Alty_Ram

If Posh field a similarly weakened side to last night then as a mindset we'd have to assume that Bolton will win fairly comfortably. Cheltenham bossed that 2nd string Peterborough team 25 shots (8 on target) to 9 shots (3 on target). Bolton would surely chew that lot up if they fielded the same team again but that's not a reason for extra pressure or worry, it is what it is. If Posh field a weakened side then a very good team in our league (Bolton) would be playing a strategically, consciously weakened opponent and you'd expect them to win. If Bolton win 10-0 it's still all in our hands. Just focus on us and get our job done and it's all academic.

If Posh field a similarly weakened side to last night then as a mindset we'd have to assume that Bolton will win fairly comfortably. Cheltenham bossed that 2nd string Peterborough team 25 shots (8 on target) to 9 shots (3 on target). Bolton would surely chew that lot up if they fielded the same team again but that's not a reason for extra pressure or worry, it is what it is. If Posh field a weakened side then a very good team in our league (Bolton) would be playing a strategically, consciously weakened opponent and you'd expect them to win. If Bolton win 10-0 it's still all in our hands. Just focus on us and get our job done and it's all academic.

If Posh field a similarly weakened side to last night then as a mindset we'd have to assume that Bolton will win fairly comfortably. Cheltenham bossed that 2nd string Peterborough team 25 shots (8 on target) to 9 shots (3 on target). Bolton would surely chew that lot up if they fielded the same team again but that's not a reason for extra pressure or worry, it is what it is. If Posh field a weakened side then a very good team in our league (Bolton) would be playing a strategically, consciously weakened opponent and you'd expect them to win. If Bolton win 10-0 it's still all in our hands. Just focus on us and get our job done and it's all academic.

I appreciate that some think VAR is a step in the right direction the above is the argument in a nutshell for me. Is the 'correct by a toenail' forensic approach worth it when it is seemingly so flawed/ambiguous on tight decisions anyway ? The original explanation/justification was that VAR was essentially there to correct big errors and injustices. I'm just not convinced 'drawing lines' on a screen and spending sometimes several minutes making at best dubiously 'accurate' decisions on the tightest of tight calls, is really addressing the problem.

The crushing of the spontaneity of goal celebrations for frankly impossible to call decisions in a fast moving and highly emotional spectator sport is (IMHO) simply not worth the sacrifice as a spectacle, though I appreciate that many wouldn't agree.

I appreciate that some think VAR is a step in the right direction the above is the argument in a nutshell for me. Is the 'correct by a toenail' forensic approach worth it when it is seemingly so flawed/ambiguous on tight decisions anyway ? The original explanation/justification was that VAR was essentially there to correct big errors and injustices. I'm just not convinced 'drawing lines' on a screen and spending sometimes several minutes making at best dubiously 'accurate' decisions on the tightest of tight calls, is really addressing the problem.

The crushing of the spontaneity of goal celebrations for frankly impossible to call decisions in a fast moving and highly emotional spectator sport is (IMHO) simply not worth the sacrifice as a spectacle, though I appreciate that many wouldn't agree.

They haven't exactly rolled out a welcome mat have they 😄. That's the lesson that we learned quite quickly - the idea of the 'Football Family' is a load of horse****. A call for solidarity for the sake of the fans? Good luck with that. It happens very rarely and Blackpool/Derby was one of very few examples that I can think of. Not even 100% sure that would be repeated if it was all going off now.

Seems that even threats to the very existence of a club barely causes a ripple these days, so don't expect much sympathy from fans of other teams if you overspent and might go down a division, particularly if your fans were being arses last time the teams met.

Regardless of which division we're in, if we have a situation where Adams was our least accomplished pure footballing midfielder then it's not looking too shabby is it ? We've been crying out for some bite and physicality for years now and now some folks are worried that our defensive midfield specialist isn't also some creative genius too? It's all about a blend surely. The creative players can only flourish if we have a foothold in the game and are winning a decent proportion of midfield duels. Warne might not exactly be an advocate of total passing football but he knows that crosses don't get crossed and through balls don't get threaded through if you can't get the ball.

Regardless of which division we're in, if we have a situation where Adams was our least accomplished pure footballing midfielder then it's not looking too shabby is it ? We've been crying out for some bite and physicality for years now and now some folks are worried that our defensive midfield specialist isn't also some creative genius too? It's all about a blend surely. The creative players can only flourish if we have a foothold in the game and are winning a decent proportion of midfield duels. Warne might not exactly be an advocate of total passing football but he knows that crosses don't get crossed and through balls don't get threaded through if you can't get the ball.

They haven't exactly rolled out a welcome mat have they 😄. That's the lesson that we learned quite quickly - the idea of the 'Football Family' is a load of horse****. A call for solidarity for the sake of the fans? Good luck with that. It happens very rarely and Blackpool/Derby was one of very few examples that I can think of. Not even 100% sure that would be repeated if it was all going off now.

Seems that even threats to the very existence of a club barely causes a ripple these days, so don't expect much sympathy from fans of other teams if you overspent and might go down a division, particularly if your fans were being arses last time the teams met.

Gratz Pompey, that's a well-deserved promotion and title. Ultimately you've been the most consistent (and effective) side and that's what gets you promoted when the season is all done and dusted. Some thoughtful and classy responses on here too, even when everything was still very much in the balance for you.

So, it's down to us to do our bit now. Hopefully we can get over the line and get that 2nd place. Nervous ? Hell yeah... 🥴💩

They haven't exactly rolled out a welcome mat have they 😄. That's the lesson that we learned quite quickly - the idea of the 'Football Family' is a load of horse****. A call for solidarity for the sake of the fans? Good luck with that. It happens very rarely and Blackpool/Derby was one of very few examples that I can think of. Not even 100% sure that would be repeated if it was all going off now.

Seems that even threats to the very existence of a club barely causes a ripple these days, so don't expect much sympathy from fans of other teams if you overspent and might go down a division, particularly if your fans were being arses last time the teams met.

They haven't exactly rolled out a welcome mat have they 😄. That's the lesson that we learned quite quickly - the idea of the 'Football Family' is a load of horse****. A call for solidarity for the sake of the fans? Good luck with that. It happens very rarely and Blackpool/Derby was one of very few examples that I can think of. Not even 100% sure that would be repeated if it was all going off now.

Seems that even threats to the very existence of a club barely causes a ripple these days, so don't expect much sympathy from fans of other teams if you overspent and might go down a division, particularly if your fans were being arses last time the teams met.

Gratz Pompey, that's a well-deserved promotion and title. Ultimately you've been the most consistent (and effective) side and that's what gets you promoted when the season is all done and dusted. Some thoughtful and classy responses on here too, even when everything was still very much in the balance for you.

So, it's down to us to do our bit now. Hopefully we can get over the line and get that 2nd place. Nervous ? Hell yeah... 🥴💩

Thank you for the gracious comments.  I'm a bit *ahem* tired and emotional - it's been a relatively long wait for us to get back in to the second tier.  I'm rooting for you to get over the line and other results this evening appear to have been in your favour.  Good luck and raising a glass to B4.

Just got home. Story of our season tbh. Didn't play that well but somehow still came out with the three points and the title.
 
Appreciate the kind posts from the posters here. Bolton drew again so hopefully you guys will be joining us next season. You deserve it. 

https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/match/1980-1981/second-division/cambridge-united/derby-county/288698
We'll be back in 81

You could always wait until after we get inexplicably battered by Cambridge and see if there are some tickets suddenly coming available... 😩

Well obviously you're setting this up for a fall RD because you'd find it funnier, but in all seriousness the pattern of the last few games have been a case of if you don't like the last result, just hang around, it'll all change again, triumph to despair in the space of 90 mins.
It's in our hands for now at least but since when did we ever do anything easily? I'm fully expecting more twists and turns and although we've won a lot of games this season we've also had several worrying random piss poor performances against the poorer teams in this division so absolutely nobody is taking anything for granted at this stage. We'll get there if we get there and I'll worry about celebrating then if we get over the line.

It might be 'just' a chance to get back in the Championship but I imagine that you'd have been cheering as loudly as the rest when Forest managed to haul themselves out of the 3rd tier. Unless they change the rules I think we're only allowed to get promoted one division at a time, so if we can see this through to a successful conclusion I'd be over the moon for now ta.

As for your lot, well it's still wide open. I've maintained that you have 3 worse teams than you and I still think you'll stay up but there are some huge games coming up. Your game at Everton looks massive, particularly when Luton are home to Brentford on the same day. Even if you are in trouble after that lot though, you still have the bottom 2 teams to play in your last 3 games. Club colours aside, it's actually been a genuinely interesting PL campaign at both ends but after last weekend it looks like advantage Man City and I don't expect them to need a 2nd invitation to take advantage.

You could always wait until after we get inexplicably battered by Cambridge and see if there are some tickets suddenly coming available... 😩

Well obviously you're setting this up for a fall RD because you'd find it funnier, but in all seriousness the pattern of the last few games have been a case of if you don't like the last result, just hang around, it'll all change again, triumph to despair in the space of 90 mins.
It's in our hands for now at least but since when did we ever do anything easily? I'm fully expecting more twists and turns and although we've won a lot of games this season we've also had several worrying random piss poor performances against the poorer teams in this division so absolutely nobody is taking anything for granted at this stage. We'll get there if we get there and I'll worry about celebrating then if we get over the line.

It might be 'just' a chance to get back in the Championship but I imagine that you'd have been cheering as loudly as the rest when Forest managed to haul themselves out of the 3rd tier. Unless they change the rules I think we're only allowed to get promoted one division at a time, so if we can see this through to a successful conclusion I'd be over the moon for now ta.

As for your lot, well it's still wide open. I've maintained that you have 3 worse teams than you and I still think you'll stay up but there are some huge games coming up. Your game at Everton looks massive, particularly when Luton are home to Brentford on the same day. Even if you are in trouble after that lot though, you still have the bottom 2 teams to play in your last 3 games. Club colours aside, it's actually been a genuinely interesting PL campaign at both ends but after last weekend it looks like advantage Man City and I don't expect them to need a 2nd invitation to take advantage.

You could always wait until after we get inexplicably battered by Cambridge and see if there are some tickets suddenly coming available... 😩

Regardless of which division we're in, if we have a situation where Adams was our least accomplished pure footballing midfielder then it's not looking too shabby is it ? We've been crying out for some bite and physicality for years now and now some folks are worried that our defensive midfield specialist isn't also some creative genius too? It's all about a blend surely. The creative players can only flourish if we have a foothold in the game and are winning a decent proportion of midfield duels. Warne might not exactly be an advocate of total passing football but he knows that crosses don't get crossed and through balls don't get threaded through if you can't get the ball.

You could always wait until after we get inexplicably battered by Cambridge and see if there are some tickets suddenly coming available... 😩

My Dad was a big fan of Westerns and for my entire childhood I was convinced that a simple safe way of rendering someone unconscious was to smash a bottle over their head ! A simple tap on the head and they always obligingly explode into a million safe non-sharp fragments and the guy in the black hat just lay down for a bit. It was on the way to a football match where I saw someone hit by a bottle and there was blood everywhere and the bottle showed no sign of breaking 🤔

Happy to chuck a small donation in for a great cause - and to remember your brother/mate/fellow Ram b4. Take care of yourselves and each other.