What would you rather

I'm with Catcher, as long as I knew the team wasn't going to break up as a result. Sure, I accept 1 or 2 significant players might be on their way in the summer, that's the nature of things, but if we can keep the majority it would be the spur to get them up there again.

But academic, because we're going to win them anyway!
 
You've got to aim to be the best you can be. A losing play-off finalist has done better than a team who didn't make the top six.
 
That West Ham defeat had me deflated for the entire summer, id rather miss out

i do think a loss at Wembley would deflate the players more then make them enthusiastic
 
Losing a playoff final is a terrible experience and it is not even if we can fill Wembley this year
I suppose in a way that is the only consolation - there is no worse sound than being at Wembley when the opposition scores - still remember that one second delay between West Ham scoring and their fans noise reaching us!
 
Would rather us miss out than lose it. Losing a play-off final or similar can have a hangover effect onto the next season.
 
I think I'd have to go with losing the play off final.
There's lots of experience to be gained and If it happened again the following season we would still have several of the squad so hopefully they wouldn't slip up again.
The financial side is obviously a welcome bonus for Simon S.
 
It would be a massive disappointment if we got to the final and lost but nowhere near as gut wrenching as being there to witness it imo.
At least the fans of whoever loses won't have to go through that this year with the miserable journey home.
 
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Not sure about the continuity next season. We could potentially lose quite a few players in the summer. Ballard, Garbutt, Gabriel, Embleton, Simms - those 5 unlikely to return I'd imagine, all currently fit and contributing. Kaikai, Madine, Ward, Husband, Turton might have options taken up or get new offers but question marks about them all staying, I suspect. No option for Turton, Madine's wages, Kaikai's lack of consistency (he seems to have perked up a few weeks before his contract expires!). That's ten players all on contracts that end on or before June 30. So continuity will be partial to say the least. Ballard probably the biggest loss.

But we would have a core of a side with Maxwell, Ekpiteta, Gretarsson, Dougall, Robson, Mitchell, Yates, Hamilton, Virtue, Stewart, Anderson and.... er ... Bez and Nuttall. We may well take up options or offer new contracts to some of the above and we will be an attractive proposition for players looking for a club to progress their career, of course.

Anybody out on loan and still under contract next season? Sarkic?! Teddy Howe?!
 
Not sure about the continuity next season. We could potentially lose quite a few players in the summer. Ballard, Garbutt, Gabriel, Embleton, Simms - those 5 unlikely to return I'd imagine, all currently fit and contributing. Kaikai, Madine, Ward, Husband, Turton might have options taken up or get new offers but question marks about them all staying, I suspect. No option for Turton, Madine's wages, Kaikai's lack of consistency (he seems to have perked up a few weeks before his contract expires!). That's ten players all on contracts that end on or before June 30. So continuity will be partial to say the least. Ballard probably the biggest loss.

But we would have a core of a side with Maxwell, Ekpiteta, Gretarsson, Dougall, Robson, Mitchell, Yates, Hamilton, Virtue, Stewart, Anderson and.... er ... Bez and Nuttall. We may well take up options or offer new contracts to some of the above and we will be an attractive proposition for players looking for a club to progress their career, of course.

Anybody out on loan and still under contract next season? Sarkic?! Teddy Howe?!
Players out of contract in the summer:
Screenshot 2021-03-29 at 13.39.50.png

Teddy Howe signed a 2 and a half year deal last January, so will still be in contract until next Summer.
Oliver Sarkic signed summer just gone on a 2 year deal 😬
 
Players out of contract in the summer:
View attachment 5459

Teddy Howe signed a 2 and a half year deal last January, so will still be in contract until next Summer.
Oliver Sarkic signed summer just gone on a 2 year deal 😬
Yeah I looked at that. Have we no other loan players out at clubs who are still under contract next season?

To answer the OP, I'm not sure missing out has the desired effect. The Bradford defeat in the semi final kind of damaged the psyche of the club for a good while. We didn't bounce back after the West Ham defeat. Oxford suffered an adverse reaction this season. But perhaps they will come on strong and win the play offs this time. I wouldn't put money on it though. I'm a believer in taking your opportunities when they arise and this season is a good opportunity. You never know what next season might bring if we don't make it this season. It can be very frustrating trying to get out of a division. So you have to get the psychology right in the club and the squad. You focus on winning each game, and you accept the outcome whatever it is. Just treat every game as the most important thing.
 
It's an expensive do and a real sickner,but I'd rather get to the Final,lose but with the knowledge that we now have a fantastic owner who will build on the experience.Plus a day out at Wembley is such a fantastic occaision,a shed load of beer on the way back,a couple of days of reflection and you're back anticipating a new season.
 
The only way to get promoted without play-offs is automatic promotion. I think we'll miss out on that.
SO, Play-offs it is. 👍 😀
 
Yeah I looked at that. Have we no other loan players out at clubs who are still under contract next season?

To answer the OP, I'm not sure missing out has the desired effect. The Bradford defeat in the semi final kind of damaged the psyche of the club for a good while. We didn't bounce back after the West Ham defeat. Oxford suffered an adverse reaction this season. But perhaps they will come on strong and win the play offs this time. I wouldn't put money on it though. I'm a believer in taking your opportunities when they arise and this season is a good opportunity. You never know what next season might bring if we don't make it this season. It can be very frustrating trying to get out of a division. So you have to get the psychology right in the club and the squad. You focus on winning each game, and you accept the outcome whatever it is. Just treat every game as the most important
Think Shaw, Sarkic, and Howe are our only loan players out at the minute.

Hardie, Mcdonald were made permanent. Nuttall returned after the injury. Adi Yussuf left permanently in January didnt he?
 
The main difference comparing with Wet Spam is we'd all started to wake up to the fact whatever magic Holloway was trying to serve up, he has no backing so losing that play off final was further nails in the coffin. If we made & lost this years play off final at least we'd know the owner felt the hurt like us & would try hard to resolve it next season.
 
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