Are we cured yet?

[SCIAG]

I wouldn't put Kitson in any "ego gang". In fact, he's probably the least egoistic player we had, and seemed to be the only one "trying" to keep us up.

I'm half expecting somebody to come back with "he had a go at Shorey..."

I've got two comments on that. One is the obvious "was that ever more than a rumour?". The other is "wasn't that because he didn't think Shorey cared?"

[brendywendy]

I wouldn't put Kitson in any "ego gang". In fact, he's probably the least egoistic player we had, and seemed to be the only one "trying" to keep us up.

I'm half expecting somebody to come back with "he had a go at Shorey..."

I've got two comments on that. One is the obvious "was that ever more than a rumour?". The other is "wasn't that because he didn't think Shorey cared?"

both kitson and his ex manager have ackowledged that his attitude was suspect and part of the problem at the end of last year

[SCIAG]

I wouldn't put Kitson in any "ego gang". In fact, he's probably the least egoistic player we had, and seemed to be the only one "trying" to keep us up.

I'm half expecting somebody to come back with "he had a go at Shorey..."

I've got two comments on that. One is the obvious "was that ever more than a rumour?". The other is "wasn't that because he didn't think Shorey cared?"

both kitson and his ex manager have ackowledged that his attitude was suspect and part of the problem at the end of last year

Can I have a link to said quotes?

[strap]

What we have now is Bloody great - perhaps the 'mental illness pandemic' that struck this website and RFC fans in general in August is finally disappearing.....

Where is 'Thou Voice' and all the other Swindon fans that were so visible in August and throughout the summer months?

Bloody hell. Again another numpty who uses the rather twisted logic that if you are critical of or raise concerns about the club then you can't claim to be a supporter.

You talk about those who voiced concerns writing obituaries for the Labour Party, well you certainly spin RFC well nicely indeed. If we get through January without losing any of our top performers and are still sat amongst the top three, then by all means go ahead and pat yourself on the back.

I'm with you Floyd.

Let's wait a bit before we start crowing shall we young man. Plenty of us old lags have been here and seen this sort of start to a season before, only to get our hopes up and then be sadly let down. In the old days it was quagmires of muddy pitches and thugs decapitating our star players. Nowadays we have to watch out for windows and billionaires. Enjoying the goals and wins whilst they occur, but cynicism is a hard monkey to throw off. Oh for the innocence of youth .....

[SteveRoyal]

Whilst I like the look of the squad we have at the moment, the performance of the team and the general look of the club, I have to say this:
Too early.

[PEARCEY]

I wouldn't put Kitson in any "ego gang". In fact, he's probably the least egoistic player we had, and seemed to be the only one "trying" to keep us up.

I'm half expecting somebody to come back with "he had a go at Shorey..."

I've got two comments on that. One is the obvious "was that ever more than a rumour?". The other is "wasn't that because he didn't think Shorey cared?"

both kitson and his ex manager have ackowledged that his attitude was suspect and part of the problem at the end of last year

Spot on Mr Wendy.
Kitson refused to play in the same side as Lita which is bang out of order. When a player starts trying to dictate terms to the manager it tends to end in tears.

[Handsome Man]

I wouldn't put Kitson in any "ego gang". In fact, he's probably the least egoistic player we had, and seemed to be the only one "trying" to keep us up.

I'm half expecting somebody to come back with "he had a go at Shorey..."

I've got two comments on that. One is the obvious "was that ever more than a rumour?". The other is "wasn't that because he didn't think Shorey cared?"

both kitson and his ex manager have ackowledged that his attitude was suspect and part of the problem at the end of last year

Spot on Mr Wendy.
Kitson refused to play in the same side as Lita which is bang out of order. When a player starts trying to dictate terms to the manager it tends to end in tears.

Did he really?
That is a brilliant rumour.

I still like Kitson and hope he will score sometime before his next injury.

[PEARCEY]

I wouldn't classify it as a rumour.
There are one or two on here in the know. I am certainly not one of them. However someone on here who has regular contact with the club has verified this. Besides I thought the Kitson/Lita issue was acknowledged currency anyaway.

[Son of Len]

We will be "cured" when our away form is within spitting distance of our home form.

By the way, I consider myself an RTG.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

We will be "cured" when our away form is within spitting distance of our home form.

Our current home form, hopefully, rather than it going the other way.


It is far far too early to say anything other than we look far more likely to be near the top than near the bottom. We've had false starts before, but I doubt we've totally outclassed sides like we've done this season in any of them.

Other than that, the "Coppell Out!" brigade seem to be quiet at the moment.

[Arnie_Pie]

You said all of that?

My my. You must be the (Reading) Oracle.

I did and most of it was posted on hear and I deserve a gold star for showing faith whilst all around were full of doubt etc...

Incidentally, what did you say at the same time?

My apologies to the 'spelling police' - I meant 'here'

I have always been a RTG. Thought the same as you but just looked on in mild amusement at all the doom merchants

[Dirk Gently]

I wouldn't put Kitson in any "ego gang". In fact, he's probably the least egoistic player we had, and seemed to be the only one "trying" to keep us up.

If that's true then I'm the Queen of Sheba. Everything changed around Xmas last year, and while what you say may have been correct before then - afterwards was quite different!

[brendywendy]

I wouldn't put Kitson in any "ego gang". In fact, he's probably the least egoistic player we had, and seemed to be the only one "trying" to keep us up.

I'm half expecting somebody to come back with "he had a go at Shorey..."

I've got two comments on that. One is the obvious "was that ever more than a rumour?". The other is "wasn't that because he didn't think Shorey cared?"

both kitson and his ex manager have ackowledged that his attitude was suspect and part of the problem at the end of last year

Can I have a link to said quotes?

you may
its easy
go through all the threads and posts that came after kitsons transfer to stoke, on this board, the OS and stokes site, and you will find said quotes
im not sure i care enough to trawl through them looking for you though!

both coppell and kitson both made statements regarding the "problems" in the dressing room, and kitson was honest enough to admit that maybe he was one of the main problems himself

[papereyes]

He was also, for the most part, one of the few players that seemed to be trying to put it right on the pitch.

This is the 'thing' I have with Lita/Kitson. Ultimately, I don't really care what they do off the pitch, how they act, whatever stories circulate. Their job is/was to play for Reading, play well and score goals. One did, one didn't.

The one player who has, when fit, consistently scored when at Reading was moved on (and, yes, for a tidy profit). The one with as much, if not more, baggage and rumour and less goals stayed. And now we've moved him on anyway.

The fact that Kitson can look back and see his own faults makes him a bigger man, tbh. I doubt many players have that level of self-awareness.

(I actually think Kitson may have suffered a bit by underestimating the sheer weight of pressure of the media that comes with the Premiership. He got away with his post-WC 2006 comments but found himself squaring up to Gullit and having his 'two s**ts' comment reinterpreted and following him around in the second season. I think also he may have begun to believe the hype when they started talking about him as a possible England cap. Meh, of all the players, I'd have hoped he'd have been the most capable of dealing with it.)

[brendywendy]

agree, i wasnt judging the guy, just saying he did say he was part of the problem

also one of only two players i thought may actually have some loyalty to this club in the summer

modern football is rubbish

[Archie's penalty]

I think the cancerous attitude of last season has been cured. That in my book is something. Watching Reading is fun again.

[SCIAG]

I wouldn't put Kitson in any "ego gang". In fact, he's probably the least egoistic player we had, and seemed to be the only one "trying" to keep us up.

If that's true then I'm the Queen of Sheba. Everything changed around Xmas last year, and while what you say may have been correct before then - afterwards was quite different!

I thing after the Spurs match Kitson changed his style of play. He realised that our defence was so bad it didn't matter how well he played. He started sitting deeper and playing a more defensive role, covering for the defence. As a result, our main goalscorer stopped scoring. His intent was correct, but his reasoning was flawed.

[Dirk Gently]

I wouldn't put Kitson in any "ego gang". In fact, he's probably the least egoistic player we had, and seemed to be the only one "trying" to keep us up.

If that's true then I'm the Queen of Sheba. Everything changed around Xmas last year, and while what you say may have been correct before then - afterwards was quite different!

I thing after the Spurs match Kitson changed his style of play. He realised that our defence was so bad it didn't matter how well he played. He started sitting deeper and playing a more defensive role, covering for the defence. As a result, our main goalscorer stopped scoring. His intent was correct, but his reasoning was flawed.

My post wasn't anything to do with what happened on the pitch - I was talking about The Ego Has Landed.

Mr Charmian, I think I've taken Cambridge United as far as I can.

[Wealdstone at home]

Good post and well done with your predictions.

Would agree with all except for praising with transfer policy.

If we go up then great and it'll be a very impressive "best of a bad job". But it will nevertheless it will be the best of a bad job IMHO.

Not to have invested even just a tiny bit was a huge error on Madejski's part.

Perhaps £10 million on increased wages and a player or two just to get us a slightly better GD or 1 more point would bring us in another windfall of at least £30million and we wouldn't have gotten rid stars like Kitson etc.

It's turning out to be ok so far, yes, and that's down to very good work by RFC, yes, and it's a joy to behold, yes, and our brick by brick approach even now is something to be very proud of, yes.... but I for one won't be congratulating anyone for being in this position in the first place. We were a little too cautious, made too much of a booboo, and we have to hold our hands up and admit it.

But things are looking rosy and long may it continue!

You make many fair points.

I completely agree that we should not have been in the position of being relegated at all.

However, I do think that JM made a miscalculation and SC showed too much loyalty to some and didn't make players feel threatened through healthy strong competition for places last season.

It led to the 'Ego Gang'

However, I believe getting rid of Kits, Shorey and Sonko at the time we did and for the money we got was absolutely right.

They were all I believe destructive to the squad as they believed their own hype (Always a recipe for disaster)and thought they were just a little better than their team mates. Which time will show; was completely untrue. Their best years are gone.

Mistakes made - yes - but the positive and aggressive response has been fantastic - the nation's politicians and bankers could learn a big lesson.

SC could have just walked away but he did not. Fold and cower or fight on and win.

I really do admire his enormous strength of character and determination - and the wisdom and humility with which he demonstrates them.

If we bounce straight back; the man (Already a lifelong hero of the club) should have a statue built outside the Mad Stad.

And what is more, I can feel it in my 'bones' - I just know we're going to do it.....

Agree with all of that. Good points.

We have done incredibly well and full credit goes to everyone at RFC since the drop including actually 94% of us fans (on HNA at keast) who wanted Coppell to stay and showed him so.

Applause all around.

I think the "ego gang" observation is a very accurate one too.

----

Not wanting to get caught up in the "Swindon fans" banter (that's detracting from the more important points you raise)... I 100% genuinely have actually suspected some posters here on HNA as being infiltrating fans from other clubs wanting to sabotage things! The overly vocal nonsense I've read from some folk (over Coppell going etc) has honestly gotten me wondering if they're Swindon/Wolves/etc fans. We already have belligerent t*sspots from other clubs known to be here and some infiltrate the chatrooms so your comment wasn't that out of order! However a lot of the negativity has come from long established and well respected HNA posters who happen to be negative but actually clearly have RFC's interest at heart, and we'd do well to give these views - however different from our own - plenty of respect.

I agree respect is due to all opinions - I do not wish to be considered as disrespectful - I just find the sometimes cynical and negative view naive and irritating.

I know how weird it can be to see 'our' players at other clubs - particularly players we grew to love - but all our players are temporary and I believe our Manager is aware of the significance of this and is managing it very well - not badly as some may suggest.

[Wealdstone at home]

What we have now is Bloody great - perhaps the 'mental illness pandemic' that struck this website and RFC fans in general in August is finally disappearing.....

Where is 'Thou Voice' and all the other Swindon fans that were so visible in August and throughout the summer months?

Bloody hell. Again another numpty who uses the rather twisted logic that if you are critical of or raise concerns about the club then you can't claim to be a supporter.

You talk about those who voiced concerns writing obituaries for the Labour Party, well you certainly spin RFC well nicely indeed. If we get through January without losing any of our top performers and are still sat amongst the top three, then by all means go ahead and pat yourself on the back.

I'm with you Floyd.

Let's wait a bit before we start crowing shall we young man. Plenty of us old lags have been here and seen this sort of start to a season before, only to get our hopes up and then be sadly let down. In the old days it was quagmires of muddy pitches and thugs decapitating our star players. Nowadays we have to watch out for windows and billionaires. Enjoying the goals and wins whilst they occur, but cynicism is a hard monkey to throw off. Oh for the innocence of youth .....

When did you first watch RFC?

My first game was September (May have been August - can't be bothered to look it up) 1970 v Walsall at home - lost 1-2 - I was seven.

My first season ended with the misery of relegation.

I have every reason to feel cynical - I just choose not to be - because proper analysis leads me to believe that there is little to be cynical about.

I think perhaps, my passion and enthiusiasm was mistaken for youth.

I wish this conclusion was drawn in more relevant and beneficial situations