Reading vs Forest(H) Match Thread (3/46)

[TommyF]

I think one apiece at home against Forest is a good result for a team with our aspirations.

Obviously these are the aspirations that JM suggests by his actions not the propaganda he came out with pre season.

Mid table will be a good result for us this season and I think JM needs to be happy with that. Though I suspect it's a continuing slow spiral down unless things change and this season could well be the best for the next 4 or 5.

Don't get me wrong though, my glass is never sat half empty as I try to maintain just the 2 stages, full then empty then full then empty. Might be neccessary over the next few years!

[Wimb]

^ Are we a well-run club if we can't afford to get a player in on loan? I'm having doubts at the moment.

Yes because we have a squad with enough/too much cover at every other bloody position right now so until we balance the squad the funds are tied up, Rasiak was a step in the right direction. Remember that just because Armstrong/Ivar/Kelly are injured we are still paying their wages and therefore the money isn't there for a loan signing. This is the whole point of a squad, sometimes you HAVE to play the weaker players while your better ones recover, look at the squad and it's fairly clear to see that plenty of investment is there in that side.

GK's

Fed, Hamer, McCarthy, Anderson <---- 1 international, 2x U21 internationals 1x L2 Gold Glove winner

DF

Armstrong, Kelly, Griffin, Williams, Mills, Ivar, Pearce + (Gunnar/Tabb)

MF

Kebe, McAnuff, Davies, Tabb, Howard, Sig, HRK, Antonio, Bell-Baggie, Karacan, Taylor, Gunnar

ST

Hunt, Bignall, Mooney, Church, Long

So by my count this squad has 4 keepers, 7 defenders, 12 midfielders and 5 strikers on the books.... that's a squad of 28 freaking players, when the matchday squad is a maximum of 18. Where do you expect the money to come from to support a squad of 29/30? I don't think anyone inside the club would deny they'd LIKE to sign a centre back but a club of our size cannot be supporting any more then we already have and if we want a centre back then we have to hope somebody buys one of the strikers/midfielders first.

[Pseud O'Nym]

Would just like to point out that our failure to win to day was nothing, nada, three fifths of bugger all to do with not buying another CB. It was a simple, if horrible, mistake by Feds.

[Ian Royal]

Would just like to point out that our failure to win to day was nothing, nada, three fifths of bugger all to do with not buying another CB. It was a simple, if horrible, mistake by Feds.

Camp sounded like he made a fair few good saves too.

So the usual combination of a soft goal conceeded and a failure to put away enough chances by the sounds.

[floyd__streete]

FAO Wimb: Mooney is out on loan so we can't use him for now, he has already been told he is surplus to requirements anyway, much like Davies has. And Armstrong is a crock, I'd be amazed if we ever saw him back in the hoops. Have to LOL @ your calm assertion that we have a 28 man squad BUT WHERE ARE WE GOING TO FIND THE MONEY FROM TO SUPPORT A 29 MAN SQUAD

[Millsy]

Man of the match by 20 miles - Brian Howard.

[PEARCEY]

Wimb much of what you say is fair comment but look at the players you have listed as our defenders and a fair view of them are not match fit right now. I'm not worried about midfield or up-front....the goals will come. We look threadbare in defense though irrespective of size of squad.

[Pseud O'Nym]

Wimb much of what you say is fair comment but look at the players you have listed as our defenders and a fair view of them are not match fit right now. I'm not worried about midfield or up-front....the goals will come. We look threadbare in defense though irrespective of size of squad.

The name he left out of the list may be part of the problem. I don't imagine Cummings is on huge wages, but he's not free either. I also suspect that we can't even give him away, otherwise why not let him go quietly on a free like Rasiak?

[Wimb]

Wimb much of what you say is fair comment but look at the players you have listed as our defenders and a fair view of them are not match fit right now. I'm not worried about midfield or up-front....the goals will come. We look threadbare in defense though irrespective of size of squad.

The name he left out of the list may be part of the problem. I don't imagine Cummings is on huge wages, but he's not free either. I also suspect that we can't even give him away, otherwise why not let him go quietly on a free like Rasiak?

Forgot about Cummings

I agree totally agree Pearcy that those defenders aren't good enough but my point was that the teams hands are tied whilst we have surplus/injuries in other areas.

I realise Floyd that Mooney is out on loan and is trying to be shipped out like Davies but the fact remains he's still a Reading player and it's not financially sensible to add to the squad while you still have them on the books. It does seem lolworthy to read a quote like that , but what is the tipping point for you? 29 players, 30 players, 35/40? presumably the chairman/DOF/manager are aiming for a 25 man squad or less? I'd like to think they could find the money from somewhere but I also understand if they are sticking to their guns.