MATCHWATCH : Northampton Town (h)

[Snowflake Royal]

Not from me but from certain quarters we are already reaching a must win scenario for Noel.

Which is rather mental considering its only his fourth game in charge.

He failed to win any of his matches in caretaker charge in 22/23.

Which has the squareroot of F all to do with anything now. Different level. Different squad. Different time. Different circumstances.

Unless one has an axe to grind and isn't prepared to even consider giving him time, it's meaningless.

[ILoveMoonPig]

I would argue it doesn't matter either way. Noel has the job and we have no money to change staff or players, so we are where we are. We should really be getting behind the team because there is no other option.

[Stranded]

I'm not sure you can say it's mental as he hasn't won any of them. And the last home game we got outplayed and tonked 3-0.

We usually dont do well over Xmas but this game could start a spiral that will be hard to get out of, particularly if the expected fire sale happens in January.

It's mental for various reasons:

a manager popular with the squad has left along with popular coaches
Hunt was left with no coaches and has had to bring in 2 new ones, one promoted and one coming back to the club probably as a favour
Hunt has had to deal with more injuries in 3 league games than we have had all season
We have played away games at 1st and (at time of playing 7th)
Our kids were 30 seconds away from progressing in the EFL Trophy, playing with 9 men.
A transfer window opens in a week where a number of players may actively be looking to move on

Blackpool was not great but 1 point from the 2 away games played is probably about par given the above. If we are still winless by the FA Cup then some rumblings could be understandable esp if not playing well but far too early for that.

Yes, and we were a poor refereeing decision from being 1-1 and a man up vs Lincoln before we went a man down. Even playing badly and at 10 men it wasn't a heavy defeat.

I think if he'd given the pen, it probably would have been a yellow (if ref decided it was an attempt at the ball - which given he gave no foul he must have done) but otherwise agreed.

A dip after the disruption of the backroom staff leaving was always more likely than form continuing as was under Selles - throwing in Hunt's 6 games as a caretaker during a relegation shitshow is also a tad unfair as well. If the form continues without improvement over the next few weeks then questions about whether he has it in him to step up to a 1st team management role is possibly fair though we have no idea what squad he'll have by mid Jan.

[WestYorksRoyal]

We've got 3 fixtures coming up that look alright on paper. A couple of wins and we'll start thinking crisis over. Promotion was never realistic, but we're only 6 wins from survival and we could feasibly have 2 by 5pm on new years' day.

Then the count down is to selling by the summer again. If that doesn't happen, shit really hits the fan for next season.

[Snowflake Royal]

It's mental for various reasons:

a manager popular with the squad has left along with popular coaches
Hunt was left with no coaches and has had to bring in 2 new ones, one promoted and one coming back to the club probably as a favour
Hunt has had to deal with more injuries in 3 league games than we have had all season
We have played away games at 1st and (at time of playing 7th)
Our kids were 30 seconds away from progressing in the EFL Trophy, playing with 9 men.
A transfer window opens in a week where a number of players may actively be looking to move on

Blackpool was not great but 1 point from the 2 away games played is probably about par given the above. If we are still winless by the FA Cup then some rumblings could be understandable esp if not playing well but far too early for that.

Yes, and we were a poor refereeing decision from being 1-1 and a man up vs Lincoln before we went a man down. Even playing badly and at 10 men it wasn't a heavy defeat.

I think if he'd given the pen, it probably would have been a yellow (if ref decided it was an attempt at the ball - which given he gave no foul he must have done) but otherwise agreed.

A dip after the disruption of the backroom staff leaving was always more likely than form continuing as was under Selles - throwing in Hunt's 6 games as a caretaker during a relegation shitshow is also a tad unfair as well. If the form continues without improvement over the next few weeks then questions about whether he has it in him to step up to a 1st team management role is possibly fair though we have no idea what squad he'll have by mid Jan.

I don’t see how a shoulder can be an attempt to play the ball. I think he saw it as a shoulder to shoulder and dive, rather than challenge for the ball.

Yes, if we're winless after Cambridge, there's certainly trouble ahead. But that'll be 6 league games in and two of the bottom 5 played, one at home.

Much more reasonable to get worried than after playing top and two potential PO contenders, being slightly generous to Blackpool

[Stranded]

Yes, and we were a poor refereeing decision from being 1-1 and a man up vs Lincoln before we went a man down. Even playing badly and at 10 men it wasn't a heavy defeat.

I think if he'd given the pen, it probably would have been a yellow (if ref decided it was an attempt at the ball - which given he gave no foul he must have done) but otherwise agreed.

A dip after the disruption of the backroom staff leaving was always more likely than form continuing as was under Selles - throwing in Hunt's 6 games as a caretaker during a relegation shitshow is also a tad unfair as well. If the form continues without improvement over the next few weeks then questions about whether he has it in him to step up to a 1st team management role is possibly fair though we have no idea what squad he'll have by mid Jan.

I don’t see how a shoulder can be an attempt to play the ball. I think he saw it as a shoulder to shoulder and dive, rather than challenge for the ball.

Yes, if we're winless after Cambridge, there's certainly trouble ahead. But that'll be 6 league games in and two of the bottom 5 played, one at home.

Much more reasonable to get worried than after playing top and two potential PO contenders, being slightly generous to Blackpool

Blackpool are possibly lower placed than they may have expected to be but given Bruce had to take a leave of absence for well reported reasons, then I think seeing this as a side who could push the top 6 is fair enough.

[Royals and Racers]

Northampton have a new manager just in time before meeting us !! - Kevin Nolan.

[Royals and Racers]

Reading buses Christmas present to us Royals fans is a £1 surcharge on the Boxing day fares- robbing Barstewards !!

[SouthDownsRoyal]

Reading buses Christmas present to us Royals fans is a £1 surcharge on the Boxing day fares- robbing Barstewards !!

Got to cover the drivers premium pay m8

[LUX]

Fair enough I suppose.

I was thinking of walking there and back, to get some exercise. From Caversham bridge it is over an hour. Pleasant weather.

[SCIAG]

I would argue it doesn't matter either way. Noel has the job and we have no money to change staff or players, so we are where we are. We should really be getting behind the team because there is no other option.

This. Not been at all impressed by Hunt's work with the first team but, well firstly I'm ridiculously patient with managers anyway, and secondly even if I wasn't then there'd be no point wanting him gone. If he gets hit by a bus then we'll just appoint Leigertwood and I see no reason why he'd be any better.

[LUX]

Just in case Noel’s reading this…… we love you and wish you the very best, in difficult circumstances.

[Whore Jackie]

Highlights from last seasons away game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... QoK_WdTiDk

I think my favourite bits are where you can hear the Reading fans start to cheer a Button save. Double bubble Button on the third.

I spent the entire second half looking at the massive Wagamama's and thinking what else I could be doing with my time.

That said, #JQRoyalsOnTour

Certainly ranks up there as one of the worst away League games in recent years. Shocking performance, with Button particularly culpable with next to no away facilities in a pretty poor stadium. The Wagamamas was impressive, did spend some considerable time pondering how many grounds you can see a bus driving along higher than the top of the opposite stand.

[Sutekh]

Kanu gets the gig at CB in place of the suspended Holzman



Honestly have to ask just what is the point in Dean. All his experience and he still can’t get ahead of a kid with a less than shiny discipline record.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Does seem odd re Dean but its 2 managers now not selecting him

[morganb]

Kanu gets the gig at CB in place of the suspended Holzman

Won't Kanu be left back with Mbengue and Bindon as CBs

[Sutekh]

Kanu gets the gig at CB in place of the suspended Holzman

Won't Kanu be left back with Mbengue and Bindon as CBs

Possibly, but then why bin off Garcia for a centre back? Perhaps Hunt doesn’t rate Garcia in that role.

On the bench he has a keeper, a centre back, a right back/midfielder, another right back, a left back/left winger, a midfielder and a striker

[Hound]

Yeah Kanu will be LB

Mbengue and Bindon clearly our top Cb pairing

[Sutekh]

Don’t forget you can watch it via NOW or Sky red button.

[morganb]

Nesta Guinness Walker starts for Northampton