pap

Now that CB Fry and I are aligned on this issue, I feel I can answer for him. Stoke are not a well-liked team because of the way they play football. For years, they got away with it because well, they were from Stoke and no-one expected them to be around for very long anyway. After surviving, they got away with it for a bit more, gaining the informal label of "plucky Stoke" in the process. Finally, someone with a calculator added up all the money they've spent, and said "hang on a moment! Stoke spend more than most teams in the League! Why do they play this sh!te?!! Why must they hurt our eyes?". The reason is simple. Pulis is the only thing that has ever worked for Stoke in the Prem. Who needs a plan B when you've got Tony P? Much like Reading, the team was built around a certain brand of football and certain types of players. I'm guessing that the Stoke board have the attitude "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", whereas a good number of football fans think "If it ain't Stoke, I'll watch it". I can't honestly say I've got that much sympathy with the Stoke City fans on this one either. For years, they've been happy to win ugly if it meant retaining Premiership status. They know they're watching sh!t. They should not be too surprised if it gets flushed, although my personal preference would be for them to scrape survival, sack Pulis and get someone in to play better football.

I'd actually like to see Cardiff come up and stay up. I don't know if they're equipped. One team that may well be equipped for life in the Prem is Watford. They're owned by Giampaolo Pozzo, who also owns Udinese and Granada. They've been propelled up the Championship through some (ahem) very useful loans. My point is that the current Watford FC project looks like a calculated strategy to get into the Prem. Those links into France and Spain aren't too shabby; they may well keep them there. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2013/04/05/cardiff-city-boss-mackay-backs-rule-change-in-wake-of-watford-fc-loan-furore-91466-33122551/

Those seats were NOT empty. In a bid to expand its supporter base, Reading FC has been marketing to the insect kingdom. Those seats were occupied by ants from the Chieveley and Beedon area. Due to the strict rules of stadium seating, only one ant is allowed per seat, giving the appearance (to the layman) of an empty seat. I know. I think the seating restrictions are ridiculous too.

Now now, trousers; if I were to rip into someone to pieces every time they had an inexplicable u-turn of opinion, I'd never bring anyone around to my way of thinking. I therefore welcome CB Fry's new stance on Stoke. They're sh!t, ain't they, CB?

So can I count this as "bonus closure", Dalek? Great times for our team. With the young lads coming through, plus all these players who have worked their way up the leagues and just doin' it in the Prem, special time to be a Saints fan, I think.

Honest question, especially for you:- Hoddle or Pochettino?

I saw an interesting comment on Twitter from a Saints fan that had been at the game. He said that this game had brought an end to the Adkins saga. Having watched the game, I was extremely impressed with the away support. It was great to hear the one Nigel Adkins chant, a big sign of respect from the stands for our former manager for his achievements during his tenure at this football club. That said, priorities are priorities. Every Saints fan knew we needed the points, and the game had the effect of putting our affection for NA in direct conflict with other things we wanted to happen. There is also the result to consider, and the choices Nigel made in setting up the Reading team. If Reading have the patience and decide to back Nigel next season, I think he'll do well there. There was one point where they got in on goal which was typical Adkins stuff. Short, quick passing - a far cry from the hoofball they got under McD. Problem for Nige is he doesn't have the players to save him this season. I hope he does it. From this point, it'd be the greatest achievement of his managerial career. Despite the result, I think Reading will get an up-tick in form. NA needed this game over and done with. tbh, we all did. Does the game bring a sense of closure to the Adkins era?

Lol. Immense last season. Scares the willies out of me at Prem level.

One major difference is the amount of gun-play involved. They have this aiming system called VATS. Freezes time, allows you to pick body parts to shoot off. Slow motion on critical hits. It's ace.

Apart from the first half hour, a good dominating performance. Don't think the Reading team that NA put out was capable of a shock though. Seems to be a reason Le Fondre was preferred as a bench option by McDermott. I agree with trousers; we probably are safe now. It'd take a massive collapse in form or a huge injury crisis for us not to be safe, not to mention some impressive form from other teams. I won't be opening the champers until it's mathematical though.

Yeah, he's gotta go mate. Liability this year.

Think you are right. Ms pap agrees with you too. She is predicting a thrashing. She thinks Saints will win too.

I think our chances of victory have just diminished. NA stated three times that he was looking to win a game of football. Anyone hoping that Reading would take to the field believing they were basketball players and incur a load of cards for handball will be disappointed. Partial cred to ms pap.

Sat on the couch with ms pap waiting for the offs. This team is capable of beating Reading. Just need to be ruthless.

The decision to replace Adkins with Poch was made in November, wasn't it?

I do love those sort of games, Jonnyboy. Spent many an afternoon going through Fallout 3, which was superb. Skyrim is just massive though. The sort of game that you can delve into and emerge from several hours later. Gotta save often, I find. Historically, all of those games could be a bit ropey on all platforms. They aim pretty high in what they set out to do, so the occasional reload is forgivable. However, getting stuck between rocks is a pretty crappy reason.

It's just pragmatism, norway. Look at the way that other clubs have scrambled, probably too late, for new managers after sacking them in a panic. It's not nice, but NA will get a pay off and came out of Southampton with a better rep than when he started. I'm a bit baffled as to why he's chosen to cash that rep in at Reading, but I don't know as much as he does.

Which means what, exactly? I think your imagined grievance only really works if there's a set of rules that all football clubs play by when hiring and firing managers, which there isn't. If you were really that incensed, you'd be parking costs bloke in the Echo. Have fun at Reading watching that football team you seem to have lost all respect for.

Have you all finished quoting 'footy' yet?

Not loads of managerial examples, no - but people were making exactly the same noises about Pardew replacing Chris Hughton at Newcastle. Anyway, it's not really the point. This stuff happens in business. Football is a business. Why wouldn't it happen in football?

Your avatar is puerile nonsense with a hint of genius. I rather like it.

Welcome to the cut-throat world of contract-based employment. Cuts both ways. I have a similar arrangement with my clients. They can replace me at any time, provided they pay out a percentage of my remaining contract regardless. I've also seen people replaced with others very quickly ( one gone Fri, one in on Mon ), particularly contractors. I've also seen situations where a contractor wasn't necessarily leaving by choice. Given that most of footy runs on fixed-term contracts, rather than permanent deals - surprised this doesn't happen more often.

Mind games.