by Snowball » 22 Jan 2019 15:48
by Victor Meldrew » 22 Jan 2019 15:50
SnowballVictor MeldrewSnowball
First, our opening six games partly distorts that picture. Leaving those aside it's 21 from 22, and that is after a tough run
1 New manager making us play better.
Evidence, drawing 0-0 at QPR, good result by any standards, competing well at Manchester United, on the best win-run of any new Utd manager in history, beaten only by a VAR penalty and a goal from a £70 Million striker. Beating Norwich 2-0 and playing them off the park, then competing at Derby (who had just beaten Premiership Saints and are sixth in the table) and dominating them second-half.
2 Finding a place for Aluko and transforming his form - almost a new signing.
3 Signing Ovie Ejaria who is already very good indeed. Probably Baker, also
4 Emergence of Rinhomota - a future Prem player if ever I saw one
5 Settling on a Number 1 goalkeeper (for now). Maybe not good enough, but better than uncertainty.
6 Removing dead weight, bad eggs from the squad. Increased morale
7 Probable signing of a known QUALITY striker. (Had we had one at Derby we would have got at least a point).
8 Manager's effect only just beginning to show and this should become more evident as we progress, resulting in wins where we might have drawn, draws where we might have lost. The extra points will increase confidence and mean even more points
Snowball, as usual getting carried away.
When did we beat Norwich under the new manager?
It was Man Utd's Reserves that we played-it's the first team that has been winning.
You somehow forgot, or chose to ignore, the debacle v Swansea.
No wonder people don't take you seriously.
You well know that Norwich was a mis-type for Notts Forest, and a gentleman might have pointed out the error.
I didn't ignore the Swansea game. It was irrelevant. I was talking about evidence of improvement
As for the Swansea game, I just see it as "one of those games"
Reading had more possession, more shots, the same number of shots on target (5),
as Swansea but, like at Old Trafford, our weakness in front of goal, and the other side's
clinical finishing, is what made the difference.
We appear to have got in two very good midfielders, got Aluko playing again,
discovered Rinomhota, settled on a keeper for now, and are just about to get a striker
All in all that is brilliant and I'm happy to have a hefty side bet with you that Reading will be
clear of relegation by season's end. How much £100? £500?
by Victor Meldrew » 22 Jan 2019 15:56
John SmithDuffyOld Man Andrews
They didn't, they were abysmal. Hi DD/Kes btw.
I saw Gary O'Neil come close and they had several other chances. What you also must remember is WBA are a better side than us. Not sure what the last part of your response means.
What you must remember is if their most potent option is Gary O'Neil then they are diabolical. And they are. Their defending of set pieces isn't good enough, but I think crucially they were undone by a through ball for the 2nd goal which seems to be one of our strengths. Baker and Ejaria will rip them to shreds.
by Snowball » 22 Jan 2019 16:01
Victor MeldrewSnowballVictor Meldrew
Snowball, as usual getting carried away.
When did we beat Norwich under the new manager?
It was Man Utd's Reserves that we played-it's the first team that has been winning.
You somehow forgot, or chose to ignore, the debacle v Swansea.
No wonder people don't take you seriously.
You well know that Norwich was a mis-type for Notts Forest, and a gentleman might have pointed out the error.
I didn't ignore the Swansea game. It was irrelevant. I was talking about evidence of improvement
As for the Swansea game, I just see it as "one of those games"
Reading had more possession, more shots, the same number of shots on target (5),
as Swansea but, like at Old Trafford, our weakness in front of goal, and the other side's
clinical finishing, is what made the difference.
We appear to have got in two very good midfielders, got Aluko playing again,
discovered Rinomhota, settled on a keeper for now, and are just about to get a striker
All in all that is brilliant and I'm happy to have a hefty side bet with you that Reading will be
clear of relegation by season's end. How much £100? £500?
That's not much of a bet suggesting that we won't get a couple of points more than Bolton and Rotherham.
Once again you have wiped away our terrible conversion rate in front of goal as if it will just come right because we might get a new striker and that Aluko, on the evidence of a couple of cameo performances will now become the player we thought we were signing.
If and when we beat Bolton and Villa I will agree with you that the corner has been turned (surely what all of us want) but until that happens I will reserve judgement.
BTW we are around 2/1 to stay up so I suggest with your current confidence you might as well chance your money with a bookie.
by Victor Meldrew » 22 Jan 2019 16:03
SnowballVictor MeldrewSnowball
You well know that Norwich was a mis-type for Notts Forest, and a gentleman might have pointed out the error.
I didn't ignore the Swansea game. It was irrelevant. I was talking about evidence of improvement
As for the Swansea game, I just see it as "one of those games"
Reading had more possession, more shots, the same number of shots on target (5),
as Swansea but, like at Old Trafford, our weakness in front of goal, and the other side's
clinical finishing, is what made the difference.
We appear to have got in two very good midfielders, got Aluko playing again,
discovered Rinomhota, settled on a keeper for now, and are just about to get a striker
All in all that is brilliant and I'm happy to have a hefty side bet with you that Reading will be
clear of relegation by season's end. How much £100? £500?
That's not much of a bet suggesting that we won't get a couple of points more than Bolton and Rotherham.
Once again you have wiped away our terrible conversion rate in front of goal as if it will just come right because we might get a new striker and that Aluko, on the evidence of a couple of cameo performances will now become the player we thought we were signing.
If and when we beat Bolton and Villa I will agree with you that the corner has been turned (surely what all of us want) but until that happens I will reserve judgement.
BTW we are around 2/1 to stay up so I suggest with your current confidence you might as well chance your money with a bookie.
We are 6/5 to stay up, odds-on to go down.
And it wasn’t the bookies I wanted to take money off...
by Snowball » 22 Jan 2019 18:09
Victor MeldrewSnowballVictor Meldrew
That's not much of a bet suggesting that we won't get a couple of points more than Bolton and Rotherham.
Once again you have wiped away our terrible conversion rate in front of goal as if it will just come right because we might get a new striker and that Aluko, on the evidence of a couple of cameo performances will now become the player we thought we were signing.
If and when we beat Bolton and Villa I will agree with you that the corner has been turned (surely what all of us want) but until that happens I will reserve judgement.
BTW we are around 2/1 to stay up so I suggest with your current confidence you might as well chance your money with a bookie.
We are 6/5 to stay up, odds-on to go down.
And it wasn’t the bookies I wanted to take money off...
You must be able to get much better than 6/5 as Bet365 are quoting 4/9 for us to be relegated and allowing for their margin it means around 2/1 to stay up.
Surely money is just money .
by Snowflake Royal » 22 Jan 2019 18:20
by Pepe the Horseman » 22 Jan 2019 19:49
Victor MeldrewSnowballVictor Meldrew
Snowball, as usual getting carried away.
When did we beat Norwich under the new manager?
It was Man Utd's Reserves that we played-it's the first team that has been winning.
You somehow forgot, or chose to ignore, the debacle v Swansea.
No wonder people don't take you seriously.
You well know that Norwich was a mis-type for Notts Forest, and a gentleman might have pointed out the error.
I didn't ignore the Swansea game. It was irrelevant. I was talking about evidence of improvement
As for the Swansea game, I just see it as "one of those games"
Reading had more possession, more shots, the same number of shots on target (5),
as Swansea but, like at Old Trafford, our weakness in front of goal, and the other side's
clinical finishing, is what made the difference.
We appear to have got in two very good midfielders, got Aluko playing again,
discovered Rinomhota, settled on a keeper for now, and are just about to get a striker
All in all that is brilliant and I'm happy to have a hefty side bet with you that Reading will be
clear of relegation by season's end. How much £100? £500?
That's not much of a bet suggesting that we won't get a couple of points more than Bolton and Rotherham.
Once again you have wiped away our terrible conversion rate in front of goal as if it will just come right because we might get a new striker and that Aluko, on the evidence of a couple of cameo performances will now become the player we thought we were signing.
If and when we beat Bolton and Villa I will agree with you that the corner has been turned (surely what all of us want) but until that happens I will reserve judgement.
BTW we are around 2/1 to stay up so I suggest with your current confidence you might as well chance your money with a bookie.
by Lower West » 22 Jan 2019 20:42
John Smith I think Bolton are so bad that we will win up there quite easily.
by Snowball » 22 Jan 2019 21:05
Lower WestJohn Smith I think Bolton are so bad that we will win up there quite easily.
Far too often we simply don't turn up. Bolton have nothing to lose but to give it a go. In a physical game how many Reading players will simply go AWOL? Team selection is key.
by Snowball » 22 Jan 2019 21:09
Snowflake Royal As you're aware snowy, I only do bets to charity.
Happy to bet who is closer to our next 8 game points tally, me with ~8 or you with 19. I'll not take survive / relegation yet though because whilst I think relegation is most likely, there's still room for transfers and it'll be a relatively close thing.
I think you're in absolute cloud cuckoo land with 19 from 8.
by Snowflake Royal » 22 Jan 2019 21:56
SnowballSnowflake Royal As you're aware snowy, I only do bets to charity.
Happy to bet who is closer to our next 8 game points tally, me with ~8 or you with 19. I'll not take survive / relegation yet though because whilst I think relegation is most likely, there's still room for transfers and it'll be a relatively close thing.
I think you're in absolute cloud cuckoo land with 19 from 8.
I didn't "choose to say 19 points"
Instead I looked at what I thought would happen IF, IF, IF, we win at Bolton.
I fear that if we LOSE there, that 8 points will be optimistic.
But I'm betting on a win, lifted confidence, followed by beating Villa.
If that happens, the only likely defeat would be Sheffield United.
I grant you that if we lose at Bolton we could implode.
BTW I would hardly have an even-money bet on 19 points.
Far better to bet on the matches, as many will offer evens or better for one game
Snowball We are 6/5 to stay up, odds-on to go down.
And it wasn’t the bookies I wanted to take money off...
Snowball You're joking, aren't you? I'd rather take you (or Ian Royal) for £50 than win £500 on line.
by Lower West » 22 Jan 2019 22:01
SnowballLower WestJohn Smith I think Bolton are so bad that we will win up there quite easily.
Far too often we simply don't turn up. Bolton have nothing to lose but to give it a go. In a physical game how many Reading players will simply go AWOL? Team selection is key.
Agree and worry about this, BUT I think the manager will show them again
the difference between their timid openings and those where they get on
the front foot (like, for example, the two halves at Derby)
by Snowball » 22 Jan 2019 22:23
by Royal_jimmy » 22 Jan 2019 23:01
by Royal_jimmy » 22 Jan 2019 23:26
by Denver Royal » 23 Jan 2019 01:45
Lower WestJohn Smith I think Bolton are so bad that we will win up there quite easily.
Far too often we simply don't turn up. Bolton have nothing to lose but to give it a go. In a physical game how many Reading players will simply go AWOL? Team selection is key.
by Jackson Corner » 23 Jan 2019 03:54
Old Man Andrews Bolton (a) - W
Villa (H) - W
Weds (a) - W
Blackburn (H) - W
Sheff Utd (a) - D
Rotherham (H) - W
Ipswich (a) - W
Wigan (H) - W
And no I am not joking.
Jackson CornerOld Man Andrews Bolton (a) - W
Villa (H) - W
Weds (a) - W
Blackburn (H) - W
Sheff Utd (a) - D
Rotherham (H) - W
Ipswich (a) - W
Wigan (H) - W
And no I am not joking.
If that happens I'm going to oxf*rd in my mother in laws goldfish bowl.
by Ascotexgunner » 23 Jan 2019 09:40
Gunny Fishcake Bearing in mind my appalling prediction record ......
Bolton (a) D
Villa (H) L
Weds (a) L
Blackburn (H) W
Sheff Utd (a) L
Rotherham (H) D
Ipswich (a) D
Wigan (H) W
Still think we'll probably go down but if we do escape it will be by the skin of our teeth, maybe our goal difference.
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