Wembley Heartaches - How many are you on?

[Stretch]

Just the two for me. 97 and 2009. They were enough.

 

[Cheets]

I don’t class 2014 and 2023 as heartaches. The first one, lads did us proud. 2nd one was just unbelievably boring.

We’ve lost playoff finals in all the worst circumstances.

Last minute goal
Outplayed for 90 mins
Penalties
Already beaten at half time

It can’t ever be as bad as the above.

And don't forget us agonisingly getting a lifeline with a penalty at Cardiff, only for Michael Brown to miss it.

 

[Foxy]

Heartaches you say? any and all you can remember since I was old enough to go in about 89/90

 

[BalticBlade]

I wouldn't count Man City as heartache. That was merely an event, a formality. We were literally there to make up the numbers so they could put a game on and officially have a semi final

Never experienced a 'big' game like that. Felt like a pre-season friendly. Felt nice and relaxed throughout the match, it was a good day out.

 

[Lord Eddard Muir]

2 + Cardiff. Pigs and Palace were before my time going to matches though I watched them on telly.

1) The Burnley match - such an anticlimax. We just didn't show up to that one at all. I can't imagine that happening this time, not with Wilder involved and George's shirt in the dressing room to fire them up.

2) Hull in the cup semi - fair play, I actually enjoyed that one and came home happy despite how it ended. Not happy enough to buy the 'Nigel gave me a semi' t-shirt though.

Fortunately I was abroad at a wedding for Huddersfield.

Not going to the Man City semi was a no-brainer, complete waste of time and money, although I would've gone to the final if we'd made it through.

 

[Bladesman]

I’ve blocked most of them out so I can’t remember. All I know is it’s fucking hot, expensive, disappointing and then you have to put up with opposition fans giving you shit on the journey back home up the M1.

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

Never experienced a 'big' game like that. Felt like a pre-season friendly. Felt nice and relaxed throughout the match, it was a good day out.

It felt like we agreed not to tackle them if they agreed not to batter us. Maybe we'll resume this arrangement next season. Happy days....

 

[Argentinemanager]

All 6 plus cardiff and 2 old trafford, but this is my last, first time ive said that but slowly getting too old for it

 

[jt64]

Just the one against Huddersfield. I was at the Hull game, but I don't count losing a game to a team two divisions above as a "heartbreak", more the expected result

 

[programmechap]

1993 Pigs Semi Final
1997 Palace Playoffs
2009 Burnley Playoffs
2012 Huddersfield playoffs
2014 Hull Semi Final
2023 Man City Semi Final

I dare say that we might hate Wembley less if they hadn't started hosting semi-finals there too.

In "order of expectation of winning"

1. 97 Palace. Beaten them twice in the league and they'd scraped into 6th
2. 09 Burnley: they'd beaten us twice, but we'd be on a good end of season run and, against the odds, almost grabbed 2nd.
3. 12 Huddersfield: we'd finished a long way ahead of them, but Ched etc.
4. 93 Wednesday: they had much better players than us, but hadn't beaten us in 3 games, a Bassett blood and guts performance might have done it.
5. 14 Hull: league 1 v Premier league and thus low expectations, which, for once, the players surpassed.
6. 23 Man City: we had 2 hopes in that game: Bob Hope and no.hope.

 

[torridon]

5 for me, and only Alan Corks goal to celebrate, missed the Hull semi due to a holiday.

 

[programmechap]

In "order of expectation of winning"

1. 97 Palace. Beaten them twice in the league and they'd scraped into 6th
2. 09 Burnley: they'd beaten us twice, but we'd be on a good end of season run and, against the odds, almost grabbed 2nd.
3. 12 Huddersfield: we'd finished a long way ahead of them, but Ched etc.
4. 93 Wednesday: they had much better players than us, but hadn't beaten us in 3 games, a Bassett blood and guts performance might have done it.
5. 14 Hull: league 1 v Premier league and thus low expectations, which, for once, the players surpassed.
6. 23 Man City: we had 2 hopes in that game: Bob Hope and no.hope.

If we add Wolves 03 at Cardiff, I'd say that was straight in at no..1 We'd performed heroics that season and it seemed play off victory would be the fitting climax.

 

[AnstonBlade1]

Cardiff was the worst for me

 

[Bladesman]

Cardiff was the worst for me

I just couldn't believe how shit we were in that match given the sort of performances Warnock demanded.

 

[Hadfield Blade]

All of them and the OT semis plus two trips to Wembley with Glossop North end which they lost and didn’t score either!

 

[Northyorksblade]

Biggest disappointment was the Hopkin moment in 1997, or not giving Wednesday a game in 1993.

That last second goal last night, took me back to the Hopkins moment. Not exactly the same, but I bet the Coventry fans felt like we did.

 

[Balham]

In "order of expectation of winning"

1. 97 Palace. Beaten them twice in the league and they'd scraped into 6th
2. 09 Burnley: they'd beaten us twice, but we'd be on a good end of season run and, against the odds, almost grabbed 2nd.
3. 12 Huddersfield: we'd finished a long way ahead of them, but Ched etc.
4. 93 Wednesday: they had much better players than us, but hadn't beaten us in 3 games, a Bassett blood and guts performance might have done it.
5. 14 Hull: league 1 v Premier league and thus low expectations, which, for once, the players surpassed.
6. 23 Man City: we had 2 hopes in that game: Bob Hope and no.hope.

I wasn't following United closely enough in 1996/97 to know whether we should have beaten Palace but I don't think I would say I'd have been hopeful with any of the others.

2 - Burnley: we'd ground out the end of the season after Henderson's injury forced us to rely on Craig Beattie. The bright spot was the emergence of Kyle Walker but the turgid midfield and tactical inepitude of Kevin Blackwell meant that we were always second favourites
3 - we were a zombie team by the end of the regular season with us collapsing in the last 3 games. The Evans verdict had a huge impact on the team, followed by season ending idiocy from Beattie and injury to Hoskins. We were absolutely toothless and played for penalties from about the 35th minute. The whole thing was summed up by penalty specialist Andy Taylor hitting the post in the shootout having been brought on in the 120th minute specifically to take a spot kick. That loss felt inevitable.
4 - meh. Had the referee made Waddle take the free kick from the correct place this one might have been different. Oh well. They were deservedly favourites though, we were huge underdogs
5 - agree. The players played without fear and we deserved to be ahead at half time but Tom Huddlestone changed the game in that 5 minute spell after half time. Our midfield midgets couldn't get close to him.
6 - totally agree. I'm not even sure why I went to that one: took me 2.5 hours to drive from Teddington to Wembley as there was a game on at Twickenham.

 

[joe casey]

Just the one against Huddersfield. I was at the Hull game, but I don't count losing a game to a team two divisions above as a "heartbreak", more the expected result

Burnley and Huddersfield the only real heartaches.

As many have said Man City was a formality (but oh if Ndiaye takes that early chance and Jebbison doesn't have a brain fart before half time).
Hull is actually a game I have very fond memories despite the result - probably helped by the fact I was 3 sheets to the wind throughout.

 

[Isar]

Done 5 of the six and Cardiff.
Missed the Hull City FA Cup semi final due to being stuck in a beer garden in Munich.

 

[programmechap]

I wasn't following United closely enough in 1996/97 to know whether we should have beaten Palace but I don't think I would say I'd have been hopeful with any of the others.

2 - Burnley: we'd ground out the end of the season after Henderson's injury forced us to rely on Craig Beattie. The bright spot was the emergence of Kyle Walker but the turgid midfield and tactical inepitude of Kevin Blackwell meant that we were always second favourites
3 - we were a zombie team by the end of the regular season with us collapsing in the last 3 games. The Evans verdict had a huge impact on the team, followed by season ending idiocy from Beattie and injury to Hoskins. We were absolutely toothless and played for penalties from about the 35th minute. The whole thing was summed up by penalty specialist Andy Taylor hitting the post in the shootout having been brought on in the 120th minute specifically to take a spot kick. That loss felt inevitable.
4 - meh. Had the referee made Waddle take the free kick from the correct place this one might have been different. Oh well. They were deservedly favourites though, we were huge underdogs
5 - agree. The players played without fear and we deserved to be ahead at half time but Tom Huddlestone changed the game in that 5 minute spell after half time. Our midfield midgets couldn't get close to him.
6 - totally agree. I'm not even sure why I went to that one: took me 2.5 hours to drive from Teddington to Wembley as there was a game on at Twickenham.

Huddersfield was the one we got nearest to winning. They'd missed their first 3 pens. We'd scored 1 of our 2. Our 3rd penalty goes in and we're virtually there.

Of course, Taylor hit the post. A matter of a few inches.

 

[Tickhill Blade]

5 for me, and only Alan Corks goal to celebrate, missed the Hull semi due to a holiday.

Same for me. Including Cardiff and OT semis, it's 32 years since I last saw us score in a big 'one-off' game

 

[Silent Blade]

All of them plus England's 1-1 draw against Poland in 1973.

 

[Blade56]

Weeeeeerrrrrzzzzz 72 option?

 

[Aston max]

1993 Pigs Semi Final
1997 Palace Playoffs
2009 Burnley Playoffs
2012 Huddersfield playoffs
2014 Hull Semi Final
2023 Man City Semi Final

I dare say that we might hate Wembley less if they hadn't started hosting semi-finals there too.

Went to first 2 with my Liverpool supporting missus ( she's now a confirmed blade)
Burnley listening to it in donny airport
Huddersfield and hull same again in Manchester airport
I could only take my main work holidays late may for a few years
By the time city came round health issues stopped me from attending games
I guess what I'm trying to say is guys despite the disappointment keep going the day out alone is worth it , I'm 67 and knackered and would love the opportunity a lot of you guys have

 

[Racing Blade]

1993 - with my mate
1997 - with my mate and his future wife
2009 - with my ex-wife
2012 - with my dad and my son
2014 - with most of our family

(1925) - no heartache for my grandad, aged 16.

 

[Superblades]

All apart from 93.

 

[Balham]

Huddersfield was the one we got nearest to winning. They'd missed their first 3 pens. We'd scored 1 of our 2. Our 3rd penalty goes in and we're virtually there.

Of course, Taylor hit the post. A matter of a few inches.

Taylor hit the post with the fourth at 1-1. Lowton took the third which was saved by Smithies.

 

[programmechap]

Taylor hit the post with the fourth at 1-1. Lowton took the third which was saved by Smithies.

Yes, sorry you're right!

 

[gaz kay]

Just to top this off my mates dad used to play for Kettering. We went to watch them get thumped by Kingston late 90's

 

[Blade56]

And don't forget us agonisingly getting a lifeline with a penalty at Cardiff, only for Michael Brown to miss it.

Or the heartache vs Walsall when Don (spit) Givens missed a penalty, yes, I’m old enough, I was there to see us drop into the forth division