Even *I* am actually quite concerned

[brendywendy]

If I cared about what you people 'know', I'd be a complete idiot and know nothing about football, so that's fine with me.

..............................

[andrew1957]

I watched the game against Charlton and what I saw was an excellent game between two attacking teams that could have gone either way. Yes Charlton could have had 6 and Reading could have had 4 (missed penalty and hit bar) so the score could have realistically been 4-4.

To say Reading were thrashed is silly. They defended poorly but looked ok going forwards. I thought the first two games we actually defended ok so lets not write them off after one game.

A win against Palace and we will all feel better.

[andrew1957]

By the way my wife thinks that I am a pessimist. God knows what she would think if she was married to most of those posting on here!

[West Stand Man]

I watched the game against Charlton and what I saw was an excellent game between two attacking teams that could have gone either way. Yes Charlton could have had 6 and Reading could have had 4 (missed penalty and hit bar) so the score could have realistically been 4-4.

To say Reading were thrashed is silly. They defended poorly but looked ok going forwards. I thought the first two games we actually defended ok so lets not write them off after one game.

A win against Palace and we will all feel better.

Don't fall into the trap of believing that any of the STGs on here actually consider any of the facts before they preach doom and gloom!

[Royal Rother]

I watched the game against Charlton and what I saw was an excellent game between two attacking teams that could have gone either way. Yes Charlton could have had 6 and Reading could have had 4 (missed penalty and hit bar) so the score could have realistically been 4-4.

To say Reading were thrashed is silly. They defended poorly but looked ok going forwards. I thought the first two games we actually defended ok so lets not write them off after one game.

Spot on.

Charlton had more quality (if Bailey and Cisse were on opposite teams in all probability we'd have won) but we made a very good game of it away from home. Nowhere near a thrashing.

The only neutral observers I've heard comment on the game thought we were going to win when we brought it back to 2-2. Committed fans generally give extreme views either way to suit their mood at the time, and opinions expressed in the previous days / weeks / months.

Always listen to the neutrals as they generally give a far more accurate, sensible and realistic assessment.

[brendywendy]

I watched the game against Charlton and what I saw was an excellent game between two attacking teams that could have gone either way. Yes Charlton could have had 6 and Reading could have had 4 (missed penalty and hit bar) so the score could have realistically been 4-4.

To say Reading were thrashed is silly. They defended poorly but looked ok going forwards. I thought the first two games we actually defended ok so lets not write them off after one game.

A win against Palace and we will all feel better.

thats what i though too, pretty good assessment
tempered with the fact that we shouldnt really be getting involved in that sort of game in this league

[Alan Partridge]

I watched the game against Charlton and what I saw was an excellent game between two attacking teams that could have gone either way. Yes Charlton could have had 6 and Reading could have had 4 (missed penalty and hit bar) so the score could have realistically been 4-4.

To say Reading were thrashed is silly. They defended poorly but looked ok going forwards. I thought the first two games we actually defended ok so lets not write them off after one game.

Spot on.

Charlton had more quality (if Bailey and Cisse were on opposite teams in all probability we'd have won) but we made a very good game of it away from home. Nowhere near a thrashing.

The only neutral observers I've heard comment on the game thought we were going to win when we brought it back to 2-2. Committed fans generally give extreme views either way to suit their mood at the time, and opinions expressed in the previous days / weeks / months.

Always listen to the neutrals as they generally give a far more accurate, sensible and realistic assessment.

I tend to listen to people that go and spend their money on it. Only the referee giving us the most ridiculous penalty and the even more farcical retake made the scoreline slightly respectable. Conceeding 4 against anyone in this league is totally unacceptable especially as easily as Reading did.

[Archie's penalty]

We played very badly on saturday and I don't want it to happen again.

That being said this thread is VERY boring.

Get over yourselves people!

[andrew1957]

I watched the game against Charlton and what I saw was an excellent game between two attacking teams that could have gone either way. Yes Charlton could have had 6 and Reading could have had 4 (missed penalty and hit bar) so the score could have realistically been 4-4.

To say Reading were thrashed is silly. They defended poorly but looked ok going forwards. I thought the first two games we actually defended ok so lets not write them off after one game.

A win against Palace and we will all feel better.

thats what i though too, pretty good assessment
tempered with the fact that we shouldnt really be getting involved in that sort of game in this league

Agree with your last point. I think there is a case for 4-4-2 at home and 4-5-1 away in this division to keep the away games tight. You can always move to 4-4-2 later in a game if you fall behind.

Having said this I do enjoy open games of football BUT the main objective is promotion and we cannot afford more performances like Charlton if we want to be serious contenders.

[andrew1957]

I watched the game against Charlton and what I saw was an excellent game between two attacking teams that could have gone either way. Yes Charlton could have had 6 and Reading could have had 4 (missed penalty and hit bar) so the score could have realistically been 4-4.

To say Reading were thrashed is silly. They defended poorly but looked ok going forwards. I thought the first two games we actually defended ok so lets not write them off after one game.

Spot on.

Charlton had more quality (if Bailey and Cisse were on opposite teams in all probability we'd have won) but we made a very good game of it away from home. Nowhere near a thrashing.

The only neutral observers I've heard comment on the game thought we were going to win when we brought it back to 2-2. Committed fans generally give extreme views either way to suit their mood at the time, and opinions expressed in the previous days / weeks / months.

Always listen to the neutrals as they generally give a far more accurate, sensible and realistic assessment.

I tend to listen to people that go and spend their money on it. Only the referee giving us the most ridiculous penalty and the even more farcical retake made the scoreline slightly respectable. Conceeding 4 against anyone in this league is totally unacceptable especially as easily as Reading did.

I watched this match on TV and the pundits said both our penalties were stone wall ones so what are you on about? Doyle was taken out for the first and the defender has his arm wrapped roung Lita's neck. Why were we lucky to get these?

[Stranded]

I watched the game against Charlton and what I saw was an excellent game between two attacking teams that could have gone either way. Yes Charlton could have had 6 and Reading could have had 4 (missed penalty and hit bar) so the score could have realistically been 4-4.

To say Reading were thrashed is silly. They defended poorly but looked ok going forwards. I thought the first two games we actually defended ok so lets not write them off after one game.

Spot on.

Charlton had more quality (if Bailey and Cisse were on opposite teams in all probability we'd have won) but we made a very good game of it away from home. Nowhere near a thrashing.

The only neutral observers I've heard comment on the game thought we were going to win when we brought it back to 2-2. Committed fans generally give extreme views either way to suit their mood at the time, and opinions expressed in the previous days / weeks / months.

Always listen to the neutrals as they generally give a far more accurate, sensible and realistic assessment.

I tend to listen to people that go and spend their money on it. Only the referee giving us the most ridiculous penalty and the even more farcical retake made the scoreline slightly respectable. Conceeding 4 against anyone in this league is totally unacceptable especially as easily as Reading did.

WBA lost 4-2 and 4-1 at home last season, didn't do any harm - the 4-1 defeat to Leicester and as I recall most goals scored that day were embarrasingly easy.

[West Stand Man]

WBA lost 4-2 and 4-1 at home last season, didn't do any harm - the 4-1 defeat to Leicester and as I recall most goals scored that day were embarrasingly easy.

Said it before, will say it again - don't let facts get in the way of a good STG argument. Apparently RFC is a doomed organisation with no hope of survival (well, at least until we win a league game that is, and then it will all change for a while).

[Alan Partridge]

WBA lost 4-2 and 4-1 at home last season, didn't do any harm - the 4-1 defeat to Leicester and as I recall most goals scored that day were embarrasingly easy.

Said it before, will say it again - don't let facts get in the way of a good STG argument. Apparently RFC is a doomed organisation with no hope of survival (well, at least until we win a league game that is, and then it will all change for a while).

Absolutely right, you lot made me feel so much more secure about last season it would be foolish not to trust you lot again.

[brendywendy]

so its our fault now?!

keep your trust to your self anyway
i cant handle the pressure that comes with it

[Alan Partridge]

so its our fault now?!

keep your trust to your self anyway
i cant handle the pressure that comes with it

Yeah everyone else has been blamed so take your chunk of it!

[papereyes]

WBA lost 4-2 and 4-1 at home last season, didn't do any harm - the 4-1 defeat to Leicester and as I recall most goals scored that day were embarrasingly easy.

Said it before, will say it again - don't let facts get in the way of a good STG argument. Apparently RFC is a doomed organisation with no hope of survival (well, at least until we win a league game that is, and then it will all change for a while).

Absolutely right, you lot made me feel so much more secure about last season it would be foolish not to trust you lot again.

If anyone even begins to utter "there's xxx teams worse than us", I shall not be responsible for my actions.

[brendywendy]

Said it before, will say it again - don't let facts get in the way of a good STG argument. Apparently RFC is a doomed organisation with no hope of survival (well, at least until we win a league game that is, and then it will all change for a while).

Absolutely right, you lot made me feel so much more secure about last season it would be foolish not to trust you lot again.

If anyone even begins to utter "there's xxx teams worse than us", I shall not be responsible for my actions.

but there are definately 3 worse tea........................

[Barry the bird boggler]

WBA lost 4-2 and 4-1 at home last season, didn't do any harm - the 4-1 defeat to Leicester and as I recall most goals scored that day were embarrasingly easy.

And the season before that didn't Sunderland lose their first 5 or 6 games, so we're a long way off being out of it. The only certainty I think there is in this division is that whoever finishes above Birmingham will win the league.

[papereyes]

I think a point accompanying this debate is one of change.

Sunderland were always going to bring in a manager (N. Quinn was in charge for those game) so you could accept the odd defeat, knowing that things would change.

So the debate here should be framed in terms of "without changing things, ... ". Hence, you could summarise my argument or belief, even, as

"If we fail to bring through the youngsters and if we fail to strengthen the side, we will perform badly throughout the season."

Football is a messy beast and there are always cases where teams perform badly but win, or draw. But those runs are usually short lived. The reasons why I think we will do badly are many. The players are alright but there's a real issue of mentality, imo. Just giving one youngster a chance over the players who let Coppell down so badly last season but still retain his trust would be a strong positive step.

And I don't mean in the Cup. I mean in the league, which we are supposed to take seriously.

[papereyes]

If anyone even begins to utter "there's xxx teams worse than us", I shall not be responsible for my actions.

but there are definately 3 worse tea........................

But you must see the point. Its the same arguments!

OK, we shouldn't be in any danger of going down, but when you know the side can do better, should you lower your standards that much?