BFTG - 'boro

[John Madejski's Wallet]

One of the most enjoyable games in a long time. Good when you get to cheer good attacking and good defending

Both teams went for it, both hunted in packs, and both good on the floor. Our tight passing was better but they were fukking fast up front. Neither team cynical or dirty

Fair bloody play to our makeshift defence, don't think anyone really had a bad game. Knibbs MotM for me. Second half he won some fantastic balls high up the field to turn defence into attack, was blowing out his arse by the time he came off. Notable shout out to Savage too, that volley would have made me mess my pants had it gone in, such good play all round

[Royal_jimmy]

Definitely a rare entertaining game where both teams are going for the win. Similar to Wrexham where we put in a great performance.

Good to see the fringe players step in and do a great job. I feared the worst when I saw our line up but they played really well. Days like today show we well deserve to be 6th, but there's lots of days where we look destined to miss out. Either way and whatever happens to the club the players deserve a lot of credit for not letting everything affect their games.

On another day we could have won that 6-1. My biggest criticism is we don't create enough or work the keeper enough. We clicked today helped by some howlers from their defence.

[PieEater]

We are a match for any team that wants to play football in this league. We struggle with teams that sit back or bully us with set pieces.

Defintely a great game and result. I commented to the guy next to me that the game was streets ahead in entertainment on the two England games.

[Pepe the Horseman]

We are a match for any team that wants to play football in this league. We struggle with teams that sit back or bully us with set pieces.

Which is why we'll probably win the playoffs.

[Snowflake Royal]

We are a match for any team that wants to play football in this league. We struggle with teams that sit back or bully us with set pieces.

Which is why we'll probably win the playoffs.

Only if we avoid Stockport

[The Royal Forester]

I fully expect us to be suspended from the 4th. May. so don't get your hopes up too much. The seventh place team will take our place as the EFL will not want a team winning the playoffs and not being in a position to take part the next season Besides getting to the playoffs, which we would have a fair chance of winning, and not being able taking part is the Reading way, isn't it? At least it would make a change from losing at Wembley.

[windermereROYAL]

I fully expect us to be suspended from the 4th. May. so don't get your hopes up too much. The seventh place team will take our place as the EFL will not want a team winning the playoffs and not being in a position to take part the next season Besides getting to the playoffs, which we would have a fair chance of winning, and not being able taking part is the Reading way, isn't it? At least it would make a change from losing at Wembley.

Nope, no way on earth they wouldn`t let us compete in the play-offs if we earn the right over 46 games, if we won them and got chucked out they would just promote the runners up.

[RoyalBlue]

I fully expect us to be suspended from the 4th. May. so don't get your hopes up too much. The seventh place team will take our place as the EFL will not want a team winning the playoffs and not being in a position to take part the next season Besides getting to the playoffs, which we would have a fair chance of winning, and not being able taking part is the Reading way, isn't it? At least it would make a change from losing at Wembley.

No, the real Reading Way would be finally winning a playoff final, only to then be chucked out of the league!

[Mid Sussex Royal]

I fully expect us to be suspended from the 4th. May. so don't get your hopes up too much. The seventh place team will take our place as the EFL will not want a team winning the playoffs and not being in a position to take part the next season Besides getting to the playoffs, which we would have a fair chance of winning, and not being able taking part is the Reading way, isn't it? At least it would make a change from losing at Wembley.

Nope, no way on earth they wouldn`t let us compete in the play-offs if we earn the right over 46 games, if we won them and got chucked out they would just promote the runners up.

Yep - there's a precedent for that; didn't it happen with Swindon very early days of the play offs?

[Snowflake Royal]

I fully expect us to be suspended from the 4th. May. so don't get your hopes up too much. The seventh place team will take our place as the EFL will not want a team winning the playoffs and not being in a position to take part the next season Besides getting to the playoffs, which we would have a fair chance of winning, and not being able taking part is the Reading way, isn't it? At least it would make a change from losing at Wembley.

No, the real Reading Way would be finally winning a playoff final, only to then be chucked out of the league!

Of all the ways we could go out, a big day winning at Wembley has to be right up there amongst the best.

I would say it's the last realistic achievement I haven't seen us manage yet.

[stealthpapes]

I fully expect us to be suspended from the 4th. May. so don't get your hopes up too much. The seventh place team will take our place as the EFL will not want a team winning the playoffs and not being in a position to take part the next season Besides getting to the playoffs, which we would have a fair chance of winning, and not being able taking part is the Reading way, isn't it? At least it would make a change from losing at Wembley.

Nope, no way on earth they wouldn`t let us compete in the play-offs if we earn the right over 46 games, if we won them and got chucked out they would just promote the runners up.

Yep - there's a precedent for that; didn't it happen with Swindon very early days of the play offs?

Yes,
from wiki, to get details pinned down

Ten days after the final, Swindon were found guilty on 35 counts of illegal player payments and were given a two-division relegation. Initially this meant that Sunderland were promoted to the First Division in Swindon's place, and Tranmere Rovers were promoted from the Third Division to the Second Division. Following an appeal, Swindon's penalty was reduced to a one-division relegation and Tranmere's promotion was revoked, the condemnation of which was heard in an early day motion sponsored primarily by Frank Field, the Labour Party MP for Birkenhead.

oh there's more

Three weeks before the start of the 1989–90 season, The People published revelations that chairman Brian Hillier had put money on Swindon winning Division Three in 1987, as an insurance policy for player bonuses. Two months later the allegations worsened, with Hillier accused of putting money on the Town to lose in the FA Cup game at Newcastle United two years previously (which the team lost 5–0). Hillier was found guilty and was banned from football for six months, later increased to three years on appeal. Macari was fined £1,000 for his part in the scandal—and when he chose to appeal, West Ham United forced his resignation. The People released a third exposé in January 1990, this time alleging illegal payments to players. Despite this, Swindon Town beat table-topping Leeds United to go into third place in the league, and at the end of the season, they finished fourth, their highest league position ever, to go into the play-offs. Shortly before the last game of the season, Hillier, Macari, captain Colin Calderwood and secretary Vince Farrar were all arrested and questioned by Inland Revenue officials over a tax fraud conspiracy. Calderwood was released without charge, and the others were given bail. On the pitch, Swindon Town went on to defeat Blackburn Rovers over two legs to reach the final at Wembley, only their second appearance at the ground in their history.

On 28 May 1990 Swindon Town played in the Division 2 play-off final against Sunderland. In a match they completely dominated, Alan McLoughlin scored the only goal, a deflected effort, to defeat Sunderland and win promotion to the First Division. The joy was short-lived, though, as just ten days later, the Football League decided to demote the team two divisions, after they admitted 36 breaches of League rules—35 of which are related to illegal payments. The Swindon board immediately appealed, but High Court action was dropped due to lack of funding, and the fans protested, thousands signing a "1st not 3rd" petition. The FA Appeal Panel reduced the demotion to just one division, and Swindon were denied their first ever taste of top-flight football.

Hillier was eventually jailed, whilst Farrar and former club secretary Dave King received suspended sentences.

[The Cap]

Having watched Charlie S's post match interview, he calls the manager 'Hunty'. Given that players tend to refer to their manager as 'boss' or 'gaffer', how do peeps view this? Over familiarity when, perhaps, things aren't going quite so well? Or a true sign of unity given the off field circumstances? Interested to know the crew's thoughts on this.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Having watched Charlie S's post match interview, he calls the manager 'Hunty'. Given that players tend to refer to their manager as 'boss' or 'gaffer', how do peeps view this? Over familiarity when, perhaps, things aren't going quite so well? Or a true sign of unity given the off field circumstances? Interested to know the crew's thoughts on this.

It's probably just because he was already at the club, so senior players already knew him as Hunty.

[stealthpapes]

TBF, if you see them in training, they tug their forelock and bow and scrape, so its probably all OK.

[RoyalBlue]

Having watched Charlie S's post match interview, he calls the manager 'Hunty'. Given that players tend to refer to their manager as 'boss' or 'gaffer', how do peeps view this? Over familiarity when, perhaps, things aren't going quite so well? Or a true sign of unity given the off field circumstances? Interested to know the crew's thoughts on this.

In my experience it's not uncommon in other fields for employees to call their boss by a familiar name. Respect comes/is earned from the manager's behaviour, not the position he/she has been given over others. I think it's pretty safe to say that 'Hunty' has earned the players' respect.

Time to worry is when people start referring to 'that see you next Tuesday [insert name]'!

[The Cap]

Having watched Charlie S's post match interview, he calls the manager 'Hunty'. Given that players tend to refer to their manager as 'boss' or 'gaffer', how do peeps view this? Over familiarity when, perhaps, things aren't going quite so well? Or a true sign of unity given the off field circumstances? Interested to know the crew's thoughts on this.

In my experience it's not uncommon in other fields for employees to call their boss by a familiar name. Respect comes/is earned from the manager's behaviour, not the position he/she has been given over others. I think it's pretty safe to say that 'Hunty' has earned the players' respect.

Time to worry is when people start referring to 'that see you next Tuesday [insert name]'!

True. That made me laugh