The cause of the blip

[Schards#2]

The reason for the 'blip' is that we are not a very good football team.

And we would still not be very good if the Charlton equaliser had gone wide instead of going in.

The blip was the freescoring run earlier in the season.

So what about the other teams in this league then? The ones who are nearly all below us in the table and the 2 that are ahead of us having played 2 extra games? What is your view on them, pray tell?

They would be even more dull and uninspiring than us of course. I am content with being dull and uninspiring and finishing in the top two. I would take that in a heartbeat.

Without wishing to be patronising in any way, I can understand that viewpoint from someone who isn't paying good money and wasting life watching the dross that's been on offer for much of this season.

The away games I don't go to, I feel the same. Happy with a win regardless of the entertainment value.

[brendywendy]

ive rather enjoyed alot of the games this season
some of them have been agony, but thats what footballs all about isnt it?
entire seasons of non stop great winning football are the exception not the rule

yes the team isnt perfect, yes our manager isnt perfect, nor our chairman, nor our director of football, nor our fans
yes i would like to see better football than on a few occasions this season, yes i would like to see earlier subs, more rotation, and spending a little money when we have it,

but just because we lose a couple of games, or dont play proper football in others, or stop scoring goals, or start leaking them
or sign a couple of muppets, im not going to start ranting on here about how utterly shit everything is, because i genuinely dont think it is, im still enjoying the games, even last night.

[Elm Park Old Boy]

ive rather enjoyed alot of the games this season
some of them have been agony, but thats what footballs all about isnt it?
entire seasons of non stop great winning football are the exception not the rule

yes the team isnt perfect, yes our manager isnt perfect, nor our chairman, nor our director of football, nor our fans
yes i would like to see better football than on a few occasions this season, yes i would like to see earlier subs, more rotation, and spending a little money when we have it,

but just because we lose a couple of games, or dont play proper football in others, or stop scoring goals, or start leaking them
or sign a couple of muppets, im not going to start ranting on here about how utterly shit everything is, because i genuinely dont think it is, im still enjoying the games, even last night.

You, sir, are a rare beacon of good sense on this forum. Some folks should just calm down and enjoy the ride. I would be disappointed only to make the Play-Offs now. But I'd have been happy with that when the season started. And that would still be - what - one of our best 6 or so seasons ever?

[SLAMMED]

just a one word or line answer. i have a few ideas:

a) we miss ivar
b) we miss having marcus
c) the home fans

Fantasic.Tell Coppell and we'll win every game!

Oxf*rd off

[Sir Rodney Effing]

just a one word or line answer. i have a few ideas:

a) we miss ivar
b) we miss having marcus
c) the home fans

c) - Here we go again, gone phishing. For Christ's sake, what is this? "Oooh! Look at me, I go to all the away games too everyone, arent I big and special?" or just another dig at some of our supporters - good people mostly you all are too folks.

And how many times will it take some of the aforemention good people to realise... let me say it in nice easy terms
1. 99.99% of all football supporters will complain and moan about their team.
2. That team can be Reading, Man U, Brazil, The Dog and Duck 2nd X1 Under 11, blah-de-blah-de-blah
3. Going to away matches is great - yes, I know as I do it regularly - but don't have a go at supports who go to the home matches only - there are many reason why they can not go away.

Rant over. Aint life great?

[Millsy]

just a one word or line answer. i have a few ideas:

a) we miss ivar
b) we miss having marcus
c) the home fans

Absolutely agree with all (except for Marcus)

Fans do play a part. I've singlehandedly turned games around by setting the old southbank off when losing. The effect on the players is easily visible. Every player on every interview I've ever heard regarding this issue has said it's a massive boost, as well as a good international player who's a close friend of mine who swears by the difference it makes. Not to mention this is the main reason home is meant to be an advantage. And let's just say despite all this cheering does absolutely f**k all this is for sure: playing in front of a Morgue and hearing the opposition cheer their team on louder than your suppsed fans, jeering at you with chants like "Leroy, what's the score?" whilst at HOME doesn't exactly fire you up does it? Little wonder that we seem to be doing better away than at home lately with our good away support. Some will never grasp this nobrainer concept. Head <---> Brick wall. Having said all this I wouldn't necessarily list it as a "cause of the blip" because the effect is admittedly tiny at best and I'd put 95% of our demise on Ivar being injured or whatever other reason the team has for playing terribly!

[Millsy]

ive rather enjoyed alot of the games this season
some of them have been agony, but thats what footballs all about isnt it?
entire seasons of non stop great winning football are the exception not the rule

yes the team isnt perfect, yes our manager isnt perfect, nor our chairman, nor our director of football, nor our fans
yes i would like to see better football than on a few occasions this season, yes i would like to see earlier subs, more rotation, and spending a little money when we have it,

but just because we lose a couple of games, or dont play proper football in others, or stop scoring goals, or start leaking them
or sign a couple of muppets, im not going to start ranting on here about how utterly shit everything is, because i genuinely dont think it is, im still enjoying the games, even last night.

Top post.

I often feel like this, but I remidn myself that most of the frustration displayed here is because we all love the club so much we want it to be perfect and it sounds more aggressive than it actually is, just for effect. No team in England has ever won every match in a season and no team ever will. Anyone with sense (apart from those signing into HNA from Prospect Park psychiatric unit perhaps ) are delighted the best manager in the history of our club is still here and is still working wonders despite flaws here and there and are happy with things in general but that doesn't stop us moaning to get things 100% perfect.

[West Stand Man]

They are garbage, as are the two teams above us.

Life in your household must be a bundle of fun.

[Focher]

my reasons are as follows:

1) Bikey is not playing.

2) Bikey is not playing.

3) Bikey is not playing.

[Victor Meldrew]

just a one word or line answer. i have a few ideas:

a) we miss ivar
b) we miss having marcus
c) the home fans

c) - Here we go again, gone phishing. For Christ's sake, what is this? "Oooh! Look at me, I go to all the away games too everyone, arent I big and special?" or just another dig at some of our supporters - good people mostly you all are too folks.

And how many times will it take some of the aforemention good people to realise... let me say it in nice easy terms
1. 99.99% of all football supporters will complain and moan about their team.
2. That team can be Reading, Man U, Brazil, The Dog and Duck 2nd X1 Under 11, blah-de-blah-de-blah
3. Going to away matches is great - yes, I know as I do it regularly - but don't have a go at supports who go to the home matches only - there are many reason why they can not go away.

Rant over. Aint life great?

Totally agree Rodders.
Man Utd play most of their games in a morgue while fans eat prawn sandwiches and yet they don't do too badly at home do they?
Why oh why these people go through such angst about support and lack of singing I really don't know-if our players are so soft and sensitive that they can't play without people cheering and clapping every single thing they do then perhaps they are in the wrong job and if they want success they need to toughen up and work on their mental strength.

[gonesy]

Totally agree Rodders.
Man Utd play most of their games in a morgue while fans eat prawn sandwiches and yet they don't do too badly at home do they?
Why oh why these people go through such angst about support and lack of singing I really don't know-if our players are so soft and sensitive that they can't play without people cheering and clapping every single thing they do then perhaps they are in the wrong job and if they want success they need to toughen up and work on their mental strength.

Agreed. If they want to be cheered, score some more goals, re-learn to defend set pieces & win some oxford matches!

[NewYorkRoyal]

I am very much a "newbie" in terms of this forum but have been a loyal royal for the last 15 years. Having left the reading area a while ago I have seen a lot more games at Elm Park than i have ever done at the Madjeski. I LOVE this season, and look back on years when rfc were simply uncompetitive and think that this title fight is great. When we were playing the lkes of rotherham, swindon (!!!) and bury week in week out the thought of challenging for the premiership was a distant dream. I find it sad that at this critical moment in the team's season where we are on the brink of going up and promotion is in our hands there are so many posts from people who maybe don't understand the game of football saying we arent good enough. We are obviously good enough, we are 3rd with games in hand and lets get behind the team and go up. Reading FC has a great history and a great future. We are very lucky to have Coppell in charge, lets back him, go up and see what happens next season!!!

[Snowball]

my reasons are as follows:

1) Bikey is not playing.

2) Bikey is not playing.

3) Bikey is not playing.

I agree with (1) but not (2) and I'm not sure about (3)

[Schards#2]

They are garbage, as are the two teams above us.

Life in your household must be a bundle of fun.

It is, and the relative merits of this year's Championship line up has no bearing on it whatsoever.

[CMRoyal]

I am very much a "newbie" in terms of this forum but have been a loyal royal for the last 15 years. Having left the reading area a while ago I have seen a lot more games at Elm Park than i have ever done at the Madjeski. I LOVE this season, and look back on years when rfc were simply uncompetitive and think that this title fight is great. When we were playing the lkes of rotherham, swindon (!!!) and bury week in week out the thought of challenging for the premiership was a distant dream. I find it sad that at this critical moment in the team's season where we are on the brink of going up and promotion is in our hands there are so many posts from people who maybe don't understand the game of football saying we arent good enough. We are obviously good enough, we are 3rd with games in hand and lets get behind the team and go up. Reading FC has a great history and a great future. We are very lucky to have Coppell in charge, lets back him, go up and see what happens next season!!!

Welcome aboard, we'll soon knock that realism out of you.

As for those saying that this is the worst Championship ever - absolute nonsense, it's always been this average-to-dire.

[Maguire]

Personally I love the fact that Reading are a bit shit.

Well, when I say they're a bit shit what I really means is "one of the top three teams in the division".

Reading fans have been spoilt rotten with the best Div 2 team ever followed by two seasons in the Premier League. What we're seeing now is the reailty of league football and it's cracking that we're ten or so games from the end of the season and we still have no idea what's going to happen.

Still reckon we'll go up which will be an achievement so everybody whould just calm down a bit IMHO

[bishbosh92]

it is S.hunts fault

he wanted to go in Jan and has got the hump no1 came in for him so he signed a new contract

since then he is doing a shorey of last year and playing like he doesnt give a toss anymore!!

[brendywendy]

ive rather enjoyed alot of the games this season
some of them have been agony, but thats what footballs all about isnt it?
entire seasons of non stop great winning football are the exception not the rule

yes the team isnt perfect, yes our manager isnt perfect, nor our chairman, nor our director of football, nor our fans
yes i would like to see better football than on a few occasions this season, yes i would like to see earlier subs, more rotation, and spending a little money when we have it,

but just because we lose a couple of games, or dont play proper football in others, or stop scoring goals, or start leaking them
or sign a couple of muppets, im not going to start ranting on here about how utterly shit everything is, because i genuinely dont think it is, im still enjoying the games, even last night.

You, sir, are a rare beacon of good sense on this forum. Some folks should just calm down and enjoy the ride. I would be disappointed only to make the Play-Offs now. But I'd have been happy with that when the season started. And that would still be - what - one of our best 6 or so seasons ever?

exactamundo

[brendywendy]

I am very much a "newbie" in terms of this forum but have been a loyal royal for the last 15 years. Having left the reading area a while ago I have seen a lot more games at Elm Park than i have ever done at the Madjeski. I LOVE this season, and look back on years when rfc were simply uncompetitive and think that this title fight is great. When we were playing the lkes of rotherham, swindon (!!!) and bury week in week out the thought of challenging for the premiership was a distant dream. I find it sad that at this critical moment in the team's season where we are on the brink of going up and promotion is in our hands there are so many posts from people who maybe don't understand the game of football saying we arent good enough. We are obviously good enough, we are 3rd with games in hand and lets get behind the team and go up. Reading FC has a great history and a great future. We are very lucky to have Coppell in charge, lets back him, go up and see what happens next season!!!

welcome welcome you rose tinted newbie

i withhold the oxf*rd off, because you are just so darned positive

[brendywendy]

Personally I love the fact that Reading are a bit shit.

Well, when I say they're a bit shit what I really means is "one of the top three teams in the division".

Reading fans have been spoilt rotten with the best Div 2 team ever followed by two seasons in the Premier League. What we're seeing now is the reailty of league football and it's cracking that we're ten or so games from the end of the season and we still have no idea what's going to happen.

Still reckon we'll go up which will be an achievement so everybody whould just calm down a bit IMHO

i just dunno whats wrong with some people mags