Play Off Optimism

[paidsy]

Forest went from the relegation zone to winning the play offs the day Cooper took over as manager. Their run was incredible and they went into the play offs full of confidence.

Luton were on a good run, beat us and Boro in the last few games I think? Southampton had quite a long unbeaten run just prior too. Villa had a good run the previous season we went up as well when they won the play offs.

 

[Toto]

I remember when Holdsworth scored in the dying seconds of extra time to beat Palace in 97, great play from Dane on the left with a superb ball to Mitch who nutmegged Tuttle and put in a pinpoint cross for Holdsworth to nod past Carlo Nash, 2-1 and we were out of the old first and won a playoff final. What a celebration we had in London that night, never to be forgotten.
Believe and it's real, why not? It's all we have.

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

Luton were on a good run, beat us and Boro in the last few games I think? Southampton had quite a long unbeaten run just prior too. Villa had a good run the previous season we went up as well when they won the play offs.

4 losses from 5 is not the form you want to be in going into the play offs. It's advantage Bristol City at the moment.

 

[paidsy]

4 losses from 5 is not the form you want to be in going into the play offs. It's advantage Bristol City at the moment.

No momentum, the players heads have completely dropped and the playing style has caught up with us. Not looking good.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

I’d be interested to see the stats on that, I genuinely have no idea if that’s the case or not.

The one thing that all our past play off failures had in common up until 2021-22 was that we limped our way through the last three or four games of the season.

Then we got to 2021-21 and we actually went into the play offs in good form for the first time ever, winning our last three matches and memorably smashing champions Fulham 4-0 on the final day.

And we still didn't even get to the final.

 

[The Fox]

Forget form it's 3 cup matches.
We are the 3rd best team on the league and sometime the football gods have to smile on us.
I could reason why it'll all end with nothing but until it does let's keep some belief
UTB

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

We have an opportunity to get everyone fit and ready if we're smart

The following should be rested the next 2 games: Burrows, Peck, Souza

The following should be given minutes to get fit: Gilchrist, Holding, Davies, Moore

We should also try a back 3

The other play off teams are all very average on current form and we should expect to beat any of them

 

[Thrice]

I think we're clearly the best team of the playoff teams. But we're also the team with the biggest amount of pressure on them. Everyone will expect us to march to Wembley and win there.
Mentality will play a big part. We have everything to lose, clubs like Bristol City have everything to win. If the team is not prepared properly, this could be a rude awakening. It's on Wilder and the coaching staff now to get these players prepared. We clearly have the quality to beat any of these teams, we now need the right mentality and tactics.

 

[Selly]

Reasons for optimism

• We are the third best team in this league
• We have shown over 44 games that we are significantly better at getting results than the other 3 teams
• Whoever we end up playing in the semi isn't going to be on a flyer to get into the playoffs (at least it doesn't look like that) - none of them are in form
• We don't have to play Leeds or Burnley
• We have 3 weeks to get anyone who is carrying a niggle fit
• We have 2 games to get some more minutes into anyone not match fit (e.g. Holding)
• We can make sure Hamer isn't suspended
• We have never lost a play of semi away from home in the first leg.
• On the three occasions we have played the second leg at home we have reached the final three times

 

[Rochdaleblade]

The three teams currently in the play offs all like to attack and play football. I would be more worried if we had to play an alehouse team like Millwall.

 

[Stretch]

Chris has an ego, which many on here don't like, but what better motivation can there be for a man like that, than to break our last standing hoodoo, and lift a trophy at Wembley?

Who knows what will happen, but we may well see a team more fired up than anything we have seen recently. That could be a reason to be confident.

 

[The Fox]

We've all watched various promotions automatically, some fantastic memories .
Non of us have seen us go up via the playoffs and non of us have seen us win at Wembley.
If this is our year it'll feel as good as the days at Darlington and Leicester, it'll be talked about on here for years and people will remember it forever .

 

[Frank the tank]

We've all watched various promotions automatically, some fantastic memories .
Non of us have seen us go up via the playoffs and non of us have seen us win at Wembley.
If this is our year it'll feel as good as the days at Darlington and Leicester, it'll be talked about on here for years and people will remember it forever .

Most people on here will disappear for months and that's not even including the legion of undercover snorters

 

[Steve.C]

Pretty sure Sunderland aren't in good form at the moment, they drew today didn't they?, their form is inconsistent at the moment.

Coventry aren't in great form either, lost 3-1 against Plymouth and only stayed in the playoffs because Middlesbrough dropped points.

Bristol City are the in form team in the playoffs, but they're on course to finish fifth, and like us they have to win the semis to meet us in the final, and vice versa.

We play like we did today (especially in that 1st half), we'll beat anyone in this league, and would have beaten Oxford, Millwall and Plymouth had we played like that against them, especially Oxford and Plymouth.

Sunderland lost at home to Blackburn

 

[nopigfansintown]

Chris has an ego, which many on here don't like, but what better motivation can there be for a man like that, than to break our last standing hoodoo, and lift a trophy at Wembley?

Who knows what will happen, but we may well see a team more fired up than anything we have seen recently. That could be a reason to be confident.

Every good football manager I can think of has a big ego. All the greats. They'd all be hated at BDTBL. Our last three successful managers all have a big ego.I don't want a manager without a big ego. It's a prerequisite for a good manager.

 

[Rufus Smalls]

What worries me most is that as the team in 3rd place, we play away leg first (I believe)

How Wilder tackles that game is massive. Going away, shutting up shop and playing negatively could easily cost us a 1 or even a 2 goal deficit.

Which heaps the pressure on the match at the Lane.

 

[Stretch]

What worries me most is that as the team in 3rd place, we play away leg first (I believe)

How Wilder tackles that game is massive. Going away, shutting up shop and playing negatively could easily cost us a 1 or even a 2 goal deficit.

Which heaps the pressure on the match at the Lane.

We have been the masters of grinding out tight away wins this season, and need to rediscover that for 1 game. Then it's a big performance under the BL lights, with (hopefully) a big crowd behind them.

Wembley, if we get there is another kettle of fish altogether.

 

[Aston max]

This is our 10th Playoff campaign, we might be successful this time, we might not.

But surely our playoff luck has to change at some point.

Keep holding that thought mate I'll pick the winning numbers for tomorrow night

 

[Montymagic]

How about we are 20 points in front of the side in 6th and 10 in front of the one in 4th....or do facts not count?

Indeed

But then factor in our god awful record as of late, totally shite performances even against the bottom fucking teams who have docked us and that points gap means fuck all.

 

[UTB Blade]

Do all these people quoting stats about how often the team in third position (with significantly more points than play off rivals) gets promoted, not remember the horror of Huddersfield?

I do.

And I remember the horrors of Burnley, Wolves and Crystal Palace, as well.

And that's just play off finals. There's also all the other Wembley losses (cup), and all the play off semi-final losses, where we didn't even get to Wembley.

If the definition of insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, is accurate, then expecting Sheffield United to win the play offs is insane.

And that's why, as much as I hope, dream and wish we'll win them, I don't expect it. And why anyone who does expect it, needs to give their head a good shake.

Just my two penn'orth...

 

[Booker4]

I think we need to stick with 442. I've thought for a few weeks now that both Cannon and Campbell would benefit from playing with someone else up there. Big Kieffer could be the most crucial player in the front line.

I also think Choudhury at right back looks much more solid and Seriki off the bench works well. I'm actually quietly confident we'll win them this time. Forest were really strong last time our. Other times we've lost we've gone into play offs with key men missing or injured, hoping we stay injury free thus time out. There's also no standout team like there was with say Villa the time we went up top two. We still look up for it.

 

[loyalblade95]

Sunderland lost at home to Blackburn

Getting even worse for them, they'll have no form or momentum going into the playoffs at this rate, and probably get turned over by Bristol City if they secure fifth.

Imagine if we break the 90 point mark and they don't even get past 80, that will just compound the fact that this top 3 has been so far ahead of everyone else this season.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Chris has an ego, which many on here don't like, but what better motivation can there be for a man like that, than to break our last standing hoodoo, and lift a trophy at Wembley?

I would dearly love to see us win at Wembley and if we get there I’ll be there to cheer the team on. If we do it, it will be a fantastic day and will finally break a hoodoo. But let’s not pretend it will be “winning a trophy”.

 

[CPB]

I'm not saying I'm confident but we have beaten any team we face in the playoffs. We will/may also have tasted defeat too depends on who it is.

But if you look on the positive side. We will be far above in terms of points totals. And we do have some players of quality.

If we turn up like say we did against Boro or Coventry at home. Then why not.

Equally we can't be doing a Bristol city at home type performance.

 

[Tazzy]

4 losses from 5 is not the form you want to be in going into the play offs. It's advantage Bristol City at the moment.

That the same team that's lost 3-1 at Luton this afternoon

 

[Stretch]

I would dearly love to see us win at Wembley and if we get there I’ll be there to cheer the team on. If we do it, it will be a fantastic day and will finally break a hoodoo. But let’s not pretend it will be “winning a trophy”.

Technically it is, because the play offs are a separate competition, but I see what you mean.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

If the definition of insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, is accurate, then expecting Sheffield United to win the play offs is insane.

It's insanity to think that David Hopkin kicking a football 28 years ago has any connection, influence or relevance to a Chris Wilder Sheffield United team in 2025.

The past doesn't matter.

 

[Paisley Blade]

I would dearly love to see us win at Wembley and if we get there I’ll be there to cheer the team on. If we do it, it will be a fantastic day and will finally break a hoodoo. But let’s not pretend it will be “winning a trophy”.

Yeah but .... ' Champions of the EFL Championship Play Off Final, you'll never sing that' though?

Aye, you're right.

 

[Boxer Blade]

Who knows?
But I bet if you asked fans from around the country who will go up they will say us.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

How about we are 20 points in front of the side in 6th and 10 in front of the one in 4th....or do facts not count?

I admire your optimism FB .. ad it’s a valid point if they got us a ticket to the final mucker .. but they don’t do it’s a lottery