Football League Play-offs

[Eddie Yates]

They currently have better facilities (for now), been in the top flight more often, played in Europe and won more trophies than Forest in the last few decades. We are absolutely in their shadow, they are lightyears ahead of Forest currently and that is unlikely to change any time soon even if we do go up.

Makes a mockery of the saying “cheats never prosper”

 

[Eddie Yates]

Potentially they are and always have been. You are just measuring it on honours, they've spent more time in the top flight and have a larger fan base.

I’d say Leicester have a bigger fanbase than Birmingham, the Bluenoses are some of the most fickle fans I’ve come across

 

[Bryn Gunn]

I’d say Leicester have a bigger fanbase than Birmingham, the Bluenoses are some of the most fickle fans I’ve come across

They are fickle but they've been shit since forever to be fair
Having said that they can pull a big crowd in when it matters, a lot more than Leicester back in the days of Filbert Street at least. I don't know what each ground holds these days.

 

[Eddie Yates]

They are fickle but they've been shit since forever to be fair
Having said that they can pull a big crowd in when it matters, a lot more than Leicester back in the days of Filbert Street at least. I don't know what each ground holds these days.

Yeah good point about filpot road or whatever it was called, when they got the shiny new ground that they didn’t pay for all of a sudden they found an extra 12k fans, same as the sheep who struggled to fill the 18k BBG

 

[Ravi]

We'll have to agree to disagree on the subject mate.

I just don't understand why it's classed as being successful existing in the Premiership for a few years. What do teams do these days, book the open top bus if they finish above 18th?
Seems a bit pathetic that that is what it's become.

As I've said before, it's better to finish lower to mid table in the Premier league every season than it is to finish lower to mid table in the Championship every year like we do. We'd have a chance of winning a cup then too.

 

[Rzar]

As I've said before, it's better to finish lower to mid table in the Premier league every season than it is to finish lower to mid table in the Championship every year like we do. We'd have a chance of winning a cup then too.

There is also a cap to the Prem in what you can achieve and enjoy though.

I would much rather us develop into a yo-yo club than a stable mid table club.

In 10 years time will Stoke fans look back on their 9 years finishing solid mid table (no chance of Europe, no cups, no relegation battles) as a memorable time?

 

[Ashley]

As I've said before, it's better to finish lower to mid table in the Premier league every season than it is to finish lower to mid table in the Championship every year like we do. We'd have a chance of winning a cup then too.

This for me is particularly why clubs like ourselves and Derby should be aiming to become established in the Premier League. We are never going to win the title again, nor are we likely to ever qualify for the Champions League, but we'd be much better placed to have a proper crack at the League Cup and FA Cup, in addition to potentially qualifying for the Europa League if we win one of those cups (or finish 7th, which is what Wolves and Leicester are aiming to do).

 

[Ashley]

In 10 years time will Stoke fans look back on their 9 years finishing solid mid table (no chance of Europe, no cups, no relegation battles) as a memorable time?

Three top 10 finishes in a row at one point, an FA Cup final and they did play in the Europa League at one point. So I'd say yes.

 

[Beardo7]

I suppose it’s all relative though - if we’d have spent the last 10 season flirting around Mid table in the PL people would be moaning that we should be doing better and pushing on. When realistically as it stands A top 10 PL finish is about the best we can hope for since money ruined the game and we missed out on the Gravy train.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bryn Gunn]

This for me is particularly why clubs like ourselves and Derby should be aiming to become established in the Premier League. We are never going to win the title again, nor are we likely to ever qualify for the Champions League, but we'd be much better placed to have a proper crack at the League Cup and FA Cup, in addition to potentially qualifying for the Europa League if we win one of those cups (or finish 7th, which is what Wolves and Leicester are aiming to do).

I agree, we should be having a proper crack at the Cups now as well, but unfortunately most clubs prioritise the league over both Cups, including in this league.
That is the one thing I respect Lampard for this season, at least he gave the Cup a proper go, unlike us with our usual excuses. Oh and look, they still got into the playoffs.

 

[Ravi]

Anyway, back to the thread.

Derby are the form team out of the four. Leeds are in abysmal form. Derby should be favourites in that tie.

Villa have been looking good for a while now, whilst West Brom have been there or thereabouts all season. Harder to call, but I'd go with Villa.

So for me it's a Derby v Villa final with Grealish scoring the winner.

 

[Account Deleted]

Anyway, back to the thread.

Derby are the form team out of the four. Leeds are in abysmal form. Derby should be favourites in that tie.

Villa have been looking good for a while now, whilst West Brom have been there or thereabouts all season. Harder to call, but I'd go with Villa.

So for me it's a Derby v Villa final with Grealish scoring the winner.

Agreed, Derby vs Villa final.

Unfortunately the winner will be scored by Keogh, just to rub our noses in it.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

 

[Strummer]

Agreed, Derby vs Villa final.

Unfortunately the winner will be scored by Keogh, just to rub our noses in it.

Fortunately for us, it will be in to his own net.

 

[Account Deleted]

Fortunately for us, it will be in to his own net.

Ah, yes, a Des Walker special.....

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

 

[Rockabilly]

Ah, yes, a Des Walker special.....

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

That one still hurts.

 

[Rockabilly]

I agree, we should be having a proper crack at the Cups now as well, but unfortunately most clubs prioritise the league over both Cups, including in this league.
That is the one thing I respect Lampard for this season, at least he gave the Cup a proper go, unlike us with our usual excuses. Oh and look, they still got into the playoffs.

Yep.

 

[RedTe]

Potentially they are and always have been. You are just measuring it on honours, they've spent more time in the top flight and have a larger fan base.

You can't look at that top flight table and judge the size of a club based on that. There is no way that Birmingham have spent more time in the top flight than Leicester over, say, the last 50 years and that's back in the days when they still had Trevor Francis.

edit Birmingham have spent 19 of the last 50 years in the top flight and Leicester, 24.

 

[Bryn Gunn]

You can't look at that top flight table and judge the size of a club based on that. There is no way that Birmingham have spent more time in the top flight than Leicester over, say, the last 50 years and that's back in the days when they still had Trevor Francis.

If Birmingham had any success they'd crush a club like Leicester. Second city club with far bigger potential and fan base.

 

[adam09]

There is also a cap to the Prem in what you can achieve and enjoy though.

I would much rather us develop into a yo-yo club than a stable mid table club.

In 10 years time will Stoke fans look back on their 9 years finishing solid mid table (no chance of Europe, no cups, no relegation battles) as a memorable time?

Yeah but if we get to that stage, maybe we would show a little more ambition in trying to hit the 6-10 spots and try grab a Europa League spot, much like Wolves, Leicester, Everton etc are trying to do. Pretty much what Spurs (and I suppose Man City) have done too and now they're playing with the big boys.

Stoke just kept doing what they do, which is their own fault.

 

[RedTe]

If Birmingham had any success they'd crush a club like Leicester. Second city club with far bigger potential and fan base.

Birmingham City's support is worse than other clubs in the local vicinity.

Of all the clubs in the West Midlands; Villa, West Brom and Wolves are definitely bigger. You could probably make an argument for Coventry being bigger despite being a basket case for the best part of 20 years.

Second city it may be but Birmingham City's fanbase is poor, considering.

 

[Ravi]

FA decide not to charge Tom Lawrence over alleged diving, meaning he'll be available to dive and win a penalty in the play offs.

 

[Strummer]

FA decide not to charge Tom Lawrence over alleged diving, meaning he'll be available to dive and win a penalty in the play offs.

Double standards much?

It was possibly one of the worst dives since the Kursk.

 

[Liaminho]

FA decide not to charge Tom Lawrence over alleged diving, meaning he'll be available to dive and win a penalty in the play offs.

No consistency at all.

utter shite.

 

[Ravi]

Looking at the videos it's inconclusive whether there is contact or not. Unless the FA have access to another angle I can see why they didn't charge him.

 

[siforest65]

Watching replays it seems like he lost his footing. If he did throw himself to the floor I’m struggling to see why because he looked just about ready to score.

Ironically it was against West Brom though. Derby seem to collect positive karma on our behalf.