Hello from Shrewsbury and some questions

[ShrewsFan]

Hi, obvs I'm a Shrewsbury fan, it's looking like the play-offs for us and probably you too so I just wanted to come and ask a few questions.
Firstly, well done on a good season so far and in particular the footballing lesson you taught us. While your not certain of a place in the play offs yet I think you should get in with a point at Rotherham as I don't think both Stevenage and Gillingham will win. I also think we will end up in the play-offs so there's a good chance we'll be meeting somewhere along the line!

First things first how has Jake Robinson been playing? He seemed to have an electric start but since that game against us I haven't heard quite so much about him. Is he still playing well or does he flit in and out of games getting subbed off after an hour?
Anyway about Jake, I don't suppose you lot know what his play-off situation will be? Nobody our end knows, so I was wondering if you guys know exactly how long you've got him for? If he ends up playing against us and knocking us out, well I don't think I could take that.
Also you signed a couple of other loan players in January, Stanley and Tomlin, are these players eligable for the play-offs or do their loans expire beforehand? Hopefully they're both unavailable, Tomlin scored against us and Stanley has won all three games he's played against us this season!

Anyway, hopefully you know the answers as us at Shrewsbury haven't a clue, especially with Jake, best of luck next week aswell and hopefully you make the play-offs and we don't need them

[andygull]

Jake has been poor of late. Started like a house on fire but has been fairly anonymous lately. I'd be amazed if he would play against his parent club should such a game happen in the play offs though. Stanners has played his last game for us and as for Tomlin i don't know. I hate to say it but i've a feeling Wycombe will get 3rd and we will end up meeting at wembley in the final. Good luck for the final game anyway.

[Southampton Gull]

I disagree. Jake has been a really good player for us, always looking to attack and never stops wanting the ball. As far as I'm aware it's only Stanley that will be unavailable, Tomlin and Robinson should play. I'm sure he'll be up for it ^.^

[Plymouth Gull]

Hi mate,

Cheers for the compliments, you've had a good season too, although it does look like Wycombe have just about edged you to the final automatic spot.

Regarding Robinson, he isn't as effective now as he was at the start of his loan period, in my eyes. He still adds something extra to our front line, his first touch can be fantastic, but he has seemed to stop trying to skin the full back as much as he did earlier on. I believe he is available to play in the playoffs, as his loan is until the 'end of the season', if I recall correctly.

Stanleys loan has run out now, which is so unfortunate for us as he has been fantastic. I really hope we get him permanently next season. Tomlin, I think can play in the playoffs too, but I'm not 100% certain on that one.

Good luck in your quest for 3rd place, in a way, should we get in the playoffs, I'm hoping for you guys or Wycombe. We always seem to do well against both, their both excellent grounds which aren't too far on a Friday night, and we'd see a fair few fans, I'd have thought.

[CP Gull]

Well according to the player himself he (Robinson) is with us until our season ends be that next week at Rotherham or in the final at Old Trafford! Interestingly he did say to me that he believed that if we get knocked out of the play offs in the semis he could (in theory) return and play for you guys in the Final (should you get there) although the likelihood of him being picked by your Manager would be pretty remote I would assume!

As for Gavin Tomlin and Craig Stanley, I believe that Tomlin is with us for the rest of the season (including any play off games) - in theory Dagenham could recall him but as they haven't up until now I seriously doubt they will this week. Unfortunately Stanley's loan has now ended and he is supposed to be returning to Morecambe this week - although whether Sammy Mac wants him anywhere near the place after he (Stanley) recently turned down their offer to return early is debatable - either way though he can't play for us again this season.

As for Jake, the goals have dried up a bit - but that's been the case for the whole team recently - but he is still a big part in our recent upturn in form since February (only 2 defeats in last 20 games) which coincided with his arrival and that of Craig Stanley. Personally, I really hope both of them stay next year whatever league we are in and I'm pretty sure most Gulls fans would feel the same.

[ShrewsFan]

Jake has been poor of late. Started like a house on fire but has been fairly anonymous lately. I'd be amazed if he would play against his parent club should such a game happen in the play offs though. Stanners has played his last game for us and as for Tomlin i don't know. I hate to say it but i've a feeling Wycombe will get 3rd and we will end up meeting at wembley in the final. Good luck for the final game anyway.

Well I was amazed we'd let him play against you in a regular league game, so it wouldn't surprise me at all should we have to face him! He's probably, kicked his last ball for us anyway, his contract's up in the summer and spending the last 6 months out on loan suggests he won't be getting a new one. The problem is apparantly just pure and simply down to an administrative cock up at our end, we had some woman take on the job and she was still fairly new to the job on deadline day, she had 9 deals to do and somehow left the blasted clause in! Steve Leslie was loaned out to Hereford a few weeks later, he couldn't play against us so maybe she's learned her lesson, could be a costly mistake though, very costly!
You've possibly already worked it all out but this is my take on it:

If you win then you'll finish 5th and play Accrington Stanley in the semis
If you draw, and the other two teams win you'll finish 8th
If you draw, and one team wins and the other team loses or draws you'll finish 7th
If you lose and the other two lose you'll finish 6th
If you lose and one of the other teams lose and the other doesn't you'll finish 7th
If you lose and both the others don't lose you'll finish 8th.
I think that's right, it's so close between you, Stevenage and Gillingham though, and still totally open as to whether it'll be us/Wycombe or Accrington.

Anyway best of luck, I'm not sure a trip down to Plainmoor on a Saturday night would be great fun, especially as I'd have to be back in Shrews for Sunday, but we travel pretty well and I'm sure should we meet in the semis or the final it'll be more of a contest than last time we played!

[ferrarilover]

I agree with Dave regards Jake. He is very hungry for the ball and I think we should be making more effort to get the ball to him more often. His downturn in participation has coincided with PB's (slightly silly) recent habit of playing Zedders (our best winger) in the middle (which he prefers) and Billy (our most natural centre forward type) on the wing (where he is chocolate teapot). Since Billy refuses to play on the left, Jake has lost his ability to switch wings at will, which was used to such devastating effect in the previous few games, most notably against Bradford. He has been a little unfortunate not to have scored a goal in the last 3 or 4 games and I believe he will serve us very well on the carpet at Old Trafford, should we be lucky and good enough to get there.

Matt.

[Fletch]

Without wanting to tempt fate, I see it is 4th v 7th on the Saturday and 5th v 6th on the Sunday (unless Vale make it into 7th when it then becomes the other way round)

[ferrarilover]

Why do the teams involved affect the days on which the match is played, Fletch?

Matt.

[tommygull]

If Port vale are in then they can't play on saturday because Stoke are playing in the FA cup final that day. Not sure why but must be connected to that.

[RussianGull]

I imagine it's to do with policing numbers

[Fletch]

I have absolutely no idea. I can only think its something to do with the local feds from Staffs being involved with the cup final maybe?

[ferrarilover]

I see. Not absolutely certain how many coppers you'd need at a L2 playoff semi-final first leg between Port Vale and Shrewsbury (for example), but if thems is the rules.

Matt.

[Fletch]

Well, its less than 40 miles so i guess its classed as a local derby, with the attendant risk of crowd trouble?