How much do you currently like the team?

[SCIAG]

For a while now, people have been complaining about the loss of our club's identity. I've not really understood this, because we've had players like Federici, Pearce, and Karacan who have been around for ten years or more.

With those three departing, the only player at the club who has achieved anything for the first team is Robson-Kanu, and he's never exactly been a reliable match winner. Leaving him aside, the only players who I have particularly good memories of are Pogrebnyak (West Ham at home, Chelsea away, cup semi-final, and especially West Brom at home) and McCleary (QPR matches, Bradford, Burnley, Wembley). Maybe Williams, but he's not won us many points and rarely does anything that you can remember a month later. Maybe Norwood.

Last season's FA Cup run was something, but none of our results were particularly dramatic, we didn't knock Liverpool out or hit the bar at 3-2. Even then, we've lost several of the heroes of that side, Mackie, Chalobah, even Yakubu.

We've probably had six changes to our first team since last season, definitely four, and only Ferdinand was already here. I know that our early signings should be at least "good enough", and these later ones have a good chance, but I just don't care about them yet. When I see a bunch of journeymen trot out , I can't remember their past performances, and any illusion that they wouldn't be playing for someone else if they'd been offered slightly more money is shattered.

So, leaving aside how good you think the team is - how much do you currently like them?

[sandman]

I love them, I'm just not in love with them.

[leon]

I hate them all and I wish I supported Swindon.

[Lower West]

even Yakubu.

Besides goal at Derby in the FA Cup. Totally forgettable.

So far none of the departed have been missed.

Something was amiss last season.

[SCIAG]

even Yakubu.

Besides goal at Derby in the FA Cup. Totally forgettable.

That was why I included the "even".

We were right to let him go, but it still meant getting rid of one of the few players who produced anything like a "highlight" last season.

[melonhead]

even Yakubu.

Besides goal at Derby in the FA Cup. Totally forgettable.

So far none of the departed have been missed.

Something was amiss last season.

This.

[Ian Royal]

There's been no time to really warm to any of the new players yet IMO. I'm a big fan of Hector though. Pleased to see Tish getting some games.

Hopefully over the next month the horde of newbies can start becoming favourites. I think we really miss Kebe, McAnuff and Pearce in terms of likeability stakes. Only Hector's really stepped into their shoes for me. Even good a good player like Williams leaves me a bit cold because he seems such a gobshite on the pitch.

Still. lots to be positive about and I'm sure there'll be new favourites for me.

[P!ssed Off]

I like Michael Hector and Jordan Obita.

I'm bored of the rest of them. They can go away.

[From Despair To Where?]

A lot more than 2 months ago.

We've spent sensible money (especially in the context of Bristol City offering £8m+ on every English forward under 25) and I'd be surprised if we've spent much over £2m on the lot. More importantly, there seems to be a point to every signing. Bond, Al Habsi, Taylor and Sa have plugged big holes in the squad, McShane, Quinn and Ferdinand's return to fitness have added necessary experience and Hurtado and Fernandez should added vital pace, technique and creativity to midfield.

Semedo and Liburd make sense as cheap, low risk punts and they certainly look a step up from the sort of cheap, low risk punts we used to make.

I don't think we're there yet and this season is still one of consolidation and rebuilding but I'm quietly positive.

[Steve_Upper_West]

Much too early in our relationship to make any kind of commitment...

[Winchester Royal]

One of my favourite memories of any of the current Reading team is Anton Ferdinand shanking it into his own net in the 6-0 win, whilst he was playing for West Ham.

[The Rouge]

I prefer Anything Else.

[melonhead]

I like em.
new players seem a decent bunch.
glad we cleared out a lot of the players who were 'used to failure' since the prem.
like what Clarke has done. still a few reading academy products around/on the fringes.
a few wins and we can start creating some shared history which will endear them all further to me.

[PeterReadingborn59]

I hate them all and I wish I supported Swindon.

Is someone in complete denial?
Seems like a wind-up as leon keeps returning to a site dealing a club he hates and he mentions supporting a small club in Wiltshire.

[PeterReadingborn59]

:D
I like em.
new players seem a decent bunch.
glad we cleared out a lot of the players who were 'used to failure' since the prem.
like what Clarke has done. still a few reading academy products around/on the fringes.
a few wins and we can start creating some shared history which will endear them all further to me.

Agree, just the wait can be frustrating but with the current owners the future seems more bright, rather than african violet.

Jem was another that won lots of support.

A current player who I was doubtful about was Ferdinand, as he sat in the stand last season, but has clearly shown it was not his choice and is prepared to put in the effort to play for RFC. Others are already showing that they are raising their effort particularly Blackman, Norwood, and even HRK and Cox, most seem to be in better physical and mental state than last seasons squad.

[maffff]

Much too early in our relationship to make any kind of commitment...

Unable to consummate?

[floyd__streete]

How anyone can have positive thoughts at this time about this poorly performing crop is beyond me tbh.

[Gordons Cumming]

I like 'em lots and lots..........................especially when they win.

[maffff]

How anyone can have positive thoughts at this time about this poorly performing crop is beyond me tbh.

Same way we feel about you fLOLoyd darling xx

[floyd__streete]

Tbf to the Reading players, I don't really admire an awful lot about modern professional footballers. They are largely a bunch of referee abusing cheats who are absolutely incapable of taking criticism and who seem to conduct themselves off the pitch even more appallingly than they do on it.