FAO The Optimists

[Ian Royal]

Now we're out of the Play-offs what is the official line of response to those who dare complain.
Obviously "stop complaining, we're in the play-offs" is out the window.

'Work in progress'?
'Attractive football'?

We're out of the play offs for one game and by 1 solitary point. The league table in November doesn't define where you finish. We're not playing well and still drawing, with very few losses. All it takes is a little step up in form as a team or one player to come back or make themselves a hero and half a dozen games later we could be homing in on the top 2. The Championship is always just that tight.

Quit you're oxf*rd whining and see what happens. What do you suggest? Sacking Adkins? That'd be ridiculous.

[P!ssed Off]

Now we're out of the Play-offs what is the official line of response to those who dare complain.
Obviously "stop complaining, we're in the play-offs" is out the window.

'Work in progress'?
'Attractive football'?

We're out of the play offs for one game and by 1 solitary point. The league table in November doesn't define where you finish. We're not playing well and still drawing, with very few losses. All it takes is a little step up in form as a team or one player to come back or make themselves a hero and half a dozen games later we could be homing in on the top 2. The Championship is always just that tight.

Quit you're oxf*rd whining and see what happens. What do you suggest? Sacking Adkins? That'd be ridiculous.

I think you're reading a bit too much into a simple question.
I was merely wondering what the new catchphrase is, now the previous one is no longer applicable.

The simple answer appears to be: "It's only November". No need for all this "stop whining", "go and support Chelsea" nonsense I have been subjected to.

[P!ssed Off]

After numerous helpful answers to my research question, I have rigorously analysed the results and determined that the new official catchphrase is:

"It's only November"


Thanks goes to all those who participated in my investigation.
For now, /thread.

[HoneyRoastHoax]

What an earth do you actually want?

You think we're rubbish and doomed and would like us to agree with you? Ok lets say we do that. Now what?

They keep playing, life keeps going on.

Look at man u to see what a new manager can do to a team.

I'm not sure what you expected from us with these inherited players.

[ddetisi]

Now we're out of the Play-offs what is the official line of response to those who dare complain.
Obviously "stop complaining, we're in the play-offs" is out the window.

'Work in progress'?
'Attractive football'?

It's just a game.

[sandman]

Unfortunately it's not "only a game" anymore due to the large sums of money involved.

Would you tell the people you don't see behind the scenes who work in the Stadium and at the training ground who lose their jobs due to relegation that it's only a game?

[Avon Royal]

Presumably they only got those jobs though as we were promoted. It's not as if they were sacked after 20 years.

[floyd__streete]

Presumably they only got those jobs though as we were promoted. It's not as if they were sacked after 20 years.

So losing your job is only ever difficult for people if they've been in post for a substantial amount of time

[Ian Royal]

Presumably they only got those jobs though as we were promoted. It's not as if they were sacked after 20 years.

So losing your job is only ever difficult for people if they've been in post for a substantial amount of time

First in, first out. There's gotta be an expectation about job security issues at a club which are expected to be relegated when you're only employed to pick up the slack to cover the promotion.

[sandman]

The father of someone I work with was employed there for 20 years and he was got rid of by the Russian along with a few other long term employees so no it's not just people who were employed when we got promoted.

[tmesis]

What an earth do you actually want?

You think we're rubbish and doomed and would like us to agree with you? Ok lets say we do that. Now what?

They keep playing, life keeps going on.

Look at man u to see what a new manager can do to a team.

I'm not sure what you expected from us with these inherited players.

whether it's become a cliche or not, I think the last is the most pertinent.

There doesn't seem to be much doubt that the team that went up over-performed.

There doesn't seem to be much doubt the the squad we have now is no better.

So why do people now seem to think getting results which are about what you'd expect from this team is some kind of disaster? Yes, we'd love to be back in the premier league, and yes we know that not getting back up will have financial implications, but that doesn't have any bearing on how many points this set of players ought to be on at the moment.


My beef is with the football being dull. Everything else is pretty much what I'd expect given the circumstances.

[Avon Royal]

Presumably they only got those jobs though as we were promoted. It's not as if they were sacked after 20 years.

So losing your job is only ever difficult for people if they've been in post for a substantial amount of time

First in, first out. There's gotta be an expectation about job security issues at a club which are expected to be relegated when you're only employed to pick up the slack to cover the promotion.

Exactly this.

Getting a job at Reading FC because they have been promoted, and then being surprised that you are let go when they are inevitably relegated after a year is like being shocked that your Christmas job at the Royal Mail suddenly comes to an end in January.

[melonhead]

What an earth do you actually want?

You think we're rubbish and doomed and would like us to agree with you? Ok lets say we do that. Now what?

They keep playing, life keeps going on.

Look at man u to see what a new manager can do to a team.

I'm not sure what you expected from us with these inherited players.

whether it's become a cliche or not, I think the last is the most pertinent.

There doesn't seem to be much doubt that the team that went up over-performed.

There doesn't seem to be much doubt the the squad we have now is no better.

So why do people now seem to think getting results which are about what you'd expect from this team is some kind of disaster? Yes, we'd love to be back in the premier league, and yes we know that not getting back up will have financial implications, but that doesn't have any bearing on how many points this set of players ought to be on at the moment.


My beef is with the football being dull. Everything else is pretty much what I'd expect given the circumstances.

agree on the first. disagree on the second. the squad now should be much much better than the one who went up.
that a better squad is seriously underperforming is a huge worry, but we have been seriously hit by injuries so it is in many ways to be expected.
why we are so beset with injuries is possibly down to adkins focus on ball skills rather than actual fitness

[yuomi]

how in god's name did such an atrociously bad fishing trip make it to four pages?!

[Cureton's Volley]

how in god's name did such an atrociously bad fishing trip make it to four pages?!

Cos the net's-a-bulging with the plentiful critters who were hooked chasing Adkins' ringpiece as bait. They just couldn't resist a lick.

[Extended-Phenotype]

How many new players does Adkins currently have on the pitch compared with what McD had?

If last seasons team wasn't good enough, why is this one supposed to be walking the league?

[P!ssed Off]

How many new players does Adkins currently have on the pitch compared with what McD had?

If last seasons team wasn't good enough, why is this one supposed to be walking the league?

This was a simple fishing trip aimed at the likes of winchester_royal, purely in regards to where we are currently at in the table.
Move along now.

/thread

[Extended-Phenotype]

Sorry for giving a good answer.

[YateleyRoyal]

I have never seen so many bites in such a short thread...

[Cureton's Volley]

If last seasons team wasn't good enough, why is this one supposed to be walking the league?

Last season we were playing (bravely) against Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal et al.

This season we are playing (badly) against the likes of Peterborough, Sheff Weds, Yeovil, Millwall... We've looked worse against this level of opposition!

HTH