by Dr Hfuhruhurr »
26 Feb 2008 10:58
Vision Dr Hfuhruhurr Stranded
Well quite, but if we go down "and then what" we strive to get back in to this league and we all start again, probably get relegated a couple of years later, possibly bounce back and end up finishing 11th every year or we go down and never return to the top flight.
Well a full squad in the cup and a play off game is just a shade more exciting than trying to win at home to Birmingham. Im failing to see the point of us being in the Premiership if [a] we publically state we dont want to be in Europe and [b] we publically state we dont want to be in the FA Cup, and Id be very surprised that, with so little difference for the outcome for Reading FC in coming 17th and 18th, there will be any real push to avoid relegation. The real fear with coming 17th is that we have the very real possibility of repeating the utter joy that following Reading has been this year into the 2008-2009 season.
A) I'm not sure we have ever publicly stated we don't want to be in Europe unless you count turning down an Intertoto place as a public statement that we never want to be in Eiurope.
B) I'm also not sure we have publicly stated we don't want to be in the FA Cup either unless you count a player who was never going to play in it saying he's not bothered as conclusive proof.
I do know what you mean in terms of adding some excitement to quite possibly the dullest club in the top flight but the way i look at it (and i realise i'm probably in the minority) is that every time our collection of Orient,Cork,Cambridge,Brentford,York etc etc misfits compete with multi-millionaire, molly coddled prima donnas is as much a blow for the romance of football as any so-called cup giant killing that others might suggest. Its only the last couple of months that we've really struggled to compete with clubs/teams with so much more money and prestige.
OK, some elaboration - maybe its best clarified as 'Weve never shown that weve wanted to get into Europe'. We had a glorious opportunity last year that somehow we didnt take, as we competed with two other teams (Portsmouth and Bolton) who also seemed to want to muck up their European Qualification by losing consistently, until it came down to a game at home to Watford. We played this game to a background of Coppell complaining that we wouldnt have the squad for a European campaign, and that we would rather not, thank you, as itll ruin our survival campain. Yes, I am still a bit bitter about that Watford game, especially as we languish in 18th without a European Campaign
As for the FA Cup - well, OK, Im paraphrasing Kitson - you have me there, but Im also taking clues from team selection. I was actually looking forward to the Spurs cup draw, given our recent league game with them, but then, disappointingly, it was Hunt + 10 others. Again, another game of little interest.
Come on, give this poor supporter something to remember from this season! There must have been one game of note. Maybe that win that took us to 12th for a week - remember that?