It feels very different. Last time it just felt so unlikely we would get past Middlesbrough, and we were lucky just to have made the playoffs at all. That Middlesbrough away leg is the most nervous I've ever felt at a football game, and the most I've ever celebrated a goal, I went mental because it just seemed so unlikely we would get a win up there, and the Boro atmosphere was decent tbf to them.
After that I wanted us to do it so badly, for Robins to fulfill the prophecy of taking us all the way back up, and because we knew if we lost it meant we would definitely lose Hamer and Gyokeres (although I knew he would go regardless). We had the apprehension of what would happen when they go, we didn't know King was going to allow us to spend that much of the money and invest most of it pretty well. So we had to do it this time, it was our only chance! The way we lost by Hamer going off injured when I'm certain we'd have won way before penalties if he'd stayed on was a killer blow.
This time, I'm quite at peace with it. If we don't do it, I'm sure we'll have another good go next year. If we sell anyone, it will be on our terms and the money will be reinvested in improving the squad.
I'll be furious if we lose another 2 coin tosses before a penalty shootout though - 1.56% chance of losing 6 in a row!
