I've never known a Wembley week like this before. Very few flags in windows, same with ribbons on car aerials. No mention of how many tickets we have sold (which is probably a bad sign), and expectation at an all time low. We certainly need a moral boost.

A total contrast to 10 years ago. We were like kids before Christmas

This feels more like going back to work after a fortnights break

To be honest nobody thinks we're gonna win, even most of our fans so i think that's playing a part in it.

No ribbons on car aerials? That may be down to the fact that not many cars have aerials these days. Nevertheless, I get your point, even this forum is surprisinhly quiet wrt to the final. Back in 1974, the whole town centre appeared to be dressed in P&B - today it's only a handful of locally owned shops. I'm just hoping to see more enthusiasm and more P&B on the journey down on Saturday.

2009 was crazy.

Relentless disappointment (6 final losses) takes its emotional toll. Hard to get up for it when all you're thinking about it the likely pain.

No one is daring to dream, no one wants to let down the defences and suffer the seemingly inevitable pain of defeat.

Everyone is trying to play it cool. "We won't win". "It's the GF that matters". "We've had it without Austin". But come kick off time the little flame of hope and belief that we all have will flicker into life, but for how long?

Wires have let me down on plenty of occasions, but they've also surprised me often too, producing performances and results that defied logic, form and the skills of those in the P&B.

Predictably unpredictable, ragged, down but not out and with nothing to lose on the greatest stage of all. I smell blood.

Great post

"Alexa, define Warringtonian"

I reckon I am a bit saturated and non plussed about Wembley this time, just wanting it over with, hopefully positively, but wanting to move on into the GF play offs.

Last year the coach journey was awful as Euston was closed, and there was an accident on the M1 going down.
Then all the coaches stopped at the same services resulting in chaos and queues for the gents of 100m long.
I said I would never coach it again after that, but just as the inkling was twitching a health flare up means I cannot go anyway.

Believe Euston is open this year, so hope you all get a good journey.

Like it

Love it, great summary.

The days in which both finalists would take 30,000 plus to the Final are long gone. We at Wigan used to take half the town to Wembley and win and the town would be full of cherry and white! Nobody wants to know now.

Can’t beat a good Hovis loaf

Thing is with wembley visits - you never know how long you will need to wait for the next one. Imagine going in '74 then '75 then having to wait 15 years then another 19. Make the most of it.

I for one am well up for it.
I'm convinced we will win.