What will happen now

[Darren]

Test match, not a play-off!

Same concept, different title

 

[Guesty]

Same concept, different title

If he didn't count the '88 defeat he's hardly going to count a test match from 120 years ago!

 

[Darren]

If he didn't count the '88 defeat he's hardly going to count a test match from 120 years ago!

Years that end in 3 are lucky for us, we have that and winning the 2nd Division in 1953 and we have been been relegated in a year ending in 3.

I am trying hard here...

 

[raul]

I don`t count 88 as a proper play off

 

[Guesty]

Years that end in 3 are lucky for us, we have that and winning the 2nd Division in 1953 and we have been been relegated in a year ending in 3.

I am trying hard here...

We got annihilated at the Millennium Stadium in 2003, I don't think that one is going to fly Darren!

 

[Selly]

Same concept, different title

Possibly, but not in the modern format of play offs, like 88.

Years that end in 3 are lucky for us, we have that and winning the 2nd Division in 1953 and we have been been relegated in a year ending in 3.

I am trying hard here...

1993 - Lost at Wembley
2003 - Lost at the Millenium Stadium (because Wembley was shut)

yeah, dead lucky years ending in 3...

 

[Darren]

Possibly, but not in the modern format of play offs, like 88.



1993 - Lost at Wembley
2003 - Lost at the Millenium Stadium (because Wembley was shut)

yeah, dead lucky years ending in 3...

Ah, but getting to those semis/play offs was an acheivement.

Desperation here now...

 

[Selly]

Ah, but getting to those semis/play offs was an acheivement.

Desperation here now...

It was, the problem is, for a club of our size, and given how many of those PO Finals/ Semi Finals we have got to recently, the acheivement would have been winning one.

I'm certainly not saying that getting a semi (fnar) should be considered the norm, but it seems to be the level to which we can get on a more regular basis than other clubs. We just never win them...

 

[Revolution]

As I have said before, there are many clubs in the league worse off than United, but no one is worse at consistently failing in situations where success would improve our prospects, via promotion or staying up, or by giving us a chance to actually win something...

 

[Gavlar]

I believe we hold that already :-(

well at least we're good at something!

 

[UnitedBlade]

You could argue the pressure was on when we went 1-0 down and we responded very well?

Can't remember the exact stat but teams who lose in a play-off final one year and then make the final again the following year (like Huddersfield) have a superb record.

Sixteen per cent of losing L1 play off finalists have returned the following year and won (12% for Championship, 4% for L2).

However, a losing finalist is almost as likely to become a losing semi finalist the following year (L1 12%, Championship 20%, L2 20%)

It is very rare to lose 2 consecutive finals (only Leicester have done this in the 1991 and 1992 Championship play off, they returned in 93 and won)

Of course, the most common outcome is something else. Take United for example, we normally love finishing 8th after a playoff defeat (3 times). However, we failed in the following play off semi finals in 1998 after losing to Palace in 1997. After our 1987 play off defeat (which actually meant relegation) we got promoted the following season. We have already gone beyond this as we have qualified for the playoffs so I guess we ignore these stats.

So, we are as likely to lose in the play off semis as win at Wembley. Of course, we could also make Leicester feel better by losing two in a row.

Some comfort if we actually get to Wembley two years running but just as many fall at the first hurdle…………………………….

 

[blade too long]

be just like us to beat pompey and crewe , as others falter and only need to beat preston to go up , then go 2 down to preston in 10 minutes, leaving us a mountain to climb , yet again

 

[Blackheath Blade]

well that n all.

(hands on hips, camp voice) im also hoping to win tonights lottery, have that woman from doctor who sit on my face and to win next years masters at augusta. but its just not on the cards now is it deary?

Ken, you're absolutely spot on, it'll never happen. Lets be honest, how the hell will you qualify for the Masters?

A win at Wembley is my choice, have faith in the Football Gods.

 

[Revolution]

Lincoln were in the playoffs five years in a row, 2003 to 2007, without winning any of them. They reached two finals.

I actually don't think we'll set this record though. My money is still on us being the first side to lose playoff finals in all 3 divisions.

 

[blade too long]

so because weve lost in previous play offs we will NEVER EVER win one

well whats the point of turning up

one of the great joys of football is finally winning games you dont imagine you ever will
nades goal v arsenal in the prem ,a win that was impossible , looked back on with great fondness even though we werent that good

I think if we win the play off the only thing most will feel is relief , no joy

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

My money is still on us being the first side to lose playoff finals in all 3 divisions.

 

[Revolution]

If you want to make a point for me to respond to meaningfully, address me with words.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

We need to lose a play off final at somewhere other than Wembley to break the record for most defeats at different venues.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

If you want to make a point for me to respond to meaningfully, address me with words.

Hover over the emoticon.

 

[Selly]

We need to lose a play off final at somewhere other than Wembley to break the record for most defeats at different venues.

In fairness we have done, Old Wembley, Cardiff, and New Wembley...

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

In fairness we have done, Old Wembley, Cardiff, and New Wembley...

We need one more to break the record.

 

[Revolution]

Well, I think that we are a good bet to lose playoff finals in 3 different leagues because:

1. We ain't going up in the playoffs this year as we don't have the goals or pace required to win them.

2. Things will only get worse, not better, whilst McCabe is in charge.

3. Sooner or later, the combination of sales, bad signings, injuries and a bad manager pick will see another relegation.

4. We will have a dead cat bounce, but of course lose the League 2 playoff final to someone like Southend.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Well, I think that we are a good bet to lose playoff finals in 3 different leagues because:

1. We ain't going up in the playoffs this year as we don't have the goals or pace required to win them.

2. Things will only get worse, not better, whilst McCabe is in charge.

3. Sooner or later, the combination of sales, bad signings, injuries and a bad manager pick will see another relegation.

4. We will have a dead cat bounce, but of course lose the League 2 playoff final to someone like Southend.

Can't see it.

Even if we don't go up this season we'll still be up there challenging again next season.

When Leeds crashed out of the play off semi finals to Milwall in 2009 people said they would rot in League One for a long time. They went up the next season.

When Wednesday finished 15th in 2011 people said they would rot in League One for a long time. They went up the next season.

 

[sheffielder]

At the end of the day we need either Bournemouth or Donny to draw one of their 2 remaining games and then if we win out we should go up

 

[Revolution]

Fine, but from where I sit we have no manager, no one prepared to fund the purchase of players without selling better ones first, and nobody in charge seems to have a long term plan or a clue what they are doing. That is a bad situation.

And what happened at Wednesday and Leeds is irrelevant. I dislike Ken Bates but he knows how to run a football club. Does McCabe? recent evidence suggests not.

 

[Darren]

Fine, but from where I sit we have no manager, no one prepared to fund the purchase of players without selling better ones first, and nobody in charge seems to have a long term plan or a clue what they are doing. That is a bad situation.

And what happened at Wednesday and Leeds is irrelevant. I dislike Ken Bates but he knows how to run a football club. Does McCabe? recent evidence suggests not.

I take your point, but I don't think there is any example, of what could be called a "natural" top 2 tiers club (roughly defined as teasms that could pull 20K plus in the top tier) languishing in the lower divisions in recent years for more than around 5 seasons - off the top of my head, I can think of Forest, Southampton, Wednesday, Leeds, Norwich, WBA, and Wolves being in that position and getting back in that timescale.

I think you are being unduly pessimistic. However crap the people running the club at any given point are, ultimately the disparity in resources will tell.

 

[Revolution]

We shall see. If we actually use that disparity of resources to good effect, we might get somewhere. We certainly are not doing so at the moment.

 

[Guesty]

I take your point, but I don't think there is any example, of what could be called a "natural" top 2 tiers club (roughly defined as teasms that could pull 20K plus in the top tier) languishing in the lower divisions in recent years for more than around 5 seasons - off the top of my head, I can think of Forest, Southampton, Wednesday, Leeds, Norwich, WBA, and Wolves being in that position and getting back in that timescale.

I think you are being unduly pessimistic. However crap the people running the club at any given point are, ultimately the disparity in resources will tell.

Portsmouth are about to qualify for that, surely?

As I've said before, I reckon we might be in relegation scrap next season regardless of whether we go up this year.

 

[Darren]

Portsmouth are about to qualify for that, surely?

As I've said before, I reckon we might be in relegation scrap next season regardless of whether we go up this year.

They didn't get + 20K in the top tier,(which was my crafty reason for making that definition ).

They actually spent seven years in the lower 2 tiers from 1976-83, so you could argue they have alreadt beaten that 5 year limit...

 

[Guesty]

Ah I should have read your weasily wording more closely! Still Portsmouth have been an established-ish Premier League club recently, we haven't, have won a major domestic trophy which we haven't post war and have been in Europe, which we never have. Smaller attendancesaattendances aside they are falling from much higher than we managed!