RFC - a total shambles

[Huntley & Palmer]

and Sidwell going on loan to Sunderland for the rest of the season

I fail to see what that has to do with it.

Yorke + Sidwell >> Harper + Gunnarsson.

Anyone who thinks we have three points in the bag when Sunderland visit needs their head looking at.

Those would be the three points we have already got? Or have the FA ordered a rematch over Hunts controversial late winner?

As for the midfield at many last times last season the following was true:

Harper & Gunnarsson > Harper & Sidwell.

So you must be suggesting the Yorke is a better central midfielder that Harper.

Are you honestly suggesting that Gunnarsson was the better starting midfielder next to Harper last season? How many times was he better, once or twice maybe?

[cmonurz]

Have Sunderland really signed Sidwell and Taylor?



ROFLeading have a better chance than Sunderland at staying up

Taylor too?

F*ck me. Where is our ambition?

[Wycombe Royal]

and Sidwell going on loan to Sunderland for the rest of the season

I fail to see what that has to do with it.

Yorke + Sidwell >> Harper + Gunnarsson.

Anyone who thinks we have three points in the bag when Sunderland visit needs their head looking at.

Those would be the three points we have already got? Or have the FA ordered a rematch over Hunts controversial late winner?

As for the midfield at many last times last season the following was true:

Harper & Gunnarsson > Harper & Sidwell.

So you must be suggesting the Yorke is a better central midfielder that Harper.

Got a bit ahead of myself on the whole Sunderland thing – just following on really from my points about the smug attitude any Reading fans have towards Sunderland’s transfer policy. Sidwell will be a bonus to their midfield (can’t find the loan on BBC mind you) and I would not assume they will finish the season below us.

And it is laughable to suggest that Brynjar Gunnarsson is anything but a liability to our midfield.

Sunderland have only confirmed Johnny Evans so far. Their are lots of rumours about biig signings, as there were in the summer about Sunderland but the majority fail to come off. I have no doubts that Sidwell would be a boost to their midfield but no-one knows if it will make any difference to their fortunes.

[Wycombe Royal]

and Sidwell going on loan to Sunderland for the rest of the season

I fail to see what that has to do with it.

Yorke + Sidwell >> Harper + Gunnarsson.

Anyone who thinks we have three points in the bag when Sunderland visit needs their head looking at.

Those would be the three points we have already got? Or have the FA ordered a rematch over Hunts controversial late winner?

As for the midfield at many last times last season the following was true:

Harper & Gunnarsson > Harper & Sidwell.

So you must be suggesting the Yorke is a better central midfielder that Harper.

Are you honestly suggesting that Gunnarsson was the better starting midfielder next to Harper last season? How many times was he better, once or twice maybe?

Quite a few times. Woodcote Royal will back me up on this one.

[cmonurz]

Are you serious WR? ‘No-one knows if it will make a difference’. Of course not! That’s what a transfer is isn’t it? Speculation that a player with greater paper ability than the current squad will improve its performance.

Sidwell and Taylor (nevermind the likes of Gordon and Richardson) would improve our current squad.

[Huntley & Palmer]

and Sidwell going on loan to Sunderland for the rest of the season

I fail to see what that has to do with it.

Yorke + Sidwell >> Harper + Gunnarsson.

Anyone who thinks we have three points in the bag when Sunderland visit needs their head looking at.

Those would be the three points we have already got? Or have the FA ordered a rematch over Hunts controversial late winner?

As for the midfield at many last times last season the following was true:

Harper & Gunnarsson > Harper & Sidwell.

So you must be suggesting the Yorke is a better central midfielder that Harper.

Are you honestly suggesting that Gunnarsson was the better starting midfielder next to Harper last season? How many times was he better, once or twice maybe?

Quite a few times. Woodcote Royal will back me up on this one.

Prey tell, could you please point them out to me.

[Wycombe Royal]

and Sidwell going on loan to Sunderland for the rest of the season

I fail to see what that has to do with it.

Yorke + Sidwell >> Harper + Gunnarsson.

Anyone who thinks we have three points in the bag when Sunderland visit needs their head looking at.

Those would be the three points we have already got? Or have the FA ordered a rematch over Hunts controversial late winner?

As for the midfield at many last times last season the following was true:

Harper & Gunnarsson > Harper & Sidwell.

So you must be suggesting the Yorke is a better central midfielder that Harper.

Are you honestly suggesting that Gunnarsson was the better starting midfielder next to Harper last season? How many times was he better, once or twice maybe?

Quite a few times. Woodcote Royal will back me up on this one.

Prey tell, could you please point them out to me.

My memory of specific matches isn't that great, but Gunnarsson was playing far better last season and he did, whatever you say, put in quite a few good performances when stepping in for Sidwell (he also scored more goals from less matches I think).

[Focher]

Hard to disagree with the thread title as we lump to yet another all too predictable away defeat.

Kitson - In trouble and, if I was him and read some of the responses from "supporters" on here, would be gone in a shot.

Doyle - Wants to go to a top 4 side

Hunt - Won't rule out going to Sunderland

Lita - Wants to go anywhere

Coppell - Hinted at leaving at the end of the season

Shorey - Seems seduced by West Ham overtures

Murty, Little, Hanehmann, Ingermarrson, De La Cruz - all approaching sell by date

Signings of proven talent - Not a chance

It'll be too late to save it soon.

absolutely spot on, a brief but accurate assesment of the realities that fall upon RFC, we are f****d without major changes in the next 2 weeks.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Your memory isn't great, there were only 3 times that Gunnar started in front of Sidwell in a league game last season.

Sidwell scored 3 in 35, Gunnar scored 3 in 24 league games.

I'm still really struggling to see where you get this notion of Gunnarsson being better next to Harper

[Old Biscuitman]

Out come the paraquat and razor blade brigade after a wholly expected away defeat to an excellent Villa side; what is it with some people on this forum!!

It should be patently obvious that people are disappointed not with the result, but with the manner of the defeat.

Our side not just prides itself on team spirit and togetherness, but requires it to be successful. Recent events and announcements should be setting off alarm bells loud and clear.

There is a real last days of Rome feeling about the place at the moment and it needs sorting.

Agreed. Stop Nero Coppell fiddling away. We need some action before we go up in smoke.

[The whole year inn]

I will personally drive Glenn Little to Lourdes

[papereyes]

Out come the paraquat and razor blade brigade after a wholly expected away defeat to an excellent Villa side; what is it with some people on this forum!!

It should be patently obvious that people are disappointed not with the result, but with the manner of the defeat.

Our side not just prides itself on team spirit and togetherness, but requires it to be successful. Recent events and announcements should be setting off alarm bells loud and clear.

There is a real last days of Rome feeling about the place at the moment and it needs sorting.

and without the cracking orgies as well.

[Royal Rother]

No-one disputes that we've got a real fight on our hands to retain our status in PL but can I just bring a note of realism to the discussion again - there are currently 7 teams below us in the table.

It's narrow for sure and it will doubtless still be narrow at the end of the season but there are actually 7 teams who have performed worse than us so far.

This isn't being complacent, RTG wearing or anything else you'd like to call it, it is a fact. And it is also a fact that this has been achieved whilst refusing to get involved in daft money transfers for rubbish, like most of our rivals down there have.

Maybe the investments being made by those rivals this month will pay dividends and shove us down to the botom 3 by the end of the season but they haven't done so far have they because they are below us in the table aren't they? And they're £30m+ lighter as a result.

It's a conundrum isn't it? New players who you can be pretty certain are good enough to have an impact will cost £6m+ and demand wages of what, £40kpw? What does that do to the rest of the squad? How will they feel about it? When the going gets really tough and this player is not quite bleeding the same blood as the rest of them, how will they react?

Of course it is disappointing that assurances made earlier in the season about new faces have not been fulfilled, but if the right player isn't available for the right money then we have to move on or undo a lot of what this club has been built on which is underpinned by calculated and prudent risk management.

[Schards#2]

No-one disputes that we've got a real fight on our hands to retain our status in PL but can I just bring a note of realism to the discussion again - there are currently 7 teams below us in the table.

It's narrow for sure and it will doubtless still be narrow at the end of the season but there are actually 7 teams who have performed worse than us so far.

This isn't being complacent, RTG wearing or anything else you'd like to call it, it is a fact. And it is also a fact that this has been achieved whilst refusing to get involved in daft money transfers for rubbish, like most of our rivals down there have.

Maybe the investments being made by those rivals this month will pay dividends and shove us down to the botom 3 by the end of the season but they haven't done so far have they because they are below us in the table aren't they? And they're £30m+ lighter as a result.

It's a conundrum isn't it? New players who you can be pretty certain are good enough to have an impact will cost £6m+ and demand wages of what, £40kpw? What does that do to the rest of the squad? How will they feel about it? When the going gets really tough and this player is not quite bleeding the same blood as the rest of them, how will they react?

Of course it is disappointing that assurances made earlier in the season about new faces have not been fulfilled, but if the right player isn't available for the right money then we have to move on or undo a lot of what this club has been built on which is underpinned by calculated and prudent risk management.

You're entitled to your opinion.

Why do you feel it neccessary to shout down posters who have the honestly and rationally held opinion that if things stay as they are, we will go down?

What give you the right to voice your opinion by not they?

[Platypuss]

It's a conundrum isn't it? New players who you can be pretty certain are good enough to have an impact will cost £6m+ and demand wages of what, £40kpw? What does that do to the rest of the squad? How will they feel about it? When the going gets really tough and this player is not quite bleeding the same blood as the rest of them, how will they react?

Like the professional footballers they are?

It's also going to cost us significantly more to retain the players we want to keep when approached by others able and willing to pay them more (eg Hunt) so such a differential will close naturally anyway.

How long can RFC look to swim against the tide of paying the going rate?

[Wycombe Royal]

What give you the right to voice your opinion by not they?

Where did he say that?

[Schards#2]

What give you the right to voice your opinion by not they?

Where did he say that?

Here, page 2

Are we still 5 points outside the relegation zone? Well, yes, I think we are! Would those teams below us rather be in our position with our number of points? I rather think they would.

Fcuking doom and gloom merchants! Call yourself supporters when all you want to do is look on the worst possible turn of future events without any real semblance of balance to your views. Crap.

The implication seems to be that anyone who holds the opinion that we may be relegated doesn't have the right to call themselves a supporter.

That's the view from his armchair.

[Gordons Cumming]

It's a conundrum isn't it? New players who you can be pretty certain are good enough to have an impact will cost £6m+ and demand wages of what, £40kpw? What does that do to the rest of the squad? How will they feel about it? When the going gets really tough and this player is not quite bleeding the same blood as the rest of them, how will they react?

Like the professional footballers they are?

It's also going to cost us significantly more to retain the players we want to keep when approached by others able and willing to pay them more (eg Hunt) so such a differential will close naturally anyway.

How long can RFC look to swim against the tide of paying the going rate?

What do you suggest Reading FC do about their current situation as you sit on that lofty pedestal of yours? Practical suggestions, please.

Just wondered............

[Uke]

What give you the right to voice your opinion by not they?

Where did he say that?

Here, page 2

Are we still 5 points outside the relegation zone? Well, yes, I think we are! Would those teams below us rather be in our position with our number of points? I rather think they would.

Fcuking doom and gloom merchants! Call yourself supporters when all you want to do is look on the worst possible turn of future events without any real semblance of balance to your views. Crap.

The implication seems to be that anyone who holds the opinion that we may be relegated doesn't have the right to call themselves a supporter.

That's the view from his armchair.

To be fair you're quoting out of context. After RL berated him his next post is...

FWIW I've been watching RFC for 26 years, through thin rather more than thick, I can assure you, and I am merely stating things AS I SEE THEM and HOW I FEEL. That I can't have your abundance of optimism at this current time is indeed upsetting to me.

It isn't even optimism - it's realism, nothing more.

I just don't see any reason to be as negative as so many on here are, yourself included.

We are where we are in the table and we are better off than 6 teams at the moment. The fact that those teams have, and are again likely to in January, spend more than we have or will, is absolutely no justification whatsoever in my mind for anyone in their right mind to consider that means they will automatically overtake us by the end of the season.

Let the events unfold. Maybe we will go down, but the bookies are apparently offering 6/1 against that happening! Those are big odds for you guys - I trust you will hasten down to Corals on Monday to slake your pessimism and dissatisfaction with a big wager.

But I'll leave RL and RR to fight their own battles, after all they're only noe letter different!

[Schards#2]

I'm quoting, in its entirety, a post he made which makes it clear that any pessimists can't be considered supporters.

There's nothing out of context about that whatsoever.