We shouldn't be backing our way into the playoffs. If we're promotion bound, finish strong. But what's done is done. Where are we right now with respect to Wednesday? What is the list of possible result permutations where we'd have to face them in the playoffs?
Unbelievable.
I think the lads were a little bit nervous and felt the pressure a bit.
2nd half it was more a case of not losing rather than winning. Now we are there, they can relax a little and I think we will see a different approach next weekend. I would not be surprised if we made 3 or 4 changes also, as his post match interview stated "Some players have played many minutes so we need to try and find the best solution for how are going to play against Sheffield.
"I don't coach only 11 players. The whole squad now is thinking and working in the same direction and we move on to Sheffield Wednesday with confidence."
This makes me think, squad rotation??
COYW
I hope so. An exciting week ahead
From Gentle Jim's cough-mixed commentary as well as from analysis of the stats, it sounds as if we played quite well given the circumstances. Ayite just left his shooting boots at home and Cairney was too predictable in placing to his right instead of blasting left.
Other than that, it seemed a good day at the office. And we are in the play-offs, although in a strange sort of way, it's difficult to celebrate with full amounts of boundless joy when it's not 100% official.
Nogood "a strange old day especially on this forum, see" Boyo
Well done you whites, hope you make it back up. The only London ground I enjoy going to, can't wait to be going again.
Bill.
Quote from: Licker-1 on April 29, 2017, 10:38:30 PM
Well done you whites, hope you make it back up. The only London ground I enjoy going to, can't wait to be going again.
Bill.
....and I hope we get to invite you & look forward to seeing you back at the Cottage!!
We can look forward to the play offs, unless there is a feast of goals the wrong way next Saturday.
Quote from: Woolly Mammoth on April 29, 2017, 10:49:01 PM
We can look forward to the play offs, unless there is a feast of goals the wrong way next Saturday.
I only have 2 thumbs and 8 fingers, might lose count after that!
Given Leeds drew I am happy to take the draw. It is damn hard to win more than 4/5 games in a row in the championship, we remain u deafen and know we should have won today, so overall I am happy with our lot
Same here, I am very happy 😁⚽️
Quote from: Woolly Mammoth on April 29, 2017, 11:14:38 PM
Same here, I am very happy 😁⚽️
I'm not, I have run out of tonic!!!!
Why would you not be happy about today's result? We've made the play offs with a game still to go. Brentford was always going to be a tough game - they're in form, desperate to spoil our party and our record against them has never been good. Nevertheless, we got what was needed, and from how it sounded, were unlucky not to win.
Considering how we were looking, say 4 games ago, we've done far better than many of us expected, beating both Norwich and Huddersfield in the process.
Be proud of the lads - they've done everything we could have asked of them.
The result, when taken with that of Leeds, was alright but the performance was laboured and sloppy at times. We should have sealed the win with the penalty and other chances. Brentford who looked pretty decent could have pinched a win and that could have been very nasty.
The forwards too often were static with their backs to the goal, rarely side on or facing forward. We need more movement and commitment to anticipate and get on the end of the low crosses from Fredericks, Malone and others.
Yes, it was a draw, but it essentially makes sure that we are in the playoffs. I would rather a nervy draw now to remind the squad that every game is important, especially right before the start of the playoffs instead of them going into the playoffs over confident, we deserve to go into each match with confidence but nothing crazy.
Quote from: Licker-1 on April 29, 2017, 10:38:30 PM
Well done you whites, hope you make it back up. The only London ground I enjoy going to, can't wait to be going again.
Bill.
Thanks Bill. Good to see you post here again mate. Perhaps some gentle rivalry for next season in the offing?
:005:
Quote from: Forever Fulham on April 29, 2017, 05:34:28 PM
We shouldn't be backing our way into the playoffs. If we're promotion bound, finish strong. But what's done is done. Where are we right now with respect to Wednesday? What is the list of possible result permutations where we'd have to face them in the playoffs?
The fact that you have to ask where we are relative to Wednesday or what the permutations are is a bit odd. There is only one game to go so pretty simple; we will finish 6th (that is nailed on) we will play whoever finishes 3rd which could be any of Wednesday, Reading or Huddersfield. Whichever club we face we will play our semi final home leg first.
And btw I am very happy indeed!
For ages sixth place seemed just out of reach, and MJG's statistical forecasts usually had us missing out, so an incredible achievement to have finished in top six.
It's hard to believe , but we have an opportunity to get back into the Prem., after battling another relegation for the past two seasons in the Championship.
Well done Slavisa and the players.
Quote from: Forever Fulham on April 29, 2017, 05:34:28 PM
We shouldn't be backing our way into the playoffs. If we're promotion bound, finish strong. But what's done is done. Where are we right now with respect to Wednesday? What is the list of possible result permutations where we'd have to face them in the playoffs?
a draw was written in the stars for the brentford game. we played well but didn't take our chances. brentford were also very good and could be relaxed. we have done brillianty recently and I think your nerves are understood but come the play offs everyone will be in the same boat and edgy. i suspect our brand of football will be an advantage especially over two legs.
AND
of course penalty shooting is a weakness, we know that so must endevour not to have to get involved during the fun ahead of us.
Home leg at the weekend is more appealing to me than an evening fixture. Also an evening trip to Reading obviously more manageable than a trip to Yorkshire and more likely to produce the correct result than a visit to Sheffield (who will also charge a fortune for a ticket).
I think it will be Reading to finish 3rd. Huudersfield made 8 changes yesterday and lost...they obviously are trying not finish 3rd and play us. I think that Sheff will rest players next week and be happy to lose also get to avoid us. Or am I just being cynical???
Quote from: Apprentice to the Maestro on April 30, 2017, 01:24:19 AM
The forwards too often were static with their backs to the goal, rarely side on or facing forward. We need more movement and commitment to anticipate and get on the end of the low crosses from Fredericks, Malone and others.
Don't worry, we will have Chris Martin back next week!!!! 😂
Whilst Brentford were vulnerable at the back, they were a threat up front & could've nicked a late winner. The missed chances in the first half didn't help but overall yesterday was a great day.
I think yesterday summed us up - exillerating going forward, great pace and passing accuracy but always going to be vulnerable at the back - particularly if we don't take our chances early on. Could easily have been three nil up before Brentford scored -Floyd missed two sitters - but we have great belief and confidence - heads don't go down -let's hope we get the chance to show our skills on that big pitch at Wembley. Jokanavitch deserves to have a big audience for how he has turned us around into a fantastic footballing team
If we turn back the clock a little and look at the games we have had in our 'run in'. Nobody would really have suggested we would be in this position. The Brentford game was always going to be tough. Just look at our record against them at home recently. The fact that we are in the position we're in is remarkable.
What ever happens this will be a season we will all remember as being right up there among the best. Every team goes through a bad spell. Leeds have been the club. But they are a big club in support and size. They will be back up there next season.
The Championship is a the one division that is really competitive throughout the league. Anybody can beat anybody. We deserve to be here, we are here despite our iffy defence and awful penalty taking. We are not backing into the playoffs. We drove here along the perilous route every other club has taken. Well done and well deserved.
Generally its OK to not be "happy" with the "result" when you only draw at home BUT sometimes you have to look at the big picture and we all know what that's all about!
Off the top of my head I would say there's been many, many times we've let points slip unnecessary but when we have won we have almost exclusively won deservedly.
I'm not sure what that means but to have lost so many silly points over the season and still achieve a play off position is remarkable, lets enjoy it!
After the draw with Blackburn, the defeat to Wolves, the narrow win over Rotherham & the defeat by Derby did many of us think that we would be in the playoffs. I certainly had my doubts.
Subsequent amazing results including yesterday proved most of us wrong. So I am over the moon.
After failing to take our chances and missing a pen, it looked likely that Brentford would score another yesterday - they always looked a threat up front. So well done to the team for not losing the game, and shooting ourselves in the foot defensively, as we have done on a few occasions this season, and doing enough to keep us in top 6.
Yes, as said, this season has definitely been some achievement, and we fully deserve our position.
It is natural to be nervous and a little worried. We are so near yet so far. I have honestly believed we can do this for a long time. I still do. All the teams in the play offs are now level. In just three matches one will come out on top. It is not always the best team that wins the play offs it is usually the best prepared team. We have the best manager and a team that is as good as it is going to get at this level . Think lose and fail
We are safely in the play offs, that I have no doubt. So relax, because there are a lot of teams and their supporters will wish they were in our shoes. Say teams from 7th to 24th. Imagine how Leeds feel right now, or if we ended in 7th so near yet so far.
Reading Huddersfield or Wednesday, we won't have a choice, the fact that the opportunity to get to Wembley, and then to the promised land is there.
It's no good worrying about something we have no control of, whatever the challenge is we will meet it head on.
We have done the double over Newcastle this season, so we should fear nobody.
Not even Sheffield Wednesday. It is not easy for any team to win 5 in a row. But we are on an unbeaten run of 5 matches st the moment, which has come at the right time.
Can you imagine how the other three teams are thinking, what happens if we draw Fulham. So lay back and saviour the moment.
