Pauno out

[CountryRoyal]

The problem isn’t with nationality the problem is we don’t actually hire any actual managers. They’re all mostly coaches, assistant managers etc, mostly inexperienced and all generally unsuccessful at any significant level.

[leon]

Race is an absolute load of horseshit as a criteria. It's irrelevant.

It should be - have they got experience in building, organising and managing teams. Using youth and developing players. Balancing the books (ie not just spending wads) Exposure to the Championship/D1 as a manager (or player).

That sort of thing.

[URZZZZ]

Race is an absolute load of horseshit as a criteria. It's irrelevant.

It should be - have they got experience in building, organising and managing teams. Using youth and developing players. Balancing the books (ie not just spending wads) Exposure to the Championship/D1 as a manager (or player).

That sort of thing.

Experience does have its benefits but wouldn’t say it’s the defining point

It’s about a willingness to learn, adapt and become flexible to different situations. Which, admittedly, is almost impossible to tell until they’re actually in the job and by then it’s too late

Every manager will make mistakes. It’s about reacting to is positively to avoid repeating them. The reality is that Paunovic doesn’t. You can discuss injuries to the hills and back but that statement remains true which, to an extent, makes the excuses fairly redundant IMO

[Ascotexgunner]

I'll still back the manager. Until I've seen what he can do with a fit squad I'll reserve judgement. I just want João and Meite gone in the summer. They clearly will never give us a decent amount of games each season without injury. We need replacements with a good fitness record and a bit decent. Even if it's only a loanees.

[Orion1871]

Four of the six teams in the play offs last season, including the three that got promoted, were managed by foreign managers.

[morganb]

So, what does Pauno have to do to actually get sacked?

From a fan's point of view we can see how inflexible he is and how he is unable to change a game tactically, plus he is unwilling to introduce youth when they are the only option we have (predominantly to give senior players a rest especially when the game is lost). He doesn't seem willing to learn and adapt.

From an owners viewpoint surely the run of results this season and the end of last season must have alarm bells ringing. They should also be concerned by the money they've invested in the Academy when players coming through it are either let go for free or are not being played given the injury crisis.

What is squad morale like at the moment (as we are always losing, have no money to renew contracts, etc.). In recent matches we have seen some players 'refusing' to pass to other better-placed players. Also, from a young player's position, what is the point in trying to be a professional footballer for Reading when the manager sticks you on the bench every week and refused to play you (even effectively saying to the press that you are not good enough). Do the players want him to go?

[leon]

Race is an absolute load of horseshit as a criteria. It's irrelevant.

It should be - have they got experience in building, organising and managing teams. Using youth and developing players. Balancing the books (ie not just spending wads) Exposure to the Championship/D1 as a manager (or player).

That sort of thing.

Experience does have its benefits but wouldn’t say it’s the defining point

It’s about a willingness to learn, adapt and become flexible to different situations. Which, admittedly, is almost impossible to tell until they’re actually in the job and by then it’s too late

Every manager will make mistakes. It’s about reacting to is positively to avoid repeating them. The reality is that Paunovic doesn’t. You can discuss injuries to the hills and back but that statement remains true which, to an extent, makes the excuses fairly redundant IMO

Yeah I get that. My view is that at this point the club doesn't need a punt on a potential bright young manager it needs some stability and someone with experience.

[Zip]

I'll still back the manager. Until I've seen what he can do with a fit squad I'll reserve judgement. I just want João and Meite gone in the summer. They clearly will never give us a decent amount of games each season without injury. We need replacements with a good fitness record and a bit decent. Even if it's only a loanees.

We are very unlikely to have a fit squad this season. It is going to be a question of whether it stays at absurd injury levels or bad injury levels.

[Millsy]

Ok. I'm no Snowball so here's my quick attempt of some back-of-the-fag-packet maths.

To be consistent and fair to Pauno (because I wanted him out based on discounting his 'honeymoon' first few games last season) I will also discount the first few games this season without having all his players in.

So going from after the international break, when all his guys were in and starting to get to know the team we have:

5wins
1 draw
5 defeats

= 16 points

= 1.45 points per game

= 67points over the season

19/20 season - 56 points
20/21 season - 70 points

So this season the form after getting his lads in isn't far off last season, INCLUDING the 'honeymoon' start I had discounted. If we're to compare the form to the that season without those first few wondergames then this season's form will be significantly better.

And bear in mind this season we've had horrid injuries, FFP etc.

Yes of course when on a losing run his flaws (EVERY manager, or actually every human being has flaws) will be focussed on, but take a step back and at worst this season, once he got his players in and with all its extenuating circumstances is at worst as good as last season and at best a significant improvement in form for the mid-latter part of last season. And that's with losing star players.

So just a bit of perspective guys. I'm doing this because I'm on the fence but am swaying back to supporting him for now. A couple more defeats though and the stats will obviously look different as the numbers are small. That'll then be 6 defeats on the bounce and he'll be sacked anyway.

[lardydah]

I don't think it's the stats that are the problem for me.

For me it's the refusal to leave a man up when defending a corner, it's standard doctrine that you leave a man up and the other team will leave 1 back if not 2, so it's at most no worse off man for man and gives us a much needed outlet for a clearance. (To be fair we did try this once against Bournemouth with Puscas and Swift split on the wings, but the stupid ref let them delay the corner long enough so their defence could organise).

It's the fact that he subs our only striker for another striker in the 85th minute of the game. What is that going to achieve? 7-8 minutes extra rest? If you make changes you need to give them time to have an impact.

It's the fact that chasing the game last night he made the same substitution just 7 minutes earlier whilst we were down 1-0. Why not go to two strikers, try and play more direct and push for the draw?

To be an effective manager at this level you need to be pragmatic towards both your players and the opposition, not dogmatic to your 'system'. You can stick to your system if you're Guardiola at Barca with a squad of superstars, even then it's not really the manger's 'system' is the quality of the players shining through. At this level if your system isn't working after 60-70 minutes and you're losing by 1-2 goals you need to make changes.

I would have much preferred to lose 3-0 last night if straight after the goal we made 2-3 subs and absolutely went for it than lose with the whimper that we did.

Agree however that something else seems amiss with the team camaraderie. A couple of times last night Swift took 2-3 touches more than he should have and wasted a shot, could have passed earlier. Is that his 'saviour' ego thinking he's the only one good enough to help us, or is there a problem in the ranks.

I know easy to see from the stands but more than a few times Puscas made a run and the ball didn't get played. If he wanted a touch he had to come so deep that being our only striker it was useless as he couldn't do anything with it but pass back. Are the team as fed up with Puscas in the same way as a lot of the fans are?

[Millsy]

I agree with those issues but at the end of the day the stats are all that counts. Promotion, relegation etc are all based on the stats i.e. how many did you win, lose, draw, score?

So yes there are some things that we consider flaws. But clearly they're not the whole story because if ALL he had was flaws we'd have lost every game this season. Clearly something else about his style is pulling us up to being able to have some excellent runs.

As I say I love watching his teams play. I can't remember the last time I've enjoyed watching Reading play. 5 wins 1 draw, 5 defeats - great! The sort of football I want to see - go for the win. Draws are useless. None of this Stamshite for me. RIsky football, invite pressure, but some terrific fast moves going forward. The question is does it pay off more frequently than it doesn't? Had we got Carroll in I'm sure things would be very different.

[South Coast Royal]

Urgh.

Having flipped from Pauno Out to Pauno In on the back of the great run once he brought his players in I'm having a hard time justifying my views now on the back of four defeats.

At least we went 4-4-2, but we did inexplicably take Puscas (who was in my view brilliant) off and put Swift up front. Then again at least we dropped Shitewater and changed things up a bit.

11 men in the box for corners it looked like.

Once again totally unable to affect a game in a positive way. Outplaying them first half, then oppo team talk >> our team talk yet again and we get sussed out.

Injuries and embargoes can't be a perpetual excuse.

But... I still really do enjoy watching this side play. Urgh my brain hurts. On the fence at the moment. 4 defeats in a row is indefensible.

OK with the rest but "Puscas (who in my view was brilliant)"??

IMHO to be "brilliant" you would need to have scored 2 or 3 , set up another couple and tested the keeper a few more times.
As Pepe posted, our bar has become very low indeed.

[Ascotexgunner]

I agree with those issues but at the end of the day the stats are all that counts. Promotion, relegation etc are all based on the stats i.e. how many did you win, lose, draw, score?

So yes there are some things that we consider flaws. But clearly they're not the whole story because if ALL he had was flaws we'd have lost every game this season. Clearly something else about his style is pulling us up to being able to have some excellent runs.

As I say I love watching his teams play. I can't remember the last time I've enjoyed watching Reading play. 5 wins 1 draw, 5 defeats - great! The sort of football I want to see - go for the win. Draws are useless. None of this Stamshite for me. RIsky football, invite pressure, but some terrific fast moves going forward. The question is does it pay off more frequently than it doesn't? Had we got Carroll in I'm sure things would be very different.

Agree on that last paragraph strongly.
I'm looking at the Carroll option and it's a shame it didn't happen. Proper big skillful player to play off and hold up top. I'm sure a pay as you play option would have been perfect.
It may even have benefited Puscas if allowed to play together.

[Millsy]

Urgh.

Having flipped from Pauno Out to Pauno In on the back of the great run once he brought his players in I'm having a hard time justifying my views now on the back of four defeats.

At least we went 4-4-2, but we did inexplicably take Puscas (who was in my view brilliant) off and put Swift up front. Then again at least we dropped Shitewater and changed things up a bit.

11 men in the box for corners it looked like.

Once again totally unable to affect a game in a positive way. Outplaying them first half, then oppo team talk >> our team talk yet again and we get sussed out.

Injuries and embargoes can't be a perpetual excuse.

But... I still really do enjoy watching this side play. Urgh my brain hurts. On the fence at the moment. 4 defeats in a row is indefensible.

OK with the rest but "Puscas (who in my view was brilliant)"??

IMHO to be "brilliant" you would need to have scored 2 or 3 , set up another couple and tested the keeper a few more times.
As Pepe posted, our bar has become very low indeed.

And I'd agree with that, it has. My nan would have been brilliant in that team last night.

He wasn't awful though, no way deserved being taken off chasing a game and needing two actual strikers in there.

[Coppells Lost Coat]

I am still in the VP stays camp.
A change has to be made- that is obvious. I just dont think the manager changing is the solution. I am not sure many managers would look at Reading right now and go i know how to fix this. We can barely field a starting 11 playing in their desired positions. Our bench is beyond competitive. We are out on our feet after 60 mins, no luxury of player rotation, no luxury of resting a player.
A new manager will have the luxury of players returning.
We have mostly be losing our games once the opposition make a change. Wouldn't be surprised if the oppo manager looks at our starting 11 then our bench and goes they have nothing to counter this with. I bet they are mostly googling who some of the players are.

[The Royal Forester]

We should have got rid of the clown in April when I started this thread. It was obvious all the way back then he wasn’t up for the job. He has to go

Come off it! You are glad he hasn't gone. If he had done so, you would not have reached 50 pages, would you?

[Brogue]

We should have got rid of the clown in April when I started this thread. It was obvious all the way back then he wasn’t up for the job. He has to go

Come off it! You are glad he hasn't gone. If he had done so, you would not have reached 50 pages, would you?

very good point i hadn't thought of it like that!!

[The Royal Forester]

Glad I helped you to focus your mind!

[Brogue]

Pauno IN!!

[andrew1957]

I was not happy when Pauno was appointed and said so on here. I did not expect him to last this long BUT to be fair he has exceeded my expectations and this season he has faced an unprecedented injury crisis - mainly impact injuries incurred during matches. We seem to be having a terrible run of bad luck and the more players that get injured, the more minutes the remaining fit players have to play, which is leading to ever more injuries. His only other alternative to rest players is to play the youth but as he says many are not ready yet.

Frankly I am fed up with all the moaning on here. It seems to me that Pauno is doing an ok job considering the awful hand he is being dealt right now.

Will we get relegated? If we get the 9 point deduction I think there is a good chance we will be - but I am not sure we can really blame Pauno all things considered. And frankly if we sack him, what decent manager would want the job right now. Let's just get behind the manager and the team and hope our luck turns soon and we start getting a good number of players back fit.