I don't think Madge has got much in common with Ashley. The only time I remember us chucking money at a problem was when Burns came in and virtually bought a new team in a last-minute attempt to save us from relegation. They turned out to be not much better players than the previous lot and their wa...

I thought his line about not being able to beat Saltash and Bodmin was hilarious. It reminded me of Brent's monologue in the office, where he goes on about Winnersh and Burghfield. In both cases the semi-subconscious geographical references were a bit off kilter: Brent worked in Slough, but Gervase ...

Do the people who want Kitson to "keep his mouth shut" think he rang up the BBC? I don't think there's anything wrong with saying a few innocuous things like this to reporters, though reporters can't necessarily be relied on to get things right, so a pinch of salt is required. Kits, like m...

I don't think they'll turn, not after the unprecedented treats they've had in the last few years. It would be ungrateful to turn. If we become just an average mid-table side, perhaps there will be some uncomfortable moments and a loss of gate: the atmosphere will be judgement enough. But all long-te...

I think our whole approach is amateurish. We should have a designated penalty taker, a reserve, and so on through the team. They should be trained to take penalties, and in my opinion that would exclude hitting them down the middle the way Doyle did. There was a documentary a few years ago analysing...

I would like to see us trying to improve the squad. We lost the winning habit last season, and I don't see why that should change now. I would like us to rebuild, and I am willing to deal with non-promotion for a season or two if that's what it takes. Realistically, I accept that we need to give the...

Hearts is also a poisoned chalice, so he might have been considering that too. He hasn't suddenly become Mother Teresa of Calcutta,

I have taken the last two summers' relative inactivity in the transfer market calmly, because I sympathised with Coppell's position: it is very hard to find the right player for a team like Reading at Premiership level and, as the Fae case showed, it would have been only too easy to make mistakes. B...

Martin James, by a long mile. He came into the worst side I remember, when we were below half way in the 4th division, and we released him at the end of the season to work at Sainsburys. Why he stands out is that he wasn't a football player; though tall, he didn't look or move like one, being totall...

I can't really get my head round this topic until we've played Derby. Being a long-term supporter, I am prone to pessimism; but I keep convincing myself that there is still a very good chance that we can stay up.

I came here to read predictions, not see the little imps that dance in my brain. I mean, come on. The team that only got beat 2-1 away against Liverpool, v a team that could only draw at home to Newcastle and let in four against Pompey? I'm going 3-1 Reading. Except . . . those imps, those imps . . .!

I remember finding it hilarious when Percy Freeman missed the goal by about twenty yards and laid out an old man at the Tilehurst end, who had to be carried out on a stretcher. Not funny for the old man; but I was a kid at the time and Percy Freeman was my hero. Percy was a tall, heavy, lumbering cr...

If it is true that there is no official penalty taker, then I am horrified. In my opinion, the penalty taker should be known beforehand and should not change except for injury, at which point the designated deputy should take it. This should apply in all curcumstances, even if someone is on a hat tr...

Girls Aloud will now run naked the length of the field.

I wonder if we fell for Halford because Parkinson rated him. I'm sure we must have consulted Parky, who had previously managed him. Of course we can criticise Steve for buying him, but since he flogged him off for a profit shortly afterwards, he rectified it, so respect. Takes a smart man to admit h...

I'm long past questioning Coppell's decisions.

I wouldn't knock this statistic, which is good reason to expect us to be a mid table side. When Wigan beat us, they were right down the league, and I felt a bit gutted. That result doesn't look so bad after their recent run. I'm nervous of Bolton; Sam will have computer info on what we do rather tha...

Let's not use this word "pikeys".

Ent we got enough of em in air teyn? (Me included: Coley Park, thank you very much)

You're very welcome. It's wonderful having new fans and interest: anyone who doesn't want the fanbase to grow is mad and probably never stood with four thousand when we were half way down the fourth division. But if you want to be a real Reading fan, you must be prepared to suffer, because this is o...

[quote="Dulwich Royal"]Lawrenson, when playing for Brighton, nobbled Robin Friday, I believe, so he has some form against us putting aside his usual BBC platitudes.[/quote] Wow, was that the four games in a row we played them, when they had Fred Binney? Didn't know Lorro was involved. Even...