Quarter Term Report

[Barry the bird boggler]

So with about a quarter of the games gone, how do you think its panning out so far?

Not a bad start and in a position that is probably higher than many of us would have hoped for.

Needing an average of 6 points from every 5 games to be more or less sure of safety, Reading find themselves a little ahead of that target with plenty of teams lagging behind.

Points have to be gained wherever possible and we seem to be along the right lines. As I see it we seem to have the big 4, another 4 who look like they could be the ones eventually fighting for the 1 CL place and/or the UEFA places, then the rest.

Any pointage gained from Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and ManU is a just bonus while - on current form - the games against Spurs, Villa, Portsmouth and Bolton should be seen as games where we would hope to have a chance but would not necessarily be surprised if we lost.

The remaining sides in the division should be seen as the sides to whom we must do the most damage.

Currently we seem to be in a middle of a run that takes through most of those first 8 teams one after the other and as such could be a struggle to get any further results going our way until November.

On the bright side though the team has generally been performing magnificently and never gives up. Only Arsenal have shown the true damage the big sides can inflict on the also-rans when they ‘click’ and even then we were unlucky not to bag a goal or two ourselves. Therefore we can go into any game this season believing we are capable of getting something from it so what more can you ask.

If we can keep floating about in mid table until xmas, our dynamic will have changed sufficiently come January to perhaps move the squad on a little bit more by being that much more attractive to even better players which would be highly beneficial to get that real class centre back and a striker of a similar vein to David Kitson.

Lastly the support seems a hell of a lot better this season than last, much more noisy and consistent. Not perfect but certainly an improvement on what we’ve seen previously at the Mad Stad. Now onto Portsmouth and silencing that ****** bell.

[1871 Royal]

I couldn't be more pleased about the start we have made to ur first ever top flight season. And it just shows that you dont have to make lots of signings *cough* CoLOLin *cough*. We have a very well knit team and i can see us going places with this team and with maybe one or two more signings, but overall (considering where the other promoted teams are) i think be can be very pleased and proud of our proformances.


URZZZ

[SpaceCruiser]

And it just shows that you dont have to make lots of signings *cough* CoLOLin *cough*.

I read a report yesterday that Sheffield United were 10m in debt because of their spending spree!

[papereyes]

Don't disagree with that, really. Think we'll consider the Wigan game perhaps as points lost but that's just me.

We need to be safely in midtabel before the Xmas period as the two away games in the middle could see us beaten heavily.

Would agree on the possible signings btw.

[Im Spartacus]

And it just shows that you dont have to make lots of signings *cough* CoLOLin *cough*.

I read a report yesterday that Sheffield United were 10m in debt because of their spending spree!

Hulse aside, what a pile of shite he bought.

[1871 Royal]

And it just shows that you dont have to make lots of signings *cough* CoLOLin *cough*.

I read a report yesterday that Sheffield United were 10m in debt because of their spending spree!

LOL , I am so glad that we have fantastic backroom staff and dont buy players like crazy! And thats another thing, how many of our first XI have played in the premiership ............ and look how well we have done.

[Reading Abbey]

And it just shows that you dont have to make lots of signings *cough* CoLOLin *cough*.

I read a report yesterday that Sheffield United were 10m in debt because of their spending spree!

This was discussed on Real Radio's footy phone in last night, but they said it was due to players wages increasing due to promotion and bonus'.
I assume the summer spending spree was calculated on the clubs £20m or whatever the figure it is.
Either way, fans not happy and concerned that relegation could f**k 'em hard and already talk of Warnock getting the chop.

[Top Flight]

I'm happy with our start but am very concerned about our injury situation.

We have a light squad and we are struggling a little bit with it.

Hopefully we will be alright but I would like to see Little return to the first 11 and even give Oster a run out!

[Wycombe Royal]

Sheffield United paid out £2.3m in promotion bonuses. It would be interesting to how the figure from RFC compares to that.

[fruits]

I'm happy with our start but am very concerned about our injury situation.

We have a light squad and we are struggling a little bit with it.

Hopefully we will be alright but I would like to see Little return to the first 11 and even give Oster a run out!

Certainly agee with your last point. We do need a holding centre forward, just cannot rely on Kits staying fit.

[Elm Park Old Boy]

Very pleased so far. Especially with the way the team has continued the positive football, and how impressivel they have stepped up without us bringing in a load of mercenaries.

But I really think Coppell should be persuaded to try for a decent run in the FA Cup. Surely we have a chance?

[HighburyRoyale]

Little must play on Saturday. Seol was awful against Arsenal. Even Seol on the left and Little on the right...

Otherwise, very happy with the start we've made.

[mathematically_safe]

stats update from football365. interesting stuff..

READING

And the opposite of Fulham is Reading. Three of their nine Premiership goals have come in the opening five minutes and they are yet to score after the 55th minute. When the two teams meet, put money on Reading having a 3-0 lead at half-time and Fulham pulling it back to 3-3 after 90 minutes. You'll get damned good odds.


This second-half malaise means that only Newcastle, Wigan and Charlton have worse records after the break. Of the four games Reading have been drawing at half-time, they have won only one and lost two. Although things are going well for Reading, they'd be going a hell of a lot better if they played for the full 90 minutes.

[Y25]

really pleased for Murts

I had worries he wouldn't make the step up

Until the injury he was improving game by game

Can't fault him for the Ronaldo goal, the boy is world class

[Captain Sinbad]

Yeah, and Ronaldo is quite good too

[scutterbucket]

Sheffield United paid out £2.3m in promotion bonuses. It would be interesting to how the figure from RFC compares to that.

Considering Madejski wanted the WAG's to pay for tickets to the end of season celebration party, i'd be very interested too!

[Whore Jackie]

So far, so good. Let's face it, survival should be our primary aim in our first ever season in the top-flight. Survival brings more money with the new deal, greater respect from the football and media community and the ability to attract the better players who will keep Reading in the Premiership. Anything else would be a bonus.

Over the last 5 years, 35, 34, 34, 43 and 37 points would secure 17th place and survival. An average of just under 37. With the quality of teams in the top half of the table, it's not enough to bank on your home form and hope for the odd positive result on your travels.

An average return of 1.5 points for the home games and 0.5 points for the away ones will give you 38 points and almost certainly avoid relegation.

After 10 games we've got 13 points, 7 from home, 6 away. Which based upon the formula above is 3 ahead of a target of 10 points (7.5 + 2.5). And tallies up with having played Chelsea, Man United and Arsenal at home and some lesser, more beatable teams away.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Exactly my thoughts. I've been saying 6 points from every 5 games or so should be more than sufficient for survival (thats a total of around 45 points) and we're just a head of that.

I hope we can get something but realistically we're likely to get turned over at Liverpool. As long as we don't end up stuffed and can make a damn good game of it and play football then we'll have something to take into the two home games v Spurs and Charlton.

It would be great if we could secure about 22/23 points by start of 2007 as that would be just over half the league program gone and we'd have played ManU and Cheatski twice.

[Ginger Ninjas]

I completed the BBC predictor for Reading's entire season (didn't bother with any other results) and we finished on 44 points, which i'd like to think is realistic, and should see us finish 14th to 16th, which nobody would complain about. The Liverpool game is probably not important in terms of getting a result, but we need a decent performance (ie, better than Arsenal and Portsmouth) to build confidence ahead of a critical run of fixtures. Spurs (H), Charlton (H), Fulham (A) are three fixtures where i'd harbour genuine hopes of victories - 7 points would see us on 20 points by the end of the November, which would be awesome (also, there are some winnable games in december - but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves).

[brendywendy]

I completed the BBC predictor for Reading's entire season (didn't bother with any other results) and we finished on 44 points, which i'd like to think is realistic, and should see us finish 14th to 16th, which nobody would complain about. The Liverpool game is probably not important in terms of getting a result, but we need a decent performance (ie, better than Arsenal and Portsmouth) to build confidence ahead of a critical run of fixtures. Spurs (H), Charlton (H), Fulham (A) are three fixtures where i'd harbour genuine hopes of victories - 7 points would see us on 20 points by the end of the November, which would be awesome (also, there are some winnable games in december - but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves).

not many teams win at fulham mind you