leonStranded So this is the moment, in my view there has been a group of Reading fans who have never taken to Stan, poss. because McD lost his job for him. There has often felt like an undercurrent where these fans have only stayed relatively quiet because results were good.
Now, the first bad spell under Stan and him answering a question about booing and knives are coming out. Sadly predictable.
Does something need to be tweaked to make the team better? yes. Are we far off? no.
Could Stam have answered the question more diplomatically? yes. We're his comments wrong? no. Would he have said something without the question? Most probably not. A decent number of Reading fans have always been quick with the boos and often slow with the praise. It's not like we make the Mad Stad a cauldron of noise before each game is it, even when things are going well.
Bit of a crossroads now, fans can either step up and make more supportive noise - nothing to stop people chanting even during slow build up. Unfortunately, likelihood is the opposite will happen and first mistake will be met with groans.
The team play a confidence system and this confidence is erroding, the fans can help this.
Question is, do we want to be supporters or customers. Some of the complaints here seem to suggest the latter. Yet we complain when we as fans are treated as such.
Big week ahead now.
Think you've missed the point here. Stams team is serving up appalling football that isn't getting results.
As fans we are actually fairly laid back. It takes a lot to get us pissed off.
Stam has over reacted to some boos when he subbed Kelly. Not a massive amount. A few.
We're not drones who will blindly cheer any shit that served up to us. Actually when the team finally got off their arses in the last 10 mins, guess what? The crowd got behind them.
Not read this thread all day and although totally fascinated by it and agree with most posters concerns about Stam's hissy fit live on radio aimed at genuine fans, but Leon's take on things is spot on.