Exodus

[Ian Royal]

So many of you must lead such depressing lives. Constantly worrying about what might happen and always preparing for the worst.

This is a quote from someone richer and more successful than me

"Prepare for the worst but hope for the best"

And another, from my old cadet instructor

"Perfect planning and preparation prevents pisspoor performance"

I don't think you can move on to next season without being aware of what was successful or otherwise in the previous seasons. I genuinely don't think we prepared well enough for last season and I am not sure we moved onto last season fully aware of what drove the side to the heights we reached in 2007 and how to replace, renew and refresh that squad. I am afraid, perhaps irrationally, that we will make the same mistakes again.

It is up to the club to have a long hard look at what we need and what we need to do. And then act on whatever decisions they make.

In their actions lie whether or not we will be successful or not. Not in their track record, not in hoping for the best. In what they do and in what team we produce for next season.

Those are for the club, not the fans.

The fans need to be optimistic and up for it, but aware of the possibility of dissapointment.

[Kes]

Of course they are, you just happen to post that the day it gets printed in the national press for the first time.

Really?

[Royalee]

Yeah Newcastle rumour has been around for a while. Story in the paper basically was Wigan are joining Newcastle and Celtic in the £3m hunt for Dave Kitson who has privately made it clear he doesn't fancy playing in the Championship next season.

If Kitson goes then we can kiss promotion goodbye.

[Roger the Rabbit]

Those are for the club, not the fans.

The fans need to be optimistic and up for it, but aware of the possibility of dissapointment.

Not sure I follow that !
The fans can take whatever attitude they like, as long as they realise that it's not really down to them and being pessimistic is a collossal waste of nervous energy !

[Big Ern]

Yeah Newcastle rumour has been around for a while. Story in the paper basically was Wigan are joining Newcastle and Celtic in the £3m hunt for Dave Kitson who has privately made it clear he doesn't fancy playing in the Championship next season.

If Kitson goes then we can kiss promotion goodbye.

Don't think it will make any difference. Honestly think we will struggle to survive next season as well.

[floyd__streete]

The fans can take whatever attitude they like

Bagsy ambivalence.

[Roger the Rabbit]

The fans can take whatever attitude they like

Bagsy ambivalence.

Frankly I don't care what anyone else thinks !!

[brendywendy]

The fans can take whatever attitude they like

Bagsy ambivalence.

can i be stoicism please

[Row Z Royal]

Can all call cynicism & sarcasm?

[brendywendy]

oh, ok, if we can have more than one ill have:

blind optimism
and
devil may care

[Millsy]

The optimists are quite entitled to voice the opinion that they remain positive and expect great things but, having been so conclusively wrong last time, it's amazing to see them adopting the same patronising tone in addressing the opinions of those who, last year, were proved so conclusively right.

Goal difference of 3 goals is anything but "conclusive"!

What was conclusively and laughably wrong were the pessimists' beliefs that after first game defeat we'd not even make the playoffs.... but we broke the English record. Or that not signing would get us relegated in our first Prem season... but we just missed out on Europe. To name just a couple of examples over the years. Those were conclusive.

3 goals is anything but.

The "I told you so" mentality therefore still belongs firmly in the optimists' corner.

Having said that, I'm not so optimistic at all about bouncing straight back up but the optimists may patronise away at me.

[Rich@Eaststand]

The optimists are quite entitled to voice the opinion that they remain positive and expect great things but, having been so conclusively wrong last time, it's amazing to see them adopting the same patronising tone in addressing the opinions of those who, last year, were proved so conclusively right.

Goal difference of 3 goals is anything but "conclusive"!

What was conclusively and laughably wrong was the pessimists' beliefs that after first game defeat we'd not even make the playoffs.... but we broke the English record. Or that not signing would get us relegated in our first Prem season... but we just missed out on Europe. Those were conclusive.

3 goals is not.

The "I told you so" remark therefore still belongs firmly in the optimists' corner.

Having said that, I'm not so optimistic at all about bouncing straight back up but the optimists may patronise away at me.

3 goals were conclusive - we are playing in the Championship next season.

[Millsy]

The optimists are quite entitled to voice the opinion that they remain positive and expect great things but, having been so conclusively wrong last time, it's amazing to see them adopting the same patronising tone in addressing the opinions of those who, last year, were proved so conclusively right.

Goal difference of 3 goals is anything but "conclusive"!

What was conclusively and laughably wrong was the pessimists' beliefs that after first game defeat we'd not even make the playoffs.... but we broke the English record. Or that not signing would get us relegated in our first Prem season... but we just missed out on Europe. Those were conclusive.

3 goals is not.

The "I told you so" remark therefore still belongs firmly in the optimists' corner.

Having said that, I'm not so optimistic at all about bouncing straight back up but the optimists may patronise away at me.

3 goals were conclusive - we are playing in the Championship next season.

[Royalee]

As a 'pessimist', I would like to point out how after seeing who we'd signed prior to 05/06 I didn't worry too much after Plymouth fluked a win against us. I would also like to add that I pretty much predicted exactly where we'd finish in our first season in the Premiership. I would also like to remind people that I said we'd go down in November of last season having previously been rather optimistic before I realised we weren't going to sign any players.

As a 'pessimist', it is my view that the club has the potential fanbase and facilities to grow and establish itself in the Premier League and to attract top signings in the future. Of course, whether that potential is fulfilled or not depends on whether or not the club ditches a manager with the same take on things as the 'optimists' in that we will never be able to attract talent to be competitive in the top half of the Premier League for a sustained period of time.

Is it perhaps a case that the 'pessimists' have optimistic views towards the club and the 'optimists' are happy with second best and believe the club will never amount to anything?

And yes, that means I am probably more of a fan and support the long term well-being of the club a hell of a lot more than many of you tossers.

[Sarah Star]

I am an optimist and a pessimist and I veer from one to the other. I like to think of all possibilities and I like it that way.

What I don't want is to have to sit next to anyone booing the team on a match day.

Is that OK?

[brendywendy]

I am an optimist and a pessimist and I veer from one to the other. I like to think of all possibilities and I like it that way.

What I don't want is to have to sit next to anyone booing the team on a match day.

Is that OK?

's fine sezza

[Ian Royal]

Those are for the club, not the fans.

The fans need to be optimistic and up for it, but aware of the possibility of dissapointment.

Not sure I follow that !
The fans can take whatever attitude they like, as long as they realise that it's not really down to them and being pessimistic is a collossal waste of nervous energy !

Makes perfect sense to me. If the fans have an upbeat loud and positive start to the season, that may translate into the players playing up. It's unlikely to have a negative effect.

If the fans start the season nashing and wailing about lost players and failure to make good enough singings and grumbling about where the money has gone and missed opertunities that may get through to the players and have a detrimental effect.

Ifs and maybes, but why take the risk. Also it's easier to enjoy a season that way. Last season was a bitch, but I still enjoyed large amounts of it and I haven't been suicidal all close season. Quite a lot of people seem to have had a rather desperately depressed season and close season so far.

Frankly I'm happy being optimistic and having faith, if cautiously so.

Reading FC is as close to a religion for me as I get. It's produced plenty of verifiable miracles and great times. It's also a certainty.

[brendywendy]

said from the start i wouldnt be surprised to see allour best players go if any prem club comes in for them and it looks like that will be the case-
id be happy enough to lose little shorey hunt sonko and harper though sentimentally id be gutted
kitson would eb a huge loss, but i wouldnt begrudge him the move-though im not sure it fits with some fo his comments over the last few seasons
reckon the names we are being linked with show good ambition, and are the right sort of blokes to come in a build another great side

[Sarah Star]

If Kitson goes I will be upset. Not because I think the team will be lost without him, but because I'd like to think he saw it as more than just a job and had a bit more loyalty to the club and Steve Coppell. That's probably a bit naive, but I'd rather that than cynically think all footballers are after the money or the prestige. I don't begrudge anyone going, but I always thought Kitson was above all that.

Doesn't mean he is I suppose, and the club might be made an offer it can't refuse.

[rotherwick_royal]

Think Kitson's more likely to move to be able to play in the PL rather than for the money.