[CFC91]

Woke up this morning feeling strangely upbeat about tonight, not necessarily because I think we will turn it over just because we have nothing to lose, and have had a good season regardless.

That said, an early goal and I think they will panic and we become harder and harder to play against but that quick start is key to get them on the back foot. The longer the game goes on I think the more their confidence will grow and the harder it’ll become.

Not sure how many changes to expect, Duffy in for Coco and Dobra in Naylor maybe? Would bring Dobra in for sure but not sure how much else we can / should change

[JonB]

They’ve had promotion snatched away once having once looked like running away with the title….we score first and they will feel the pressure. All to play for.

[rodney]

 CFC91, on 16 May 2025 - 06:22 AM, said:

Woke up this morning feeling strangely upbeat about tonight, not necessarily because I think we will turn it over just because we have nothing to lose, and have had a good season regardless.

That said, an early goal and I think they will panic and we become harder and harder to play against but that quick start is key to get them on the back foot. The longer the game goes on I think the more their confidence will grow and the harder it’ll become.

Not sure how many changes to expect, Duffy in for Coco and Dobra in Naylor maybe? Would bring Dobra in for sure but not sure how much else we can / should change

Agree, all about the early/first goal. Would defo bring Dobra in for NAYLOR’s role but not sure whether I’d then play Naylor instead of Fleck. As we need to score would bring Sparkes in for Gordon. My issue is who plays on the right?! Feeling he’ll stick with Olakigbe

[Lincs Spireite]

I suspect they will use exactly the same tactics as at our place. It worked well for them before and they think it will again

[Waller is my hero]

We’ll win 0-3/0-4
Dobra will get kicked all over, they’ll have a player sent off & go into meltdown…Grigg will tap a few in & night topped off when Dobra impersonates Messi…dribbles from the halfway line past 5 past players & chips over the keeper only to celebrate wildly in front of the away fans
All match McFadz annoying the home fans with the dark arts & shithousery.

This post has been edited by Waller is my hero: 16 May 2025 - 06:40 AM

[Bald magician]

Upbeat is the mood then. I feel the same !

Successful season regardless of the result tonight.

I honestly believe we won't be as ineffective as last sunday. I would love is to.score first. Game on

[hilly81]

A couple of goals in the first 10 minutes would be just lovely.

[JonB]

 rodney, on 16 May 2025 - 06:31 AM, said:

Agree, all about the early/first goal. Would defo bring Dobra in for NAYLOR’s role but not sure whether I’d then play Naylor instead of Fleck. As we need to score would bring Sparkes in for Gordon. My issue is who plays on the right?! Feeling he’ll stick with Olakigbe

First goal yes, not sure its that imperative we score early as such. Its only two goals which we've come back from more than once in less time already this season. What we cant do is go out from the first min throwing folk forward, get caught and concede.

[CFC91]

 hilly81, on 16 May 2025 - 07:05 AM, said:

A couple of goals in the first 10 minutes would be just lovely.

I'd love us to fly out the traps, a goal in the first 20 and there last 3/4 months they have had they really could crumble.

[60s 70s Spireite]

A hotly disputed penalty for us in the first five minutes would set us up nicely.
We can’t say we aren’t due one.

[Blue95]

Nothing to lose & not out of it yet
Come on the town

[The Earl of Chesterfield]

To misquote Mike Bassett - we will play four-two-three-one.

No doubt the usual suspects will add the profanity afterwards should we fall short.

And that's because our squad has trained to that formation.

It's what they do.

What Cook's always done throughout his decades of success.

Meaning it'd be barmy to suggest or expect anything different.

That said the personnel will change. Sparkes and Dobra to start, I'd guess.

Don't forget the pressure's once again on Walsall, too.

They lead. Expecting to go through. After spending most the season top or top three.

In fact seeing promotion snatched away in literally it's last seconds.

So do they stick or twist? Assume the role of away side at home? Seek or hand us initiative?

Knowing us scoring next shifts the entire scenario.

I'm very 'Notts at Wembley' about all this. Walsall have proven a better side over forty seven games so deserve to progress. Confident we've the right people in place to deliver next term whatever.

Last August I declared happiness with having a sniff at the play offs with a couple of games to go. Same applies if we're within a goal of a result in the final stages t'neet.

Either way this is still all a bonus...

[Westbars Spireite]

I'm quite relaxed about it. Don't expect anything beyond a bit of fight.

[Valley Blues]

Walsall have been better than us on three occasions.

There’s no side in L2 that is better than us on our day.

Consistency has been the problem for us but tonight’s not about consistency, it’s a final shoot-out.

We are due a performance against them and tonight’s the night.

Only question is if we can beat them by enough to overturn the deficit.

We most definitely can.

COYB.

[spireitetoo]

 Westbars Spireite, on 16 May 2025 - 07:45 AM, said:

I'm quite relaxed about it. Don't expect anything beyond a bit of fight.

That's where I'm at, I'll be happy with a much better performance and go out fighting.

This post has been edited by spireitetoo: 16 May 2025 - 09:16 AM

[SpireiteStan]

Where are people going beforehand? Can't remember where we went for the league fixture

[Bonnyman]

 The Earl of Chesterfield, on 16 May 2025 - 07:34 AM, said:

To misquote Mike Bassett - we will play four-two-three-one.

No doubt the usual suspects will add the profanity afterwards should we fall short.

And that's because our squad has trained to that formation.

It's what they do.

What Cook's always done throughout his decades of success.

Meaning it'd be barmy to suggest or expect anything different.

That said the personnel will change. Sparkes and Dobra to start, I'd guess.

Don't forget the pressure's once again on Walsall, too.

They lead. Expecting to go through. After spending most the season top or top three.

In fact seeing promotion snatched away in literally it's last seconds.

So do they stick or twist? Assume the role of away side at home? Seek or hand us initiative?

Knowing us scoring next shifts the entire scenario.

I'm very 'Notts at Wembley' about all this. Walsall have proven a better side over forty seven games so deserve to progress. Confident we've the right people in place to deliver next term whatever.

Last August I declared happiness with having a sniff at the play offs with a couple of games to go. Same applies if we're within a goal of a result in the final stages t'neet.

Either way this is still all a bonus...

Of course we will play 4231 but that’s also what they have trained successfully to nulify 3 times this season

[Tha Knows...]

 JonB, on 16 May 2025 - 07:15 AM, said:

First goal yes, not sure its that imperative we score early as such. Its only two goals which we've come back from more than once in less time already this season. What we cant do is go out from the first min throwing folk forward, get caught and concede.

First goal is huge if we are to win but it's just as important that we don't concede at any point or we will need to score THREE just to get to penalties!

This post has been edited by Tha Knows...: 16 May 2025 - 09:08 AM

[whittman]

even more than usual the first goal tonight is crucial

Fleetwood managed to put 6 past Simpkin at the Bescot stadium earlier in the season so they showed that he is not always as sure of himself when things start to go wrong

we also need the bounce of the ball to go our way tonight something that did not happen last sunday but its now our never as far as this season goes


COYB

[sophocles]

They will play with the same set-up and method that we have been unable to beat in three games - why on earth would they change it? PC will also retain the same formation and approach. The only way a more positive result will emerge for us is for us to pass and move more quickly and accurately than we did in the first leg, when we were often too laboured and inaccurate with our passing. I'd be delighted if Dobra is considered fit enough to start, and also if the side can somehow be rejigged to get Grimes in, as his aerial power would, IMO, be a big help against these opponents. It would also put more pressure on them if we found a way to get Mandy further forward more often so that his terrific ball control and passing skills could give them a problem. That's my wishlist, but I don't know how it can be done, though if anyone can do it, Cooky can.