SHAUN DERRY'S GUIDE TO THE PLAY OFFS

Interesting read on all 4 teams.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... guide.html

Cheers Stan



Hmm


"If you had wanted to face Cardiff at any point in the season, it is now.


CARDIFF

Strengths
"You cannot really look beyond their forwards. Their approach play is very quick, obviously culminating in their outstanding attacking options. They have recent experience of the play-offs and that could work to their advantage, although the obvious downside is the expectation that seems to surround them and the pressure that creates."



How to beat them
"If you had wanted to face Cardiff at any point in the season, it is now. They have had a few dodgy results and Reading must try to capitalise on their insecurities at the back. They should take the game to them. If you sit back against Cardiff and let them play, you will have a huge task."




Key Player
"Craig Bellamy. If he is on song, the rest of the boys follow suit. His desire can work in two ways. You can be dragged along by his enthusiasm and the fact he is an out-and-out winner but there is also a pressure he puts on the group. In the play-offs, you do not want to freeze."



What's the manager like?
"If you are looking for know-how in these type of situations, you cannot look further than Dave Jones. The play-offs are unique and he has the advantage of approaching them with a huge amount of experience. He would have hoped it had not got to this stage and he must manage the expectation of the Cardiff fans.

I think his comments are pretty damn accurate mate, what do you think?

Stan, who do you and fellow QPR mates think will join you and Norwich in the prem?

I think his comments are pretty damn accurate mate, what do you think?

I do Stan and Jones experience should and I mean should help us through and on to the Premiership

A pretty good, general appraisal overall, lets see how thing pan out on the pitch!!!

Forest are the team I am fearing the most. I feel Reading have gone past their peak and Swansea's inexperience at this stage will cost them. I can see it being us and Forest in the Playoff Final with Forest going through.

Stan, who do you and fellow QPR mates think will join you and Norwich in the prem?

Funny you should say that mate I had a bite to eat & a booze with some pals last night & this very question came up.

After much talk I think the general consensus was that Forest are the most dangerous of the 4. They have never really clicked this season just bobbled along keeping they're heads above that play off line BUT I really do believe they will be the most determined of the lot mainly down to Billy Davies, he's a whinger but a manager I do rate, plus they have quality from back to front.

Out of the 4 of us 3 would like to see you boys go up simply for the fact it would make the Premiership a lot more interesting & it would be quite deserving, my other pal fancied Reading as he thinks Mcdermott has the makings of a top coach (which I tend to agree with actually)

Its gonna be a really interesting set of play offs this year & one I really couldn't call.

Reading may be seen as the form team but thats nothing in the lottery of the play offs,

They lost to Sheff Utd, and drew at Leeds then beat a lowly Derby , hardly good form

I agree with most of it except that this is the best time to play us - 1 defeat in the last 10 games. We have been through a lot worse form than at current.

Yea very true.

As you say Luton Bluebird it really is a lottery & its all about who turns up on the day.

Blackpool last year are a prime example.

2-1 Forest tonight I'd go for.

this guys talking shit in my view, he says Reading are the form team but look at the form table and its Forest who are top the Swansea, with Cardiff and Reading on the same points per game Average...

http://www.statto.com/football/stats/en ... table/full

Yea very true.

As you say Luton Bluebird it really is a lottery & its all about who turns up on the day.

Blackpool last year are a prime example.

2-1 Forest tonight I'd go for.

I'd rather 6-1 to forest......

Shaun Derry? Stick to clogging players off the park, thanks for the link but he's not the brightest.

'Joni McAnuff...played at the top level' funny that, The Guardian article on JM only 6 weeks ago stated he'd never played a Premier League match in his life. Not sure who I'd tend to agree with on that stat. Maybe just the journos who'd done their homework...