Frank's cousin

Always makes me laught that one - given how much it wound Brighton up.... especially as teh actual quote went something ike this: Interviewer: do you think you can keep up with Brighton? NA: Can they keep up with us!...(tongue in cheek)... then into the usual about focusing on us, positives, one game at a time etc... they seemed to think it would have been better for NA to so, 'no we cant they are too good and so mucj better than us!'

Think the 'diplomatic' thing is because like too many, my immeduate reaction was to get wound up about it.... with the benfit of reflection, as you say, its a case of manager bigs up his team - so a non-story, unless we make it one... Would still love to finish top though

Its perfectly fine to wear what you want - there are a few who have a hissy fit because it does not fit with their 'tasty gear, logo, branded high quality sports casual wear and caps of the right propa wannabe 'firm' image (having watched too many 'cool' hooli films), but they tend to be in the minority and between 13-17 (or act like it any way)

Fair enough. Its the lottery that comes whenever a club is for sale. At least I would hope that with the criticism of the FAPPT following both the first Man City purchase and ultimately the portsmouth history, hopefully, it will be more rigorous, so if passed, you will be a able to feel confident that its all above board.

Good shout. One that rips you off as well?

Fair enough, but like I said above, seemed a bit out of character and was always likely to wind up a few, and I include myself in that - although have mellowed on the issue since. Given where Reading sit in the table right now, and the run they have been on to achieve that, maybe just thought that this would have done all the talking necessary. Anyway, has no real impact and he derserves the plaudits.

Nice post, and respect - I dont think anyone doubts that what Reading have achieved is a fantastic run and well deserved promotion, and yes we can all be a little sensitive about these things - hopefully you will take the 'missionary position' joke as it was intended - I think the reponse to Mcdermotts quote is perhaps slightly more negative than would be expected because its seemed so out of character - asyou point out, most on here would agree he has been terrific, humble and calm and a refreshing change from the majority. Well done and good luck in the prem. Still be interested to know what your fans think about the potential new owners - there is some 'interesting' backgorund to the family floating around - cant comment on its accuracy, but given all that has happened down the road form us, the issue of transparency of any funding, does raise a few questions?

Any stattos out there that could calculate a table for average numbers of fans factored by number of miles travelled - would provide a more accurate reflection of what its says about the travelling fan base -

Classic case of where the facts support his claim, but not sure it was 'diplomatic' and either way, we all know that judging the quality of a side is a subjective thing and depends on the criteria - he has chosen points scored in that period, and he''s not wrong, but naturally we saints fans lok at other criteria in which we believe we are better; more entertaining, create more chances, score more golas etc... swings and roundabouts - but ultimately the table is based on points. So for me, given all they have achieved and the excellent form they have shown, not really sure it was necessary as its the kind of comment, which as we have seen, tends to wind up folk if the contect is wrong... even if we were to win the final day, can see many 'pundits suggesting they had taken their foot off the gas anyway' - they deserve their spot in the limelight, fantastic achievement, but must admit that I find it odd that no one in the media mentioned that their 'new owners' have yet to passteh FAPPT.... and that the delays are due to the 'funding' source not being completely transparent.... where have we seen that before...

Very Good! Although was thinking more of 'keeping it the family'

Thhink that will depend an whether their new set of Ruskies get the nod and spend like tehre is no tomorrow or not... can see it now, the 2014/15 Reading takeover thread - as we alll point out no one has learned anything form the the Potsmouth Saga....

.... so what would pompey be....?

Although well done to those travelling, must admit that I do find judging a clubs support on teh strnegth of itsawy following somewhat daft - always fails to take into account very important factors such as local economy, and importantly geography - all clubs in more centralised reagions or where there are 7 or 8 clubs within 50 miles or so have an advantage - less cost of travel and time etc. Yep we have done really well, but its not really indicative of the 'quality of fans'... IMHO

and West Ham? surely have to be the bloke without any self awareness - thinks he really great at sex, goes out on the pull, gets lucky, but also drunk and falls asleep during the preliminaries leaving everyone dissatisfied and the lady dissapointed.

...if football were sex, Brighton would be up the... (sorry had to be done)

Think this must be because it show you are 'ard and not affraid of the home fans? but could be wrong

.... this is going to be the bane of the summer... constant criticism that we are not signing 'quality' balah blah.... I do not think we will be going mad in the summer - think 2 or 3 signings that will nnot be household names.... remember the words - 'self sustaining in the premiership.'

If football were sex... I kinda see Reading as the missionary position with a long standing partner - cant argue that its good, effective and gets the job done and enjoyable. Saints are more like the Karma sutra - do it any which way you can, exciting and adventurous, much more enjoyable, but not every position is that comfortable but you gotta try it at least one.

Actually, I come on here only for advice on fashion, music, politics, what's cool or not on the terraces, which player to big up aor hate or blame this week, as I struggle with forming an informed balanced opinion on these things without the superior average intellect of the average SWF poster....

Nope, he said this on several occasions over the last few weeks - bigging up his side IMHO, which he is entitled to do. Certainly he is factually correct in terms of consisten points accumulation - cant argue with that. But looking at how we play and their style, would rather 'watch' us - the style we play is always going to leave you more open to the smash and grab/sucker punch that we have suffered on more than one occasion this season as we can see, even Barcelaon can't win every game playing as they do... ... and we are NOT Barcelona! BUt when you add the fact that thy had last years experience in this div, and we were only just promoted, given that a) we could still win the league or b) the gap is likely to be quite small on the 28th, I can see why it sounds as if he was being disengenuous to us - I thought so at first, but in hindsight He started saying this in public 3 weeeks ago and guess it was a determined approach to encourage his side. Anyway... they are all looking forward to their ne 'Russian' owners if they pass the FAPPT - the fact that its 'delayed' may tell its own story... spot the difference: Reading POTENTIAL new 'Russian' owner ' I have already been scouting for players' Saints NEW owner (M Liebherr) joking:'We wont be buying Kaka' a subtle but for my money important difference... PS - Should we be kind and point them to the Pompey takeover saga thread - may get a few of them worried

He is right - its not over - but it will be saturday

1st, 1st and 1st.... 1st - we aint promoted yet... dont count those chickens (although the eggs are hatching) 1st - dont go raising expectations of storming the prem to second - people will consider you insane:scared: 1st - lets beat boro

Congrats to Reading but someone needs to remind him that the season is 46 games long not 36 - we could say the same about our 7-8 game wobble before christmas - had that not happened we would be about 15 points clear by now........ TBF he was just bigging up his team, and he has done a great job, biut would still be nice to take teh title on teh final day if they slip up against Brum

Just imagine you are facing 25 bent brutal racist coppers on a 1980's picket line - That should help with the 'manning up' - No need to be nervous as I have said in my omnipontence all along () - twists and turns, a good dose of Karma and the fact that if you look at our results, we have not handled the 'gap' at the top well when we had the advantage - gone a few points clear... let the other catch up, some fans get alll silly and then we go and win again to put the fans at ease - think we are a better 'chaser' than leader. Good times - hope we put it to bed on Saturday and you never know, Brum might get a result againts Reading and win agaisnt Cov could see us as champions - stranger things have happened.... As well as Redaing have done and congrats to them for a stroming run... someone needs to remind McDermot that the season is 46 games long and not 30 - him saying apart from teh first 6 games etc.... we could say the same thing with we removed our 7 game wobble before chrimbo... we would have been out of sight had that not happened....

The differences, however, are follows: 1. The shortcommings - are indeed shortcommings if as some do you judge the side by PL standards or even 'normal' top 2 or 3 in the NPC - but as many have said ands I happen to believe the club, Nigel and most recognise that relative to the current quality we have and what has been acheived through unity or spirit, positivity and hard graft has overcome many of them and sees us with a chance of promotion 2 years early - how that and adkins can be considered a failure is beyond me. 2. If promoted (two years early) we will undoubtedly need to improve the quality if we are not to come straight back down - what we do will in part depend on the startegy That NC wishes to adopt - invest heavily just to stay up, but still risk going back down with contractual liabilities on relegation (which would be against our invest in young player long term policy), or use the season to pick up the cash - continue the building and importantly 'LEARNING' from the experience and if relegated, be well position bounce back up. 3. Adkins public witterings can be viewed in several ways - you aregue it potentially indicates a naiviety or inability - yet out league positions suggests he has gotten it right more than 22 other managers in this division - I would argue it is because of two things - 1) he has never publically analysed perofmance, or criticised the squad - he shields teh players form this and does not give anything away - given the way the media manipulate things, he keeps it light, simple and positive - and again whne you look at the table, I cant find fault in that. The othe ris that HE IS Still learning - and that is not a failing - he is young and has not had a side at this level before - he will learn from this whatever happens - you may fall into the camp that suggests there is no time for learning and out he goes - I dont believe most fans think this nor do I believe NC does - he is looking at the longer term picture and wanted a manager who would grow and develop with the club - it builds loyalty and an emotional bond that is much harder to break should he be successful and other clubs come sniffing. As wiser men than me have said - you learn more from mistakes made and show me any manager who is successful that did not make many in tehir younger days. we need to show trust and faith in someone and get some long term stability - NC knows this and wont sack just because we dont achieve or target 2 yaers early....