It feels so fake all this Wembley guff

[the_idiotb_stardson]

I am desperate so see the Millers promoted but how I wish the match at NYS against Preston was where our promotion was decided.

For me promotion should be decided at club grounds up and down the country rather than the half empty, gaudy, synthetic Americanized atmosphere of a Wembley play off final.

I am sure if many on this site were honest, they would admit to feeling totally manipulated over the last week as everyone tries to squeeze an extra few quid out of us gullible supporters.

If it was all such a wonderful experience most supporters wouldn't have to numb themselves with booze on the day and to the reality that we are just suckers throwing all our hard earned cash away on cheap tat.

I appreciate football is a business and money keeps the game alive but promotion is all about winning 2-0 away from home in the
p issing rain on a Tuesday night at Oldham or Grimsby or Watford. Our home match against Preston and our epic match at Valley Parade last season and even the trip the f

[CTMilller]

I'm not sure if you're being contentious as a fishing exercise, IBS, but I have to say I agree with a lot of that.

There is a strong element of debasing the coinage in making Wembley accessible to all and hyping up a relatively unimportant event like this.

There is a strong counter argument, as you say, that the sport survives on money spinning activities and this reflects the real world in which we live today.

I suspect views on this may divide to some extent along the age demographic. Will be interesting to see.

Some of the topics you introduce are presented with a slightly batty perspective but they're always thought provoking.

[CAMiller]

We could go back to the straight two up two down of days gone by in which case our season would have been over after the Sheff Utd game...or we could have played better in those games we lost/drew and beat Brentford into 2nd place.

I think the playoffs have added a lot to the end of season interest over the past 20+ years. As for the circus - I'd much rather be there and part of the troupe than watching it all from a considerable distance.

[stevemiller]

First of all, I agree with those sentiments from the point of being an old traditionalist.

Sadly, I have to conceed that the Americanization and bullcrud razzamatazz, not just at Wembley, has been an important factor in guiding football out of the dark ages. You want families in stadiums, you need tacky music, dancing 6 foot teddybears, announcers who don't give out train arrivals as a day job etc.

Has Wembley lost its magic? To a certain extent it should be the home of England and cup finals. But, it needs paying for.
England and cup finals are the weekend drinkers.
Cup semi-finals are live music nights.
We're all off down for quizz night.
The JPT is lunchtime pub grub.
Non league play off final is letting kids in to watch adults drink 'mucky beer' at Xmas.

I would have loved the new 'Wembley' to have been built in a field in the Midlands, with no city claiming, accessible to more people, truly neutral.

So, as an old fart I agree wholeheartedly with your OP, deep down though, I'l

[Hull_Miller]

I agree. If we do manage to beat Orient on Sunday, it will be fantastic of course, but I believe I will still refer back to the Preston home game to watch as my favourite game of the season.

To see the NYS full to the rafters with everyone in red and white was breathtaking. The volume of noise generated to ensure a cauldron was stunning. The game itself had everything. As well as the great goals, PNE hit the post twice via two deflections, Collin nearly dropped it into his own net, Pringle hit the bar with a goal of the season contender, Thomas had a header dubiously blocked somewhere around the defender's arm, Agard was stopped scoring a fourth from a last ditch challenge and Evans made some daft chicken noises after the game.

That match encapsulated everything that is good about English football and was a demonstrable way of showing why the playoffs are great, albeit a little unfair and/or cruel at times.

The sanitised atmosphere of Wembley just doesn't do it for me. When we lost

[ExeterMiller]

I would argue that the Paintpot Cup felt the same when we beat Shrewsbury. It's supposed to feel like that, it's a cup final.

I echo everything that's been said, but I despise the fact semi finals should be played there. The new Wembley should be a 7 day week venue, the revenue from the extra semi finals is not proportionate to the undermining of every final that is played there each season. I would argue, did we really need to rip down the old Wembley?, and if capacity was the issue, seriously they didn't make it big enough!

[millavanilla]

Years ago it was..."id love to see rotherham at wembley, but i know it will never happen"
Then it was decided to give the little rotherham's a chance of playing there in the mickey mouse...
And then even another chance in the play offs..
And then its..."wembley's lost its magic"
I really have given in...

[scum_triumphant]

I agree with quite a bit of that IBS. It could be the only chance for some of the players/fans to play at/ go to wembley though.

[stevemiller]

I agree with quite a bit of that IBS. It could be the only chance for some of the players/fans to play at/ go to wembley though.

Which is best, the dream that one day you might see your beloved Rotherham or Burton or Orient play at Wembley or the reality of being there in a half empty, echoing stadium.

I think the whole point is that the reality doesn't quite live up to the dream.

That said, if anyone isn't in a state of euphoria and excitement right now, fans or players, I'll nail my tits to a telegraph pole.

[ida]

I think to undermine and withdraw from this experience is a sign that the joyless and souless nagging Mother has got hold.

Its a chance to support and celebrate on a big stage and for all to join in. The finacial aspect is just another part of the reality of planet Earth. To identify Money, razzamatazz or, the 'violation' of 'sacred' Wembley as reasons to not fully enter in to the day is nihilistic.

The problem we all share is that we are forever resonating between life and death instincts in every moment and in every relationship in our lifes. To turn away from the world as it is is the death instinct; a denial of what is. To embrace what is, is the life instinct.

Its good to be here as individuals who all support one common cause. Its good to be following the faithful to a very big and important day in our collective history. I see no reason to deny that with negative reflections that are not part of the overwhelming spirit of the occassion.

Forgive me for making the further comp