If we get there will you go?

[jellytot]

My ideal season at the moment culminates in a play off final loss.

The prem is not that enjoyable, get a good day out on the pi$$ at Wemberley and the club make a lot of money.

So in, if we get there.

I can not understand, for the life of me, why people are happy in the championship. Just winning in the Premiership is incredible, and you can take it a game at a time. I'd rather beat Man United or Arsenal just once, and even if that season we went down, i'd be happier than ever as a Reading fan.
Drawing with Chelsea was the biggest buzz i've ever had as a Reading fan.
Beating Everton a couple of times at home or when we thrashed Tottenham is second. oxf*rd the football league and Peter Beagrie

Yep! Oh the delights of the Chumpionship next season! Sunderland away.. Brentford away... FFS please let us go up! We never go up via the play offs forget it. We are cursed. Who knows we might get to go to Peterborough again..

[KC Royal]

Of course I'd go.

I'd even go if I knew we would lose.

I thought we'd lose in 2011, but despite having a bad feeling, the pre-match drinking in the Green Man and atmosphere for the early part of the 2nd half when we pulled it back to 3-2 and almost got an equaliser made it worthwhile going.

We best get the Green Man again. That'll be awesome. However if QPR are in it, I don't think we will (I think we will play them in the Semis). If Derby are in it, its probably 50/50 but we should get that pub over Wigan and their 15 fans

I'd like the designated pub this time to be The Torch, I might even start to think it could be our year. The Green Man is better for club games, (though I prefer The Torch otherwise) but up until the England-Ireland game last year I had a 100% record there (including a win over Spain), so still unbeaten.

[KC Royal]

To me, The Championship Play Off Final is one of the most exciting, interesting and unique games in club football anywhere in the world.

Buried just beneath the surface of the mainstream cups and assorted finals - high stakes 'winner takes all game', big crowd, played at one of the most famous venues on the planet, one-off game at the end of a long season, an opportunity for less fashionable clubs and fans to experience what a huge pressure cooker game in front of massive attendance is all about, you just can't explain the scale of the game and day out to your non football friends and family as they wish you good luck, butterflies in your stomach, tense feelings which even the most solid of personalities gets affected by, you have to get reasonably pissed to help even out both potential outcomes - the horrible despair of losing or unconstrained thrill of winning. In!

This.

The Swansea one was immense, even with the final result. And, well, you can take defeat because there's always going to be another go at it.

The Swansea one hurt because you knew key players, like Shane Long, were going to be sold.
And looking back, especially just before McDermott was sacked, it's still a big regret, as I do believe that had we gone up, kept Long and brought Sig back we may very well have stayed up the following season. 2001 didn't matter as we went up the following year, and 1995 the club was in no fit state to go up anyway.

Promotion seems unlikely at this stage, but if we got to the final nothing else than winning will do. Wembley is not the place to lose.

[royalwolfee in Oz]

Planned my holiday in UK and Europe so I would still be in UK if we made the final..so definitely a big IN!

[Tails]

I met Brendy when we played Swansea (was with my old man who was sporting a lovely beard prompting Bill Oddie chants). We were drinking in the concourse when the first Reading goal went in.


*IIRC.

[soggy biscuit]

Play off semi's and finals have been some of the best away days I have had irrespective of the result.

obv IN! for this

Wally Basoon's perfect scenario is also mine. Great semi's, exciting final, nice day out, but ultim8ely lose to stay away from the pROFLemier LOLeague

[Tilehurstsouthbank]

In. Been to the others, why stop now?! Not sure I understand the whole 'Prefer being in the Championship' argument. Surely aiming for the top is better than wallowing in mediocrity?

[Big Foot]

Play off semi's and finals have been some of the best away days I have had irrespective of the result.

obv IN! for this

Wally Basoon's perfect scenario is also mine. Great semi's, exciting final, nice day out, but ultim8ely lose to stay away from the pROFLemier LOLeague

Also, a p/o final defeat could push Adkins closer to the exit door = WIN WIN

[tidus_mi2]

Would love to get Derby in the semi's, haven't been back to Derby since I unfortunately dropped out of Uni but I enjoyed my time there and it would be a great excuse to go to Pride Park again.

[melonhead]

In. Been to the others, why stop now?! Not sure I understand the whole 'Prefer being in the Championship' argument. Surely aiming for the top is better than wallowing in mediocrity?

and lol at "wanting" to lose a play off final.

[soggy biscuit]

I wouldn't go there cheering us on to lose so much as appreciate the position we would be in after the match if we did lose.

Football league > Premier League.

[TBM]

Of course i'll go - last time, v Swansea, i knew we were going to lose before the game so just got smashed and it made the game/result feel better (until the next day)

[wally bassoon]

In. Been to the others, why stop now?! Not sure I understand the whole 'Prefer being in the Championship' argument. Surely aiming for the top is better than wallowing in mediocrity?

and lol at "wanting" to lose a play off final.

Will be cheering to win to obs.

This is also part coping mechanism for the inevitable heartbreaking defeat.

[melonhead]

worst feeling ever.


but at least you feel something.
obviously a great win would be best, but a glorious defeat comes a close second in terms of emotional impact

[Tilehurstsouthbank]

worst feeling ever.


but at least you feel something.
obviously a great win would be best, but a glorious defeat comes a close second in terms of emotional impact

And there's always Jack/Jonnie to numb the pain!

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Of course i'll go - last time, v Swansea, i knew we were going to lose before the game so just got smashed and it made the game/result feel better (until the next day)

Very much how I felt about that day as well. I thoroughly enjoyed it & we gave a great account of ourselves on the day. If only Karacan's shot had gone in...................................

I was supposed to be going on holiday on 22nd May but I've cancelled. Can always book a late deal should we crash out in the semis anyway.

Wouldn't be able to get over not being at Wembley if we were to win. Obvs I'd be happy for everyone else but mainly I'd feel quite bitter about it.

I'm hoping to be at Wembley 2 Saturdays on the spin. 1 to see us beat QPR & 1 to see Groves beat Froch.

[andrew1957]

I don't see how any true fan could stay away. We might be beaten but "what if" this is the year - the play off that we actually win.

How could you look in the mirror the next day and justify not going unless you really "have" to be somewhere else. I am in holiday that week but will travel to Wembley from were I am staying if necessary.

[liamobey]

I don't see how any true fan could stay away. We might be beaten but "what if" this is the year - the play off that we actually win.

How could you look in the mirror the next day and justify not going unless you really "have" to be somewhere else. I am in holiday that week but will travel to Wembley from were I am staying if necessary.

I don't have any mirrors. I look like a gruffalo

[Barney]

There is a word missing from the title of this thread. Should read "If we get there, HOW will you go?"

One day it'll be our day. You have to go. Although all 3 finals I attended have ended in defeat, some of the memories from the days made them worthwhile. If we do make it (again) then it's the great feeling of sorting out tickets with your mates, what time train is everyone getting, is it The Green Man or another pub? Decisions, decisions. All part of the play off final day.

Don't get me wrong, the thought of losing a fourth final is stomach churning. But if we get to the playoffs, and get through the semi-final, then the following few days after that are something to look forward to !!

[Lower West]

and brought Sig back we may very well

Reading won't be paying out £2 million salaries to anyone.

Gulf in premiership grows ever wider.