Watford (A) match thread sponsored by Taylor and John

[RoyalBlue]

As far as I'm concerned, Clarke was taking the piss of out of all those that paid good money to attend and for that reason I will never take to the bloke!

it's not as if it wasn't signalled to the fans.

That is b*llocks Snowball. We didn't draw at Bradford until the week before the game by which time the majority of supporters would have already bought their tickets to the Watford game. Therefore, the fact that it might have been signalled a few days before the game was of absolutely no help whatsover.

Will be interested to know how many of you who wanted to see a weak Reading side, actually bothered to go to the game.
As far as I'm concerned, Clarke was taking the piss of out of all those that paid good money to attend and for that reason I will never take to the bloke!
If we lose on Monday night, all the glory hunters and plastics are going to look pretty stupid.
On another note, why do we never fill the away end at Watford? 1000 is poor for a ground that is only 41 miles away.

The fact you are obviously stupid enough to a) think we would field a strong team and b) go pay money to watch the game and not lump on Watford to make your money back. Means no one really values your opinion. soz

Another one who seems to forget/not understand that most would have bought their tickets long before we even played Bradford the first time. And just how much money would you have had to put (at least at some potential risk) to recover the cost of tickets.

[Jagermesiter1871]

Completely agree with royal blue. I planned on going to the Watford game but left it to last minute to buy tickets and as soon as we drew at Bradford I knew it wouldn't be worthwhile. Most would have bought weeks in advance and paying £25odd for an u21 is a complete piss take.

[P!ssed Off]

I've seen much worse performances this season.

Also, why do people buy tickets weeks in advance for a game that isn't going to sell out?
I bought my tickets on Thursday, there was no reason to buy them any earlier.


Tuesday vs Brighton
30, 25, 20, 22, 20, 25, 23, 26, 25, 29, 31
Average Age = 25.09

Saturday vs Watford
26, 19, 20, 34, 29, 18, 23, 27, 23, 27, 32
Average Age = 25.27

[Snowball]

RB

Maybe people with common-sense thought,
"Hmmm, wonder when the replay will be if we draw at Bradford?"

And delayed getting their ticket, or thought they'd buy on the day.

I usually go to Watford but decided not to travel
because it seemed likely we would field a team
of kids. In fact we fielded a BETTER side than I
expected

[Snowball]

Completely agree with royal blue. I planned on going to the Watford game but left it to last minute to buy tickets and as soon as we drew at Bradford I knew it wouldn't be worthwhile. Most would have bought weeks in advance and paying £25odd for an u21 is a complete piss take.

I should have read ahead.

But WHY buy weeks ahead?

Makes no sense unless it's cheaper.

WWIII, Tsunamis, Flu, The Zombie Apocalypse, FA Cup Replays...

Leave it as late as possible. Seems logical to me.

[MR. CYNICAL]

Which brings me back to my second point.
Why do we never sell out at Watford, our nearest away fixture?

[Wycombe Royal]

Which brings me back to my second point.
Why do we never sell out at Watford, our nearest away fixture?

Because we don't have a rivalry with them and everyone has been there before. A lot of fans who pick and choose their away so games like to go to different places.

Watford isn't one that conjures up any spark in thinking "I really want to go to Watford".

[3points]

we were planning on going to Watford, but once the Brighton game was moved to a Tuesday night (with Brum the following Tuesday - before the replay came about), I decided three games in a week was too many. It just happens it was Watford rather than Huddersfield or Blackburn so it was a bit more significant to the fans as more traveled. Again, agree with other comments about buying tickets a long way in advance, especially when we were still in the FA Cup.

Friends of mine booked an Easter break holiday in the Lake District so they could go to the Blackpool away game. That planned has obviously been scuppered. Have to say I try not to plan my whole life around football fixtures as they change too often

[Royality creeps In]

Bought my tickets midweek totally understanding that we would play a lesser side. In fact I expected we would lose.
Still does not stop me supporting Reading FC, whoever is wearing the shirt.

Obvious difference between myself and some of the plastics/glory hunters here, is I support the team through thin and thinner.

[Sutekh]

Steve did exactly the right thing and selected a much more interesting team than any of us would have thought. Hes treated RFC fans and players with respect as well as the FA Cup as our season is now completely over aside from the cup

Can you imagine the cry of horror from supporters if there'd been many of the supposed big names playing yesterday only two have to have them turn out tomorrow also and turn in an even stronger performance?

At least now he's managed to give us chance to extend season interest into mid April.

Suggest everyone gets used to it because as the season close edges nearer I expect us to see more team selections with youngsters and fringe players involved so assessment can be made over the future of the playing staff in what is going to be a very active and probably quite surprising summer for the club.

[Unbelievable Jeff]

Which brings me back to my second point.
Why do we never sell out at Watford, our nearest away fixture?

There's a thread on their forum about travelling fans and it seems that no club really takes a decent following to Watford. The highest this season was Charlton with 2024.

Teams like Leeds, Cardiff etc who usually travel well took under 2000. Closer proximity clubs like Fulham, Brentford, Milwall, all took under 2000 so in the circumstances we're in 1008 really wasn't a bad turn out.

[LWJ]

RB you only went as it's practically a home game for you and it was Jess's last game before she went back to America.

I didn't see many of you lot posting on the BFTG thread's of Blackburn, Boro last year etc.. Funny how the long distance trips are deemed to insignificant for a lot of you.

We lost 3-1 at Blackburn in case you forgot. 4.5 hours each way. £25 a ticket

3-0 at Boro 4.5 hours each way. £30 a ticket

Well done you lot for being muggy enough to go to Watford less than an hour away and then whinging we sacrificed a tough game to give us a better chance in a winnable QF..

And no you didn't have to put a great deal of risk. When our team sheet was announced Watford were 4/6 £30 on would have pretty much paid for your ticket.. Watford should have been 2/5 after the team sheet came out imo

[LWJ]

Which brings me back to my second point.
Why do we never sell out at Watford, our nearest away fixture?

Shit ground to get to. Not really a day out. Concourse Is shit. Shit atmosphere. Games are normally shit there

[Bob1871]

Which brings me back to my second point.
Why do we never sell out at Watford, our nearest away fixture?

Not sure how good your geography is but Brentford is definelty closer which we sell out for.

Also worth noting that Watford is a real pig to get to. On the train just under 2 hours due to the terribly slow overground line.

I went with a group of 6 and we'd decided to go before the Bradford game as we wanted a day out, none of us were particularly bothered about the weakened team and just enjoyed going away and supporting our team.

[SCIAG]

In fact we fielded a BETTER side than I expected

Seriously?

I expected us to field a second string. We fielded something closer to a third string (no Blackman, Norwood, Kelly). What did you expect?

[Nameless]

I can understand some people thinking they didn't get £25 quid worth. But i don't agree with them.
It was one game , it was done for a very good reason and I can't believe anyone would want Clarke to do anything except give us the best possible chance to win on Monday.
He quite clearly did not make the changes to take the p*ss out of anyone.
Sometimes you just have to shrug your shoulders and accept things. We've had 5 very cheap cup games, average out the tickets and write off the Watford game.
Win onMonday and no one will be moaning....

[Snowball]

In fact we fielded a BETTER side than I expected

Seriously?

I expected us to field a second string. We fielded something closer to a third string (no Blackman, Norwood, Kelly). What did you expect?

There wouldn't be a lot of comment if Akpan or Guthrie (minus the hate) or Cox )our top-scorer!) or Andersen played in any first team game, nor that much if Cooper played, or The Yak or Taylor. That's already 7 "first teamers." So we played Keown, Stacey, and Travner that were any kind of surprise. And Zat Knight, a VERY experienced ex-Premiership player.

The "weakness" was the mix, and the fact that there were a lot of not-quite-first-11 players all arriving together.

In ones or twos, almost any of these could have stepped in to the first 11 and "done a job"




By "expected" I mean I had picked up the impression it would be almost literally and under-21 team.

Didn't expect him to play Cox or Akpan and, until the Beeb mentioned Knight,
the idea that he'd be ready hadn't crossed my mind. I thought Khul would play

I also wondered if he'd play The Yak or keep him for the last 30 minutes Monday
if we needed to chase the game.

[blueroyals]

I'd rather pay to watch the likes of Stacey, Keown, Cooper than watch Pog, HRK, Blackman lumber about the pitch

[SCIAG]

In fact we fielded a BETTER side than I expected

Seriously?

I expected us to field a second string. We fielded something closer to a third string (no Blackman, Norwood, Kelly). What did you expect?

There wouldn't be a lot of comment if Akpan or Guthrie (minus the hate) or Cox )our top-scorer!) or Andersen played in any first team game, nor that much if Cooper played, or The Yak or Taylor. That's already 7 "first teamers." So we played Keown, Stacey, and Travner that were any kind of surprise. And Zat Knight, a VERY experienced ex-Premiership player.

The "weakness" was the mix, and the fact that there were a lot of not-quite-first-11 players all arriving together.

In ones or twos, almost any of these could have stepped in to the first 11 and "done a job"

By "expected" I mean I had picked up the impression it would be almost literally and under-21 team.

We have a very large squad. I make it 24 senior players (including Cooper and Obita). Eleven are going to start against Bradford. That leaves 13 more to face Watford even before we get onto the U21s. I don't see why anyone would expect Griffin ahead of Travener, Fosu ahead of Taylor, Kuhl ahead of Guthrie, Lincoln ahead of Andersen... I mean, unless one thought that would improve the side.

[Nameless]

Kuhl vs Guthrie ?

I know who I would chose currently...