this board boils down to this

[howser]

Without doubt we all want to stay in the top league, and with a fair bit of luck we just might, reading all the many replies to a multitude of subjects regarding the present situation we are in, it is pretty clear that most are dumfounded by what is happening, ok so what if we are just ignorant, blind and tactically brainless supporters, we seem to have managed to grasp the elementary fact that we are a poor side, and aint good enough, how come the tactically aware, experienced,proffessional and astute club management have failed to do so ? am I in the wrong job ??? I wonder.............................

[westendgirl]

putting issues of personal pride, oneupmanship and the vindictiveness of the "i told you so" brigade aside, we all want Reading to stay up so let's support the club, albeit in the imperfect shape it is in at the moment, in that quest, simple really, real simple

Can't argue with that - but I would ask one question how? I know there can be chanting contests and fingers pointed at certain areas that do not make 'enough' noise but just how can we inspire all the ground to support the team. I know some people who won't sing but will clap - yes I know that is not as good a supporter but they do make some noise then - so how do we get them to obviously support the team? How about Rumblestix

[Gus the teenage cow]

well lets make the madstad an intimidating place to go to...every little 50/50 decison that goes against us I would like the referee to be nooked, booed, jeered and his sexuality questioned by not just hundreds but thousands, also i want us to throw shedloads of unwarranted abuse at opposing staff, officials and players

[East Stand Royal 500]

Gus has a good point - there's no sense in crying over spilt milk and we all want the team to succeed in the PL - but, if we just about scrape through this season, management may be tempted to say "It worked out all right in the end despite a difficult patch so why spend more with no guarantee of better returns". On the other hand, if they see the strength of feeling among the fans they may be encouraged to do more to strengthen the team in the closed season. I for one will be very angry if we do stay up and the management fail to act once more.

So, let's get behind the Team as it is but let's still make as much noise as possible behind the scenes to get the changes we need in the summer.

[Gus the teenage cow]

Gus has a good point - there's no sense in crying over spilt milk and we all want the team to succeed in the PL - but, if we just about scrape through this season, management may be tempted to say "It worked out all right in the end despite a difficult patch so why spend more with no guarantee of better returns". On the other hand, if they see the strength of feeling among the fans they may be encouraged to do more to strengthen the team in the closed season. I for one will be very angry if we do stay up and the management fail to act once more.

So, let's get behind the Team as it is but let's still make as much noise as possible behind the scenes to get the changes we need in the summer.

agreed and lets not just support our lads. lets really intimidate the opposition

[Blue Blooded]

putting issues of personal pride, oneupmanship and the vindictiveness of the "i told you so" brigade aside, we all want Reading to stay up so let's support the club, albeit in the imperfect shape it is in at the moment, in that quest, simple really, real simple

Can't argue with that - but I would ask one question how? I know there can be chanting contests and fingers pointed at certain areas that do not make 'enough' noise but just how can we inspire all the ground to support the team. I know some people who won't sing but will clap - yes I know that is not as good a supporter but they do make some noise then - so how do we get them to obviously support the team? How about Rumblestix

They should get 7 Trumpeteers to play the Terry & June theme!

[East Stand Royal 500]

there's no sense in crying over spilt milk

That wasn't meant as a swipe at your HNA name btw

[Gus the teenage cow]

there's no sense in crying over spilt milk

That wasn't meant as a swipe at your HNA name btw

to be frank i was a bit offended but i am trying to let it go

[seahawk10]

Excellent post Gus. Sure this forum is one for debate, but in the Stadium we need to be completely behind the team. And against Bolton, the evidence was that it was all too quick to evaporate. How many of us were still at our seats at the final whistle?

But, there are at least 10 good reasons to believe we can turn this round and stay up:

1. Derby, Fulham and Birmingham are all still behind us. They have to do better than us.
2. There are enough teams close in front that a slight edge in form will mean we leapfrog someone else (and if our strong home support delivers an extra point or two to deliver that, then it could make all the difference).
3. The remaining fixtures we have are undoubtedly less difficult than the games since Christmas. And easier than some of our immediate rivals.
4. We have several 6 pointers to play - Fulham, Birmingham, Derby, Wigan, Boro', Newcastle (oh yes)...
5. We have players coming back from the ACON with fresh impetus/ optimism
6. We appear to have made one good signing who can unlock defenses in ways we're not used to (e.g. Marek's excquisite through ball to Kitson should have been buried by Kitson to give us the lead)
7. Oster (love hime or hate him) is back and showed good use of the ball in his short time on the pitch on Saturday. This gives us balance and can only improve if we can squeeze 3-4 games out of Little before the end of the season.
8. We did not lose any first teamers in January.
9. We have only just stumbled across Cisses capabilities at Centre back and the more he plays the more it is likely to have a settling effect on the defence.
10. We still have a tight nit group of players who have played there way out of bad runs before (we have had plenty of 4+ games losing sequences under Coppell and Pardew with essentially this nucleus of players). They (and SC) have the mental strength to get back on track.

We don't need to transform into Villa, City or Everton, we just need to be slightly better than the mediocity around us over the next dozen or so games.

Believe and make the difference in the Madstad!!

[/quote]

Great post Leamington! You have cheered me up. What has been the most depressing thing in the recent run is our lack of goals. I don't remember a time when we have had such trouble scoring. (I don't go back very far tbf, but still). If we go down, let's go down fighting, playing an attacking brand of football.