Something very strange has happened ...

[Smug in Boots]

... with the thought process of some supporters.

All through the season we've been pretty confident that we'd give any team a game. Now the two best teams, by a mile, have gone and we're left with three teams who failed to go up. The very best of them finished 21 points off the top.

Boro have conceded more goals than Stoke and lost a third of their games, Luton have scored 11 goals less than us, Coventry 10 less and only won as many games as us.

So why have these teams suddenly become 'unbeatable' in some minds ...

... we didn't see them like that in the league so why should the playoffs be so different.

 

[Downeys Loup]

“It’s The Hope I Can’t Stand” (whoever came up with the name was a genius)… big up the opposition and it might not hurt so much if we don’t go up. Mathematically it’s 1 in 4 so a 3 in 4 chance of heartbreak. But faint heart never won fair lady so BRING ‘EM ON!

 

[SAFCDRUM]

Mate, we go into these play offs as underdogs which I love. That's purely on league positions and the past 4 seasons. We can beat anybody on our day. We don't seem to do well against Coventry but I'd fancy our chances against anyone at Wembley. All pressure on Luton having finished 3rd.

 

[MACKEMLAD1973]

Good post by OP

We are in a good place.
The play offs means we all start at the same base. League positions mean nowt.
Our form is good but my only fear is more injuries

 

[Smug in Boots]

Good post by OP

We are in a good place.
The play offs means we all start at the same base. League positions mean nowt.
Our form is good but my only fear is more injuries

That's my point mate.

Boro finished above us but their recent form is poor, two defeats and a draw.

Luton failed to beat us twice.

Coventry's record against us means nowt imo ...

... we couldn't win at Wembley and were 'jinxed' according to some.

Did we go into league games against Boro, Luton and Coventry as underdogs ...

... I don't believe so.

 

[Draig]

It is generally the in-form teams which do best in the play-offs...

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[LAMackem]

I think going into the playoffs we have to be favorites. Just look at the last two away games WBA and Preston. Unbelievable performances. Honestly glad that the second game is at Luton. Our game is more suited to teams coming onto us. If we just play our game then we can take apart and of the other three teams. We just have to play the game and not the occasion. Faint hearts win f*ck all. HTL!!!!

 

[The Professor]

We have as much a chance as the others...but as I thought getting into the playoffs might playout, this young side being the underdogs, I beleive this suits us & lifts the pressure on these you lads...so im happy were the outsiders in all of this...releases the pressure....let these kids play & see what we can do...no strikers or central defenders...jumpers for goalposts...total football....KTF

 

[ned_werby]

We have playoff experience, none of the others do.

 

[DELETED ACCOUNT 1234]

I don't think that the other teams in the playoffs are "unbeatable" but I also don't think we'll win them. That's not to say we don't have a chance, because we know these lads play til the end and can overcome anything.

Looking at our semi final though, Luton are favourites in my opinion.

They finished 11 points ahead of us - to put that in context, it's the difference between us and 15th place Hull. There's a notable gap.

They also finished in the playoffs last season so it's not a fluke or a good run of results, it's consistent.

Our injury list is at an all time high and any actual defence we can cobble together will potentially have come straight out of the treatment room and is unlikely to be anywhere near match fitness.

Luton are a physical team and they will target our lack of height. They have a physical striker who has scored a lot of goals this season, the kind of striker that you usually need someone with the experience of Danny Batth to play against.

They're also a better away side than us as well (2nd in the league to our 4th) which makes the 1st leg key. If they leave with a win then they won't need to attack as much second leg which will take away an element of our counter attack that suits us well.

We can definitely beat Luton, but I won't be looking past them as if the job is already done. It's a tough ask.

 

[Southern A]

I’d say it’s wide open this year. We aren’t favourites but we are quietly confident we can give it a good go. All 4 of the sides could win. That’s the same every year but it feels more level this year.

Im happy being slight underdogs. We’ve been slight underdogs all season and it’s what’s allowed us to counter teams and shock them.

Luton have only lost two games all year so are on good form like we are. And they finished 3rd so are understandably favourites. But I like it that way. I’d rather they went in expecting to beat us than shutting up shop.

 

[Brainy Dose]

I don't think that the other teams in the playoffs are "unbeatable" but I also don't think we'll win them. That's not to say we don't have a chance, because we know these lads play til the end and can overcome anything.

Looking at our semi final though, Luton are favourites in my opinion.

They finished 11 points ahead of us - to put that in context, it's the difference between us and 15th place Hull. There's a notable gap.

They also finished in the playoffs last season so it's not a fluke or a good run of results, it's consistent.

Our injury list is at an all time high and any actual defence we can cobble together will potentially have come straight out of the treatment room and is unlikely to be anywhere near match fitness.

Luton are a physical team and they will target our lack of height. They have a physical striker who has scored a lot of goals this season, the kind of striker that you usually need someone with the experience of Danny Batth to play against.

They're also a better away side than us as well (2nd in the league to our 4th) which makes the 1st leg key. If they leave with a win then they won't need to attack as much second leg which will take away an element of our counter attack that suits us well.

We can definitely beat Luton, but I won't be looking past them as if the job is already done. It's a tough ask.

Of course,it's a tough ask. However, I don't think we're playing under any pressure. This young side has delighted us this season with their football....and it's been many a year since we've been able to say that!....Despite our horrible injury situation.( KS must get to grips with that during the close season!!)....we'll go into these matches with a freedom to express ourselves....we have the momentum,which is often critical. Luton players have more pressure to deal with than us. If we come up short,we'll see it as a valuable experience learned to set us up for next season. If Luton lose,they'll see it as abject failure. That's the pressure!

 

[Hudson92]

I think the cliche ‘form goes out the window’ is appropriate here, Luton won’t want to go out in the play offs again but the zero pressure on us makes us thrive we just have to stick to our game and see where it takes us for me, we’ve enough to beat any of the sides involved

 

[cumbrianmackem]

We seem to score every game....that's a big advantage TM is often quoted as saying this to the team if we're behind at HT ie Watford recently.
I know one thing if we go out it'll take a bloody good side to overcome our teams passion and energy. HTL.

 

[Smug in Boots]

I’d say it’s wide open this year. We aren’t favourites but we are quietly confident we can give it a good go. All 4 of the sides could win. That’s the same every year but it feels more level this year.

Im happy being slight underdogs. We’ve been slight underdogs all season and it’s what’s allowed us to counter teams and shock them.

Luton have only lost two games all year so are on good form like we are. And they finished 3rd so are understandably favourites. But I like it that way. I’d rather they went in expecting to beat us than shutting up shop.

But only won one more game than Blackburn which shows how erratic things can be. They were winning at Sunderland, sat back to defend but couldn't stop us scoring. And this isn't the league, playoffs are different and they failed last season, we didn't. In fact their record in the playoffs stinks.

They couldn't beat Huddersfield last time ...

... they don't frighten me and definitely won't frighten our players.

 

[rooch 3]

I honestly don’t think I can make a prediction on these play offs, but a goal in the first half would be bloody nice

 

[Smug in Boots]

I honestly don’t think I can make a prediction on these play offs, but a goal in the first half would be bloody nice

No one can mate, it really is a free for all ...

... I remember Luton losing the playoffs to Blackpool, with a last minute OG, after being 3-0 ahead.

I might be wrong on details but that was the gist of it.

 

[Brainy Dose]

We seem to score every game....that's a big advantage TM is often quoted as saying this to the team if we're behind at HT ie Watford recently.
I know one thing if we go out it'll take a bloody good side to overcome our teams passion and energy. HTL.

As you say,our ability to score goals in almost every game is a big factor. Even when we go behind,I always feel we can score.

 

[Hefty fullback]

Luton are a physical team and they will target our lack of height. They have a physical striker who has scored a lot of goals this season, the kind of striker that you usually need someone with the experience of Danny Batth to play against... It's a tough ask.

Luton also enjoys overall team speed to go with the physicality. Our injuries will likely allow Luton to double up on Clarke when we attack down the left and Ahmad when we attack down the right. If it doesn't work out for us, and Luton does earn promotion, at least these two matches will be an excellent scouting opportunity for the club as well as a unique developmental opportunity for the players.

I'm unsure if we have simply overachieved, despite the injuries or if Safc is genuinely the team of destiny.

 

[Smug in Boots]

All of the tactical and theoretical arguments can fly out the window in seconds ...

... at Preston Sunderland were denied a nailed on penalty and Delap missed the goal when clean through on goal at 0-0.

Millwall were singing 'Wemberley' when they were cruising at 3-1 until they lost their bottle ...

... Sunderland will score against Luton and fight to the death.

Ha’way the Lads!!!