Away Match Day Thread 12/12/2023 L1: Reading v OUFC

[Bath Yellow]

84. First game.
Headington United v Chelmsford City,
Southern League ( Now Conference ) Won 2-0.
Boxing Day 1949. 75yrs ago

The last 6 games v Reading:

W: 1
L: 6

07 Nov 1999	Reading v Oxford United	W	1-2	League Division 2
07 Mar 2000	Oxford United v Reading	L	1-3	League Division 2
28 Oct 2000	Reading v Oxford United	L	4-3	League Division 2
17 Apr 2001	Oxford United v Reading	L	0-2	League Division 2
24 Sep 2003	Oxford United v Reading	L	1-3	League Cup
25 Aug 2004	Oxford United v Reading	L	0-2	League Cup

 

[unification]

I think it's fairly obvious - a spell of bad performances and not so great results followed by failing to beat a rival who are second bottom is bound to cause a stir at any club.

Of course it would but there's too many on here keen and insistent to say 'I told you so' about DB as though they were some sage saying he was the wrong choice from the off. It's getting wearying seeing posts about it.

So many were keen on a MApp return after KR was sacked. The all-conquering hero returning, right? Before he was able to build the team he truly wanted, he rushed and signed a load of players who he promptly binned. His start looked like this and he had a few weeks to actually sign players, a luxury DB has yet to have.



Be unhappy about the last result and the Cheltenham one too - don't go piling in when the bloke has less than half a dozen games to his name and is missing Long, Leigh, Edwards, Browne and now Negru and until very recently James Henry.

 

[Lost Marbles]

Quite a few Oxford fans are parking in the car parks, wonder what that means for us?

If the police decide to kettle us or lead us away from the stadium after the game that could cause a lot of problems.

In theory the dispersal order is to stop groups of fans congregating - ie. they can move a small group on before it becomes a larger group.

Not saying they won't kettle or escort U's fans after the game but issuing a dispersal order doesn't make that more or less likely.

 

[holdsteady]

I am guessing we will be kept in after the game tonight, can’t see us getting out of the stadium much before 10.20pm.

 

[MustardYellow]

In theory the dispersal order is to stop groups of fans congregating - ie. they can move a small group on before it becomes a larger group.

Not saying they won't kettle or escort U's fans after the game but issuing a dispersal order doesn't make that more or less likely.

The dispersal order being enacted before anything has even happened suggests it's going to be a very tight operation from the police...

You would hope they'd be sensible enough to allow those Oxford fans who have parked in the car parks a safe way to get there are the game.

 

[MustardYellow]

I am guessing we will be kept in after the game tonight, can’t see us getting out of the stadium much before 10.20pm.

If the Reading fans do their protest could be a late one...

 

[holdsteady]

If the Reading fans do their protest could be a late one...

With Tim Henman being a fan of ours (and Fulham) can he not just run around returning the balls they throw on before they get on the pitch?

 

[Manorlounger]

The dispersal order being enacted before anything has even happened suggests it's going to be a very tight operation from the police...

You would hope they'd be sensible enough to allow those Oxford fans who have parked in the car parks a safe way to get there are the game.

Reminds me of Luton. Came out of the ground to be met by riot dressed plod who insisted that we were going to the railway station. Quite a few of us had to protest that actually, we came by car and had parked across the street at the Conservative club. Took a while before they relented.

 

[OUSP]

I am guessing we will be kept in after the game tonight, can’t see us getting out of the stadium much before 10.20pm.

And if you are in the Reading FC car parks be aware that they hold back all cars for 20 minutes to allow pedestrians and buses to leave first.

 

[Big Ron]

Sold out means allocated seats. That said, most will simply sit where they like until told otherwise! I would hope that those who wish to stand throughout show some respect to those who can't. And, where there are vulnerable and youngsters, make sure that they can also enjoy the game.

I appreciate this is a fairly regular conversation but if we have no way of selecting our own seats and the clubs themselves make no effort to ensure people are in their allocated seats, then we have to accept that the usual chaos ensues. First in get the prime seats, singers gather in the middle (or behind the goal if possible), people meet with friends, etc. And then one person turns up and absolutely insists they sit in the allocated seat.................

 

[Older Shotts]

With Tim Henman being a fan of ours (and Fulham) can he not just run around returning the balls they throw on before they get on the pitch?

Did you ever see him play? he'd miss every ball

 

[windmill]

Hope Alan Judge is in the away seats.

 

[Manorlounger]

I appreciate this is a fairly regular conversation but if we have no way of selecting our own seats and the clubs themselves make no effort to ensure people are in their allocated seats, then we have to accept that the usual chaos ensues. First in get the prime seats, singers gather in the middle (or behind the goal if possible), people meet with friends, etc. And then one person turns up and absolutely insists they sit in the allocated seat.................

Yup. I have no argument with anyone if I get to see the game and, can do it for the most part sitting down. If we have to stand, and it has happened many times, then we will but, it is not so comfortable anymore. The point being though that many, young and old, cannot stand for the entire game.
What really bugs me are those selfish types who simply ignore anyone else and take up seats wherever they please and refuse to have any empathy with anyone else.
But, sadly, this is an issue that clubs are simply not equipped or not willing to address.

 

[Lost Marbles]

Yup. I have no argument with anyone if I get to see the game and, can do it for the most part sitting down. If we have to stand, and it has happened many times, then we will but, it is not so comfortable anymore. The point being though that many, young and old, cannot stand for the entire game.
What really bugs me are those selfish types who simply ignore anyone else and take up seats wherever they please and refuse to have any empathy with anyone else.
But, sadly, this is an issue that clubs are simply not equipped or not willing to address.

It is difficult when the whole allocation is sold out. What should happen is the standers / singers arrive and take the upper middle. Then kids and those who would prefer to sit down take the lower and sides. This isn't completely fair in terms of getting the best view, but at least means everyone can see.

Unfortunately, the fans arrive in completely the wrong order! So you end up with groups arriving just before kick off and either standing on steps (causing aggro with stewards) or standing in front of kids and swearing prolifically / refusing to sit down.

I myself am usually a late arriver but I always sit down if asked or if those behind choose to sit. Others aren't as respectful / aware of their surroundings.

 

[Big Ron]

Yup. I have no argument with anyone if I get to see the game and, can do it for the most part sitting down. If we have to stand, and it has happened many times, then we will but, it is not so comfortable anymore. The point being though that many, young and old, cannot stand for the entire game.
What really bugs me are those selfish types who simply ignore anyone else and take up seats wherever they please and refuse to have any empathy with anyone else.
But, sadly, this is an issue that clubs are simply not equipped or not willing to address.

As someone who needs to sit down a little more nowadays, I certainly sympathise! There are certainly are some selfish people, but most are just reacting to the circumstances.

 

[AbsoluteZero]

It used to be great fun watching from the London Road terrace the almighty fight in the field behind Cuckoo Lane when Reading came to town. Hopefully the guys from those days remember they are no longer in their teens or early twenties and their metal hips, replacement knees and heart pacemakers can no longer allow them to do it if they want to try to re-enact past battles.

 

[Golden Dr Otto]

We're all going to sing "let them die, let them die, let them die" when they throw their tennis balls on the pitch, right?

“You’ve used the wrong f*****g ball, wrong f*****g ball, you’ve used the wrong f*****g ball”

 

[holdsteady]

It used to be great fun watching from the London Road terrace the almighty fight in the field behind Cuckoo Lane when Reading came to town. Hopefully the guys from those days remember they are no longer in their teens or early twenties and their metal hips, replacement knees and heart pacemakers can no longer allow them to do it if they want to try to re-enact past battles.

Be more like robot wars with all those mobility scooters crashing into each other, although it does sound very watchable.

 

[Mad Dog]

With Tim Henman being a fan of ours (and Fulham) can he not just run around returning the balls they throw on before they get on the pitch?

“Come on Tim!”

 

[windmill]

It used to be great fun watching from the London Road terrace the almighty fight in the field behind Cuckoo Lane when Reading came to town. Hopefully the guys from those days remember they are no longer in their teens or early twenties and their metal hips, replacement knees and heart pacemakers can no longer allow them to do it if they want to try to re-enact past battles.

Speak for yourself!

 

[captainox]

On the allocated seats thing, under the impression that clubs can't officially sell something as unallocated seating without amending capacity for said stand to reflect that you'll potentially have more people in rows that seats as group congregate. (I think Cambridge did it on the first day which is why the block to the far right wasn't usable)

But what they do on the day is up to them e.g. Advising stewards to inform people it is sit anywhere etc.

Clubs who have huge away ends and don't net most of it off even when a smaller away following, often see sense and say sit anywhere - Sheff Weds/Wigan etc come to mind more recently.

Sold out smaller away ends they often seem to start saying sit where your ticket says but then give up.

It would make sense tonight for them to say sit anywhere and use sensible stewarding to direct people to where spaces are. That way everyone knows the position from the start and people can choose where to sit based on the best combination for them of view/ability to stand/desire to be in the noise.

Enforcing allocated seat when no-one has had any choice of their seat has always been ridiculous