Proud to be a Reading fan tonight

[MouldyRoyal]

That's not true at all. Most are embarrassed about being 4-0 up and throwing it away by not showing any fight.

[Libertine]

Let me make one thing clear. While there is absolutely, in my mind, nothing to be proud of with the game last night, and I am embarassed by what transpired in that one game, I will always be a proud Reading fan. What happened last night was we were not good enough to hold a 4 goal lead and had nothing to do with the players not giving it their all. They gave it their all...and there is no disgrace in that.

[melonhead]

loads of fight

not enough quality at the back

[Royal Lady]

Oh COME on - like I said if we'd been LOSING 4-0 and we ended up losing 7-5, we'd have said we'd played well to get back in the game and give it our best shot. But we didn't. We threw away a 4 goal lead by sitting back, by making some strange tactical changes and by, I suspect, thinking it was all sewn up at half time and weren't all the players bloody great. Contrast that with Arsenal, who were obviously given a right telling off by Wenger and they came back out all guns blazing. How anyone can be proud of that game, when we'd taken the LEAD by FOUR goals, to then lose 7-5, I just don't understand. Maybe I'm being a tad more realistic about things? I love this club and my god I've seen some dross in my time and we've taken plenty of batterings/relegations, but I still can't say I was proud of the team for last night, because I'm really not. I'm hugely disappointed at the capitulation.

[MouldyRoyal]

Alright, embarrassed about throwing away a 4-0 lead due to defensive frailties.

[Vision]

Really RL. if we'd been shit for the first half of the game rather than the 2nd half, that would have made a difference to how you felt about the team and whether you'd have applauded them off?

Sounds a bit odd to me but each to their own.

[cmonurz]

If there's one thing guaranteed to piss me off more than losing after being 4-0 up, it's the Churchillian 'we will fight until...' statements that invade the board, like this is all some kind of antenatal class we have to will ourselves through; and sweeping generalisations that those who dare to hold a certain view on last night are deemed 'negative' and 'pessimists'.

Fcuk off.

[Libertine]

loads of fight

not enough quality at the back

I personally think the problem is in the midfield not being able to hold the ball which is putting undue pressure on the back 4 + keeper. Even solid defenses will struggle when they are under such intense pressure constantly. But that is a discussion for another thread.

Agreed, they fought to the bitter end and left it all on the pitch.

[ManchesterRoyals]

loads of fight

not enough quality at the back

I personally think the problem is in the midfield not being able to hold the ball which is putting undue pressure on the back 4 + keeper. Even solid defenses will struggle when they are under such intense pressure constantly. But that is a discussion for another thread.

Agreed, they fought to the bitter end and left it all on the pitch.

Ive said it for weeks when were up plug the centre go 5 in the midfield 1 up front, should have happened at swansea and last night

U get a lead u protect it but when cant seem capable of doing this

[Royal Lady]

Really RL. if we'd been shit for the first half of the game rather than the 2nd half, that would have made a difference to how you felt about the team and whether you'd have applauded them off?

Sounds a bit odd to me but each to their own.

Yes. If we'd fought back rather than capitulated like we did. I thought I made that perfectly clear in my post. To be 4-0 down and manage to score 5 goals but not win in the end, would have been a more heroic performance than what I witnessed last night.

[Snowball]

You DO all realise that if the ref had blown after 94 or if Walcott has failed to score that
fourth these threads would have been about how proud we all were to be Reading fans?

We played well, played our hearts out against much classier, more expensive players,
and, surprise, surprise, we got a bit tired in the latter stages.

Arsenal have been doing that sort of thing to teams for years, making them chase
and then winning in the last 15-30 minutes.


We played way above ourselves in the first half, decently in the second half, bravely in extra time

[Snowball]

Yes. If we'd fought back rather than capitulated like we did. I thought I made that perfectly clear in my post. To be 4-0 down and manage to score 5 goals but not win in the end, would have been a more heroic performance than what I witnessed last night.

So it wasn't we were bad, then, but ARSENAL were heroic

[Vision]

Really RL. if we'd been shit for the first half of the game rather than the 2nd half, that would have made a difference to how you felt about the team and whether you'd have applauded them off?

Sounds a bit odd to me but each to their own.

Yes. If we'd fought back rather than capitulated like we did. I thought I made that perfectly clear in my post. To be 4-0 down and manage to score 5 goals but not win in the end, would have been a more heroic performance than what I witnessed last night.

I know thats what you mean't and its not an unusual sentiment I'm just saying I've always found it odd.If players only get plaudits for their 2nd half performance why bother in the first half if you can lose just as badly yet somehow get more credit. In many ways its easier to make a a stab at a comeback in the 2nd half of a game youre well behind in because to some degree the pressure is off.

I've never really understood why a lot of people view it differently.

[Snowball]

Vison, you're right.

One of the radio pundits last year called it 0-2 football.

You can "suddenly" play when you've gone 2-0 down
and it's common to see sides go 2-0 up then let the other side play
esp in the Championship

[Still Hate Futcher!]

Yes we lost. Yes we lost after being 4-0 up. But we had the character to come back from 4-5 (and got beaten by a team with £40m worth of striking talent on the pitch.)

We showed that we can put on one of the greatest games of football this country has ever seen.

Why blame Anton for not spending? We're not down yet and there's no certainty that any big money signings would have paid off. Why blame the manager for trying a 'togetherness' theory? Maybe it's not too late to change his mind. Why blame Roberts for talking on the radio as if he should be playing football better? He seemed alright to me tonight. Why blame McDermott for making a sub in injury time? The net gain in time for Arsenal was zero.

You lot are a moaning and fickle lot - Shorey was not wanted and not good enough but McDermott proved us wrong. He proved us wrong on Shane Long, he proved us wrong on Leigerwood, he proves us wrong time after time so let's just accept he'll make the odd mistake and is as good a man as any to move us forward...

We were 5 seconds from a fantastic win, let's not forget that...

100% agree. It would be an understatement to say our defending is a concern and yes, I'm gutted and a bit embarrassed that we threw a 4-0 lead, but I am as proud as ever to support the Royals. We are one of the few clubs that manage our finances sensibly, which makes it very hard to compete at the top. Nevertheless, we have punched above our weight to reach the Prem and are by no means dead certs for the drop (though my head says we probably will go down).

Even if we finish bottom, I reckon Brian should be given another chance.

[melonhead]

by making some strange tactical changes and by, I suspect, thinking it was all sewn up at half time and weren't all the players bloody great.


but I still can't say I was proud of the team for last night, because I'm really not. I'm hugely disappointed at the capitulation.

i feel your pain RL
disagree about the tactical changes, dont think they were tactical, think they were based on players tiredness
disagree totally that brian would have thought it was all sewn up(his interview says the opposite)
imo it was more to do with the players belief and confidence in themselves- which in a sense is understanable after our results so far, and last few games in particular where weve let winning positions slip.

im proud of my team for the effort they put in, and the first half performance.
im also embarrassed, annoyed and hugely disappointed by the capitulation

I just don't understand. Maybe I'm being a tad more realistic about things?

i think youre ignoring all sorts of things, including the ability(and cost) of the other team, and our fragile confidence

[melonhead]

If there's one thing guaranteed to piss me off more than losing after being 4-0 up, it's the Churchillian 'we will fight until...' statements that invade the board, like this is all some kind of antenatal class we have to will ourselves through; and sweeping generalisations that those who dare to hold a certain view on last night are deemed 'negative' and 'pessimists'.

Fcuk off.

no need to swear
the only person i see having real problems with allowing discussion, and airing of different views here is you tbf

[Royal Lady]

Can I call you pumpkin head from now on btw!

[melonhead]

do what you like, you always do. without thought or care for the upset and hurt it may cause

[cmonurz]

If there's one thing guaranteed to piss me off more than losing after being 4-0 up, it's the Churchillian 'we will fight until...' statements that invade the board, like this is all some kind of antenatal class we have to will ourselves through; and sweeping generalisations that those who dare to hold a certain view on last night are deemed 'negative' and 'pessimists'.

Fcuk off.

no need to swear
the only person i see having real problems with allowing discussion, and airing of different views here is you tbf

That's absolute rubbish brendy, to be quite honest. I've posted plenty of length views on here and on a number of threads, so quit the sanctimonious crap.