Play-off Thread

[Madejski]

Worldwide shares in plastic plummet as Reading fail to gain promotion

Enjoy League Two

 

[LondonOrn]

So Huddersfield win promotion to the Premier League without actually winning a play off game.

And having a minus goal difference

Third consecutive 0-0 success in a play-off final. Quite impressive.

They haven't beaten a side before 120 mins to win promotion for over twenty years (1995 against Bristol Rovers).

Another stat is they made it without scoring a goal, courtesy of Tom Lees.

 

[Madejski]

Uhh, we just didn't turn up today. Such a shame as we have recently saved our best performances for the big games.

First half Huddersfield should have been 2 up. Then after HT they switched off completely (some of their key players like Brown seemed to tire a lot too) and it just was 45 mins + 30 mins of both teams going for 0-0 full time and penalties. First time in forever we had more shots than the opponent so I can't see how we were any less negative than they were.

We then go 3-1 up in the penalties and still fuck it up, typical Reading.

Lost play-off finals at all three venues (Old Wembley, Millennium Stadium and New Wembley) already, and have now lost in all three ways (in 90 minutes, after extra time and on penalties). Now move into second on the table of worst play-off records.. one day our luck will change.

Not as pissed off as I could be, as we never looked like winning today. Fear is losing Stam in the Summer, which could happen. More turnaround in the Summer too as we now have no parachute payments. Danny Williams continues the trend of Reading players crying at Wembley for their last major game (after Shane Long and Adam Federici).

 

[Indian Dan]

Enjoy League Two

Based on that crap this afternoon I probably will

 

[Ciderup]

Based on that crap this afternoon I probably will

I didn't think it was 'crap' but thought Udders were trying to win it while Reading, WTGR to them, were trying not to lose.
Let's be honest, Udders missed a couple of absolute sitters in the first half.
I've got nothing against Reading at all but thought the result was right today.

 

[Madejski]

I didn't think it was 'crap' but thought Udders were trying to win it while Reading, WTGR to them, were trying not to lose.
Let's be honest, Udders missed a couple of absolute sitters in the first half.
I've got nothing against Reading at all but thought the result was right today.

I agree that I don't think we went for it, but I don't think that Huddersfield did after the first half either. They had 2 shots in the second half and 2 in Extra Time.. hardly attacking us. As I said, we ended up with more shots, which is a rarity in any of our games this season (the statisticians love pointing out how few shots we have and how many we concede).

They sat so deep for the end of the game. Was often times where Al-Habsi must have been the only Reading player in our half. Problem with our possession style is we have not done it enough to work out how to break down good teams who sit back on us.

 

[Rammy]

It was literally the worst playoff final ever. So drab.

Penalties what were we all deserved for sitting through that shit

 

[Rammy]

Commiserations to Reading though. I know from what happened in 2014 how gutting it must be.

 

[KevinMcallister]

sorry to be the bearer of bad news but.............

http://www.socceronsunday.com/article/huddersfield-town-ruled-ineligible-for-promotion/

 

[Rammy]

 

[markwwfc1992]

Congrats to Huddersfield

So many small teams in the Prem at the moment though, not sure of this is good or bad.

 

[Madejski]

Commiserations to Reading though. I know from what happened in 2014 how gutting it must be.

Not as bad as 1995, or 2001, or 2011... So there's always that.

Not trying to gloss over my current disappointment, but in a few days I know that I will not be too fussed to have lost. Other than the money that Prem football would bring which is very important for the club, I don't see anything from a supporter/entertainment reason why I would not enjoy being at this level more.

1995 will never be beaten by Reading fans for play-off disappointment because at the time it looked like our only chance of ever getting to play top division football. Luckily I never had to witness it..

 

[Liam_SWFC]

The Championship will have bigger clubs in it than the Premier League next season, Villa, Sunderland, Wednesday, Leeds, Forest, Derby, United, Middlesbrough, Birmingham, Wolves... Madness.

 

[Another Walkley Owl]

The Championship will have bigger clubs in it than the Premier League next season, Villa, Sunderland, Wednesday, Leeds, Forest, Derby, United, Middlesbrough, Birmingham, Wolves... Madness.

Can't wait till we play madness at Hillsborough.
Think that suggs is class.
Seriously yep, some big names clubs in the Championship again next Season.

 

[The Southbank]

Was there at Wembley to see us lose in 1995 and 2011, and in Cardiff in 2001, but fuck me, losing on penalties beats them all in my opinion.

 

[Luke_1884]

Congrats to the Town lads, commiserations to the Reading lot.. didn't see the game but sounds as exciting as the scoreline suggests! Not that Huddersfield will care.

Put's to bed the big club/big budget = success bollocks once again. Wagner has been class and has a good team, hope they give a good account of themselves in the PL.

 

[HertsWolf]

Yes, congrats to Huddersfield, now officially the top Yorkshire club.
Commiserations to Reading.

Anyone remember what the odds were on Huddersfield going up at the beginning of the season?

 

[Craig]

Well done Huddersfield delighted to see them in the premiership they deserve it this season with the football they play. I hope you can get Izzy, Mooy ect back on loan again next season because that will give you a great shot of survival in the league.

I think that makes us now the biggest club in Yorkshire never to grace to premier league, would love to see that in my life time but i doubt it.

York and Harrogate Railway have never been in the premier league mate.

 

[markwwfc1992]

Yes, congrats to Huddersfield, now officially the top Yorkshire club.
Commiserations to Reading.

Anyone remember what the odds were on Huddersfield going up at the beginning of the season?

33/1 at William Hill, not sure about others

 

[HertsWolf]

33/1 at William Hill, not sure about others

Cheers. I wonder if that is the longest odds on a club promoted to the PL. Although a few went straight through from L1 to PL a few years back. Maybe they were longer odds at the beginning of those seasons.

I suspect there will be excellent odds on them staying up in the PL.

 

[HertsWolf]

Put's to bed the big club/big budget = success bollocks once again. Wagner has been class and has a good team, hope they give a good account of themselves in the PL.

So what is it that makes the team successful? I admit I don't know many of the Huddersfield players but I do know van la Parra. We were thrilled to see the back of him. Huddersfield seemed keen on our "stepover boys" having taken Hammill before him. Both of them could do stepovers all afternoon while making no progress up the pitch. Yet VLP has done brilliant at Huddersfield.

Credit to Wagner and the entire team, but .... how? I also thought that Barnsley could do it too for a while, but then they faded away. Really curious!

 

[Liam_SWFC]

I think Wagner knows exactly what his philosophy is, and never sways away from it, the recruitment has obviously been excellent, picking up cheap bargain buys that are hungry and buy into the system he wants to play as well as making great use of the loan market with more young and energetic talents. Even then with the budget Huddersfield had this is one of the greatest success stories at this level, similar to Blackpool the other year, Wagner will go onto manage a top club one day no doubt about that.

 

[Luke_1884]

So what is it that makes the team successful?

I think in Huddersfield's case, without watching too many of their games, it's pretty much down to Wagner and the players he's managed to bring in under the radar. He's obviously got the advantage of being knowledgable in the German leagues and has signed 4/5 players who have all improved Huddersfield. Added to those are some loan signings that have done well under him too = a pretty good year.

Look at VLP, as you say, he's looked twice the player under Wagner. Admittedly there doesn't look like there's too many Huddersfield originals he's improved massively, looking from the outside, I only recognise Wells and Smith in the first team and we all knew about Wells.

 

[markwwfc1992]

Cheers. I wonder if that is the longest odds on a club promoted to the PL. Although a few went straight through from L1 to PL a few years back. Maybe they were longer odds at the beginning of those seasons.

I suspect there will be excellent odds on them staying up in the PL.

They would have been even larger odds, but since Leicester won the league last year, the bookies have slashed the odds on any outsiders doing a similar thing.

 

[AnkleBiter]

Wow, what a fucking dream, it really hasn't sunk in. I can't fucking wait for fixture day, I can't wait to spend all next season planning away days at lots of places I've never been to. I might even have to take a selfie at Anfield

I thought after our 4th game into the season that this team was the real deal, but never imagined we'd go all the way. A £200m windfall when our record transfer fee is still less than 1% of that, just insane, I didn't think it was possible. I thought Blackpool would be the last fairytale story with the game becoming more about money every year, and if you haven't been in the PL before and don't have the parachute payments, then it's a just an impossible dream without big investment. I love that that was wrong, with Leicester last year and now us, it's great for the sport.

The guys above have done a decent job of summing us up, fitness and togetherness has been so key for us. Scored so many decisive goals in the last 10 minutes of games, the only one we conceded was an unfortunate deflection at Derby. 22 wins by a single goal, 2 penalty shoot out wins, we've aged so much! But wow we could not be prouder of our team, the amount of balls it has taken for them to achieve those 2 stats, just unbelievable.

Massive respect for Reading, the day was made so much better by having 2 clubs there who have nothing but respect for each other and aren't interested in baiting.

I don't care how bad the game was, I don't care if people think we'll come straight back down, I never thought in my wildest dreams we'd be Yorkshire's only Premier League club. We'll enjoy it and give it a real good go, that I can guarantee.

A new unfashionable team promoted again!

Those sleeping giants must hate it!

With 3 titles, an FA Cup, a 67k record attendance, and 40k fans I didn't know we had at Wembley on Monday, can we just about qualify as a sleeping giant?!

Final mention to Dean Hoyle, Wagner is rightly taking loads of plaudits, but before Dean took over we were heading back to League Two. He's been classy throughout, never overspent, done so much for the community, and after supporting us since the 70s has shared his dream with all of us. The dream owner in an age when football is filled with dodgy, careless money makers.

 

[markwwfc1992]

I wouldn't class Huddersfield as a sleeping giant, you're more of a bottom half Champ or top end L1 based off your history aren't you?

 

[AnkleBiter]

Yep that's exactly our level. BFG in a coma might be a more accurate description, the history is there though.

 

[El Guapo]

Bury and Old Etonians have history, both have twice won the FA Cup.

Stoke are an established Premier League club with a larger fan base and I don't think of them as a 'sleeping giant'.

 

[Another Walkley Owl]

Wow, what a fucking dream, it really hasn't sunk in. I can't fucking wait for fixture day, I can't wait to spend all next season planning away days at lots of places I've never been to. I might even have to take a selfie at Anfield

I thought after our 4th game into the season that this team was the real deal, but never imagined we'd go all the way. A £200m windfall when our record transfer fee is still less than 1% of that, just insane, I didn't think it was possible. I thought Blackpool would be the last fairytale story with the game becoming more about money every year, and if you haven't been in the PL before and don't have the parachute payments, then it's a just an impossible dream without big investment. I love that that was wrong, with Leicester last year and now us, it's great for the sport.

The guys above have done a decent job of summing us up, fitness and togetherness has been so key for us. Scored so many decisive goals in the last 10 minutes of games, the only one we conceded was an unfortunate deflection at Derby. 22 wins by a single goal, 2 penalty shoot out wins, we've aged so much! But wow we could not be prouder of our team, the amount of balls it has taken for them to achieve those 2 stats, just unbelievable.

Massive respect for Reading, the day was made so much better by having 2 clubs there who have nothing but respect for each other and aren't interested in baiting.

I don't care how bad the game was, I don't care if people think we'll come straight back down, I never thought in my wildest dreams we'd be Yorkshire's only Premier League club. We'll enjoy it and give it a real good go, that I can guarantee.




With 3 titles, an FA Cup, a 67k record attendance, and 40k fans I didn't know we had at Wembley on Monday, can we just about qualify as a sleeping giant?!

Final mention to Dean Hoyle, Wagner is rightly taking loads of plaudits, but before Dean took over we were heading back to League Two. He's been classy throughout, never overspent, done so much for the community, and after supporting us since the 70s has shared his dream with all of us. The dream owner in an age when football is filled with dodgy, careless money makers.

Last club I remember going up with loads of single goal wins was Derby.
Hope you have a season more like their little neighbours Burton have just had, than they did in the PL.
Enjoy the next 3 months, then hopefully surprise everybody again next season.
With Wagner, Hoyle and your team spirit a 17th place or higher finish isn't beyond the realms of possibility.
Good luck and enjoy yourself (but save the selfie for Old Trafford much better than Anfield) ☺

 

[JaseTheVillain]

I also thought that Barnsley could do it too for a while, but then they faded away. Really curious!

That may have been our fault...