For me Pauno has shown he is not well suited to manage the load a squad is exposed to during a uniquely congested season that will never likely happen again. It's notable that all 3 of the top 8 clubs that rotated the least during the busiest period have fallen off a cliff (us, Brentford and Swansea...

People vote for goals and flair. But Joao has fallen off a cliff at the wrong moment to win it. If this season happens in reverse with a turgid start and we finish on an unbeaten run (but not quite enough for the playoffs) everyone loves Pauno, Joao absolutely storms POTS and we feel very optimisti...

Hound Been very impressed again with Holmes tonight - becoming an excellent CB

He's so much better on the ball than we have had in that position in recent years. Looks much better at CB where he can be a progressive + ball playing CB than at RB where it makes him a solid RB

Laughable to think we would have done anything other than limp out in the play off semis, especially with the bonus injuries' to two more key players.

We haven't been close to good enough to make the playoffs for a long time

It should be João by a mile

It wont be

Are we ready to talk about how Pauno killed our season by not rotating and resting key players when it really mattered yet?

Good season overall mind, we just weren't able to adapt to the extraordinary fixture load

Could Rafael be included in a few of these (or does he get his own section). Has he been booked this season? How about assists? Has he played every minute in the league? (Are these league only stats?) Surprised there isn't a separate mini-league comparing keepers Filter just GKs playing 5 or more g...

genome no ffs Swans pen

Silver lining is it led to a classic Colin MeLOLtdown

Lovely stuff all round, and great to see key players hooked much earlier than in recent games.

Weds were (made to look) shite and Moore has a huge job on his hands

Why does everyone else keep winning :evil: :evil: :evil: :idea: Barnsley ahead through a stunner! 3 in 4 for the scorer now. Promising 20 year old American striker Daryl Dike. An excellent piece of business getting him in on loan in Jan and he's destined for a bigger club (who can afford his $20m a...

Zip

tidus_mi2

Zip Olise fabulous first half

Richards has been fantastic as well

Richards is so much more physical now than he used to be. Blossoming into a very good left back.

In the last few weeks he has very much looked the part of a top league player, and good enough to be more than just a Bayern II player

Sutekh Believe that the last time Reading scored in the 2nd half of a game was back in the middle of January v Coventry, that’s about 10 games or so isn’t it?

Yep - it'll be 11 games without a second half goal if we don't score a second today.

something something fatigue something

One benefit of having a few injuries this season, is the likes of Meite, Yiadom, Moore and Puscas should be really fresh and firing. obviously its a manic season and mentally and physically 2 games a week takes its toll I'm sure. Add Swift in if (big if) he comes back soon and fully fit and you hav...

Moore fell over and was scrambling to recover just as that cross came in, giving Armstrong that extra pocket of space 'Fell'?! He was hauled over by Armstrong, as highlighted by Sky, but officials failed to spot it! Yeah I had assumed he had fallen (as I didn't see him go apesh!t at the ref for mis...

and breathe...

Defense did well to limit their chances all second half, but that didn't make it feel comfortable at any point

Moore fell over and was scrambling to recover just as that cross came in, giving Armstrong that extra pocket of space

Coming up to 9 games without scoring a second half goal now

We've gone too negative too quick. Not sure if fitness is an issue as the players look knackered in games recently. Bit like Bielsa's teams? I don't see it as a fitness issue - the fixture list is too compact to expect players to perform optimally every game. This season is calling out for rotation...

Go look at the first page of this thread. :shock: Two of us! Its almost as if Joao/Olise/Ejaria all going off the boil together after playing nearly every minute of the most congested spell in years is not a coincidence! That midweek rest after the Sheff Weds game can't come soon enough Reckon it's...

Am I still the lone voice saying "players look tired"? Go look at the first page of this thread. :shock: Two of us! Its almost as if Joao/Olise/Ejaria all going off the boil together after playing nearly every minute of the most congested spell in years is not a coincidence! That midweek ...