Episode 11: Play Off Quarter Final Preview

James, Alex, and Ben back for the first time in a while and how could we miss this one. Yes, it’s the start of what could be a huge final three games of this debut National League North season as Macclesfield play Chester in the National League North play offs. All the big questions answered here. What have we learnt from our previous league defeats to The Seals this campaign? What approach should John Rooney take for this one? And don’t get us started on Dearnley v Ravenhill in the battle to start in goal.

Regardless of the result on Wednesday night there’s plenty to celebrate for the Silkmen this season. We’ve got some reflections on our favourite moments in the league this season (Chorley away?), why form leading up to this might have dipped, and a brief look across our other play off contenders.

Podcast available on all good platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and many more. Or you can listen through the player above.

We’re activley looking for more contributors to the podcast in particular from people who are under represented within the fan base. Do get in touch if you’re intrested in getting involved. If there’s anything you’d like us to cover in future podcasts then leave us a comment and we’ll get it in for future episodes.

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

Welcome back to Stuckman News Podcast. My name is James Walker. And before we get started, I suppose to say a bit of a apologies for it being so long since we've last recorded a podcast, I think, between us. We've found just the sheer amount of games we've had to play relentless to be honest. It's been hard for us to get around a virtual call and a chat all things max, particularly for those of us uh who are who are working the games and providing the commentary for those of you who can't make it um in as well. Before bearing in mind the the regular season has finished, it would be important to to come back and have a little bit of a chat about um what is potentially a massive uh free games, hopefully for Matt, we should say. Uh alongside me tonight, uh I've got Alex Reid. How are you doing, Alex?

SPEAKER_00 0:53

Hi James, I'm very good. Hello listeners, hope you're all well. And yeah, I'm uh I'm I'm doing all right and I'm excited for hopefully a successful playoff campaign, as you say. And Ben Kerry, how are you doing, Ben?

SPEAKER_01 1:04

Evening boys, evening everyone else. Uh yeah, excited for the playoffs nervous. Um yeah, let's go, let's go win it.

SPEAKER_03 1:11

So before we talk about uh the playoffs, uh opening question tonight is uh what is your favourite moment of the league season? Now I've I thought it'd be it'd be too obvious to say favourite moment of the season uh as a whole because how could you possibly beat um the Crystal Palace game in the FA Cup. But I'm keen for your takes on the league season. It's been the first campaign, I mean, since so we've only had what this is the fifth season, isn't it? Three out of those four previous seasons we've we've largely run away with the league. Uh obviously the lowest ever position we finished in A-League, uh, with it being fourth place. It's been very, very different to previous seasons. Um yeah, Keen's having a been a standout moment for the for the league campaign. So you have to start with you first, Alex.

SPEAKER_00 1:58

Yeah, and and yes, first of all, yeah, I th I think this has been the funniest season that I've had in uh in a long time, actually. And it's funny because we we're so used to winning leagues and and doing really well. But yeah, there's something that you can't beat about a bit of adversity and uh exceeding your own expectations, which I think we've done, and we've done it by winning a lot of close games. Um I don't know if this is um recency bias, but the first one that came into my head was the game only a couple of weeks ago where we went to Murphy Town and got a very late win. I think that one was especially considering we were bemoaning at half time in that game how badly it was going and the unexpected nature of the turnaround with with 10 men to go there and to win late. Um, and that was the game that sewed up our playoff place as well. I think that one was uh exhilarating. Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_03 2:54

Yeah, you've taken mine there, Alex. I'm not gonna lie. That was it might it might well be recently biased, but I think it's about that type of a game, isn't it? Sorry, but it was it.

SPEAKER_00 3:03

I thought you I thought you'd pick a game where we lost. That's that's normally your favourite, isn't it?

SPEAKER_03 3:08

Yeah, I mean I I don't know what that is about me, but it's like glutton for punishment. Oh, you know what I was gonna suggest? Um this is this isn't my actual pick. Um a game that speaks to that theme, the uh the away game at Chorley, all the way back in September, where we lost in the last minute. Which I'm not picking that, it's not my serious response. Only I only say that because it was just like absolute pure chaos and one of the most ridiculous games of football like I think I've seen in any setting for a very long time. But before I give my my actual answer, very well, I've got I'm gonna give myself a little more time to think about that now. Uh Ben, what are you saying?

SPEAKER_02 3:41

Yeah, so I think for me, it's probably three three standout games. I'll go with them in kind of chronological order. So I really enjoyed the Easter win over Buxton on a shockingly foul weather day. Um but to go there and waiting for two couple of really good strikes from Dawson and Duffy. That was that was really good. You know, uh local rival puts the sword. Um Radcliffe at home was a favourite as well. Uh on a so it was a really difficult spell for the club on and off the pitch. Um you know, we'd lost those two games between Krimbo New Year to Buxton and Chester. We were very much grieving over over Ethan McLeod and Radcliffe arrived uh policing.com on a on a crest of a wave and and it was a freezingly cold January evening and we went at full strength and we and we produced a brilliant performance to turn them over 2-1. Um really galvanized the season. Um and on that note, I think for me the best performance and my favourite moment was undoubtedly the 5-1 hammering of Kidderminster. Kidderminster are in good form, but they were I think around the beginning in something like um there were 12 games actually. Second best defence in the National League North at the time, and we we just absolutely litz them. And and for me, well, I know we're gonna come on to it, but that's the mentality that we need to adopt for these playoffs and um you know take that approach, that confident approach. But yeah, so Kidabin's a five-one for me.

SPEAKER_03 5:12

Uh that was also gonna be my pick, uh my second choice pick there, Ben. But yeah, I think probably again speaks to um yeah, something something a really important game there for us, doesn't it, as well. And I think maybe the Radcliffe game goes a little bit underrated actually in terms of the importance of the season, as you as you say there as well, particularly after those poor performances against Buxton and Chester. And of course, with the with the passing of Ethan, I'd agree that that really felt like it galvanised the season. Um looking at the fixture list, because I'm I was I want to make sure I pick something different here. Uh I am going to pick um the two-one away win at Darlington on the 3rd of March or Tuesday night. I think it's always satisfying on a when you have a long trip on a on a Tuesday, particularly that was another game where we've come off the back of a couple of poor results, and you're wondering whether you know it's this is this gonna be the season uh starting to derail a little bit. I think that Darlington win was was really important to just giving us that that confidence, then going back on a pretty good run after that again, even though we quite lost to to Charlie at home. We shouldn't we shouldn't have lost that and that the the Telford defeat. We did have that run kind of like through March, we had so many fixtures. We actually were in really good form for for all of that period. Um otherwise, I think yeah, the the Murphy and Kidderminster games would be probably the two standouts um for me. And yeah, I think it just speaks to just there have been so many enjoyable moments this season um across the across the league campaign. I'm sure as we talk about the the playoffs now, we'll we'll come on to maybe some of the challenges that we've seen um over the past maybe month or so in terms of in terms of some of Mac's performances. Because it it feels like we we go into the playoff game uh against Chester on Wednesday night, not in the not in the best of form, but we'll provide you a little bit of context before we before we talk about that. Um and and talk about the league season as a whole. So Mac finished fourth in the National League North, uh, 24 wins, seven draws, 15 defeats, 79 points. Um for the season as a whole, I think you have to look at that and say that all things considered, we've we've we've had an exceptional season um all round. Um I suppose, yeah, before we talk about the last few games, let's talk a little about the season as a whole. What are you your main thoughts and and takeaways on that before we before we come into this game on Wednesday night and the hopefully uh yeah, three big playoff games?

SPEAKER_00 7:28

Yeah, I I mean one of the best seasons of all time, right? It's gotta be with everything that we did in the cup competitions, how we've exceeded what anyone thought we'd do in the league. I think no matter what happens in the playoffs, it's got to be one of the you know, it's it's an all-timer of a season, isn't it? I think and it's one that I'll remember for a very long time. Um and I mean going back to I don't remember exactly where we predicted that we'd we'd all finish, but we put in our predictions in the first episode that we recorded, and I'm pretty sure no one said that we'd finish higher than something like eighth, seventh, possibly. And we've absolutely smashed that. Uh and we've done it with yeah, all sorts of um different forms of adversity going on alongside that, and at the same time, we managed to get that that you know iconic cup result as well. Um, and so yeah, I think I think it's just very important not to not to forget that, you know, that we've done so well that we've earned the right to even ease up a little bit at the end of the season, it's felt like. Um, and I think it's it's it we need to make sure that we remember the the that that we've we strung together such a good run, especially sort of new year brutal sort of March time or something, which which shot us right up the table. Um and has led to yeah, what what what is an ex going to be an exciting playoff campaign, hopefully, and one that we we couldn't have taken for granted beforehand. Um and so yeah, I think I think it's it's been great and uh excited that it will go on a little bit longer.

SPEAKER_03 8:54

Yeah, cheers Alex. Um yeah, Ben, go on what what are you what are your takes on the season as a whole?

SPEAKER_02 8:59

Yeah, no, I completely echo Alex's point. I think we've had so many challenges from before the ball was kicked a month before the season, you know, with Savage going to Forest Green and ransacking the club um with Mendy, Trey and Kenji going. And then uh we lost Sean Tiluk a couple of months in just when he hit some decent form. But I think the you know the the biggest play with them was losing to Marley Mello when we were really in a hot streak. Um but with everything that's been chucked out us this season, even the success of the cup runs brought you know Saturday Tuesday, Saturday Tuesday games with maintaining that the mention right until the final couple of weeks of the season. So I think to to go from 15th um on New Year's Day to finish fourth and qualified of uh for the playoffs in a couple of games, I suppose. Just a phenomenal achievement by by the club and the coaching staff. It's been a brilliant effort. And let's let's just hope we can re-vigure out ourselves and give it one final push and try and get over the line in the playoffs.

SPEAKER_03 10:03

Yeah, I think as for myself, I genuinely think it's been one of my favourite seasons, but ever supporting the club. I think probably speaks to the some what you're saying, um Alex. Um and Ben for that matter as well, particularly when you think about the players that we've we've lost over the the course of the campaign and the fact that we've been able to hold it together and and finish as as high as as what we've done, I think it's nothing short of exceptional. And I'd say it certainly goes far beyond what what my expectations um have been for the season. And of course, you factor in that that FA Cup run. I mean, it's one of the greatest FA Cup runs of all time. We've had the biggest stock in in FA Cup history um for the club, which you know, I think if we if we talk about kind of the running and maybe some of the um social media reaction over the past few games, like I I can't believe that there's there's Mac fans feeling so negative right now. I don't know whether it's kind of like you've the influence of of the keyboard warriors who you like a bit of a moan, but like I say for me personally, I can't believe how well we've done this season. And I hope regardless of whatever happens in in the playoffs, we can we can still look at the season as a whole and say actually this this has been a has been a real a real success. Um it's kind of where where my thinking um is at. Which yeah, we talk about let's talk about the last the last few games though, because it it does feel like that well, there doesn't just feel like that there has been a dip in terms of performance and results uh coming into to uh Wednesday's playoff games. We've we've out of the last six, we've lost four and won two. And I'd say even in those those two wins that we've had in that run against Murph and and Southport, we haven't exactly looked convincing. And I think then maybe it does kind of like play into this idea of like, well, you know, it's is this as far as this team has gone, you know, if we've played so much football, uh are we ready to to play in the National League? Is this squad good enough to do that? So I'm I'm intrigued.

SPEAKER_02 12:07

So, firstly, before we talk about the Chester game itself, I suppose what your what your thoughts or feelings are for the around kind of like why we've seen that that bit of a drop-off um over the I think some of it, although albeit maybe perhaps a clean show, but I think in our case it's genuine. Uh there is a degree of fatigue, I think, mentally and and physically. You know, we've had a really hard, long season, punishing season, you know, squad turnovers have been quite high as well at times, and I think that's disrupted us. I felt the the Telfer game five didn't turn up that night and um were at the races, but I felt even before that the away games against Curzon and that and Alferton, which we won comfortably enough, I just felt there was a drop I think in our attacking play. And I think slowly but surely the impact of Demario Mello moving on is is hurt us. I think we're looking to static up front the balls going forward but quite aimlessly. And um I think that uh combination uh um James Gale has gone from being an impact sub and scoring goals to leading the line in in all honesty, that although he's done well, he's not a target man. And we've started to make a few uh sloppy uh errors at the back. We could probably develop a podcast to uh to Rogan Raven now. I'm not gonna go down that road just now. Um even against you know home game against Chester, there's a mix-up between uh Sam Heath, Calvin Cameron, Brofrey Jackson. Um you know, you can you can drive a bus through the center of defence when Spenymore score their opening goal. So I just think there's a just a few things adding up, and they we've just slightly gone off the boil uh what what seems a critical time when we talk about moments and going into the playoffs, but but our caveat was with was saying that if we turn up and play the way we can to our full potential, we can absolutely get promoted, but the smart money wouldn't be on us right now. Um but we can we can talk about that. So that's just hope we can re-galvanize and refocus.

SPEAKER_00 14:03

Yeah, I grew I agree with you, Ben. And I definitely I'm glad you made the point about missing Damani Mella, because obviously that's a a huge player to have taken from us right before the run in. But having said that, I think it's testament to the squad that they kept going and pushed on and wrapped up those playoff spots with weeks to spare. Um, and I think then after that, in a way, it's only natural really that the levels just dropped that little bit as we were starting to prepare ourselves for the playoffs, avoiding injuries, avoiding suspensions. We managed to get Paul Dawson and Sam Heathcote through these games without picking up a ban. But yeah, I think it maybe is just that that thing about managing the discipline has caused the eye to be taken off the ball in some of these later games and has left us a little bit weak in some of them, and that's why maybe we've lost.

SPEAKER_03 14:58

Yeah, I think I think the tiredness has to be just a massive factor here. And I wonder whether that's impacted us tactically over the the past few games as well. I know for people who went to the away game of South Shields listening to John Rooney's postmatch afterwards, where he said, well that that's not how, you know, that's not how we'd intended to set up in that game. We hadn't intended to be that open. The plan was to be to be more disciplined and where they're kind of like when you've played so much football and so much like just hard games as as well. You know, we play a full-time South Shields team, and when you when you're kind of like that physically and mentally fatigued, they can just cut you open, they can just completely um take you apart. And I've noticed kind of like in recent weeks, it where you know we had started being a little bit more direct in times in um in respect to some of our playing um approach coming forward. It feels like a lot of our attacking has felt like it's quite aimless at times, you know, it's it's pinging balls out to the to the wide areas and hoping that the likes of Duffy or Isaac Buckley Ricketts can get in behind, but it's not necessarily their game. I think Gale has done well, but that again it's the type of balls that we're playing forward to him don't seem to suit his his strength. You know, we're seeing in court offside quite a lot. He doesn't necessarily again the play doesn't necessarily have the pace to get in behind, where when he he first came in and was scoring goals. Um I felt I I've said this when I've been on the commentary as well, it feels like he's best when he gets the the ball into his feet, and we don't seem to be finding him in that way anymore. We don't seem to have that discipline to be able to necessarily play through a defence. It seems like the easy option for the centre backs at times is to is to just to go long immediately. We don't really have the have the players to do that. I think for me the defence coming into this Chester game is is a real concern. I think one player that hasn't really been spoken about much that I that I've seen on online is is Sam Heathcote. I I think over the past month or so he's been very, very poor. A lot of players game, someone who does look tight. Again, he's he's played he's played a lot of football. Um and you know, when you're playing these Saturday, Tuesdays, and we haven't had the types of players to haven't had the squad to rotate, or there's players in the squad, um, for example, that John Rooney doesn't trust. I mean, I think we saw it at at Radcliffe on on uh on Saturday. Appreciate you know it's it's a it's a dead rubber, but the players that came into the side didn't look like they really had the required quality to to press for a a starting place in that game on on um on Wednesday. So I think there's lots to lots to think about ahead of ahead of um Chester. And I suppose let's talk about that a little bit more directly now. Um so Chester come into that, so they finished seven of the the last of the uh the playoff uh positions, but they are in absolutely exceptional form and have really got on a run to force themselves into the mix and get that last playoff spot. Of course, we played them fairly recently, that that 2-0 defeat at home on the uh on the 6th of April. So I feel like we we know a a good amount of foot to expect from from Chester. Um first question ahead of that game is and bearing in mind what we've what we've said about about tiredness and and fatigue and kind of where the squad is and and max form coming to this one. It's like, how do you think we should play that? How do you think John Rooney should should set us up and I suppose put us in a position where it feels like we've got a chance of getting through?

SPEAKER_02 18:29

Yeah, good uh good question. Um I think it's worth noting that we played Chester twice, obviously, and we lost 2-0 away and um 2-0 at home. And on both occasions, we talk about the players keeping their heads and us as supporters keeping our heads as well. I think the same applies to John Rooney, as well as Rooney's done this season in his debut season as a fledgling manager. It's worth noting that in the away game, uh tactically, we're kind of all over the place. He made two subs at half time. We drew Danny Whitehead and Justin Johnson and brought on Luke Tuffy and Max Waltman. And I think he had a bit of a similar crisis of confidence stroke meltdown, however you want to say a badger. Um and he made three subs in the recent 2-0 home defeat. Off came Sam Heathcote, who was involved in that kind of calamitous um opening goal, James, uh, in terms of you referencing his tide and say, Yeah, some miscommunication there. Um, Cameron Borfick Jackson also came off although I think he was struggling with an injury, and and and Louis Lace he was also hooked for Castle Pasiac, so we changed straight out of the back four. Dawson went from the central midfield uh back into centre defence. And I I I just felt we we just panicked a bit there, and um I think just made it far too easy for Chesse. It was quite a comfortable win, although we did have a three of chances towards the end. Um we've got to start quicker, we've got to start out of the traps, more front for I think we're best when we played 4-3-3. We referenced those games earlier, um, the great wins over Kidderminster, uh, over Radcliffe. For that January-February period, we were very much front for 4-3-3. Dawson Edison uh in Osborne is a kind of uh sitter, um, and then there's Isaac, Buckley Ricketts and Luke Duffy were playing on the wings and the Marty Mellon, but then the gale was also scoring. So I think we've gotta we've got to go for that, we've got to attack him with more pace. Um, and I think the first goal will be absolutely crucial on Wednesday, and I think we've generally been quite slow out of the traps, we've been behind in quite unbelievably 23 half of our league games this season. We've we've uh conceded the first goal, and I feel that if we're gonna be predictable and slow in our build-up play, we can't afford to have that uh initiative to Chester. If we go 1-0 down, I think we're in trouble. Start quick, and I think it's a completely different game entirely.

SPEAKER_00 20:50

From what we've all seen of Chester, they're they're very good at sitting on a lead, aren't they? We gave it to them very easily in the last game that we played against them, and that suited them perfectly. I think if we can avoid doing that, then I didn't actually see that much in them that worried me too much, to be honest. I think they're just very solid, very hard to beat, uh, and are gonna make it difficult and are likely to frustrate us in front of a expectant home crowd in a playoff. Um so I think yeah, patience is the is the key really, and not giving away anything easy to them really that'll make our lives that much harder if they can they can get get their noses in front in the game. So yeah, go for it, attack them, try and be direct, quick, and uh hopefully get the first goal and uh build momentum from there. That's that's the plan, and we'll we'll see what happens.

SPEAKER_03 21:47

I I'm gonna go for a a slight uh uh divergence in opinion here in terms of how to approach this game. I I don't know, maybe it speaks to most about me as a person. But I I I think we should go quite cynical here. I I don't think I don't know whether I'm gonna say it anyway. I don't know if we've got the required formal fitness to take the game to them. I think when we've when we've tried that recently, again, I've I'm I don't know whether I'm slightly traumatised from that Southfield game where we did try and go hard and early and found ourselves completely cut open. I don't think Chester are anywhere near as good as Southfield, though I should say that, is that we should just try and play as as disciplined as possible and play really pragmatically. And I think it's about the players. Almost that's similar to things to the to how we treated the games against Palace and Brentford in terms of you saying, okay, when we've got those opportunities to get forward, can we make sure we make the right decisions at the right time and not necessarily go like all in early doors? Because I just feel like with Chester and Mentum that are coming into this game, that we could just end up really getting punished. Um the one thing I will I will agree with though is I think I think the first goal is as you've both said, is absolutely key here. If we go behind in this game, I I don't see us winning it. I see a very similar scenario to the previous two times we played um Chester season. I mean, I think the second half against that, the the home game against Chester that we've referenced was was really hard to watch, where it felt like, as you said, Ben, it was kind of like we'd we tried to take too many risks too early. And it was a team that just ended up being very predictable and almost bereft of ideas outside of just trying to ping long balls out as to what wide that they could just easily mop up. I mean, if they've got they've got good height um in that team. So I I just feel like we're gonna be best just kind of like just taking a time and just feeling away into the game a little bit. I think another key thing for us, and and something that I've not been impressed with this season is our defending of corners and and dangerous free kick opportunities. We can't be giving away those those types of chances either. So I feel like if we can just get our foot on the ball and just take a time and then just be just a little bit disciplined, more disciplined in possession. If James Gaylor started up top, can we speak to that point and say, can we just get the ball into his feet a little bit more? Can we get one of those two midfielders, his daughter and Edmonton, just a little bit closer to him in the build-up as well? Um, and just try and progress play in just a a more calm, just sort of overall more calm approach. It's you have to treat these games like it's a cliche. It's it's it's free, it's free cup finals. And I think maybe sort of the idea of like a if you're coming into it confident in in in respect to if we come in on the back of like five wins in a row and we're playing like a really kind of swashbuckled aggressive style, I'd be like, yeah, go for it. Let's let's keep up momentum. But I think there's there's a point for me where it's like, can we just treat the game as it is, a one-off, be disciplined, get back to basics, keep the ball on the deck, just be nice and tidy, nice and calm, um, and just feel ourselves into the game a little bit, because I I worry that Chester could just just punish us. Um I think it's gonna be a really interesting game. I think the the the thing to to ask what what are your predictions? I suppose off the back of that, what how how how do you think it's it's gonna go? Do you think we're gonna get through?

SPEAKER_02 25:19

Uh I'm gonna sound like I'm uh negative, but uh I think everything's pointing. You put a gun to the header, I think you're gonna make Chester reasonable favourites. Uh and if you look at uh the record of the top seven teams who finished uh highest, obviously top seven in National League North, we're at the bottom of those seven. We only got 12 points. So for 12 games against the six of the highest place teams, we only got 12 points. That's lower than anyone else. Chester got 19 points in third place. Um if you look at the form table, the top seven were the were the bottom of that. We've only got six points from the last six, two wins, four defeats, as we've referenced Chester got sixteen, um and Kidderminster who potentially may lie in weight if we do get through Wednesday uh uh at top, I mean you know, kicking away at 18 points. So I think it's gonna be difficult. Um, but we are capable though, and and and if and to your point, James, if we are gonna grind it out, I think we have shown we can do that, because obviously the cup games uh against Palestine and Brentford, where we did a really good job, but we've but we've we've also shown the league back in Ottawa when we weren't in the best form, we we ground out a really good 1-0 win over South Shields. So if we are going to be more conservative and dogged, I think it's a really big night potentially for Elliot Osborne. He's formed dip recently after a really bright start, but he he performs well at at his best, a really important role in the side. He he he often sits in just in front of the back four, protecting it, and that gives Paul Dawson a bit more license. We know how well Dawst has done scoring goals for midfield and Edmundson uh just in front as well. So I think he can have a really key evening in terms of trying to protect that back four, but the defenders have have got to defend properly, and that's when that starts with a goalkeeper as well as the central defence. Um I think we can do it, but I think we're gonna have to change the current personnel. Um we've got to decide who we're gonna play at fullback, lots of shots and changes there between Mafferson and Fenton and Lacey and Passiak. I personally don't think James Gale, 3-0 of his own, is he is is up to it right now to lead the line. Um we've got very, very few options up uh, but I think we were desperate for some movement and a bit more pace. Um although he was poor on Saturday coming back into the side, I I'd I'd take a punt on Papula up front. Um if Josh Kay doesn't make it, uh, because he hobbled off, didn't he, against uh Southport, and he seems to be hobbling on the pitch actually when he came on at um uh Radcliffe at half time. If he doesn't make it, then I'm just wondering whether we shake it up. Is there a place for young Carlos de Santos to play with a bit more energy, a bit more unpredictability? I think we've become quite stiff recently. And I just think maybe uh maybe the younger boys, maybe they won't be as is overawed, maybe they'll play with a bit of freedom. Do we need that? I don't know, it's it's high stakes really, isn't it? And um, you know, if we concede that first goal, it's it's it's gonna be really difficult for us. But um, yeah, it's it's really difficult. I'll uh I'll I'll defer to you guys tactically.

SPEAKER_00 28:24

Well uh as as for a match prediction, I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll try and get the positive spin on it because I I want to try and uh do one for a little bit of positivity, I suppose. Um and yeah, present the case that we this season have been a fantastic cup team in one-off games. This is more or less a cup competition, these playoffs. So why can't we treat it like that brilliant FA Cup run earlier in the season where we produced some of our finest performances, and some of them came in the backdrop of quite patchy league form. After all, when we beat Palace, we were 14th in the league, weren't we? So we're you could argue we've we're we've risen much higher than that now, and we have that experience of delivering at home in big games like that this season. So I'm gonna say we have for this game, we have our main players all back. We're gonna see Paul Dawson again after his rest. We're gonna see players like Sam Heathcote back in the team, players that have been really important for us all season, and that means that I think we might see a little bit more of the the real Mac that maybe we haven't seen since perhaps the Buxton game on Good Friday. And uh hopefully we can put together a good performance at home. And for that reason, I will I will predict that we'll we'll get the win, something like 2-1. How about that?

SPEAKER_03 29:47

I like it, Alex. Um yeah, I don't know. As much as I'm probably moments ago came across quite negative. I just I think it's gonna I think it's gonna be very attritional. I think it's gonna be I think there's gonna be a sense of for both sides. It's you know it's one that rather than going to win it, it's one that you don't want to to lose. I I see it going deep. I I can see it going all the way, I can see it going deep and going to penalties. Oh no. Um and and kind of oh well you our our penalty record, well not necessarily penalty record, but we've we've got plenty of players this season who have missed um penalties, and it feels really hard to put to predict to that point. I suppose we talk a little bit about kind of like the the 11, I guess, that um that Rooney should start. I think firstly Josh K. I do not think Josh K should start at all. I don't think we can risk players with his type of disciplinary record in games of this magnitude. It isn't it isn't worth the risk. He's proven multiple times this season that he does not have the required discipline to start in a playoff game for for my money. Um and so I think you're midfield three again, I've got Osborne at the base of midfield, Dalton Edmonton, front three, um, Duffy, Buckley Ricketts, and I I would start Gale. Um only in respect of because I just I just don't think we've seen enough from uh Andre Lopoula drawing his his loan spell, which is which is a shame because it was a player that I'd looked at when we'd when we'd brought him in from Aquinas and said, okay, he's got a good scoring record on loan at Sorley. Um I think I saw on on um Saturday against Radcliffe where he just there was there was just moments where he just didn't look quite sharp enough or whether we could have seen just a little bit more movement, or when he did get that chance to come into the box. I wonder if he'd be a little bit bit braver with some of the uh the opportunities that were afforded to him in uh in that game. Um and I think the back four is is really tough. I think you it's it's what extent do you want to be aggressive with the fullbacks, or do you want to go, okay, we're gonna be disciplined here and and and set up and try and make sure we've got we've got height in the side. And I suppose we should probably uh should we talk about the the goalkeeping situation as well. So we've just taken uh a little little break there. Ben has unfortunately had to leave us for the the closing stages of the podcast uh this week. Um so yeah, the the one thing that we've we've not debated uh in terms of the starting 11 for Wednesday is the keeping situation. So now a lot of fans online have been heavily critical of Rogan Ravenhill and have been desperate for Max Durnley to return in in goal. Uh of course he did in our um 1-0 defeat on Saturday to uh Radcliffe. Um what are your thoughts on that, Alex, about the keeping situation? Bearing in mind that Rogan Ravenhill's essentially been been number one, hasn't he, since he joined on loan from Barnsley?

SPEAKER_00 32:45

Yeah, uh you've you've probably asked the wrong person because I've just not opinionated enough about this this whole debate, to be honest, to to give too much. But I do get the the the point of the the discussion and why people are a bit frustrated on how the season's kind of panned out in the goalkeeping department. I think in the cold light of day, I probably wouldn't have in hindsight advocated the club bringing in Rogan Ravenhill, to be honest, because he has not really proved to be anything of an upgrade on Max Durnley, who's been a loyal keeper who's served the club well over the last couple of years, and is after all a contracted player of our own. Um I think to be honest, they're just both very similar in terms of their their quality levels, to be honest. I know Ravenhill joined with a a big fanfare about his shot stopping ability when he was playing for Lemmington and facing lots of shots and pulling off lots of saves. But I think maybe this has just proved a point that being a goalkeeper for a team that's scrapping at the bottom against relegation requires quite a different skill set to playing for a team that is trying to control a game that doesn't face that many shots, and therefore you just need to be really focused and not make mistakes, really, is what you're judged on. Um, and I think to be honest, both goalkeepers this season, especially in the sort of back half of the season, I think both of them would probably feel like they could have uh avoided one or two of the errors that they've made that have that have uh resulted in goals as the as the season has gone on. So I think having said all of that and the fact that, yeah, they're both very solid, but they're just both a bit error prone at times, I wouldn't have made the change originally of dropping Max Dernley, probably, but in the same vein of thinking, I am probably not going to then drop Ravenhill because I just think they're both very, very, very similar quality, and I just want to do whatever will not rock the boat too much, basically going into what is a a crucial, you know, run of games in the playoffs. Um, and yeah, it's just been frustrating, hasn't it? The fact that it's clearly become a a thing that the players are aware of themselves now as well. Like that can't help for preparing for big games, can it? It's just kind of annoying.

SPEAKER_03 35:03

Yeah, I think I think that's probably the point I'd most agree with you there on Alex. It's like I don't feel like the the discourse online about Rovan Rogan Ravenhill has not helped anyone. Um, I don't think I I I think he has largely been unfairly scapegoated for errors. Certainly a lot of the goals that have been conceded that I think a lot of time haven't necessarily been his fault. I don't think Rogan is a is an amazing keeper, whether we go up or not. I wouldn't keep him for next season. He wouldn't he wouldn't be someone I'd look to bring back on loan from from Barnsley again. I I think we can do better, and we've seen that from him, I think, over his performances. Like I say, that of again, I can't I can't think you look to a game and say he's had he's had an outstanding performance and he had he has made errors in in some games um as well. I mean go to the to the goal conceded um against Southport on uh on Tuesday night, which was which was very, very poor. But at the same time, I'd I I don't I don't I don't really think he's been anywhere near as bad as what some fans have been suggesting he's he's been. And I think I'll probably go with you at this point. Well, if if if it's if Rooney's decided that that Ravenhill is his first choice, then we stick with that for these playoff games now. I think Durnley did fine against Radcliffe on on Saturday, I don't think he had a bad game at all. I think he did everything that you would expect him to do, maybe a little bit unfortunate for the for the goal we conceded. Um really awkward ball in the box, wasn't it? Yeah, it was a good finish. It was a good finish from Clay. I think Durnley did what he needed to do. He came came out to to meet him, and he's just he's just managed just to lob him just to get the exact right contacts on it to take it over him. Um so yeah, I think I would I would I would go Ravenhill. I I think we do we just have to run with it at this point in the season. I think it yeah, it really doesn't help fans online making I don't know, just comments that I mean they're they're not comments that I would I would agree with, where it feels like he is the course of of all of our blame when there are there have been defensive performances. Um I'll look back to to Sam Heathcote in particular, maybe maybe Louis. I mean I keep going back to the South Shields game, but Louis Lacey had a really tough time in that game as well. When it had been um that that probably warrant a little bit more scrutiny, and it feels like there's been far too much focus put on um Rogan Ravenhill's performances. Um, yeah, I'd I'd start him. I'm not convinced. I think if if if we'd stuck with Durnley up until this point, then obviously you would start anyway. I mean, it's a fair question, the reason why Rogan Ravenhill brought in in the first place, you know, whether there's something that that John had seen in Durnley's performance. So he had he had Max had made mistakes, should say, I think, as well, himself through through that period in kind of like January time where um um before we put before we brought Ravenhill into the club. But I think maybe there's you know the fact that we'd seen um young Joe Nicholson sent out on loan to to Cheadle um, obviously John not not necessarily convinced by our by our backup option. I maybe just wanted someone to provide a bit of competition for for Max as well, you know, through um the the running. I mean he'd be very clearly been number one without any other presence in the squad to to test him or push him uh over the past 18 months. Um so you wonder whether that might have been a bit of the bit of the rationale. Yeah, but for me, I'd I'd agree with you, Alex. I think I think we start um Ravenhill on on Wednesday night um on the basis that he he has played the majority of our games coming into to the playoffs.

SPEAKER_00 38:27

Yeah, should we should we should we thrash out the the 11 that we'd pick then if we were if we were the managers? We've kind of said a little we've said it we've said a little bit over the episode, haven't we, of of who we may or may not we may not fancy. Do you first first of all do you think that any of the players that played at Radcliffe have done enough to earn a last minute shot at appearing in the team that starts the game?

SPEAKER_03 38:52

I would start Fensom and NESA. I don't know if that's controversial. I don't know if that's a little bit controversial.

SPEAKER_00 39:00

I I I I I would be tempted to play Fensome, but probably at right back rather than centre back where he was on Saturday. Um that one again, the right back is uh is is one where I'm very uh yeah, I don't know. I probably I probably would go Fensome just for the solidity, given that it's a high stakes game. Out of many, I say I I I I probably prefer if they fit the pairing of Heathcote and Borfwick Jackson right now, but uh I can I can totally see the uh the argument for picking any of them. I think if Cameron Borfwick Jackson is fitting firing, then he's a shoe in, isn't he, to play?

SPEAKER_03 39:31

Yeah, I'd agree. I think so. I'll I'll run for my 11 first. I'd go Ravenhill, back four, Fenson, many essay, um Heathcote with Bolford Jackson at left back. Um as mentioned already, midfield three, Osborne at the base midfield, Dawson Edmondson ahead of him, Duffy off the right, Buffy Reeks off the left, Gale through the middle would be my starting eleven for Wednesday night.

SPEAKER_00 39:53

So you're yeah, because we'd you'd said no no Josh Kay in there, which is I I I tend to kind of agree, maybe not from the point of view that I think he'd get a red card, um, although he often does. But I don't think since he came back in the team, aside from his little sub-appearance at Buxton, I'm not sure whether him being in there really helps matters that much, to be honest, because he tends to get shoehorned in in a position that is not really his favoured, like out wide or something, and it kind of makes the team a bit disjointed. So I think for the same reason I'd keep it quite similar to you. I think I I would play Lacey in the defence. Um, I think he has earned my earned my trust as the season's gone on. I think he's really really flourished into a into a good left back. But uh it's good that there's, as we say, loads of competition in that that position. And I agree with the midfield of Osborne, Edmonds and Dawson, and then Duffy and Buckley Ricketts. And I would I would probably start Gale as well. Um the way I see it is that I would do basically that means it would be for me the same 11 that started the Brentford game as I talked about, another the last time we had a a decent cup kind of you know, knockout competition, good showing, good performance, just with obviously Mella not there anymore, Gale instead. And these days we tend to play Ray Ravenhill instead of Durnley. I'd probably do that.

SPEAKER_03 41:15

We've got Ben back. Uh Ben, start at 11 for Wednesday against Chester.

SPEAKER_02 41:21

Yeah, I was listening with interest, and I think I think um just the way you you both talking, it it kind of lays bare how difficult it is for John Rooney. I think he's got his best 11. Um which which rightly or wrongly is is is Raven Hill. And he he seems, I think, to prefer Matheson and Lacey as a fullbacks and both with Jackson and Heathcote. I agree on the midfield three uh of Edmondson, Osborne and Dawson. And I think given the personnel available, he'd probably go Duffy, Buffy, Ricketts, and Gale. Um I don't think Kay's fit, and I don't think he'll make it. So I I I do agree though for the record that uh A, I don't think Kay's a starter in the playoffs for obvious disciplinary reasons. Um but I think also he's M product though. I think I mean he commands the ball so often, but very rarely does anything with with it in the final thirds. So I wouldn't start him. Um I I it's probably academic, but I I I would go with Dalline Gold. But I think we I think we've clearly made our bed with uh Raven Rogan Ravenhill. So really's gonna have to lie in that. Um does suggest we've got an agreement in place with Barnesley. He can be Rogan can be absolutely brilliant. Um South Shield has been a case in point and he had a very good first half in Earth, so he's pulled off some brilliant times, but he is um a very erratic goalkeeper in terms of his decision making and s and and particularly getting down the low for um for shots. Um but um I think he'll start. Uh and then for me it's uh who starts up front, and I get I get all the reasons for not starting uh Angela Papula in preference for James Gale, but I think I've got a feeling this game might go into extra time, and I think we might need an injection off the bench. The bench is gonna be really important. I just don't I don't see Gale as a starter. So I think we need to ask different questions of Chester. So um maybe Papoula by default, he has some minutes against uh Radcliffe having missed the previous two. I'd take a gamble on him, and I'd also um certainly take a gamble on Carlos DeSantis off the bench if we're struggling. Um Justin Johnson did himself no favours uh against Radcliffe on Saturday. He's not played in the team since I think Chester away started the team, and I still think he's worth a place on the bench as an impact sub. I I I think to the points we've all made, Chester is really difficult to break down. We're gonna need some moment of magic off the bench, whether it's youthful, exuberance, different energy, bit of pace, bit of gale from gale, perhaps he's better as an impact sub, um, a moment of brilliance from the Erasic Jonger. And that that the bench I think could win us a game. So I think I think we can I think we can do it. There's no rhyme or reason for the playoffs. And I agree with you guys that Chester will be favourites, but that doesn't mean they're going to get over the line on Wednesday.

SPEAKER_03 44:19

Yeah, it's a complete one-off, isn't it? And regardless, you know, we'll get behind the boys. It's going to be absolutely massive. I mean, like, we won't talk about the ticketing scenario because I don't feel like I've been close enough to understand what on earth has been going on with that today with Chester fans buying tickets in the home end. It seems like a bit of a maybe a little bit of a mess. Regardless, um, we'll we'll all be there for that one on Wednesday night. And hope it isn't the end of our season. So we should say if if we beat Chester on uh Wednesday, we'll be playing Kidd Mr. Harriet on uh Saturday. I think it was a 12.30 kickoff uh down at Agborough. Uh the other playoff game is Buxton against Scarborough, uh prepared eliminator game that is that'll be played on on Tuesday night at Buxton. Uh any thoughts or takes on on that one? I have I imagine Buxton would would get through with their home form has been been really weird. Um I of all the teams in the playoffs, I think for me, Scarborough are probably the weakest. Um any thoughts ahead of that one? They'll be playing South Shields, uh, whoever goes through in that game.

SPEAKER_02 45:23

I Scarborough have massively overachieved. You think um I agree probably the weaker team on on paper, but they've done phenomenally well to find they've been ground sharing with Bridlington and not got the most uh lavishly assembled squad, and they've been in and around the playoffs all all season, and I think they're on a pretty decent run. I think they only lost something like one in eleven. Um really difficult team to beat. Uh Buxton also, as you said, James, not great at home. So I I think that could go I think it's gonna be a really another really tight game. Um I hope I hope it's hard to get through because I've got I've just got um just got a funny feeling that we we we might we might just do it against Chester. And then um if we were to beat Kidderminster, I know I'm preempting far too much, but um, we might have a home advantage for the final. I don't know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, but I don't know. I I just don't think you can call it. It's it's gonna be so tight.

SPEAKER_00 46:18

Yeah, it's an interesting quarter final that one. I wonder if Scarborough might just edge it given Buxton's bad home form. I kind of wish we'd have been playing either of those two rather than Chester. To be honest, we got a bit of lucky there getting the really informed one out of those three, but oh well. Um and then as for the uh as for the other two teams in the playoffs, I mean we know South Shields is going to be really tough should we get that far. And I also think that they'll that South Shields will overcome whoever it is who they have to play in their semi-final. Um and we, you know, we know we we know what we need to do to beat them based on the first time we played them. We know what not to do based on the most recent time that we went there. And then as for Kidderminster finally, wow, I mean two of two of my probably the two of the standout results of the season, the two games when we played Kidderminster, I didn't even say the uh the 90 plus 11th minute equalizer from Danny Elliott on our last trip to Agber. That was that was good memories as well. Really exhilarating moments. Uh and it goes to show that we can go to that one. It's a difficult ground. Should we make it to that semi-final, then hopefully we can yeah, hang in that game and uh and see what happens. But it will be tough, partly because of the the scheduling itself. It's a really quick turnaround, isn't it? Wednesday night to then have to go to the semi, which is the lunchtime kickoff, bizarrely, on the Saturday. There's like no time to recover. So uh yeah, under no illusions that that that any semi-final and then a final will will both be incredibly, incredibly difficult. But I uh I I live in hope. We'll see what happens.

SPEAKER_03 47:55

We will, we will. I suppose we should say, yeah, in terms of um future podcasts, I imagine we'll we'll probably if if we make it to the final, we will come back and do a full preview of the of the final game. If not, I think it's only right that we do a proper round up and and we discuss the the season as a whole in uh in detail to wrap it wrap it all up and what we say. I think we go back to the start of the day, regardless of whatever happens on Wednesday night or for any of these playoff games, it's been an exceptional season and we'll be yeah, right behind the lads until that whenever whenever this might end, uh of course. So yeah, um thanks for listening uh again again this evening. And yeah, I imagine we'll be back with you uh in a week or so's time, but we'll still.