Play Off Hoodoo

[maddogging]

So how are we going to approach these.....

GPG, let’s have an agreement, anyone who posts ‘we will lose anyway’ ‘always lose in the play offs’ ‘lost 9 times’ ‘we don’t do play offs’ ‘remember (insert previous team we have lost to)’ ‘fulham’ receives an infraction.

We all know about the past and no one needs reminding of that, let’s get a positive attitude going, 25% chance we can do it. We are decent defensively and we have the leagues top scorer, it won’t take a lot else above that to get us over the line.

I don’t want the mood on this board to carry into the play offs of doom and gloom and self pity, we can win them if we get a bit of luck, so let’s think lucky and raise our mood and attack them head on.

 

[HaylingBee74]

Playoffs are a lottery but one thing I know about lotteries is that if you dont buy a ticket you will never win.

Last night Tariqe bought a ticket and Smithies coughed up an equaliser for us. Maybe this is our year

 

[maddogging]

Playoffs are a lottery but one thing I know about lotteries is that if you dont buy a ticket you will never win.

Last night Tariqe bought a ticket and Smithies coughed up an equaliser for us. Maybe this is our year

That’s what I’m talking about, PMA !

 

[hanwellbee]

My PNE mate reminded me that they won them at their 10th attempt...

 

[wibs]

So win win, we get promoted or we get the outright lead in the how to muck up the playoffs league

 

[gbems92]

What happened before is history. For a few of this squad it will be their second play off campaign and hopefully they will be better for the experience, thats all that matters. We know our potential, we know how we can play, we know how dangerous we can be, just need the boys to pull it together for one last little push and the chance to be heroes

 

[TW3Bee]

We are becoming hard to beat, so even if we draw all three we can get through on penalties.

 

[wibs]

We are becoming hard to beat, so even if we draw all three we can get through on penalties.

make sure Trotta is self-isolating though

 

[birdy67]

We've lost the same amount of games this season as Norwich. No other team in this league has as good a record for not losing! That has to help our mental state going into the play offs. Of course penalties are even more of a lottery but if you don't lose in real time then your chances of progressing are much higher obviously.

 

[GABS]

We are becoming hard to beat...

Nicely done Sir ??

 

[North Northants Bee]

I'm hoping we get Swansea over 2 legs and then "upset" 'Muff in the final which will be a bit of a role reversal from last year. I think it's easier to beat a harder team in a one off match than over 2 legs. Last year I felt more pressure as I thought we were the 3rd best team in the league, this year I think we are probably the 4th best so to me it's a free hit!!

 

[BFC1997]

Whatever your previous record, whatever form you are in, however strong/poor a team you are, if you are in the playoffs there is a non zero chance of promotion.

Unlike last season we will not be favourites, but that doesn’t count for much anyway as we know.

 

[Banana]

We don't do the FA Cup.

 

[CTBee]

We are becoming hard to beat, so even if we draw all three we can get through on penalties.

My gut feeling was that Daniels is better at saving penalties than Raya but looking up the stats there's not much between the two:

Raya has faced 29 penalties in his career and saved 5.
Daniels has faced 36 penalties in his career and saved 6.

Based on those stats I wouldn't bother saving a sub to bring Daniels on at the end of extra time for the penalty shoot out

 

[CTBee]

So win win, we get promoted or we get the outright lead in the how to muck up the playoffs league

If we lose in the final we also get the outright lead for finals lost (currently tied at 4 with Reading and Sheffield United).

 

[GABS]

 

[Aussie Bee]

All this PMA is lovely - we must be due to win the bloodly thing surely - any update on the return of Josh and Rico? They would help!!!

 

[CTBee]

Staying on the subject of penalties who would people select for their five takers, mine would be:

1. Toney
2. Forss
3. Ghoddos
4. Fosu
5. Dasilva

If Dasilva's not fit then I would go with Norgaard.

 

[alikat]

Staying on the subject of penalties who would people select for their five takers, mine would be:

1. Toney
2. Forss
3. Ghoddos
4. Fosu
5. Dasilva

If Dasilva's not fit then I would go with Norgaard.

Shame that we can't re-sign Tony Craig and Harlee Dean....

Could KO'C come on towards the end of extra time?

 

[hanworthbee]

wasn't it going to be 6th time lucky then 7th then the lucky dressing room then the lucky shirts .....?

 

[alikat]

View attachment 24893

 

[Outlander]

Staying on the subject of penalties who would people select for their five takers, mine would be:

1. Toney
2. Forss
3. Ghoddos
4. Fosu
5. Dasilva

If Dasilva's not fit then I would go with Norgaard.

Maybe Toney should run an intensive “how to take penalties” course between now and the end of the season.

 

[Banana]

Maybe Toney should run an intensive “how to take penalties” course between now and the end of the season.

Maybe how to score goals too.

 

[Untouchable]

Some points that I have notes on other threads to help with the PMA:

Swansea will obviously make the play offs. However, they have massively over performed v their position in the justice league and this is now showing in their results. They have lost 5 of their last 8 games and drawn 1 of the other matches against Wycombe. They have imploded since the Warnock rant and considering our performances against them this season they should be nothing to fear.

Barnsley have now become inconsistent and 2 of their last 5 games have been defeats to Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry. They also drew with Reading in a match which included the miss of the season. Never mind all of this supermen bollox, they have never consistently got the better of us. Our recent championship record v them is P8 W4 D2 L2. That includes 2 wins and 2 defeats in the last 4. They are there to be beaten and I reckon our change in formation with some tinkering of personnel could easily dispatch them.

Bournemouth have won their last 6 championship matches and are obviously the big concern. 3 things I would now point to: 1) with Watford winning yesterday, automatic promotion is over for them 2) winning runs at this stage of the season do not guarantee success (see us last season) and there is the possibility they have peaked too soon 3) we play them when they are bang in form on Saturday. This should be an excellent measure against how we shape up against a form team.

I’m not going over old ground about where we are. That recent performances haven’t been good enough is blindingly obvious. But there are some good signs:

• No team has lost fewer games than us
• We have scored the most goals in the league
• We have the leading league goal scorer
• Only 1 defeat in 11 (to Norwich)
• Only 1 goal from open play conceded in the last 5 games and that was the Huddersfield cock up
• Possibility of having Rico back for the play offs

This isn’t the first season where we have thrown away a great position:
In 1996/97 we lost 8 of our last 13 games and blew it.
In 2001/2002 we had the crappy 2-0 loss at Bury before the Trolley had the miss of the season at QPR. That was all before Reading at home. We missed out by a point that season.
In 2006 we were 3 points short of automatic promotion but only won 2 of our last 11 games, drawing 6 (the play off final that year saw Barnsley (5th) beat Swansea (6th))

I could go on but you get the drift.

So we head into the play offs with an appalling record but we are hard to beat and have lots in our favour. I offer nothing but unconditional support to TF and the team and the hope that the footballing gods will cure our play off hoodoo with the same speed in which they have dismantled the European Super League.

 

[mhead bee]

I refuse to forget history and the fact we have lost 9 on the bounce, that is the one thing in our favour, we have to win it sometime surely.

Everyone has given up on us, its a free punch as far as I am concerned.

Also, with a bit of luck all or ST holders might get to Wembley to watch it.

 

[mhead bee]

Staying on the subject of penalties who would people select for their five takers, mine would be:

1. Toney
2. Forss
3. Ghoddos
4. Fosu
5. Dasilva

If Dasilva's not fit then I would go with Norgaard.

Marcondes and BM.

 

[wibs]

Some points that I have notes on other threads to help with the PMA:

Swansea will obviously make the play offs. However, they have massively over performed v their position in the justice league and this is now showing in their results. They have lost 5 of their last 8 games and drawn 1 of the other matches against Wycombe. They have imploded since the Warnock rant and considering our performances against them this season they should be nothing to fear.

Barnsley have now become inconsistent and 2 of their last 5 games have been defeats to Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry. They also drew with Reading in a match which included the miss of the season. Never mind all of this supermen bollox, they have never consistently got the better of us. Our recent championship record v them is P8 W4 D2 L2. That includes 2 wins and 2 defeats in the last 4. They are there to be beaten and I reckon our change in formation with some tinkering of personnel could easily dispatch them.

Bournemouth have won their last 6 championship matches and are obviously the big concern. 3 things I would now point to: 1) with Watford winning yesterday, automatic promotion is over for them 2) winning runs at this stage of the season do not guarantee success (see us last season) and there is the possibility they have peaked too soon 3) we play them when they are bang in form on Saturday. This should be an excellent measure against how we shape up against a form team.

I’m not going over old ground about where we are. That recent performances haven’t been good enough is blindingly obvious. But there are some good signs:

• No team has lost fewer games than us
• We have scored the most goals in the league
• We have the leading league goal scorer
• Only 1 defeat in 11 (to Norwich)
• Only 1 goal from open play conceded in the last 5 games and that was the Huddersfield cock up
• Possibility of having Rico back for the play offs

This isn’t the first season where we have thrown away a great position:
In 1996/97 we lost 8 of our last 13 games and blew it.
In 2001/2002 we had the crappy 2-0 loss at Bury before the Trolley had the miss of the season at QPR. That was all before Reading at home. We missed out by a point that season.
In 2006 we were 3 points short of automatic promotion but only won 2 of our last 11 games, drawing 6 (the play off final that year saw Barnsley (5th) beat Swansea (6th))

I could go on but you get the drift.

So we head into the play offs with an appalling record but we are hard to beat and have lots in our favour. I offer nothing but unconditional support to TF and the team and the hope that the footballing gods will cure our play off hoodoo with the same speed in which they have dismantled the European Super League.

Barnsley I have nightmares about after we blew it last day of the season
Bournemouth it's written that Mepham will score against us to knock us out
Swansea will be unbearable if they beat us

I think we are better off coming 7th!

 

[Leicester Bee]

Whatever our history in the playoffs, I'm positively bricking it. But grateful that we're in with a shout.

 

[maddogging]

wasn't it going to be 6th time lucky then 7th then the lucky dressing room then the lucky shirts .....?

That’s not PMA, get out !!

 

[Delbee]

Maybe Toney should run an intensive “how to take penalties” course between now and the end of the season.

With Forss , he’s been pretty good at penalties .This tears Caribo Cup against WBA comes to mind

 

[Delbee]

Barnsley I have nightmares about after we blew it last day of the season
Bournemouth it's written that Mepham will score against us to knock us out
Swansea will be unbearable if they beat us

I think we are better off coming 7th!

NOWAY to your last bit

 

[Invipai]

I'm not worried about our past playoff record. As mentioned many times it has no bearing what a team from 30 years ago did, one who happened to have the same name as us but none of the same personnel.

What is a worry though is that our fans won't look past that, and we'll be really nervous and quiet in the stadium while the opposition fans are being really loud. THAT can have an impact. I know we won't have many fans at a potential playoff final, but the ones who are there need to ignore that idea and be as loud as they can. That will make us more likely to finally achieve that win.

 

[mhead bee]

I think we are better off coming 7th!

No way.

 

[nick logan]

I'm not worried about our past playoff record. As mentioned many times it has no bearing what a team from 30 years ago did, but who happened to have the same name as us but none of the same personnel.

What is a worry though is that our fans won't look past that, and we'll be really nervous and quiet in the stadium while the opposition fans are being really loud. THAT can have an impact. I know we won't have many fans at a potential playoff final, but the ones who are there need to ignore that idea and be as loud as they can. That will help us to be more likely to achieve that win.

spot on

 

[LboroBee]

At least we know it’s a hoodoo this time.

Because before it’s been 2x bad luck, 3 curses, 1 jinx, 2 cases of voodoo, and a hex.

 

[wibs]

No way.

obvs

 

[CTBee]

With Forss , he’s been pretty good at penalties .This tears Caribo Cup against WBA comes to mind

Forss has scored 7 out of 7 in his career
Toney has scored 14 out of 15
Fosu has scored 6 out of 6

We have some decent pen takers in the squad

 

[nick logan]

Forss has scored 7 out of 7 in his career
Toney has scored 14 out of 15
Fosu has scored 6 out of 6

We have some decent pen takers in the squad

its all a cunning plan to ensure scenes at the play off games

 

[wibs]

Only issue is last season if we had gone up i thought wed survive comfortably, but this season i think we'd come straight back down

though i guess there is a long way to go

and actually even if we come back down least we will have a lot more money to keep us going and pay MB back a bit

so ignore all the above

As you were

 

[IslandBee]

I am looking forward to them with optimism as I always have done in the past ! There is no reason we cannot get promoted on this basis.

My one concern this year, however, is our mentality on the pitch. As mentioned in last night's game thread too many players seem to be playing scared: insufficient risks are being taken and responsibility is being passed on rather than embraced.

If we go into the POs with this mind-set we are sunk. So, the next four games have to be used to instil greater positivity in our play. Not easy, for sure, but we will have a much better chance if it is done.

 

[Delbee]

Do we blame one of our previous Owner/Chairman for this hoodoo,

 

[BaildonBee]

Not sure you can call it a hoodoo. In my view we have only been unlucky once (pens v Huddersfield). This time we need to turn up and do ourselves justice and not be afraid of winning. Look our opponents in the eye and go all out to spoil their party. Be positive. The thing about football is you don't have to be the better team to win a match and that cuts both ways so form doesn't come into it.

 

[BEEcool]

Based on nothing other than gut feeling, still think it could be 'our year'.

Doesn't need to be pretty - 3 turgid draws and 2 penalty shootout wins will see us up.

 

[Wise old Bee]

I have usually been in the "Brentford - never fail to fail" envelope and put it down to having a small club mentality - little old Brentford/pub on each corner etc. - but perhaps our league cup run may have changed this, plus having a new ground, so I hope we have the mental strength to finally make the breakthrough.

 

[North London Bee]

It’s us fans who are in a state rather than the players. What happened back in 91,95, 97 etc has absolutely no bearing on them.

Last year is different but we went into the playoffs on a real low having missed two gilt edged opportunities.

This year is a blank sheet of paper. We have as good a chance as anyone else of winning.

Why shouldn’t it be our time at last?

 

[gj]

I think losing last season in the playoffs may help us be more up for getting over the line this time alot of the squad played last time and will want to right a wrong

 

[nanny58]

Until we get promoted wake me up please

 

[upnorthbee]

Only issue is last season if we had gone up i thought wed survive comfortably, but this season i think we'd come straight back down

though i guess there is a long way to go

and actually even if we come back down least we will have a lot more money to keep us going and pay MB back a bit

so ignore all the above

As you were

We'll sign some players if we go up mate.

 

[gbems92]

Until we get promoted wake me up please

But the fun is in the journey not the destination, even adding in the potholes and bumps

 

[Guildford Bee]

Not sure you can call it a hoodoo. In my view we have only been unlucky once (pens v Huddersfield). This time we need to turn up and do ourselves justice and not be afraid of winning. Look our opponents in the eye and go all out to spoil their party. Be positive. The thing about football is you don't have to be the better team to win a match and that cuts both ways so form doesn't come into it.

Good point. With the exception of that 94/95 (which was even more galling given we finished 2nd) I don’t think we’ve lost a game we deserved to win