The Biggest Disappointment

[Elm Park Old Boy]

Ah well, you've got to lose some time. We were poor, the Saints were so good I can't really understand the League table.

But did anyone else notice the thing that disappointed me most? In the first half I noticed Kevin Doyle discard the black armband he was wearing for the death of young Stewart McEwan. At that point I thoght it odd, but maybe the armband was busted. Then I noticed another one on the grass. At the start of the second half so far as I could tell only Cisse and Kebe still had their armbands on.

In the Reading team, that is. All the Southampton players seemed to be wearing them throughout the game. As a mark of respect, let's remember to a young member of the 'Reading Family'.

Have I missed something? Am I over-reacting? It left me saddened and disappointed, and I'd like to know why our players behaved in this way.

[S09Royal]

Did that really happen?

Poor day all round by the sounds of things!

[Gus the teenage cow]

Ah well, you've got to lose some time. We were poor, the Saints were so good I can't really understand the League table.

But did anyone else notice the thing that disappointed me most? In the first half I noticed Kevin Doyle discard the black armband he was wearing for the death of young Stewart McEwan. At that point I thoght it odd, but maybe the armband was busted. Then I noticed another one on the grass. At the start of the second half so far as I could tell only Cisse and Kebe still had their armbands on.

In the Reading team, that is. All the Southampton players seemed to be wearing them throughout the game. As a mark of respect, let's remember to a young member of the 'Reading Family'.

Have I missed something? Am I over-reacting? It left me saddened and disappointed, and I'd like to know why our players behaved in this way.

no you're absolutely right


the players will say it causes discomfort etc etc and externalise the black armband as a reason for their bad performance

the result ultimately doesn#t really matter, football is football, but what fcuking pisses me off is their disgusting disrespect for a kid who worshipped these overpaid overpriviliged primadonnas, shame on them all.....of course nobody will make an issue of this, we can't upset the players, can we? they didn't mean offence, did they?

well fcuk them, a kid died and they couldn't give a shite and it makes me absolutely livid to think that we care so much about the result of their game when they don't seem to care about the death of a 12 year old

[AlexY25]

Didn't notice
But if true, then its very disappointing.

[mg1976royal]

I didn't think certain players were wearing the black arm band at the start.

Thank you to the saints fans, could not see a single person not joining in with the applause and thought they were very respectful whilst the commentator was speaking before hand.

[Jerry St Clair]

I saw one player (think it may have been Ivar) chucking his armband in the direction of the dugout pretty much as soon as the minute's applause had finished.

Rather despicable behaviour (it was actually the fact that it was casually tossed away that annoyed me more than it simply being removed).

[Jerry St Clair]

Thank you to the saints fans, could not see a single person not joining in with the applause and thought they were very respectful whilst the commentator was speaking before hand.

Good point. They were excellent.

[Man Friday]

Thank you to the saints fans, could not see a single person not joining in with the applause and thought they were very respectful whilst the commentator was speaking before hand.

Good point. They were excellent.

Not on the buses they weren't (well to be fair I suppose most were).

[reading fc rock leroylero]

At the end of the day I'm sure all the players respect the death of a 12 year old kid. If the armbands were causing discomfort than remove them. Everyone is too uptight about things like this.

[paultheroyal]

Simple answer in future - wear some black tape - job done.

[SCIAG]

He was thirteen, not 12.

[Elm Park Old Boy]

At the end of the day I'm sure all the players respect the death of a 12 year old kid. If the armbands were causing discomfort than remove them. Everyone is too uptight about things like this.

I'm not being uptight. If wearing it is a mark of respect (presumably that's why it's done), what is throwing it on the ground later in the game? The performance of the Reading team without the added discomfort made an interesting contrast with the performance of Southampton players despite the burden of keeping them on.

Anyway, I don't know whether 'discomfort' was the reason. I'd like to know though.

[Mr. Reading]

Reading far too much into it... move on.

[bobby1413]

Rather despicable behaviour (it was actually the fact that it was casually tossed away that annoyed me more than it simply being removed).

I agree with this part.

If players don't want to wear it after the minutes applause then fair enough. No one knows how the players were feeling, and whose to say that one was more dignified than another because he wore it for 90 minutes.

Like you say, the gesture of tugging it off and throwing it about isn't a great image. Could have been done in a more dignified manner.

[Elm Park Old Boy]

Reading far too much into it... move on.

Fair enough. I'll do that. Let's hope the boy's family (who I gather were present) feel the same, eh?

[reading fc rock leroylero]

At the end of the day I'm sure all the players respect the death of a 12 year old kid. If the armbands were causing discomfort than remove them. Everyone is too uptight about things like this.

I'm not being uptight. If wearing it is a mark of respect (presumably that's why it's done), what is throwing it on the ground later in the game? The performance of the Reading team without the added discomfort made an interesting contrast with the performance of Southampton players despite the burden of keeping them on.

Anyway, I don't know whether 'discomfort' was the reason. I'd like to know though.

Well what other possible reason is there? Are you suggesting the 11 players on the pitch threw their black arm bands on the floor, in an act of disrespect? Nutter.

[RoyalBlue]

At the end of the day I'm sure all the players respect the death of a 12 year old kid. If the armbands were causing discomfort than remove them. Everyone is too uptight about things like this.

Causing discomfort?!

Didn't seem to cause the Southampton players too much discomfort or maybe it was the discomfort that spurred them on!! What's more their arm bands seemed bigger than ours - maybe that made them more comfortable.

I wonder whether the players concerned would have put up with the arm bands had they been paid by a sponsor to wear them!

If the armbands were slipping/falling off then the club should learn from this and ensure they are stitched on next time.

I would be interested in hearing a plausible explanation from the club as to why, in contrast to Southampton, the majority of our team did not keep the armbands on for the whole game.

Fully agree that the Southampton players and supporters deserve credit for the manner in which they conducted themselves.

[Forbury Lion]

Too much is being read into this, but it's something that could have been avoided and I hope the next time the players wear black armbands the manager tells them they will be fined for taking them off..... or wearing them on their leg.

Wearing an uncomfortable armband wouldn't have made any of our players play any worse than they did.

[readingbedding]

Yes it is a massive over-reaction.

[brendywendy]

its poor if they did that
pretty disrespectful IMO
dont think its an over reaction to say that really
bit of a shame, but the minutes applause went well at least
no point castigating players though, a feeling of vague dispointment is probably strong enough