No.13 - Will We Turn Up?

[loyalroyal4life]

Brendan needs Us!!

Reading manager Brendan Rodgers has pledged to "give his life to the club" as he called on Royals fans to become his 13th man.

Former Watford boss Rodgers, installed as Steve Coppell's replacement earlier this month, spent nine years as youth-team manager at the Madejski Stadium until 2004 when he took on a similar role at Chelsea. He took charge at Vicarage Road in November 2008.

Rodgers told the Royals' official website: "Our supporters are absolutely vital. They are down as number 13 on the teamsheet and they certainly are just that. The atmosphere they can create and the intensity of their emotion, it helps the players, no question.

"It's my job, with the players, to ensure that energy returns and the way to do that is with entertaining and exciting football and of course winning football.

"The fans are a major factor and I say to them 'I can't do it on my own, I can't do it without you.'

"The message I give to them is that I'm now one of you. I'm the biggest supporter of Reading and will give my life to the football club."

[Dirk Gently]

Yes, we will - but only for a while for many, I think.

[SteveRoyal]

Make it into a poll and see what happens.

[The Cap]

Of course. Why wouldn't we?? A new era is about to dawn.

[Royalee]

Hell yes.

[handbags_harris]

I'll be there, but it's dependent on what happens on the pitch. But Reading's biggest fan Brendan Rodgers will be there

Unfortunately, comments like that don't wash with me. Brendan, you're not Reading's biggest fan at all, so pipe down with all that shite rhetoric and just do your job.

[Thames]

I am not getting a season ticket for the first time in 14 years.

I will go to Forest at Home on the opening day and I will continue to go midweek and for the jolly up at most away games but I just cannot be bothered to purchase a season ticket and be 'tied in' to Reading FC. If I've got nothing else to do or I genuinley feel I am getting value for money I will continue to attend but I am looking to explore new areas of life.

[Darren Caskey's Dietician]

I highly doubt we will to be honest. I get the impression from the constant reminders on the web site that a lot of 'fans' who bought in when we did so well in 05/06 and got to the prem have bailed on us now we are back in the championship, and haven't bounced straight back. I fully expect a lot of empty seats.

Not that it will make much of a difference. I know everyone likes to support their team in their own way, but the players and management always say that the fans, when loud really spur the team on. Sadly in Reading, making noise consists of blarmy maybe twice a half, the gap in between filled with near silence or chanting something at the ref, with the exception of the SE and NE corners, who are excellent most of the time, but with the amount of people who don't like to support by chanting, I don't think we will turn up in the way Rodgers and the team want.

Granted, the players don't always inspire the fans, and it is a vicious circle, but unless we start romping the league, or play United/Chelsea/Liverpool every week, the ground will have a lot of empty seats, and we will be outsung constantly.

I'll still be there though! And yes, I will be loud, I will be proud, I will back the boys, and I will make some noise.

[Jackson Corner]

Lets face it what is there to get excited about? We hear about the new dawn but so far all our best players are leaving, we have not been linked with any exciting incoming players. No wingers and a midget front two of Noel Hunt and Shane Long. I will renew my season ticket this week but it's out of blind loyalty rather than optimism.

[Royal Rebel]

Alas not me. Credit crunch/mediocre looking team (at the mo). I'll pick 'n' choose my games this season.Call me a plastic if you like but when you've been a fan for some 40 odd years its kinda hard to see it getting any better than it has been for the last 5 years !

[dan19]

I would...but fear i'm banned... ruddy stewards

[Tadleys Finest]

I am afraid to say that unless we start well the crowds will drop to under 17000 very quickly, if things are really bad expect under 15000 by christmas. I'll be there though.. moaning

[Horsham Royal]

When I can afford it, 'yes'. And why's there not a 'perhaps' on the poll ?

[watfordroyal]

From South Bank,
through days of pants,
unrestricted seats,
& premiership feats,
promotion chasing,
or relegation facing,
Reading til I die!

[Terminal Boardom]

Ok, call me a plastic or whatever. I did not renew my ST last season as I was really disillusioned with the manner of the relegation and the cost was IMHO ridiculous. But, for some strange reason, I feel really excited about the forthcoming season. I can't wait for the office to open for newbies!!! My first ST was our last season in Div 4 - 1983/4.

[Compo's Hat]

Please can we get rid of the No. 13 tag!!!

[Dirk Gently]

Please can we get rid of the No. 13 tag!!!

+1

[Ian Royal]

-1

I'll be trying to better last season's tally of 10 games. 12 is now my minimum aim.

I suspect the new manager will produce a bit of a bounce which will keep attendences around the 18 - 19k early on (always lower to start with) Then it depends on how we do, but I think we'll average at least 16k.

[rhroyal]

In 04/05 we were averaging 17k and after our recent success and fan base growth I expect that figure should be around 19k-20k. As for noise, we've never made loads of noise in most matches. In 06/07 and we were good. We brought a good atmosphere out for all the big teams in the Premiership. Last season when the pressure was on against Brum and Burnley the fans turned up noise wise. (not numbers v Burnley!) However we fail to produce that sort of atmosphere consistently.

Let's be honest. Who does? Go to Anfield when Liverpool are playing the likes of Burnley, Hull and Stoke and you won't hear much noise. Even the Britannia Stadium will fail to recreate what they had this season. We're not a noisy, vocal crowd very often, but the idea that half the other teams in the country are is a myth.

[loyalroyal4life]

got to like the way he talks though, obviously he could well walk out on us in time but i like the way he talks about being RFC through and through simply because we have not had a manager like that for a long time!!