Rival Watch

[tidus_mi2]

Rotherham came from 2-0 down to get a draw with Burton tonight - both have now played the same number of matches as us.

We are now 20th on merit.

Which is oxf*rd tragic.

[fred sharpes nose]

Rotherham came from 2-0 down to get a draw with Burton tonight - both have now played the same number of matches as us.

We are now 20th on merit.

Which is oxf*rd tragic.

Very congested mid table table - Huddersfield 9th with 19 pts from 13 - we win our next 4 and they continue at current run rate - we are damn close. Fingers crossed and up the 'Ding !

[Hound]

Rotherham came from 2-0 down to get a draw with Burton tonight - both have now played the same number of matches as us.

We are now 20th on merit.

Which is oxf*rd tragic.

Amazed anyone thinks Hunt was hard done by. Genuinely think he could have taken us down

Still as said, couple of wins in the next few games and things would look a lot different

[South Coast Royal]

Very happy for Brentford. Would love BHA to be relegated OTOH.

Neutral on AFCB.

this. Brentford are the most likeable London club (and the one closest to me apart from F*lham) followed by Palace.

Agreed.
I am in conflict with Lux as I would like big-spending Bournemouth (still referred to as "little old Bournemouth" despite massive investment by 2 different owners) to be relegated and well-run Brighton to do well.

It is starting to look so much less that we are rivals of the 3 Bs and more rivals again of Swindon and Oxford.
I know things go in cycles but I don't think I will live long enough to see Reading at the top level again so will have to rely on memories of big home wins v Spurs and West Ham , the Boxing day draw at Chelsea, the win at Pardew's West Ham etc.

One other good memory was when we lost away at Wolves and Robbie Keane in the first game of the season in the 2nd tier but played so well that I thought we might go on and do something special-the next few years were the ultimate in our history.

[tidus_mi2]

Very happy for Brentford. Would love BHA to be relegated OTOH.

Neutral on AFCB.

this. Brentford are the most likeable London club (and the one closest to me apart from F*lham) followed by Palace.

Agreed.
I am in conflict with Lux as I would like big-spending Bournemouth (still referred to as "little old Bournemouth" despite massive investment by 2 different owners) to be relegated and well-run Brighton to do well.

It is starting to look so much less that we are rivals of the 3 Bs and more rivals again of Swindon and Oxford.
I know things go in cycles but I don't think I will live long enough to see Reading at the top level again so will have to rely on memories of big home wins v Spurs and West Ham , the Boxing day draw at Chelsea, the win at Pardew's West Ham etc.

One other good memory was when we lost away at Wolves and Robbie Keane in the first game of the season in the 2nd tier but played so well that I thought we might go on and do something special-the next few years were the ultimate in our history.

Pretty neutral on Brentford and Brighton, well-run clubs so wish them well.

Bournemouth on the other hand can get in the bin, hugely backed and don't seem to have done any long term improvements, how are they still in a <12k stadium? Pathetic for a regular Prem club. They also only have a Cat 2 academy despite the ridiculous riches of the Prem, Brentford being the only other Prem side who isn't Cat 1.

Bournemouth just feel like a League One side that has been financially propelled to and kept in the Prem.

[South Coast Royal]

this. Brentford are the most likeable London club (and the one closest to me apart from F*lham) followed by Palace.

Agreed.
I am in conflict with Lux as I would like big-spending Bournemouth (still referred to as "little old Bournemouth" despite massive investment by 2 different owners) to be relegated and well-run Brighton to do well.

It is starting to look so much less that we are rivals of the 3 Bs and more rivals again of Swindon and Oxford.
I know things go in cycles but I don't think I will live long enough to see Reading at the top level again so will have to rely on memories of big home wins v Spurs and West Ham , the Boxing day draw at Chelsea, the win at Pardew's West Ham etc.

One other good memory was when we lost away at Wolves and Robbie Keane in the first game of the season in the 2nd tier but played so well that I thought we might go on and do something special-the next few years were the ultimate in our history.

Pretty neutral on Brentford and Brighton, well-run clubs so wish them well.

Bournemouth on the other hand can get in the bin, hugely backed and don't seem to have done any long term improvements, how are they still in a <12k stadium? Pathetic for a regular Prem club. They also only have a Cat 2 academy despite the ridiculous riches of the Prem, Brentford being the only other Prem side who isn't Cat 1.

Bournemouth just feel like a League One side that has been financially propelled to and kept in the Prem.

Within the next year they will at last be making a few additions to the current ground.
Unlike the towns run at the time by Labour Councils in Reading and Brighton their attempts to find a site for a new ground have never happened but they have just completed a spanking new training ground.

Incidentally , unlike a lot of clubs, they do have a large number of mainly older season ticket holders who have retired to the area but at heart follow teams from where they have come.

My son-in-law is a good example, although not retired, in that he is a Leeds fan but bought a season ticket a few years ago just to watch some league football and has been rewarded with some good stuff to watch at the highest level.
Next to him there sits a bloke who is really a Coventry fan but goes to Bournemouth for the same reason.

I wonder if Reading hadn't been relatively close and if I didn't have family ties in Reading I might have done the same but I suspect not as I have always thought of them as one of our rivals.
I do confess to extreme jealousy over how their fortunes have coincided with our comparative downfall even if we did reach the Promised Land before they did.

[windermereROYAL]

We`ve dropped 2 places already today, Richardson out.

[windermereROYAL]

12th to 18th, the teams below us are having a good day.

[Sutekh]

12th to 18th, the teams below us are having a good day.

Exeter and Orient overtaken after the week’s work. Can climb above Doncaster if they lose at home to Barnsley (currently 1-1).

Next games:

Home to Rotherham on 22 November then a 12.30 at Blackpool on 29th.

15 games played so far, leaving 8 sides still to play for the first time: Blackpool, Burton, Plymouth, Peterborough, Rotherham, Bradford, Wigan & Luton

[WestYorksRoyal]

12th to 18th, the teams below us are having a good day.

But still 5 clear of relegation zone. In addition to Stevenage losing, Bradford, Wimbledon, Lincoln and Stockport are losing.

It's easy to deride the likes of Savage for suggesting top 6 given our start, but it's definitely an open league. Plenty of surprise packages showing early signs of faltering, while the bottom has Peterborough, Plymouth and Blackpool who you would expect to finish higher.

[windermereROYAL]

12th to 18th, the teams below us are having a good day.

But still 5 clear of relegation zone. In addition to Stevenage losing, Bradford, Wimbledon, Lincoln and Stockport are losing.

It's easy to deride the likes of Savage for suggesting top 6 given our start, but it's definitely an open league. Plenty of surprise packages showing early signs of faltering, while the bottom has Peterborough, Plymouth and Blackpool who you would expect to finish higher.

3 points now. I`m not worried but all the positivity from Thursday doesn`t take long to disappear. crazy results so far. and no game next week too.
Incredible we`re 17th and 7 points from the play-offs.

[WestYorksRoyal]

12th to 18th, the teams below us are having a good day.

But still 5 clear of relegation zone. In addition to Stevenage losing, Bradford, Wimbledon, Lincoln and Stockport are losing.

It's easy to deride the likes of Savage for suggesting top 6 given our start, but it's definitely an open league. Plenty of surprise packages showing early signs of faltering, while the bottom has Peterborough, Plymouth and Blackpool who you would expect to finish higher.

3 points now. I`m not worried but all the positivity from Thursday doesn`t take long to disappear. crazy results so far. and no game next week too.

Rotherham 3-0 up. We play them next. Lost that and watch negativity flood back.

[Clyde1998]

Plymouth going bottom as it stands

[windermereROYAL]

But still 5 clear of relegation zone. In addition to Stevenage losing, Bradford, Wimbledon, Lincoln and Stockport are losing.

It's easy to deride the likes of Savage for suggesting top 6 given our start, but it's definitely an open league. Plenty of surprise packages showing early signs of faltering, while the bottom has Peterborough, Plymouth and Blackpool who you would expect to finish higher.

3 points now. I`m not worried but all the positivity from Thursday doesn`t take long to disappear. crazy results so far. and no game next week too.

Rotherham 3-0 up. We play them next. Lost that and watch negativity flood back.

yes 6 unbeaten with 4 wins.

[Hound]

It’s certainly a very even league this year. No one outstanding at all - but also the teams at the bottom are relatively strong as well

[WestYorksRoyal]

It’s certainly a very even league this year. No one outstanding at all - but also the teams at the bottom are relatively strong as well

I could see a side getting relegated with >50 points a team getting into the play-offs with <70 points.

[windermereROYAL]

Absolutely fuck all in this division this year, the bottom team beating a play-off team 5-0, the leaders losing 3-0 at home, Bradford losing at home, Cardiff getting dicked 3-0 by a team in the drop zone.

[Clyde1998]

It’s certainly a very even league this year. No one outstanding at all - but also the teams at the bottom are relatively strong as well

Fifteen points is the entire points spread of the league after fifteen games (for most).

[Hound]

Keeps things interesting anyway. Can’t see the bottom 4 going down really except PV

Dunno who else though

[LightwaterRoyal]

I got 50 quid each way 250/1 on Reading finishing top. (Places 1-2-3)

Remember the bounce when McDermott took over from Rogers, this league is so weak this season, if we can get our act together under LR its worth a punt.