Blackpool Gazette - a balanced view!

[Glen Little's Nose]

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/black ... 5850732.jp

[Arnie_Pie]

Brendan Rodgers' side were almost on their knees and pleading for the three points, such is the length of time they've had to wait for them.

Not for 301 days ago, since the middle of January, had Reading won on home soil.

Seventeen games without a victory and all of this at one of the best grounds in the country, the lavish Madejski Stadium.

For the fans the last 10 months must have been like visiting a palace and finding the display cabinet full of ornaments from Poundland.

[Wimb]

I suppose that the Mad Stad is still in the top 20 or so grounds in the country to be fair

[brendywendy]

Simon Church (Reading's striker was excellent, best player on the pitch),

[Alan Partridge]

Simon Church (Reading's striker was excellent, best player on the pitch),

From a Blackpool point of view I could understand that.

[Ryn]

Simon Church (Reading's striker was excellent, best player on the pitch),

From a Blackpool point of view I could understand that.

[Ian Royal]

The Mad Stad did win best mid-sized stadium in Europe not long after it was built iirc.

[Toon Toon Blue army]

I suppose that the Mad Stad is still in the top 20 or so grounds in the country to be fair

Sureley not, there have been loads of new similar grounds built, on top of all the existing 'big team' grounds.

[Compo's Hat]

Far better match report than the usual rubbish we get from our local journalists, bit of the Stuart Hall style thrown in as well.

[RoyalBlue]

Brendan Rodgers' side were almost on their knees and pleading for the three points, such is the length of time they've had to wait for them.

Not for 301 days ago, since the middle of January, had Reading won on home soil.

Seventeen games without a victory and all of this at one of the best grounds in the country, the lavish Madejski Stadium.

For the fans the last 10 months must have been like visiting a palace and finding the display cabinet full of ornaments from Poundland.

They've heard about our Chairman flogging off all of the family silver then!

I have to say that it is a very good and accurate report. Clearly that particular journalist actually takes the time to watch the game properly, take good notes and then carefully craft the finished article. I wonder whether he fancies a move South?!

[Seal]

Simon Church (Reading's striker was excellent, best player on the pitch),

From a Blackpool point of view I could understand that.

As one of his harsher critics I think you should expand on this point....

[BR2]

I suppose that the Mad Stad is still in the top 20 or so grounds in the country to be fair

Sureley not, there have been loads of new similar grounds built, on top of all the existing 'big team' grounds.

There have been a lot of shiny new grounds built since ours,e.g Southampton,Cardiff,Swansea,Coventry, MK Dons,Millwall,The Emirates,Colchester,Stoke,Doncaster etc.
Unfortunately they are all a bit samey.
Ours still looks quite fresh and there is more room than in most seated areas but in a lot of ways I still prefer the Spurs,Villa,Anfield type of grounds where you do get a sense of tradition.

[Sun Tzu]

I think you can cross a couple of those grounds of your list as Stoke and Millwall had their new grounds before us.

I'm never that convinced when people describe new grounds as 'the same'. They look more like each other than they do the older grounds but in reality many of the old grounds were also similar (4 stands, pitched roof, open corners, terraced ends, pillars etc etc). The new grounds use the same materials, incorporate corporate boxes, have self supporting roofs etc but The New Den is as different to the Madejski is different to the Emirates in the same way as Elm Park was different to Highbury was different to Bloomfield Road.