Play Off Confidence

CarrickBall said:
Doesn’t mean anything though does it, we lost.

Same as yesterday.

I really hope being the better team and losing, which everyone seems to be celebrating, isn’t the outcome in the playoffs.

Not a great habit to be in going into our biggest games in nearly a decade.
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I don’t think it is black and white when we have had two games with nothing to play for, a few injuries, a few rested and plenty of fringe players in the team.

Unlike others on here I am not at all convinced we should be busting a gut versus Coventry either, what if Chuba, Archer and Johnny got injured in a battle which is a dead rubber for us??

I think our best players are highly motivated to succeed and will step up for the big games. If they are injured then we get what we get from the second string who are out of the team for a reason.
 
HolgateCorner said:
I don’t think it is black and white when we have had two games with nothing to play for, a few injuries, a few rested and plenty of fringe players in the team.

Unlike others on here I am not at all convinced we should be busting a gut versus Coventry either, what if Chuba, Archer and Johnny got injured in a battle which is a dead rubber for us??

I think our best players are highly motivated to succeed and will step up for the big games. If they are injured then we get what we get from the second string who are out of the team for a reason.
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Fine balance isn’t it.. tough calls for Carrick.

Ensuring our key players are protected and ready for May 14th but also ensuring we don’t fall into the habit of getting beat every week and dash confidence.

If, for example, Giles and Howson don’t play against Coventry, it’ll have been almost 3 weeks since they kicked a ball in anger… is it easy to then go ‘right.. full tilt let’s go’?

I don’t however agree we’ve had ‘nothing to play for’. You’re playing for professional pride, for rhythm and momentum going into the play offs, for thousands of supporters that are spending hundreds and hundreds of pounds following you all around the country and also to fight for a spot in the team come that first leg.
 
CarrickBall said:
Fine balance isn’t it.. tough calls for Carrick.

Ensuring our key players are protected and ready for May 14th but also ensuring we don’t fall into the habit of getting beat every week and dash confidence.

If, for example, Giles and Howson don’t play against Coventry, it’ll have been almost 3 weeks since they kicked a ball in anger… is it easy to then go ‘right.. full tilt let’s go’?

I don’t however agree we’ve had ‘nothing to play for’. You’re playing for professional pride, for rhythm and momentum going into the play offs, for thousands of supporters that are spending hundreds and hundreds of pounds following you all around the country and also to fight for a spot in the team come that first leg.
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Fair comment about the supporters but I suppose the argument would be that a bit like cup matches the squad players are given a chance to show what they can do. Arguably Jones and Dijksteel did that whilst the more regular subs like Crooks, Barlaser and Bola got some valuable game time to sharpen them up if they need to either come on or play.

Personally I think our squad is a bit thin and we are soon exposed when we lose key players from the first team so to give us the best chance in the play offs Carrick has been right to protect them.
 
HolgateCorner said:
Fair comment about the supporters but I suppose the argument would be that a bit like cup matches the squad players are given a chance to show what they can do. Arguably Jones and Dijksteel did that whilst the more regular subs like Crooks, Barlaser and Bola got some valuable game time to sharpen them up if they need to either come on or play.

Personally I think our squad is a bit thin and we are soon exposed when we lose key players from the first team so to give us the best chance in the play offs Carrick has been right to protect them.
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We are exposed you’re right, as the last two games have shown. Not been good enough.

Injuries come at the worst possible time unfortunately haven’t they. Even if we get them back.. are Fry, Ramsey, Forss all going to be ready to go? Haven’t played in a month.

If Giles and Howson aren’t in for Coventry.. 3 weeks with no football. Then bang.. straight into your biggest games in a long long time.

Concerning.

That’s why I think a win and performance would lift the spirits and confidence and mood going into that first leg.. but at what cost could that come at if you lost yet another main player.

Tough tough calls.
 
CarrickBall said:
We are exposed you’re right, as the last two games have shown. Not been good enough.

Injuries come at the worst possible time unfortunately haven’t they. Even if we get them back.. are Fry, Ramsey, Forss all going to be ready to go? Haven’t played in a month.

If Giles and Howson aren’t in for Coventry.. 3 weeks with no football. Then bang.. straight into your biggest games in a long long time.

Concerning.

That’s why I think a win and performance would lift the spirits and confidence and mood going into that first leg.. but at what cost could that come at if you lost yet another main player.

Tough tough calls.
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I’m not concerned because I don’t think some of our players like Akpom and Archer have been at full throttle in the last two games when playing.

Even the second string players have shown they can play the system and dominate possession and create very good chances.

If we lose key forward players to injury in the first leg of the play off semis then we will struggle but then again so would any team.
 
CarrickBall said:
Doesn’t mean anything though does it, we lost.

Same as yesterday.

I really hope being the better team and losing, which everyone seems to be celebrating, isn’t the outcome in the playoffs.

Not a great habit to be in going into our biggest games in nearly a decade.
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Well it does mean something when it was our reserve team and we got beaten by an awful refereeing decision.

Why people are trying to be negative is absolutely beyond me.

Nobody is celebrating,
 
Chutney said:
Jesus wept.
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Oh if only we were in Sunderlands, or West Broms, or Millwalls, or Coventry's place. Still having the luxury of not qualifying for the play offs yet 🙄

Apart from the two promoted teams, there is no other team in the Championship I would swap our current circumstances or players with. Would you?
 
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