Well....what can you say about that? We started poorly and could have been 1-0 down on two occasions inside the first five. However, we then took control of the match and played really well. Meite was an absolute handful and if he could shoot accurately, we would have gone 1-0 up. 0-0 at HT was pretty fair overall. Second half we started poorly (again) and they scored the simplest goal we will concede all season. Again, that seemed to wake us up and we were excellent in pouring forward to get level.....until it came to shooting.....Joao, Ovie, Boye, Meite and others were guilty of taking one too many touches time and again. Nobody had a bad game in my view but we made a couple of daft mistakes that cost us the match. Swift, Yiadom and Meite were my standouts for us for me.

sorry no excuses. Boro were a poor team but we were just as bad. I know its early in the season and, and, and but today was very disappointing

We played well, but failed to score. This is where we are at the moment. I said we’d finish mid-table at the start of the season, all the evidence so far suggests that will be the case. A nice, quiet stabilising year would not be a bad thing.

Was watching Norwich vs City earlier. You know, 12 months ago approx Norwich went to Ipswich and went 1-0 down. Had they lost that game, Farke may have gone, a lot of fans were calling for him to be sacked. They got an equaliser and never looked back. After seven games last year, they had 1 more point than us

The point being is that managers do need time nowadays. Some managers can fix things quickly, but the majority need time to instil their philosophy. Even Pep at City only just sneaked champions league first season

Now Gomes makes mistakes. Some big ones I think. Freezing out certain players is one, dropping too deep is another, some of his substitutions are naive, picking wingers up front. But it’s all a learning curve for him. It’s not about winning all the games at this moment. It’s about the team understanding what the manager wants from them and impacting upon that

Starting to think the wins against Cardiff and Huddersfield are a negative because it raised expectations too much. It is frustrating, but you just have to give this team some time

Was watching Norwich vs City earlier. You know, 12 months ago approx Norwich went to Ipswich and went 1-0 down. Had they lost that game, Farke may have gone, a lot of fans were calling for him to be sacked. They got an equaliser and never looked back. After seven games last year, they had 1 more point than us

The point being is that managers do need time nowadays. Some managers can fix things quickly, but the majority need time to instil their philosophy. Even Pep at City only just sneaked champions league first season

Now Gomes makes mistakes. Some big ones I think. Freezing out certain players is one, dropping too deep is another, some of his substitutions are naive, picking wingers up front. But it’s all a learning curve for him. It’s not about winning all the games at this moment. It’s about the team understanding what the manager wants from them and impacting upon that

Starting to think the wins against Cardiff and Huddersfield are a negative because it raised expectations too much. It is frustrating, but you just have to give this team some time
This

Yes. Also, whilst we’ve spent some money on new players, it sounds like it certainly wasn’t a case of going shit or bust this season. Definitely a longer term plan

Am worried we’re starting to turn into Brentford mk2 - stats in our favour, who scored ratings high but not winning games - conceding soft goals under little pressure

The save from Joao was excellent on another note

Was watching Norwich vs City earlier. You know, 12 months ago approx Norwich went to Ipswich and went 1-0 down. Had they lost that game, Farke may have gone, a lot of fans were calling for him to be sacked. They got an equaliser and never looked back. After seven games last year, they had 1 more point than us

The point being is that managers do need time nowadays. Some managers can fix things quickly, but the majority need time to instil their philosophy. Even Pep at City only just sneaked champions league first season

Now Gomes makes mistakes. Some big ones I think. Freezing out certain players is one, dropping too deep is another, some of his substitutions are naive, picking wingers up front. But it’s all a learning curve for him. It’s not about winning all the games at this moment. It’s about the team understanding what the manager wants from them and impacting upon that

Starting to think the wins against Cardiff and Huddersfield are a negative because it raised expectations too much. It is frustrating, but you just have to give this team some time


Good post, and I agree.

Also I agree that time is needed, sometimes a season or two. I think that SSC had 3 seasons before he delivered. Patience is a virtue.

Was watching Norwich vs City earlier. You know, 12 months ago approx Norwich went to Ipswich and went 1-0 down. Had they lost that game, Farke may have gone, a lot of fans were calling for him to be sacked. They got an equaliser and never looked back. After seven games last year, they had 1 more point than us

The point being is that managers do need time nowadays. Some managers can fix things quickly, but the majority need time to instil their philosophy. Even Pep at City only just sneaked champions league first season

Now Gomes makes mistakes. Some big ones I think. Freezing out certain players is one, dropping too deep is another, some of his substitutions are naive, picking wingers up front. But it’s all a learning curve for him. It’s not about winning all the games at this moment. It’s about the team understanding what the manager wants from them and impacting upon that

Starting to think the wins against Cardiff and Huddersfield are a negative because it raised expectations too much. It is frustrating, but you just have to give this team some time
This

This again.

I think we suffered from a perceived over confidence. I felt the exact same way after that first half as I did after the first half against Charlton. We looked like a good team who presumed we would win against both.

I think it is either the fault of the players or the coaching staff that we have had 2, essentially identical, first halves in a row (with an international break in between) where we have struggled to looked bothered to not score.

The confidence that we will score seems to not actually help us as it does many teams.

The subs were shocking. We looked over and done after the double sub. Yes we had chances but mostly from set pieces where we overloaded the front and a better team (like Charlton did) would have torn us a new one at the back.

The ref was shite. Maybe the worst I can remember seeing.

When do we start to get concerned about the amount of sitters Puscas is missing?

Was watching Norwich vs City earlier. You know, 12 months ago approx Norwich went to Ipswich and went 1-0 down. Had they lost that game, Farke may have gone, a lot of fans were calling for him to be sacked. They got an equaliser and never looked back. After seven games last year, they had 1 more point than us

The point being is that managers do need time nowadays. Some managers can fix things quickly, but the majority need time to instil their philosophy. Even Pep at City only just sneaked champions league first season

Now Gomes makes mistakes. Some big ones I think. Freezing out certain players is one, dropping too deep is another, some of his substitutions are naive, picking wingers up front. But it’s all a learning curve for him. It’s not about winning all the games at this moment. It’s about the team understanding what the manager wants from them and impacting upon that

Starting to think the wins against Cardiff and Huddersfield are a negative because it raised expectations too much. It is frustrating, but you just have to give this team some time


Good post, and I agree.

Also I agree that time is needed, sometimes a season or two. I think that SSC had 3 seasons before he delivered. Patience is a virtue.

The problem we’ve got is the owners “Want” promotion...so regardless of what the supporters want or the fact that he should be given time to make mistakes & learn, Gomes will be on a shorter leash in their eyes than ours

Being an adopted Northerner, I only make a handful of games most season and was unfortunate to have my holiday booked for the Hull and Huddersfield matches. Being my first game of the season, I had several observations. I follow our reports, podcast etc. closely, so it's not off today alone.

- we are a long way ahead of last season. We controlled most of the game and didn't deserve to lose. Rudolph made several big saves.

- Our defence looks solid most of the time, but the goal was utterly woeful. We had been let off the hook a couple of minutes earlier with a well worked offside set piece. So disappointing set piece defending and a disappointing way to lose.

- Ejaria is clearly a class player, but today was not his day. Barely touched the ball in the first half. Swift was much better; ran the game at times.

- Puscas' start outside the Cardiff game has not been good enough. He only really had one touch today when he put Richards' cross over the bar. The pace and trajectory means it wasn't a sitter, but a genuine 20 goal striker at this level would have converted. Needs to improve to look like value for money.

- I love Meite, but his limitations are very real. Unreliable first touch, bad decision making at key moments and poor execution too. He played as well as we could expect, but we'll never be anything more than lower mid table with him leading the line. You just don't have faith in anything happening when he gets the ball in a good area.

I keep hearing about Meite’s limitations. He is under-estimated on here. He is good in the air, pretty quick, puts himself about and reasonably composed in front of goal. His first touch isn’t great but that’s why he is playing in the Championship. His goal conversion rate was impressive last season as he really didn’t miss many chances.

Gomes didn’t rest Puscas and Joao. He dropped them and rightly so after their dismal performances against Charlton. Both have been underwhelming since Cardiff. Neither should be certain starters.

They’ve both started two games since Cardiff (H), Joao (Huddersfield + Charlton), Puscas (WBA + Charlton). Ejaria has had two underwhelming games in a row so should we drop him next game too?

They’ve both started two games since Cardiff (H), Joao (Huddersfield + Charlton), Puscas (WBA + Charlton). Ejaria has had two underwhelming games in a row so should we drop him next game too?

I’m not the manager. Clearly as manager Jose Gomes chose to drop our strikers. They were both very poor against Charlton. Ejaria has not been very poor in any game this season.

From my view, when he gets the ball in a good area and gets past the full back, as happened a couple of times today, I simply don't expect a chance at the end of it. You can blame Boye or a lack of options to find, but ultimately his final product is rarely good enough. He's best when he finishes on instinct; when he actually has time to think it goes wrong.

Joao and Puscas need to be kept on their toes and shouldn't be assured of a place, but they are undoubtedly capable of more than Meite.

From my view, when he gets the ball in a good area and gets past the full back, as happened a couple of times today, I simply don't expect a chance at the end of it. You can blame Boye or a lack of options to find, but ultimately his final product is rarely good enough. He's best when he finishes on instinct; when he actually has time to think it goes wrong.

Joao and Puscas need to be kept on their toes and shouldn't be assured of a place, but they are undoubtedly capable of more than Meite.

I just don’t see Meite as a winger and never have. He’s a bit too bulky. Much more of an old fashioned number nine in my eyes. In terms of capability time will tell. Joao has had a chequered career to date and is a bit like Reading FC in that he flatters to deceive. I would like to see Puscas and Meite upfront.

As for Puscas I’m sure he will come good but for now the hype is exceeding the end product.

What frustrates me is we are losing to sides we are more than capable of beating. For Boro read Hull.

We win we are the best Reading team ever, we lose it`s sack the manager, sack the board and the general suicidal posts on social media. changing the boss is always the answer isn`t it?
Bugger this I`m off to bed, night,

Not one poster on here has suggested Gomes should be sacked. He remains very much in credit for keeping us up last season.

TBF I`m reacting to the social media kids.

TBF I`m reacting to the social media kids.

Fair enough. There is one particular tool on there who keeps repeating he wants Gomes out but the vast majority are telling him to shut up.
As long as we show improvement this season then I would hope Gomes is still here in May. Not sure our owners will see it that way though.

TBF I`m reacting to the social media kids.

Fair enough. There is one particular tool on there who keeps repeating he wants Gomes out but the vast majority are telling him to shut up.
As long as we show improvement this season then I would hope Gomes is still here in May. Not sure our owners will see it that way though.
We were dead and buried last season when Gomes arrived. If we play decent football and finish in mid table, I will be absolutely livid if the owners fire him.

Fair enough. There is one particular tool on there who keeps repeating he wants Gomes out but the vast majority are telling him to shut up.
As long as we show improvement this season then I would hope Gomes is still here in May. Not sure our owners will see it that way though.
We were dead and buried last season when Gomes arrived. If we play decent football and finish in mid table, I will be absolutely livid if the owners fire him.

Yep. Me too. I like Gomes and we are heading in the right direction.

We were dead and buried last season when Gomes arrived. If we play decent football and finish in mid table, I will be absolutely livid if the owners fire him.

Yep. Me too. I like Gomes and we are heading in the right direction.

Yeah. Ultimately it depends on what the goals for the club are though, I don’t think we should be rushing for a top 6 finish

Although disagree with the dead and buried comment

Yep. Me too. I like Gomes and we are heading in the right direction.

Yeah. Ultimately it depends on what the goals for the club are though, I don’t think we should be rushing for a top 6 finish

Although disagree with the dead and buried comment

After the. Swansea defeat when Gomes had just taken over we were five points adrift from safety. In nearly fifty years supporting the club I cannot think of any other season when we were in such a poor position at the start of the New Year where we avoided relegation.
So maybe not dead and buried but certainly on death’s door and in dire need of resuscitation.

TBF I`m reacting to the social media kids.

Well don’t. You’re a grown up?

Amen.

Natural for Puscas to struggle a bit. Young, new country etc. And we know Joak's work ethic is suspect as a 1 in 6 good games player.

It's still early. Playing well and losing isn't great, but it's better than playing badly and losing. It's a better start than last year. It's better performances than last year.

We just need to have realistic expectations. Mid table sides have poor patches. They're inconsistent. That's where we are at best.

Yeah. Ultimately it depends on what the goals for the club are though, I don’t think we should be rushing for a top 6 finish

Although disagree with the dead and buried comment

After the. Swansea defeat when Gomes had just taken over we were five points adrift from safety. In nearly fifty years supporting the club I cannot think of any other season when we were in such a poor position at the start of the New Year where we avoided relegation.
So maybe not dead and buried but certainly on death’s door and in dire need of resuscitation.
We weren't dead and buried when Clement was sacked though. We totally fell apart when he left having been very poor but slowly improving.

Almost no one is ever dead and buried at xmas.

After the. Swansea defeat when Gomes had just taken over we were five points adrift from safety. In nearly fifty years supporting the club I cannot think of any other season when we were in such a poor position at the start of the New Year where we avoided relegation.
So maybe not dead and buried but certainly on death’s door and in dire need of resuscitation.
We weren't dead and buried when Clement was sacked though. We totally fell apart when he left having been very poor but slowly improving.

Almost no one is ever dead and buried at xmas.

Gomes didn’t take over immediately after Clement.
You were one of the posters who thought no one was going to come in and turn it around and said we might as well consign ourselves to relegation. At least try and be consistent.
I also didn’t say we were dead and buried in the first instance.

Oh now you’ve gone and done it.

Pages of Ian.