Once in a lifetime

[shutsy93]

If we make the final, I will definitely be making the trip from North Wales (from Uni) to see the Whites play at Wembley. Isn't often you get that chance.

I wonder how realistic it is for Preston to play against Southend at Wembley...Fittingly, North End representing the North and Southend representing the South. I'd like to say that both clubs are respectively the strongest out of those remaining in the two halves of the competition, so I can definitely see it happening. Exact some revenge for the F.A. Cup, in which North End have won F.A. once again.

 

[mells bells]

John I agree with you it's just the additional 20k plastic PNE "fans" that will want to watch "their" team at Wembley, these cunts make me want to puke.

Bloody cherry pickers make me sick.

 

[drunknmunky]

I would go wembley, annoyed i cant make all the games, but i work Out Of Hours at work so making the games is down to chance based on my shifts

 

[Ohnotagain]

Does anyone know what date the final is?

It's not relevant for a nobber what date the final is.
We'll bottle it.

Again.

 

[Rankine]

In football terms winning the Johnstons Paint Trophy is not very high in the pecking order of football achievements. Nevertheless for some ...nay indeed all ..it may be the only chance we get to see a current Preston North End captain lift a trophy at Wembley. After all the last one was Tom Smith 73 years ago.

Now in anybody's calculations 73 years is a lifetime so, for my money, this game on Tuesday evening is a BIG game.

Brown needs to pick his strongest team (if he knows what that is) because with Oldham or Bradford City waiting in the Northern final and those other massive clubs in the Southern half (Brentford, Southend, Barnet and Swindon) this is surely our best chance for a long time of a Wembley Cup Final and a win.

Some might think the Paint Pot Cup is a bit of a joke ....but if we win it then it's one of my ambitions fulfilled.

Don't let us down Phil.

Spot on post, totally agree.

 

[Bhagwan Hardcastle]

It's a tinpot trophy which underlines how far we have fallen in a very short time, just as losing to Southend in the FA Cup was as well.

 

[flippinheck]

In football terms winning the Johnstons Paint Trophy is not very high in the pecking order of football achievements. Nevertheless for some ...nay indeed all ..it may be the only chance we get to see a current Preston North End captain lift a trophy at Wembley. After all the last one was Tom Smith 73 years ago.

Now in anybody's calculations 73 years is a lifetime so, for my money, this game on Tuesday evening is a BIG game.

Brown needs to pick his strongest team (if he knows what that is) because with Oldham or Bradford City waiting in the Northern final and those other massive clubs in the Southern half (Brentford, Southend, Barnet and Swindon) this is surely our best chance for a long time of a Wembley Cup Final and a win.

Some might think the Paint Pot Cup is a bit of a joke ....but if we win it then it's one of my ambitions fulfilled.

Don't let us down Phil.

I think you need to raise your ambitions a little Budgie. Unless you were born on the day Roy Tunks nearly throttled Francis Burns over his dallying over a back pass or later , having this as an ambition I find quite sad really . I know plenty of over 40s who are sick and fed up of watching PNE try and try and always fail at the final hurdle who are pretty sick at what has happened to PNE since Billy Davies should have been backed at Xmas a few years back . Ambition seemed to go at that time for many and I cannot understand why anyone would have the JPT trophy as an ambition unless they we're happy to always want less! Sorry, but I would sooner see the youth team win the league than waste £500 taking my family to watch a shitty cup final in an almost empty stadium .

 

[Henrys Cat]

It's a tinpot trophy which underlines how far we have fallen in a very short time, just as losing to Southend in the FA Cup was as well.

The league cup is considered a tin pot trophy in the early rounds. They al take it seriously though once they get to the quarter final stage.

There are only 3 domestic trophies (apart from the league) to aim for in England. We are never going to win the FA Cup, nor the League Cup. Why not take the only other available, and attainable option seriously.

If PNE are fortunate enough to get to Wembley in this competition, I'll be one proud North Ender sat in the Greatest Stadium in the World, hoping my team can lift the cup. I assume from this thread, that some of you won't even bother with the Radio commentary? Bollox, you'll all be in the queue for tickets with everyone else.

 

[shutts66]

The league cup is considered a tin pot trophy in the early rounds. They al take it seriously though once they get to the quarter final stage.

There are only 3 domestic trophies (apart from the league) to aim for in England. We are never going to win the FA Cup, nor the League Cup. Why not take the only other available, and attainable option seriously.

If PNE are fortunate enough to get to Wembley in this competition, I'll be one proud North Ender sat in the Greatest Stadium in the World, hoping my team can lift the cup. I assume from this thread, that some of you won't even bother with the Radio commentary? Bollox, you'll all be in the queue for tickets with everyone else.

Spot on Cat! One of the proudest moments of my 30 odd years watching North End was just seeing them come out of the tunnel at Wembley in 94. Having sat watching Cup Finals for years the moments I most remember were the teams emerging on to the long walk from behind the goal.

Who cares what the competition is? Wembley is Wembley.
Look at Notts County earlier this season. The whole first team squad wanted to play in the curtain raiser at Juve's new ground. Was it a competitive match? Was there a trophy at stake? No. But there was teh opportunity to play at a new, state of the art ground. And they all took it, even though they had a League 1 bread and butter game 36 hours later.

 

[Town Ender]

I am not happy that we have fallen down the football pecking order resulting in us being in this competition, but we are, so I want North End to win every game and lift the trophy.

If we have to play in it, surely winning it is the least embarrassing it can get. Plus if we get to Wembley then yes I will be there watching.

Perhaps if the fans are that keen on not watching PNE in the final we should just tell the players not to bother in this weeks game, then watch the reaction of those fans who aren't bothered, they'll be slagging the team off left, right and centre.

 

[Regardless]

I guess I am one of those on here who don't bow down to Budgie and agree with everything he writes..... and other arrogant bullshit.

So, according to you, we are in disgrace until the day that we battle our way back to the top division. Any victories en route must be treated as matter-of-fact routine and not celebrated, in case this affects our focus on the next game of lower league drudgery.

What's more, you seem to think that you're the only one to be enlightened.

I've often thought that the level of stick you get has been a bit unfair.

But on this thread, you come across as completely egotistical and arrogant. And living in some sort of miserable half-life, unable to enjoy anything that falls short of your idea of perfection.

 

[Albertan]

Not agreed at all, 5 are in a lower position, 15 are in the same or better. Define detriment....you are a complete tool aren't you

I will explain again, 10 of the teams who have won the JP now play in a higher division, 10 don't, so please explain to me again how by winning the JP, it is proven that it can be a catalyst for better things?

Could it not be that it just happens to be a 50/50 chance that things may improve if a club wins the JP?

That is what it looks like to me.........10 clubs have improved, 5 have maintained the status quo, and 5 have gone worse, so that means that 10 clubs have not improved.........ie it's a 50/50 job, hence we have just as much chance (using the stats supplied by you) of improving if we win the JP.

Next.

 

[Albertan]

So, according to you, we are in disgrace until the day that we battle our way back to the top division. Any victories en route must be treated as matter-of-fact routine and not celebrated, in case this affects our focus on the next game of lower league drudgery.

What's more, you seem to think that you're the only one to be enlightened.

I've often thought that the level of stick you get has been a bit unfair.

But on this thread, you come across as completely egotistical and arrogant. And living in some sort of miserable half-life, unable to enjoy anything that falls short of your idea of perfection.

If you want to get excited about us possibly winning this Mickey Mouse affair, then be my guest, but as you can see from several other people who took the trouble to post on this thread, I am not on my own in not agreeing with Budgie's statement of an ambition being filled if we happen to lift the trophy at Wembley.

It is a matter of opinion of course, and Mr Roper has every right to state his case, but guess what, seeing a PNE capt lift a trophy at Wembley (unless it is the FA cup, the League cup, or a play off promotion win) is not an ambition of mine, and clearly not of the other posters.

I call it as I see it, if you don't agree, that is your right, but don't come on here getting personal, what's the point? Just stick to the issue, and the issue here for me is how low have we come when winning the JP competition is beginning to fulfill a lifetime PNE supporters ambition?

Think about it.

ps: You are having a go at someone who has seen PNE in the top division, who watched the likes of Finney, Peter Thompson, Archie Gemmill, Nobby Lawton, Alan Kelly Snr, Howard Kendall, Ernie Hannigan, Mark Lawrenson, Tony Morley, Alex Dawson, and this is not taking into account all the good players we have had over the past decade or so when we could battle it out and hold our own with clubs such as West Ham, Wolves, WBA, Fulham, Man City etc etc.

The JP trophy? Don't make me laugh.

 

[h@rry]

I don't understand what all the controversy is about. I certainly don't see the JPT as anywhere near on a par with the play-off final, but still want North End to win it and will be at Wembley if we get there. Is it beneath our dignity as a club to take this competition seriously? I don't understand why anyone would think that. We are where we are.

 

[Regardless]

If you want to get excited about us possibly winning this Mickey Mouse affair, then be my guest, but as you can see from several other people who took the trouble to post on this thread, I am not on my own in not agreeing with Budgie's statement of an ambition being filled if we happen to lift the trophy at Wembley.

It is a matter of opinion of course, and Mr Roper has every right to state his case, but guess what, seeing a PNE capt lift a trophy at Wembley (unless it is the FA cup, the League cup, or a play off promotion win) is not an ambition of mine, and clearly not of the other posters.

I call it as I see it, if you don't agree, that is your right, but don't come on here getting personal, what's the point? Just stick to the issue, and the issue here for me is how low have we come when winning the JP competition is beginning to fulfill a lifetime PNE supporters ambition?

Think about it.

ps: You are having a go at someone who has seen PNE in the top division, who watched the likes of Finney, Peter Thompson, Archie Gemmill, Nobby Lawton, Alan Kelly Snr, Howard Kendall, Ernie Hannigan, Mark Lawrenson, Tony Morley, Alex Dawson, and this is not taking into account all the good players we have had over the past decade or so when we could battle it out and hold our own with clubs such as West Ham, Wolves, WBA, Fulham, Man City etc etc.

The JP trophy? Don't make me laugh.

Thanks for the reply. I don't think you meant to prove my point... but you could not done a better job... even if you'd simply said ...

"You're right... I suppose I was a bit arrogant in the way I labelled everyone who agreed with budgierustler as a sycophant. And I have seen Tom Finney play and I can't get over the decline in PNE's fortunes... I am living in the past and a bit miserable... etc etc "

 

[Regardless]

Where did I write that we shouldn't aim to win the JP?

Also I assume that the stats must show by definition of your findings that 10 of the last 20 winners are either in League one, League two, or are currently playing in non-league football?

So in fact the stats could be said to show that it is a detriment to actually win this trophy.....agreed?

Next idiot please

Jake makes a really excellent point about the catalytic effect of winning the JPT.

Of those last 20 winners he describes, EIGHT have gone on to play in the premier league (if Jake had looked back a further 4 years, that would would added 3 more.) Some of those clubs were obviously repeat winners.. That looks a strong sign that winning the JPT is a real catalyst for success.

But you should know that you need a control sample when working with stats. So what better than look at the 20 losing finalists? Clubs that are, by definition, of roughly equal footing as the other finalist.

If YOUR dismissive view is correct... would you expect that about 8 of those had also played in the premier league? Maybe have a bit of leeway, and guess at 7 or 6?

The answer is that ZERO, NIL, NONE of the losing finalists have gone on to play in the premier league.... and 18 losing finalists are now playing in Leagues One, Two or Conference.

That's a very very stark statistic... but of course, jake was an idiot for suggesting that holding that tin-pot trophy aloft at Wembley can be a catalyst to future success.

 

[Albertan]

I don't understand what all the controversy is about. I certainly don't see the JPT as anywhere near on a par with the play-off final, but still want North End to win it and will be at Wembley if we get there. Is it beneath our dignity as a club to take this competition seriously? I don't understand why anyone would think that. We are where we are.

Just so my position is clear harry, and your remarks where probably not aimed at me in any case, I have no issue if we win the JPT, in fact, I would get pleasure out of winning something, it even gives me a bit of a kick when Surf gives us reports of yet another trophy won by the fans team................I was simply pointing out how low we have got when Budgie, who is clearly a long time suffering PNE fan, states that to see a PNE captain lift a trophy aloft at Wembley would be an ambition fulfilled.

Sure it would be an ambition of Budgie's fulfilled, but is it really something to be proud of, something to tell your grand kids in future years that PNE won a trophy at Wembley, when in terms of our club, the main reason we participated in the competition in the first place was because of our abject failure of the previous season?

Now if Morecambe won it, I wouldn't blame their fans for being excited about it. Surely though, PNE fans should have higher goals than winning a cup designed for the 48 worse clubs in the Football League. And to lift that trophy should not be the fullfillment of ambition.........eg my ambition would be fullfilled if/when we play our first game in the prem..............whether we had lifted any trophies at Wembley on the way or not.

That would be an achievement, winning the JPT (in my mind) is a "reward" for last years awful league showing.

 

[Albertan]

Jake makes a really excellent point about the catalytic effect of winning the JPT.

Of those last 20 winners he describes, EIGHT have gone on to play in the premier league (if Jake had looked back a further 4 years, that would would added 3 more.) Some of those clubs were obviously repeat winners.. That looks a strong sign that winning the JPT is a real catalyst for success.

But you should know that you need a control sample when working with stats. So what better than look at the 20 losing finalists? Clubs that are, by definition, of roughly equal footing as the other finalist.

If YOUR dismissive view is correct... would you expect that about 8 of those had also played in the premier league? Maybe have a bit of leeway, and guess at 7 or 6?

The answer is that ZERO, NIL, NONE of the losing finalists have gone on to play in the premier league.... and 18 losing finalists are now playing in Leagues One, Two or Conference.

That's a very very stark statistic... but of course, jake was an idiot for suggesting that holding that tin-pot trophy aloft at Wembley can be a catalyst to future success.

If you are going to quote another poster at least get your quotes correct.

Jake said that 5 had gone onto the prem, 5 to the championship, so clearly the other 10 of his sample of 20 had either stagnated or gone worse.............ie statistcally the winners according to Jake have a 50% chance of improvement.....................but if you are trying to convince me that by winning the JPT it gives us a better chance of future success ie promotion to the Championship and eventually the prem you are clearly barking up the wrong tree, statistically and commonsense wise.

Will it give us a boost if we win, probably, but as far as winning promotion to the Championship, and eventually to the prem..................ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT STATEMENT...........if indeed that is what you are trying to say.

You would be just as well saying that just because England defeated Spain recently it makes them (England) red hot favourites to win the upcoming European championships. Beating Spain in a friendly home match has about as much to do with England winning the Euro's, than has PNE winning the JPT at Wembley to do with us taking our place in the prem.

ps I will tell you what would for sure be a catalyst for our future success, and that is if we beat the likes of Charlton, Sheff Utd, Sheff Wed, MK Dons and Huddersfield the next time we play them.

Winning those game would have many times more affect than winning the JPT.

 

[Albertan]

Thanks for the reply. I don't think you meant to prove my point... but you could not done a better job... even if you'd simply said ...

"You're right... I suppose I was a bit arrogant in the way I labelled everyone who agreed with budgierustler as a sycophant. And I have seen Tom Finney play and I can't get over the decline in PNE's fortunes... I am living in the past and a bit miserable... etc etc "

Thats what you think I wrote, but it isn't what I wrote is it? I only mentioned the players names that I had been priveliged to see to illustrate my point as to how low our club has fallen to get excited about winning what is when all is said and done, a MICKEY MOUSE CUP..................at least that is what almost everyone was saying when Blackpool were in the hunt to win it................wasn't it?

Now suddenly it sadly is fulfilling a long time fan's ambition, which I find rather pathetic.

 

[Albertan]

Much to laugh at again in the ramblings of the distant one. Do you think I made the OP to boost my ego and hope everyone agreed.... blimey and you say I'm losing it. Football is a game of opinions and everyone is entitle to their own. Your ramblings are far removed from what I think the majority of North End fans think - however that is only my opinion. You talk about having pride at going to Cardiff to watch the Bolton and West Ham games...well if your interpretation of having pride in your club is only being proud if we are playing big games then it says it all about you.

I was born in Preston and I 'm very very proud to be a Preston fan...I will be a Preston fan all my life irrespective of which division we are in...and there Alby old boy lies the difference between me and you.

Being a Preston fan is for life...not just for the play offs.

So why do you need to see a PNE captain lift a trophy at Wembley to fulfill your ambition if being a Preston fan is for life, not just for the play offs (or in your case winning this mickey mouse trophy)?

For your information Budgie, I am proud of my football club no matter what division they play in, because I am sensible enough not to get to low when we are at our low points, and not to get too carried away when we are doing well.

I have been a PNE fan since 1958, so I don't need lectures from you telling me that I am only a fan when we reach the play offs. It isn't me shouting to the world that if we win this thing that it will fulfill an ambition.

Absolutely not me, in fact whilst I wouldn't mind us winning it, as I guess it can't do any harm, there will also be a little bit of embarrassment knowing that the rest of the country sees our club battling it out with such big clubs as Oldham, Swindon, Bradford, Southend etc etc.

We have to fall this low for you to have a chance of seeing your ambition fulfilled?

Give me a break Budgie.

Think about what you are saying in your OP.

To be honest, it makes me cringe, it really does, and from what I have read on this thread, I don't think I am the only one that is a tad embarressed for you.

It isn't too late to reconsider? Come on Budgie, be a man, admit your OP was somewhat over the top. 🙂