Preston vs Saints - Saturday 2nd May 12:30pm

[Midfield_General]

2 hours ago, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

Why on earth are we worrying about the Premier League when we'll have the Champions League to think about soon after?

Dell-sized mentality 

As part of the new five year plan the Club World Cup final should be our only priority and we should rest the entire team until then 

It’s what Cortese would have done 

[Thripp87]

1 hour ago, Mboto Gorge said:

I think we should rest Tonda too, just incase he over exerts himself too much masterminding another decent performance in a meaningless game and his arms are aching from all the directing he’s doing, or he loses his voice and is unable to communicate and get his messages over properly for the play offs. Can never be too careful

 

This is the same Tonda who I told you in November after 4 games was a cut above, and you were the first to cry that he hadn’t been tested against anyone. I dare say it’s the same Tonda you wanted sacked after Hull at home too. 
You’re clearly not that bright, the context for resting players was outlined in my original post. It’s a requirement in my view based on the ludicrous fixture schedule we have had to play last month. It is incomparable to the Leeds away game in the last promotion season as the weeks before that was an ordinary schedule.  
People commenting on the likelihood of injury in training compared to a game clearly haven’t played the sport at a good standard. Likelihood of injury is far more in a competitive match. 
Tonda isn’t stupid and will play somewhere in between a strong side and mass changes.

The point remains that you don’t seem to be able to answer. If Peretz got injured against Preston we don’t go up. It’s that simple. If that scenario played out Tonda would get questioned as to why risk him.

The same people claiming mass hysteria are the same people praying we make 4th to get a 8:00pm kick off instead of 12:30. I know what I think is more mass hysteria.

[Mboto Gorge]

15 minutes ago, Thripp87 said:

This is the same Tonda who I told you in November after 4 games was a cut above, and you were the first to cry that he hadn’t been tested against anyone. I dare say it’s the same Tonda you wanted sacked after Hull at home too. 
You’re clearly not that bright, the context for resting players was outlined in my original post. It’s a requirement in my view based on the ludicrous fixture schedule we have had to play last month. It is incomparable to the Leeds away game in the last promotion season as the weeks before that was an ordinary schedule.  
People commenting on the likelihood of injury in training compared to a game clearly haven’t played the sport at a good standard. Likelihood of injury is far more in a competitive match. 
Tonda isn’t stupid and will play somewhere in between a strong side and mass changes.

The point remains that you don’t seem to be able to answer. If Peretz got injured against Preston we don’t go up. It’s that simple. If that scenario played out Tonda would get questioned as to why risk him.

The same people claiming mass hysteria are the same people praying we make 4th to get a 8:00pm kick off instead of 12:30. I know what I think is more mass hysteria.

Get over yourself for fucks sake. How far back did you have to trawl through to see that. Let’s be honest pal you had no fucking idea if he’d be any good or not, neither did I, I’m delighted he’s turned out to be brilliant but let’s not play the high and mighty here because your guess, which is what it was after a handful of games, happened to be correct. Forgive the rest of us after years of terrible management decisions, for having strong reservations. You’re not some Revolutionary genius. As for playing the game at a high standard, pray tell mr high and mighty, what level did you play at? Nice essay though, glad to know you don’t take things personally and don’t hold onto posts from months ago.
 

Personally I think what you’re suggesting  in this instance is ridiculous but don’t let that in the way of a personal dig and dredging up something from months ago that is totally irrelevant to what we’re discussing now. You need to accept when someone disagrees and stop getting so hurt and precious. You come across as a complete self entitled clown almost every time you post. No offence though 

Edited 14 hours ago by Mboto Gorge

[Thripp87]

2 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

Get over yourself for fucks sake. How far back did you have to trawl through to see that. Let’s be honest pal you had no fucking idea if he’d be any good or not, neither did I, I’m delighted he’s turned out to be brilliant but let’s not play the high and mighty here because your guess, which is what it was after a handful of games, happened to be correct. Forgive the rest of us after years of terrible management decisions, for having strong reservations. You’re not some Revolutionary genius. As for playing the game at a high standard, pray tell mr high and mighty, what level did you play at? Nice essay though, glad to know you don’t take things personally and don’t hold onto posts from months ago.
 

Personally I think what you’re suggesting  in this instance is ridiculous but don’t let that in the way of a personal dig and dredging up something from months ago that is totally irrelevant to what we’re discussing now. You need to accept when someone disagrees and stop getting so hurt and precious. You come across as a complete self entitled clown almost every time you post. No offence though 

So do we go up if Peretz gets injured or not?

[Mboto Gorge]

15 minutes ago, Thripp87 said:

So do we go up if Peretz gets injured or not?

We probably wouldn’t but you could say that about any player ever anywhere, injuries are a risk for any player at any time, doesn’t mean we rest them for games that are still semi important and just blindly worry without due cause . And it also doesn’t make you correct for suggesting we almost throw the match just because we’re terrified of key players getting injured. Do city win the league without Haaland? What if he gets injured? You can use that argument about any key player for any side.  
 

We don’t just suddenly run scared of selecting our best players, if they don’t need a rest, just in case they get injured. Players will be rested if they need a rest, if they don’t they’ll play. It’s literally as simple as that. We don’t just play the second string as you were originally  suggesting. But yeah, I’m clearly not very bright obviously. Neither is anyone else here who’s ridiculing your advocation of playing the kids at Preston.

For the record also, us not very bright ones here realise finishing 4th is advantageous due to having the second leg at home, not the time of the kick off. The EFL also think that, hence rewarding the higher finishing play off teams with that clear advantage of playing at home in the 2nd leg. Geniuses like you though seem to disagree and don’t care if we play at home or away first. May want to tell that to the EFL as clearly it doesn’t matter so they need to re think their reward policy for teams finishing 3rd or 4th

Cheers Einstein 

Edited 13 hours ago by Mboto Gorge

[Thripp87]

12 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

We probably wouldn’t but you could say that about any player ever anywhere, injuries are a risk for any player at any time, doesn’t mean we rest them for games that are still semi important and just blindly. And it also doesn’t make you correct for suggesting we almost throw the match just because we’re terrified of key players getting injured. Do city win the league without Haaland? What if he gets injured? You can use that argument about any key player for any side.  We don’t just suddenly run scared of selecting our best players, if they don’t need a rest, just in case they get injured. Players will be rested if they need a rest, if they don’t they’ll play. It’s literally as simple as that. We don’t just play the second string as you were originally  suggesting. But yeah, I’m clearly not very bright obviously. Neither is anyone else here who’s ridiculing your advocation of playing the kids at Preston. Cheers Einstein 

The same Haaland who was rested Saturday, until Pep felt he needed him?

[Verbal]

Will it help if I have a rest too?

[Mboto Gorge]

1 minute ago, Thripp87 said:

The same Haaland who was rested Saturday, until Pep felt he needed him?

Not sure what Haaland being on the bench for an FA cup game against a team from the league below, has got to do with discussing a scenario about potentially resting him for league games incase he gets injured in the less important ones and it ruins their chances of winning the league, to mirror your stance on Peretz.  We rested players in the cup too, against lesser teams in earlier rounds, and rightly so. Pretty sure pep didn’t rest Haaland as he was shit scared of him getting injured against us, as you seem to be with peretz this weekend, so Not sure what your point is there. 

[badgerx16]

We could rest Peretz for Preston and then he gets injured in the warm up for the first leg of the playoffs. If players need a rest, fine, but don't over think things.

[Mboto Gorge]

1 minute ago, badgerx16 said:

We could rest Peretz for Preston and then he gets injured in the warm up for the first leg of the playoffs. If players need a rest, fine, but don't over think things.

Oh god don’t say that, you’ll get told you’re clearly not very bright by those with higher IQ’s than you or I. You need to have played at a high level in the game to be astute enough to realise that getting injuries are far more likely in a match situation and therefore randomly resting Peretz for fear of injury during Saturdays match, is a decision that only the truly brilliant minds in the game will understand 

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, Thripp87 said:

This is the same Tonda who I told you in November after 4 games was a cut above, and you were the first to cry that he hadn’t been tested against anyone. I dare say it’s the same Tonda you wanted sacked after Hull at home too. 
You’re clearly not that bright, the context for resting players was outlined in my original post. It’s a requirement in my view based on the ludicrous fixture schedule we have had to play last month. It is incomparable to the Leeds away game in the last promotion season as the weeks before that was an ordinary schedule.  
People commenting on the likelihood of injury in training compared to a game clearly haven’t played the sport at a good standard. Likelihood of injury is far more in a competitive match. 
Tonda isn’t stupid and will play somewhere in between a strong side and mass changes.

The point remains that you don’t seem to be able to answer. If Peretz got injured against Preston we don’t go up. It’s that simple. If that scenario played out Tonda would get questioned as to why risk him.

The same people claiming mass hysteria are the same people praying we make 4th to get a 8:00pm kick off instead of 12:30. I know what I think is more mass hysteria.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, Verbal said:

Will it help if I have a rest too?

Here you go. Report back, on how it's impacting our promotion chances.

[CB Fry]

2 hours ago, Thripp87 said:

This is the same Tonda who I told you in November after 4 games was a cut above, and you were the first to cry that he hadn’t been tested against anyone. I dare say it’s the same Tonda you wanted sacked after Hull at home too. 
You’re clearly not that bright, the context for resting players was outlined in my original post. It’s a requirement in my view based on the ludicrous fixture schedule we have had to play last month. It is incomparable to the Leeds away game in the last promotion season as the weeks before that was an ordinary schedule.  
People commenting on the likelihood of injury in training compared to a game clearly haven’t played the sport at a good standard. Likelihood of injury is far more in a competitive match. 
Tonda isn’t stupid and will play somewhere in between a strong side and mass changes.

The point remains that you don’t seem to be able to answer. If Peretz got injured against Preston we don’t go up. It’s that simple. If that scenario played out Tonda would get questioned as to why risk him.

The same people claiming mass hysteria are the same people praying we make 4th to get a 8:00pm kick off instead of 12:30. I know what I think is more mass hysteria.

Tell you what you visionary genius.

Come back to us at 11:15 on Saturday when the teams are announced and let us know how close it is to this abomination you are recommendeding here:

11 hours ago, Thripp87 said:

 

Long

jelert quarshie u21 wellington

Edozie   Bragg Romeu archer

sesay

oneuyke 

You and you alone identified Tonda as a good manager so no doubt you'll be bang on correct here and we'll all bow to your fucking foresight.

Tick tock.

Edited 11 hours ago by CB Fry

[Lighthouse]

7 hours ago, CB Fry said:

What if he’s rested and drops a jar of salad cream on his foot?

Look I’ve been to Preston before and I know what they’re like. I don’t want Peretz getting rabies from one of their CBs whilst defending a corner.

[Mboto Gorge]

10 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

Tell you what you visionary genius.

Come back to us at 11:15 on Saturday when the teams are announced and let us know how close it is to this abomination you are recommendeding here:

You and you alone identified Tonda as a good manager so no doubt you'll be bang on correct here and we'll all bow to your fucking foresight.

Tick tock.

You clearly haven’t played the game to a good standard like he has, to be making these sort of comments.

 

That well known player “U21”  is a tremendous centre back coming through the ranks though, I’ll give him that. So much knowledge of the squad that he’s advocating putting a player he doesn’t even know exists into the heart of our defence in a game that will determine where we finish within the top 6, whilst calling others “not very bright” . The irony 

Edited 11 hours ago by Mboto Gorge

[CB Fry]

1 minute ago, Mboto Gorge said:

You clearly haven’t played the game to a good standard like he has, to be making these sort of comments.

 

That well known player “U21”  is a tremendous centre back coming through the ranks though, I’ll give him that. So much knowledge of the squad that he’s advocating putting a player he doesn’t even know exists into the heart of our defence in a game that will determine where we finish within the top 6, whilst calling others “not very bright” . The irony 

To be honest I thought U-21 was one of those robots that was running the android marathon the other day.

[Mboto Gorge]

Not going to shag the Mrs for the next 3 days as she’s promised me anal on Sunday , so going to rest up until then and turn down any advances beforehand, incase I pull a hammy or groin during regular intercourse and miss out on the main event. It’s the sensible thing to do to ensure the right result

[LiberalCommunist]

What a lovely analogy. Thank you for that. 

Edited 10 hours ago by LiberalCommunist

[Thripp87]

51 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

Tell you what you visionary genius.

Come back to us at 11:15 on Saturday when the teams are announced and let us know how close it is to this abomination you are recommendeding here:

You and you alone identified Tonda as a good manager so no doubt you'll be bang on correct here and we'll all bow to your fucking foresight.

Tick tock.

I already stated that the team would not be this, that’s what I would prefer it to be for the reasons I’ve outlined. It will not be full strength by any means but obviously won’t be this. Did you miss that point? 

[Thripp87]

43 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

You clearly haven’t played the game to a good standard like he has, to be making these sort of comments.

 

That well known player “U21”  is a tremendous centre back coming through the ranks though, I’ll give him that. So much knowledge of the squad that he’s advocating putting a player he doesn’t even know exists into the heart of our defence in a game that will determine where we finish within the top 6, whilst calling others “not very bright” . The irony 

Can you please explain why it matters where we finish in the top 6? We are pretty much guaranteed to be 4th or 5th? 

 

[Cuddles]

9 minutes ago, Thripp87 said:

Can you please explain why it matters where we finish in the top 6? We are pretty much guaranteed to be 4th or 5th? 

 

Um, home advantage for the second leg...

[Thripp87]

8 minutes ago, Cuddles said:

Um, home advantage for the second leg...

Quick google on that will tell you. Over 12000 games over the last 50 years in European two leg games, home side in the second leg has won the tie, not match, 53% of the time. So the perceived advantage is minimal.

Rest the players, win the home leg well and we will be fine.

i honestly can’t explain this point anymore on here, and mboto George Mrs must be lubing herself up for him as we speak so I feel I better leave it there so he doesn’t miss his opportunity replying to me on here. 

 

Edited 10 hours ago by Thripp87

[Zorba]

49 minutes ago, LiberalCommunist said:

What a lovely analogy. Thank you for that. 

I see what you did there.

[ant]

7 minutes ago, Thripp87 said:

Quick google on that will tell you. Over 12000 games over the last 50 years in European two leg games, home side in the second leg has won the tie, not match, 53% of the time. So the perceived advantage is minimal.

Rest the players, win the home leg well and we will be fine.

i honestly can’t explain this point anymore on here, and mboto George Mrs must be lubing herself up for him as we speak so I feel I better leave it there so he doesn’t miss his opportunity replying to me on here. 

 

Why consider such a wide-ranging sample, devoid of relevant context?

In the past 25 years of English second-tier playoffs, the team finishing 3rd or 4th has won 64% of Playoff Finals. In the past 20 years, it's 75%. In both the last 15 and 10 years it works out as 80%.

Last 10 years: 3rd - 30% (3), 4th - 50% (5), 5th - 20% (2), 6th - 0%
Last 15 years: 3rd - 40% (6), 4th - 40% (6), 5th - 20% (3), 6th - 0%
Last 20 years: 3rd - 45% (9), 4th - 30% (6), 5th - 20% (4), 6th - 5% (1)
Last 25 years: 3rd - 40% (10), 4th - 24% (6), 5th - 24% (6), 6th - 12% (3) 

There's a clear tendency for 3rd/4th to be an advantage, and increasingly so over time.

[Thripp87]

6 minutes ago, ant said:

Why consider such a wide-ranging sample, devoid of relevant context?

In the past 25 years of English second-tier playoffs, the team finishing 3rd or 4th has won 64% of Playoff Finals. In the past 20 years, it's 75%. In both the last 15 and 10 years it works out as 80%.

Last 10 years: 3rd - 30% (3), 4th - 50% (5), 5th - 20% (2), 6th - 0%
Last 15 years: 3rd - 40% (6), 4th - 40% (6), 5th - 20% (3), 6th - 0%
Last 20 years: 3rd - 45% (9), 4th - 30% (6), 5th - 20% (4), 6th - 5% (1)
Last 25 years: 3rd - 40% (10), 4th - 24% (6), 5th - 24% (6), 6th - 12% (3) 

There's a clear tendency for 3rd/4th to be an advantage, and increasingly so over time.

Interesting stats, thanks for sharing. I looked at European ties as a better reflection because they should be more evenly balanced. 3rd and 4th place sides should progress over a 25 year sample more than 5th 6th, because they should be better sides, hence finishing higher in the table. In some cases there will be a decent amount of points separating 3rd and 6th for example. It has nothing to do with home legs being played second.

 

[Lord Duckhunter]

Perhaps some stato should post the % of times a keeper got injured and missed the next game. If theres 50 odd professional games, approx 100 keepers playing each week. How many get injured? I think ours might be able to play against Preston, and still be fit for the play offs. If he’s not, he’s fucking unlucky. It won’t be a bad decision to play him, it was the correct decision, with a bad outcome. 

Edited 9 hours ago by Lord Duckhunter

[BarberSaint]

17 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Perhaps some stato should post the % of times a keeper got injured and missed the next game. If theres 50 odd professional games, approx 100 keepers playing each week. How many get injured? I think ours might be able to play against Preston, and still be fit for the play offs. If he’s not, he’s fucking unlucky. It won’t be a bad decision to play him, it was the correct decision, with a bad outcome. 

Well said.

 

Your avatar has too much hair for Tonda, btw.

[CB Fry]

1 hour ago, Thripp87 said:

I already stated that the team would not be this, that’s what I would prefer it to be for the reasons I’ve outlined. It will not be full strength by any means but obviously won’t be this. Did you miss that point? 

Why are you getting annoyed at people who think that team is a sack of shit when you know and I know that Tonda is never going to pick that side in a million years. Because it is a sack of shit.

And Tonda will be trying to finish 3rd or 4th whether you like it or not.

 

Edited 9 hours ago by CB Fry

[SouthWalesSaints]

Anyone got tickets but not going? 
 

Or are we all full steam ahead for Preston. 

[Mboto Gorge]

8 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

Why are you getting annoyed at people who think that team is a sack of shit when you know and I know that Tonda is never going to pick that side in a million years. Because it is a sack of shit.

And Tonda will be trying to finish 3rd or 4th whether you like it or not.

 

He even paid the £5 to sign up today, so that he could continue this discussion. Can’t wait for his future contributions if this is anything to go by 

[Micky]

On 29/04/2026 at 12:53, Divergent said:

 

•   30 minutes ago,  Divergent said:

Is anyone still waiting for their tickets to arrive ? 

Yes I am. Very late sending these out.  

Edited 14 minutes ago by Mboto Gorge

I’ve phoned ticket office - tickets were apparently posted last week. Been advised that if not received by /on Friday to phone again on Friday and will be put on a list to pick up duplicate tickets from Preston ticket office on Saturday. 
Anyone experienced this before? I’d hate to travel all that way and there be any problem. 

I wouldn't worry, exactly the same happened to 'me' for the Sheffield Wednesday game.  Got to the ground and there was a guy with basically a good 80 to 100 envelopes containing duplicate tickets that obviously hadn't made it in the post to many different addressees.  So there was no problem in the end. 

[Thripp87]

21 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

He even paid the £5 to sign up today, so that he could continue this discussion. Can’t wait for his future contributions if this is anything to go by 

3 posts a day isn’t enough picking out the holes in the drivel you post. You’ve spent all evening arguing with me, when you said yourself earlier in the thread you think we will make 4-5 changes. 
You’ve then posted stuff implying it’s paranoia yet at the same time have some concern around the disadvantage of a 12:30pm home leg compared to an 8:00pm home leg. Not sure I follow that one myself. 

 

[RedArmy]

12 hours ago, Barton Saint said:

This is not an easy game ffs!!

 

Yes, yes it is. 
 

If anybody is concerned about beating Preston away no matter what team we put out, forget about the playoffs ffs. 

[Mboto Gorge]

11 minutes ago, Thripp87 said:

3 posts a day isn’t enough picking out the holes in the drivel you post. You’ve spent all evening arguing with me, when you said yourself earlier in the thread you think we will make 4-5 changes. 
You’ve then posted stuff implying it’s paranoia yet at the same time have some concern around the disadvantage of a 12:30pm home leg compared to an 8:00pm home leg. Not sure I follow that one myself. 

 

Drivel ? Yet almost everyone else agrees with my sentiment and disagrees with the nonsense you’re posting. I’ve said we will make 4-5 changes max, like we have done game on game recently and will continue to do to keep the squad fresh and rotate where necessary. You’re the clown who’s thinking we ought to rest everyone and putting up the most ridiculous team line up ever seen on here. Guess what? No one else does. Worrying about our keeper being injured is completely bizarre. 
 

You’re clearly hung up over things from a few months ago, it’s weird. I’d stop posting now if I were you as you’re coming across as a nauseating bell end who happens to have a particular issue with me personally for some reason even though everyone else is also laughing at you. You’ve shown you don’t have a clue about football in general, keep digging yourself bigger holes and seem to have a superiority complex. In short , you’re a complete prick. 
 

Oh and I haven’t argued with you, I’ve responded to you arguing with me and getting personal for no reason whatsoever with your first message to Me. Clearly have some sort of issue. I suggest you stop talking to me now because you’re a complete moron who seems to have an unhealthy obsession with me, studying absolutely everything I post. You’re absolutely clueless mate

Edited 8 hours ago by Mboto Gorge

[VectisSaint]

2 hours ago, Thripp87 said:

Can you please explain why it matters where we finish in the top 6? We are pretty much guaranteed to be 4th or 5th? 

 

What matters is that we win, then who knows what will happen. We need to win to get back to winning ways, going into the playoffs off the back of 3 (league) games not won fucks our confidence. You need to go into the play-offs on a high. Yes it does matter whether we come 4th or 5th but its not the most important thing. Everybody going on about it not mattering, rest a load of players, bollox. It matters. The only players I would not select are those with or carrying an injury, that is Larin, Azaz, Stephens, Matsuki. Everyone else (I think) is up for it or if they're not they should be.

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, SouthWalesSaints said:

Anyone got tickets but not going? 
 

Or are we all full steam ahead for Preston. 

There's loads i know with tickets not going now. 5500 sold a lot on the off chance its a promotion game , I'll guess at 3500 showing up , maybe a bit more 

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, RedArmy said:

Yes, yes it is. 
 

If anybody is concerned about beating Preston away no matter what team we put out, forget about the playoffs ffs. 

Preston will fancy their chances after we lulled them into a false sense of confidence with possibly our worst performance of the season at St Mary's back in November, remembered for being the end of the Great Will Still era and Nathan Wood telling a fan to fuck off (I think it was "Thripp87" who was shouting at Wood to get some more rest)

 

Edited 7 hours ago by Football Special

[Dark Munster]

13 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

I don't think it's a case of being rested so much as not risked. Imagine he fractured his forearm or pulled a hamstring in what is essentially a meaningless game and missed the playoffs. I don't fancy seeing Long vs. Millwall at Wembley.

No problem, you'll be relieved to hear Bazunu is back.

[SouthWalesSaints]

40 minutes ago, Football Special said:

There's loads i know with tickets not going now. 5500 sold a lot on the off chance its a promotion game , I'll guess at 3500 showing up , maybe a bit more 

Fucking rubbish that is.   A sparse away end would look utterly terrible. 
 

 Looking at previous years we only get 2000 away tickets to Middlesborough in playoffs. That what Villa had, so hopefully a few of these don’t bother with that so I’ve a chance with a ticket. Done every game since Xmas but hardly any on my membership. 

Edited 7 hours ago by SouthWalesSaints

[Football Special]

9 minutes ago, SouthWalesSaints said:

Fucking rubbish that is.   A sparse away end would look utterly terrible. 
 

 Looking at previous years we only get 2000 away tickets to Middlesborough in playoffs. That what Villa had, so hopefully a few of these don’t bother with that so I’ve a chance with a ticket. Done every game since Xmas but hardly any on my membership. 

I  could well be wrong on overall number to be fair, and still impressive turn out 250 miles away for an early kick off. not quite the same scenario but we sold out for Norwich in the league cup back in August but away end was probably half full, fans buying what were £10 tickets to get an away credit and not bothering to go. Once digital tickets become more common they'll probably start only awarding away credits once the ticket has actually been used.