BFTG Stevenage

[From Despair To Where?]

From what I'm reading, all Leon is saying is let's not get over excited, hence the "recalibrate". Its a change from 12 months of shite but let's re-establish our baseline before going overboard.

[Snowball]

We've had only 2 league wins ffs: one a solitary own goal and one against 10 men. To go from Selles Out to "ok let's give him some more time" (and for me that's on the back of the excellent cup win and him dropping the liability of Holmes+Tmac and less reliance on Carroll) is reasonable. But to suggest anything else at this point is nuts.

But I do agree (and have always said) that it is certainly an exciting situation being in a lower league with young hungry players. I do enjoy it. But that's very different to suggesting we'll finish above 6th this early on.

Why ignore the fact that the kids have yet to concede
a goal and have scored SEVEN goals in 3 games including
4 away to a Championship side?

I think, also, people are too quickly forgetting or overlooking
how shambolic and depressing things have been during pre-season
and the morale-battering stuff coming from off the field.

Once (if) that dies away and the bad-eggs are gone, and
Savage, Vickers, Elliot, Mukairu, Mbengue get that extra
game time, I can only see the team getting better.

They have won six points from four games (plus they won at Millwall)
(1.5 pg = 69 point season) and they are expected to improve.

They hardly need to improve much at all to make top six

[Franchise FC]

Certainly has the makings of a much more exciting season. I think going back to the traditional strategy of investing in our youth and seeing them come through and grow will be really interesting to watch. Supporters on the whole will be much more patient because of that too.

I think you are right that the fans are much more likely to be patient with this set of young players than previously because of the years of poor signings from elsewhere.

Where I disagree is with your "traditional strategy of investing in our youth" which is something, apart from the financial aspect, that we have never done and as a club have always been reluctant to give young players many opportunities.
This is the first time in all the years that I have been watching Reading that so many young players have been selected all at once.

This outcome may have arisen accidentally through circumstances but Ferguson at Man Utd (admittedly on a totally different level) was forced to play his kids back in the day and IIRC they did rather well-I'm not expecting a similar return but stability at this level followed by a promotion push within the next couple of years would do.

Understandable, but only because we haven't qualified for the Champions League this year

[CountryRoyal]

Yes this where I’m at. I’m loving a feel good factor which we’ve lacked for so long but the young lads haven’t really set a proper benchmark down for this level yet. A good result/performance on Saturday will really be encouraging.

I’m not really keen on harping on about the Millwall result, impressive in isolation but we all know how easy it is to get dumped out of the cup against lower league opposition.

[Snowball]

From what I'm reading, all Leon is saying is let's not get over excited, hence the "recalibrate". It's a change from 12 months of shite but let's re-establish our baseline before going overboard.

My "excitement" is that the kids are P3 W3 D0 L0 7F 0A

and, more importantly, they have been noticeably enhanced
by the arrival of Elliot and Mukairu, they've got Sam Smith to
add to the mix, etc etc.

Things look genuinely promising, VERY promising

[Franchise FC]

Yes this where I’m at. I’m loving a feel good factor which we’ve lacked for so long but the young lads haven’t really set a proper benchmark down for this level yet. A good result/performance on Saturday will really be encouraging.

I’m not really keen on harping on about the Millwall result, impressive in isolation but we all know how easy it is to get dumped out of the cup against lower league opposition.

Whilst the 'dumping' statement is true, there's very few times when a lower league, almost youth side, dump out a close to full strength higher division club by four goals

(Cue someone finding the Ronalds beating Man Utd )

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Yes this where I’m at. I’m loving a feel good factor which we’ve lacked for so long but the young lads haven’t really set a proper benchmark down for this level yet. A good result/performance on Saturday will really be encouraging.

I’m not really keen on harping on about the Millwall result, impressive in isolation but we all know how easy it is to get dumped out of the cup against lower league opposition.

The real tests will be against the sides expected to be strong in this league. Obviously already played one in Peterborough and were on the wrong end of a result that was probably a little bit harsh. Also an argument to say we probably weren't in the best shape squad wise to start the season off.

I reckon by the end of October (ish) we will know roughly where we expect to be. The window will be shut so we know our squad until January and by that time we will have played 16 league games, with a few LC/EFL Cup games scattered in as well, with a reasonable spread of teams played in that period.

[Snowball]

Yes this where I’m at. I’m loving a feel good factor which we’ve lacked for so long but the young lads haven’t really set a proper benchmark down for this level yet. A good result/performance on Saturday will really be encouraging.

I’m not really keen on harping on about the Millwall result, impressive in isolation but we all know how easy it is to get dumped out of the cup against lower league opposition.

Whilst the 'dumping' statement is true, there's very few times when a lower league, almost youth side, dump out a close to full strength higher division club by four goals

(Cue someone finding the Ronalds beating Man Utd )

Agreed. I had punted a 1-2 win because I thought
we would be full-strength (old-guard) and Millwall
would start a weakened team.

But when I saw the line-up I thought we would be
lucky if we only shipped 5.

I think the match thread had more than a few saying
"anything better than a 4-0 defeat" would be decent.

Sure there re upsets, but you could probably have got
200-1 for Reading to win 4-0 at Millwall.

[Snowflake Royal]

It's the talk of top six etc that's daft. We've played 4 games.

Enjoy the games, but keep your feet in the ground and check back on expectations after 10 games. Which tbf most people do.

We narrowly lost 2 and we were going to be L2 for some, then we narrowly win 2 and the Academy lads will get the Play Offs.

[Franchise FC]

It's the talk of top six etc that's daft. We've played 4 games.

Enjoy the games, but keep your feet in the ground and check back on expectations after 10 games. Which tbf most people do.

We narrowly lost 2 and we were going to be L2 for some, then we narrowly win 2 and the Academy lads will get the Play Offs.

It's ridiculously early to be calling any position at all.

Where were we towards the end of September last year ?

[Brogue]

What kind of player is Vickers? I havent been able to watch any games.

Think Zola but with pace

[Snowball]

It's the talk of top six etc that's daft. We've played 4 games.

Enjoy the games, but keep your feet in the ground and check back on expectations after 10 games. Which tbf most people do.

We narrowly lost 2 and we were going to be L2 for some, then we narrowly win 2 and the Academy lads will get the Play Offs.

It's ridiculously early to be calling any position at all.

Where were we towards the end of September last year ?

Bookies have us at 3-1 for top six

[Snowflake Royal]

It's the talk of top six etc that's daft. We've played 4 games.

Enjoy the games, but keep your feet in the ground and check back on expectations after 10 games. Which tbf most people do.

We narrowly lost 2 and we were going to be L2 for some, then we narrowly win 2 and the Academy lads will get the Play Offs.

It's ridiculously early to be calling any position at all.

Where were we towards the end of September last year ?

In the mix for POs. Which is my point.

[Franchise FC]

It's the talk of top six etc that's daft. We've played 4 games.

Enjoy the games, but keep your feet in the ground and check back on expectations after 10 games. Which tbf most people do.

We narrowly lost 2 and we were going to be L2 for some, then we narrowly win 2 and the Academy lads will get the Play Offs.

It's ridiculously early to be calling any position at all.

Where were we towards the end of September last year ?

In the mix for POs. Which is my point.

I know it makes a change but I was supporting your point

[Snowflake Royal]

It's the talk of top six etc that's daft. We've played 4 games.

Enjoy the games, but keep your feet in the ground and check back on expectations after 10 games. Which tbf most people do.

We narrowly lost 2 and we were going to be L2 for some, then we narrowly win 2 and the Academy lads will get the Play Offs.

It's ridiculously early to be calling any position at all.

Where were we towards the end of September last year ?

Bookies have us at 3-1 for top six

Which is just a reflection of a few people getting carried away and putting money on it.

The bookies don't have a crystal ball. They follow the money

[Franchise FC]

It's the talk of top six etc that's daft. We've played 4 games.

Enjoy the games, but keep your feet in the ground and check back on expectations after 10 games. Which tbf most people do.

We narrowly lost 2 and we were going to be L2 for some, then we narrowly win 2 and the Academy lads will get the Play Offs.

It's ridiculously early to be calling any position at all.

Where were we towards the end of September last year ?

Bookies have us at 3-1 for top six

But as we've said many times, bookies will set their odds based on what people are betting on, not necessarily knowing what the outcome will be.
Two wins, a few local punters jump in and the odds, unsurprisingly, come down

[Hound]

Too much off the pitch noise to get too optimistic as well

Dai sorts himself out, pays the tax, pays the wages, pays the 125% - allows us to bring in 2 more quality players

Vs

Dai screws up again, can’t sign anyone else, lose another 3 points, fan unrest, players pissed off.

And let’s be honest which is more likely based on current form?

If it was scenario 1 then I’d back us for top 7. Who knows with 2.

[Snowball]

Too much off the pitch noise to get too optimistic as well

Dai sorts himself out, pays the tax, pays the wages, pays the 125% - allows us to bring in 2 more quality players

Vs

Dai screws up again, can’t sign anyone else, lose another 3 points, fan unrest, players pissed off.

And let’s be honest which is more likely based on current form?

If it was scenario 1 then I’d back us for top 7. Who knows with 2.

Every time I've made a prediction I've added the point
"Barring any further points deductions"

[blythspartan]

My feet are firmly on the ground regards expectations. I’m just enjoying young hungry players wanting to wear the shirt and Selles trying to give us an identity.

If we can win more games than we lose and the players give their all I’ll be happy. I have really started to look forward to going to games again and wish there was a midweek game this week.

I hope it doesn’t get oxf*rd up by Dai and I am keeping my fingers crossed for new investment.

[leon]

Christ you lot are excitable.