The Snowball stat thread

[Snowball]

Pride comes before a fall, this season you are on about us getting automatic right.

We'll see, we'll see.This you seem to have been on about a fair bit.

Amazing! Please point out where I've been remotely "certain" of finishing in the automatic spots.

I have simply been arguing that we are "a 2.00+ ppg team" and are the best team (in terms of ppg since Sept 17)

I have ALSO said that I think, when I watch them, that Southampton, West Ham AND Cardiff have better,
more exciting teams than Reading, but I recognise that might be mere subjectivity in that analysis and that
it isn't accurate. (eg: a flash goal might make us think a side is "better" but a goal is a goal is a goal, and
Reading FC are not built on flamboyance (excluding Jimmy) but very tight, hard-working midfield and defence
and counter-attacking football.

They are (relatively) DULL, but they get results.

We could still WIN this league. We could finish fourth also.

The problem is

(1) that overall averages are all very well but we dropped 8 points against that 2 ppg
in our opening six games and gave ourselves a mountain to climb.

(2) We have 2 or 3 "cup finals" coming up (at West Ham and Southampton) and the results of these
are incredibly heavily-weighted as we go down to the wire, meaning two wins and we might be champs,
two defeats (deserved or not) and we could drop to 4th, even 5th)

[Snowball]

Don't respond to questions.

Have you not noticed what happens when I don't respond to questions?

I then get half-a-dozen people goading me for not having the bottle or grace to answer

Last abusive post from me has already been written.

Cheers, that's very much appreciated

[Maguire]

Evening all

As you'll notice I've not posted on here for a long long time but I do read Hob Nob everyday. As for my credentials as a fan - I have been a loyal Royal for over nearly 40 years.

I'll nail my colours to the mast straight away and state that I've always been a fan of Snowball's contributions. I find his stats very informative and illuminating.

What disturbs me however is the level and nature of criticism levelled at Snowball for his posts. It's really reached a ridiculous level of vitriol and personal attack that I find distasteful. I find this similar to the attacks against any poster who happens to raise questions that challenge what appears to be the 'accepted position' of a number of Hob Nob regulars. It doesn't surprise me that Snowball has become so defensive in his replies which I feel is borne out of the continuous sniping and often offensive comments he receives. It is tantamount to bullying in my view and is characteristic of the culture that appears to exist on this board. So many times I have seen posters attacked and insulted because they dare to post an opinion which challenges the received wisdom of others. I refer to, for example, the attacks on those who supported Shane Long, Jimmy Kebe, Brendan Rodgers etc. etc. when the apparent majority held differing views. We are all entitled to our opinions and should be respected for them not vilified and subjected to personal and abusive attacks. Can I please plead for a bit of maturity, sanity and grown up debate rather than this incessant and unpleasant exchange of abuse? Can't we please stop all of this now, take a step back and perhaps start again? I miss the good hearted humour and banter that used to characterise this board.

I just wanted to state my position and offer support to Snowball. He's not perfect, he has his faults like all of us but he is a Reading fan through and through - the one thing that unites us all.

Thanks for listening - please continue to post your stats Snowball, I for one think they are excellent. Just wanted to say my piece.

Fine sentiments but have you missed the myriad of abusive posts he's made hurling insults around at people who have done nothing more than pass comment on his "stats"?

If the site owner ever bothered reading his emails then Snowball would've been banned a long time ago as people have been banned for far less.

btw I've managed to support Jimmy and Brendan on this board over a period of months and years without being subjected to "abusive atatcks". Perhaps it's down to the way one puts across one's point of view

[Snowball]

Pride comes before a fall, this season you are on about us getting automatic right. We'll see, we'll see.This you seem to have been on about a fair bit.

It's impossible to call

MS, think like this. Let's say, for simplicity that RFC, Saints, WHU
roughly match each other's ppg for the next six (WHU+RFC) and five (Saints) games
(say at 2 ppg)... and we'll "give" WHU and RFC a win in their Game in Hand

1 39 +33 77 West Ham
2 39 +40 75 Southampton
3 39 +27 73 Reading

So, if WHU and Saints manage 2 ppg (quite possible, altho' not probable that both will)

We go into the WHU game (7 games to go) virtually "having to win" and even if we did
win, say, 2-0 and Saints won that same day?

1 40 +42 78 Southampton
2 40 +31 77 West Ham
3 40 +29 76 Reading

If we LOST at WHU, all the other averages as given, we'd be 7 points behind with six to play
virtually impossible to make up.

1 40 +35 80 West Ham
2 40 +42 78 Southampton
3 40 +25 73 Reading

That is, of course, presuming we WIN at Doncaster!!

So no bones about it, we have to win at Doncaster and we have to gain points on WHU and Saints
in the next (other) 5 games. It's a very, VERY tall order. They have room to slip up. We do not.

The most sensible "bet" now is that we will finish 3rd, clear of the pack and be "favourites"
to win the POs (which are really a lottery)

Of course we COULD win at West Ham, Saints, Brighton, Birmingham but that would be miraculous.

Therefore, IMO, we have to win our next six games, up to 12 straight wins to have a shot

I think the table would be roughly (but we could get luckier and the others don't manage 2 ppg)

3 39 +33 78 Reading
1 39 +33 77 West Ham
2 39 +40 75 Southampton

IMO, even if we win 5 and draw 1 of the next six, it will be very tough unless we can win
at either Saints or West Ham. I'd rather go to those grounds thinking a draw is enough

[Snowball]

[

Fine sentiments but have you missed the myriad of abusive posts he's made hurling insults around at people who have done nothing more than pass comment on his "stats"?

You are re-writing history.

I field many, many personal insults most days.

You get aggrieved being called a tosser. That is trivia compared with what I undergo
just about every day

I have to field, almost every day, being called, a liar, a hypocrite,
"going through a mental breakdown", "being David Icke", "obnoxious", blind,
autistic, sick, mentally-ill, having Asperger's, having no life, being "utterly
boring", "should be banned" etc etc etc and it's been that way since the
Shane Long thread and gradually escalating.


What you fail to grasp is this is a one-to-many situation.

You can "pop in" toss a few insults, or "make enquiries" while someone else is
being abusive, and half a dozen more are taking the p!ss, altering what I say
in rewriting quotes, posting dumb-ass gifs etc etc.

So I'm responding to attacks or enquiries from maybe 6-12 people at any one time.

Those individuals can say "innocently" but-I-only-asked but they know how the game works.

It's not the single needler, it's the group-think and the taking turns to attack game.


If you don't believe me, try looking at one day's threads and where the attacks start,
or look at the "Best Moment" thread in AE.

It's cowardly behaviour, pack mentality. The earlier poster got it absolutely right.

[Hoop Blah]

I've not really popped into this thread for a couple of months, but seriously snowball, what do you expect people to do on a forum like this?

It's here for debate and exchanging opinions, if you can't take people passing comment on what you post I do think you could be in the wrong place. If all you want to do is put up your stats for information and the self gratification of endless stats to your liking I think you might be better off create a blog where you can moderate or block the comments to your hearts content.

There's some odd people out there, and the internet is full of strange characters, but sometimes you're online persona and behaviour does actually worry me!

Hoop it's not about "passing comment" and except for a sensible few, it never has been.

It's a concerted attack from a couple of dozen people working in relays.

Nobody's posts could stand up to the minute scrutiny mine get, day upon grinding day.

It started with the first thread I started, supporting Shane Long, and has gone on ever since.



However, in the case of these stats, stats I've said ain't going to be changed
simply because I'm being bullied, stats that some people actually LIKE and
would wish that the nay-sayers just back away... in the case of these, why,
KNOWING my position (which will not change) do people keep coming back
ant ranting about exactly the same things?

All it does is cause noise and heat and spoils the thread for those
who actually want to read the stats.


Anyone and everyone can post their own stats,

Anyone and everyone can go look at stats on the internet.

There isn't much point in repeating internet stats.

This is MY take.

You know, I know, they are my own stats, like them or lump them. You have chosen
to ignore them, good for you... so why EXACTLY do people like Maguire return day after
day just to challenge SOMETHING, knowing that nothing will be changed?

Why? Because they want conflict. They want trouble.


Anyone who genuinely cared could chat by PM. Attacking these stats is just faux-cojones and "easy-meat"
because most attackers have a nice large clique to back them up when they get tired. I'm in a corner
of one, so of course it seems I'm scrapping and retaliating with a similar offensiveness

If 20 people post two offensive posts and I reply then each of those has "only" posted a couple
of antagonists posts and they can write it off as a joke. However, I have received FORTY, and that's
how it is day after day after day.

Your style, almost from day one, has been to ram your stats down the boards collective throat, spamming the board in many ways, and being abusive to anyone who dared to question your stats or their application.

No doubt some have reacted more strongly than others but you're by no means an innocent in the exchanges that you're posting has instigated.

I don't think I've ever been abusive to you or done anything more than challenge your stats and the application of them. Quite often I agree with your opinions and say so but that doesn't stop me from being on the end of some pretty childish replies from yourself.

If you don't want your stats discussed then don't put them on a discussion board. If you don't want to answer the criticisms then don't, those that warm to your stats will understand but will hopefully also see where they are flawed. That's where I think your inaccuracies or odd applications do need to be challenged because often they're misleading and plenty on here seem to need a bit of help seeing where they're weaknesses lie.

I think the fact that there's been 3 or 4 pages, largely of dross and pettiness, since I last posted on here before leaving work yesterday afternoon, is a great example of how your style and spamming has impacted the board and threads you get involved in.

It's a shame because you've got some interesting views when you're willing to enter into a proper discussion, but you're argumentative style and inability to accept critcism hides them for the most part.

As for being bullied and attacked, apart from Ian (who can be very petty himself) the majority of the posters who've engaged with you are actually quite fair minded posters. That you've created arguements out of nothing with the likes of Dirk, Vision and comonurz says quite a lot too.

[yuomi]

carry right along snowball. this board is pretty much the closest i get to a soap opera.


...a very nerdy soap opera with a distinct lack of eye candy (other than JR's stats).

[Maguire]

[

Fine sentiments but have you missed the myriad of abusive posts he's made hurling insults around at people who have done nothing more than pass comment on his "stats"?

You are re-writing history.

I field many, many personal insults most days.

You get aggrieved being called a tosser. That is trivia compared with what I undergo
just about every day

I'm not actually fussed as it happens but as I keep pointing out - you've thrown a litany of insults at me (dickhead, tosser, tosspot, moron, etc etc) when i've never, ever done the same to you.

You don't get the to take the high ground i'm afraid. You need to take a long hard look at yourself and ask yourself why you're so abusive to people just because they (correctly) dispute your mathematical statements.

Or you could apologise and we can all move on?

[Snowball]

I'm not actually fussed as it happens but as I keep pointing out - you've thrown a litany of insults at me (dickhead, tosser, tosspot, moron, etc etc) when i've never, ever done the same to you.

That is ONE insult, and a thesaurus.

Or you could apologise and we can all move on?

Sure... Like the people who accuse me of being deranged have apologised to me?

[Maguire]

I'm not actually fussed as it happens but as I keep pointing out - you've thrown a litany of insults at me (dickhead, tosser, tosspot, moron, etc etc) when i've never, ever done the same to you.

That is ONE insult, and a thesaurus.

Or you could apologise and we can all move on?

Sure... Like the people who accuse me of being deranged have apologised to me?

Maybe if you apologised you'd appear a little less deranged

[Snowball]

You never insult, Maguire.

You never take sly digs.

You never suggest I'm deranged or need treatment or am a liar?

Right


You take your little side-swipes at me, even in threads where I don't take part.

You have directly suggested I have mental issues and taken the p!ss in a thread
where I was asked to talk about Clapham, a time where people I knew died,
but hey, this is the internet, right? Anything goes.

Why not try being honest, for once?

March 6

It's a less ridiculous but less fun version of 24. The plot is patchy and occasionally non existent. Danes character is a total mental -
I hope the "war on terror" isn't actually conducted by a building full of Snowballs.


If the site owner ever bothered reading his emails then Snowball would've been banned a long time ago as people have been banned for far less.

5th March

You deliberately alter my stats in a quote (knowing PRECISELY) the reaction you will get.


5 March

"You're really not very bright, are you?"

5 March

Do you really want an internet war with me?

5 March

Hate to say it but I'm not entirely sure you're right upstairs.
And I mean this in a considerate, worried, non-offensive manner.
Have you ever consulted a professional psychiatrist?

5 March

Why are you so totally graceless?

2 March


Flame-haired weirdos clambering up a frosty, muddy banks with blood on their chin and heroism in their heart.

2 March

Oh yeah sorry, I meant it was the best because it made me feel really athletic and "whole" and i felt like energy was surging through my fully functioning limbs

2 March

So do we think Snowball was actually on this train or not?

[Maguire]

Most of them aren't insults, one of them you actually wrote yourself, and a couple make no reference to you at all

I'll grant you that the top one was a bit of bait this morning but the rest? Must try harder

[Snowball]

Most of them aren't insults, one of them you actually wrote yourself, and a couple make no reference to you at all

I'll grant you that the top one was a bit of bait this morning but the rest? Must try harder

Disagree. It's the drip-drip-drip, semi-permanent constant niggling at me,
you along with others, sort of troll of the day selection...

So there will be (this week) Maguire, and that trusty camp-follower Ian Royal
(try checking out how he works, it's classic) and two or three others at any
one time, and please don't tell me that mu posts aren't selected for special
scrutiny, because they are.

You know you just can't help yourself. A few others are the same.

[Maguire]

So is that a sorry or not?

[Schards#2]

If Snowball thinks he singled out for criticism (I won't use the word 'abuse'), I can only assume he doesn't read many other threads.

[Wycombe Royal]

The thing is you can tell from his replies, he actually ENJOYS the arguments. Why else would he keep fanning the flames? If really didn't like it he wouldn't repsond to it as that is the best way to stop it.

But he can't. The last word always has to be his.

[T.R.O.L.I.]

No it doesn't.

[Royal With Cheese]

Snowers, to be honest I don't know why you bother to post them in an open, public forum.

To feel the love.

Are you a sadist?

[Snowball]

If Snowball thinks he singled out for criticism (I won't use the word 'abuse'), I can only assume he doesn't read many other threads.

I don't think I'm singled out for criticism

I think I'm a target for long-term systematic extreme, concerted, gang-bang-style criticism
and abuse.

There's a huge difference.

[Maguire]

No it doesn't, dickhead.