Reading Post Match

[Bender]

finally a good joke.

[Eric Swindler]

Played fairly **** and won. Which makes a nice change. Still very lacking up front though, should have been 3 or 4 nil

[-V-]

I think of Everton and Newcastle our main rivals this season. Tottenham and Arsenal are far above our level at this point in time.

Not convinced they are. I don't think either of them are good enough to be out of sight by January. We have 12 games before the window and we could easily get 8 victories...Home to Newcastle, Wigan, Southampton, Villa and Fulham and away to QPR, Stoke, West ham and Swansea. The Everton, Chelsea & Tottenham games are a different matter of course but those 5 home games really give us an oppurtunity to build on the Reading win and get a good run of victories at home.

While I am sure we wont win 8, I very much doubt that Spurs or Arsenal will out a much better run of results together before the window and if we within 6-8pts at the Window and we bring in reinforcements no reason why we cannot push on for a champions League place, Everyhting is pointing towards the top 3 running away with it but 4th will be all to play for,

[Eric Swindler]

After having a supposed 'disaster' of a start to the season we are currently 3 points behind Arsenal.

[Kenneth]

Some people were talking about the possibility of a relegation battle a couple of weeks ago.

[red g]

While I would like to agree with that I don't think I can, this team has 7 PL wins in 27 games so far in 2012, I don't think we could "easily" win 8 PL games out of 12 whoever they are against. Given the inconsistent nature of our form I don't think we are capable of doing that at all. On the other hand I think that the Arsenal/Spurs sides are capable of doing that, they probably won't, but IMO they will probably get more points over that period than we will. I'd like to think we could make 4th but at the moment I don't see it being at all realistic.

And 2 of those have been in our last 3 games, Against 'easier opposition' We have had a tough start and I see no reason why we couldnt put a half decent run together and like i said i would probably expect spurs and arsenal to get more, but not significantly more. Not saying we will get 4th and with 1 fit striker till January its going to require a huge slice of fortune but I think we have a realistic chance albeit a slim one.

[G]

The gap to Arsenal doesn't matter. The only gap we should be looking at is the gap to 4th and that stands at 5 having played a game more.It'll be a tall order to close that gap if we carrying on finishing like we did yesterday and defending like it too.

We had numerous dodgy moments yesterday that would've been punished by better opposition.

Lets get as many points as we can and see what January brings.

[yamiedo]

While I would like to agree with that I don't think I can, this team has 7 PL wins in 27 games so far in 2012, I don't think we could "easily" win 8 PL games out of 12 whoever they are against. Given the inconsistent nature of our form I don't think we are capable of doing that at all. On the other hand I think that the Arsenal/Spurs sides are capable of doing that, they probably won't, but IMO they will probably get more points over that period than we will. I'd like to think we could make 4th but at the moment I don't see it being at all realistic.

[red g]

The gap to Arsenal doesn't matter. The only gap we should be looking at is the gap to 4th and that stands at 5 having played a game more.It'll be a tall order to close that gap if we carrying on finishing like we did yesterday and defending like it too.

We had numerous dodgy moments yesterday that would've been punished by better opposition.

Lets get as many points as we can and see what January brings.

It would be a tall order if it wasnt everton in all seriousness I know they are much improved but whoever is in 4th now doesnt really matter this early in the season. I am sure that if we finish above Arsenal and Spurs we will get 4th imo .

[Bender]

Some people were talking about the possibility of a relegation battle a couple of weeks ago.

yes i remember you called me a cunt...but as they say it takes one to know one......as for a relegation battle........were far from climbing the table yet,Not until we actually start scoring instead of fluffing x amount of chances!
next lot of prem games :
Everton A
Newcastle H
Chelsea A
Wigan H
Swansea A
Tottenham A

[Lee]

yes i remember you called me a cunt...but as they say it takes one to know one......

[G]

yes i remember you called me a cunt...but as they say it takes one to know one......as for a relegation battle........were far from climbing the table yet,Not until we actually start scoring instead of fluffing x amount of chances!
next lot of prem games :
Everton A
Newcastle H
Chelsea A
Wigan H
Swansea A
Tottenham A

Very tough fixtures at the best of times but when your main source of goals needs about ten shots to score it makes it doubly hard.

And Swansea away is no gimme either

[mick the click]

Looks like the thread is full of streamers, me included - anyone actually go to the match and can tell us about it?

Didn't people used to do that? Or are they still all out getting pissed?

I take it that it's a 'no' then

[CJ]

After hardly any thought can we just bet Nigel.

[yamiedo]

Spurs ? I'm not so sure are that far above us. They're another side in transition.

I just reckon they have the right players for the Villas Boas system and more importantly they seem to be pretty clinical when it comes to putting away chances. Hopefully I'm wrong.