Play Off Optimism

[Carlton Blade]

I'm not knocking anyone other trying to stir up arguments etc, but to those who think we'll do it in the play offs could I please ask why? What makes you believe this? What have you seen from us all season or recently that's lead you to this conclusion? I'm genuinely curious.



* please refrain from turning this into a "bedwetter/rose tinted" argument.

We were more decisive today. It looked like there was at least a plan to avoid too much pointless sideways passing.

I think the playoffs is wide open. Nobody in there is going to be a big favourite. For 75 minutes at least, Peck, Souza, Hamer, Moore, Campbell, JRS is good enough to cause anyone in there plenty of problems.

To say we definitely won't do it is attributing way too much credit to some pretty mediocre opposition

 

[Nonamedhorse]

I'm not knocking anyone other trying to stir up arguments etc, but to those who think we'll do it in the play offs could I please ask why? What makes you believe this? What have you seen from us all season or recently that's lead you to this conclusion? I'm genuinely curious.



* please refrain from turning this into a "bedwetter/rose tinted" argument.

Two extra games to watch and then the possibility of seeing us win at Wembley. What’s not to like?
In answer to your question. We are the favourites in a four horse race, we are favourites based over the previous 46 games, that’s the reason I’m optimistic we can do it.

 

[Blade56]

Special bottles and wall for the Wilder play offs……

 

[Melbourne Blade]

Nobody seems to want the final 2 spots - even Blackburn and Millwall are in with a shout! And Sunderland have imploded unless they're resting all their squad.

What's not to be optimistic about?

 

[HeySethUTB]

We completely dicked both Coventry and Middlesbrough at home, in the reverse fixtures ayling popped up with an incredible goal line clearance and Coventry benefited from us being down to 10 after some shithousery. Against Sunderland we dominated away (especially 2nd half) and gifted them a result and at home we were lucky enough to win, despite that I still think we’ve got more experience than that side and recent performances have been poor. The only team I’m doubtful about is Bristol city, even though on paper we shold completely trample them.

I’d rest a few players for the next game and then put out a full strength squad for the last game to help build cohesion and confidence.

 

[LBA_Blade]

Out the teams that could sneak into the playoffs I think it will change from what it currently looks like.
You are looking at Coventry, Middlesbrough, Millwall and Blackburn
Coventry have 2 tricky fixtures against Luton then the big decider against Middlesbrough. Although Bristol City are in there, Leeds up next then Preston isn’t easy. Millwall and Blackburn will have a good go and wouldn’t be surprised if Millwall don’t get there. If it’s Millwall on current form I personally can’t see us getting to the final, both league matches have been settled by 1 goal however they will go for it. Even if we get to the final, if it is Sunderland in a one off game, I don’t think we will win that either. I know it sounds negative etc etc however it’s also realistic

 

[john Mathison]

Never mind the 90 points, rest the players , for play off games. I just wonder sometimes what planet Wilder is on!!!!!

 

[Lowen]

Bristol City - outplayed us twice but wide open on the counter in the home game and surely we could exploit that as they’ll take confidence from their performances against us and try to replicate it.

Coventry - good side but breezed past them in the home game and their defence is vulnerable especially with how they’ll play.

Middlesbrough - They’re a slightly worse version of Cov, I think either of those two are the best matchups for us.

Milwall - Could be a tricky tie but realistically I’m not sure they’re good enough to get past us over two legs.

 

[Champagneblade]

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 don’t recall a season where the top three were so much better than the rest.

20 points is massive. Boro are similarly about that behind and I watched them before our game and they were pretty clueless against a patched up Wednesday team.

 

[Champagneblade]

Bristol City - outplayed us twice but wide open on the counter in the home game and surely we could exploit that as they’ll take confidence from their performances against us and try to replicate it.

Coventry - good side but breezed past them in the home game and their defence is vulnerable especially with how they’ll play.

Middlesbrough - They’re a slightly worse version of Cov, I think either of those two are the best matchups for us.

Milwall - Could be a tricky tie but realistically I’m not sure they’re good enough to get past us over two legs.

Also Coventry. Only drew the away game because of a ridiculous red card by a cheat.

 

[knowsnowt]

What a weirdo

I never touched my nan like you did.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

I never touched my nan like you did.

Why did he touch your Nan?

 

[UTB Blade]

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.

If the past doesn't matter, why have you referenced it to reinforce your argument in one of your previous posts on this thread, quoted below?

It's not a lottery.

The team that performs best in the play offs will win it.

But if you've finished 3rd then you're better than the three teams that finished below you so you have an advantage.

The stats back this up with 3rd getting to the final 65% of the time and 6th getting to the final only 35% of the time.

These stats that you quote, are a composite of what has happened to third placed teams in the past.

Just as the stats that I referenced in my post, which you conveniently deleted to suit your argument (when quoting my post), are a composite of what has happened to Sheffield United teams in the past.

I no more used one individual instance of a single event in a Sheffield United play off final loss (David Hopkin) in my post, than you used one individual instance of a single event in a third placed team's play off final win, in your post.

I referenced the totality of Sheffield United's play off history, just as you referenced the totality of third placed teams' play off history.

The difference is, that I didn't refer to it in terms of % stats, which, sadly, is what allowed you to make your snarky 'David Hopkin' remark.

I didn't think I needed to refer to it in terms of % stats, because I didn't think anyone would be reading my post with a view to making a snarky put down, rather than just having an open discussion.

However, as you seem to think the past matters only when referred to in % stats terms, I will re-phrase my original remarks about the totality of Sheffield United's play offs history in those terms, and will even use similar wording and layout to your original post, to ensure consistency:

'It's not a lottery.

The team that performs best in the play offs will win it.

But if you've finished up in the play offs as Sheffield United, then you're worse at play offs than all the teams that have finished up in the play offs and actually managed to win them, so you have a disadvantage.

The stats back this up, with Sheffield United losing the play offs 100% of the time, and Sheffield United winning the play offs only 0% of the time.'

I hope that my new 'expressing the past as % stats so it matters' stance meets with your approval.

Or maybe I don't hope that and I'm being snarky. Who knows?

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

If the past doesn't matter, why have you referenced it to reinforce your argument in one of your previous posts on this thread, quoted below?


These stats that you quote, are a composite of what has happened to third placed teams in the past.

Just as the stats that I referenced in my post, which you conveniently deleted to suit your argument (when quoting my post), are a composite of what has happened to Sheffield United teams in the past.

I no more used one individual instance of a single event in a Sheffield United play off final loss (David Hopkin) in my post, than you used one individual instance of a single event in a third placed team's play off final win, in your post.

I referenced the totality of Sheffield United's play off history, just as you referenced the totality of third placed teams' play off history.

The difference is, that I didn't refer to it in terms of % stats, which, sadly, is what allowed you to make your snarky 'David Hopkin' remark.

I didn't think I needed to refer to it in terms of % stats, because I didn't think anyone would be reading my post with a view to making a snarky put down, rather than just having an open discussion.

However, as you seem to think the past matters only when referred to in % stats terms, I will re-phrase my original remarks about the totality of Sheffield United's play offs history in those terms, and will even use similar wording and layout to your original post, to ensure consistency:

'It's not a lottery.

The team that performs best in the play offs will win it.

But if you've finished up in the play offs as Sheffield United, then you're worse at play offs than all the teams that have finished up in the play offs and actually managed to win them, so you have a disadvantage.

The stats back this up, with Sheffield United losing the play offs 100% of the time, and Sheffield United winning the play offs only 0% of the time.'

I hope that my new 'expressing the past as % stats so it matters' stance meets with your approval.

Or maybe I don't hope that and I'm being snarky. Who knows?

I think you're a bit confused here.

3rd placed teams being more successful in the play offs is just a fact, it's not an attempt to link the past to the present.

Because the team that finishes 3rd in any given year will always be the best team going into the play offs based on the full season.

That's completely different to saying Sheffield United are somehow disadvantaged by our previous play off failures.

It doesn't matter if we've never been in the play offs before or won them ten times, it's still irrelevant to how we'll perform this time.

 

[Houston_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...

What we’ve done in these games in the past is fairly irrelevant unless we still think the players and manager are going to allow that mindset to creep into our preparations this time around.

What worries me is our lack of goals and chances, fairly poor defence of late and the seeming inability of the manager to change things outside of his formulaic 60 minute bring some forwards off and other ones on substitutions.

If we can improve on the above then we should have a good chance because we’ve accumulated more points than the other teams in the play offs.

Coventry are the ones that worry me as they’ve been in form under Frank and the tiresome pricks who post on here would never shut up if we lost.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

The 1st leg is on a Thursday 8th May at 8pm.....the 2nd leg is on Monday 12th May at 8pm.

This season we have played two games on a Thursday first was 26th Dec v Burnley lost it 2-0..the second was the FA Cup game on 9th Jan v Cardiff lost 1-0.
And two games on a Monday first was 24th Feb v Leeds lost it 3-1..the second was Mon 21st April v Burnley lost 2-1.

 

[Frank the tank]

Bristol City - outplayed us twice but wide open on the counter in the home game and surely we could exploit that as they’ll take confidence from their performances against us and try to replicate it.

Coventry - good side but breezed past them in the home game and their defence is vulnerable especially with how they’ll play.

Middlesbrough - They’re a slightly worse version of Cov, I think either of those two are the best matchups for us.

Milwall - Could be a tricky tie but realistically I’m not sure they’re good enough to get past us over two legs.

Watched boro pigs yesterday and they were truly awful
You could have drove a battleship through their midfield and defence

 

[Frank the tank]

The only disadvantage we have is our miserable fan base
Remember well the last play off final making my way through the carnival atmosphere of the Burnley fans into Funeral silence of ours
Everyone I spoke to In the pub beforehand jokingly said we would lose and Lo and behold we didn't turn up

Reading through this thread that shitty pants attitude has got even stronger and is dressed up. As a 'curse'

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

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...

None of those defeats pay any significance to the players.

They’ve affected the fans, the players will see it as a big game of football. I doubt Cooper, Anel, Burrows, Hamer, Campbell etc are thinking ‘oh shit, they lost to Huddersfield the last time they played a play off final’

We’ve got as much of a chance as everyone in the playoffs. On paper we’re better, we just need to get back to form.

You’ve got ‘fans’ actively stating why they’re not going and almost encouraging people to do the same. Get over yourselves & enjoy it. We lose and it’s not the end of the world, if we win it’s probably the best day out in blades history.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

I’m hoping and praying for some individual brilliance in the playoffs, because as a team we certainly do flatter to deceive.
When you surrender 12 points to our nearest promotion rivals, we should really being doing cartwheels at finishing as high as we did. Let’s be honest Blades…3rd place always had our name on it.

 

[More Bladier than thou]

Would we sell out our wembley allocation? Think fans have had enough of wembley disappointment.

 

[BarcaBlade]

We've lost 4 of our last 5. I'd say that's more relevant to the pending play offs.

But then none of the other play off teams have managed to win more than 3 of their last 6 (Sunderland and Coventry only 2)

 

[UddersBlade]

Would we sell out our wembley allocation? Think fans have had enough of wembley disappointment.

No chance we sell out. Ridiculous ticket allocation per person will stop that.

 

[BarcaBlade]

I’m hoping and praying for some individual brilliance in the playoffs, because as a team we certainly do flatter to deceive.
When you surrender 12 points to our nearest promotion rivals, we should really being doing cartwheels at finishing as high as we did. Let’s be honest Blades…3rd place always had our name on it.

I'm only disappointed that it (most likely) isn't due to the points deduction that we got third place rather than second . That would have given us material to whinge about for the next decade. Fights breaking out Blade on Blade over whether it was the Prince/Wilder/Tevez who was to blame.

 

[Balham]

If only there was some sort of basic statistical measure of how good we are relative to the teams we will be playing?

Our record against the teams currently in 4th to 6th is P6 W3 D2 L1 which is automatic promotion form. If I can be bothered later I’ll do a full mini league table.

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.

The team we play away will have to have a go at us. The times we’ve looked most competent this season is when we’ve employed the low block and broken quickly. I’d expect that to apply again.

 

[Silky Sabella]

Take 2 from 3 :
Bristol City, Coventry, Middlesbrough.
Coventry would be the easier task as they are capable of tearing anyone apart at home but are generally weak, toothless and exposed away from home, (Lampard scenario) whilst Bristol city and Middlesbrough are more structured and disciplined who have the players who can win any game at home but also have the players who know how not to lose away from home ( apart from yesterday)

 

[UTB Blade]

None of those defeats pay any significance to the players.

They’ve affected the fans, the players will see it as a big game of football. I doubt Cooper, Anel, Burrows, Hamer, Campbell etc are thinking ‘oh shit, they lost to Huddersfield the last time they played a play off final’

We’ve got as much of a chance as everyone in the playoffs. On paper we’re better, we just need to get back to form.

You’ve got ‘fans’ actively stating why they’re not going and almost encouraging people to do the same. Get over yourselves & enjoy it. We lose and it’s not the end of the world, if we win it’s probably the best day out in blades history.

Not sure why you've quoted my post as a pretext to go on your rant.

Nowhere in my post did I state that any of our players are thinking ‘oh shit, they lost to Huddersfield the last time they played a play off final’.

And I absolutely definitely did not state or imply, in the post of mine that you've quoted, nor in any other post that I've made, that I'm "not going and almost encouraging people to do the same."

I fully intend to go to the play offs, and I fully intend to back my team to the hilt, as I always do.

Me posting my concerns about our dreadful play off history, on a forum specifically designed as a platform for fans to air their opinions and get things off their chests, does not in any way translate to me airing my worries and concerns at the match, which I never do - that's why I post them on here, as I said, to get them off my chest.

Just because people post their thoughts on a message board, it does not make them any less of a fan, despite your use of inverted commas around the word 'fans', as a way of implying that you think it does.

As for the hypocrisy of you implicitly criticising those who you think are "encouraging people to do" things, then immediately telling people outright what to do yourself - "Get over yourselves and enjoy it." - well, I think that speaks for itself.

And finally, your statement that "we lose and it's not the end of the world" is not exactly new information for anyone such as myself, who has experienced severe personal tragedy.

 

[Silky Sabella]

Take 2 from 3 :
Bristol City, Coventry, Middlesbrough.
Coventry would be the easier task as they are capable of tearing anyone apart at home but are generally weak, toothless and exposed away from home, (Lampard scenario) whilst Bristol city and Middlesbrough are more structured and disciplined who have the players who can win any game at home but also have the players who know how not to lose away from home ( apart from yesterday)

Also, Coventry play Middlesbrough on the final day (play off decider)

 

[Godbeblade]

Surely this year has to be the best year to get over the line.

Sunderland have been in 4th for ages and ages knowing they're going to finish there and the other two spots you'd have to assume are flaky at best given their finishing position and points total.

I think we did OK against Burnley but i would like to see two good performances to finish the season to put my worries to the back of my mind

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

Not sure why you've quoted my post as a pretext to go on your rant.

Nowhere in my post did I state that any of our players are thinking ‘oh shit, they lost to Huddersfield the last time they played a play off final’.

And I absolutely definitely did not state or imply, in the post of mine that you've quoted, nor in any other post that I've made, that I'm "not going and almost encouraging people to do the same."

I fully intend to go to the play offs, and I fully intend to back my team to the hilt, as I always do.

Me posting my concerns about our dreadful play off history, on a forum specifically designed as a platform for fans to air their opinions and get things off their chests, does not in any way translate to me airing my worries and concerns at the match, which I never do - that's why I post them on here, as I said, to get them off my chest.

Just because people post their thoughts on a message board, it does not make them any less of a fan, despite your use of inverted commas around the word 'fans', as a way of implying that you think it does.

As for the hypocrisy of you implicitly criticising those who you think are "encouraging people to do" things, then immediately telling people outright what to do yourself - "Get over yourselves and enjoy it." - well, I think that speaks for itself.

And finally, your statement that "we lose and it's not the end of the world" is not exactly new information for anyone such as myself, who has experienced severe personal tragedy.

I’m sorry that you’ve had recent tragedy, however, that’s not at all relevant to the point I was making? I was saying it to those people who can’t accept we will lose a football game & that’s why they’re boycotting the playoffs - I didn’t say ‘you’ or ‘you’re’ I said ‘you’ve got’. More people will read our comments than just us two.

Just because I quoted your comment doesn’t necessarily mean I’m taking a swipe at you, in some ways I’m agreeing with your points but adding my thoughts on why every play off experience is different albeit it feels the same to us fans due to the ending.

You’ve mentioned that you’re posting on a forum to get things off your chest, well maybe take it into account not everyone is arguing with you either.