Back from the match / Pub / Lounge (Villa)

[HoneyRoastHoax]

Someone else could teach them another way of attacking other than HOOF ffs someone else could come in and give them all a oxf*rd bollocking, throw a plate of waitrose finest at them, slap the bowl of oxf*rd CEREAL out of morrisons hand, tell feds to grow some balls and bitch slap his misses if she ever thinks about critiscing the club again.

Yeah, I have to say, I do agree with the point you are making.

They do need to grow up a bit and take things more seriously. The players do need to toughen up a bit, you're right.

The reason we are having to hoof the ball a bit up to Roberts right now is because the two CMs offer nothing in an attacking sense. Tabb just chases down space and closes down opponents and gets tackles in and Legs, is just all over the place at the moment. The full backs and wide players have to by pass them if we are to create anything, meaning direct balls towards Roberts and hoping he will lay off to the wings and then Robbo and Le Fondre get into the box and await the cross.

We need a Sidwell and Harper type partnership in the middle again, then we would play more football. This is basically the Coppell team without Sidwell and Harper in the middle so can't quite play the same way.

Sids and Harps were quality footballers, very tidy and creative and defensively Sids was box to box and a great tackler, great at winning back possession and although Harps didn't get the tackles in he harried and closed down space and was always breathing down the neck of the opposition and making it impossible for them to play. Sids and Harps were fit and athletic and could do all of that. Tabbs and Legs are not all rounders, the game just passes them by.

You're right, I wasn't getting angry at you. Its unfair to slate MF when they should both me on the bench and guthrie and karacan should be playing.

I just know all this team togetherness isn't working, lots of reports suggest that McD is seen as a father figure to some of these boys. Do you think Man utd players think like that about fergie? Id like to see them play like they are oxf*rd scared of having a bollocking not its alright cos unkie brian will console us. he understands us. I really hope Guthrie comes straight back in the side

[glenroyal]

In summary - I'd agree with the "creative midfield pairing" being our main weakness right now.

Can't fault Legs and Tabb on their effort, work-rate and effectiveness at what they do, but it's not enough.

Even if Brian prefers wing play, we still need a better central midfield.
I'm dreaming of Caskey (but OK, Sid and Harps if you prefer).

[Alexander Litvinenko]

I can't give my thoughts on this abject and gutless shower any clearer than than I do here

[Gordons Cumming]

I can't give my thoughts on this abject and gutless shower any clearer than than I do here

Spot on, I'm afraid.

My only hope for the future is if we can follow the WBA model and be a yo-yo club for a few seasons before eventually becoming established in the Premier.

With the Russian money maybe that will come to pass.

I can't see Brian being with us during this time sadly.

[leicsRoyal]

I really don't think that Roberts and ALF are a good combination of strikers.

Roberts holds the ball up well.
ALF runs the channel for the flick ons etc.

They are both good at what they do individually but as a partnership it just doesn't work. There is very little chance of them assisting each other in any type of goal threat.

[Alexander Litvinenko]

I really don't think that Roberts and ALF are a good combination of strikers.

Roberts holds the ball up well.
ALF runs the channel for the flick ons etc.

They are both good at what they do individually but as a partnership it just doesn't work. There is very little chance of them assisting each other in any type of goal threat.

I think they'd be more effective if they were properly supported by the midfield - but all too often one of them does well to win the ball and only has the other one to aim at, surrounded by 4 or 5 defenders.

[Warfield North Stand]

Without doubt the worst central midfield pairing in Premier League history. Ledge is utter shite. How BM cannot see this is starting to get worrying.
Dreading Saturday already...

[andrew1957]

Without doubt the worst central midfield pairing in Premier League history. Ledge is utter shite. How BM cannot see this is starting to get worrying.
Dreading Saturday already...

That is very unfair because "if" Guthrie is really injured Brian only has Tabb, Legs and Gunnar to choose from. If anything the fault is we should have strengthened further in this important position last summer. The club have been unfortunate with injuries this season and we just don’t have enough options available - we don't know if this was Brian's choice or lack of available funds.

Also Tabb has been outstanding in some recent games - although looked tired out to me last night. It is doubtful Legs is good enough at this level but he was very good at Championship level for us and we should be grateful for his past contribution.

And history says that all the players will raise their game on Saturday and although I expect us to lose I doubt it will be the thrashing some predict.

[HoneyRoastHoax]

Fouling pcunt Morro should have gone down

[pea]

Our midfield has to be one of the worst in Premier League history.

all that needed to be said tbh

[melonhead]

worst game for a long time
& worst game i remember watching on sky
worst opposition ive seen this season, by a mile imo.there for the taking, should have been 3 points in the bag,& at the very least 1.


Mistakes by mcdermott-
playing mcanuff out of position again where hes totally innefective
not playing mcleary from the start
playing alf from the start instead of nhunt
leaving the subs till too late.

plus points........erm


defence did look slightly better without gorkss/gunter........erm
roberts morro and shorey still playing very well.......erm.....
thats it.

DOOM,GLOOOM,ETC

[reading_fan]

I can't give my thoughts on this abject and gutless shower any clearer than than I do here

You might want to check out the SDR thread AL, he's in agreement with you! Be afraid, be very afraid!

[Alexander Litvinenko]

I can't give my thoughts on this abject and gutless shower any clearer than than I do here

You might want to check out the SDR thread AL, he's in agreement with you! Be afraid, be very afraid!

Even a stopped clock gets it right twice a day!

[Barry the bird boggler]

That must rank as one of the worst Premiership games ever. Two absolutely b****y awful dire teams devoid of any flair or anything remotely interesting trying to give the ball to each other as much as possible. On that both will be trying to get out of Division 2 next year.

Reading as an attacking unit were non existent, what McAnuff and Robson-Kanu were actually on the pitch to do god only knows as they did naff all by way of running at full backs. I wonder, is that down to crap management again in playing Jobi on the wrong wing to accommodate HRK who, let's face it, is hardly pulling up trees at the moment. Either way don't these players have a brain to swap wings on occasions and see what they can do (or is that not allowed by BM)?

Tabb (unusually) and Leigertwood (yet again) were appalling, unable, it seems, to be able to find a pass to anyone in blue and white.

And as for the substitutions, well let's do the usual not changing anything until the last 10 minutes and then substitute Jason Roberts, easily the best player on the pitch and the only person ever likely to cause any problems to Villa, for Hunt so he can jump up and down a bit - well words just fail me!

Is everyone looking forward to ManU and their goalfest on Saturday, be great to see that beamed across the world showing how inept Reading really are at the moment.

[Lacoste]

worst game for a long time
& worst game i remember watching on sky
worst opposition ive seen this season, by a mile imo.there for the taking, should have been 3 points in the bag,& at the very least 1.


Mistakes by mcdermott-
playing mcanuff out of position again where hes totally innefective
not playing mcleary from the start
playing alf from the start instead of nhunt
leaving the subs till too late.

plus points........erm


defence did look slightly better without gorkss/gunter........erm
roberts morro and shorey still playing very well.......erm.....
thats it.

DOOM,GLOOOM,ETC

A fair and honest assesment.

[melonhead]

[reading_fan]

I was there last night, but have been stewing on it a little rather than posting instant reactionary stuff as it comes into my head.

The main feeling regarding last night is not anger, annoyance or that we were wronged, just a sense of dejection. I didn't think we played especially badly last night, we weren't at our best certainly, but I just think that collectively we aren't quite good enough. Last night we looked like a good Championship side going to an established Premier League side for a cup upset. We worked hard, but ultimately just didn't have the required quality to unlock a side not much better than ourselves. Both sides looked very weak at the back but lacked the quality and nouse up front to exploit the opportunities afforded to them.

I thought Feds did everything that was asked of him, didn't have a chance with the goal, but came and collected crosses well and looked more like his old solid self. Some of his kicks towards the end were a little wayward but he wasn't the only one guilty of that last night.

Defensively, we panic far too easily, but the two changes to bring in Mariappa and Cummings made us slightly more solid at least. The main problem being that because the midfield isn't offering them enough protection they are more exposed, more often, and so are more likely to concede. Shorey was our best player last night, and I'm definitely pleased to have him back as he's performed well in most of the games I've seen him.

Midfield, well, where to start? Ledge was very poor last night, too slow in possession, lost the ball too often and not strong enough on the ball. For a player who was so dominant last season, the superior athleticism, anticipation of mistakes, and power of the Premier League midfielders seems to be a step beyond him and his abilities. Tabb I would put as our third best player on the pitch, he works hard, won a number of tackles and generally kept play ticking over, but he's not creative enough to be a threat to the opposition. It might be worth trying him alongside either Jem or Guthrie to try and find a better balance of defensive shield and creativity. HRK was ok, but again, doesn't have enough tricks in his locker to regularly beat Premier League quality full backs. I have long held the theory with McAnuff that if he wins the first battle when he takes on his full back then he'll have a good game, otherwise he goes into his shell with confidence knocked and this was the situation last night, too often choosing to pass to Cummings rather than having a go at the full back.

Up front, Roberts was good, our second best player. Did Sky make any comments about the tussle he was having with the Villa centre back? He certainly seemed to be fouled most times he went for an aerial ball. But after we took him off we lost the focal point of the attack, and a front line pairing of Hunt and ALF isn't big/strong/quick enough to really trouble an opposition defence.

I'm not calling for Brian's head or anything like that. The subs were too late last night, McCleary should have been on for HRK earlier and switched to right wing. But ultimately, as the current suqad looks, we just aren't good enough. We are at least competitive and not geting hammered every week, but that really isn't much consolation after a while.

And as a final point, to the "fans" who booed the team off at half time who were sat a few rows behind me last night, I hope you're happy the boys got the result you were obviously so keen to see.

[Top Flight]

I find it difficult to get mad with McD right now because he is stuck with Tabb and Ledge at the moment. They are all he's got. It's not bad management that he keeps selecting them, they are his only option when Jem and Guthrie are injured.

There is just nothing he can do until January. If Ledge and Tabb are still his only options when January is over then I might start calling into question McD's managerial capabilities. But at the moment, he simply has to make do with what he's got. I don't think any other manager can get more out of these boys. Ledge and Tabb are simply not premier league players. It's as simple as that. It's funny how a player can be so good in the championship I'm talking about Ledge here and then be so woeful in the premiership. Some players can step up, others can't. It's just one of those things. Ledge would be a good player back in the championship for some other club but unfortunately for us, he is out of his depth at Premier League level.

I still have plenty of faith in McD. It takes time to transition a team. He needs several transfer windows to get us to where we want to be as a premier league club. He is still clearly a fantastic manager. Unfortunately because of transfer windows you do become powerless to act when some players are out of their depth. Remember he was building a team to succeed in the Championship last year. That is not the same as what is required to flourish at premier league level. The finances are on another level. You just can't plan years in advance for a premier league season when you are in the championship because its a different world financially.

Fans need to get a grip of this reality.

[Avon Royal]

worst game for a long time
& worst game i remember watching on sky
worst opposition ive seen this season, by a mile imo.there for the taking, should have been 3 points in the bag,& at the very least 1.


Mistakes by mcdermott-
playing mcanuff out of position again where hes totally innefective
not playing mcleary from the start
playing alf from the start instead of nhunt
leaving the subs till too late.

plus points........erm


defence did look slightly better without gorkss/gunter........erm
roberts morro and shorey still playing very well.......erm.....
thats it.

DOOM,GLOOOM,ETC

But surely our balance sheet has never looked better, and that's what it's all about isn't it?

[Gordons Cumming]

OK.

Who would you replace Tabb & Ledge with?