What if? (& a confessional)

[NMH]

Last game of the season, we have suddenly had a great run and accumulated JUST the amount of points required to have a chance of staying up.
"funny old game, football"...... and we might yet go down to Division 2.
Okay, 'as if we need reminding' might be your response here, but what about that, do we need reminding?

The simplest trap to fall into (and I admit to being drawn to it) is thinking we are now home free, we are staying up because it's in our hands.
But is not yet in our hands while there's 11 players competing against us.

Withdean is no 'fortress', and the supporters can easily turn against the players.
Our lads might just suffer a bit of nerves, and not be as fluid and loose playing the ball when the spotlight is on them in possession.
The opposition will turn up, and may really turn on, for a packed house.
Their players aren't going to capitulate, and lie down and die just because we need the points - they already showed THEY are good enough to win crucial points by taking care of business 'just in case' rather than HAVE to win tomorrow. Gannon is no mug either - many of you were willing him to manage us just a few weeks ago, he's not suddenly rubbish because he declined!

Excited about the match-up as we all are - be honest, aren't you already anticipating a win, and a 'staying up' celebration?


Lastly, and to suggest what everyone can do to help themselves and the team - is to let them off ther hook BEFORE a ball is kicked, and IF anything were not to go as we hope, and throughout the match!
Are you 'Albion through and through'? You'll support them evermore?
Through thick and thin, rough and smooth?
Then let them know they will be appreciated for getting something out of this season, basically allowing for a practical-miracle by winning the points they've won on the road and against the odds - and let them know that we are on their side.

You'll never walk alone!

 

[Brighton Breezy]

Im anticipating going DOWN in a blaze of mediocrity.

 

[Box of Frogs]

As a previous Albion manager used to say "Keep the Faith". We can win this game and secure our safety IF we play like we have played in the last 4 or 5 games.

Slade will not let the team rest on their laurels and will make sure they turn up and 'do the business' tomorrow.

I for one have confidence in our ability to get the right result and but am not assuming we only have to turn up to secure the three points we need.

 

[Seagull Stew]

Not sure if this is a good or bad omen but I can only think of one occasion in the last 30 years that we have not gained the required result (either for promotion, escaping relegation or play-off place) on the last game of the season when achievement has been "in our hands" and that was the play off final against Notts County in 1991. Can anyone think of anything else?

PS League only, so I'm not including the Cup Final of '83

 

[Mick Beard BHA]

Didn't we need to win at Ipswich on the last day, 1992?

Although maybe other results meant that it wouldn't have mattered

 

[Seagull Stew]

Didn't we need to win at Ipswich on the last day, 1992?

Although maybe other results meant that it wouldn't have mattered

Hmmm, were we not already in the relegation places before that game, so destiny was not in our hands? I think results might have gone our way had we won but Ipswich were promoted or champions or aiming for promotion that game if memory serves me right. I could be wrong with that one.

 

[Joe Gatting's Dad]

Yes - I was there - Ipswich won 2-0 and went up as champions - a win for us would not have mattered anyway.

 

[East Staffs Gull]

Not sure if this is a good or bad omen but I can only think of one occasion in the last 30 years that we have not gained the required result (either for promotion, escaping relegation or play-off place) on the last game of the season when achievement has been "in our hands" and that was the play off final against Notts County in 1991. Can anyone think of anything else?

PS League only, so I'm not including the Cup Final of '83

Grimsby?

 

[Joe Gatting's Dad]

Same problem - a win at Grimsby would not have made any difference due to the Stoke v Reading result

 

[NMH]

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Theme choonage

 

[pasty]

I went to that that Ipwsich game as well. If memory serves, I think we had to win about 20-0 or something silly to have any chance of staying up.

 

[7:18]

less than 24 hours and we will know our fate...

 

[Gritt23]

I've been completely lulled into a sense of believing we WILL survive. Despite spending weeks telling myself over and over again "it's the HOPE that kills you, it's the HOPE that kills you" and refusing to believe we could survive, I've now been completely overwhelmed with the sense of "we've made it!"

But of course we haven't yet, and life (especially a life following the Albion) has a very nasty habit of turning around and biting you on the arse when you are least expecting it - losing Wilkins a year ago, being a prime example of a surpising munch of the butt-cheeks.

Thanks for the reality check Nice Mr. Hitler, Withers is in no way a fortress, and if we can lose at home to 9 men from Walsall, then we are capable of anything. Yes, Russell Slade has made a big difference, and we look full of confidence right now, but the fears and worries aren't far below the surface.

Conceded a sloppy early goal, and I'm clenching my arse and hanging on the scores coming through the radio.

 

[NMH]

Conceded a sloppy early goal, and I'm clenching my arse and hanging on the scores coming through the radio.

Never mind the scoreline though, I can't imagine any score that might alleviate butt-clench-cramp! Unless we are three goals to the good, a Stockport goal could rain on our sun-shiney day.
Leading by a single goal would keep me nervous, and if we're losing by any scoreline, and Stockport getting past the halfway line, and them getting a corner, or a throw-in, or having possession, or........ must lie down, must relax....