[Poll] After the 0-0 1st leg, how do you think United will get on in the Play-Offs?

[marky200484]

After the 0-0 in the 1st leg, do your predictions change?

 

[Sandmart]

No

 

[broomhillblade]

Another pointless poll.

 

[marky200484]

Another pointless poll.

Cheer up and give us a smile given that quite a few thought we would lose tonight, I disagree

 

[bramptonblade]

Going up !

 

[Ollessendro]

No change for me. Cannot see where the goals are coming from. Good result last night, but now the pressure is on us. Stevenage played a very good game at BDTBL a few weeks ago and I expect them to do the same. I expect them to be solid and sit back and say 'come on then you break us down', whilst hitting us on the counter. As wel as being solid and physically fit, they play decent stuff. We saw how they played fast, expansive counter attacing football. They alsocompletely overran us in midfield. I just worry it will be more of the same. I think it will be a more open game than last night and they'll score ..... will we outscore them? (imo no).

 

[Houso]

If Quinny can find his early season form like he seemed to do last night in the second half, I think we'll actually have a good chance of going up.

He can unlock the door for even the worst of strikers when he's dictating things.

I'm still low on confidence, but it was nice to see the defence looking mostly solid last night.

 

[drinksmat]

Talking of players finding their form again, the Kevin Mc of a few months back would also be very timely. Defense as has been said was spot on but we need more attacking options. Blades to nick it on Monday (hoping anyway)

 

[mattbianco1]

Losing finalists i'm afraid. We cant beat Huddersfield

 

[Latters]

Losing finalists i'm afraid. We cant beat Huddersfield

Can't beat them again you mean? Also, it wasn't even Ched that scored against them last time, it was Collins of all people, don't give up hope.

 

[Staffs_Blade]

Interesting so far - the fairly even spread on the three options, obviously reflects the views that we see on here. From the downright pessimists to the happy clappers and the others in between. Personally, (declaring my vote) I voted winners and promoted.

Come on you Blades.

 

[mattbianco1]

Nil nil and pens is the only way we'll win at Wembley

 

[gavtheblade]

No change for me. Cannot see where the goals are coming from. Good result last night, but now the pressure is on us. Stevenage played a very good game at BDTBL a few weeks ago and I expect them to do the same. I expect them to be solid and sit back and say 'come on then you break us down', whilst hitting us on the counter. As wel as being solid and physically fit, they play decent stuff. We saw how they played fast, expansive counter attacing football. They alsocompletely overran us in midfield. I just worry it will be more of the same. I think it will be a more open game than last night and they'll score ..... will we outscore them? (imo no).

we`ll get promoted on penalaties

 

[metalblade]

going up on pens

 

[drinksmat]

Pens, a 30 yard belter, going in off the referees backside, if it means we win then that'll do.

 

[sothall blade]

Nil nil and pens is the only way we'll win at Wembley

with simmo in goal ?

 

[Blade58]

I opted for defeated against Stevenage in the play-offs

However, that's not strictly accurate as I don't think we will actually be defeated over the 90 mins. I think it'll be a draw. As a glass half empty fan, I think extra time and/or pens will be our undoing

 

[davidpinder]

this campaign is like 2009, we didn't win on the last day with a chance of 2nd (obviously on both occasions it didn't matter), we have drawn the first away leg, i can see us winning 1 nil monday, then losing in the final because we have nothing up front just like then. An early goal for hudds then they can sit back like burnley did knowing we had nothing to offer up front.

 

[Selly]

No change for me, still think we will lose in the final...

 

[stannyblade]

Changed from losing in semi to losing in final. As I have been wrong on so many others this year lets hope Im wrong again

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Losing finalists i'm afraid. We cant beat Huddersfield

Apart from on Feb 14th

 

[Kenilworth]

Cannot see where the goals are going to come from. It'll probably be just like 2009 all over again.
I can see us getting a really tightly contested 1-0 win tonight with something like a late Lowton goal (re Halford in 2009) and then fizzle in the final (agan).
If it is Hudds (as seems likely from their first leg triumph) at the Shit Hole tehn our best tactic would be to play it like an away leg and pack the midfield. Rhodes and Novak are far better than what we have to offer up front. Udders also score from set pieces with the centre backs contributing - Collins and Maguire have 3 between them this season - pitiful when you consider the quality of delivery we have from Willo and Quinn (when he beats the first man) as well as McDonald.

Butterflies already flapping about in the pit of the stomach for tonights game.

I can see the wilderness through the dark clouds of dispair and the road looks long, bleak and rocky.
There's a sunny patch on the hill but it's a terrific climb to get there.

 

[Revolution]

If it is Hudds (as seems likely from their first leg triumph) at the Shit Hole tehn our best tactic would be to play it like an away leg and pack the midfield

This never works in playoff finals. They are often high scoring affairs and the team that takes the game to the opposition nearly always wins. The only recent exception I can think of is Derby beating West Brom in 2007.

 

[mattbianco1]

Apart from on Feb 14th

I mean we can't beat them with our squad at the moment. No strength and depth, no striker

 

[Kenilworth]

If it is Hudds (as seems likely from their first leg triumph) at the Shit Hole tehn our best tactic would be to play it like an away leg and pack the midfield

This never works in playoff finals. They are often high scoring affairs and the team that takes the game to the opposition nearly always wins. The only recent exception I can think of is Derby beating West Brom in 2007.

I just think that if we play an expansive game (like we attempted to do at home to Stevenage) we will not retain possession well enough up top and get slammed on the counter. By giving the ball away at the front, having commited players forward to support an attack, we will be exposed at the back. Once we concede the first goal the mountain will be very difficult to climb (like that high scoring game of 2009 vs Burnley).

I am not a fan of packing the midfield and palying a defensive strategy but Danny Wilson will have to make best use of the palyers he has in the squad. If we can rely on someone to hold the ball up in the forward line and the midfielders to support them before they are under too much pressure then fine (neither Cresswell or Porter can do this job well enough - not like HMS could do). If we have a pairing that works well together and can work as a front two, then great. I just don't see us having those options with the depleted squad we have to work with. I see our best chance in retaining possession in midfield and then getting a midfielder to break through to grab a goal. Willo or Macca or perhaps Lowton overlapping from the back. There are not enough goals in us to run away with it.

Tonight will be tense, scrappy, low scoring and excruciating.

 

[Revolution]

Once we concede the first goal the mountain will be very difficult to climb (like that high scoring game of 2009 vs Burnley).
A game which we lost playing exactly the way which you advocate doing this year.

Mind you, I concede that our options are limited (if we get that far).

 

[Kenilworth]

Once we concede the first goal the mountain will be very difficult to climb (like that high scoring game of 2009 vs Burnley).
A game which we lost playing exactly the way which you advocate doing this year.

Mind you, I concede that our options are limited (if we get that far).

So I was right then and my analysis based on available players stacks up to your scrutiny?
Cheers Rev

 

[Blade nath]

Really can't see us beating huddersfield at Wembly.
Just can't see it happening.
Oh well 6th times a charm

 

[Ollessendro]

After 3 final's without a goal, I cannot believe that some United fans are advoacting another cowardly performance where we do not try and win the game (or nick a goal). Kenny, you should no better!

Mind you, I am preparing for Stevenage doing us tonight ......

 

[Kenilworth]

I do KNOW better Olle and I am still advocating we win the match - but not without some respect for the potential threats from the opposition or the lack of options we currently have in attack. I am merely pointing out the fact that our attacking options are limited and the forwards we have available are not the best at holding the ball up. If we go gung ho at them tonight we will catch a cold. We have to keep it tight and build from midfield to have a realistic chance of winning the game. We tried expansive at home in the penultimate match when we needed to win to put the pigs out of the question, pinning our hopes on a Bolton youf player to be man enough for league 1. He was found sadly lacking.