That Jason Holt Thing

[robbiez666]

If we do win the play-offs I have no doubt it will be Jason Holt scoring the winning goal. He's exactly the kind of midfielder we've missed this season.

He is, however, an example of a ridiculous growing trend in football. When he first arrives he got so much stick on here. Despite the fact he'd come from a different league, people expected him to be automatically up to speed. There seems to be no patience in football, Like McNulty coming in and not being sharp. Players take time to adjust.

 

[Revolution]

If we do win the play-offs I have no doubt it will be Jason Holt scoring the winning goal. He's exactly the kind of midfielder we've missed this season.

He is, however, an example of a ridiculous growing trend in football. When he first arrives he got so much stick on here. Despite the fact he'd come from a different league, people expected him to be automatically up to speed. There seems to be no patience in football, Like McNulty coming in and not being sharp. Players take time to adjust.

Holt has been a pleasant surprise in terms of goalscoring: he's getting in positions the other midfielders haven't managed this season.

As for McNulty, I felt that people were not unhappy because he was not sharp- they were unhappy because our 2 sharp strikers were left out without explanation. And they were right to be unhappy, as unless they were injured it was a questionable decision.

 

[robbiez666]

Personally, I'm happy for him to be resting players at this stage. I'd rather limp into the play-offs with a set of fresh players than burn players out getting their quickly. It's a gamble, but not only does it rest players it also gives squad players game time. Our play-off history is epitomised by losing players through injury and the squad showing clear sings of fatigue.

 

[Revolution]

Personally, I'm happy for him to be resting players at this stage. I'd rather limp into the play-offs with a set of fresh players than burn players out getting their quickly. It's a gamble, but not only does it rest players it also gives squad players game time. Our play-off history is epitomised by losing players through injury and the squad showing clear sings of fatigue.

If rather try and finish 4th - which gives us a slight advantage and is still possible - than just assume we'll make it and back into the playoffs.

 

[Blade58]

It's great that he is weighing in with goals from midfield, something we've been sadly lacking this season. What is it, 4 from the last 6 games?

I worry tho that with Louis, Scougs and Holt all part of our midfield squad, that we' have players that resemble an U14 side in the junior league. We still require one or two players that have some presence and strength, can hold their own in the bullying department and put themselves about a bit in the middle of the park and of course still contribute to our goal tally.

I don't know whether playing in stripes creates an optical illusion, but there's been times this season when it looks like we are playing a team from "Land of the Giants"

Do I think we should sign him? Yes, purely because he has an eye for goal and goals do win games

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

"If we do win the play-offs I have no doubt it will be Jason Holt scoring the winning goal. He's exactly the kind of midfielder we've missed this season."

For months I've had it in my mind, Murphy leaving the opposing defence for dead to score the clincher late on in the PO Final

 

[robbiez666]

I'm not bothered where we finish tbh. It's such a lottery in the play-offs and I'll take fresh legs and a match fit squad over positions

 

[Roygbiv]

I have to admit I wasn't blown away with Holt at first. Not down to his ability but the fact that he just seemed like another player in the same ilk as Scougall and Reed. I wasn't sure what he offered that we didn't already have. His goalscoring has shown what he adds. He does go missing at times and he doesn't seem the sort of player who can run a game but getting goals from midfield is invaluable to a side with our set up

 

[Revolution]

I'm not bothered where we finish tbh. It's such a lottery in the play-offs and I'll take fresh legs and a match fit squad over positions

If you don't think being at home in the second leg is an advantage you really need to look at the stats and our history.

 

[DazBlade88]

If you don't think being at home in the second leg is an advantage you really need to look at the stats and our history.

If you look at our history going into any playoff situation then we might as well not bother.

Fuck the history and look forward to another attempt at winning in a playoff final

 

[Blade58]

If you don't think being at home in the second leg is an advantage you really need to look at the stats and our history.

If we are good enough, we'll do it

 

[Northyorksblade]

Clough said Davies was injured

 

[BushBlade]

If you don't think being at home in the second leg is an advantage you really need to look at the stats and our history.

Which stats? Just ours? Just L1 or all the playoffs?

 

[jt64]

If you don't think being at home in the second leg is an advantage you really need to look at the stats and our history.

It's only an advantage as there's no away goals in the playoffs

 

[JohnDenver]

Holt continues to show why he's more valuable to us than Baxter as the attacking midfielder. He fits our system, scores goals from open play, moves the opposition around, and runs for 90 minutes.

Good stuff for a young lad in his first season in England.

 

[Bladebri]

Having the second leg at home will be massive for us, remember the Spurs game, the crowd was spectacular and we nearly nicked it. We are at our best with a full house.

 

[Going up]

Having the second leg at home will be massive for us, remember the Spurs game, the crowd was spectacular and we nearly nicked it. We are at our best with a full house.

Only if the full house is patient and supportive. If certain elements get on the players backs if we are not 2-0 up then I'd rather both legs away from home.

 

[Revolution]

Only if the full house is patient and supportive. If certain elements get on the players backs if we are not 2-0 up then I'd rather both legs away from home.

Hilarious.

 

[Bladebri]

Only if the full house is patient and supportive. If certain elements get on the players backs if we are not 2-0 up then I'd rather both legs away from home.

And that's the problem why do we judge the players during the game showing our frustration doesn't help, putting more pressure on them will only lead to further mistakes lets do analysing after the game.

 

[Going up]

And that's the problem why do we judge the players during the game showing our frustration doesn't help, putting more pressure on them will only lead to further mistakes lets do analysing after the game.

Exactly. One can only hope that we can actually all pull together for 8 games...plenty of time for reflection in the Summer.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

If you don't think being at home in the second leg is an advantage you really need to look at the stats and our history.

Ideally we'd finish 4th but that would take a massive effort and come at a cost, even then we might not make it.

If we stagger into fourth with bodies littering the treatment room it doesn't really matter what the stats say.

We might be up against it in 5th or 6th but we might be less up against it than if we'd made sacrifices for fourth.

These are judgment calls.

They can be criticised either way.

In his interviews Clough constantly focuses on players being fit, I think he's rightly prioritising that over League position.

 

[Large Mendonca]

Ideally we'd finish 4th but that would take a massive effort and come at a cost, even then we might not make it.

If we stagger into fourth with bodies littering the treatment room it doesn't really matter what the stats say.

We might be up against it in 5th or 6th but we might be less up against it than if we'd made sacrifices for fourth.

These are judgment calls.

They can be criticised either way.

In his interviews Clough constantly focuses on players being fit, I think he's rightly prioritising that over League position.

Have to agree Will, past playoff efforts have seen us barely being able to get a team on the pitch. I think Clough is playing this one correctly, assuming of course that we do finish 5th. Not too bothered about the home/away advantage given our home form this season; at the end of the day we need to be good enough in all three playoff games to be promoted.

 

[The Bohemian]

If you don't think being at home in the second leg is an advantage you really need to look at the stats and our history.

Not sure that's right Rev, re second leg home advantage in the Play-offs. Teams finishing 3rd have the best record (contrary to popular opinion) but 4, 5 and 6 are pretty even in terms of promotions, from what I can gather. Therefore, given that we won't make 3rd, arriving in the Play-offs (which we will) with a fit, fresh squad seems like a good strategy, does it not?

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

Having the second leg at home will be massive for us, remember the Spurs game, the crowd was spectacular and we nearly nicked it. We are at our best with a full house.

Don't fully agree with that. The crowd was spectacular after we got back in it but before it was fairly quiet and uncomfortable in the home stands. The away leg support was awesome.

I don't think playing the away leg second would be a big disadvantage, especially if we could make a racket like at Tottenham or at Barnsley last week.

 

[Bladebri]

Don't fully agree with that. The crowd was spectacular after we got back in it but before it was fairly quiet and uncomfortable in the home stands. The away leg support was awesome.

I don't think playing the away leg second would be a big disadvantage, especially if we could make a racket like at Tottenham or at Barnsley last week.

I understand you point but we were playing Spurs who played us of the pitch most of the match I don't think any of the teams in the playoff places will do that, Spurs boss said it was the best home crowd he had heard and that is what we need.

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

I understand you point but we were playing Spurs who played us of the pitch most of the match I don't think any of the teams in the playoff places will do that, Spurs boss said it was the best home crowd he had heard and that is what we need.

I think a lot of it is to do with whose players shut the other team's fans up. Think that's why teams come to the lane and try to make it the wankest game ever.

We show up in numbers, play well and score it doesn't matter where we are.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

Only if the full house is patient and supportive. If certain elements get on the players backs if we are not 2-0 up then I'd rather both legs away from home.

I like to see both legs stretched, wide open and entertaining

 

[Kenilworth]

Right from his first appearance you could see Holt making those runs into the box - similar to what Scoogs had been doing last season but hasn't this one - mainly because of niggling injuries blighting his fitness.

Holt makes the type of runs that Baxter doesn't - tbf that's not Baxter's game - he waits and plays the ball - and then waist again

Holt also times his runs much better than someone like Basham does - The reason Basham hasn't scored is because he is too eager to get into the box (when he plays as a midfielder) - too often before the ball has been delivered even - and consequently finds himself without any room - that and he bottles the finish as he has no composure when the chance comes to him.

Rarely do you see any of our midfielders make a run in then check back to the penalty spot looking for a cut back as the ball is about to be delivered - the smart thing to do since they will invariably have no marker and will have so much more room to pick a spot (whether that's a good thing or not?)

I'm pretty certain that Holt will make a difference in these play off games (yes I think we will be in it) as the sort of run he makes either takes defenders with him or leaves them napping and snaps up a chance to score. Now that Scoogs seems to be getting back to some level of fitness we could be running defences ragged - wouldn't that be nice to see?

 

[Grecian2000]

Not sure that's right Rev, re second leg home advantage in the Play-offs. Teams finishing 3rd have the best record (contrary to popular opinion) but 4, 5 and 6 are pretty even in terms of promotions, from what I can gather. Therefore, given that we won't make 3rd, arriving in the Play-offs (which we will) with a fit, fresh squad seems like a good strategy, does it not?

We've qualified for the play-offs SIX times.

THREE times we've played at home second and qualified THREE times - 100% (Forest, Preston, Stevenage)
THREE times we've played away second and qualified ONCE - 33% (Ipswich, Sunderland, Yeovil)

We've never won an away leg.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

We've qualified for the play-offs SIX times.

THREE times we've played at home second and qualified THREE times - 100% (Forest, Preston, Stevenage)
THREE times we've played away second and qualified ONCE - 33% (Ipswich, Sunderland, Yeovil)

We've never won an away leg.

We never lost an home leg as well.

But we have got a blight on your 100% Bristol City at home 87/88 we drew 1-1 and didn't qualify.