Oster refuses to change

Oster: Sticks to principles

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John Oster insists he has no intention of changing his playing style, despite being the subject of abuse in recent weeks.

The Reading winger has come under the cosh from some sections of the club's faithful for what they seemingly perceive to be a lack of effort on his part.

Oster accepts he is not at the top of the 'tackles won' list, but points out that he is a different type of player to fans' favourite Stephen Hunt.

And he is adamant that Reading fans will not drive him to become a player he is not comfortable with.

Risk taker

"Possibly I do take a chance and try to play as I am not the sort of player to just hoof it," he told Get Reading.

"That is not my game, it never has been, so I'm not going to change my style.

"I like to play football, but if people don't like it then that is their opinion. If I am getting stick then fair enough.

"Hunty (Stephen Hunt) runs all day, and I know fans like that, but he's not a technical player. He does what he does and I do what I do.

"I'm not one to go sliding in and put the foot in. It's just not the nature of my game."

Meanwhile, Reading boss Steve Coppell has added his voice to the ongoing debate with regards how players treat match officials.

Ashley Cole's behaviour in Wednesday's clash between Chelsea and Tottenham has brought the issue to a head again, with the England left-back guilty of a reckless challenge on Alan Hutton, before showing scant regard for referee Mike Riley in turning his back on the official when getting booked.

Lack of respect

Coppell's sides have long-since been praised for their impeccable standards of decorum and the Royals chief has called for Football Association, Uefa and Fifa to act now to nip the problem in the bud.

"The rules are there and can be amended to really guarantee respect.

"We had an initiative a couple of years ago where, if you disrespected the referee, a free-kick against you would be moved 10 yards further forward.

"After one year it was taken off as being ineffective. I thought that was the one positive, significant step the rule makers have made in recent years.

"To see the way officials are abused by players on a game-by-game basis it's no wonder we have problems in society.

"This week I watched the reserves, where one of my players was fouled and had to go off for treatment. It is the most ridiculous rule but has stayed on the statute books for years because Fifa and Uefa say that is what you have got to do.

"If Fifa and Uefa said something that was fundamentally constructive in demanding respect for officials then they would have a lot more credibility.

"They are the ones who make the rules. We need better rule direction from the governing body. Get the rules right and you will get the respect right.

"If you look at games, 10 or 11-year-olds abuse referees the same as they see their heroes do on the telly. Even the referees say you can't do anything about it in football - but why not?

"It is everywhere. You switch a telly on for a game and you don't have to be a lip-reader to know what is being said. There is a lack of respect for authority."