Eighth

[AthleticoSpizz]

Proud, unspeakably proud to be a Reading fan on this historic day. Thanks to JM, Steve Coppell and an utterly magical squad of players. And the funny thing is, the commentators were making it sound as if we'd 'missed out' (on Europe)!!! How many Reading fans think we've missed out?

Could it ever get better than this?

and with a little help on the injury front.......it would've so much better (although the likes of Bikey/Oster/DLC/Doobs and Seol) have stepped up to the plate everytime.


Brynar Gunnarsson...............hats off......what a star

Celebrate good times

C'mon

[seahawk10]

Great job, fantastic season! The future looks unbelievably bright for Reading FC! What a team!

[Coppelled Streets]

Check out a few of these threads...

http://hobnob.royals.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=45987

http://hobnob.royals.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=46389

http://hobnob.royals.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=44844&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

Would much rather see Jay's post from the start of last season stating that 'even the most optomistic of Reading fan knows we can't even make the play offs'....or something along those lines

This chap seems to know what's what.

"Touch and go"

I think with Steve Coppell here, we have every chance of staying up. He knows what it's all about after keeping Palace up and not only keeping them up, they enjoyed an FA Cup Final and finished 3rd (?).

You never know!!

[PremAddict]

=

Brynar Gunnarsson...............hats off......what a star

Celebrate good times

C'mon

Bryn - very good midfielder - I couldn't help but think if Siddy had tried the same shot it would have ended-up high in the stands.

[Woodcote Royal]

To have watched what our team produced on the field over the last 2 seasons surely makes us some of the luckiest fans in the country.

And, as fantastic as last season was, the way we have competed in the top flight has blown away the last campaign, IMHO.

I have to pinch myself when I think of the teams we've beaten and the fact that we were only doubled by Arsenal and Liverpool.

So many brilliant memories that will live for ever in this ageing head for which we owe undying thanks to every one from the Chairman down.

Getting stick for playing a weakened side in the cups that gave MAN U a 3 goal start with only the woodwork stopping us from getting back on level terms

Stuffing the Hammers 6-0

The draw at Stamford Bridge


I don't think we'll have many spare seats next season

[RG30]

I feel very privilaged and very honoured to have seen all 43 games this season, and have been blown away by the attitude of our team at times. Absolute fantastic, led by Steve Coppell.

Thank you for the memories!

[bobby m's syrup]

http://hobnob.royals.org/forum/viewtopi ... &highlight

I feel that this thread is slightly premature. Surely better to wait and see what if any new signings occur within the next 7 days or so. The game against Feyenoord should also provide a reasonable yardstick to judge our squad against quality opposition.

The current side oozes quality, from a Championship perspective, however, many of the established Prem sides are boosting their squads with some truly outstanding players. As things stand, I think we will cope, but there could be some nail-biting, especially in the late autumn.

One thing I am certain of is that we have the manager and back-room team to guide us safely home. I also believe in the motivation and fitness of the squad. That said, a classy defender, some midfield cover and dare I say, a roving striker would tip the balance in our favour, enabling a mid table finish at worst.

(OK, I am first to admit that didn't fully appreciate what a gem we have in Kevin Doyle)

[Gordons Cumming]

8th?

Never thought I'd live long enough, or at all, to see that.

Brilliant.

Reading are a team which epitimises the essensce of the spirit of supporting a football team.

[EASTENDER MARKY]

Great season.
Well done RFC, and thank you.

[papereyes]

What will happen this season?
I'm torn between two camps.

First of all, we're not good enough, yet. Nowhere near. Just look at the side, it's just not good enough. I still have issues with a Harper-Sidwell midfield and felt that Brynjar was more complementary to both despite being not as good and looking like Boris Becker. Up front, we're dealing in raw talent - this will be the highest level that Kitson, Lita, Doyle and Long have played and I'm not sure that all of them will cope all that well. And in defence? Well, can you imagine what fun Ronaldo, Robben, Henry et al are going to have with Murty and Sonko? Only one of our players has ever started in a Premiership game - and even then, he's not a starter for us.

But then there's the other, equally rational, camp. The Premiership is over-hyped. It is. We have nothing to fear from about seven or eight sides and if we can get those wins at home against them, then we'll be well on our way to staying up. Middlesbrough, Aston Villa Charlton, Fulham are the four that stand out as having been in the Premiership for a few years and are beatable and we're playing two early on. Get those two wins in early and then we can build on it. We will not compete with the top six, so anything there is a bonus. But last season, we beat West Brom and gave Birmingham a game with our reserve/cup side. So there's no reason why sides in the relegation battle cannot be beaten and there's some sides wallowing in the self pity of mediocrity there.

We have a very small squad. But there are flashes of quality in there. There are players who can make the step up - certainly in attack and out wide. Injuries will do for us in a big way.

We won't be dire. But, equally, we won't finish too far away from trouble.

So we need more players. One or two here and there, perhaps a central defender with experience, a midfielder with a few years in the Premiership, perhaps a Sheringham-esque centre forward? I don't think we will go down this route, which will make this season very hard indeed. But it really is not impossible, its not as long a shot as it would have been in 1995 and we've grown to a position where we can do it. And we will give it our best shot.

How will Watford and Sheffield United do?
I can't see much beyond Sheffield United struggling.

Warnock is a character, with all the implications that euphemism brings, and his intent to buy as many strikers as possible who aren't quite good enough has to backfire. But they won't go down without a fight; some of us remember that game with West Brom a few years back. There's also a series of older signings that will add a bit of spine to defence and midfield. But there's something missing - it's an old squad, and I can see them really getting stretched by the pacier premiership players.

Watford, on the other hand, might spring a few surprises. Boothroyd has shown himself to be a clever manager. I like the use of the wings and they have some genuine pace. But the same issues arise with Reading - they don't have a big enough squad and their transfers so far (two kids, an ageing Chris Powell and the actually quite good Damien Francis) don't shout too much about their intentions.

In all probability, all three of us will go down. We're all in the same boat, really. Not quite good enough, not been in the Premiership before or for a long time (five years since Watford's last visit, twelve for Sheffield United), not an established club.

But then again, all three could stay up. My tentative prediction would be that Reading will finish somewhere about sixteenth, Watford seventeenth or eighteenth then Sheffield eighteenth or nineteenth.

Hmmm, maybe I was a bit pessimistic. The whole chapter about the Premiership not being as good as it thinks it is was about right though.