McAnuff- New captain

[Wimb]

Brian wasn't afraid to drop Ivar, not afraid to drop Griffin/Harte and not afraid to keep Kebe on the bench. If he feels McAnuff needs to be dropped he'd do it.

Agreed. McAnuff has very rarely been subbed by McDermott throughout his time, much to my disdain at times. Not so much because I've felt McAnuff deserved to be taken off, but because far too many times he's been moved into the middle to cover for our lack of a viable central midfielder.

McAnuff appears to be a McDermott favourite (rightly or wrongly) and I don't think having the armband will really have changed things that much for to be honest.

The fact we don't have much of a creative alternative on either wing (or centrally) probably means McAnuff will get away with more below par performances than he otherwise might.

Sounds about right. Plus I think on top of that Brian values a bit of experience on the pitch and figures somebody with Jobi's years in the game might be more likely to produce a late moment of magic or be in the right place at the right time.

[winchester_royal]

McAnuff is still living off his form of when he first joined the club. I can't even remember the last time he a truly excellent game. He's been poor 90% of the time so far this season.

Obita had one bad game at Charlton and hasn't been seen since. Henry was hardly given a chance. Yet McAnuff can be useless for games at a time and still be the first name on the teamsheet. It just smacks on inconsistency in terms of selection from the manager, and I wonder whether this leaves some of the squad slightly disgruntled.

[Compo's Hat]

You would have thought the captain would have had one inspiring performance to raise the team this season, sadly that hasn't happend.

I would even go as far as saying Gorkks already has!

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

The irony of it all.....arguably Readings worst player on the night slates the team...

McAnuff slates team display

Reading captain Jobi McAnuff has spoken of his anger and disappointment with Reading's performance at Nottingham Forest last night, which saw the Royals go down 1-0.

Brian McDermott's side showed a poor attacking display, materialising just one shot on target in the entire game which game in injury time. It also saw the Royals lose their eight game unbeaten run.

McAnuff, 29, told the official RFC site: 'We had a decent little spell first half but we never really went after the game. We weren't good enough on the ball to go and cause them problems.'

'I don't think we did enough to win the game at all. There wasn't enough urgency from us. Obviously they've managed to get a goal and we never really looked like getting back into the game. No one is coming off the pitch thinking they did better than they did.'

Reading have now just scored one goal in the last three, coming from midfielder Mikele Leigertwood against Southampton. Sunday's opponents Birmingham have the best defensive record in the league so far.

[Wimb]

What he's slating the entire team, himself included, what's the problem with that? some people will use anything as an excuse to beat a player ffs

[Hoop Blah]

What he's slating the entire team, himself included, what's the problem with that? some people will use anything as an excuse to beat a player ffs

Indeed, he's had a load of stick for not being vocal enough or capabale and willing to dish out a rollicking. Now he does it (albeit in the press and not on the pitch) and people have a pop at him.

Dishing out criticism is quite tough when you're not doing your own job that well but at least this interview shows that they know they aren't doing enough at the moment.

[bcubed]

McAnuff is still living off his form of when he first joined the club. I can't even remember the last time he a truly excellent game. He's been poor 90% of the time so far this season.

Obita had one bad game at Charlton and hasn't been seen since. Henry was hardly given a chance. Yet McAnuff can be useless for games at a time and still be the first name on the teamsheet. It just smacks on inconsistency in terms of selection from the manager, and I wonder whether this leaves some of the squad slightly disgruntled.

Agree with this
Even when he plays well he flatters to deceive, with little end product
I can see why Brian likes him because he tracks back a lot and makes a lot of good tackles and he appears energetic for the whole game.
But where is the quality final ball or the decent shot on goal?

Not only is he first on the teamsheet but he is the last name to be considered for a sub

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

What he's slating the entire team, himself included, what's the problem with that? some people will use anything as an excuse to beat a player ffs

Indeed, he's had a load of stick for not being vocal enough or capabale and willing to dish out a rollicking. Now he does it (albeit in the press and not on the pitch) and people have a pop at him.

Dishing out criticism is quite tough when you're not doing your own job that well but at least this interview shows that they know they aren't doing enough at the moment.

Exactly...you ever seen him dish it out on the pitch ???....as a captain he should be ...and not hiding behind the media, and giving a blanket rollocking...but Jobo Notenuff cant do that , because he knows his own performances are shheeiite ! ....Pot calling Kettle I think !

[Alan Partridge]

I still don't think it really matters whose captain but where it might matter is if this role guarantees him a start or almost exempts him from being replaced. That's the only reason I or anyone should have with it. I think McAnuff has lost half a yard of pace, when i saw him first join he was the one you'd want on the ball running at players and even though his crossing wasn't always great, he'd beat players often enough that he would get a stack of crosses in during a game so some of them were decent. Now he's struggling to beat anyone. I haven't seen him hardly take anybody on or really influence a game. As he doesn't do that, he's getting less crosses in but the same amount of them are dump.

Wingers by their very nature unless they are absolutely top class, go hot and cold. They will have 10minutes a game minimum where they don't get the ball or you don't notice them, it was a very strange choice for an on field captain and at the moment he's not playing very well in all honesty. Think we're probably seeing the reason why Jobi hasn't ever really stuck around too long anywhere, just too inconsistant.

[melonhead]

What he's slating the entire team, himself included, what's the problem with that? some people will use anything as an excuse to beat a player ffs

Indeed, he's had a load of stick for not being vocal enough or capabale and willing to dish out a rollicking. Now he does it (albeit in the press and not on the pitch) and people have a pop at him.

Dishing out criticism is quite tough when you're not doing your own job that well but at least this interview shows that they know they aren't doing enough at the moment.

Exactly...you ever seen him dish it out on the pitch ???....as a captain he should be ...and not hiding behind the media, and giving a blanket rollocking...but Jobo Notenuff cant do that , because he knows his own performances are shheeiite ! ....Pot calling Kettle I think !

two ghames ago, ran around like man possessed, shouting and cajoling the players, giving the breath deep/big gesture
i said at the time the h8ers wouldnt notice.......

[Alan Partridge]

A good captain doesn't have to be a shouter. Needs to sort out his own form, be more consistant and the rest will fall into place.

But like i say, whose captain in a side matters not one jot in football.

[melonhead]

not that hes not been very poor this season though obv.

[Hoop Blah]

You don't need to be a shouter and a baller no, you do sometimes need to tell a player to pull his finger out and I'm sure McAnuff can and has done this (I've seen him dictating things and pulling players up at times this season).

The on pitch stuff isn't that important but it can play a role. Off the pitch I think it has more of an influence and from what I've heard McAnuff has the right kind of personality for that.

Agree with pretty much all of what AP said about wingers, a skipper getting a bit of preferential treatment and McAnuff not being quite as dangerous a player as he was a few years back. However, Brian has never really taken McAnuff off and he's had some very average performances for us at times, so I don't think him having the armband has really changed that side of things.

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

I still don't think it really matters whose captain but where it might matter is if this role guarantees him a start or almost exempts him from being replaced. That's the only reason I or anyone should have with it. I think McAnuff has lost half a yard of pace, when i saw him first join he was the one you'd want on the ball running at players and even though his crossing wasn't always great, he'd beat players often enough that he would get a stack of crosses in during a game so some of them were decent. Now he's struggling to beat anyone. I haven't seen him hardly take anybody on or really influence a game. As he doesn't do that, he's getting less crosses in but the same amount of them are dump.

Wingers by their very nature unless they are absolutely top class, go hot and cold. They will have 10minutes a game minimum where they don't get the ball or you don't notice them, it was a very strange choice for an on field captain and at the moment he's not playing very well in all honesty. Think we're probably seeing the reason why Jobi hasn't ever really stuck around too long anywhere, just too inconsistant.

+1

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

You don't need to be a shouter and a baller no, you do sometimes need to tell a player to pull his finger out and I'm sure McAnuff can and has done this (I've seen him dictating things and pulling players up at times this season).

The on pitch stuff isn't that important but it can play a role. Off the pitch I think it has more of an influence and from what I've heard McAnuff has the right kind of personality for that.

Agree with pretty much all of what AP said about wingers, a skipper getting a bit of preferential treatment and McAnuff not being quite as dangerous a player as he was a few years back. However, Brian has never really taken McAnuff off and he's had some very average performances for us at times, so I don't think him having the armband has really changed that side of things.

...but surely its on the pitch that counts ??....dont really care what he does off the pitch ...if that doesnt translate into a winning team then hes wasting his time

[Hoop Blah]

A lot of what makes a winning team is done off the pitch though.

It doesn't matter how good the captain is if the side isn't right. You really think having someone like Parky (as a captain) in the team on a matchday would make any difference to this sides results?

Do you think giving the armband to someone else in the side would improve results and performances?

[Svlad Cjelli]

...but surely its on the pitch that counts ??....dont really care what he does off the pitch ...if that doesnt translate into a winning team then hes wasting his time

It's not as simple as that.

Without him the team might be even worse - and with the best captain in the world they might still not win games.

You can't read as much as you are into a link between level of captaincy and winning/losing of games.

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

...but surely its on the pitch that counts ??....dont really care what he does off the pitch ...if that doesnt translate into a winning team then hes wasting his time

It's not as simple as that.

Without him the team might be even worse - and with the best captain in the world they might still not win games.

You can't read as much as you are into a link between level of captaincy and winning/losing of games.

Svald ...point taken in the main....but your comment above highlighted...hardly imho

[melonhead]

we just lost a game, out of 9

i challenge you to explain how it couldnt get any worse?

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

we just lost a game, out of 9

i challenge you to explain how it couldnt get any worse?

Melonhead so whats the average points gained out of those nine ? ...and while you are there whats the number of goals scored ?