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Let's settle for the playoffs....


alpine_saint

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But is it ?

 

What was that board game in the early 80s (maybe u are too young) where the TV advert ended with the line "sometimes you have to lose the battle to win the war" ?

 

My reasons for taking you off ignore were not related to a desire to interact with you again Alpine. But I'll hazard a guess at the game being Risk. I'll also suggest you read some self help books...positive thoughts and the like. Automatic promotion is ours! Hoo-ha!

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My reasons for taking you off ignore were not related to a desire to interact with you again Alpine. But I'll hazard a guess at the game being Risk. I'll also suggest you read some self help books...positive thoughts and the like. Automatic promotion is ours! Hoo-ha!

 

I think it was called Tank Command, actually.

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Buckeroo?

 

Alpine you cheeky scamp, rattling cages with your 'interesting' ideas! :)

 

I'd just adjusted to accepting we are fighting for 2nd, not really ready to downgrade that to settling for 6th.

 

I understand the policy of resting a key player and taking a risk with an odd game, but not to gamble the whole season.

 

And on the Saints always mess it up idea - don't know about the rest of you but for me that feeling is history.

 

Many feared Everton would score in 2005, and we were all certain that Villa would come back to win, but that mentality is long gone.

 

I was quite happy Sheff Wed would never score on Sat, in fact for all I know they could still be there trying now.

This Saints team has mental strength and doesn't fold at the first sign of pressure - the only one who showed signs of that was chucked off the bus and is playing a starring role in Blackpool's horrific descent.

But he scored goals - yeah and I caught a glimpse of him in a deckchair reading a paper when Blackburn scored, trust in the man who has tried to manage him, unless his attitude does a U-turn leave him there where he can't do us any damage.

 

So I see no reason for thinking we are going to implode - we didn't freeze at Wembley, teams are dreading us in the play offs, there was no sign of fear at Bournemouth, I'm happy this squad can finish the job.

I just wish they'd get on with it!

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It's just a random outburst of contradictory trolling from thread to thread.

 

Strangely he has been making the odd positive post recently, then as soon as a "poor" result comes along he is back to the same.

 

2 points behind and 2 games in hand is a strong position for a team near the top of the league. Far better to have that as a position than Huddersfield's position. If it were 3 points behind and 1 game in hand then of course you would prefer the points, but Saints can potentially go 4 points ahead when the games even out. With superior goal difference they can even afford to win one, lose one of the games in hand, or draw both.

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Strangely he has been making the odd positive post recently, then as soon as a "poor" result comes along he is back to the same.

 

2 points behind and 2 games in hand is a strong position for a team near the top of the league. Far better to have that as a position than Huddersfield's position. If it were 3 points behind and 1 game in hand then of course you would prefer the points, but Saints can potentially go 4 points ahead when the games even out. With superior goal difference they can even afford to win one, lose one of the games in hand, or draw both.

 

You are making the same mistake as many others on here. Everyone is able to read a league table and see that we have two games in hand on the team in 2nd and a two point gap to make up, of course we have a good chance to go up. But if you want to really see a "strong position" look at what Brighton have done, they have shown what is possible and what we haven't been able to do. I don't think it overly harsh to measure Saints against the very best that the 3rd division has to offer, rather than compare us against various also rans.

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If they're fit they play, if they're not they rest. Regardless we have to raise our game, grow some balls and set out to win every game between now and the seasons end. We should not be settling for 'twists and turns'. We had the opportunity to set out down the road of putting some distance between us and the pack, but yet again, for the umpteenth time, we have completely ****ed it up. We need to win 6 on the bounce and stuff all the twisty turny nonsense. Sort it out Adkins.

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I was hoping that this point could be discussed sensibly, without rancour or abuse.

 

However, the site just matches its usual standard of debate quality.

 

Ultimately we all want to be in the Championship next season. My question refers to what route would secure the highest probability.

 

Let's say Lallana and AOC are not ready for the next two games and are marginal for the third game, in 2.5 weeks time. Do you risk them if the last 2 games didnt yield wins, to try to keep up with the 2nd place race, and risk a longer lay off ? Or do you keep your powder dry for the playoffs, knowing full well we'd have to REALLY f**k up now to fall out of the top 6 ? Especially if Posh are winning the race for 2nd place ?

 

How can getting into the play offs be the most probable way of achieving promotion? We all know it's a lottery and anything can happen in these games. We have to go all out for 2nd now.

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If they're fit they play, if they're not they rest. Regardless we have to raise our game, grow some balls and set out to win every game between now and the seasons end. We should not be settling for 'twists and turns'. We had the opportunity to set out down the road of putting some distance between us and the pack, but yet again, for the umpteenth time, we have completely ****ed it up. We need to win 6 on the bounce and stuff all the twisty turny nonsense. Sort it out Adkins.

 

You're entitled to your opinion but I personally think you are being unrealistic.

 

Whether you like it or not, this season is almost certainly going to go down to the last game. Brighton keep grinding out wins and I think we have to assume now that they will win the league (and quite frankly they deserve to win it, just like QPR deserve to win the Champ). So we are going to have to focus on second now IMO.

 

I know that it's frustrating that we can't quite get our noses in front, but we have to stay calm whilst we have the games in hand. I would much rather we had the points on the board, but what can you do? It's not ideal that the Plymouth game was called off as it's yet another one that's had to be moved - but depending on the injury situation with Lallana and Oxo, maybe it will be a blessing in disguise.

 

Having lived until recently in Cardiff, we all know how the Bluebirds have been unable to make that final push for the auto promotion spots over the last few years. I can't believe that they've managed to cock it up again this year, but that is football I'm afraid.

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Probably the fact that the 6 teams behind Brighton and so closely matched on points and annoyingly keep picking up wins!

 

Yes, matched on points, but not games. He made the point it will go down to the last game of the season. I however think it is more likely that after the Plymouth vs Saints game (when every team in League One will have played 45 games), the 2nd placed team may well be 4 points above 3rd place (or 3 points with far superior goal difference).

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Yes, matched on points, but not games. He made the point it will go down to the last game of the season. I however think it is more likely that after the Plymouth vs Saints game (when every team in League One will have played 45 games), the 2nd placed team may well be 4 points above 3rd place (or 3 points with far superior goal difference).

 

Maybe but I agree with Super_Uwe in thinking it will probably depend on the Walsall result in some shape or form. There are a few potential banana skins over the next 10 games including Orient and Franchise FC who will be there or there-abouts come the penultimate game.

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Probably the fact that the 6 teams behind Brighton and so closely matched on points and annoyingly keep picking up wins!

 

Looking at the table at the moment, if I was a neutral I'd be saying it was probably 75/25 to be settled before the final day with Saints possibly promoted at Plymouth with a win.

 

For those not paying attention, Huddersfield are second, but we have two games in hand on them and are only two points behind, they have a pile of tricky matches, including having to play Peterborough (h), Charlton (a), MK Dons (a) and Brighton (a) in amongst their remaining matches. They SHOULD be more than 3 points behind come May.

 

Peterborough have Bournemouth (h), Huddersfield (a) and Leyton Orient (a) and are already behind us by 10 goals on goal difference having played a game more. Again, we should be able to match them from here in and that would put us 3 points and about 10 goals ahead on the last day.

 

MK Dons are a point behind but have played 2 matches more and have to come to St Mary's and host Huddersfield amongst others. As long as we don't lose at home to them we should have daylight before May with them too.

 

We are most definitely in the driving seat and as it stands should be up before the last match, if not in a comfortable position going into that match - the only thing that's going to affect our position is injuries at important times, which is the case for everyone. I'm glad the Plymouth game was moved now, anyway.

Edited by The9
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I've tried to think of something constructive to post, but honestly I cannot understand why any fan of any team would ever think this was a good idea

 

I can't say I'm surprised. We have plenty of fans who want us knocked out of every cup in the first round and plenty who were happy to settle for second place before the season even started.

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You are making the same mistake as many others on here. Everyone is able to read a league table and see that we have two games in hand on the team in 2nd and a two point gap to make up, of course we have a good chance to go up. But if you want to really see a "strong position" look at what Brighton have done, they have shown what is possible and what we haven't been able to do. I don't think it overly harsh to measure Saints against the very best that the 3rd division has to offer, rather than compare us against various also rans.

 

TBF, the only reason we are not very close to Brighton is our first four home league games. We dropped more points in those four home games than Brighton have dropped at home all season.

 

Let's say that instead of the pathetic two points we managed in our first four home games we had got six points (still a poor return). We would be two points ahead of Huddersfield and four ahead of Peterborough with games in hand.

 

EDIT: We have 37 points from 18 home games so far this season. So we average over 2 points a game and that is despite the average being skewed by the useless first four results which gave us an average of 0.5 points per game.

Edited by benjii
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TBF, the only reason we are not very close to Brighton is our first four home league games. We dropped more points in those four home games than Brighton have dropped at home all season.

 

Let's say that instead of the pathetic two points we managed in our first four home games we had got six points (still a poor return). We would be two points ahead of Huddersfield and four ahead of Peterborough with games in hand.

 

EDIT: We have 37 points from 18 home games so far this season. So we average over 2 points a game and that is despite the average being skewed by the useless first four results which gave us an average of 0.5 points per game.

 

Stop speaking sense ffs!!!!!! ;)

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...and let Lallana and AOC have the time to fully recover for them, rather than risk them early, still not secure 2nd place, and they possibly get aggravations which mean they arent available for the playoff games anyway.

 

So long as Posh get 2nd, I would be confident of getting past any two of Bournemouth, Huddersfield, MK Dons and Orient.

 

Careful Alpine ! ..if Nigel reads you saying that he'll ban you for life.

He's absoluitely set on getting an automatic place ..and why not?

If our squad is ..as good as everyone has been trying to tell us - since we didn't buy in January - then we'll do it - despite injuries. If people start to use Lallana / AOC injuries as an excuse ..then we don't have such a good squad - do we ?

 

Remember our record of promotions has nearly always been ..in 2nd place.

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I was hoping that this point could be discussed sensibly, without rancour or abuse.

 

However, the site just matches its usual standard of debate quality.

 

Ultimately we all want to be in the Championship next season. My question refers to what route would secure the highest probability.

Let's say Lallana and AOC are not ready for the next two games and are marginal for the third game, in 2.5 weeks time. Do you risk them if the last 2 games didnt yield wins, to try to keep up with the 2nd place race, and risk a longer lay off ? Or do you keep your powder dry for the playoffs, knowing full well we'd have to REALLY f**k up now to fall out of the top 6 ? Especially if Posh are winning the race for 2nd place ?

 

"What route would secure the highest probability."

 

Finishing 2nd? Or ending up in the playoffs? I think the answer to that would be finishing 2nd, eh?!

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Are the goalposts being shifted or what?

 

Are we now saying that the scenario is this:

 

We have fallen way behind in the race for second and Lallana and Chamberlain are only just recovering from injury.

 

And the question is:

 

Do we rush them back bearing in mind we have little chance of second or de we ensure we have the best possible chance of winning the play-offs?

 

Well, obviously then it's the latter but that isn't the scenario at the moment. If the question is:

 

Do we give up on second now?

 

Then the answer is clearly:

 

No, don't be a spazz.

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...and let Lallana and AOC have the time to fully recover for them, rather than risk them early, still not secure 2nd place, and they possibly get aggravations which mean they arent available for the playoff games anyway.

 

So long as Posh get 2nd, I would be confident of getting past any two of Bournemouth, Huddersfield, MK Dons and Orient.

 

I have heard posh have given up, they looked at league table and also their last poor result and realised promotion totally out of reach

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Yep, another one missing the point.

 

And your point is to give up the certainty of promotion (by securing second place) in favour of the uncertainty of the playoffs. Because of the uncertainty of Lallana's and Chamberlain's condition.

 

Lots of uncertainty in your "point", whatever it is actually. But I notice you've decided that Peterborough are "winning the race for 2nd place". Is that your point? Do you really have a point? Or are you just waffling?

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Alps, You wonder why people don't discuss things in a sensible manner? Just my opinion but you do start the most stupid threads, what do you expect? We are in one hell of a strong position and If AOC and AL are not fit then they won't play simples. We have options and maybe Forte/N'guessan may turn out to be hero's. I think some peple have written them off far too early. A slight problem with the bus last night but thanks to Plymouth's team of "internationals" we have 10 days to get it fixed and back on the road for the final assault. Control the controlables :-)

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Yep, another one missing the point.

 

Alps, you clearly have no point. Not in this thread, and unfortunately not in many others either.

 

You'll get constructive responses and debate when you stop being an ignoramus.

 

Give up on 2nd place when we're two points behind it with 10 games left? Yeah, ok mate. :facepalm:

Edited by niceandfriendly
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Yes, matched on points, but not games. He made the point it will go down to the last game of the season. I however think it is more likely that after the Plymouth vs Saints game (when every team in League One will have played 45 games), the 2nd placed team may well be 4 points above 3rd place (or 3 points with far superior goal difference).

 

I think we are both splitting hairs a bit here...:@)

 

OK fair dos - I should maybe have re-worded my original post. I still personally believe that it is likely (as opposed to almost certain) that it will go to the last day. I just can't see any of the teams in and around 2nd now pulling away, however I accept that someone (and hopefully it's Saints) may well get the job done prior to the end of the season.

 

The superior goal difference will definitely help Saints' cause - that is for certain (or is it....!)

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...and let Lallana and AOC have the time to fully recover for them, rather than risk them early, still not secure 2nd place, and they possibly get aggravations which mean they arent available for the playoff games anyway.

 

So long as Posh get 2nd, I would be confident of getting past any two of Bournemouth, Huddersfield, MK Dons and Orient.

 

What a load of c*ap

 

and i thought your posts were becoming sensible

 

are we already guaranteed to be in playoffs

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I imagine that somewhere in Austria, there's a man with a big pack of Doritos, assorted dips and the local equivalent of Vimto sitting cackling to himelf and wondering what other ridiculous tripe he can spout to wind up those fools back in England. Come on people, nobody can take these threads as anything other than the work of a highly-skilled wind-up merchant.

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But if you want to really see a "strong position" look at what Brighton have done, they have shown what is possible and what we haven't been able to do. I don't think it overly harsh to measure Saints against the very best that the 3rd division has to offer, rather than compare us against various also rans.

 

And we could have been in their position too had we hit the ground running at the start of the season. But things obviously weren't right when Pardew began the season, they certainly weren't right under Wilkins either. Now, I don't know what the problem was with the team at the beginning of the season, but Brighton didn't have a change of manager and the readjustment that entailed.

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I disagree. We have a reasonably good record this season against the other play-off contenders, though on current form I would hope Posh get 2nd. Therefore I dont see it as a complete lottery.

 

Teams with momentum usually win play-offs, ours would be negative as we will have thrown away 2nd place potentially, go for 2nd all day long in my opinion but do it without risking AL or AOC if their fitness means they can make little or no impact compared to what else we have available to play.

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...and let Lallana and AOC have the time to fully recover for them, rather than risk them early, still not secure 2nd place, and they possibly get aggravations which mean they arent available for the playoff games anyway.

 

So long as Posh get 2nd, I would be confident of getting past any two of Bournemouth, Huddersfield, MK Dons and Orient.

 

Dear Boy, there is no way for us other than the play-offs and we will f*** those up as well! This is not going to be our season so you might as well get used to it.

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I was hoping that this point could be discussed sensibly, without rancour or abuse.

 

However, the site just matches its usual standard of debate quality.

 

Ultimately we all want to be in the Championship next season. My question refers to what route would secure the highest probability.

 

Let's say Lallana and AOC are not ready for the next two games and are marginal for the third game, in 2.5 weeks time. Do you risk them if the last 2 games didnt yield wins, to try to keep up with the 2nd place race, and risk a longer lay off ? Or do you keep your powder dry for the playoffs, knowing full well we'd have to REALLY f**k up now to fall out of the top 6 ? Especially if Posh are winning the race for 2nd place ?

 

I have a genuine question for you, which I am hoping you can give an honest answer to. Obviously I am not believing that your original post was serious as I can not imagine anyone really thinking we should aim low. [Perhaps an utter moron could feasibly think that I suppose]

My serious question, Alpine is what do you get out of this? Surely you arent doing it for attention, that would surely get so boring after all this time. I dont want to speculate because anything I think of would sound like I was just slagging you off. So honestly, what do you get out of it?

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OK Alpine, I'll bite.

 

If you want to disregard the games in hand, fine, we're still two points off of second, and Huddersfield have to play Peterborough soon. We can catch them even without the games in hand.

 

So what it comes down to is you want to give up because we might have injuries to two players to keep them out for a couple of games?

 

Despite the fact they might be fit again for the next game, or that we might win without them, or that the teams around us might lose, right now, after we've got 13 points out of the last 15, which is more than our rivals, after one 'bad' result in which we kept our unbeaten run going, because you're worried about how serious a couple of injuries might be, you want to give up?

 

Bit too early for that. Also remember that Adkins was a physio, we've already seen with Lallana this season that they won't play if they're not ready.

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Let's face it. Our club and its fans are comfortable with coming "close but no cigar" and blaming a ref decision or something on our misfortune.

 

Most Saints fans do what fans are supposed to do and support the team. You're pathetic.

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