How impressed are you with BMcD's return to the club?

[bcubed]

I know I'm going to get shouted down for this, but I think the current style of play is still representative of Adkins and Clarke, and not McDermott's old style. I actually think we would be better at the moment bypassing Norwood, and getting Vydra and Rakells running the channels with Williams and the wide players hitting the box. What we are doing now just isn't working. Vydra needs to keep hold of the ball a bit, try to turn his man and shoot rather than constantly trying a little lay off and go.

It's a fair point. I was watching yesterday and thinking if only Norwood could get the ball forward quicker. With the players we have we should be more direct. And no, Team Board Spazmoids I'm not suggesting "hoofball" I'm talking playing direct, pressing football. Like we did in 05/06 and 11/12.

Agreed, Leon.
When Brian came back I was looking forward to the end of incessant sideways passing in our own half and a return to quick forward movement and decent wing play. It's been disappointing that we're still stuck with the boring stuff that Adkins and Clarke tried and failed with.

The boring stuff like Ipswich at home?!

[No Fixed Abode]

Now 14 points from the play-offs.

The gap widens further.

[wingnut]

It's a fair point. I was watching yesterday and thinking if only Norwood could get the ball forward quicker. With the players we have we should be more direct. And no, Team Board Spazmoids I'm not suggesting "hoofball" I'm talking playing direct, pressing football. Like we did in 05/06 and 11/12.

Agreed, Leon.
When Brian came back I was looking forward to the end of incessant sideways passing in our own half and a return to quick forward movement and decent wing play. It's been disappointing that we're still stuck with the boring stuff that Adkins and Clarke tried and failed with.

The boring stuff like Ipswich at home?!

One match in 53

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Having seen how the owners got involved in the last transfer window I'm beginning to think that there was a very good reason why Clarke went to speak to Fulham and it wasn't just salary. Maybe he got there and found out that their owners also wanted to get too involved.

SC spoke to Fulham because the club allowed them to approach him. There was a lot of rubbish on Sky and BBC at the time which was untrue. If the club had made a sensible statement like Barsnley did last week (about Lee Johnson being approached by Bristol City) we may not be in this mess ..

What you mean the recently appointed Bristol City manager, Lee Johnson, as poached from Barnsley?

Didn't see Steve Clarke up for that job, in fact has he been mentioned for any vacancies since we sacked him?

[Coppelled_Streets]

Now 14 points from the play-offs.

The gap widens further.

why are you, a Chelsea twat, or any Reading fans still talking about top 6? We are edging on a relegation scrap FFS! 3 wins in 19 league games!! And even Charles Watts admits the number of supporters calling for McDermott's head is growing by the week. I thought he'd be gone by the end of the year but he'll do well to last October at this rate.

[sandman]

Now 14 points from the play-offs.

The gap widens further.

why are you, a Chelsea twat, or any Reading fans still talking about top 6? We are edging on a relegation scrap FFS! 3 wins in 19 league games!! And even Charles Watts admits the number of supporters calling for McDermott's head is growing by the week. I thought he'd be gone by the end of the year but he'll do well to last October at this rate.

That's because, as you have just so expertly demonstrated, a lot of Reading fans are idiotic, spoilt little brats who want everything now.

[maffff]

Supposedly Clarke applied for the Bristol City job.

Didn't get it.

[Coppelled_Streets]

Supposedly Clarke applied for the Bristol City job.

Didn't get it.

I wond£r why.

[bcubed]

The boring stuff like Ipswich at home?!

One match in 53

Just an example. The football during that period was great to watch skilful one touch and superior in every way to wat we are currently witnessing.

[Coppelled_Streets]

Now 14 points from the play-offs.

The gap widens further.

why are you, a Chelsea twat, or any Reading fans still talking about top 6? We are edging on a relegation scrap FFS! 3 wins in 19 league games!! And even Charles Watts admits the number of supporters calling for McDermott's head is growing by the week. I thought he'd be gone by the end of the year but he'll do well to last October at this rate.

That's because, as you have just so expertly demonstrated, a lot of Reading fans are idiotic, spoilt little brats who want everything now.

The idiotic ones are those that wanted the tactically challenged McDonut back! Now you can sit back and enjoy what's coming our way.

[wingnut]

The boring stuff like Ipswich at home?!

One match in 53

Just an example. The football during that period was great to watch skilful one touch and superior in every way to wat we are currently witnessing.

That period lasted, at best, 9 games. In the 9 games under Clarke that followed that run we won just once, against Bolton, and that was as fortuitous as the 1-0 win against Charlton at the end of the decent spell. In the 9 games prior to that decent run we won twice (including 4 games at the end of last season). It's pretty clear that that decent run was the "blip", with the Clark era being, on the whole, just as toothless, one-paced and tedious as Adkins's before him.
Granted, it's hardly been better since but I'm prepared to give Brian a bit more time than a dozen games.

[John Smith]

Currently this season has all the hallmarks of last: dull and uninspiring in the league with potential for a good cup run.

I'd take a Wembley semi final again and 15th in the league. It looks like it's gonna take a lot longer to really stamp his mark back on the club, I'm willing to write this season off and see how far we can go in the cup.

[Forbury Lion]

It's a fair point. I was watching yesterday and thinking if only Norwood could get the ball forward quicker. With the players we have we should be more direct. And no, Team Board Spazmoids I'm not suggesting "hoofball" I'm talking playing direct, pressing football. Like we did in 05/06 and 11/12.

What if Norwood was playing in central defence? - He can tackle and he can pass it out from the back. As long as he had an experienced central defender alongside that might work..... might be more of a long term/next season option though or maybe play him right midfield in the Man Utd/Beckham role?

That would allow us to play 4-4-2 with wingers and 2 strikers without sacrificing Norwood who gives 100% every game and has good all round ability.

[John Smith]

It's a fair point. I was watching yesterday and thinking if only Norwood could get the ball forward quicker. With the players we have we should be more direct. And no, Team Board Spazmoids I'm not suggesting "hoofball" I'm talking playing direct, pressing football. Like we did in 05/06 and 11/12.

What if Norwood was playing in central defence? - He can tackle and he can pass it out from the back. As long as he had an experienced central defender alongside that might work..... might be more of a long term/next season option though or maybe play him right midfield in the Man Utd/Beckham role?

That would allow us to play 4-4-2 with wingers and 2 strikers without sacrificing Norwood who gives 100% every game and has good all round ability.

Haha ye alright m8, and stick Al Habsi up top and Williams in net ye?

[leon]

It's a fair point. I was watching yesterday and thinking if only Norwood could get the ball forward quicker. With the players we have we should be more direct. And no, Team Board Spazmoids I'm not suggesting "hoofball" I'm talking playing direct, pressing football. Like we did in 05/06 and 11/12.

What if Norwood was playing in central defence? - He can tackle and he can pass it out from the back. As long as he had an experienced central defender alongside that might work..... might be more of a long term/next season option though or maybe play him right midfield in the Man Utd/Beckham role?

That would allow us to play 4-4-2 with wingers and 2 strikers without sacrificing Norwood who gives 100% every game and has good all round ability.

No need to take the piss

[Forbury Lion]

We've had worse central defenders.

[Sanguine]

We've had worse central defenders.

Don't take Steve Blatherwick's name in vain.

[RoyalJames101]

It's a fair point. I was watching yesterday and thinking if only Norwood could get the ball forward quicker. With the players we have we should be more direct. And no, Team Board Spazmoids I'm not suggesting "hoofball" I'm talking playing direct, pressing football. Like we did in 05/06 and 11/12.

What if Norwood was playing in central defence? - He can tackle and he can pass it out from the back. As long as he had an experienced central defender alongside that might work..... might be more of a long term/next season option though or maybe play him right midfield in the Man Utd/Beckham role?

That would allow us to play 4-4-2 with wingers and 2 strikers without sacrificing Norwood who gives 100% every game and has good all round ability.

I want some of what you've been having

[bcubed]

One match in 53

Just an example. The football during that period was great to watch skilful one touch and superior in every way to wat we are currently witnessing.

That period lasted, at best, 9 games. In the 9 games under Clarke that followed that run we won just once, against Bolton, and that was as fortuitous as the 1-0 win against Charlton at the end of the decent spell. In the 9 games prior to that decent run we won twice (including 4 games at the end of last season). It's pretty clear that that decent run was the "blip", with the Clark era being, on the whole, just as toothless, one-paced and tedious as Adkins's before him.
Granted, it's hardly been better since but I'm prepared to give Brian a bit more time than a dozen games.

But that football had promise and was some of the best we've played for years. It was good enough and the players looked good enough to survive and even prosper in the Prem. Compare that with the lacklustre football being served up now

[wingnut]

But it was being served up, in spades, by Clarke.