Irish involvement in the Football League playoffs

[Charlie Darwin]

Hendrick was immense. Some performance considering he's been injured and had practically no gametime to get back.

[SwanVsDalton]

Why not?

I'm not convinced a guy whose relationship with the management could generously be described as ambigious, has a realistic claim to the number one jersey, appears fairly blase about international football and already travelled to a major tournament as a back-up is going to be all that bothered about hitting crosses for two others guys to catch when he could potentially be resting up before a Premier League season.

I don't mean to impinge Westwood's commitment by saying he's blase, I just mean it strikes me that he's decided he'll do his talking on the pitch and if he's picked, grand, and if not - c'est la vie.

I also think he'd be realistic enough to know that if he's taken along, he's very unlikely to get any gametime since he's not been involved at all and won't be around for the Holland game.

[Charlie Darwin]

I think MON has made it clear the #1 spot is up for grabs by dropping Forde, bringing in Randolph ahead of him when Given got injured, then giving Elliot an audition against Slovakia. Should be enough incentive for Westwood I think.

[OwlsFan]

Brilliant effort from Derby tonight, some contrast to Saturday. Guts and bottle in abundance but unfortunately just left themselves with too much to do. They can't have any complaints after the shambles at the weekend but some pride restored at least.

Bradley Johnson and Ince were dropped for Hendrick and Weimann and the changes really worked a treat. Hendrick actually played the holding midfield role, allowing Hughes to motor further forward. Those two and Johnny Russell were the pick of the bunch I thought, lovely intricate passing movements all night. It was a really mature performance from Hendrick and he showed no signs of not having played a proper match for a few weeks. He was far more suited to the role than Hughes was on Saturday, who was a little bit lightweight for the position.

Christie was instrumental in Derby's opening goal, a powerful run down the right before whipping in a decent cross that Martin kept alive and Russell bundled in at the second attempt. Keogh had an easy enough night, no major pressure applied by Hull for the majority of the game but he carried the ball out of defence well.

Meyler came on for Hull and used his experience to slow down the game, buying a free kick or two and generally adding a bit of composure to their play.

Last night just shows how much of football is played in the head. Hull thought the tie was done and dusted as did their fans. None of the intensity of Brighton or their fans the night before. Derby had to go for it and caught them on the back foot and played them off the park in the first half as did Brighton to Wednesday the night before. It reminded me of Ireland's visit to Paris where France were 1-0 from the first leg. They thought they just had to turn up to qualify. The team behind in the 2nd leg plays with intensity while the other one tries to sit on the lead. Once lost, initiative is hard to regain. As in Brighton, it was hard to keep that intensity going in the second half and I was pleased as I think Derby have better players than Hull. Sorry for the Irish of course. Christie was excellent. Even Meyler got on the ball (after a while) when he was brought on as a sub to stem the Derby tide.

[paul_oshea]

Ya you have got to wonder how good Derby really were, versus how much Hull were willing to do anything other than Sit on their lead.

And you can't say a holding midfielder was excellent in that kind of game where he was never going to be under the intense pressure of a team chasing a lead.

[DeLorean]

Hendrick was outstanding. It was his willingness to get on the ball, start and join in on attacks that was so impressive. He was the key component in their midfield that kept everything moving quickly and efficiently. His passing was so precise in tight areas, consistently forcing his team forward and into good attacking positions, it wasn't just the lateral stuff we see so much of these days. It was very little to do with the other holding midfielder tasks such as breaking up play or getting tackles in, even though he did that effectively when needed also. Did you even see it?

And Derby already won 2-0 at Hull this season, with two first half goals as well that night incidentally, as well as beating them 4-0 at the iPro, so I think it's safe to say that this was a more accurate representation of what they're capable of than their performance on Saturday.

[paul_oshea]

No I didn't see it, but hasn't Stutts proven already you don't need to see something to comment on it.

I didn't comment on how he played, just that its hard to imagine a holding midfielder doing excellent when "its" core duties are under pressure from the opposing team in his half to get that extra bit of time, make space, break out of defence, make tackles, break up play, keep a clear line from the opposition.

But none of what you described above, is anything that I would see as a holding midfielder :) Sounds more like he was a roaving/roamin midfielder, attacking just lying further back than the other midfielder.

[DeLorean]

He was the designated holding midfielder. I lost count of the times he took the ball off Keogh and got things going from there. His midfield colleagues, Hughes and Bryson, were always stationed further forward. When Derby were in possession he moved up the pitch, but always in front of the play. He didn't make overlapping runs or get himself into the box anywhere nearly as much as he normally would, as it was clear that he was aware of his defensive responsibilities should Hull break.

And the fact that you didn't even see it might just make you the biggest hypocrite in the world. ;)

[paul_oshea]

No Delorean, I never commented on him though or how he played, I agree completely I couldn't comment on his performance because I didnt see it. But what I expect of a holding midfielder might be different to what you do. I see it more as a deep lying playmaker by the sounds of it.

Either way wherever he was meant to be playing or whatever "position" he was in, it sounds like he had a positive impact from the attacking side of things, that can only be a good thing.

[DeLorean]

He was selected in the holding midfield role, just as Will Hughes was on Saturday. It's usually George Thorne's position but he broke his leg in the final game of the regular season. Obviously every game is different and the player in that position is going to react to the flow of the game. They can become a deep lying playmaker as you say or a even more orthodox midfielder.

Just because Mascherano starts attacks for Argentina doesn't make him more of a deep lying playmaker and just because Pirlo breaks up play sometimes doesn't making him more of a holding midfielder. It's not as if Hull didn't have any attacks on the night, they didn't spend the whole game in their own penalty box.


And you can't say a holding midfielder was excellent in that kind of game where he was never going to be under the intense pressure of a team chasing a lead.

To be honest this is a crazy statement without having seen the match. You have no idea whatsoever how the game ebbed and flowed. It could also be argued that because Derby were the dominant side, chasing the game, it made their need for a good performance from their holding midfielder even more important, given Hull's biggest potential thread would have been hitting Derby on the break.

In short, Hendrick sat in front of the centre backs when Hull has possession, this was obviously his primary function on the night, but as the game developed he saw more and more of the ball and was able to contribute in other areas also.

[Stuttgart88]

Did he play well? :)

[DeLorean]

How could he possibly play well? he was playing as a holding midfielder... keep up. :D

[seanfhear]

He was selected in the holding midfield role, just as Will Hughes was on Saturday. It's usually George Thorne's position but he broke his leg in the final game of the regular season. Obviously every game is different and the player in that position is going to react to the flow of the game. They can become a deep lying playmaker as you say or a even more orthodox midfielder.

Just because Mascherano starts attacks for Argentina doesn't make him more of a deep lying playmaker and just because Pirlo breaks up play sometimes doesn't making him more of a holding midfielder. It's not as if Hull didn't have any attacks on the night, they didn't spend the whole game in their own penalty box.



To be honest this is a crazy statement without having seen the match. You have no idea whatsoever how the game ebbed and flowed. It could also be argued that because Derby were the dominant side, chasing the game, it made their need for a good performance from their holding midfielder even more important, given Hull's biggest potential thread would have been hitting Derby on the break.

In short, Hendrick sat in front of the centre backs when Hull has possession, this was obviously his primary function on the night, but as the game developed he saw more and more of the ball and was able to contribute in other areas also.Pirlo may have shuffled about a bit when out of procession but to call this breaking up play might be a bit of a stretch:D

[paul_oshea]

I've never seen Pirlo break up play :8

Whatever position he played sounds like played well, for someone out of position ;-) Only joking.

We have completely different understandings of the term, I am happy to move on Delores :)

[paul_oshea]

Did he play well? :)

Sure you know, you didnt even see him play. ;-)

[OwlsFan]

Fans call (apparently) for Westwood to be named in squad for the Euros http://www.newstalk.com/Fans-call-for-Keiren-Westwood-to-be-named-in-Irelands-Euro-2016-squad but the writer is a bit silent on the source of his information (other than the few comments under the article).

[paul_oshea]

Central African Nation suffering severe drought calls for more rainfall.

[Closed Account]

So Westwood and Forde will both miss the Netherlands friendly

Sky Bet Championship Final 28 May
Sheff Wed: Westwood (should start), McGeady(unlikely)
Hull: Meyler (50/50), Lenihan (unlikely)

Sky Bet League One Final 29 May
Barnsley: Hourihane (should start), White (likely sub)
Millwall: O'Brien (likely sub), Williams (likely sub), Forde (likely sub)

Sky Bet League Two Final 30 May
Plymouth: McHugh (should start), Carey (should start)
Wimbledon: Smith (likely sub), Murphy (likely sub), Sweeney (likely sub), Shea (likely sub)

[Stuttgart88]

Central African Nation suffering severe drought calls for more rainfall.
I'm not sure exactly what you're trying to say here. While I prefer Westwood over Randolph, it's a gross exaggeration to say it's a crisis. Furthermore, central Africa has a tropical, non-arid climate. Rainfall is totally reliable there :)

[DeLorean]

Hourihane is lifting his second trophy of the season at Wembley as Barnsley beat Millwall 3-1 to secure their place in the Championship next season. He assisted their third goal from a corner, which Forde's nemesis Archer made a bit of a balls of. Their second goal was quite similar to Diame's winner yesterday actually, the goalkeeper got nowhere near it this time though. Hourihane also credited with an assist for that. O'Brien and Williams made it off the bench for Millwall, Forde and White stayed on their respective benches.

[Closed Account]

Championship Final 29 May
13/5 + 16/5 TBC V TBC
14/5 + 17/5 TBC V TBC
Reading: Liam Kelly (should start), Paul McShane (50/50), Stephen Quinn (unlikely), Josh Barrett (unlikely)
Sheff Wed: Keiren Westwood (should start)
Huddersfield: Sean Scannell (likely sub)
Fulham: Sean Kavanagh (unlikely)


League One Final 20 May
4/5 + 7/5 Millwall V Scunthorpe
Millwall: Shaun Williams (should start), Aiden O'Brien (should start), Paul Rooney (unlikely)
Scunthorpe: Stephen Dawson (should start), Paddy Madden (should start)
4/5 + 7/5 Bradford V Fleetwood
Bradford: Colin Doyle (should start), Josh Cullen (should start), Billy Clarke (likely sub), Kevin Toner (likely sub)
Fleetwood: Cian Bolger (should start), Jimmy Ryan (likely sub)

League Two Final 28 May
14/5 + 18/5 TBC V TBC
14/5 + 18/5 TBC V TBC
Luton: Glen Rea (should start), Alan Sheehan (should start)
Exeter: Pierce Sweeney (should start), Liam McAlinden (likely sub), Ryan Swan (unlikely)

[Closed Account]

Josh Cullen got MOTM. Anyone watch it?

[Closed Account]

To avoid doing any work, here's a list of promoted players. (note O'Shea, Doyle and Forde are likely out of contract so could sign permanently)

Brighton: Shane Duffy, Richie Towell
Newcastle: Rob Elliot, Ciaran Clark, Daryl Murphy

Sheff U: Samir Carruthers, Graham Kelly, Jay O'Shea....
Bolton W: Conor Wilkinson

Plymouth: Connor Smith, Graham Carey
Doncaster: Ian Lawlor, Paul Keegan,
Portsmouth: Enda Stevens, Michael Doyle, Noel Hunt, David Forde/Eoin Doyle.....

Lincoln: Sean Long, Alan Power
Conference Playoffs:
Aldershot: Shamir Fenelon
Dagenham: Shaun Donnellan, Leo Donnellan

[tetsujin1979]

Shaun Donnellan's on loan at Dagenham, will be back at West Brom in the summer. not sure what his contract situation is

[tetsujin1979]

Millwall through to play Bradford in the league one play offs.

[tetsujin1979]

Reading to play Fulham, and Sheffield Wednesday to play Huddersfield in the Championship play offs.

[Stuttgart88]

Not quite the right thread, but who is up and who is down? Duffy, Elliot, Clark and maybe Murphy up. Towell nominally. Maybe Westwood, Kelly and McShane.

Maybe relegated - Meyler. Anyone else? Meyler in the Championship won't be a disaster.

[DeLorean]

Maybe Westwood, Kelly and McShane.

Sean Scannell I suppose with Huddersfield. Sean Kavanagh still on the Fulham books.


Maybe relegated - Meyler. Anyone else? Meyler in the Championship won't be a disaster.

Looking likely alright with Gibson and O'Shea already gone. Crystal Palace not fully out of danger although Delaney obviously isn't a concern in terms of the international side.

[samhaydenjr]

Not quite the right thread, but who is up and who is down? Duffy, Elliot, Clark and maybe Murphy up. Towell nominally. Maybe Westwood, Kelly and McShane.

Seven Irish lads in Brighton's development and youth squads including current U-17 goal machine, Aaron Connolly. Although realistically it's possible that this could slow down their career development as Hughton will likely seek to improve his squad with more established players. But if a couple of them do make a breakthrough it will be at Premier League level, which would be great.


Maybe relegated - Meyler. Anyone else? Meyler in the Championship won't be a disaster.

Brian Lenihan would go down also as well as Will Keane (assuming he follows through on his stated interest in playing for us and gets back in the team after injury). In a mirror of the prospects of the Brighton youngsters, Hull being relegated might open up opportunities for Lenihan and Keane if Hull sell off some of their big earners.

[Stuttgart88]

Liam Kelly not in Reading's squad. Injured?

[DeLorean]

Just checked on one of their forums and he's missed out through illness. McShane just got a straight red for a bad tackle having been heavily involved in the goal to put them ahead earlier. 1-1 now though with ten mins left.

[DannyInvincible]

No place for Sean Scannell in Huddersfield's starting line-up or on their bench for the play-off semi-final against Sheffield Wednesday today.

Westwood keeping a clean sheet in the Wednesday goal with the latest score still 0-0 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/39697467).


https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/480/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2017/5/14/b14d0fa7-a9f4-4146-aad6-ed3509a64906.png

Ladies and gentleman, here's a snapshot of the only shot on target so far.

Nahki Wells' clever lob was turned over by Owls keeper Keiren Westwood 10 minutes after the break.

25 minutes to go - can we get two attempts between the sticks?!

Edit: Westwood keeping Wednesday in it.


Huddersfield again in with a great chance and Wednesday are indebted to their goalkeeper Keiren Westwood.

He's off his line in flash to prevent Nahki Wells stealing in after some indecision at the back by the Wednesday defenders.

He knew little about it, but Westwood gets it behind for a corner that comes to nothing.

[DeLorean]

Saw most of the second half. Huddersfield played some nice football but rarely looked like opening Wednesday up, although they did get in behind the sleepy full backs a couple of times. The Huddersfield keeper had nothing to do but a good result for Wednesday. Themselves and Reading probably hold a slender advantage now in terms of making the final, the best outcome from an Irish perspective too I would say.

[geysir]

McShane was somewhat hard done by events which led to his straight red card. He dispossessed a Fulham player who then threw him a bit off balance, just as he was trying to get at the loose ball and it turned into a lost cause red card lunge.
The commentator said he left his leg in on McDonald in a nasty way as if there was intent, but afaics McShane's only intent was to get at the ball. His honest pro tag should not be stained:)

https://youtu.be/lFtjPd3Rlsw?t=104

[OwlsFan]

Fair dues to any of you who watched the Huddersfield v Sheff Wed game. A snooze fest for the neutral I suspect with neither keeper being seriously troubled. For those who say the away goal rule should be abolished, they should watch that game as Wednesday made next or no little attempt to score - just like some of the European games of yore. I viewed the game in an almost empty pub in Oughterard, having persuaded a bemused barman to switch over from the horse-racing to the game. The only other person was a guy sitting behind me who kept asking the barman what time "the Liverpool game" was on at.

[DeLorean]

For those who say the away goal rule should be abolished, they should watch that game as Wednesday made next or no little attempt to score - just like some of the European games of yore.

I think the playoffs in general would support the argument that the away goals rule should be scrapped, as they're usually the most exciting games of the season. I think the away team is generally reasonably satisfied with a 0-0 away from home anyway, even when it is in place.

[Stuttgart88]

Yep, I'd agree with Dolly. I think the Madrid derby was ruined more by the away goal rule was than by SWFC's game being damaged as a spectacle by its absence.

In the League Cup semi finals (and also the play-offs?) I think away goals only come in as a differentiator after extra time in the second leg. That'd be better in my opinion. It gives the home team in the second leg 30 minutes more at home than the other team but that's just the luck of the draw.

[DeLorean]

In the League Cup they come into play after extra time. In the playoffs, extra time is played if the scores are level but the away goals still don't count at any stage, just penalties if the sides are level.

I think anyway.

[Closed Account]

Kieren Westwood involved in semi final shootout now....

[DannyInvincible]

The Championship play-off semi-final between Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield has just gone to a penalty shoot-out in order to decide who will meet Reading in the final. Huge few minutes ahead for Westwood.

[DannyInvincible]

Stream here for anyone who wants to follow the drama: http://crichd.tv/update/skys3.php

[DannyInvincible]

Westwood saves Huddersfield's fifth penalty to keep Wednesday in it. Amazing.

[DannyInvincible]

Forestieri also misses Wednesday's fifth meaning they lose 4-3 as they also missed their first. Wednesday (and possibly Westwood, unless he gets a move) will stay in the Championship for another season.

[DeLorean]

Sickened for him, did so well to get close to the others too that were almost freakishly brilliantly struck. Pity Hutchinson didn't pick up a second yellow late on that he probably deserved.

[DannyInvincible]

Sickened for him, did so well to get close to the others too that were almost freakishly brilliantly struck.

He was very unfortunate alright. He came so close to saving each of the four other penalties. He really deserves to be playing at a higher level than the Championship.

[OwlsFan]

He was very unfortunate alright. He came so close to saving each of the four other penalties. He really deserves to be playing at a higher level than the Championship.

Yes, but Wednesday were the only ones who were prepared to take a punt on an injury prone keeper. I think he went the wrong way for one of them though. The 17 year wait continues but to be honest the Championship is probably more interesting than the EPL where, Leicester aside, the usual hierarchy prevails each year. There are the top 6, the mid-rankers who aspire to be Top 6 but in reality are happy to cream in the dosh and survive and the relegation fighters who time will usually catch up with unless there is dross coming up from the Championship. In the Championship, it's usually anyone's to win and there are big clubs there now plus there'll be the Sheffield derbies.

Back to Westwood. He has said that the move kick-started his career and has enjoyed his time. I suppose there isn't a huge amount of difference between being a keeper at C or EPL level. There are still a myriad of shots to be saved albeit from lesser players.

[Stuttgart88]

If I was a scout I'd be recommending him to Arsenal. He's one of 3 or 4 keepers (Forster, Pickford, Butland, Heaton) I think are ready to move up a notch or two on the ladder. He was top class again last night.

[OwlsFan]

If I was a scout I'd be recommending him to Arsenal. He's one of 3 or 4 keepers (Forster, Pickford, Butland, Heaton) I think are ready to move up a notch or two on the ladder. He was top class again last night.

You can recommend all you want but he's going no where :) . Wednesday not a selling club anymore and fodder for EPL vultures. He previously rejected a move to Liverpool.

[DeLorean]

I would have loved for him to have been promoted with Wednesday but maybe if it's not broken, don't try to fix it. He'll remain first choice there at least well into the future you'd imagine. I think he's easily PL quality but he once had to play second fiddle to Vito Mannone, so you just don't know what could happen elsewhere.

[CraftyToePoke]

The 17 year wait continues but to be honest the Championship is probably more interesting than the EPL where, Leicester aside, the usual hierarchy prevails each year. There are the top 6, the mid-rankers who aspire to be Top 6 but in reality are happy to cream in the dosh and survive and the relegation fighters who time will usually catch up with unless there is dross coming up from the Championship. In the Championship, it's usually anyone's to win and there are big clubs there now plus there'll be the Sheffield derbies.

Whatever you need to tell yourself to get through today Owly :)