Play off first leg

Weegie Addick · April 30

Addickted2TheReds said:

ABS

Anyone But Stockport.

You’ve changed your tune. Always thought it was ABM….

Covered End · April 30

killerandflash said:

Covered End said:

killerandflash said:

Covered End said:

killerandflash said:

There's a week between Wrexham and Burton, then another week before the playoff semi, so hardly an arduous schedule requiring fit players to be rested.

Of course we shouldn't play players with injury issues like Jones against Burton, but I don't see the need to rest fit and healthy players. It's not as if Burton will be flying into tackles against us, now they're safe.

There was no reason for a Welling player to fly in against us in that pre season friendly and crock Leaburn for a considerable time, but it happened.

That was a 6th tier triallist at the start of the season trying to make a name for himself. A completely different scenario from a joyful Burton team looking forward to a happy summer after clinching survival this week.

In which case Jones should play the strongest 11, if you're sure they'll barely be putting in a tackle.

I can't recall the last time a team with nothing to play for rolled over against us.
If anything they've played better because the pressure was off.
Not like the "old days".

I'm sure Burton will be knocking it around nicely, with the pressure off.

What they won't be doing is kicking lumps out of us, or flying into 50/50 tackles. Their players won't want injuries, and they won't want silly suspensions spoiling the start of next season.

Yep, that's what we'd expect, but what I expect isn't the same as what happens.
Fingers crossed they roll over for us.

DOUCHER · May 1

I wouldn’t back us to beat burton if we don’t have our full team out - just think it’s all about doing whatever is best to be in the best shape possible for the play offs now -if we lose 5-0 against burton but have our first choice team available in the play offs, I’d take that

AddicksAddict · May 1

Rufus is a dogs name said:

GNelson said:

Chris_from_Sidcup said:

Fully expecting Wycombe and Stockport to play out a boring draw.

Unless we go crazy, a draw ensures they finish 3rd and 4th and both get home second legs. I really don't see either club pushing too much for a win.

If I were Wycombe / Stockport I'd want to win (1) because you'll play the 6th placed team who are on paper a slightly easier opponent and (2) to take some momentum into the playoffs / put a marker down in case the two teams meet again in the final.

Of course, if the game is level coming up to the end of the game I wouldn't be taking unnecessary risks to get the win.

Yeah you'd think Wycombe will go for it - GD means that a loss or draw for them v Stockport means they'll play us in the play-offs whereas a win will see them play Orient or Reading (and guarantee their 2nd leg at home), so they haven't really got anything to lose ...Stockport would be happy with a draw as it guarantees them 3rd (assuming we don't win 7-0...!)

Or, for example, 13-6.

Uboat · May 1

I’d take a nice 13-6.

Jints · May 1

Any recommendations on where to watch the first legs in Margate?

Steven81 · May 1

Jints said:

Any recommendations on where to watch the first legs in Margate?

Dreamland,The big wheel on a smartphone with a nice bottle of diamond white could be fun.

NornIrishAddick · May 1

Jints said:

Any recommendations on where to watch the first legs in Margate?

I'm sure there have been legs in Margate before now (evolution and all that)...

killerandflash · May 1

Jints said:

Any recommendations on where to watch the first legs in Margate?

Broadstairs?

clive · May 1

EFL clubs participating in this year’s Play-Offs will wear a specially designed sleeve badge featuring a red heart inspired by the iconic British Heart Foundation logo.

Inscribed with the poignant 'Every Minute Matters' message, the badges will support the year-long campaign led by Sky Bet in partnership with the BHF, designed to equip football fans with the confidence and skills to perform CPR.

https://www.efl.com/news/2025/may/01/efl-clubs-to-wear-hearts-on-their-sleeves/

eastterrace6168 · May 1

killerandflash said:

Jints said:

Any recommendations on where to watch the first legs in Margate?

Broadstairs?

The Tartar Frigate...🍺

R0TW · May 1

clive said:

EFL clubs participating in this year’s Play-Offs will wear a specially designed sleeve badge featuring a red heart inspired by the iconic British Heart Foundation logo.
Inscribed with the poignant 'Every Minute Matters' message, the badges will support the year-long campaign led by Sky Bet in partnership with the BHF, designed to equip football fans with the confidence and skills to perform CPR.
https://www.efl.com/news/2025/may/01/efl-clubs-to-wear-hearts-on-their-sleeves/

It’s only a matter of time before this turns into a Boy Scout event making sure you have all your badges

TootingRedArmy · May 1

Who knows what team Jones will put out, but one thing’s for sure — he definitely won’t be saying “Don’t Panic!” My gut feeling is he’ll go strong from the start, probably leaving his namesake out, as Lloyd is such a crucial figure in how we play. Hopefully we can grab a couple of goals early on, then rest key players at half-time or early in the second half to keep them fresh.

Honestly, I’m not too fussed about who we get in the semi-final or whether we play home or away first — it’s all about getting the job done over two legs. We’ve just got to find a way to win and book our ticket to Wembley. Then it’s game on again. I’m genuinely buzzing for Saturday. It’s been six long years since our last play-off adventure, and it’s brilliant to be in the mix again — no more mid-table drudgery!

eastterrace6168 · May 1

From the OS ...regarding the Burton Game

Asked for an update on the team news front, the gaffer said: "What I have to do now is prepare the squad so that we can have a successful play-off campaign. That's the most important thing, so whatever I do on the weekend will be geared to making sure that the team are right at it for the play-off games."

Make of that what you will...🙄

Uboat · May 1

eastterrace6168 said:

From the OS ...regarding the Burton Game

Asked for an update on the team news front, the gaffer said: "What I have to do now is prepare the squad so that we can have a successful play-off campaign. That's the most important thing, so whatever I do on the weekend will be geared to making sure that the team are right at it for the play-off games."

Make of that what you will...🙄

Curtis Fleming is playing.

charlton4ever · May 1

Uboat said:

eastterrace6168 said:

From the OS ...regarding the Burton Game

Asked for an update on the team news front, the gaffer said: "What I have to do now is prepare the squad so that we can have a successful play-off campaign. That's the most important thing, so whatever I do on the weekend will be geared to making sure that the team are right at it for the play-off games."

Make of that what you will...🙄

Curtis Fleming is playing.

What? The bloke from The Fast Show?

Southbank · May 1

eastterrace6168 said:

From the OS ...regarding the Burton Game

Asked for an update on the team news front, the gaffer said: "What I have to do now is prepare the squad so that we can have a successful play-off campaign. That's the most important thing, so whatever I do on the weekend will be geared to making sure that the team are right at it for the play-off games."

Make of that what you will...🙄

It means whoever the walking wounded are will not be playing.

Chris_from_Sidcup · May 2

eastterrace6168 said:

From the OS ...regarding the Burton Game

Asked for an update on the team news front, the gaffer said: "What I have to do now is prepare the squad so that we can have a successful play-off campaign. That's the most important thing, so whatever I do on the weekend will be geared to making sure that the team are right at it for the play-off games."

Make of that what you will...🙄

Basically players with slight injuries or knocks won't be needlessly risked, but everyone else will start.

I get people wanting to rest the entire first XI, but we still want to win the game in case there is a winner in the Wycombe match and we then get top 4.

Also i think he'll want to get morale back up after Wrexham and keep the players sharp heading into the play offs so resting everyone so it'll then be 2 weeks between Wrexham and the first leg, could potentially have a negative effect. Resting everyone and heading into the play offs on the back of a 2-0 home defeat doesn't do us any good.

fenaddick · May 2

You also want to keep players in rhythm and keep their match fitness

CAFCBourne · May 2

Anyone else have prior engagements on the 10th? Daughters birthday so desperate to finish 3rd or 4th

Scoham · May 2

golfaddick said:

fenaddick said:

Put out a fairly strong team, get ahead and take players off after 60 mins. That will be the plan I think

And what happens if we are 2-0 down like we were against Lincoln ? Carry on with those players or sub them anyway? If you sub them anyway then you might well as not played them in the first place. If you want to win the game and you carry on with them then they might get injured or they wont get rested.

We are in the play offs. We can really only get 4th or 5th. Burton are now safe. The game has the hallmarks of a pre-season friendly.

I say rest the majority of the team & play the fringe players & the youth. If we hadn't "streamlined" the squad in January you could put out a decent 2nd 11. You reap what you sow Nathan.

Only if you rate Edun, Potts, REG, Allan Campbell and Taylor. Even if you do, they’d have barely have had any game time and wouldn’t be match fit.

The squad was big and we haven’t missed those five. The bigger problem was not bringing in a pacey wide player or two, which we know we tried to do.

carly burn · May 2

It's a fine balance.
He'll want to get match minutes in the legs of those on the periphery or returning from injury.
I think we're going to need them at some point.

valleynick66 · May 2

Scoham said:

golfaddick said:

fenaddick said:

Put out a fairly strong team, get ahead and take players off after 60 mins. That will be the plan I think

And what happens if we are 2-0 down like we were against Lincoln ? Carry on with those players or sub them anyway? If you sub them anyway then you might well as not played them in the first place. If you want to win the game and you carry on with them then they might get injured or they wont get rested.

We are in the play offs. We can really only get 4th or 5th. Burton are now safe. The game has the hallmarks of a pre-season friendly.

I say rest the majority of the team & play the fringe players & the youth. If we hadn't "streamlined" the squad in January you could put out a decent 2nd 11. You reap what you sow Nathan.

Only if you rate Edun, Potts, REG, Allan Campbell and Taylor. Even if you do, they’d have barely have had any game time and wouldn’t be match fit.

The squad was big and we haven’t missed those five. The bigger problem was not bringing in a pacey wide player or two, which we know we tried to do.

That’s one interpretation. The other is adding to the squad meaningfully in January ie replace not reduce.

Scoham · May 2

valleynick66 said:

Scoham said:

golfaddick said:

fenaddick said:

Put out a fairly strong team, get ahead and take players off after 60 mins. That will be the plan I think

And what happens if we are 2-0 down like we were against Lincoln ? Carry on with those players or sub them anyway? If you sub them anyway then you might well as not played them in the first place. If you want to win the game and you carry on with them then they might get injured or they wont get rested.

We are in the play offs. We can really only get 4th or 5th. Burton are now safe. The game has the hallmarks of a pre-season friendly.

I say rest the majority of the team & play the fringe players & the youth. If we hadn't "streamlined" the squad in January you could put out a decent 2nd 11. You reap what you sow Nathan.

Only if you rate Edun, Potts, REG, Allan Campbell and Taylor. Even if you do, they’d have barely have had any game time and wouldn’t be match fit.

The squad was big and we haven’t missed those five. The bigger problem was not bringing in a pacey wide player or two, which we know we tried to do.

That’s one interpretation. The other is adding to the squad meaningfully in January ie replace not reduce.

I think we needed to reduce, but add in Z Mitchell and Asiimwe and we had 7 outs and 2 ins. We know we wanted 1 more, and while you could argue that could have been 1 more on top of that, we didn't need to replace all 7.

Rufus is a dogs name · May 3

Louis Mendez saying there's a good chance the play-off dates might be moved as Notts County can't play at home on the same day as Forest. BBC Sport website currently saying we're playing at Wycombe on Sunday at 1830.