League One Playoffs 2026

[gonzo]

Just look at @Zog1, as far as we are aware he's never been a pro football but clearly has coaching and management skills that could easily have success at the highest level.

[Traf]

55 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Just look at @Zog1, as far as we are aware he's never been a pro football but clearly has coaching and management skills that could easily have success at the highest level.

[Ani]

5 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

In one.

I think that it must be difficult at times for some top players to manage poorer ones, and think "why can't you just do what I want you to?".

Managerial skill involves making the best from what you've got, and gradually improving them and/or the squad.

Rioch started his management career at Torquay and admitted he struggled because he was asking players to do what he thought was simple and thought they were slacking as could not do it. Eventually realised they were just not very good. 

[Zog1]

4 hours ago, gonzo said:

Just look at @Zog1, as far as we are aware he's never been a pro football but clearly has coaching and management skills that could easily have success at the highest level.

Again if the doctor told you to chop your own finger off would you do it? Who are you to judge what he's told you? you're not a doctor. 

My takes have been bulletproof, i was right about Evatt, while you guys were talking about giving him an extra year in Jan 25. I was right about us being able to turnover those Evatt players, I was right about SS's implimentation of 4231 being inconsistant. I was right about Dalby not being the carthorse everyone on here thought he was.

All things the likes of you said were incorrect or in some cases impossible. You want me to go on? 

 

Edited Monday at 19:02 by Zog1

[RoadRunnerFan]

14 minutes ago, Zog1 said:

Again if the doctor told you to chop your own finger off would you do it? Who are you to judge what he's told you? you're not a doctor. 

My takes have been bulletproof, i was right about Evatt, while you guys were talking about giving him an extra year in Jan 25. I was right about us being able to turnover those Evatt players, I was right about SS's implimentation of 4231 being inconsistant. I was right about Dalby not being the carthorse everyone on here thought he was.

All things the likes of you said were incorrect or in some cases impossible. You want me to go on? 

 

 

[onefinfrandsen]

47 minutes ago, Zog1 said:

Again if the doctor told you to chop your own finger off would you do it? Who are you to judge what he's told you? you're not a doctor. 

My takes have been bulletproof, i was right about Evatt, while you guys were talking about giving him an extra year in Jan 25. I was right about us being able to turnover those Evatt players, I was right about SS's implimentation of 4231 being inconsistant. I was right about Dalby not being the carthorse everyone on here thought he was.

All things the likes of you said were incorrect or in some cases impossible. You want me to go on? 

 

Will we win at Wembley 

[Tonge moor green jacket]

2 hours ago, Ani said:

Rioch started his management career at Torquay and admitted he struggled because he was asking players to do what he thought was simple and thought they were slacking as could not do it. Eventually realised they were just not very good. 

Aye, makes sense.

That's the mark of a good manager, and one willing to work his way up the ladder.

If he can get a tune out of a bashed up fiddle, then he'll likely get a better one with a Stradivarius.

 

[Zog1]

15 minutes ago, onefinfrandsen said:

Will we win at Wembley 

I'd like to think that with Erhahon and Dalby back in the team, even with everything else being the same we stand a decent chance. They add a core of physicality that was really missing vs Luton.

None of the clubs up here this season have been great and Plymouth who've been 2nd in the form table since like Febuary didn't get in due to their terrible start to the season. 

The only team i worry about from the three is Stockport. I think there's a gap between us and them vs the other two, in terms of the players they have access too. I think it's a season too early for Bradford which only just come up from League 2 and still have a team packed with League 2/ lower League 1 players. It's a similar case with Stevenage, that due to their tiny budget they've put all their money in their X1 but outside of that, it's quite thin. 

Re Wembley I think we need to start training penalties, given how many draws we've had this year. 

 

 

 

[desperado]

1 hour ago, Zog1 said:

Again if the doctor told you to chop your own finger off would you do it? Who are you to judge what he's told you? you're not a doctor. 

My takes have been bulletproof, i was right about Evatt, while you guys were talking about giving him an extra year in Jan 25. I was right about us being able to turnover those Evatt players, I was right about SS's implimentation of 4231 being inconsistant. I was right about Dalby not being the carthorse everyone on here thought he was.

All things the likes of you said were incorrect or in some cases impossible. You want me to go on? 

 

Come on mate you need to be a little more self aware and self critical if you can’t see that some of your posts come across as being a know all with an often narrow perspective. 

You’ve not been able to move beyond thinking that SS could have just repeated what he did at Plymouth. 

You wanted young Toby (who I know really well by the way and was delighted when he got his debut at Cardiff) thrown into the den as a pseudo number 10 to solve our problems

You’ve advocated not having Sheehan in a midfield 2. 

I’m not saying your opinion is wrong and  shouldn’t be aired, just be open-minded and accepting that what you say isn’t a definitive way to solve our problems.

There’s often alternatives you don’t see and acknowledge. 

Like us all you’ve got an opinion, it doesn’t make you “bulletproof” 

[desperado]

8 minutes ago, Zog1 said:

I'd like to think that with Erhahon and Dalby back in the team, even with everything else being the same we stand a decent chance. They add a core of physicality that was really missing vs Luton.

None of the clubs up here this season have been great and Plymouth who've been 2nd in the form table since like Febuary didn't get in due to their terrible start to the season. 

The only team i worry about from the three is Stockport. I think there's a gap between us and them vs the other two, in terms of the players they have access too. I think it's a season too early for Bradford which only just come up from League 2 and still have a team packed with League 2/ lower League 1 players. It's a similar case with Stevenage, that due to their tiny budget they've put all their money in their X1 but outside of that, it's quite thin. 

Re Wembley I think we need to start training penalties, given how many draws we've had this year. 

 

 

 

Just to show I can be balanced on your posts, this is a decent one!

Agree re getting Dalby back.

Penalties could be a season decider too! So please be practicing them! 

[Traf]

50 minutes ago, onefinfrandsen said:

Will we win at Wembley 

Yes.

[Zog1]

3 minutes ago, desperado said:

Come on mate you need to be a little more self aware and self critical if you can’t see that some of your posts come across as being a know all with an often narrow perspective. 

You’ve not been able to move beyond thinking that SS could have just repeated what he did at Plymouth. 

- Can you not admit it's fustrating to see a manager who's previously won the league with over 100 points come here and then try and lets be honest fail for the most part to implement a totally different set of tactics 2 years later.

You wanted young Toby (who I know really well by the way and was delighted when he got his debut at Cardiff) thrown into the den as a pseudo number 10 to solve our problems

- It's not a psudo he is a no 10. Not forgetting Rooney had his debut against Tottenham.  Thrown into the den sounds a little weak.

You’ve advocated not having Sheehan in a midfield 2. 

- I've yet to see any evidence it works or ever has. I think if he was the player people on here think he is, he'd have been gone years ago.

I’m not saying your opinion is wrong and  shouldn’t be aired, just be open-minded and accepting that what you say isn’t a definitive way to solve our problems.

There’s often alternatives you don’t see and acknowledge. 

- I accept that.

Like us all you’ve got an opinion, it doesn’t make you “bulletproof” 

 

[gonzo]

1 hour ago, Zog1 said:

Again if the doctor told you to chop your own finger off would you do it? Who are you to judge what he's told you? you're not a doctor. 

My takes have been bulletproof, i was right about Evatt, while you guys were talking about giving him an extra year in Jan 25. I was right about us being able to turnover those Evatt players, I was right about SS's implimentation of 4231 being inconsistant. I was right about Dalby not being the carthorse everyone on here thought he was.

All things the likes of you said were incorrect or in some cases impossible. You want me to go on? 

 

You deffo wank in the mirror ya massive narcissistic

[Zog1]

5 minutes ago, gonzo said:

You deffo wank in the mirror ya massive narcissistic

Cry some more boomer. 

[desperado]

43 minutes ago, Zog1 said:

 

Fair play for acknowledging there’s other alternatives you can be more accepting of in the future.

Your other points are debatable. 

Our situation was completely different to Plymouth. He was part of their evolution. Here he quickly recognised that we were one-paced, too reliant on possession-based football and rigid to 5 at the back. Bringing in attacking wingers and midfielders with a target man was good management. It’s questionable since whether he’s got the best out of the squad - but I just don’t think doing what he did at Plymouth in this scenario would have been a bulletproof solution.

Same with Toby - very risky. IMO a risk not worth taking at this point in the season and one which Schumacher and most fans, and his dad too! 😂 agree with. 

Sheehan has had some very good games in a midfield two; Stevenage, Plymouth, Exeter, Rotherham.

Some also like yesterday and last week at Bradford where he’s not fantastic, but he’s very influential and not out of place in a two.

It’s surprised me how good Sheehan and Rodrigues are together.

Edited Monday at 21:24 by desperado

[Tombwfc]

13 hours ago, Traf said:

Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger & Jose Mourinho to name just three; all had less than glittering playong careers, but managed to "wing it" as managers.

Not suggesting for one moment that SS is of that calibre, but it shows you don't have to have played to manage. Some top players have become dreadful managers.

 

If anything it should give you much more confidence in someone like Schumacher. Nobody has given him jobs based on his name or what he did as a player. To get the Plymouth job when he did (with next to zero experience as a number one and no affiliation with the club beyond being Lowe's assistant), he must have shown someone that he is a good coach.

[Rival Son]

1 hour ago, desperado said:

Penalties could be a season decider too! So please be practicing them! 

Exactly. It’s my belief this is why Bradford have changed the seating arrangements for the semi final. If it goes to penalties, win or lose the toss, there will be Bradford fans behind the goal.

Edited Monday at 21:58 by Rival Son

[perth_white]

4 hours ago, Zog1 said:

Again if the doctor told you to chop your own finger off would you do it? Who are you to judge what he's told you? you're not a doctor. 

My takes have been bulletproof, i was right about Evatt, while you guys were talking about giving him an extra year in Jan 25. I was right about us being able to turnover those Evatt players, I was right about SS's implimentation of 4231 being inconsistant. I was right about Dalby not being the carthorse everyone on here thought he was.

All things the likes of you said were incorrect or in some cases impossible. You want me to go on? 

 

Please do, I love to hear these things repeated ad nauseam. If you could also repeat the doctor analogy as well i'd appreciate it, that's gold.

[masi 51]

10 hours ago, desperado said:

Come on mate you need to be a little more self aware and self critical if you can’t see that some of your posts come across as being a know all with an often narrow perspective. 

You’ve not been able to move beyond thinking that SS could have just repeated what he did at Plymouth. 

You wanted young Toby (who I know really well by the way and was delighted when he got his debut at Cardiff) thrown into the den as a pseudo number 10 to solve our problems

You’ve advocated not having Sheehan in a midfield 2. 

I’m not saying your opinion is wrong and  shouldn’t be aired, just be open-minded and accepting that what you say isn’t a definitive way to solve our problems.

There’s often alternatives you don’t see and acknowledge. 

Like us all you’ve got an opinion, it doesn’t make you “bulletproof” 

A lot of what Zog says i usually[not always] agree on. Not a clue who he is but like me i suspect he has been around football for decades.  You do not have to have played in the football league to have a good understanding of the game.

I wont come on here and say my opinion is right, it is only that my opinion....Desparado can you tell me why you would put Sheehan in a midfield two in the second leg if we are protecting a lead......I would play Erhahon and RR.....It would be RR and Sheehan at home and Wembley.If Sheehan was to get a shirt at Bradford it would be at the expense of a winger in a midfield three.

Zog offers alternatives as i have there, it is you that never seems to want change.

And yes i could be wrong as i say just my thoughts.......All the shit in the world can be written on this forum it will not alter SS thinking one iota

[L/H White]

12 hours ago, Zog1 said:

Again if the doctor told you to chop your own finger off would you do it? Who are you to judge what he's told you? you're not a doctor. 

My takes have been bulletproof, i was right about Evatt, while you guys were talking about giving him an extra year in Jan 25. I was right about us being able to turnover those Evatt players, I was right about SS's implimentation of 4231 being inconsistant. I was right about Dalby not being the carthorse everyone on here thought he was.

All things the likes of you said were incorrect or in some cases impossible. You want me to go on? 

 

Well said pal

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

42 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

Desparado can you tell me why you would put Sheehan in a midfield two in the second leg if we are protecting a lead......I would play Erhahon and RR.....It would be RR and Sheehan at home and Wembley.If Sheehan was to get a shirt at Bradford it would be at the expense of a winger in a midfield three.

He can obviously answer for himself but on this, EE hasn't played a single minute of football for over six weeks and as far as we know is still injured

[desperado]

49 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

A lot of what Zog says i usually[not always] agree on. Not a clue who he is but like me i suspect he has been around football for decades.  You do not have to have played in the football league to have a good understanding of the game.

I wont come on here and say my opinion is right, it is only that my opinion....Desparado can you tell me why you would put Sheehan in a midfield two in the second leg if we are protecting a lead......I would play Erhahon and RR.....It would be RR and Sheehan at home and Wembley.If Sheehan was to get a shirt at Bradford it would be at the expense of a winger in a midfield three.

Zog offers alternatives as i have there, it is you that never seems to want change.

And yes i could be wrong as i say just my thoughts.......All the shit in the world can be written on this forum it will not alter SS thinking one iota

Of course I want change. 

I want us to stop conceding preventable goals when we don’t give up too many chances and take more of the multitude of chances we create. 

But I don’t pretend to know all the answers to sort that out. And let’s be honest, neither does anyone else on here.

Everybody on here has been around football for decades, it doesn’t validate us knowing what the answers are to sort out BWFCs promotion to the Championship.

It’s a fan forum, your opinion, zogs opinion, my opinion are just hot air - no ones is any more valid than the others, which is I why I find it strange when folk are so adamant that they (think they) know the answers.

I’ll pass opinion on what I think should happen if I have a strong opinion on it or if I get asked, so happy to come back on what you asked above.

I agree with you on the home leg, as we are, 4-4-2, Johnston in for Conway, Dalby for Burstow - there you go changes 😊

The away leg, I’m not so sure. I wouldn’t be against the extra midfielder, especially if we are protecting a lead. But I think there’s also merit going as we were if we performed well in the 1st leg. Too early yet to say what could/should happen in that away tie.

And I definitely don’t think Sheehan should be sacrificed at Wembley, nor should he play at the expense of a winger - my opinion, probably different to yours.

But I’m not going to say that’s categorically what should happen, nor should you or zog, when you have an alternative opinion. 😊👍

 

Edited Tuesday at 07:51 by desperado

[Rival Son]

1 minute ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

He can obviously answer for himself but on this, EE hasn't played a single minute of football for over six weeks and as far as we know is still injured

This is the exact reason Erhahon shouldn’t be thrown in.

Considering the wider point of dropping Sheehan, if anything was to be changed from the Sheehan/Rodrigues partnership partnership, it would be Rodrigues.

While his fitness has improved greatly over the last couple of months, only Sheehan has the engine to go for 90 minutes.

And the best replacement for Rodrigues is Dempsey.

[desperado]

2 minutes ago, Rival Son said:

This is the exact reason Erhahon shouldn’t be thrown in.

Considering the wider point of dropping Sheehan, if anything was to be changed from the Sheehan/Rodrigues partnership partnership, it would be Rodrigues.

While his fitness has improved greatly over the last couple of months, only Sheehan has the engine to go for 90 minutes.

And the best replacement for Rodrigues is Dempsey.

Tricky one with Erhahon.

It’s whether his base fitness and natural game intelligence are enough for him to slot straight back in without that full training load behind him.

Some players, dare I say it, like Sarcevic who came back in Saturday and was MOM for Bradford, seem to be able to do this.

Im hoping Erhahon may too - he could be the player we need in these next 3 games at some point.

But only SS will be in a position to make this call - understandable if we don’t see him again this season.

[Traf]

It doesn't sit well with quite a few on here and loads on social media, but Josh Sheehan is our best player and that's why he plays every game.

Yes, some of the loanees have done well, but they're not ours.