What is wrong with you lot?

[shadesrwrf]

See, the thing is Ian, I agree with a lot of what you said. It's the manner and context in which you said it I have a problem with. As has been pointed out, whether you've been supporting the club for as long as you or I have or whether you started supporting the club yesterday makes no difference regarding your right to be critical. Although I don't particularly like this analogy, at the end of the day we're all customers. We're paying for a product. We want to see RFC be successful. When we don't think they're making the most of our investment we've a right to voice our opinions.

It's the manner in which you voice those opinions that is important. I think you've put people's backs up because of the tone of your post rather than the content. Higher, as always, has put a similar opinion across in a manner that offends no one. Perhaps you could pick up a few tips from him.

[spickroyal]

Worthy post iang..
Reading FC have been my first love since the 60`s and will always be so come hell or highwater Prem or conference it matters not.
I spent decades dreaming of one day mixing it in the top flight and have been mocked on more occasions that I dare remember whenever I expressed those aspirations.
Now we have arrived I fully intend to make the most of it and enjoy every kick rather than wallow in our little inperfections.
Of course were not going to emulate anything like last year in terms of taking the pee out of the league and overall i`m quite encouraged by the start weve made.There will inevitably be teething problems whilst we adjust to the new level and there is far less margin for error .
Sure this boards good for the touchline experts to do their bit of football managing and of course we all have our own unique take on how the game should be played etc
I would guess most of us are realistic enough to settle for survival this year with anything better being a massive bonus.
I really hope all supporters old and new alike rally behind Sir Steve and the lads as we make this massive adjustment.Theyve done their stuff to get us to the promised land hopefully we will collectively do our bit to keep them here.

Thanks Higher for the back up.

I agree with his post too. He is right to suggest that everyone should get behind the team and they do when at games - but there is no harm in having discussions about the team on a forum. However, the above post doesn't have a dig at anyone who has supported the club for less than 10 yrs like yours does. You're opinion is no more right or wrong just because you have been on the earth longer, sorry do shatter your illusions

[iang040563]

... I think you are missing the point here.
Going on the basis that our rise to the big time has really been nothing short of meteoric, none of us are really in a position where we can criticise considering what we were putting up with twenty years ago. What I was saying is that - for example the Supporters who do not remember the Elm Park days who did live in Reading and had no reason not to support their local team, who have come out of the woodwork now we are doing well - I am aware of more complaints from Supporters now than when we were a struggling lower division side, and I can only think that is because we have Supporters on here who do not remember what we were like when we were bad.
And like you said I am entitled to my own opinion. Got lot of response though, eh?

[Platypuss]

I see all of the new supporters are coming out fighting now.
Obviously hit a nerve there somewhere....

My first game was in 1979.

Looks like you might need to finetune your psychic powers a little more.

[iang040563]

I see all of the new supporters are coming out fighting now.
Obviously hit a nerve there somewhere....

My first game was in 1979.

Looks like you might need to finetune your psychic powers a little more.

Not a dig at you. My first was 1981. I just get tired of reading all of the criticism on here whan I remember what it used to be like. We have never had it so good, so why is everyone all doom and gloom?

[Platypuss]

. I am aware of more complaints from Supporters now than when we were a struggling lower division side, and I can only think that is because we have Supporters on here who do not remember what we were like when we were bad.

And perhaps, just perhaps, it is somewhat easier for people to register their opinions now than it was 10 years ago?

And like you said I am entitled to my own opinion. Got lot of response though, eh?

Ah. You were just trolling then.

[Custard Cream]

... I think you are missing the point here.
Going on the basis that our rise to the big time has really been nothing short of meteoric, none of us are really in a position where we can criticise considering what we were putting up with twenty years ago. What I was saying is that - for example the Supporters who do not remember the Elm Park days who did live in Reading and had no reason not to support their local team, who have come out of the woodwork now we are doing well - I am aware of more complaints from Supporters now than when we were a struggling lower division side, and I can only think that is because we have Supporters on here who do not remember what we were like when we were bad.
And like you said I am entitled to my own opinion. Got lot of response though, eh?

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, whether they were there in the Elm Park days or not. I have supported Reading for about 15 years, but I am more than happy to see fans have 'come out of the woodwork' now ..... if they hadn't, we would have a half-empty stadium!

Some criticism may be unjust, and knee-jerk, but much of it is constructive and coming from fans who have spent their hard-earned dosh travelling up and down the motorways and who have some fair comments to make on what they have seen.

[Legend]

I agree with platy, he's always right.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Why do you think this board exists if not to offer people a platform to express their views on, regardless of how long they have supported this club?

[iang040563]

OK so the unthinkable happens and we do do a Sunderland and maybe get relegated twice in succession.
How many will remain supporters then?

[higher]

Iang wrote:

I am aware of more complaints from Supporters now than when we were a struggling lower division side

Oh i dunno. "BRANFOOT OUT "got pretty vociferous
More seriously I guess there are more supporters following our meteoric evolution in recent years and tinternet provides a 24/7 space to ventilate angst filled spleens. If this place existed back in Branfoots day Shades would have had visuals of Branfoot dangling from the southbank pecked by vultures mark my words.

[Huntley & Palmer]

OK so the unthinkable happens and we do do a Sunderland and maybe get relegated twice in succession.
How many will remain supporters then?

Probably the same 8-10 thousand that have followed us since we moved to the Madejski

[OzBiscuit2004]

If this place existed back in Branfoots day Shades would have had visuals of Branfoot dangling from the southbank pecked by vultures mark my words.

Go on Shades......

[Scylla]

'Be grateful for what you have, things were much worse in the good old days' is actually no more constructive than 'They are all crap, JM must spend £100 on a complete new side before the window closes.' The club has moved on and will be judged by different standards.

[spickroyal]

... I think you are missing the point here.
Going on the basis that our rise to the big time has really been nothing short of meteoric, none of us are really in a position where we can criticise considering what we were putting up with twenty years ago. What I was saying is that - for example the Supporters who do not remember the Elm Park days who did live in Reading and had no reason not to support their local team, who have come out of the woodwork now we are doing well - I am aware of more complaints from Supporters now than when we were a struggling lower division side, and I can only think that is because we have Supporters on here who do not remember what we were like when we were bad.
And like you said I am entitled to my own opinion. Got lot of response though, eh?

Expectation will always increase as a club becomes more successful, we are not unique in that respect. Whilst there is a section of supporters that don't remember past the start of last season, that isn't the sole reason for people wanting to express their views.

[iang040563]

OK so the unthinkable happens and we do do a Sunderland and maybe get relegated twice in succession.
How many will remain supporters then?

Probably the same 8-10 thousand that have followed us since we moved to the Madejski

And the rest have jumped on the bandwagon .... so going back to where we were earlier, these are the ones who I have an objection to them criticising who are they to have a dig, as we all know that they will stop supporting us as soon as we are no longer good. They do not know the club like those who are more loyal, and will drop us once the success starts to fade. I rest my case.

[Scylla]

Never mind, at least you will be able to console yourself that you did your best to make them welcome.

[RG30]

This is not meant as a criticism to those of you who have been a Supporter of RFC for longer than ten years, but it is true, we have never had it this good. So unless you have been a Supporter since the team were in the old 4th Division, then you have no right to criticise the team.
When the only TV coverage they used to get was brief TV highlights on ITVs The Big Match of a 6-2 win over Bognor Regis in an FA Cup tie. How many of you were there for that? How many of you sung your hearts out watching Reading lose 2-0 at home to Darlington who were then bottom of Divison 3, courtesy of two own goals scored by Trevor Senior? How many remember standing on the terraces at Walsalls old ground where top of the old Division 3, we lost 6-0 having travelled both way in a blizzard? How many of you were there to watch Paul Canoville break his leg in the away game at Sunderland? How many of you were at the Vetch to see Andy Rogers have his life saved by the Reading physio having swallowed his tongue in a collsion with a Swansea player? How many of you remember Reading losing to non-league Colchester in the FA Cup? Or another FA Cup match when Wealdstone and Reading players had a punch up in the centre circle and was the only highlight? How many of you can remember Reading 4 Plymouth 3 in what was probably the best match I ever had the pleasure of watching at Elm Park?
A guy I used to work with a few years ago put everything into prospective when he said to me that he really admired me as a Reading supporter because he was an Arsenal supporter, and all he had to worry about was whether they were going to win any silverware or not, whereas Reading fans had the emotion of promotion and relegation every season to think about.
The majority of supporters on here are 5 minute wonders - and I will probably get slated for saying it, but where were you all when we were shit? Supporting another team probably that was doing slightly better than us. If so, what gives you the right to criticise RFC when the majority of supporters that remember RFC in the lower divisions have been waiting for this season to come round. If you do not like the fact that we have only got 3 points off of our first 3 games and are currently above Tottenham and Arsenal in the table then get off your horses and go back to supporting ManU, Liverpool or Chelsea.
Sorry needed to get this off of my chest.....

You talk a load of bollocks mate

[reading_fan]

'Be grateful for what you have, things were much worse in the good old days' is actually no more constructive than 'They are all crap, JM must spend £100 on a complete new side before the window closes.' The club has moved on and will be judged by different standards.

Well said. The fact that "things were a lot worse 20 years ago and look how far we've come" is all very well and good and the club has to be congratulated for what it has achieved in that period of time, but it is only through continual progression that we have been able to maintain this rise through the leagues. This progression has involved identifying the weaker aspects of the team/club/management and strengthening accordingly.

A lot of the posts on here are reactionary, but if you take the time to wade through the crap, you'll find that there are a lot of sensible posts on how we should be looking to improve - not just slating the side for losing the last 2 games.

[melksham_royal]

'Be grateful for what you have, things were much worse in the good old days' is actually no more constructive than 'They are all crap, JM must spend £100 on a complete new side before the window closes.' The club has moved on and will be judged by different standards.

Well said. The fact that "things were a lot worse 20 years ago and look how far we've come" is all very well and good and the club has to be congratulated for what it has achieved in that period of time, but it is only through continual progression that we have been able to maintain this rise through the leagues. This progression has involved identifying the weaker aspects of the team/club/management and strengthening accordingly.

A lot of the posts on here are reactionary, but if you take the time to wade through the crap, you'll find that there are a lot of sensible posts on how we should be looking to improve - not just slating the side for losing the last 2 games.

exactly mate, ppl have to realise that this club is soon going to be completely unrecognizable to the Reading FC of the 70's and 80's. With a new stadium, promotion not just to the premiership but to the championship when we drew with brentford 1-1, with JM possibly moving out too and with 3x the amount of fans at a game, there's always going to be a few twats that are going to slag off the team when they are playing shit, that's expected. most ppl are not writing negative posts on here because they are annoyed with the team, they are more annoyed with the fact that we all know we could have beaten villa with 11 men, and we could have beaten wigan if we were playing well.

now im only 16, and iv had a season ticket for 7 years, and if i was born earlier, of course i would have been on the stands of elm park more regularly, but i wasn't, and i have been lucky enough to most of the time see reading play well. i still remember times coming back from swansea when we've lost, or chesterfield. and i remember playing west ham in the league cup when we won on pens, the shit walsall play off final.

you cant have a go at fans for expressing their opinion on a site that allows them to do so, and if you dont like what you're reading on here, dont come on it and start a little group meeting where you meet once a week and talk about the "good old days"