Can I just say....

We are in a higher position than most people on here (or anywhere) thought we'd be at the start of the season. Players come, players go. This set of lads have got us here so why don't we all just get behind them for these last 4 matches?

 

Baba Ghadoush.

 

it's a two way deal, they have to get the fans back on side by putting in some effort and being competent at their job.

 

Team for Reading:

Killip.

O'Keefe, Mccart, De Givigney, Earl

Connell, Russell, Phillips, Jalo.

Mcatee, Cosgrove

 

No one realised how appalling the standard of the league would be this year.

 

Walking out of Wembley I expected more than hoped we would at least finish 2nd comfortably, but that was on the basis Duff stayed.

Then summer happened, but I still expected a play off push, but with more entertainment & better squad harmony.

In reality it’s been nothing short of poor for the most part, & we still find ourselves on course for the play offs, but lacking any confidence whatsoever. The main source of wins have come against inferior opposition. We have been diabolical against the key teams in the promotion places. We have absolutely no chance of winning the play offs, & the majority of fans know it, & what’s telling is the majority of fans want the manager gone, it’s barmy. There’s no hope for the future, as we know it’s back to square one yet again this summer, there’s just no hope or long term aspirations, we’re being run into the ground by these charlatans, & will find ourselves looking down at league 2 before long.

 

I think we've got some great players and would consider 5th as being just ok, but I totally agree with you about getting behind them as everything is still to play for and if we really go for it I don't see any reason why we can't do well in the playoffs.

 

I think the board need reminding we have a divine right to be in the championship at least.

 

But we don’t, reality is we are more a league 1 club now, wage expenditure dictates that, & it’s the board who failed to capitalise on last seasons good work, this season was there for the taking in terms of promotion, yes we lost key players, but we lacked ambition in the summer with recruitment, and we did the same again in January, making poor signings. The chances were there but we just haven’t taken them. Add to that the seemingly poor recruitment of Collins, who we’ve now established isn’t any good, & the players know it, as seen by recent performances.

 

I had us down for 10th-12th, so 5th is genuinely amazing to me, but I wouldn't say I'm happy. The football, on the whole, has been some of the worst I can remember in my 50+ years of going. Even the low points of the Iley and Machin tenures saw sides that while bereft of much in the way of skill, would at least give it a right go and attempt to introduce the ball to the opposition net.

We still had the core of a very good L1 side after the trauma of the playoff final and everything that followed, but Collins has systematically stripped that side of any creativity, drive or ambition, to the point that they're almost unwatchable. I'm at the point of finding something else to do this Saturday, which is a first for me.

 

Do you have money on a Reading win?

 

Yes but when he left my expectation dropped and dropped further with the inevitable player exodus.

 

I've told the Mrs that I'm not going, summer house needs sorting so I'll be doing that instead of watching the crabs play football

 

Couple of things on your ‘facts’ in last 2 posts:
Diabolical against top teams - only team in top 6 we haven’t taken points off is Portsmouth (yet to play again).
Majority of fans want Collins gone - the last poll on here said the complete opposite with nearly twice as many willing to give him more time.
Collins, established no good- has won around 50% of games, that’s not a crap record.
January, poor signings not sure either Pines or Earl are poor signings, perhaps you mean we should have signed more.

I get you’re hurting cos we’re on a poor run and making it worse is the football is poor but that can turn again.

 

Im glad you’ve said that as it didn’t make much sense to me either.

 

No you can’t , how dare you. Coming on here with your nimby pimby gammon-like attitude. We’ll have none of that positivity malarkey on here

 

But will the coach get behind them

 

Team I'd pick

Roberts

Williams, Earl, De Givigney, O'Keeffe


Kane, Connell, Phillips,


Jalo, Marsh,


Mcatee,