[aLICErOBERTSfANkLUB]

No. They're going there to defeat FC  Franchise Parasite FC.

[aLICErOBERTSfANkLUB]

And decency is restored to the World as the cunts don't even qualify for the final!

Hurrah!

[Falling Down]

Yes hurrah indeed... thank f*ck for that

[Grubes]

Amen to that, you're not going for a nice day out to a big stadium you're going to win.
and provide Jasper, bluebrad tomtom & me with another local game next season, thanks very much

Do you think your lot are going down then?
If we go up we get to visit Bell end road again to play that scum and I have been to Hull before it is the only place I have genuinely been terrified walking away from after the game.
Strangely our last game at what is now championship level was against Birmingham 2001. I remember the day too well. At the start of the day we were 13/1  to go down. Everyone else had to win and had to lose. We lost 2-1 and portsmouth, palace and county all won.

I remember the shocked silence at full time not one home fan or the Birmingham fans knew what to do. I have never heard a stadium so quiet at final whistle. I was walking up the stairs out of the kilner bank and heard the Birmingham fans starting to taunt us. Then I saw a mass pitch invasion running at the away fans. Fights between home supports the police and a few away fans. I was numb I just kept on walking home and I did not speak to anyone for a long time.

I could not bare to watch town for a long time after that. it was 3 seasons before I went regularly again. 

The following season we made the play offs losing in the semi's and the season after that we were relegated to div3 including sacking a manager but not even been able to pay him off so he refused to leave.
We went into administration with £17million debt and almost went under. A bad time for the club, I never really forgive Steve Bruce, Rubary (chairman) and Birmingham city (not their fault but still hurts)

[nai]

I guess we'll all be behind AFC this weekend then, like Jez

http://www.stainesguardian.co.uk/sport/9038124.Dons_fan__ditches_wife__for_play_off_dream/

[nai]

Do you think your lot are going down then?

It all depends on Stoke I think.
ManU are unbeaten at home having won 17 of 18 this season, you wouldn't expect Blackpol to get anything so they're down.
We're away at Spurs who need a win to guarantee Europa League football so you wouldn't imagine we'll get anything there.
Wigan are at Stoke, bouyed by coming from 2-0 down last week while Stoke have just lost the FA Cup final and rolled over in their next match.  The only slight bit of hope is that they're unbeaten at home in 2011 and just maybe will want to preserve that record.
The awful thing is it's all about goal difference, we could win and go down or lose and stay up, I've been through 7 previous relegations and 8 near misses but it has never been as close as this.  And I'm so pissed off at being in this position after the promise of last years heady 9th place, after the cup win.  I wasn't expecting to better last season or even equal it, and the cup win was the icing on the cake.  But I didn't expect to be in this shitty position right now, some more mid table mediocrity would have done just nicely.
 

I never really forgive Steve Bruce, Rubary (chairman) and Birmingham city (not their fault but still hurts)

Couldn't get a ticket for that match but I do remember it for all the wrong reasons,still talked about by those that were there. if it's any consolation we were involved in a play off semi with PNE that year much like yours on Wednesday,  only we came out on the wrong end of it after they scored an inury time equaliser to draw level at 3-3 then win on penalties.  Haven't liked them since either, despite having lived there and followed them as a second team for 12 years.

Really hope you win, I know my neighbour was hoping to avoid Peterborough but it just looks like you'll have to score lots of goals and do it in style.

[tomtom]

Amen to that, you're not going for a nice day out to a big stadium you're going to win.
and provide Jasper, bluebrad tomtom & me with another local game next season, thanks very much

Do you think your lot are going down then?
If we go up we get to visit Bell end road again to play that scum and I have been to Hull before it is the only place I have genuinely been terrified walking away from after the game.

Was that @ Boothferry? the KC's a very different place.. I regularly walk past/semi mingle with away fans outside the game before and after and never seen any problems... (certainly not from home fans..)... Leeds games are a bit more tense - and the Millwall FA cup game where they trashed the away end was not great.. but thats Millwall...

If the Scunts and Blades had not been relegated (and If Huddersfield go up) it would have been quite a Yeeerkshere league

It'll be a tense day on sunday then Nai.. its funny, I was at the KC when we were relegated last year - and it wasnt that sad or angry a  day - there was alot of (bear with me) love from the fans to the club for the 2 year journey we'd been on (we didnt know about the £30 million debts and levered buyout...). I stayed around for 20 min or so after the game, as many did, soaking it up, cheering, clapping.. players were all out showing their appreciation..

When I've been watching Sky or MOTD in the recent relegation matches it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up - because the way the crowd are  - the tense-ness (for want of a better word) of the atmosphere really reminds me of what most home games felt like for the last half of the league on 09-10.. 

Its been a far more pleasurable experience this year - sitting back, relaxing, enjoying (when we actually play well) the football.. chatting to mates sat around etc.. But - despite the tension - there is something more 'special' about the PL.. theres just a bit more glitz, the away fans are from 'posher' clubs.. theres more TV, more media exposure, more razzmataz.. and the tension that comes with the importance of every game can be horrible at the time, but I do miss getting wound up about games in the same way!

The championship was wide open this year - and I suspect it will be next. Relegated clubs will be a shadow of themselves (exception was Newcastle before last) as they have to player strip.. Wham will have to sell all their jewells, and I suspect they wont be challenging for a play off position..

This year, QPR finally got their spending act together, Norwich came from no-where - and Cardiff were faves at the beginning of the season. leeds were in the mix for a while, Millwall too, Burnerereley could have been up there - as we could have - and Leicster. My tip for the playoff final is reading.. they;ve been sneakily just doing very well...

Next season? Who knows... Leicster are looking very well organised, and one of the better outfits I saw at the KC this year.. Forest too.. Cardiff may financially melt down.. Other than that - I can't see a clear winner/favourite. Last seasons promoted clubs (leeds and Milwall) did reallty well, so it wouldnt surprise me to see someone like Brighton be up there towatrds the end as they're already a squad used to winning and playiong together..

I'd like to think we'll be in the mix at the end of the season, we've got a new (only Andy Dawson is left from the PL squad now - and supersub Barmby) squad in entirety, with alot of young - ex-manu academy players. There was quite alot of talk amongst the fans hoping we wouldnt go up this year - as they'd love to see this young - pacy - new side gel together and succeed.... We're on a stable financial footing now so who knows....

(sorry for the general championship review/ramble..)

[Grubes]

I guess we'll all be behind AFC this weekend then, like Jez

Dons fan ditches wife for play off dream/

Absolutely a lad I play football with from time to time is a wimbledon fan he got married last weekend but said he was more looking forward to this one.

Was that @ Boothferry? the KC's a very different place.

It was the KC. I did not go to the game in the bottom league but went away the season we both got promoted. The year before there had been a very large meeting between hooligans in the carpark (vid on youtube some where). We were told to stay back 10mins so the police could clear the area. This just resulted with home and away "fans" fighting outside the gate with the police. Me and my mate had got the train over so put jumpers on over our shirts and kept our head down. We got out just after kick off (did not want to wait) and tried to hide in the large crowd walking away from the ground.
I remember we were crossing a bridge which was a bottle neck so no where to move. We were not talking just looking at the ground keeping quite trying to get away. I heard a voice behind me there hudderfield fans them and another voice saying where. Cold chill down my spine and spead up walking once across the bridge.

It was worse than having bricks and glasses being thrown at the coach after last seasons play off semi final away at millwall.

Leed has been interesting but never been that scared I was hit by a coin in the stands when we scored in the 93 min to win 2-1 at bell end road.

[tomtom]

Sorry to hear that. I've never seen away fans getting shit up close and personal like that - but I go out/exit via a different route. That exit from the away end (towards the foot bridge - which is a shit bottleneck..) takes you out past the exit of the east stand, where all the hard nuts sit. If you head out the west side of the away fans area - very different story... Theres often a mix of away and home fans that side (not as many away of course..) and away fans wearing colours etc... never seem to have any trouble.. seen a few conversations struck up between departing rival fans about the game etc.. Leeds was a different matter mind you - they kept all the away fans behind for 1/2 hour..

Fights in car parks sounds like bad news/organised shizzle.. We had a season ticket 3 seats from the away fans. The Hull fans in that part of the stadium are more intrested in goading away fans than watching - not good.. we're now c.100 seats to the left.. still get some 'passionate' atmosphere but much fewer cocks. 

Theres always a few knobs (put politely) who spoil it for the many..

[nai]

Nasty stuff there guys, my visit to the KC was unproblematic, except the result and trying to get my 36 weeks pregnant wife to get-a-move-on up after we left early to try and beat the traffic.

If we get relegated we just chalk another one up and move on, it'll be one of the more memorable ones but will eventually be lost in a blur.  I do like Championship football for all the reasons you mention, tomtom.  And I've been to all teh Northern PL grounds, about 7 or 8 left to visit in the championship still.

Oh and it's Vin de Saaaaar's last PL game, no way will utd be beaten on Sunday.  Sorry Blackpool, you're only hope is that we lose by more.

[nai]

about time  http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/7273/38/

[tommytwotone]

Nai - you'll be dead unlucky if you do go down tomorrow, really don't think you deserve it after the season you've had - particularly after the Carling Cup win.

As a Hammer who is already looking at the prospect of Championship football next season, I reckon we've brought it on ourselves - so many bad decisions, the muppets in charge, the Grant sacking debacle, misfiring strikers...the list goes on. Safe to say we got our just desserts. Can't say the same for the Blues.

On the plus side, if we all end up getting relegated we'll have to make a date to see our teams play in Hull with T2!

[tomtom]

On the plus side, if we all end up getting relegated we'll have to make a date to see our teams play in Hull with T2!

Yup - it could be 3T, Jasper, Nai and Grubes making the trip!

Its slightly slipped under the radar, but a big congrats to AFC Wimbledon who have stuck a huge two fingers up at MK Dons who franchised their way out of Plough Lane and headed to Milton Keynes. Its quite a tale, a team formed in a pub by Wimbledon fans (Who endured all that ground sharing at Selhurt Park IIRC) have resurrected the side. The real grudge match will be if the two ever meet!

I've a mate who's a big FC-United fan and its great to see teams being formed by fans disgruntled by the commercialisation of the game..

Anyway, Good luck to all today... sounds like a real head fuck as to who could go up/down and how last min goals could turn it all around..

[nai]

We do deserve to go down really, we haven't even managed a goal a game, even at home we've only averaged one per game. Dull dull dull, we've been ultra cautious all season, 15 draws tells a story.  If only we'd have been a bit bolder, we might have lost three of those games and won a couple.  We'd still be three points better off and pretty much safe.  Truth is we've showed a total lack of creativity, fewest chances, fewest shots, etc.  Can't blame the forwards, Jerome just gets long balls to chase and shield (he's big & fast, you see), Zigic long balls to knock on (he's tall, you see) but to nobody because Philips and Derbyshire haven't been given much of a chance.

As if by magic this pops up on my twitter feed:

http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/7274/38/

Don't agree with the comments re Jerome, how can he be expected to score from the corner flag.

I watched the Carling Cup final again on Friday and all I can hope for today is a combination of that tactical materstroke from the manager, determination from the players and a bit of luck on the day.  But to be honest if you'd offered me a cup win and relegation on that day or losing and staying up I'd have taken the former, been through seven previous relegations and another eight great escapes, one more will just blur into the pack but that day was unforgettable.

Anyway, I agree nice one AFC Wimbledon, that's the story of the weekend.

Big day for ukbffl too, just 24 points seperating the top two, could still go either way.  Tough managerial decisions to be made.  Best of british, Richie

http://fantasy.premierleague.com/M/table.mc?id=7216

[Richie Crouch]

I've made one obvious change and taken a 4 point bumming in the hope of a miracle from the player concerned. Looking at the number of 4 point penalties I have incurred this season the gap could have been smaller as most of the time they didn't pay off!

Looking forward to watching it all unfold 

[nai]

gotta wait for the bonuses and subs, it's going to be tight but Toomuchtooyeung might just have done enough, unlike birmingham.

All those kids crying at White Hart Lane best get used to it, it happens every four years on average.

[tomtom]

Did Brum give their players some Viagra to try and enhance their performance today..?
(could be socks mind..)

[tomtom]

Ancellotti (sp?) has gone....

[nai]

they'll be after McLeish

[Grubes]

Ancellotti (sp?) has gone....

Expected finished 9pts behind Man U won nothing.

Well done AFC wimbledon I think we all know what fixture everyone wants in the first round of the lower league cup.

Gutted for blackpool. The squad will now be striped. twice in the lead against man u this season and lost both games.

Got my tickets for the play off final right by the dug out can't wait!!! got an appointment booked for next sunday at the local wetherspoons for a full english and a pint at 9am.

[tomtom]

ManU's post match celebration picture...  Genius

http://twitpic.com/5174mj

[Richie Crouch]

Well done on retaining the UKB FF title Ian! I'll do my best to try and prevent you dominating it 3 years running!

A poor last 2 weeks scuppered my chances, can't believe I switched elmohamaddy from 1st to last sub thinking Ridgewell would be the more likely to pop up with a goal 

Sorry your boys went down, hopefully they can hang on to Foster, Gardner..etc for another year and come straight back up.

[nai]

Cheers, good battle.  Thought I'd blown it after bringing in Richards and making Odemwingie captain, then they didn't play  Dropping Adam a few weeks back was also a bad move but we scraped over the line.  Need a new team name for nest year though, I've fallen out with Mr Yeung

Aparently Foster's one of the big earners so likely to be going, Zigic too.  I would have thought now he's proved how good he is there'd be a few bigger teams who could do with a new keeper interested, Arsenal & Spurs spring to mind.  Lots of older players likely to be let go too so it could be a good thing with some apparently good youngsters ready to break into the first team.  See how quickly despair turns into positives?  Good job I'm fickle or I could never support that lot.

[nai]

stats lovely stats:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/23/premier-league-season-in-numbers?CMP=twt_gu

[Jaspersharpe]

Not very nice reading for you here nai although you probably know it already:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/mattslater/2011/05/birmingham_city_set_for_the_bl.html

Most scary stat; Is Zigic really on £5m a year?!