Back from whatever that was.

[windermereROYAL]

Well Christmas sure did come early, just awful and can`t do the basics.

Raphael , nothing to do , not a single save to make but gifted them the 2nd goal 5.

Yiadom, wasn`t the worse player out there. 6
Morrison, just lost without Moore next to him, played Fletcher onside for the 2nd 5
Gibson, can`t be too critical , just thrown in, awful mistake for the last goal. 5
Richards. best of the back 4, but apart from one his crossing was woeful. 6

Rino, was ok 6
Larent same. 6
Esteves, mistake for the 1st goal , apart from that showed some good touches. 6
Semedo, missed a golden chance early on than a good header well saved, probably the best out there 7

Puscas, typical puski really, feeding on scraps. 6
Joao, very telling stat in the 2nd half lots of touches but not one in the penalty area. tells the story of our day. 6

Baldock meh 5
Aluko, a bit threatening, at least he had a pop on target. 6
Olise, tried hard in a losing cause. 6

[Simmops]

Paunovic OUT of ideas
Rafael OUT of the team

Booooooooooo

[Hound]

Fwiw

Rafael 4
Yiadom 4
Gibson 6
Morro 7
Richards 7
Laurent 8
Rino 5
Semedo 6
Esteves 5
Joao 5
Puscas 6
Olise 7
Baldock 6
Aluko 6

[CountryRoyal]

5, 6, 6 for Joao, Puscas and Baldock are extremely generous

[Hound]

5, 6, 6 for Joao, Puscas and Baldock are extremely generous

Only in your miserable world

[Zip]

Sad to see the type of performance we have been accustomed to over the past few years.

Rafael. 4
Esteves 5
Yiadom 5
Morrison 5
Gibson 5
Richards 5
Rinomhota 5
Laurent 7 MoTM
Semedo 5
Joao 5
Puscas 5
Olise 6
Baldock 5
Aluko 6

[CountryRoyal]

5, 6, 6 for Joao, Puscas and Baldock are extremely generous

Only in your miserable world

Ok I guess not ever looking like scoring is above average then in your eyes. Easily pleased Houndy boy.

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

Laurent only one who deserves his wages this week based on that. I'd probably give Semedo 50% for this first half.

Never really do player ratings but if I must:

Rafael. 3 - woeful, slow distribution
Esteves 4 - salvaged a point for a decent effort.
Yiadom 4 - tough game first time back
Morrison 4 - awful distribution, outmuscled all the the time, played onside for the second
Gibson 3 - a couple of shocking 10 yard passes, schooled by a real pro, and the third....
Richards 5 - pick of the back five but ...
Rinomhota 5 - tried to make runs with no one running off him
Laurent 6 MoTM - respectable, cleaned up and tried to introduce some pace and energy
Semedo 5 - lost interest after half time
Joao 5 - generous five. Didn't really seem interested again. Well marshalled by Potters.
Puscas 4 - typical display from last season and could have exerted some more energy closing down
Olise 4 - abysmal crossing, trying to take everyone on.
Baldock 5 - lots of energy, made a great curving run from left to the middle that no-oone saw....
Aluko 5 - made a bit of difference but ineffective.

[hughsies no.1]

First 20 minutes we looked so dangerous and the only thing we didn’t do is put the ball in the net.

Stupid stupid mistakes that are so frustrating to watch have cost us. Esteves one was a clear mistake (followed by an embarrassing tweet by C.Friday questioning his ability, the kid is 18 and developing!). Disappointing error by Rafael and Gibson short pass.

Players missing are hurting us, Moore and Meite especially.

Something funny must be going on with Ejaria, we haven’t been told what his ‘injury’ is, rumours circulating after the Blackburn game he wasn’t actually injured that annoyed the manager. He’s now missed four games...

Anyway, we are still top of the league (assuming Swansea don’t win) which is unbelievable and not one Reading fan would have predicted that. Second international break of the season and we are top - let that sink in.

Huge two weeks to get players fit, boost morale and cut out the stupid mistakes.

Up the Royals.

[Stranded]

In short, mistakes at the back cost us as Stoke didn't get through us once. We missed good chances again but didn't show enough ideas on how to break them down.

This team has not suddenly got crap due to 3 defeats, just like we weren't world beaters 2 weeks back. This division is super tight with most teams pretty well matched, until this week we have been on the right side of those tight margins but at the mo it's going the other way.

Any team who cannot call on players of the quality of Swift, Ejaria and Meite going forward as well as Moore at the back is going to struggle a bit. We need this break and despite this run, we will hit the restart in the top 2 and possibly still top.

[Lower West]

Owners impatience for promotion may cost us dear. Still a work in progress.

[Zip]

Owners impatience for promotion may cost us dear. Still a work in progress.

Yep Paunovic must be given time. The lack of squad depth has become apparent over the past eight days. This bad run may go on for a while yet.

[royalp-we]

That’s one to forget. Even with the key injuries; players like Rafael and Morrison have got to hold their hands up for the past few results. The defending has been inexcusable.

Stoke managed the game well after their gifted goals.

Hard to be angry due to our league position, just disappointed that we have lost an opportunity to stretch the lead at the top. Next few fixtures look a mammoth task on paper. Although I do think we will step it up again and get back to our after the break

[bcubed]

Didn’t see the game

What did I miss?!
Repeat of Preston game?

[Hound]

Owners impatience for promotion may cost us dear. Still a work in progress.

Yep Paunovic must be given time. The lack of squad depth has become apparent over the past eight days. This bad run may go on for a while yet.

It might - or it might not

Fixtures certainly aren’t particularly tough after Bournemouth. Get Meite, ejaria, Holmes and Moore back fit (maybe swift?) and it’s a different game

[Hound]

5, 6, 6 for Joao, Puscas and Baldock are extremely generous

Only in your miserable world

Ok I guess not ever looking like scoring is above average then in your eyes. Easily pleased Houndy boy.

Well Baldock worked hard, made some decent runs and missed by about 6 inches and Puscas didn’t do anything wrong particularly. Did his role ok. Joao was poor but a couple of nice bits of play

[Zip]

Owners impatience for promotion may cost us dear. Still a work in progress.

Yep Paunovic must be given time. The lack of squad depth has become apparent over the past eight days. This bad run may go on for a while yet.

It might - or it might not

Fixtures certainly aren’t particularly tough after Bournemouth. Get Meite, ejaria, Holmes and Moore back fit (maybe swift?) and it’s a different game

Whatever the results over the next month or so we need to give the man the time to move the club forward.

[Hound]

Yep Paunovic must be given time. The lack of squad depth has become apparent over the past eight days. This bad run may go on for a while yet.

It might - or it might not

Fixtures certainly aren’t particularly tough after Bournemouth. Get Meite, ejaria, Holmes and Moore back fit (maybe swift?) and it’s a different game

Whatever the results over the next month or so we need to give the man the time to move the club forward.

Fully agree

Keep saying this but we’ve a team of free transfers and loans + a couple of strikers who cost around average on this division. Anything near the play offs is a decent achievement

[Zip]

It might - or it might not

Fixtures certainly aren’t particularly tough after Bournemouth. Get Meite, ejaria, Holmes and Moore back fit (maybe swift?) and it’s a different game

Whatever the results over the next month or so we need to give the man the time to move the club forward.

Fully agree

Keep saying this but we’ve a team of free transfers and loans + a couple of strikers who cost around average on this division. Anything near the play offs is a decent achievement

Yep.

[blueroyals]

Raphael , nothing to do , not a single save to make but gifted them the 2nd goal 5.

Yiadom, wasn`t the worse player out there. 6
Morrison, just lost without Moore next to him, played Fletcher onside for the 2nd 5
Gibson, can`t be too critical , just thrown in, awful mistake for the last goal. 5
Richards. best of the back 4, but apart from one his crossing was woeful. 6

We conceded 3 awful goals and none of the back 5 get less than 5... what planet are you on