Promotion contenders thread

[roadrunner]

TOTP

Odds on for a Swans semi. That worries me.

[loyalroyal4life]

TOTP

Odds on for a Swans semi. That worries me.

Agree, really do not want to play Swansea in the semi, just think their style of play makes it difficult for us to express ourselves as has been witnessed at the mad stad this season!

[Mid Sussex Royal]

TOTP

Odds on for a Swans semi. That worries me.

Agree, really do not want to play Swansea in the semi, just think their style of play makes it difficult for us to express ourselves as has been witnessed at the mad stad this season!

We either get them or most likely Cardiff - Swans a better option IMHO.

[RFCUK]

With a four point gap below us, and a five point gap above Swansea, it's pretty certain we'll be playing Swansea, just need to determine whether we have the home leg last advantage..

Wish we'd lost and drawn a game during the 8 game winning streak and won this last two. Or even just lost a game in it and beaten Sheff. We're heading into limping into the end of the season territory now

I said this 8 days ago

Considering how things were a few weeks ago, is anyone going to be disappointed (not in the team) at not getting second, or am I just being silly?

Any one else worried if we don't make second, we fizzle out going into the playoffs?

Not looking too good is it.. A win against Coventry and Derby would set things straight again though

[chilipepper91]

Better to lose now than next week or at home to Derby (of course it's better not to lose at all!). This came at just about the right time, as now the players know they can't be complacent and assume games are won in the first 20.

Playing Swansea in the semis wouldn't be disastrous, we're a lot better than we were when we first played them and we're a lot more confident. Unfortunately that means probably Cardiff in the final (should we get there) - I don't fancy that. If Forest/Millwall could beat them, I'd far prefer that.

[Mr Angry]

The play off semi's (and final if we get there) need to be seen as cup games; and I feel confident in our ability to play cup games effectively home and away under Brian than under any Reading manager previously.

Swansea aren't in particularly great form (especially away) notwithstanding their excellent win yesterday, and frankly the value of their 2 wins earlier in the season will be diminished simply because the play-offs are in effect, cup games.

[Bandini]

It all went wrong after this thread started tbh.

[marcusopp]

The play off semi's (and final if we get there) need to be seen as cup games; and I feel confident in our ability to play cup games effectively home and away under Brian than under any Reading manager previously.

Swansea aren't in particularly great form (especially away) notwithstanding their excellent win yesterday, and frankly the value of their 2 wins earlier in the season will be diminished simply because the play-offs are in effect, cup games.

I'm with you on that.
We haven't been a 'cup team' for decades 'til McD took over. I remember losing to Walsall in the Cardiff final while fat Caskey was an un-used sub : (
If we can do Everton in the cup, then surely we can beat Welsh teams?

[RobRoyal]

With a four point gap below us, and a five point gap above Swansea, it's pretty certain we'll be playing Swansea, just need to determine whether we have the home leg last advantage..

Wish we'd lost and drawn a game during the 8 game winning streak and won this last two. Or even just lost a game in it and beaten Sheff. We're heading into limping into the end of the season territory now

One bad result

[RoyalChicagoFC]

It all went wrong after this thread started tbh.

Right?

There went the momentum, and without it, we're oxf*rd

Well and truly --might as well not even turn up come the appointed hour now

[Svlad Cjelli]

With a four point gap below us, and a five point gap above Swansea, it's pretty certain we'll be playing Swansea, just need to determine whether we have the home leg last advantage..

Wish we'd lost and drawn a game during the 8 game winning streak and won this last two. Or even just lost a game in it and beaten Sheff. We're heading into limping into the end of the season territory now

One bad result

And a chance to take a reality check and get away from all the hype - some of which had been getting quite over the top. Quite possibly a good thing to happen at this stage - feet back on the ground and all that.

[facaldaqui]

The play off semi's (and final if we get there) need to be seen as cup games; and I feel confident in our ability to play cup games effectively home and away under Brian than under any Reading manager previously.

Gunnarsson at least on the bench, please. Awesome in cup games.

[Libertine]

If it is the Swans the law of averages would say we are due a win against them. But who knows? I do have a good vibe about it, our chances, if we can reach Wembley. Looking at our FA Cup runs our team seems to rise to the occasion in big games in big venues. That's what I'd take into that game if we get that far.

[Seal]

We're 1 point behind Swansea with a better goal difference, so we should respect them but not fear them, a 46 game season is a pretty good indicator of the relative merits of teams. Clearly they are a decent side and yes they have beaten us twice - but that was at a time when our form was markedly different to how it has been over the past couple of months.

Personally would be most keen to avoid Cardiff (if they fail to grab auto), as I think in a one off game they have too much fire power...even if their record of choking compares favourably to ours.

[Ian Royal]

We're 1 point behind Swansea with a better goal difference, so we should respect them but not fear them, a 46 game season is a pretty good indicator of the relative merits of teams. Clearly they are a decent side and yes they have beaten us twice - but that was at a time when our form was markedly different to how it has been over the past couple of months.

Personally would be most keen to avoid Cardiff (if they fail to grab auto), as I think in a one off game they have too much fire power...even if their record of choking compares favourably to ours.

We've given Cardiff a run for their money in both games and should really have beaten them in both. Swansea, whilst not embarrassing us were fairly comfortable on both occasions, if not particularly good.

Personally I'd rather play a Cardiff side down from missing out on second. In all probability we'll have to play both, should we beat Swansea in the semi.

[RoyalChicagoFC]

I'll tell you against whom I'd like to see our guys play

It's a/the side/s against which ours matches up the best --one against which, with a sustained effort over 90 or 180>210 minutes, our strengths are fully capable of getting the better of their vulnerabilities and, where they're strongest, we've got enough to cope

I'll take my chances with that, combined with squad health/depth and a little bit of dumb luck at the margins, over...

--Recent head to head results/historical outcomes/the purported "bogey side" factor;
--Comparative recent performances/form/"momentum" (grrrr!);
--Historical heartbreak;
--The law of averages (then why not just flip a coin?);
--Any combin8ion of these

...over all of that, any day, any opponent, any pitch, any circumstances one may care to name, as long as scores are level at nil when they kick it off

[Crowthorne Royal]

I'd have bitten the proverbial 'hand' of anyone offering me a place in the play off before our 'Super Run' started back in Feb.
Now, here's the (some would argue) peculiar bit. I would actually prefer to finish 5th to ensure the home leg is 1st up for us.
Why?
We tend to dominate teams at home and at worst are likely to draw and at best we win handsomely. Past seasons show that the team that wins the first leg invariably wins the tie.
If however we are away first we may well lose and this is where it's tough for us because we struggle to break good teams down when we go behind. (Or not always good teams, Sheff U being the latest example)
So 5th all the way for me and therefore I'm hoping for a point at Cov and a loss at home to Derby next week.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

I'd have bitten the proverbial 'hand' of anyone offering me a place in the play off before our 'Super Run' started back in Feb.
Now, here's the (some would argue) peculiar bit. I would actually prefer to finish 5th to ensure the home leg is 1st up for us.
Why?
We tend to dominate teams at home and at worst are likely to draw and at best we win handsomely. Past seasons show that the team that wins the first leg invariably wins the tie.
If however we are away first we may well lose and this is where it's tough for us because we struggle to break good teams down when we go behind. (Or not always good teams, Sheff U being the latest example)
So 5th all the way for me and therefore I'm hoping for a point at Cov and a loss at home to Derby next week.

+1 Completely agree - been saying all along would rather finish 5th or 6th. Much better to get a win at home for the first leg then all the pressure is on the other team in the 2nd leg. Having the home leg last hasn't done us any favours in recent play-off matches so time to change it!

[SouthDownsRoyal]

ROFLeading pROFLomotion chaROFLge ALOLmost ceROFLtain to end up in pLOLay-off heaROFLtache

You're an idiot fLOLyd. Havent you got your bLOLog to write?

[floyd__streete]

ROFLeading pROFLomotion chaROFLge ALOLmost ceROFLtain to end up in pLOLay-off heaROFLtache

You're an idiot fLOLyd. Havent you got your bLOLog to write?