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gfnx25
Grimnir
We still need a miracle, bottom of the table Crewe to win away at Fleetwood and us to win our trip to Peterborough.
We don't deserve it and I hope we go down.
Shedender
Although stranger things have happened, I cannot see a miracle happening on the final day for Blackpool.
Grimnir
In other news, really like this Brighton side. Hope they manage to get promoted and even win the title. Crazy that they play Middlesbrough on the final day in what could be a slog out for the trophy.
bmg033
Grimnir
Changes nothing, mind!
Number 1
I'd like to see Brighton in the Premier League and they deserve something after going 20+ games unbeaten at the start of the campaign, but equally I think Middlesbrough's team looks better equipped for the BPL, and I can imagine them wanting to avoid repeating being beaten in the play-off final. So... dunno.
Grimnir
QPR need a striker, Polter is not good enough and they really lack that threat in the final third. Faurlin came closest today, hitting the post. I think Jimmy will guide them to at least the play offs next season if they manage to get a good front man, pretty much what they're missing.
Ohhhh that Boro v Brighton game is gonna be good!
Number 1
Of the also-rans in the second tier, I'd say other clubs are in a better place for a play-off challenge than QPR - Cardiff have good money, while Ipswich & Birmingham have the bare bones of a promotion team (if not the consistency). And that's before the fact three of Middlesbrough, Brighton, Hull, Derby & Wednesday will still be there next year, and three absurdly wealthy ex-PL teams are coming down too. Personally, I fancy SWFC to go up either this season or next.
Then again last year, Brighton were lucky to avoid relegation and now potentially a win in the ultimate jackpot game from a place in the Premier League. So it is a bit of a bitch to predict next season before any transfers are made.
Grimnir
Too many "big" teams in the Championship to predict it at either end. Look at Fulham, how are they only 1 place above relegation this season. And of course Bolton and Charlton going down, both of who graced the Premiership in the past. It's a crazy division and arguably better than the Premiership usually (for it's lack of predictability - though disputably not this season!).
terriersmad
Though I will make a sneaky early suggestion that Bristol City might be play-off dark horses. Not just because they walloped us at the weekend (we weren't at the races, they were, and took advantage), but because they've shown fine form at the back end of the season and they've taken some good teams apart. If their owner backs them (especially in defence and midfield, as they already have a formidable forward line), they could be threats.
As for ourselves: can the season end, please? Players are on the beach. We've taken our eye off this season completely. We're signing players (Michael Hefele from Dynamo Dresden, Rajiv Van La Parra from Wolves, Christopher Loewe from Kaiserslauten, linked with Max Grun from Wolfsburg and Danny Ward from Liverpool), which is great, but the last few weeks we've really limped over the line results-wise. It's been a season of progression, but we've just run out of steam a bit. On the plus side, it means weaknesses in the team can be highlighted now rather than cracks being papered over by an unbeaten run like last season. And we've already got a left-back to replace the liability Jason Davidson, which is a bonus.
Number 1
Hence why I said predicting is a "bit of a bitch". It usually seems to be the case that at least one of the three teams you think will be promoted fucks it up. Ipswich is a strange one - they look in a position for a BPL surge, but they seem to be in a very uneasy place. Also, yeah, Boro looked in an uneasy place when Karanka nearly walked out.
To be fair, Fulham were a basketcase last season so it was likely they might, even if in entertaining style where they've inexplicably got a top quality strikeforce and a rotten defensive unit.
bmg033
Brighton vs Sheffield Wednesday and Hull vs Derby in the playoffs.
Shedender
Number 1
Why bother? That looked a nasty one even before you saw the mark it left on Ramirez's leg.
Grimnir
BR.
Yeah thought they were gonna do it, but on SSN they kept going to Bristol Rovers every minute it felt like because they'd almost scored, you got the impression they'd get one eventually especially against Dagenham.
Hope Stanley can pick themselves up for the play offs.
Shedender
Then again, Dagenham had won their last two games despite being relegated including an excellent 3-2 win at Plymouth two(?) weeks ago. It's gutting for Accrington though who had been looking for their first ever Football League (I believe I heard on FL72 Goals) promotion. Hope they do well in the play-off's but they've had a tremendous season regardless of what happens.
Vercoe
Watching the replay back it looked like Stephens won the ball and the other fella (Ramirez?) kicked the bottom of his boot.
Number 1
Does it? Looked like an overly aggressive tackle to me, but then I've only see it on Vine. In any case there'll probably a rule of intent and he'll be banned for the play-offs anyway.
I'm guessing, meanwhile, the Hartlepool Stormtroopers didn't look very pleased they dressed up and went all that way to Plymouth to see a 5-0 hammering.
Vercoe
Number 1
My favourite of those Hartlepool fancy dresses was the smurfs at Charlton in 2012, if only for the video of them on the escalators on the Tube singing down while a row next to them have proper "the fuck is this?" stares.
That comment might have been founded on one going "The worst thing then going that way for a 5-0 defeat was while doing it dressed as a Stormtrooper", although the conga does sound pretty brilliant.
Vercoe
Number 1
That would explain the photos at Torquay station then.
That sounds brilliant. Didn't they go to Plymouth as Thunderbirds a few years back too?
Vercoe
Also their Chief Exec. came in a Yoda mask and his wife came dressed as Princess Leia, looked hilarious those two in the Director's Box.
Grimnir
Vercoe
Grimnir
Only briefly as we plummet past.
Vercoe
terriersmad
Jason Davidson somehow contrived to directly be at fault for 3 goals despite being a non-playing substitute. If he wasn't such a shit footballer there would have been no need to try a clearly out of position Martin Cranie there.
Felt sorry for young Allinson in goal. Called on after a quarter of an hour after an injury to Jed Steer, he'd already been told he wouldn't have his contract renewed and it was his debut. Left exposed time and again. At fault for the fourth, but to be fair to the lad he'd made a couple of good saves in the first half and won't have done his chances of a contract in League Two or the Conference any harm.
Credit Brentford, a small club who adopted a model five or six years back and can consistently punch above their weight because of it. Showed their quality and attitude yesterday. We're only at the start of our own model, and we'll be a different side next season in terms of both personnel and attitude. It's going to be a massive summer for getting the right players in. I suspect in part that our last two games were down to tiredness, at least in part - we've lost the gegenpressing style in recent weeks, and I think it's down to having a small squad and not being able to rotate and keep players fresh.
On the plus side, we're getting business done early. It looks like we've already got five deals done (with Chris Maxwell looking to be joining on a free from Fleetwood to provide competition to prospective Liverpool loanee Danny Ward in goal). I think we need another central defender, two midfielders and two strikers as well as signing up Jamie Paterson, in addition to holding on to Matmour and Hogg to become competitive nearer the top.