Tranmere v Aldershot (play-off semi-final 2nd leg)

[Rockford's Love Child]

FGR two up at half time. They have not looked great but have some dangerous individuals.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

So, it's the Battle of the Rovers.

 

[Ian]

Hope they suffer the same fate as last season. Will be a tough game.

 

[Boz]

Still not sure whether these or the Daggers would have been tougher opponents. Some of their squad have play-off final experience and they have the players capable of best using Wembley's width, but not totally sure of Cooper's management credentials. For the neutral this would be the better game.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Dagenham's problem is their inconsistency. They were poor today, whereas at their best they would have caused us more problems than FGR in my view.

I think we are a better team than Forest Green. However, they have decent players (Doidge, Marsh-Brown, Noble) and are always a threat, even when they are not on top. The superstitious part of me believes that having missed out twice in the play-offs, perhaps they are due to be promoted....... It will be a tough game.

 

[Cowshed Kid]

According to their press, FGR played in front of a "vociferous, bumper crowd" - 3237 (of which 495 were travellers).
OMG
SWA will have them checking their dictionaries!
I've backed the same horse as a favourite
half a dozen times and it still hasn't won so I don't subscribe to the "it must be their turn" point of view.
Much prefer FGR to Daggers. The latter didn't show up yesterday but if they performed up to scratch at Wembley they could have troubled us.
FG are just kicking merchants and I'm sure Wembley will more suit us.

 

[White Squaddie]

Just about to book my ticket for Sunday, does anyone know the difference between Category 1 & 2??

 

[Gray]

Wembley ticket e-mail arrived today, woohoo! Also booked my train down from the Midlands for me and the lad, £25 return for the pair of us from Warwick Parkway.

We need a thread starting for the Final, but I think it's only right that Ian should start it.

We're on our way....

 

[Gray]

Just about to book my ticket for Sunday, does anyone know the difference between Category 1 & 2??

If you go onto the booking website and select either the £36 or £41 tickets and then click on the 'Select your section' box, you will get a different choice of sections. You can then look on the stadium map to see where the sections are.

The more expensive seats are at the side of the pitch (blocks 124-126 and 140 over the other side), the cheaper tickets are behind the goal (along with the 'singing section').

According to the website there aren't many block left with seats together, looks like we're close to selling out our allocation already!

We've gone for the cheaper tickets (wasn't paying full whack for the lad) and are in block 139 on the corner.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Sections 141 and 142 have sold out and it seems they are now selling tickets on the opposite side of the stadium (124-126) which were not available at the weekend. Sales must be going well !

 

[White Squaddie]

If you go onto the booking website and select either the £36 or £41 tickets and then click on the 'Select your section' box, you will get a different choice of sections. You can then look on the stadium map to see where the sections are.

The more expensive seats are at the side of the pitch (blocks 124-126 and 140 over the other side), the cheaper tickets are behind the goal (along with the 'singing section').

According to the website there aren't many block left with seats together, looks like we're close to selling out our allocation already!

We've gone for the cheaper tickets (wasn't paying full whack for the lad) and are in block 139 on the corner.

Thanks Gray, just booked a ticket in block 138....should be a half decent view

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Just seen the extended highlights. Two great saves by Scottie, one was point blank. However, if Norwood's "offside" goal had stood, we'd have been strolling by then. Maynard fell in the goalmouth and was still retreating when Ridehalgh crossed but was not interfering with play. Norwood ran forward out of the pack to score, so was not offside.

 

[Boz]

Just seen the extended highlights. Two great saves by Scottie, one was point blank. However, if Norwood's "offside" goal had stood, we'd have been strolling by then. Maynard fell in the goalmouth and was still retreating when Ridehalgh crossed but was not interfering with play. Norwood ran forward out of the pack to score, so was not offside.

Interesting. I haven't seen the incident again, but at the time it wasn't clear, so (optimistically) assumed the AR knew what he was doing.

 

[Ian]

Maynard fell in the goalmouth and was still retreating when Ridehalgh crossed but was not interfering with play. Norwood ran forward out of the pack to score, so was not offside.

Yup, was never offside.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Yup, was never offside.

Yes, I thought the same and I was directly in line.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

In situations like that there is a clear case for a video referee to be used. It's crazy that the football authorities allow the tv viewer a better view of what's happening on the pitch than their own official, potentially leaving him open to ridicule for having to make what is often spilt second decision. Fortunately it did not cost us, but it happens a lot. Many other sports have used video refs successfully. It would work in football if thought through and properly implemented.

 

[Ian]

Initially I was sceptical about video refs as I believed it would slow down the game and you take the human element away a little, but I do believe it now needs to be introduced into football as I think it would work if done properly and really only takes seconds to make a decision. Maybe it would stamp out on all this ridiculous falling to the floor and diving that goes on.

 

[drwhoman]

Agree re video refs albeit that such decisions can also cause controversy. However, the game is so fast and gamesmanship increasingly an issue that it should be used. Not a video ref issue but the antics of the Southampton players when Liverpool got a pen showed that is is win at any cost. Forget sportsmanship!

 

[Boz]

No issue with video refs for some decisions, like offside. However, they'd only be able to introduce it at National League level if ALL clubs had the facilities for it.

Ian mentions diving and there, I'd like to see the Scots system allowing players to be banned retrospectively for diving. However, there are one or two Rovers players who go to ground a little too easily for my liking.

 

[Ian]

. However, they'd only be able to introduce it at National League level if ALL clubs had the facilities for it.

Yes. I'm not sure quite how much would be involved in setting it up and at what level do you stop using it? The top games are fantastic and have multiple cameras and angles to view.

That's an awful lot to setup and cost for lower league teams.