The Kraken

That's how it should be at footy. Plenty of tills, relatively quick service, and loads of people getting served with plenty of time to drink their pint before the second half. Added to which they had the beer-backpack lads wandering around, further reducing the queues. Given the limited space of the Reading concourse, imagine the mayhem there would be if they the same ridiculous beer queues we get at St. Mary's. So you have to ask; why on earth can't we sort this out? It can't be that difficult, surely?

I don't necessarily disagree; great result, worst performance of the season. I was more responding to the accusation that questioned how "up for it" the players are for away games, which is nonsense IMO.

Yep, I wouldn't doubt many people were "underwhelmed" by the signing. I know I was, I really wanted Gorkss to sign. But you say people had "made their mind he was crap". That's what I disagree with, although I can only speak for myself, of course. What was heard about him of his time at Celtic certainly wasn't great, that's for sure. I personally also asked a couple of mates about him, celtic supporters one of whom is a ST holder; again, the reports were unfavourable. So yes, a certain opinion was starting to be formed. But that doesn't mean he was written off and that people weren't going to wait until he played a few games before making an actual informed decision. Again I use the de Ridder analogy; no-one had seem him play, but the available evidence from former clubs' fans opinion led to many speculating that he could be brilliant, and that people couldn't wait to see him play to see how good he actually was. Why is that considered different to the Hooiveld situation? No-one got uppity about anyone forming an opinion about de Ridder before they had seen him play, did they?

Dear me. The one thing you couldn't criticise yesterday was the effort the players put in. Hammond was so "up for it" that he got himself sent off. The effort and fitness of our players compared to their's when we were down to ten men and in the final 15-20 minutes was phenomenal. Two away draws against two form teams in the division; what a disaster.

Well that's nonsense IMO, but if that's his opinion he's welcome to it. Don't see anything in writing off Hooiveld before he played though.

I'm not normall one to defend Hypo, but it's strange you left out his very first post in the thread on the subject which I would guess sums up his view on Hooiveld quite well. Here it is, in case you missed it. How terribly unreasonable.

Reaction. Show me one person that actually wrote him off before he played, and wasn't prepared to wait until he actually played before making a decision, and I'll agree with you. Edit: And what difference was it to the de Ridder signing; no-one had seen him play, there was only limited youtube videos and fans' views of his previous clubs to go by how good he was. Yet, because the news was favourable (i.e. his previous clubs rated him) it was perfectly acceptable to form an opinion on him based on that? double standards, no?

Yep, this. You don't have to have an agenda against the guy to recognise that this perhaps wasn't the game for him, he was very much a passenger for a lot of it and we may have been better served going with someone else. Although he was definitely not the only one to have a bit of a mare; Chaplow was the only one of our midfield to come out with any credit and Connolly was well below par also.

So you've never had a discussion with anyone as to what our next team line up should be, based upon the previous game? Fair enough. Me personally, I quite enjoy analysing a performance and theorising where we could have been stronger. If that's a waste of time then so be it, it's a lazy Sunday and I have time to waste.

Discussing other variables is pointless?! No it isn't! This is an internet chat forum, it's the whole point of the place! The question posed is would a different system and players (i.e. de Ridder instead of Guly) have had a different impact throughout the entire game than the one we saw yesterday. Would a different system have set up or finished more/better chances than we saw yesterday. Being as Adkins suggested in his post-match interview that he perhaps made a mistake by only making one change in personnel, I'd say discussion of other variables is entirely relevant.

Hopefully NA realises that, with a few players out injured, the squad starts to look a tiny bit threadbare in places. I'd like ot see Lambert and Connolly given a rest, as well as the full backs and Chappers. I guess it'll all come down to how much the club prioritises League Cup progress against resting key players to keep them fresh for the league campaign. But certainly the likes of Butterfield, Harding and Martin need some game time, just a shame Barnard isn't fit yet as I do think we lack options up front (especially as Connolly seems incapable of playing for 90 minutes).

What a very odd way to look at it. You're saying that if de Ridder had played instead of Guly he would definitely have done nothing better (or different) than Guly did all day, would definitely not have created more chances than Guly did, and we definitely wouldn't have scored a goal without Guly there. Strange.

Have another watch on iplayer when the football league highlights are on; totally blatant.

I hope you're joking. One of the most blatant deliberate handballs ever, very lucky to not be a red.

Didn't pick up on their epic goal music and singalong though...

Yep, not even sure if I was actually at that game after all!!

Yeah, ok then, that was in our row. We (5 of us) got to our seats lateish and there was only 2 spare; we naturally got people to move up. Apparently 3 young scrotes decided they wanted to be closer to reading rather than their allocated seats. So they just pushed up a bit and were standing in amongst 2 or 3 older boys. After not moving for a few minutes, the older boys rightly got a bit p*ssed of and asked them to move elsewhere. The scrotes refused. The older boys kept their patience and kept asking them nicely to move, the tossers just refused. In the end, one of the older boys said to his mate "I'm going to f*cking smack one of them in a bit, will you back me up?" "Yeah, alright, was the response". Cue the mini ruck and ejections. There we go, and we're on TV now...

Not sure if the same place then, but I was down the front on the right hand side as you look at the pitch from the stand (near the noisier Reading fans) and it kicked off down there in the first half. Silly little boys at fault.

Wow. Just, wow. Lallana is half a player. Unless he's scoring, or setting up goals. Good one, bellend.

From down the front?

Ha ha, I forgot that one! First time I've heard Southampton described as a seaside!

Pretty sure that was their "he's M-U-R-T-Y" song. Another facepalm moment. Don't get me started on the music played when they scored, f*ck me!!

Youth club, and did nothing after being pegged back to 1-1. Their "106" song was f*cking cringeworthy as well.

Indeed it was; silly challenge from Hammond but put right into the sh*t by a lazy, sloppy ball from Guly. I'm totally in agreement with your assessment with him; brilliant sometimes, frustratingly poor far too often. And with SdR too, I genuinely think with him on one wing and Lallana the other we could be have something pretty incredible.

It's Saints. It's always worth watching. And SdR's goal is definitely worth tuning in for.