Play-off Final isn't up to much

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arana peligrosa
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Play-off Final isn't up to much

Post by arana peligrosa » Wed May 17, 2017 11:08 pm

Caught the last moments of the second Championship play-off game and just as you have it, Huddersfield have a victory over Sheffield Wednesday by way of spot kicks. No disrespect but the final game between themselves and already qualified Reading provides little interest outside of their respective clubs ? Would have wanted Sheffield to do it but they will spend another year in this league. Fulham were the other to miss out this campaign and got to feel sorry (to see someone work for nine months to create opportunity and then see it extinguished on the basis of one / two games)

Listening to today's game brought back recollection from our own previous encounters, most noticeably 1997 when beaten by Sheffield United over two games. The scores ended level but sure they went through on away goals rather than need for penalty involvement. Following year saw us beaten home and away (Charlton Athletic) but 1999 was another memorable two-game event that nearly went our way, the team that year was good enough but lost automatic promotion on the final weekend of regular activity, some key players were lost in that summer as a direct result of it.

2000 needs no elaboration, whatever you think of Magilton's tenure as manager he alone reached something of legendary status with many for the Bolton game in getting us through, and the rest is of course history. The other two years some time ahead of it with West Ham are difficult to mention even now as they were (and still are) two of the most disappointing and hurtful experiences of following team action going back to Robson's tenure.

Then you got those Norwich games two or three years back, that while provided clear relief at being involved again after a decade's omission, we were comprehensively beaten in the end and takes no pleasure in saying, but were deserving of their EPL status when beating Middlesbrough in the final fixture.

Point being, it's easy to admit it's been in so many words 'a sh*t year' - and it has - but then you realize there's other games still underway and awards still to be resolved. If pushed for a choice over Reading or Huddersfield for the final Championship game outstanding this season and the opportunity for premier league from August, then going in favor of the latter.

Why ? For one thing Reading have been there so many times in recent years it'll be nothing new while the Yorkshire club haven't seen top flight for what I'm assuming is something approaching pre-war. And what with Brighton already promoted, they and Huddersfield could make for a more refreshing option when the EPL gets underway in a short time once again.

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Re: Play-off Final isn't up to much

Post by marko69 » Thu May 18, 2017 8:18 am

Yes, anyone trapped on a desert island for 10 years will come back and say,
"Eh?? Bournemouth, Brighton, Watford, Huddersfield......, all in the premier league? WTF happened?"

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Re: Play-off Final isn't up to much

Post by BLUEBLOOD » Thu May 18, 2017 10:55 am

On Our Way Sheffield Wednesday See you next season in the championship.
Cry on the Telly is what we will be singing to them.

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Re: Play-off Final isn't up to much

Post by marko69 » Thu May 18, 2017 3:42 pm

Yes, it's Sheffield "totally pi$$ed off" Thursday today.

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Re: Play-off Final isn't up to much

Post by Bluemike » Thu May 18, 2017 8:43 pm

Personally I was pleased for Huddersfield, I thought on the night they were excellent and thoroughly deserved to win, for much of the season if anyone was going to overhaul the top Two it looked like Huddersfield were the ones, despite the fact I love my trips there I hope they go up.

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Re: Play-off Final isn't up to much

Post by hallamblue » Thu May 18, 2017 11:15 pm

I really hope Huddersfield go up. They've played some good attacking football for most of the season......Cangeford say that about us can we!!

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Re: Play-off Final isn't up to much

Post by marko69 » Fri May 19, 2017 5:45 am

The way things are going, Hallam, I'll bet Cangeford are also in the Premier league in a few years.

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Re: Play-off Final isn't up to much

Post by arana peligrosa » Fri May 19, 2017 2:31 pm

Records show Huddersfield were top level last time back in 1972. Had not realized this, assumed they would have been last involved around the 1940's or thereabout. Incidentally, back in 1972 Reading were occupying the (old) Fourth Division and teams couldn't have been further apart.

Furthermore as recently as 2004 Huddersfield themselves were in the lowest league of professional "football" and only one division away from non-league. How did they go up that year - from being involved and winning the play-off Final of all things.

Hopefully another Wimbledon or Wigan Athletic scenario to come in that one team is one day playing at the lowest league level and after a short time, get to be involved in the top division. Other teams like Carlisle and Swansea may have done this years before if memory serves but it's an accomplishment that warrants merit.

Say again hope Reading don't do it this year, just prefer to see someone else involved and joining other surprise names in the premier league in recent time. Thing is if Huddersfield make it, believe they'll be the only Yorkshire representative in the EPL next season : that's got to be something of an honor to them. Extra motivation right there if needed.


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Re: Play-off Final isn't up to much

Post by arana peligrosa » Sat May 20, 2017 11:53 pm

Regards the above link, probably extra incentive for the player to win the Final game with the team he's at now. Tells himself "if we don't make it, then I'll stay in the Championship league and sign for Norwich". f*ck me that's a self-motivation if ever there was one.

Just relevant to the play-off issue, it didn't go unnoticed that we will have trips to Millwall from next season in that they won their respective game in League One today.

Now, I had no real preference over them or Bradford City to win it, by all accounts it was something of a non-event and the only real action occurred after the game in that a handful - and that was about the extent of it -of South London fans got on to the field and a brief moment or two of misbehavior. Nothing to get in a twist over, just a select number of over enthusiastic supporters caught up in the heat of the moment and spontaneous victory.

So, take the opportunity to offer congrats on the promotion, always a lively experience at the New Den but we'll cross that bridge when we find it.

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Re: Play-off Final isn't up to much

Post by marko69 » Sun May 21, 2017 12:05 am

saint jude wrote:always a lively experience at the New Den but we'll cross that bridge when we find it.
Google Maps, SJ.

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Re: Play-off Final isn't up to much

Post by Dubai Blue » Sun May 21, 2017 6:33 am

McCarthy To Millwall anyone?

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Re: Play-off Final isn't up to much

Post by arana peligrosa » Sun May 21, 2017 4:27 pm

Dubai Blue wrote:McCarthy To Millwall anyone?
The Old Kent Road is busy enough at the best of times but traffic congestion would be taken to a new level such would be the exodus of people leaving were McCarthy to take over. Irony is, the latter was there back in the mid 1990's and may have even taken them to a top six finish if memory serves (losing eventual play-off game to Derby County ?) but then were eliminated from this league two years later - making a mess of Portman Road with it, ( a game we needed to win to make the top six ourselves)

But thing is McCarthy can't manage at second tier level - this has been evident for years with this club - and now the South London team have made it back they'll want to remain there, don't think their directors would view favorably McCarthy's return and jeopardize all what has been achieved this past season.

Furthermore Neil Harris has done a great job for them, crowd favorite, one of the most honored names in club history : are they really going to terminate his services and re-appoint the blunder-as* we possess in place of what they have ? Not a chance.

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Re: Play-off Final isn't up to much

Post by number 9 » Sun May 21, 2017 5:42 pm

saint jude wrote:Regards the above link, probably extra incentive for the player to win the Final game with the team he's at now. Tells himself "if we don't make it, then I'll stay in the Championship league and sign for Norwich". f*ck me that's a self-motivation if ever there was one.

Just relevant to the play-off issue, it didn't go unnoticed that we will have trips to Millwall from next season in that they won their respective game in League One today.

Now, I had no real preference over them or Bradford City to win it, by all accounts it was something of a non-event and the only real action occurred after the game in that a handful - and that was about the extent of it -of South London fans got on to the field and a brief moment or two of misbehavior. Nothing to get in a twist over, just a select number of over enthusiastic supporters caught up in the heat of the moment and spontaneous victory.

So, take the opportunity to offer congrats on the promotion, always a lively experience at the New Den but we'll cross that bridge when we find it.
Wagner is the manager, SJ.

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Re: Play-off Final isn't up to much

Post by Dubai Blue » Mon May 22, 2017 1:01 pm

Well SJ I happen to agree with you about most of what you say. It was a little tongue in cheek.

However ........ one could make a case that MM is just the manager that Millwall need to keep them in the Champ and allow them time to consolidate there rather than being relegated right away as seems conceivable. The same attributes that have kept ITFC in this league despite measly funding might be just what Millwall need.

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Re: Play-off Final isn't up to much

Post by Bluemike » Mon May 22, 2017 7:30 pm

He won't be going anywhere.

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Re: Play-off Final isn't up to much

Post by arana peligrosa » Mon May 22, 2017 11:08 pm

Dubai Blue wrote:Well SJ I happen to agree with you about most of what you say. It was a little tongue in cheek.

However ........ one could make a case that MM is just the manager that Millwall need to keep them in the Champ and allow them time to consolidate there rather than being relegated right away as seems conceivable. The same attributes that have kept ITFC in this league despite measly funding might be just what Millwall need.
Valid point, Millwall will realize they're unlikely to be candidates for an EPL place one year from now and will view stability first and foremost. But will their fans accept week in week out the asphyxiation that McCarthy's defense minded traits and tentative approaches invariably bring ? Maybe not the most tolerant set of fans there and McCarthy could get stale awful fast if he insists on the manner he implements with ourselves.

I don't know who the Millwall owner is, years back they had Theo Paphitis and with it, made some waves including an FA Cup Final if correct but what they possess today, not sure how much money would be made available this summer. Sure you got the promotion bonus but would imagine that's not an awful lot for League One. Point being, McCarthy and money are like custard and gravy, give him financial backing and it would still be devoid of enterprise and adequate progression. Those obstinate mindsets will essentially make potential signings redundant.

Incidentally there was news today that Sunderland have parted with Moyes. Resignation so it says and say it now, David Moyes is not a viable candidate for either Millwall, Ipswich Town - or any other club that wishes to compete in the 21st Century. May be picked up by one of the other teams that fell from the EPL just recent or possibly whoever misses out in the Championship Final game coming up, but by now it should be evident it's a name that should not warrant consideration.

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Re: Play-off Final isn't up to much

Post by Dubai Blue » Tue May 23, 2017 10:17 am

SJ, what I found interesting about the Moyes situation is the fact that he was told that there would be no money for significant investment, even if major squad assets are sold (which seems highly likely). WTF is that? With that massive balloon payment and potentially 10s of millions of transfer revenue they can't afford to invest? What is going on there? Didn't they watch Newcastle and learn?

Must be a tough time to be a Sunderland supporter.

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