wanting promotion. It's nopt enough. We need to be playing better than everyone else at the crucial time. |
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Post by petejones on Feb 25, 2009 18:06:42 GMT
Form is quite clearly the key in the play-offs. I'm sure I've seen statistics somewhere showing how rarely the team that just misses out on automatic promotion wins the play-offs, while the team that comes from nowhere and nicks the last spot with a great run at the end often ends up being promoted.
Even without stats this makes sense, and it's what happened last year.
Of course it's slightly more relevant when the automtic promotion spot(s) aren't decided as early as February, because the team that just misses out has to get over the disappointment and prepared for the play offs, while the late-comers are confident, excited and prepared. But in any case, I'd always back the form team in the play-offs...
The cup tie analogy is misleading, because IN-FORM lower league teams pose a threat to OUT OF FORM prem/championship teams. So, in a way, saying it's like a cup tie actually emphasises the importance of form.
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midlandstufc
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Post by midlandstufc on Feb 25, 2009 20:31:00 GMT
Agree with the late surge scenario and I think that we will have to do that.
Being a 'glass half-full' person, I'm only hoping we make the play-ffs and think that if we scrape it, it may be a good thing.
Still; we need to be more pro-active in substitutions and I've felt that all season.
It' getting to the squeaky-bum end of the season and striving for a play-off place rather than challenging Aldershot for the automatic position may just well serve us well.
We'll see. I can only hope. The players are good enough but can we do it? Bring on Bob The Builder!
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Post by David Graham's Eighth Pint on Feb 25, 2009 20:37:51 GMT
Well this place would be a little boring if we all agreed with each other all the time...  You think that form is key when it comes to playoff matches and I don't, let's get past it shall we? This is football and absolutely anything can happen. That's why we all love it so much. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2009 0:17:46 GMT
Baron got past me somehow Dave, thanks for elevating me to the House of Lords. I'll settle for Baron Lummaton from now on. I actually got in the ground earlier than expected in order to lift my spirits after experiencing the joys of the Snooty Fox in St Marychurch. Sat there half-reading the Herald Express - and half-listening to the early evening regulars - I've not heard as much total and utter bollocks for a long time (not on the Popular Side nor even from my own mouth). If you want nominations for the Pub Bore of the Year award I know just the place. It almost made bearable some of the cobblers I heard during the match. I'm not one for too much talking during matches - save for Devon Bowl games when I'm happy to go with the social flow as part of my £2 admission - nor do I go in for this over-analysis of football (shall I do a Ashley Yeoman Chalkboard for the Guardian before I go to bed?). This can't be said for the two characters who were wittering on all night in my left earhole about tactics, formations, options and movement. Systems? They had them coming out of their arses. I'm all for intelligent observations about the game but it does make my smile - and sometimes wince - the way that we all seem to be pundits and managers now. That Jimmy Hill and his bloody 1970 World Cup Panel - Paddy Crerand, Bob McNab, Cloughie, The Doog - have got a lot to answer for in my book. Good to see Atheringtongull who came and introduced himself before the game. He asked me if I was able to supply any statistics on the number of successfully completed passes Roscoe Dsane has made this season. Caught on the hop by this request I was able to refer Atherington to my long-standing Popular Side colleague who was able to furnish him with the details which - I'm afraid - were more of the four-letter variety as opposed to the four decimal places type. Well, I suppose you need a spot of interpretation with your statistics. They can be a bit dry sometimes, can't they? |
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