Back from the game - Ipswich

[Snowball]

I don't have all the answers, I'm not paid to have them! But, I think the bulk of our problems lie with the fact that some of our players are too old and getting slow - Bryn and Doobs in particular. I can only think that Bikey has had a falling out with Copps for Copps not to even entertain the idea of putting him in defence. We're not in a particularly good position at the moment, I'd definitely start Bikey on Tuesday, I'd bring back Karacan, I'd give Marek another start. I'd drop SHunt completely. I still think there are one or two egos out there who really aren't playing for the good of the team, and are merely playing for themselves, because they think they're an awful lot better than they actually are.

There is definitely something up in the dressing room. I think the players know that Copps is off at the end of the season, even if he hasn't officially said anything. I think many of them think they won't be around next season and they'll probably be sold off as they won't be in contention for a place under a new manager. I don't think it's ever helped that Sir John has gone on about refusing to spend big money - there always seems to be protracted contract negotiations. No-one seems happy.

But it's the fans who are there season in, season out - players, as we know, all come and go and forget about little old Reading when it suits them and they've moved on to bigger and better things. I can see next season being very very difficult for all concerned, players, fans, management and Chairman, and the credit crunch won't help matters either.

Agreed, there's this big black cloud overhead now. That's why Karacan and Tabb deserve a chance

1. They should not be carrying the burden of having played a load of iffy games

2. They are good enough!

Birmingham played 4-5-1 at Doncaster who look like a good side. We will lose, almost certainly, if we play 4-4-2

[papereyes]

I read somewhere that when Ferguson said he was retiring at the end of the season a few years back, the players fell back from the previous high standards.

All season fans have been saying, it is his last season, this must get to the team as well, perhaps it has made it harder to sign players, after all we know that players often sign for the manager as much as the club, perhaps the two recent loans were all that Coppell could manage, one other player did fail to come here on loan, named in the past on here i think.

Genuinely hadn't thought of that but it makes sense.

Ah well.

[Handsome Man]

I don't have all the answers, I'm not paid to have them! But, I think the bulk of our problems lie with the fact that some of our players are too old and getting slow - Bryn and Doobs in particular. I can only think that Bikey has had a falling out with Copps for Copps not to even entertain the idea of putting him in defence. We're not in a particularly good position at the moment, I'd definitely start Bikey on Tuesday, I'd bring back Karacan, I'd give Marek another start. I'd drop SHunt completely. I still think there are one or two egos out there who really aren't playing for the good of the team, and are merely playing for themselves, because they think they're an awful lot better than they actually are.

There is definitely something up in the dressing room. I think the players know that Copps is off at the end of the season, even if he hasn't officially said anything. I think many of them think they won't be around next season and they'll probably be sold off as they won't be in contention for a place under a new manager. I don't think it's ever helped that Sir John has gone on about refusing to spend big money - there always seems to be protracted contract negotiations. No-one seems happy.

But it's the fans who are there season in, season out - players, as we know, all come and go and forget about little old Reading when it suits them and they've moved on to bigger and better things. I can see next season being very very difficult for all concerned, players, fans, management and Chairman, and the credit crunch won't help matters either.

Agreed, there's this big black cloud overhead now. That's why Karacan and Tabb deserve a chance

1. They should not be carrying the burden of having played a load of iffy games

2. They are good enough!

Birmingham played 4-5-1 at Doncaster who look like a good side. We will lose, almost certainly, if we play 4-4-2

Football is not championship manager, it is played with real players.
If we played 4-5-1 and passed as badly as Duberry, Rosenior, Marek, etc have passed recently, we would probably lose anyway. If we played 442 and passed it forward safely and quickly like Shorey and Sidwell once used to, we would probably win.

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

The Real Sandhurst Royal wrote:
Kitson the saviour, total bo**ocks.

Kitson should be embarrassed for putting the RFC shirt back on an putting in a lazy performance like that against Ipswich.

If Coppell thinks he can cruise around the pitch doing nothing all game while Doyle who has always put in a stint for RFC sits on the bench he has lost the plot.

Rev Algenon Stickleback wrote:

You have to be kidding. Kitson put in more in one game than Doyle has done at home for two months. Doyle looks completely lost, without any idea of what he has to do to get a shot away, let alone score, just as he was last season.

The Real Sandhurst Royal wrote:

You don't attend many games then as Doyle has led the front line all season getting the sh*t kicked out of him every game.

Rev Algenon Stickleback wrote:

getting the shit kicked out of you doesn't equate to being effective. He has looked burnt out and devoid of ideas for ages, just as he did last season. His movement off the ball is non-existent these days, and his play when he gets the ball usually results in him doing little more than running into blind alleys. He's a good player, but woefully off-form, and as we found to our cost last season, he's not a player who looks capable of playing his way through a bad patch. His head drops and he looks lost.

So Coppell selects Doyle as the captain because his head dropos and he looks lost!!!

[Snowball]

I don't have all the answers, I'm not paid to have them! But, I think the bulk of our problems lie with the fact that some of our players are too old and getting slow - Bryn and Doobs in particular. I can only think that Bikey has had a falling out with Copps for Copps not to even entertain the idea of putting him in defence. We're not in a particularly good position at the moment, I'd definitely start Bikey on Tuesday, I'd bring back Karacan, I'd give Marek another start. I'd drop SHunt completely. I still think there are one or two egos out there who really aren't playing for the good of the team, and are merely playing for themselves, because they think they're an awful lot better than they actually are.

There is definitely something up in the dressing room. I think the players know that Copps is off at the end of the season, even if he hasn't officially said anything. I think many of them think they won't be around next season and they'll probably be sold off as they won't be in contention for a place under a new manager. I don't think it's ever helped that Sir John has gone on about refusing to spend big money - there always seems to be protracted contract negotiations. No-one seems happy.

But it's the fans who are there season in, season out - players, as we know, all come and go and forget about little old Reading when it suits them and they've moved on to bigger and better things. I can see next season being very very difficult for all concerned, players, fans, management and Chairman, and the credit crunch won't help matters either.

Agreed, there's this big black cloud overhead now. That's why Karacan and Tabb deserve a chance

1. They should not be carrying the burden of having played a load of iffy games


Fair enough, handsome, but it's been quite a while since any midfield combo
we have fielded has managed to cope with 5 in the middle.

Changing the subject slightly, Birmingham look to have refound their confidence and I thought they looked very solid yesterday.

We probably need to win three games on the bounce away, Doncaster, Palace, Coventry (sounds nigh-on impossible) to get back into the hunt.

Otherwise we will probably be mugged by Sheffield United

2. They are good enough!

Birmingham played 4-5-1 at Doncaster who look like a good side. We will lose, almost certainly, if we play 4-4-2

Football is not championship manager, it is played with real players.
If we played 4-5-1 and passed as badly as Duberry, Rosenior, Marek, etc have passed recently, we would probably lose anyway. If we played 442 and passed it forward safely and quickly like Shorey and Sidwell once used to, we would probably win.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

The Real Sandhurst Royal wrote:
Kitson the saviour, total bo**ocks.

Kitson should be embarrassed for putting the RFC shirt back on an putting in a lazy performance like that against Ipswich.

If Coppell thinks he can cruise around the pitch doing nothing all game while Doyle who has always put in a stint for RFC sits on the bench he has lost the plot.

Rev Algenon Stickleback wrote:

You have to be kidding. Kitson put in more in one game than Doyle has done at home for two months. Doyle looks completely lost, without any idea of what he has to do to get a shot away, let alone score, just as he was last season.

The Real Sandhurst Royal wrote:

You don't attend many games then as Doyle has led the front line all season getting the sh*t kicked out of him every game.

Rev Algenon Stickleback wrote:

getting the shit kicked out of you doesn't equate to being effective. He has looked burnt out and devoid of ideas for ages, just as he did last season. His movement off the ball is non-existent these days, and his play when he gets the ball usually results in him doing little more than running into blind alleys. He's a good player, but woefully off-form, and as we found to our cost last season, he's not a player who looks capable of playing his way through a bad patch. His head drops and he looks lost.

So Coppell selects Doyle as the captain because his head dropos and he looks lost!!!

So you think he dropped him yesterday because he'd been looking so good?

[Jeffers217]

If Doyle got the service he deserved he would be a very very good player and that is why he will leave at the end of the season as a team like Sunderland will come in for him. Kitson had one bad game but he is a RFC legend, no he doesnt warrent the shirt...I would play N Hunt because of his enthusiasm and well he actually makes Shunt pass the ball to him, lets be honest Shunt will always start under Coppell so lets make the best out of the situation. However bad Kitson was, he wasn't given much service so yet again ended up dropping deeper which in my opinion is not his strong point. That is why we need an attacking midfielder who is going to create chances, Marek does give the ball away but its generally as he is trying to thread the ball through and the rest of the team are not up to his level. I'll get battered for this but this is how I felt about Oster, great ideas and vision but the rest of the team werent on the same wavelength. Marek needs someone defensive alongside him...Karacan in my opinion is the perfect foil, we barely lost with him in the team earlier on in the season. Yes hes not got much experience but then on the basis of oppenent's performances this season he wouldnt look out of place at all. Play a diamond formation like on football manager and letting bloody start winning games

[Ian Royal]

My summary: we were better than a poor team who scored a good goal due to poor concentration in the second half. We panicked after not scoring early on and went route one. Doobs being the worst cuplrit. Too many players didn't perform. But I'd stick with the majority of the team as there's no point making 6 changes each time.

Doobs must be dropped. Gunnar must be dropped. That would be my only change, except possibly Doyle coming in. Little and Kitson must be subbed before the end of the match.

Fed is unlucky to not be playing, but I don't think Hahnemann did enough wrong to be immediately dropped again.

[cmonurz]

Bikey would be ever-present in some Premier League teams.

Which one's? And, uh, how come he isn't there?

For me, Bolton, Stoke, West Brom, Fulham, Hull, Blackburn, Sunderland, Newcastle maybe.

And, I have absolutely no idea whatsoever. Either he is turning up for training drunk, or his legs have fallen off.

[IMAMATEOFJOVSKY]

I thought Harper worked his socks off today. Can't see why people are slagging him.

I also don't understand why SHunt was removed. I'm not his biggest fan, but I couldn't fault him for effort today. I really don't understand why he was removed, He was obvioulsy pissed at being subbed last match and responded correctly. He's not the best player on the pitch, for sure, but when he (and his brother) get going, they at least stir things up a bit and put the away teams in their place.

Gunner was shite today, I'm not sure he even knew which way he was playing.

Doobs was great, as usual, in stopping attacks, but what's with all the hoofball? Surley he can pick someone out occasionaly? start a move going maybe?

USA was fine, except for his distribution. I love Fed's kickouts but I'd rather have USA in goal. I'm glad he played again, and hope he starts again next match.

Little was good, skillfull on the ball, but he's not match fit and is costing us because he can't run with the ball. We make chances through speed, getting the ball down to corner flag and forcing set peices (or, if not, a chance to cross in a dangerous ball)




Kitson, again, is not fit. He looks skilfull, but has no movement or pace.

I understand SC's reasons for their return but they're not the answer. Maybe bring them on for the last 20 or so, but the team has less shape than it had at Christmas. Maybe we should accept that we just had a 'good start' in a random league? I think we're plucking at straws now; looking for a miracle cure. We need a 'unit' and swapping like this (like leaving Doyle and NHuntout) is not going to help that.

The main difference I've noticed is that we're playing hoofball now. We didn't do that in the first half of the season at all. OK, we played a few high balls forward, looking for a decent flick on, but now the ball spends most of the time in the air in a sad game of head tennis. We no longer play the ball out from our area - it's a continuous 'up in the air' job now.

Ah well,

URZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!

WASNT IT HARPER THAT LOST POSSESSION ON EDGE OF BOX THAT ALLOWED THEM TO CROSS AND STEAD TO SCORE???? - THATS WHY HE GETS SLAGGED OFF!

[Ian Royal]

Bikey would be ever-present in some Premier League teams.

Which one's? And, uh, how come he isn't there?

For me, Bolton, Stoke, West Brom, Fulham, Hull, Blackburn, Sunderland, Newcastle maybe.

And, I have absolutely no idea whatsoever. Either he is turning up for training drunk, or his legs have fallen off.

He isn't there because he isn't rated by those clubs.

Quality, but not got the mentality on his showings so far.

[Southbank Old Boy]

WASNT IT HARPER THAT LOST POSSESSION ON EDGE OF BOX THAT ALLOWED THEM TO CROSS AND STEAD TO SCORE???? - THATS WHY HE GETS SLAGGED OFF!

It was Harper who was covering and sweeping up because of some general slopping defending from his team mates

His clearance could have been a bit better, but he can feel a bit disappointed that his team mates didnt help him out a bit more by being a bit closer by to pick up the scraps after he did what he does, fill in for others mistakes

[IMAMATEOFJOVSKY]

WASNT IT HARPER THAT LOST POSSESSION ON EDGE OF BOX THAT ALLOWED THEM TO CROSS AND STEAD TO SCORE???? - THATS WHY HE GETS SLAGGED OFF!

It was Harper who was covering and sweeping up because of some general slopping defending from his team mates

His clearance could have been a bit better, but he can feel a bit disappointed that his team mates didnt help him out a bit more by being a bit closer by to pick up the scraps after he did what he does, fill in for others mistakes

...and there was me thinking that he was the defensive midfielder in the team whose duties would be to effectively clear at times when we were under pressure - he didnt even clear he he got robbed in possession (par for the course with him though) - its pointless using a weak excuse of him covering others inadequacies, when all season thats what the rest of the team having been doing for him!

[RoyalBlue]

I thought Harper worked his socks off today. Can't see why people are slagging him.

I also don't understand why SHunt was removed. I'm not his biggest fan, but I couldn't fault him for effort today. I really don't understand why he was removed, He was obvioulsy pissed at being subbed last match and responded correctly. He's not the best player on the pitch, for sure, but when he (and his brother) get going, they at least stir things up a bit and put the away teams in their place.

Gunner was shite today, I'm not sure he even knew which way he was playing.

Doobs was great, as usual, in stopping attacks, but what's with all the hoofball? Surley he can pick someone out occasionaly? start a move going maybe?

USA was fine, except for his distribution. I love Fed's kickouts but I'd rather have USA in goal. I'm glad he played again, and hope he starts again next match.

Little was good, skillfull on the ball, but he's not match fit and is costing us because he can't run with the ball. We make chances through speed, getting the ball down to corner flag and forcing set peices (or, if not, a chance to cross in a dangerous ball)




Kitson, again, is not fit. He looks skilfull, but has no movement or pace.

I understand SC's reasons for their return but they're not the answer. Maybe bring them on for the last 20 or so, but the team has less shape than it had at Christmas. Maybe we should accept that we just had a 'good start' in a random league? I think we're plucking at straws now; looking for a miracle cure. We need a 'unit' and swapping like this (like leaving Doyle and NHuntout) is not going to help that.

The main difference I've noticed is that we're playing hoofball now. We didn't do that in the first half of the season at all. OK, we played a few high balls forward, looking for a decent flick on, but now the ball spends most of the time in the air in a sad game of head tennis. We no longer play the ball out from our area - it's a continuous 'up in the air' job now.

Ah well,

URZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!

WASNT IT HARPER THAT LOST POSSESSION ON EDGE OF BOX THAT ALLOWED THEM TO CROSS AND STEAD TO SCORE???? - THATS WHY HE GETS SLAGGED OFF!

If you call tackling a player in possession and the ball then breaking to another attacking player then, yes, he was guilty!

However, as I have pointed out elsewhere, Harper also saved us when Ipswich were breaking forward three on one. He made a fantastic run back, at a speed I doubt anyone other than Kebe would be capable of producing, and slid in with a challenge just as the player was about to shoot. His presence was sufficient to cause the player to shoot tamely straight at Marcus

[brendywendy]

harps was decent on saturday IMO
armstrong tried to contribute
hunt played very well defensively, and better offensively in the first half we looked good until the now to be expected wobbles kicked in
and lost to a very good, but defendable goal

have to say the defence looks culpable for the last few games, doobs and pearce making elementary errors that cost us

i think we really need bikey in now

and i know that kits and little need games to get them match fit, but putting them straight in has cost us down to their legginess,and probably in terms of spirit cos the other players cant be happy theyve just waltzed back in.

if we dont get a performance on tuesday, were playoffs for sure, and lucky to be there
somehow, and i dont know how, coppell needs to sort it out
but how is hard, he seems to have done every change we have asked for on here
marek in, harps out, hunt subbed, big shake up of whole team on saturday, earlier subs, and yet, they arent getting the rewards we needed. so inderstand when he says he doesnt know where to start with team selection midweek,just slightly worried by it

[Sarah Star]

Well, wouldn't have replaced Long yesterday, and I wished we'd had Karacan and Bikey on the pitch, but in reality I'm not sure just changing the players on the pitch is going to make much difference. They really need to sort out all this kicking down the pitch and hoping for the best, start putting together some good passing and put some confident strikes in on goal. You tell me how they can do that.

[SteveRoyal]

Well, wouldn't have replaced Long yesterday, and I wished we'd had Karacan and Bikey on the pitch, but in reality I'm not sure just changing the players on the pitch is going to make much difference. They really need to sort out all this kicking down the pitch and hoping for the best, start putting together some good passing and put some confident strikes in on goal. You tell me how they can do that.

Agreed. +1 etc. etc.
I'd love to see Karacan and Bikey start against Donny.

[brendywendy]

its weird

coppells highlighted their tendency to lump it when the pressures on, and that he prefers us to keep patiently passing the ball
so its obvious its not a tactical thing coming from the management

we need derren brown!!brimng him in, let him make a tv programme about how he got us promoted

[Aly Murty]

To all those that are calling for Karacan to come back in, I think he's gone away with Turkey for a tournament or something. May be wrong though.

[Ian Royal]

We just need to calm down, relax and pass. Take a chance or two and tighten up at the back.

At the moment we start well and then start desperately looking for the goal and lumping it forward. Then we conceed a stupid goal and its panic stations with no hope of scoring. We could do with at least one of the midfielders supporting attacks as well.