Back from the game - Southampton (H)

[Za Vas]

I agree with Winchester Royal, nice to see the full backs getting forward.

The small bit of play in the South-West corner, first half was probably the best move we've had this season so that was pleasing.

Other than that, just waiting for next season.

In other news, congrats to Mad Dog, promoted with Gillingham today.

[SCIAG]

I thought we were alright, though we gave up after the second goal went in.

I was struggling to see the southern half of the pitch because of the sun so I might have missed some crucial details, particularly defending in the second half. Looks like people are just taking the opportunity to bash whoever they dislike. The usual nonsense like our squad being terrible is being spouted. Comment of the thread so far: PO trying to claim we don't respond well to going behind, despite most of our points being gained from losing positions. I think the same was true for much of last season too?

Seems we were unlucky not to have a penalty and a goal.

Feds- poor for the goal, probably. Made some good saves.
Kelly- good going forward and didn't really make any mistakes
Mariappa- got caught in possession. Used his pace well. Needs to play with Pearce really.
Morrison- from what I saw, his positioning wasn't great. He did well in the air.
Gunter- probably his best game for us. Linked up well with HRK in the first half
HRK- excellent first half, but faded in the second as Shaw improved. Didn't look good in a central role.
Guthrie- probably my man of the match, a few excellent passes and good tackles. Wish he could have played like this all year.
Karacan- some great pressing, but not so good when Southampton advanced up the pitch
Akpan- also pressed well.
McAnuff- fairly anonymous, seemed clear Adkins wanted to exploit the aerial weakness of Shaw and Yoshida's inability to judge long balls, which really didn't suit McAnuff.
Alf- also anonymous. Couldn't compete with Hooiveld in the air.

Personally I would have played Pog up front and had Alfie cutting in from the left, similar to Rodriguez for Saints. Pog would have been better for the long balls, and Alfie and HRK cutting inside could have got in behind the dodgy Southampton defence.

[floyd__streete]

Abject. Sleep-walked their way through the second half after an encouraging first half (by our lowly standards). Akpan unlucky with a header well saved, ALF messed up a clear-cut chance, then Kelly under no pressure chooses to lump the ball forward to no-one when he should have gone back to Federici...second phase and we're beaten all ends up, Mariappa second best as he has been so often.

Tactics peculiar. Two right backs on the pitch? Best set piece takers not starting for a team who rarely score from open play? ALF on his own in a 4-5-1 showing just how mediocre he is. Guthrie and Akpan both replaced and the diabolical Karacan gets 90?

Seen poor, poor Reading sides over the years but in terms of abject effort in chasing an important game the second half was - in context - as bad as anything I've seen ever tbvh.

[Berry]

First game Ive been to this season due to personal issues, wish the issues had continued!! Really sad to see the demise of my team today, You couldnt blame one player tbh, they were all poor, yes Guthrie done a few nice things but nothing of real value....Where do we go from here?? We got to to hope that NA and AZ have a plan as there is a lot of changes to be made. For the record I actually thought Legs played quite well today...Anyway Hope for next season and thats not Akpan!!

[LoyalRoyalFan]

You know your heading in the wrong direction when two of your game changing subs are Mikele Leigertwood and Noel Hunt.

[Royalclapper]

Really needed one of Morrison, Maps or Alf's early good chances to go in to stand any chance of a result. Once Soton had gone ahead it was a fairly straightforward victory for them.

Adkins is obviously trying out all the players which enables him to have a decent look at who are keepers and who are not for the rebuild. It's just not clear yet who will be leaving regardless of Adkins' future plans.

[ZacNaloen]

You know your heading in the wrong direction when two of your game changing subs are Mikele Leigertwood and Noel Hunt.

Akpan was injured, they said as much after the match

[Ian Royal]

Promising signs early on of the Adkins evolution. We played decent football and dominated. Shame about the comedy of errors leading to their first goal, which destroyed our confidence.

Federici - 5 not much to do apart from win the ball from Rodriguez. He bottled it, looking like a keeper just back from injury and scared of getting another one.
Gunter - 6 fairly typical performance. Not really quite good enough
Kelly - 5.5 one of his weaker games, at fault for the first goal and got caught out of position once or twice on other occasions.
Morrison - 7 read the game well to prevent some very dangerous positions, but also made some mistakes.
Mariappa - 6 one of the worst performances from him I've seen in ages
Guthrie - 7 started really well, then we conceeded and everyone started hoofing so he just couldn't get in the game
Akpan - 6 I'll give him the benefit of the doubt after getting kicked in teh head, but he was pretty anonymous.
Karacan - 4 hoofing headless chicken - the one dark spot in our good first half hour and he didn't improve.
Robson-Kanu - 7.5 our MoTM for me. Posed a threat, showed good control. Close to winning a penalty.
McAnuff - 6 ok, but not really much of a threat
ALF - 6.5 started brightly and looked alright upfront until we resorted to hoofing it in his vagu direction. Should have scored.

McCleary - 6 anonymous
Leigertwood - 5.5 needed to come on and impose himself and start passing, instead decided to divide his time between hoofing and playing spare centreback.
Hunt - 6 Well, we all knew he wasn't going to have an impact right? It's not like we had had any remotely quality possession for about 45 mins + when he came on.

[ManchesterRoyals]

You know your heading in the wrong direction when two of your game changing subs are Mikele Leigertwood and Noel Hunt.

Akpan was injured, they said as much after the match

Yeah then the passing game stopped and we went back too hoof ball, that says it all doesnt it

[Allyh84]

Federici 4
Gunter 5
Mariappa 4
Morrison 4
Kelly 3
HRK 6
Akpan 5
Karacan 4
Guthrie 5
McAnuff 6
Alf 6

Hunt 3
McCleary 5
Legs 4

I am absolutely delighted that Adkins has noticed that Liegertwood isn't a PL player and left him on the bench. Bloody Akpan would obviously get injured however.

[parky]

Tina from Tilehurst on BBC Berks, that will cheer you up!

Missed this but heard people mention it. What went on?

[kwik-silva]

Worst match I've seen Karacan have, and in the very game when he was needed most to get it down and have a run with it on occasion.

[Ian Royal]

Federici 4
Gunter 5
Mariappa 4
Morrison 4
Kelly 3
HRK 6
Akpan 5
Karacan 4
Guthrie 5
McAnuff 6
Alf 6

Hunt 3
McCleary 5
Legs 4

I am absolutely delighted that Adkins has noticed that Liegertwood isn't a PL player and left him on the bench. Bloody Akpan would obviously get injured however.

I'd have far rather seen Legs start than Karacan. Although I'd have prefered Tabb to both.

[kwik-silva]

Federici 4
Gunter 5
Mariappa 4
Morrison 4
Kelly 3
HRK 6
Akpan 5
Karacan 4
Guthrie 5
McAnuff 6
Alf 6

Hunt 3
McCleary 5
Legs 4

I am absolutely delighted that Adkins has noticed that Liegertwood isn't a PL player and left him on the bench. Bloody Akpan would obviously get injured however.

I'd have far rather seen Legs start than Karacan. Although I'd have prefered Tabb to both.

I'd much rather have Tabb getting the vital Championship experience needed for next year.

[Jackson Corner]

We were played off the park not one Reading player out there today would get in any other Prem team. Once they scored we may as well have gone home heads dropped just chasing shadows. We will lose every game club from here in 13 straight defeats put your house on it.

[sandman]

Tina from Tilehurst on BBC Berks, that will cheer you up!

Missed this but heard people mention it. What went on?

Thousands all over Berkshire turning their radio's off.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Pretty much a carbon copy of most home games this season. Start brightly, in fact edge most of the first half without making it count & then 10 mins from the end of the half concede a shite goal.

Then our heads are down & it turns into a training session for the opposition. Have sold our seats on Viagogo for the remaining games - cannot be arsed to watch it anymore!

Thought Karacan & Kelly were bad today.

Roll on August and a almost entirely new starting 11.

[PieEater]

A promising start that shows what is likely to come from Adkins. Otherwise yet another comedy of defensive errors and lack of attack. Someone should have told Feds to stop punting long balls to a midget, Hal tried but if we are really going to hoof it we need a target man.

On the plus points, Shoreys lethargic performance got him dropped, and Adkins has realised Pog is not a target man. The problem is there's not much of an attacking force left after that.

Players are getting their chance, I'm still waiting to see someone take it.

Please get this season over ASAP.

[CayeneMatt]

Encouraging line up in my opinion.

If Pearce's focussing on £ signs then sod him, Morrisson was just as good/bad today depending on your viewpoint. Showing some intent in playing Gunter and Kelly at Fullbacks. Hopefully Shorey has played his last game after his 'Couldn't give a shit' performance last week, and obviously Adkins spotted it so dumped him entirely.

Akpan, Guthrie and Karacan are an encouraging midfield but I'm not convinced by Jem's ability on the ball. I'm convinced Guthrie will continue to be more dominant with better players around him - MOM today for me, shading HRK.

Plenty of effort from Jobi tdf, unfortunately, his effort is increasing at a time when his influence is waning.

HRK also a close MOM to Guthrie, but faded into oblivion in the 2nd half so maybe shot his bolt in the first half.

Alf would've done better with the ball at feet rather than at chest height and at times his inter play with Guthrie and HRK looked promising.

[West Stand Man]

Hal 4 Embarrassing.

Harsh.

Not harsh. Simply wrong. He was not embarrassing.