Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/1998 Football League First Division play-off Final/archive1

Nominator(s): The Rambling Man (Stay indoors, stay safe!!!!) 16:43, 7 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Okay, so this one really is a good 'un. Outside of the ultimate classic (I may be biased), this play-off final is stuff of legend. It has been called possibly the most exciting match ever played at the old Wembley. Three apiece after regulation time, 4–4 after extra time and then penalties. I had the luxury of watching this all unfold in a pub near Loughborough (nothing better to do with myself at that time), and I remember it almost like it was yesterday. I will work tirelessly to address any constructive comments, and as always, thanks in advance for your time. The Rambling Man (Stay indoors, stay safe!!!!) 16:43, 7 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Images are appropriately licensed. Nikkimaria (talk) 01:08, 12 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks! The Rambling Man (Stay indoors, stay safe!!!!) 07:53, 12 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Review by Dweller

Please see comments below. --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 09:17, 17 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

The sequence of scoring in the lead could be greatly simplified and in so doing allow a reader who doesn't recognise the names to follow the flow of the scoring. --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 10:29, 17 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
Well sure, what's your suggestion as it reads fine to me. The Rambling Man (Stay indoors, stay safe!!!!) 10:48, 17 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
Maybe remove the player names... with 8 goals to describe, there's an argument for it being excessive detail. --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 12:18, 17 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
Well only five different ones, and certainly not excessive to mention Mendonca (for example). The lead in this article can be quite sizeable. I've added a couple shout-outs to club names to help readers follow the flow. The Rambling Man (Stay indoors, stay safe!!!!) 12:34, 17 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
Fair enough. --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 09:23, 20 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
How about some basic info about the Mexico match that was missed (friendly, presumably?) --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 09:23, 20 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
Dweller I've only gone and done it! The Rambling Man (Stay indoors, stay safe!!!!) 10:44, 20 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Comments by Oldelpaso

This is very good, I only have nitpicks.

Curbishley's assistant Les Reed left the club after the penalty shootout loss. - Win?
Gah, yes, done. The Rambling Man (Stay indoors, stay safe!!!!) 12:25, 21 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
We have Mendonca saying sorry to his mates in Sunderland before we learn he is from Sunderland. This could be rejigged.
Re-ordered. The Rambling Man (Stay indoors, stay safe!!!!) 12:25, 21 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
The background section does a good job, but perhaps could mention expectations at the start of the season.
I'll see what I can find. The Rambling Man (Stay indoors, stay safe!!!!) 12:25, 21 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
This gives a bit of a preview of the season. Harrias ^talk 12:40, 21 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
Harrias lovely, thanks. The Rambling Man (Stay indoors, stay safe!!!!) 12:43, 21 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Harrias (or anyone) any idea how to fix the Gale URL so it doesn't upset the {{cite web}} template? The Rambling Man (Stay indoors, stay safe!!!!) 13:49, 21 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
Is that better? Harrias ^talk 14:07, 21 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
It is, thanks! The Rambling Man (Stay indoors, stay safe!!!!) 14:13, 21 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
·Maybe a brief mention of style or tactics. Its the Football League in the 90s so maybe 4-4-2 isn't unusual enough for sources to note, but for instance Peter Reid sides were noted for knocking it long, usually onto the head of Niall Quinn. Related to this, the formation diagram is unsourced. Oldelpaso (talk) 11:55, 21 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
I'll see what I can find. The 4-4-2 formations are sourced by the "Charlton scoop the jackpot" reference, not sure how you would like that presented? The Rambling Man (Stay indoors, stay safe!!!!) 12:25, 21 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Cheers Oldelpaso, addressed the easy ones, got to find a way of looking into the other two, may be (much) more difficult. The Rambling Man (Stay indoors, stay safe!!!!) 12:25, 21 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Oldelpaso I've added some season preview comments which Harrias kindly helped with, and some of the nuggets from Reid's autobio which you helped me with (thanks!) I've struggled on the "style"/"tactics" query, predominantly because although you're bang on about the lump it to Quinn while Phillips sniffed around for scraps, that isn't really covered in any of the contemporary reports. If you have anything pertinent and referencerable then I'd be happy to add it. Also, I'd be a touch reluctant to add that for just one of the two sides, i.e. what was Curbishley's 1998 Charlton team playing like?? The Rambling Man (Stay indoors, stay safe!!!!) 14:47, 21 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Its a fair point. Curbishley was at Charlton for many years but beyond cliched stuff about being well organised I can't find much about their style in that period. I'd view it as a nice to have, not an essential. Like you say, doing it for one team not the other would be lopsided. Oldelpaso (talk) 16:21, 21 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]