daib0

or follow it here!: http://royalsrendezvous.co.uk/topic/9673090/1

sounds a cop-out out but I've never had to think cos I used to be always local. I'll ask on RR, OK?!! give me 2-3 days ...

Hi guys, This is the start of the long article by ESPN by way of a Premier League club guide 2012/13: "With the new Premier League season looming around the corner, here is a brief guide to all 20 Premier League clubs. Manchester City's last-gasp triumph last season gave every football neutral an exhilirating finish to a topsy-turvy season. With many stars like Eden Hazard, Santi Cazorla and Shinji Kagawa set to join the action, we gear up for what looks like an exciting new campaign ahead of us." Full article: http://www.espnstar.com/football/premier-league/news/detail/item836021/Premier-League-club-guide-2012/13 It'd be interesting to have opinions back. On the one hand it's a useful presentation, with useful stats, players in and out. But, in my opinion it's way too predictable - 'Key man' choices are either the most famous long-term hero or an obvious goalscorer. And the 'Chances' are not really 'chances' because they don't take chances – there are no surprise elements, simply the best teams of always are again suggested to do the big things. That seems to be the general media opinion too, that the new boys will struggle, virtually everyone else is fine. But we heard the same last year, yet teams who had been in the Premier League for many years were finally relegated. I obviously have a vested interest, as a fan of new boys Reading, but it'd be interesting to read any of your views on this ... cheers, daib0

I don’t claim to know the inner workings, but I suspect it’s weighted too heavily on recent performances. Netherlands for example finished bottom of their group at this year’s Euros (albeit a tough one) and therefore scored badly in the FIFA offices coming in at 8th(!) despite being world cup sub-champions and going through the Euros qualifiers unbeaten, while we topped our group ahead of France, so we're definitely a good side according to them ... But this throws up even stranger cases: Brazil can ‘only’ make 13th place, yet Croatia are 9th, Denmark 10th and Greece 12th. Think I’d know where my money would go for any of these in a match v Brazil!

Sure, a pleasure, just was going to make a few posts first so you didn't think it was spam! It's here: www.royalsrendezvous.co.uk Of particular interest to you guys in the future might just be the "Rivals, but Friends" part [ http://royalsrendezvous.co.uk/forum/3832070 ] because anyone can post just in that section without registering. We were warned by a couple of sites that we're risking idiots coming on and posting nonsense, but we're perhaps lucky that we haven't got any obvious rivalries now (Oxford, Swindon and Aldershot are still a fair way away, football speaking) so it seems to work fine. In that part you'll also see a complete ""RR Guide for away fans - Travel and Drinks/Food". I'll also get a link and a favourable comment up about your forum this morning in the specific thread ... Basically, our story is that the core initial block of members were the 'Reading' board on the old BBC 606 service, but in 2010 (before the BBC closures were announced) we got more than a bit fed up with wums/multiple identities etc (won't bore you with the story), so a group of us set up RR late 2010 taking about 50 from the 606 along - we're 8 or 9 times that now, and growing weekly. Given where we came from, there's good-natured chat and not aggressive posts, you are all guaranteed respect on RR.

I'm not sure that this thread is still open and read, but if you do read it and need any help on this season's Reading matches, I'm more than willing to lend a hand as best I can. I'm a mod on "Royals Rendezvous", and we'll probably come to you with a max half dozen questions come November! Fans of other clubs are quite important to us, and we even have a 'Rivals, but Friends' special part of the site where registering to post is not even needed (just ask for sociable language!). Hope you don't mind me giving a link: www.royalsrendezvous.co.uk Cheers, daib0

Hello everyone, and I’m here ‘in peace’ on behalf of Reading’s “Royals Rendezvous” forum. I realize, of course, that this is a specialist Everton forum. No wind-ups from us, in fact we already have had excellent relations with forums from most teams in the Championship. But now we've moved up a gear after an almost unlikely promotion (at least if you saw our placing before Christmas!), and we look forward with excitement (and a fair bit of trepidation) at rubbing shoulders with the ‘big boys’ – I don’t think we’re an arrogant lot by nature at all, many still feel little ‘ol Reading from well remembering back to the old 3rd and 4th division days! I hope that I may contribute occasionally on here with sensible comments, especially when we have common themes – like for our forthcoming games together, or player transfers/loans or gossip between the two clubs, and always with fullest respect shown to you guys, that’s a promise. I’m a moderator on RR since its birth, so wouldn’t have it any other way … likewise, count on me for the Reading view on things, as best as I can gauge from our members’ view! Thanks, daib0 (David)