Are Reading really this bad?

Platypuss · by **Platypuss** » 02 Sep 2007 08:41

Worrying for me was the fact we had FOURTEEN corners and only West Ham looked like scoring off them.

ArfnipIsARoyal · by **ArfnipIsARoyal** » 02 Sep 2007 09:42

I think we are going to have an uphill struggle. With teams like Wigan, Fulham, West Ham, 3 of last seasons strugglers, being able to dip into the piggy banks a bit thats 3 of last seasons strugglers improved (arguably). We are only 5 games into the season and everyone is having a bit of a stutter, even United up until late. Bit hard to judge anything about final placings quite yet but I think if we play how we did at Bolton and West Ham, we have a fight on our hands. Think it is time for loyalties to not rule the head so much. Murty as much as he is a RFC legend is a yard behind the pace this season. He had an exceptional game at United, but thats because the team as a whole stuck to their guns. We will need to scrap for every point we can this season. I think what we have is enough to stay up, with Derby being this season's whipping boys and Bolton (other than last saturday) struggling alotand Birmingham not looking all too special. Personally I think there are about 5 teams this season who could go down; Us, Bolton, Birmingham, Sunderland, and Boro. These are the teams we need to beat to see where we are exactly this season. Sunderland game could turn out to be a 6-pointer come the end of the season if things carry on the way they are and unfortunately I am not that confident about getting more than a point, but I WANT to be proved wrong. Whatever happens come 11th May, just enjoy it. I would rather enter this season as I did last season. Expect a fight and just avoid relegation. Think people are just a bit blinkered at times. We are still the team that were favourites for the drop last season. We should be treating this season's expectations same as last. We CAN stay up and I believe we will. Just enjoy the ride

PEARCEY · by **PEARCEY** » 02 Sep 2007 09:49

Good post Arfnip...although I think Fulham and Wigan are two teams we can also finish above

handbags_harris · by **handbags_harris** » 02 Sep 2007 10:30

Interesting stat alert: yesterday's game was the first time we'd lost by a 3 goal margin at home (discounting the Arsenal game) since 26 Dec 03. We've only lost 12 times at home in the league since then, that's in 65 league games. I think that sibgle stat is a suggestion to how poor we were yesterday.

shadesrwrf · by **shadesrwrf** » 02 Sep 2007 10:32

You know what, I don't care if we do get relegated. At least we'll get to play in a league where there isn't a massive gulf between top and bottom. At least we won't have to put up with watching overpaid prima donnas like Drogba and Ronaldo. At least we'll be back to crowds populated by fans who really give a shit about Reading rather than those who turn up just because watching a Premiership team is fashionable.

I like the Championship. It's where real football is played. Bring it on!

The 17 Bus · by **The 17 Bus** » 02 Sep 2007 10:34

handbags_harris Interesting stat alert: yesterday's game was the first time we'd lost by a 3 goal margin at home (discounting the Arsenal game) since 26 Dec 03. We've only lost 12 times at home in the league since then, that's in 65 league games. I think that sibgle stat is a suggestion to how poor we were yesterday.

How can you discount the Arsenal game?

Chaney · by **Chaney** » 02 Sep 2007 10:41

The 17 Bus
handbags_harris Interesting stat alert: yesterday's game was the first time we'd lost by a 3 goal margin at home (discounting the Arsenal game) since 26 Dec 03. We've only lost 12 times at home in the league since then, that's in 65 league games. I think that sibgle stat is a suggestion to how poor we were yesterday.

How can you discount the Arsenal game?

thats the only other time we lost by more than 3 at home since 03..keep up

Top Flight · by **Top Flight** » 02 Sep 2007 10:52

We are just a Steve Sidwell or a Glenn Little away from being a good side once again.

Hopefully Fae can be the Sidwell when he is in the middle and hopefully Oster can be the Little as he has proved he can be.

Platypuss · by **Platypuss** » 02 Sep 2007 10:54

Top Flight hopefully Oster can be the Little as he has proved he can be.

Rev Algenon Stickleback H · by **Rev Algenon Stickleback H** » 02 Sep 2007 10:58

yesterday we just played like a team who'd lost belief. We looked like a beaten team from the moment West Ham went ahead.

We just had no momentum. Had the penalty gone it it could have been a different story. I just can't see why we let Doyle take it. He looks physically and mentally shot to pieces and I never thought he'd score.

The fact is we have a set of players capable of playing Chelsea off the park (for 45 minutes at least) and also looking nowhere near good enough. Anyone thinking we can't play better than we did yesterday should see if there any pantos putting on a performance of Chicken Licken as they'd be ideal for the lead role.

I mean, people are even taking Daniela's fishing trips as sage opinion. All it needs is a return of SDR and the weekend would be complete.

ArfnipIsARoyal · by **ArfnipIsARoyal** » 02 Sep 2007 11:40

shadesrwrf You know what, I don't care if we do get relegated. At least we'll get to play in a league where there isn't a massive gulf between top and bottom. At least we won't have to put up with watching overpaid prima donnas like Drogba and Ronaldo. At least we'll be back to crowds populated by fans who really give a shit about Reading rather than those who turn up just because watching a Premiership team is fashionable.

I like the Championship. It's where real football is played. Bring it on!

I was having this chat to my other half yesterday, she is a Sunderland fan. We both agreed that if, as it is a possibility, we both were relegated, would it bother us? We both agreed that the Championship is much more entertaining in a sense that there is never a team who you expect to win the division so it gives everyone else an edge to the season. It would be a kick in the teeth to get relegated, but not the end of the world.

The Goat was fed · by **The Goat was fed** » 02 Sep 2007 11:41

Right first of all the likes of Gordon Cummings can oxf*rd right off. Just because a player has had two good seasons he is not immune to criticism and Doyle was terrible yesterday.

Every single goal was a counter attack down our right hand side - although harsh I would blame two factors. Our more defensively inclined central midfielder strikes me as too slow at this level. I love Bryn but sadly he is just a fantastic bit part player. I just don't think he has the pace to be effective - definitely slow stemming attacks yesterday.

Every goal down our right side...where was Murty? Fair play Bellamy's goal was brilliantly taken but Etherington is not a two goal a game player! Murty had a shocker yesterday and Trevor Rosenior is a very welcome buy.

We have nothing on the right hand side of midfield. I refuse to judge Fae until he plays in his favoured position. Our success has been based around a two winged attack at the moment we just have Hunt running his balls off. Hunt is the only player who can be genuinely satisfied with his performances this year. It doesn't need to be Christiano Ronaldo on the right just someone who can play the position - Oster now is your big chance show us that you were right to whinge! Murty and Fae were always arguing and Fae's inexperience in that position may have been another reason why we looked so exposed.

Lita, when not embarrassing the club with his diving, looked lively. It is infuriating to watch Lita when he dives. Don't get me wrong - anything to win and sometimes when you can't do anything else some drama is necessary to "win a free kick". When Lita was diving he could, as he showed throughout the game, hold the ball up and keep play flowing. All his diving did was give away possession and give Webb (who had a good game) every excuse to give us nothing even if it may have been a foul.

Kitson and Convey looked good and with the absence of a Right Midfielder and given Doyle's terrible form both will be pushing for a start.

oxf*rd all this little Reading, I don't want to support a team with a "have a go attitude" I want to support a team that wins. Our boys need a serious kick up the arse. I will point out that when we've had a full squad we've been as last year but this year has been disjointed by injuries and has shown the limitations of our squad. Trust in Sir Steve and all that but he really should have added more beef to this squad - review that wage structure.

Rant over - I quite enjoyed that.

The 17 Bus · by **The 17 Bus** » 02 Sep 2007 11:44

How was the first goal down the right??

It was down their right, so our left, not a bad post otherwise.

bassavage · by **bassavage** » 02 Sep 2007 11:45

shadesrwrf You know what, I don't care if we do get relegated. At least we'll get to play in a league where there isn't a massive gulf between top and bottom. At least we won't have to put up with watching overpaid prima donnas like Drogba and Ronaldo. At least we'll be back to crowds populated by fans who really give a shit about Reading rather than those who turn up just because watching a Premiership team is fashionable.

I like the Championship. It's where real football is played. Bring it on!

Spot on. The last two seasons have been brilliant and at least I've seen Reading play in the top flight.

The Goat was fed · by **The Goat was fed** » 02 Sep 2007 11:46

The 17 Bus How was the first goal down the right??

It was down their right, so our left, not a bad post otherwise.

Cheers I got my left and right confused.

The 17 Bus · by **The 17 Bus** » 02 Sep 2007 11:46

ArfnipIsARoyal
The 17 Bus How was the first goal down the right??
Bellamy ran down the right wing and scored from the right hand side of the box?

see my edit. therefore the last goal was down the left.

The 17 Bus · by **The 17 Bus** » 02 Sep 2007 11:47

The Goat was fed
The 17 Bus How was the first goal down the right??

It was down their right, so our left, not a bad post otherwise.

Cheers I got my left and right confused.

much like some of the team i think.

Platypuss · by **Platypuss** » 02 Sep 2007 11:59

First goal came from one of our attacks when we had good possession. Shorey had pushed on on the overlap and was in a good postion to receive the ball, but Harper gave the ball away leaving us wide open down our left. Ingimarsson v Bellamy = no contest.

I was expecting Bellemy to do his usual abject finish, but no such joy.

cmonurz · by **cmonurz** » 02 Sep 2007 12:16

Well I don't ever want to be relegated thank you very much.

savage 4 england · by **savage 4 england** » 02 Sep 2007 12:20

Inigmarsson and Duberry vs Bellamy

I don't understand the logic of dropping Bikey yesterday.

Are Reading really this bad?

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