BFTG Birmingham (A)

[NewCorkSeth]

Guys, far too cordial. Call someone a pcunt or something please.

You're a pcunt.

[Old Man Andrews]

Guys, far too cordial. Call someone a pcunt or something please.

You're a pcunt.

Thats better.

[Victor Meldrew]

Didn't go but watched on TV.
I suppose it was all quite predictable-look o.k. in the first half but not creating much.
Come out at the start of the second having taken prozac or something in the dressing room.
Let the opposition get on top until waking up again a few minutes before the end.

The commentator hit the nail on the head when he said words to the effect that Reading can look quite threatening when they decide to play in the opposition half but seem fixated with passing the ball around slowly at the back.
Ratings:-
All about 6 apart from Jakkola a 7 for the one very good save and Kelly a 5 for the ludicrous overhit back pass which led to the important first goal and Meite an 8 for scoring and looking dangerous throughout.

The Kelly pass summed us up-far too concerned with going backwards rather than forwards and last night you couldn't help think that nothing has changed much from the days of Stam.
I hope Clement can patch things up with Barrow as the options of him (on form) and McCleary (fit) might mean that we get to stay in this division but otherwise there seems little can be done to make these players concentrate more and compete for 90 minutes in every game and there is the real prospect of Div 1 football next season.

It could just be that this division is a much of a muchness with no team being special but we surely need to do more when we come up against the likes of Sheffield United, Middlesborough,Swansea etc.as well as doing what we don't seem that good at, i.e. beating the lesser sides or at least not losing to them.

[windermereROYAL]

So how many goals is that straight after halftime now? 6? 7? That's incredible. It's like we are going for a record.

6 in 14 games, this is on top of 18 out of 23 conceded this season in the 2nd half of games.

[Stranded]

The Kelly pass summed us up-far too concerned with going backwards rather than forwards and last night you couldn't help think that nothing has changed much from the days of Stam.
I hope Clement can patch things up with Barrow as the options of him (on form) and McCleary (fit) might mean that we get to stay in this division but otherwise there seems little can be done to make these players concentrate more and compete for 90 minutes in every game and there is the real prospect of Div 1 football next season.

It could just be that this division is a much of a muchness with no team being special but we surely need to do more when we come up against the likes of Sheffield United, Middlesborough,Swansea etc.as well as doing what we don't seem that good at, i.e. beating the lesser sides or at least not losing to them.

The Kelly pass summed up the lack of intelligence in the players more than an impulse to go backwards, he simply did not need to play that pass. He couldn't pass forward at that point but there was a perfectly safe pass over to Yiadom that would have opened up the game on the other flank that he simply didn't see or chose not to look at. A pass backwards can be quite attacking if it shifts the play, his pass was pointless in all circumstances.

[NewCorkSeth]

So how many goals is that straight after halftime now? 6? 7? That's incredible. It's like we are going for a record.

6 in 14 games, this is on top of 18 out of 23 conceded this season in the 2nd half of games.

That's mighty impressive isn't it. We're sure to have another record come the end of the season.

[Victor Meldrew]

The Kelly pass summed us up-far too concerned with going backwards rather than forwards and last night you couldn't help think that nothing has changed much from the days of Stam.
I hope Clement can patch things up with Barrow as the options of him (on form) and McCleary (fit) might mean that we get to stay in this division but otherwise there seems little can be done to make these players concentrate more and compete for 90 minutes in every game and there is the real prospect of Div 1 football next season.

It could just be that this division is a much of a muchness with no team being special but we surely need to do more when we come up against the likes of Sheffield United, Middlesborough,Swansea etc.as well as doing what we don't seem that good at, i.e. beating the lesser sides or at least not losing to them.

The Kelly pass summed up the lack of intelligence in the players more than an impulse to go backwards, he simply did not need to play that pass. He couldn't pass forward at that point but there was a perfectly safe pass over to Yiadom that would have opened up the game on the other flank that he simply didn't see or chose not to look at. A pass backwards can be quite attacking if it shifts the play, his pass was pointless in all circumstances.

Yes, but apart from Swift the players always seem to want to pass backwards as first choice (do you remember one of our old players, Chris Gunter?)-it is a mindset which IMHO needs changing.
It might be different if we had Beckenbauer and Bobby Moore at the back but we haven't.

[glenroyal]

Lots of balanced / considered posts there on good and bad play / chances / fortune ...
But ain't things getting a bit desperate after that loss?
The gap opening-up between Reading / Rotherham / Millwall and Bolton / Stoke / Villa
Looking like a season-long relegation battle without some injection of .... something?

[John Smith]

I do think we had a bit of bad luck last night - that chance from a couple of yards that hit the keeper rather than him making a save, then they go up the other end and score. Also if Meite was a bit more clinical with that first chance on the half hour mark, we go in 1-0 up.

These are the margins.

[Old Man Andrews]

I do think we had a bit of bad luck last night - that chance from a couple of yards that hit the keeper rather than him making a save, then they go up the other end and score. Also if Meite was a bit more clinical with that first chance on the half hour mark, we go in 1-0 up.

These are the margins.

The only thing that is important here is that we lost, again.

Clement has arguably lost the players and is proving that he just isn't a manager. He is a good coach in training and a decent number 2.

If we lose badly on Saturday then he has to go.

[glenroyal]

Yes, but apart from Swift the players always seem to want to pass backwards as first choice (do you remember one of our old players, Chris Gunter?)-it is a mindset which IMHO needs changing.
It might be different if we had Beckenbauer and Bobby Moore at the back but we haven't.

Clearly some team / motivation issues in keeping up 90 mins determined attack, but I also keep seeing Swift as one showing the positive intent. Not seen a game in the flesh this season, but the patient possession at all costs tactic - an infection we caught under Stam, but I thought we'd left behind - seems to be a problem without more players (like Swift) prepared to vary the pace and bring it forward - or that dominant advancing centre-back idea.

Struck by the Sky commentary on the match last night. "What's the point of extended possession at the back after the keeper releases the ball short, if all you're going to do is attempt a long ball eventually anyway?" Clearly not rocket science.

[glenroyal]

The only thing that is important here is that we lost, again.
Clement has arguably lost the players ....

My point precisely
"But ain't things getting a bit desperate after that loss?
The gap opening-up between Reading / Rotherham / Millwall and Bolton / Stoke / Villa ... ?"

[Coppells Lost Coat]

I do think we had a bit of bad luck last night - that chance from a couple of yards that hit the keeper rather than him making a save, then they go up the other end and score. Also if Meite was a bit more clinical with that first chance on the half hour mark, we go in 1-0 up.

These are the margins.

I feel costly mistakes are the difference. We have professionals making huge mistakes all the time, gifting goals therefore always chasing games or letting the opposition get back into games
The 2 last night resulted from Kellys insane pass back and a very shoddy hospital pass to Blackett - both basic passes that at this level should not happen this often. It is also a matter of time that Ilori cocks up, very lucky last night.

[Millsy]

Blackett positionally crap at defence again but good goign forward? Yeah he does good forward stuff like against Millwall but we know he's a liability bin defence. Can't believe we are STILL in need of a left back.

And if we're not playing barrow because of handbags behind the scenes then why not let Blackett have a go as left winger?

[Platypuss]

Half time is clearly an issue - perhaps not in the managers' instructions, but in how the team use it to reset and recover. Take tonight, sure, an unforced error, but the defending was sloppy. The goalscorer was unmarked, and directed a loose ball past the keeper.

Perhaps the other way of looking at it is that half time gives the opposition the opportunity to take stock and exploit our weaknesses better.

[Zip]

Disappointing to hear Sims was so poor. The one positive is that our strikers are scoring this season. Ideally Clement plays all three in the starting line up. It sounds like Meite should play as the centre forward and Bodvarsson in a wider role.

[Zip]

Half time is clearly an issue - perhaps not in the managers' instructions, but in how the team use it to reset and recover. Take tonight, sure, an unforced error, but the defending was sloppy. The goalscorer was unmarked, and directed a loose ball past the keeper.

Perhaps the other way of looking at it is that half time gives the opposition the opportunity to take stock and exploit our weaknesses better.

Yes which Clement singularly fails to address during that second half.

[genome]

Half time is clearly an issue - perhaps not in the managers' instructions, but in how the team use it to reset and recover. Take tonight, sure, an unforced error, but the defending was sloppy. The goalscorer was unmarked, and directed a loose ball past the keeper.

Perhaps the other way of looking at it is that half time gives the opposition the opportunity to take stock and exploit our weaknesses better.

Well, we should do the same thing to the opposition, right?

If we're not then that's down to the manager.

[stealthpapes]

Half time is clearly an issue - perhaps not in the managers' instructions, but in how the team use it to reset and recover. Take tonight, sure, an unforced error, but the defending was sloppy. The goalscorer was unmarked, and directed a loose ball past the keeper.

Perhaps the other way of looking at it is that half time gives the opposition the opportunity to take stock and exploit our weaknesses better.

I would not argue with that.

[Platypuss]

Half time is clearly an issue - perhaps not in the managers' instructions, but in how the team use it to reset and recover. Take tonight, sure, an unforced error, but the defending was sloppy. The goalscorer was unmarked, and directed a loose ball past the keeper.

Perhaps the other way of looking at it is that half time gives the opposition the opportunity to take stock and exploit our weaknesses better.

Yes which Clement singularly fails to address during that second half.

Bit hard when you're normally 1 down after 5 minutes of it.

And not all weaknesses can be addressed (without creating new ones) - that's why we're so fragile.