Wembley Experience and Aftermath (Warning - Long Read)

[Flatcap]

I'm aware many people have posted their own threads following Saturday and I've been reading them. Just thought I'd share my own overriding thoughts following the playoff final defeat.

In the weeks building up to the match, I was completely filled with dread. I was preemptively telling myself that if we should fail, I wouldn't enjoy my summer or any of the things I had been looking forward to. Basically, the worst possible way to approach this game from a mental standpoint.

I turned to this forum with three days to go before the final and having read some positive posts, I managed to calm myself and go into the remaining 72 hours level-headed and to my amazement, this lasted until midday on the Saturday when the nerves finally hit.

I screamed my throat roar when the first went in and when our second hit the back of the net, I actually cried. Full, uncontrollable sobbing. The whole occasion had gotten me a bit emotional but to see us score a second at Wembley and to have a two goal cushion, I couldn't contain it and I hope the cameras didn't pick it up because I was on the front row.

Then the VAR decision came and as the referee walked over to the monitor, I stopped crying and I just KNEW. Not only did I know it was being chalked off but I also, probably along with many other Blades, knew it was going to be a turning point.

I tried to stay positive at half time but I had the feeling that this was going to be a tough test in the second half as it proved to be.

Cutting out the rest of the horror, I tried sneaking to the toilet before extra time and just as I got to the toilet entrance, I heard the cheer and considering it wasn't especially loud, I knew it was the Sunlun fans and my heart sank but I didn't visibly react.

As I got into the cubicle, I heard Blades filing into the bathroom shouting about "Welsh [enter expletives here]" and therefore assumed that Kieffer had gifted them the winner.

Anyhow, as I walked out of the cubicle, a fellow Blade entered and as he did so, he kicked the door I'd just used full on and it practically came off the hinges. He then pulled the toilet roll dispenser off the wall and proceeded to stomp it and the toilet itself into oblivion, screaming and punching the whole time.

This actually stopped me from reacting badly because I couldn't comprehend just how enraged this fan was. I gathered myself, walked back out into the stadium, all the way down to the first row and resigned myself to the inevitable defeat.

I left the stadium before the full time whistle and saw two blades throwing punches at one another outside.
I just felt completely numb.

Walking down Wembley Way to the underground, I was alongside Paddy Kenny with his Blade scarf and as I entered the station, I was directly ahead of YouTuber Travelling Blade who I said hello to and shook hands with (although he was the embodiment of the word glum so I let him walk on).

Seeing the other Blades and how affected they were kept my own emotions in check and I've remained level-headed since. All that dread I had felt in the build up was pointless because it wasn't the end of the World. It wasn't just about me and my feelings. There are tens of thousands of us who were desperate to break the playoff curse this time just like I was and we have all had to go through the hurt again. Many Blades are older than I and have endured far more failure than I could comprehend. We are not alone and that comforts me. We are United. United in pain when it goes badly and united in joy when it goes our way.

Any way, time to enjoy my summer and to be honest, I can't wait to get back to the lane.

UTB.

 

[Blade 1971]

Good on you. I very nearly dipped out of going to the Heaton gig due to my anger at the unfairness of it all which would have been a big mistake.

It hurts like fuck but it's not real life. But why does it always have to be on my fucking birthday?

 

[Gimli]

I'm aware many people have posted their own threads following Saturday and I've been reading them. Just thought I'd share my own overriding thoughts following the playoff final defeat.

In the weeks building up to the match, I was completely filled with dread. I was preemptively telling myself that if we should fail, I wouldn't enjoy my summer or any of the things I had been looking forward to. Basically, the worst possible way to approach this game from a mental standpoint.

I turned to this forum with three days to go before the final and having read some positive posts, I managed to calm myself and go into the remaining 72 hours level-headed and to my amazement, this lasted until midday on the Saturday when the nerves finally hit.

I screamed my throat roar when the first went in and when our second hit the back of the net, I actually cried. Full, uncontrollable sobbing. The whole occasion had gotten me a bit emotional but to see us score a second at Wembley and to have a two goal cushion, I couldn't contain it and I hope the cameras didn't pick it up because I was on the front row.

Then the VAR decision came and as the referee walked over to the monitor, I stopped crying and I just KNEW. Not only did I know it was being chalked off but I also, probably along with many other Blades, knew it was going to be a turning point.

I tried to stay positive at half time but I had the feeling that this was going to be a tough test in the second half as it proved to be.

Cutting out the rest of the horror, I tried sneaking to the toilet before extra time and just as I got to the toilet entrance, I heard the cheer and considering it wasn't especially loud, I knew it was the Sunlun fans and my heart sank but I didn't visibly react.

As I got into the cubicle, I heard Blades filing into the bathroom shouting about "Welsh [enter expletives here]" and therefore assumed that Kieffer had gifted them the winner.

Anyhow, as I walked out of the cubicle, a fellow Blade entered and as he did so, he kicked the door I'd just used full on and it practically came off the hinges. He then pulled the toilet roll dispenser off the wall and proceeded to stomp it and the toilet itself into oblivion, screaming and punching the whole time.

This actually stopped me from reacting badly because I couldn't comprehend just how enraged this fan was. I gathered myself, walked back out into the stadium, all the way down to the first row and resigned myself to the inevitable defeat.

I left the stadium before the full time whistle and saw two blades throwing punches at one another outside.
I just felt completely numb.

Walking down Wembley Way to the underground, I was alongside Paddy Kenny with his Blade scarf and as I entered the station, I was directly ahead of YouTuber Travelling Blade who I said hello to and shook hands with (although he was the embodiment of the word glum so I let him walk on).

Seeing the other Blades and how affected they were kept my own emotions in check and I've remained level-headed since. All that dread I had felt in the build up was pointless because it wasn't the end of the World. It wasn't just about me and my feelings. There are tens of thousands of us who were desperate to break the playoff curse this time just like I was and we have all had to go through the hurt again. Many Blades are older than I and have endured far more failure than I could comprehend. We are not alone and that comforts me. We are United. United in pain when it goes badly and united in joy when it goes our way.

Any way, time to enjoy my summer and to be honest, I can't wait to get back to the lane.

UTB.

I spent about an hour walking round boxpark after the game shaking my head trying to work out how we’d managed to claw defeat from the jaws of victory.

But yeah I’m actually looking forward to next season more than I was for some reason, maybe because unlike yourself I was fortunate enough that the blades I saw were sound and I didn’t see any of the idiots that were inevitably knocking about - met some new faces too so looking forward to meeting up with them next season.

Feeing much more philosophical about the whole thing now. There’s more important things to worry about than Sheff United!

 

[Flatcap]

I spent about an hour walking round boxpark after the game shaking my head trying to work out how we’d managed to claw defeat from the jaws of victory.

But yeah I’m actually looking forward to next season more than I was for some reason, maybe because unlike yourself I was fortunate enough that the blades I saw were sound and I didn’t see any of the idiots that were inevitably knocking about - met some new faces too so looking forward to meeting up with them next season.

Feeing much more philosophical about the whole thing now. There’s more important things to worry about than Sheff United!

Yeah, I saw some good scenes as well. A few youngish Blades on my train back giving out their beers for free to other downbeat Blades. A nice touch.

 

[Rochdaleblade]

Worst defeat was me was the semi final vs the pigs. I swore I would never go again. I was at the lane a few days later to watch us beat Leeds.

 

[Sheffsteel]

I was in a terrible mental state on the evening after the match, almost in shock because we were so much the better team for 70 minute and you couldn’t see Sunderland scoring. Hardly spoke to anyone and couldn’t even eat. Just wanted to sleep.

Yesterday I was better but still sulking and feeling down.

Today I’m OK and looking forward to next season. Spoke to a few mates who vowed to never go again but now they are saying they probably would go again.,

My biggest memory of the whole match was the 2nd goal. At that moment total elation and I thought at 2-0 even we couldn’t mess up from here. Was confident the Sunderland heads would drop further and we’d win 3 or 4-0.

After the match I just couldn’t believe we’d lost because we were the better team on the day. Think they had 2 half chances and scored 2 goals. We had more chances and easier chances to score.

Overall though, there’s still plenty to feel positive. We’ll again be one of the favourites next season and theres some decent matches to look forward to.

 

[BiggerBladeThanThou]

I was in a terrible mental state on the evening after the match, almost in shock because we were so much the better team for 70 minute and you couldn’t see Sunderland scoring. Hardly spoke to anyone and couldn’t even eat. Just wanted to sleep.

Yesterday I was better but still sulking and feeling down.

Today I’m OK and looking forward to next season. Spoke to a few mates who vowed to never go again but now they are saying they probably would go again.,

My biggest memory of the whole match was the 2nd goal. At that moment total elation and I thought at 2-0 even we couldn’t mess up from here. Was confident the Sunderland heads would drop further and we’d win 3 or 4-0.

After the match I just couldn’t believe we’d lost because we were the better team on the day. Think they had 2 half chances and scored 2 goals. We had more chances and easier chances to score.

Overall though, there’s still plenty to feel positive. We’ll again be one of the favourites next season and theres some decent matches to look forward to.

This is word for word my experience.

 

[BLADE OF GRASS]

I was in a terrible mental state on the evening after the match, almost in shock because we were so much the better team for 70 minute and you couldn’t see Sunderland scoring. Hardly spoke to anyone and couldn’t even eat. Just wanted to sleep.

Yesterday I was better but still sulking and feeling down.

Today I’m OK and looking forward to next season. Spoke to a few mates who vowed to never go again but now they are saying they probably would go again.,

My biggest memory of the whole match was the 2nd goal. At that moment total elation and I thought at 2-0 even we couldn’t mess up from here. Was confident the Sunderland heads would drop further and we’d win 3 or 4-0.

After the match I just couldn’t believe we’d lost because we were the better team on the day. Think they had 2 half chances and scored 2 goals. We had more chances and easier chances to score.

Overall though, there’s still plenty to feel positive. We’ll again be one of the favourites next season and theres some decent matches to look forward to.

Yeh that feeling when the second goal went in was one of we're smashing them here and knowbody is going to stop us , this is definitely happening. That's the worst out of the lot for me and I can't go to another play off final again I just can't do it

 

[Sean Thornton]

I'm aware many people have posted their own threads following Saturday and I've been reading them. Just thought I'd share my own overriding thoughts following the playoff final defeat.

In the weeks building up to the match, I was completely filled with dread. I was preemptively telling myself that if we should fail, I wouldn't enjoy my summer or any of the things I had been looking forward to. Basically, the worst possible way to approach this game from a mental standpoint.

I turned to this forum with three days to go before the final and having read some positive posts, I managed to calm myself and go into the remaining 72 hours level-headed and to my amazement, this lasted until midday on the Saturday when the nerves finally hit.

I screamed my throat roar when the first went in and when our second hit the back of the net, I actually cried. Full, uncontrollable sobbing. The whole occasion had gotten me a bit emotional but to see us score a second at Wembley and to have a two goal cushion, I couldn't contain it and I hope the cameras didn't pick it up because I was on the front row.

Then the VAR decision came and as the referee walked over to the monitor, I stopped crying and I just KNEW. Not only did I know it was being chalked off but I also, probably along with many other Blades, knew it was going to be a turning point.

I tried to stay positive at half time but I had the feeling that this was going to be a tough test in the second half as it proved to be.

Cutting out the rest of the horror, I tried sneaking to the toilet before extra time and just as I got to the toilet entrance, I heard the cheer and considering it wasn't especially loud, I knew it was the Sunlun fans and my heart sank but I didn't visibly react.

As I got into the cubicle, I heard Blades filing into the bathroom shouting about "Welsh [enter expletives here]" and therefore assumed that Kieffer had gifted them the winner.

Anyhow, as I walked out of the cubicle, a fellow Blade entered and as he did so, he kicked the door I'd just used full on and it practically came off the hinges. He then pulled the toilet roll dispenser off the wall and proceeded to stomp it and the toilet itself into oblivion, screaming and punching the whole time.

This actually stopped me from reacting badly because I couldn't comprehend just how enraged this fan was. I gathered myself, walked back out into the stadium, all the way down to the first row and resigned myself to the inevitable defeat.

I left the stadium before the full time whistle and saw two blades throwing punches at one another outside.
I just felt completely numb.

Walking down Wembley Way to the underground, I was alongside Paddy Kenny with his Blade scarf and as I entered the station, I was directly ahead of YouTuber Travelling Blade who I said hello to and shook hands with (although he was the embodiment of the word glum so I let him walk on).

Seeing the other Blades and how affected they were kept my own emotions in check and I've remained level-headed since. All that dread I had felt in the build up was pointless because it wasn't the end of the World. It wasn't just about me and my feelings. There are tens of thousands of us who were desperate to break the playoff curse this time just like I was and we have all had to go through the hurt again. Many Blades are older than I and have endured far more failure than I could comprehend. We are not alone and that comforts me. We are United. United in pain when it goes badly and united in joy when it goes our way.

Any way, time to enjoy my summer and to be honest, I can't wait to get back to the lane.

UTB.

I posted yesterday about thinking “that’s it” when the VAR decision came in. I suspect that was a defining moment for many who’d attended all the previous defeats.

 

[tincan]

The optimistic view is we may have dodged a bullet by missing out. As with the football regulator taking control next season, we have avoided the £100m spend to stay in the PL. The new transparency and diligence laws may stop the overspending and all it's corruptions.