MATCHWATCH : Barnsley (h)

[Snowflake Royal]

Couldn`t quite understand the Barnsley fans singing how shit must you be we`re winning away, yesterday was their 11th win on the road.
Dressing up as clowns was rather appropriate to be fair.

Long gone are the days of singing meaningful songs.

Now its just churn out the same six or seven dirges regardless.

This is a shithole, winning away, blah blah.

We're as guilty as any. Still singing about a record that's just been broken ffs.

[tmesis]

Turns out Mike Gow has nothing to do with the EFL, he is some kind of social media user with a special interest in Reading FC (aren’t we all?). So why was he wearing an Everton shirt?

He was the guy who did a large amount of very detailed investigation into the court cases in China surrounding Dai Yongge - the very stuff that got Dai disqualified.

He's not claimed his evidence was used to get that disqualification, but nobody else was reporting it, and the odds of the EFL doing that investigation idependently are not great.

I have no idea why he thought it would be a great idea to wear an Everton shirt to the game. Maybe he just wanted to wear something blue, and that's all he had. Why anyone would get violent towards someone wearing another team's kit (if they aren't the away team or a rival) is a mystery. It could have been someone attending their first ever Reading game, and a rational person would want to make that fan a convert, not drive them away.

[windermereROYAL]

I saw some guy with a Liverpool shirt on, no idea what possessed him to wear that tbh.

[Orion1871]

Couldn`t quite understand the Barnsley fans singing how shit must you be we`re winning away, yesterday was their 11th win on the road.
Dressing up as clowns was rather appropriate to be fair.

Long gone are the days of singing meaningful songs.

Now its just churn out the same six or seven dirges regardless.

This is a shithole, winning away, blah blah.

We're as guilty as any. Still singing about a record that's just been broken ffs.

Nothing wrong with singing that song, it doesn't mention 106 being a record like the other one. It's just as much a song about Coppell as it is about the record.

[Snowflake Royal]

Couldn`t quite understand the Barnsley fans singing how shit must you be we`re winning away, yesterday was their 11th win on the road.
Dressing up as clowns was rather appropriate to be fair.

Long gone are the days of singing meaningful songs.

Now its just churn out the same six or seven dirges regardless.

This is a shithole, winning away, blah blah.

We're as guilty as any. Still singing about a record that's just been broken ffs.

Nothing wrong with singing that song, it doesn't mention 106 being a record like the other one. It's just as much a song about Coppell as it is about the record.

There were multiple.

[rabidbee]

I’m assuming that the meatheads who had a go we also the ones who expected solidarity from other fans for the club’s predicament.

[AthleticoSpizz]

I’m assuming that the meatheads who had a go we also the ones who expected solidarity from other fans for the club’s predicament.

exactly, and as you say…
‘Shirters’ of other clubs maybe (just maybe) had been trying to show a bit of solidarity from their footballing community (and leagues) against the failings of poor ownerships and EFL management? ….just maybe

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Turns out Mike Gow has nothing to do with the EFL, he is some kind of social media user with a special interest in Reading FC (aren’t we all?). So why was he wearing an Everton shirt?

He was the guy who did a large amount of very detailed investigation into the court cases in China surrounding Dai Yongge - the very stuff that got Dai disqualified.

He's not claimed his evidence was used to get that disqualification, but nobody else was reporting it, and the odds of the EFL doing that investigation idependently are not great.

I have no idea why he thought it would be a great idea to wear an Everton shirt to the game. Maybe he just wanted to wear something blue, and that's all he had. Why anyone would get violent towards someone wearing another team's kit (if they aren't the away team or a rival) is a mystery. It could have been someone attending their first ever Reading game, and a rational person would want to make that fan a convert, not drive them away.

Yes - he has a good understanding of how Chinese business operates, and the work he put together was very insightful.

He is an Everton supporter, hence the top.

I found it very sad what happened at the game but its a sign of the times....it does feel things are going back to where they were in the 80's. I don't wear colours at away games any more.

[katweslowski]

What a day...

BEFORE THE GAME

Had spent most of the previous day stupidly refreshing twitter and waiting for an announcement. Then at 10am, I saw the club had released the statement. Unbelievable start to the day and I couldn't wait to get out and to the ground.

Got the train into Reading and it was packed full of fans. It felt like a really special day actually, a bit like the Premier League days when it felt like a matchday and not just a random saturday with the odd Reading shirt about.

Got to the ground to watch The Amazons who were amazing. They played for around 45 minutes I believe and really built up the atmosphere well.

The concourse in the SJM stand was amazing. I saw someone on Twitter say it was years and years since they'd heard actual chanting in the councourse - completely agree. Usually it's just a soulless place of people queuing for a diet coke endlessly.

The "our town / our club" flag looked great, loved the impossible dream video the club made and to see the ground full for a change, with the Upper West populated was truly brilliant. The ground is a totally different place when full up (surprise surprise!)

THE GAME

Disappointing obviously. I didn't really believe the play offs would happen but I really wanted to win the game just to end on a high. Barnsley were excellent. I was pretty surprised at just how good they were.

Harvey Knibbs missed a golden chance in the first half - about 7-8 minutes in I think. I wonder how that would have affected the game had it gone in.

Garcia really is hard to watch. I think he's got a terrible attitude too.

79th minute they went 3-1 up and a lot of people started to leave. I couldn't honestly believe it. Especially over Y25/26 and parts of 1871. I'd estimate about 7-8k left the ground before the final whistle and went home.

I was pretty pissed off about it. I know not everyone is as passionate about the club or as knowledgable as those who talk endlessly about it on here or Twitter, so I'm probably just being naive about it. But I just thought everyone appreciated the fact that the ground was full because it was a significant event to have the club back, the support the players and only the smallest part/chance of getting through to the play offs - almost a side note. But I'm guessing many were looking more at results and may not even be that aware just how significant the crisis was for the club. Anyway, I was disappointed either way and it's probably the only negative part of the day to see so many leaving from all parts of the ground.

AFTER THE GAME

Back into town. Tried the new Siren place which was really good, great atmosphere in there and decent options. Sampled two drinks and moved on.

Ended up at the Purple Turtle for the first time in years. Was out to nearly 3am and then got a £50 taxi back home . Was great to see Wing, Dean, Savage, Bindon, Perriera, Yiadom turn up.

Fantastic day overall and reminded me why I love the club so much. It did feel like a true celebration and recognition of having the club back under (hopefully) decent and reputable owners. Hopefully no more rumours of missed salaries, missed tax bills, player sales without even the manager being consulted, attempts to sell assets, dodgy dealings, etc.

Looking forward to next season now they I feel we may actually have a level playing field

[katweslowski]

I saw some guy with a Liverpool shirt on, no idea what possessed him to wear that tbh.

Yea I saw this online. An older geezer I think - maybe 70?

I'm not one to care much about opposition fans sitting next to me in the home ends if they're not obnoxious or confrontational. Like Leeds back in the Championship, you'd hear them around you but it's fine as they always just stayed pretty quiet.

But I do find it pretty oxf*rd stupid wearing a Liverpool shirt to a Reading home game. Particularly when it's such a big event and day for the club and fans.

It makes no sense to me at all and I think it's pretty sad behaviour overall

[rabidbee]

Harvey Knibbs missed a golden chance in the first half - about 7-8 minutes in I think. I wonder how that would have affected the game had it gone in.

Not very much - he was offside.

[rabidbee]

But I do find it pretty oxf*rd stupid wearing a Liverpool shirt to a Reading home game. Particularly when it's such a big event and day for the club and fans.

It makes no sense to me at all and I think it's pretty sad behaviour overall

* Everton.

I find this attitude really odd. If it was an away fan, or somebody really on the wind up, I could understand irritation. But a neutral fan, fairly obviously there to show solidarity? It's a weird reaction to me. And if he was physically assaulted too, well that's never justified.

[katweslowski]

But I do find it pretty oxf*rd stupid wearing a Liverpool shirt to a Reading home game. Particularly when it's such a big event and day for the club and fans.

It makes no sense to me at all and I think it's pretty sad behaviour overall

* Everton.

I find this attitude really odd. If it was an away fan, or somebody really on the wind up, I could understand irritation. But a neutral fan, fairly obviously there to show solidarity? It's a weird reaction to me. And if he was physically assaulted too, well that's never justified.

I can't explain it anymore than I did. I'm not a 14 year old teenager who usually gets upset about something so trivial, but I just find it irritating to see fans wearing Liverpool shirts at Reading game. Maybe it's just because it's so ridiculously stupid, unnecessary, out of place, or maybe it's because it's one of the big clubs?

Probably a mix of it all

EDIT: actually, the solidarity aspect is a very interesting take on it. I hadn't considered that. It's a good way of looking at it, potentially they have absolutely no connection to the club and just want to show a bit of support.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Nothing new, and barely worth raising an eyebrow.
There used to be a few Liverpool and Celtic bobble* hats worn in the South Bank back in the eighties.

Some people just look for a reason to be deliberately obtuse.

* bobble less hats before ‘beanies’ were a thing

[Sutekh]

As long as someone isn’t wearing a shirt of that day’s opponents in the home end I could not care less what football shirt other people wear to a Reading game, they’re giving money to the club and we all know this area is packed with the “glory hunters” of the London and big PL clubs so what’s the problem when plenty of them follow Reading as well?

[morganb]

I've been wearing a QPR shirt to Reading home games for years and I don't think anyone has ever noticed