1 Swallow

[Jay o/]

[Ian Royal]

It's odd that according to the posters there seem to be only two possible states of mind - you either love and support a player or you hate him and boo him.

I'd suggest that for the vast majority of people in the real world, the reality is somewhere in between. I'm happy to go on record and say that I'm not a great fan of Blackman and I don't think he's good enough for this level - but that doesn't mean to say I "hate" him or that I've ever boo'ed him. And I think that the same applies to about 95% of other supporters.

So why do posters on here insist that everyone is polarised at one extreme of either "love" or "hate"?

Abso-fucking-lutely. I don't think he's up to much. I think I've muttered or occasionally yelled at him in frustration / anger, but I've never jeered or booed him. In fact I clapped him off against Leeds and I cheered his name when it's read out on the bench or in the starting 11. If perhaps sometimes with an internal groan or a little lack of enthusiasm.

I also couldn't give a rats arse about his (lack of) goal celebration or the motivation behind it. I doubt he's ever going to be a favourite of mine, but if he performs and delivers he'll get my support and if he doesn't he'll get my criticism - largely on here rather than at the game.

I'm biased against him, but I'm not so one-eyed that I can't see anything of good he does. He got the job done and that's what matters. Even though the goal was not taken in a way that fills me with confidence that it's anything other than a small positive exception in his otherwise quite mediocre Reading career.

And I'll say again that I firmly believe reaction to Blackman would be totally different if he'd been signed six months later, or for £500k less. Now that's not his fault, but he's got to live with it.

[P!ssed Off]

It's odd that according to the posters there seem to be only two possible states of mind - you either love and support a player or you hate him and boo him.

I'd suggest that for the vast majority of people in the real world, the reality is somewhere in between. I'm happy to go on record and say that I'm not a great fan of Blackman and I don't think he's good enough for this level - but that doesn't mean to say I "hate" him or that I've ever boo'ed him. And I think that the same applies to about 95% of other supporters.

So why do posters on here insist that everyone is polarised at one extreme of either "love" or "hate"?

The same nonsense happened after McDermott left. A few people claimed he was the messiah and were willing to literally die for his honour and a few pretty much wanted to kill him, claiming he was the antichrist.
The vast majority of people probably thought there were reasonable arguments on both sides and were not 100% either way.

It's all very strange when people act like a player/manager's bodyguard/lawyer just because you've mildly criticised them on the internet. Can't say I particularly love or hate any individual characters involved in the club.

Interestingly, Blackman does seem very susceptible to noises from the stands.
In his eighteen games, I've shouted at him twice.
First time (before he took a throw): I shouted "Don't foul throw!", and then he oxf*rd did.
Second time (after he wimped out of a challenge on the keeper at Yeovil): I shouted "Challenge ffs!", and tbf about 5 minutes later he did indeed challenge the keeper for a 50/50.

[Haag Royal]

It's odd that according to the posters there seem to be only two possible states of mind - you either love and support a player or you hate him and boo him.

I'd suggest that for the vast majority of people in the real world, the reality is somewhere in between. I'm happy to go on record and say that I'm not a great fan of Blackman and I don't think he's good enough for this level - but that doesn't mean to say I "hate" him or that I've ever boo'ed him. And I think that the same applies to about 95% of other supporters.

So why do posters on here insist that everyone is polarised at one extreme of either "love" or "hate"?

Abso-fucking-lutely. I don't think he's up to much. I think I've muttered or occasionally yelled at him in frustration / anger, but I've never jeered or booed him. In fact I clapped him off against Leeds and I cheered his name when it's read out on the bench or in the starting 11. If perhaps sometimes with an internal groan or a little lack of enthusiasm.

I also couldn't give a rats arse about his (lack of) goal celebration or the motivation behind it. I doubt he's ever going to be a favourite of mine, but if he performs and delivers he'll get my support and if he doesn't he'll get my criticism - largely on here rather than at the game.

I'm biased against him, but I'm not so one-eyed that I can't see anything of good he does. He got the job done and that's what matters. Even though the goal was not taken in a way that fills me with confidence that it's anything other than a small positive exception in his otherwise quite mediocre Reading career.

And I'll say again that I firmly believe reaction to Blackman would be totally different if he'd been signed six months later, or for £500k less. Now that's not his fault, but he's got to live with it.

I agree with most of this. But if he had simply celebrated when scoring in the same way that most players do i.e. look pleased and a little bit passionate maybe? (I did laugh at the comparison with Cantona a few threads back) rather than try and give it one to the travelling fans, then none of this would be being discussed.

[madstadblues]

But a couple of poor results or under par performances writes off the team and player . So pi55ed off with the nob's in hobnob

[melonhead]

You? Calling me out? This means war puny nobody.

IM AN INTERNET BEHEMOTH DAMN YOU!

Yeah, come on, i'm calling you out of your closet

Thats it young man. Dont make me come over there

[leon]

I clicked on this expecting something much more interesting. Imagine my disappointment.

[MeMeMe]

You? Calling me out? This means war puny nobody.

IM AN INTERNET BEHEMOTH DAMN YOU!

Yeah, come on, i'm calling you out of your closet

Thats it young man. Dont make me come over there

That sounds more like a 'promise' than a threat... Oooo you big bully you...

[melonhead]

You've no idea who youre messing with. I know the kung fu and will snap you like a desiccated twig

[jellytot]

Thought there was a thread for this lad, but could not find it.

Anyway, I do feel that some of the fans have been harsh to him. For me I am afraid he is
a winger not a striker. He cannot be questioned for effort as he always puts a shift in. HOWEVER, he is not a kid anymore. He has got to show us that he has quality. From what I have seen of him
he is quick and has skill, but in the air he has been weak when a striker should be strong, his
control often lets him down too. His confidence has been hit by the boo boys hence his child like
goal celebration at Derby. Thought he was gonna cry at one point. He needs to stick with
it and will convert some of the boo crew to his side. No point acting like a baby though.

I say give him a chance (but what were we doing spending so much on him he was never worth
that).

What do you think? Is he an expensive version of Simon Church or is he going to blossom under
Adkins?

[Avon Royal]

Oh for fucks sake........

[P!ssed Off]

The formatting of your post has left me baffled.

And there is a thread for Blackman, it's the one named after Melonhead's favourite sexual act and involves him flirting with a fella called MeMeMe.

[jellytot]

The formatting of your post has left me baffled.

And there is a thread for Blackman, it's the one where Melonhead's flirting with a bloke called MeMeMe.

Sorry

about

that

my

mobile

is

shit.

[NewCorkSeth]

Yeh his reaction annoyed me. Scuffed finish aswell.

You're exactly the kind of tard he was doing it for.

Is it just me who thinks moderators shouldn't be calling posters "tards".
I see you insult posters quite frequently.
Surely you should attempt to be a bit more neutra,l and less rude.

I quite like a mod who isn't afraid to call a turd a turd.. Its refreshing

[P!ssed Off]

You're exactly the kind of tard he was doing it for.

Is it just me who thinks moderators shouldn't be calling posters "tards".
I see you insult posters quite frequently.
Surely you should attempt to be a bit more neutra,l and less rude.

I quite like a mod who isn't afraid to call a turd a turd.. Its refreshing

tard ≠ turd
Just in case there was an Irish lingo issue.

[NewCorkSeth]

tard ≠ turd
Just in case there was an Irish lingo issue.

Tard means retard here too I initially wrote "call a tard a tard" but I felt a pang of guilt for the windowlickers. Guess I'm making progress?

[HoneyRoastHoax]

Pretty sure his celebration is just something he does, he did it at Sheff Utd

As others have said though, I wouldn't blame him if he threw a shoe at the boo boys.

[melonhead]

Pretty sure his celebration is just something he does, he did it at Sheff Utd

As others have said though, I wouldn't blame him if he threw a shoe at the boo boys.

would actually make my season

[roberto_11]

Nice shot of Dave Kitson in the background

[Hoop Blah]

Having now seen Blackmans goal I think it's hilarious if he's used that as an opportunity to stick the proverbial finger up at the boo boys.

A decent supporting run, a poor touch and a bit of fortune that a scuffed shot made it past the keeper and he thinks he's proved a point?

Wow, how graceless.

It's not enough that he's scored, you're now complaining about the way he scored the goal? Took the ball whilst sprinting up in support, one touch at pace, stuck it in the back of the net. Well done Nick.

Graceless? Oh please!

It's great he's scored, it sealed the win and a very good 3 points. The way he took it though wasn't convincing and doesn't shove it up the boo-boys and show them his real quality, it shows that, under pressure, his touch and technique is a little suspect but his physical attributes have the potential to make up for his inconsistency on the ball.

Just to reiterate, I thought the childish chanting of Le Fondre's name when Blackman had fluffed his lines a couple of times against Leeds was out of order, as was the ironic cheering as he was subbed.

I'd say his celebration, and the apparent motivation behind it, is a lot more graceless than pointing out the nature of his finish on Saturday.