Thorpey

Craft stuff mostly out of a can. See you at ground if you're going there!

Expensive for Reading. Very expensive for Bolton!

I remember that day. N'gog scored when we were in there! Three Guineas. Gone all posh now. Rugby fans only and bloody expensive

As Reading town centre is dire and there is diddly squat in terms of pubs near the ground, a few of us on here are doing what we normally do for Reading away and meeting at; The Victoria, Norcot Road, Tilehurst RG30 6BP which just happens to be my local! Open at 12 and food available. 10 mins from station and 15 minutes drive from the ground, football buses from round the corner and cabs leaving about 2.30pm for kick off. All welcome!

Worst day of my life that Monday in Bournemouth. Pissed all weekend and ended up on a train that arrived in Bournemouth at 12.30 on the Monday for a 7.45 ko with Sober Dan. My fault totally but it was a bloody long day and we got stuffed.

Just had a beer with some Reading lads. Protests planned for Saturday after latest points deduction, so probably resorting to 🎾 on the pitch to disrupt the match! Ruled out a pitch invasion as no one fancies getting arrested or banned!

It’s not the best pal. No street parking within a mile or so. Best bet is a RFC parking permit if you can get one next to stadium but a pain in the arse getting out or nearby businesses charge a tenner or so. Bennet road or Acre road usually the best bet. If you get there early enough, there’s paid parking at ground but not that much I don’t think

Pub can open at 11am for any early arrivals! If anyone's popping in and arriving early, let me now and I'll sort it. See you Saturday!

If you fancy it; The Victoria, Norcot Road, Tilehurst RG30 6BP 17 bus to / from near station takes about 15/20 minutes. Pub has its own stop. Opens at 12. Footie buses round the corner if needed or usually about a 20 minute drive to ground.

Sounds like a plan!

I need an extra couple of adult tickets for today. 60 returned but their ticket office is shut today when I rang! Can anyone help?

Just have!

Anyone managed to find it on a firestick? EFL ifollow has disappeared on mine!

Working via the app but not on web browser for me

Anyone got a spare going for this afternoon??? Ticket sorted!

Still available?

I remember hanging out my arse for that semi-final in 1995, Sunday afternoon I think. Night before we were in a club in Caversham near Reading and a few of the Bolton lads came in. By closing Tommo and McAteer were a bit worse for wear and needed help getting over the bridge back to the hotel. A few were a bit more sensible .... How they played the following day, I've no idea. Think Stubbs scored early on and there were a couple of hundred Bolton lads in the seats behind the goal who went up when it went in. Went downhill after that.

14/1 to win it with Sky Bet. Ipswich 11/2 favourites. Think I know which I'd rather back. Doesn't include Sunderland or Wycombe yet.

Embarrassing. Long diagonal - shite. Long throw - shite. Everything else - shite. ps. Amoechi or however you spell it - disappointing so far.

Back home after a cracking day and confessed to the missus that I'd had a couple of cuddles and the odd cheeky kiss today. She was alright when I explained who Ian Evatt and Shazza were. I'm not a gay or a lesbian but got to say I did enjoy it and I said 'Thankyou'

And now I finally know who captainmed is!

Had the 500 problem but sorted. Dont log in using the sign in top right. Click on live match centre to get to match and it lets you sign in then. Works a treat.

Nobody has commented on how well the final part of the move to the goal was constructed. Doyle does a massive job in dragging the centre halves to the front post. Fonz does a bit behind him. Keeper and all defenders expecting ball at front post. Pulled back to the edge, everyone on front post and a big hole to the right of the goal for Jones to pop it in. Not an accident. Well done IE, coaching staff and players.

Happy days with the win and fair play all involved. Other clubs now realise a shit and narrower pitch won't suit us. Hopefully our groundsman has been told as it hasn't been the best recently. IE deserves a medal with what he's done over the past few months. Players playing for each other and the club. Gilks - happy as fuck when he comes out to grab a cross. Can't remember him failing on a cross or a high one, but a bobbly bouncer in front and the butterflies flutter. Fingers crossed he won't get battered and go off one day and it could be a turning point this season. No excuse for no keeper on the bench now. Jones - happy for the lad. Seems a good honest trier and knows his job. Popped up today and glad he did. Doing great. Baptiste - no nonsense. Knows his qualities (reading the game) and his liabilities (pace). Decent passes when he has time and gets rid when he's in the shit. Santos - whoever (and I think it's IE) has taught this lad the art of defending deserves a medal. Improved leaps and bounds over the season and a proper, proper defender. New contract well deserved. Man mountain again. John - bobbly, shite pitch doesn't suit, but still class on and off the ball. Williams - something significant changed with him and that was his positioning when we didn't have the ball. Watch - a ball played into one of the oppo in front of the back 4 and MJ is face to goal and winning the second ball if there's any slight bounce off. That aside he breaks up play and has a decent engine and wins the odd header even though not sure he's any idea where he's heading it to. Lee - class. Lot's been said about his ability and the fact he's playing a couple of leagues lower than he could. He's a massive team player. In instances where his football brain is slightly ahead or a team mate fails to control, there's no frustration and he just get's on with it. Sarcevic - I like him. Shame about today and the injury. A poor man's Campo in a way. Problem is his mis-control is three yards and not one, so he can't dive on the ball and take a quick free-kick. Afolayan - raw talent. They tried to wind him up and got on with it. Obviously brought up on a decent surface so not not exactly suited by the odd bobble. He'll be a 'good little 'en' as my dad used to say about David Lee. Delfounso - quiet today on the ball, but made space for others with his movement off the ball. Worried sometimes that he isn't a David Reeves trier type but doing a decent job. Doyle - nothing but admiration for this lad. Never his game today with the oppo set-up and shite pitch. We don't have a 'big lad' hold it up type. IE knew that, hence no Miller. Elbouzedi - great job when he came on. We have no lump to hold it up so the IE instructions were obviously, run the channels and hit the corner. Chuffed with him and the fact he looked a bit trimmer. Isgrove - am I unconvinced? Maybe. Does track and holds the ball up ok at times. No idea about the diagonals aimed for his head. One for a decent surface and the sun shining for me ..... and an extra yard of pace. Arthur - learning his trade at a late age. Obviously listening and doing what he's told. Like him. Been around a bit and the 'arm round the shoulder, this is what you can do and will do' treatment is working.

Buttermere Road me. 75-83