Reading Fan Chat – Bolton v Reading

[daib0]

Bolton v Reading

Tuesday 3rd March, 2015 (Championship)


As always, friendly greetings from daib0, a lot of you know me by now! Onto our game together on Tuesday – they’re raining in now - and I wondered if I could get a bit of chat going once again.


The first thing I have to say is that we’re pretty deflated down in the Thames Valley, so nothing cocky from Royals Rendezvous, not that it’s our style anyway. But when you consider that we were top six middle of September, and now are 18th and just a bit worried looking at the places underneath, and all this with a recent ‘Thai’ takeover boardroom change, a new manager mid-season, and supposedly important attacking arrivals in the Winter Transfer window, the season just ain’t clicking. And that’s despite a nice little FA Cup run, but to be honest one which 85% of fans would gladly give up for a bit of better league form. So what’s up then? Well, the defence lacks confidence but above all we’re GOAL SHY – it's now just three in six games, despite often having far more possession than the opposition. As I said, there’s not too much optimism around right now amongst Royals fans – this will almost surely be our worst league finish in well over a decade.


So, back on track, and to help my forum members on the game I’d like to ask you:


Is this season for you also about just surviving now? Is it what has been expected or are you disappointed with Wanderer’s showing?


How has the winter transfer window treated you, any incomings or outgoings of note, and are you stronger as a result?


Reading have certainly tightened up at the back now with Steve Clarke at the helm, but are still, as I said, not cutting it in front of goal. Bolton have two victories in the last six, the others being losses. Taking all into account, how do you see the game going?


As always, I promise that any snippets used will be credited by reference to your forum, and the member name. And guaranteed absolutely no ‘wind ups’ on our forum, to the contrary, our highest respect.

Our match presentation is here - http://royalsrendezvous.co.uk/topic/10274001/1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - with a recommendation given for “The Wanderer” as the reference as the site to look into, and loads of info already up on the team, history and our encounters, though please do feel free to point out any small inaccuracy you may find!


daib0, and the team on ‘Royals Rendezvous’

[Harry Genshaw]

Greetings.

I'd say that this season is all about survival. 2 or 3 games in and it was obvious we were in for a long hard slog under Freedman. There was some optimistic talk of the play offs during the early part of Lennons reign but injuries and the squad he inherited soon put paid to that.

The transfer window was all about getting bodies in. In the 40 or so years I've been following them I can't recall an injury list like this one. It led to young Zach Clough getting a chance (which he's taken) alongside 2 blokes old enough to be his dad. I also like the look of the other striker Lennon brought in, Adam Le Fondre. You may have heard of him?

The championship is such a hard division to call. Who'd have thought you guys, Wigan and Fulham would struggle. I expect Tuesday will be a tight affair. 1-0 win or goalless draw

[daib0]

Many thanks! Yes, Alfie was fairly loved here and had a solid scoring record, but it doesn't look the same on his Cardiff stint, their fans weren't impressed - he was only sold from Reading out of necessity with the Russian president jumping ship ...
so how is he doing then right now?

[LeverEnd]

Many thanks! Yes, Alfie was fairly loved here and had a solid scoring record, but it doesn't look the same on his Cardiff stint, their fans weren't impressed - he was only sold from Reading out of necessity with the Russian president jumping ship ...
so how is he doing then right now?

Not spectacular but I like him. He's surprised me as well. His finishing hasn't been as impressive as I expected, but his all round contribution workrate and determination have been much better than I thought. I think there's a scoring burst to come at some point.

[boltonboris]

85% of your fans would give up the chance at seeing your team win a trophy for the sake of mid table mediocrity in the second division?? My god, football is absolutely fvcked

[boltonboris]

Give me an FA cup win in the next 2 years and I'd happily watch my team in the selotape division 6 or whatever it's called now

[Worthy4England]

Give me an FA cup win in the next 2 years and I'd happily watch my team in the selotape division 6 or whatever it's called now

I must be a really bad person. I'd have no interest whatsoever watching us in the selotape division 6. It was a stretch watching us in Div 4 (and I didn't go to many that year).

[Enoch]

I regularly watch Selotape 6 and lower.

Different strokes and all that.

Love a game of footy.

[Jugs]

Give me an FA cup win in the next 2 years and I'd happily watch my team in the selotape division 6 or whatever it's called now

Dunno. I imagine Wigan's FA cup heroics now seem a distant memory as they slip into league one obscurity, managed by a pair of racists and with their best players all gone.

I'd happily take an FA Cup win and a prolonged stay in this division.

[LeverEnd]

Give me an FA cup win in the next 2 years and I'd happily watch my team in the selotape division 6 or whatever it's called now

Dunno. I imagine Wigan's FA cup heroics now seem a distant memory as they slip into league one obscurity, managed by a pair of racists and with their best players all gone.

I'd happily take an FA Cup win and a prolonged stay in this division.

I bet they don't! I'm firmly in agreement with Boris, merely existing as a football club is a waste of time. I don't do football fan pragmatism. If they go down, they'll most probably come back again like wolves have. Clubs with the right infrastructure usually do. A promotion season is also much more fun than finishing 20th, whichever division it's in.

[jaffka]

I would love us to win something. That division 1 championship was brilliant.

To win one of the big cups would be fantastic.

[StaffsTrotter]

Is this season for you also about just surviving now? Is it what has been expected or are you disappointed with Wanderer’s showing?

Most people are probably looking forward to next season already. After the start we had, we should be grateful for survival, but the mini revival under lenny with thoughts of play offs means that the most recent splurge of injuries and dip in results has dampened things somewhat. We should be safe but we have experience of wigan end of season survival surges, so a win against you boys will do nicely thank you !

How has the winter transfer window treated you, any incomings or outgoings of note, and are you stronger as a result?
Lots of activity at the end of the window. Imperative was to get some bodies in so we could put 11 on the park. Not sure if we are currently stronger as they have had to replace rather than add to, but they have given us some balance and options. Having said that the situation has led to a couple of promising young uns getting a chance and showing promise.

Reading have certainly tightened up at the back now with Steve Clarke at the helm, but are still, as I said, not cutting it in front of goal. Bolton have two victories in the last six, the others being losses. Taking all into account, how do you see the game going?

Well up until the last couple of games, you could have bet money on us helping your guys re-discover their shooting boots, but we have tightened up a bit. Sounds like not many goals are going to be around. 4-0 then to the mighty whites

[Worthy4England]

I would love us to win something. That division 1 championship was brilliant.

To win one of the big cups would be fantastic.

Me too.

But I still ain't turning out in the Selotape Div 6, to watch.

[jaffka]

If we were ever in the selotape div 6, then we would probably have gone broke and had restarted.

[TANGODANCER]

If we were ever in the selotape div 6, then we would probably have gone broke and had restarted.

Nah, driving Ladas, even free ones just doesn't have the same appeal as it once did.

[Jugs]

Give me an FA cup win in the next 2 years and I'd happily watch my team in the selotape division 6 or whatever it's called now

Dunno. I imagine Wigan's FA cup heroics now seem a distant memory as they slip into league one obscurity, managed by a pair of racists and with their best players all gone.

I'd happily take an FA Cup win and a prolonged stay in this division.

I bet they don't! I'm firmly in agreement with Boris, merely existing as a football club is a waste of time. I don't do football fan pragmatism. If they go down, they'll most probably come back again like wolves have. Clubs with the right infrastructure usually do. A promotion season is also much more fun than finishing 20th, whichever division it's in.

I just think statements like that are over dramatic. We went to Munich a few years ago and got a great point, created some great memories, and if you'd have said, "I'll take this today and a few years of watching championship football for a few years afterwards because this is awesome," people might have agreed. But under the Dougie regime, all people did was moan anyway, and they've deserted in their droves. And if we won the FA Cup and then went down to the sixth division, people would really be happy after four relegations? Yeah right. There'd be moaning, booing, low attendances, the works.

Of course a promo season is more exciting than than finishing 20th, but Wigan are on their way down, and I bet their fans are having a right horrible time of it right now. And I bet they're moaning incessantly too.

[daib0]

Thanks for the answers, absolutely great.
I think there is a difference - Reading have only been in the top tier for three seasons since the league was formed; if we go down to the third tier it might take quite a few years to get back again to the championship, and to the premier gawd knows.
No teachers pet stuff, but Bolton have a vast premier experience, the expectancy is there so the return is probably sooner rather than later for you boys ...

[LeverEnd]

Of course there would be bitching moaning and booing, eventually things would turn and the cheers would return. People sneer at so-called yoyo clubs, but they are the interesting ones. My point is that no one reminisces years later about the season they consolidated in the championship. As for being dramatic, I want my time supporting Bolton to be dramatic, and make no apology for it.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

There is also a difference between a draw in the group stage of the Europa and winning the FA Cup. Both can be great memories (like Munich), but a trophy is a whole different ball game.

My favourite seasons were the Rioch and Todd years, followed by the earlier Big Sam ones. We were building something, possibilities and belief we could achieve great things. Scraping 17th is shit, but then if it were all about winning everything we wouldn't appreciate it (see Man U/Arsenal et al). I would take a cup win for a few shit years, providing the future of the club was safe long term.

[Jonah]

There is also a difference between a draw in the group stage of the Europa and winning the FA Cup. Both can be great memories (like Munich), but a trophy is a whole different ball game.

My favourite seasons were the Rioch and Todd years, followed by the earlier Big Sam ones. We were building something, possibilities and belief we could achieve great things. Scraping 17th is shit, but then if it were all about winning everything we wouldn't appreciate it (see Man U/Arsenal et al). I would take a cup win for a few shit years, providing the future of the club was safe long term.

That's the bottom line isn't it . The worst that could happen is the club goes under . We very nearly did in the 80s but its been a hell of a journey since . Even those years of decline were interesting , there was always hope and it eventually turned . The very top level is now a closed shop, I was almost relieved when we went down. Knowing you are going to struggle week in week out is no fun eventually . It's been amazing following the wanderers since the late 70s . Rarely a dull season , some huge highs, different clubs and grounds , punching above our weight . Luckiest fans alive . It's much more fun now looking forward to next season with potential than it was in the last few years in the prem when you knew we had no momentum and could only decline because there wasn't the cash to compete . We will go up again in the next few years , hopefully we will be able to compete and have some fun for a few years then we will go down again because that's about our level . It's great .