Man Utd - back from the game

[Millsy]

Once again a respectable performance and sad but reasonable result.

We just need to calm down a bit.

We are Reading, we were champions last season and we've strengthened. We have an excellent up and coming manager who has performed miracles and we have owners who are sensible, passionate and at least somewhat ambitious.

We put three past one of the best teams in the world. They're just humans on big salaries that's all. Our players need to realise they are awesome and not freak out at being ahead again and again.

[RobRoyal]

Very definitely two teams headed for the championship. Enjoyable enough, though.

[.:BigDaveInTheDungeon:.]

A for Effort but F for Ability.

All our wealknesses were on show for all to see

Feds - Averages a mistake a game and is a total liability. He will cost us a goal a game. With MaCarthy out it is difficult to believe he is the best option we have. Paul Robinson looks like he will be availabel in Jan, if Brian doesn´t trust the other keepers on he books, we could do a lot worse than him.

Right Back - 2 of Man U´s 3 goals from open play came from this side. Neither Cummings or Gunter appear anything other than average Chump players and continue to cost us points. Unless we address this we will finish the season with less than 20 points as all teams will have to do is hit it to their left flank and their players will have time to deliver again and again. Cummings played so narrow at times, I thought he was playing as a CB. This is Brian´fault and should have been addressed some time ago.

Central Midfield - Great effort and both did OK for their repesctive abilities, but unfortunately they are not good enough for the Prem and offer no creativity going forward and very little protection for the defence. We canot compete in this division if we have League1/Chump players in the middle of the park.

Some positives is that Alf looked lively again and HRK looks like he is developing into a good player. He will be vital for us next season if we are to mount a promotion campaign.

We are as good as relegated now, and have been for some time. I see no way of coming back from this. We were never expected to win games like todays they will not dictate our season, but the defeats top Wigan and Villa do as well as the numerous dropped points from winning positions and draws.

I feel it is such a shame to have wasted all that hard work in getting to the Prem by never even giving it a go when we got there. If the Board have any slight intentions of even trying to keep us up, sorry and sad to say it, but they have got to replace Brian as he is clearly void of ideas and looks more out of his depth every week.

How was Brian looking out of his depth? Either it's the team that is not up to standard, the manager or both. As far as I can see the players want to play for the manager which means we have a great chance of staying up. Remember when years when Buillivent and then Burns were in charge the team would hardly ever even turn up, at least the passion is there. I'd rather what we have now than being back on a cold January afternoon than watching a boring 1-1 draw against scunthorpe or Oldham in a 25000 seat with only 8000 people in on a good day. But then I suppose you don't need to worry about that in hong kong.

[.:BigDaveInTheDungeon:.]

Once again a respectable performance and sad but reasonable result.

We just need to calm down a bit.

We are Reading, we were champions last season and we've strengthened. We have an excellent up and coming manager who has performed miracles and we have owners who are sensible, passionate and at least somewhat ambitious.

We put three past one of the best teams in the world. They're just humans on big salaries that's all. Our players need to realise they are awesome and not freak out at being ahead again and again.

+1

[Libertine]

Saturday was a day to stand and cheer Reading FC, even in loss. Even if we were doing better and safe I think the reaction to the game yesterday would have been positive. Man Utd has some of the best talent on the planet. We fought back after losing an early lead to retake the lead though eventually losing it again. My bottom line is there was not much seperating the two teams on Saturday even if there is much seperating the two teams at other times. We stood on the pitch and slugged it out with Man Utd, were competitive and never looked out of possibly getting a result. Very few losses I will applaud, a loss is a loss, but this is one of those rare exceptions...



Are there still things to address with this team? Yep. But on Saturday their effort was highly commendable...and should be commended. Now time for the famous restrain "if we can just play like that the rest of the season we will be safe". But we have yet to do so...

[Rex]

Saturday was a day to stand and cheer Reading FC, even in loss. Even if we were doing better and safe I think the reaction to the game yesterday would have been positive. Man Utd has some of the best talent on the planet. We fought back after losing an early lead to retake the lead though eventually losing it again. My bottom line is there was not much seperating the two teams on Saturday even if there is much seperating the two teams at other times. We stood on the pitch and slugged it out with Man Utd, were competitive and never looked out of possibly getting a result. Very few losses I will applaud, a loss is a loss, but this is one of those rare exceptions...



Are there still things to address with this team? Yep. But on Saturday their effort was highly commendable...and should be commended. Now time for the famous restrain "if we can just play like that the rest of the season we will be safe". But we have yet to do so...

[Ian Herring]

My two-penneth worth:

Fortunate enough to attend (I don't get to so many games these days) I was able to enjoy the sense of time-lapsed perspective such infrequent viewing of my beloved club can sometimes bring.

From a football supporter's perspective there is much right about Reading Football Club in many of its various forms that is good. Not just good, but the antithesis of the modern game with all its vile excesses.

I thought against United we showed a great deal of what is 'good' about our club. Yes, there is no doubt that this team in particular is lacking in certain areas. But it also possesses exactly what McDermott has espoused time and time again. Team work, team ethic, not a little confidence and enthusiasm, skill, and a sense of togetherness that simply would negate a battling performance like last night's if those elements were not in place. The imperfections are there to see: a midfield that can be bypassed quite quickly and easily when its members switch off or lose position, a defence that at times does function, but when it does not, exposes itself for its technical frailties at a level of football where you won't get away with a lapse or three during a game against players who are used to knowing how to open up a back four with quite a few tricks and shimmies. Compared to the game against Aston Villa on Tuesday night (that to me looked like two parks teams who'd decided to have a game after a deep session on some Buckfast and a bong), Reading versus United was far more enjoyable fare.

I don't agree with some of the highly personal abuse that some players get on this forum from supporters who see their own vicarious desires thwarted simply because 'their' team isn't doing so well. Nor do I like the modern era's propensity for switching managers like there is no tomorrow or its introductory smell as the smoke burns on the embers of the 'so and so out!' camp fire. McDermott, a hero last year (and prior to that in our Wembley defeat season) and often hailed as a modern day 'modesto' genius, is now seen in some short-sighted eyes as having had his day and approaching his time to go. Be careful what you wish for, knee-jerkers, this man has this club in his own interests, he believes in it, himself, and the players he chooses and selects. He sees the club as a greater entity and buys into the 'Reading way', even though in some eyes that is interpreted as penny-pinching or not competing. But if you looked closely at last night's match, 'our' Reading FC competed for many periods of the game against the present incumbent of first position in our national league with no sense of inferiority or lack of brio. There were moments when the visitors knew they were in a game and in certain areas were on the back foot against this imperfect, but (thankfully) honest Reading side.

In particular last night I noticed the following: That when attacked, United were at sixes and sevens, particularly down the flanks (where we were lively and accurate) and from set plays. Under pressure, they panicked often enough for me to grin at their collective sphincters twitching a little against their millionaire jockey shorts as they flailed around. When the little Brazilian was taken off after half an hour or so after having been given a rag-running similar to the one Jerry Williams gave Kenny Sansom at Elm Park many moons ago there was a pivotal point in some of the things that have happened at this club across the past couple of decades. We were able to do this on a place on a stage the club had earned through its collective efforts - not just over last season or the past few games, but in the past, maybe fifteen years as the profile and ethos of RFC has grown and risen. Yes, we are still a small club (comparatively) but it is with pride that you look around the Mad and see that more often than not, this club has changed for ever from the form it took at the beautiful but shabby Elm Park, where expectations were perpetually low, and where any hope of football not just in the highest division, but in the top two, was a bit of a Tilehurst Road pipe dream that you could let drift away on a few pints in the Swiss Cottage on the way home as you returned to more realistic life.

We simply stuffed them at set plays and from the wings coming in to the box. We were less incisive in midfield, but even then it was an improvement on the shambolic, listless show at Villa Park. What it said to me at times was it often seemed that our players have the physical ability (as they have proven so in the past) but that it is in the mental side - that of concentration and thinking ahead, anticipation - where they are often caught cold. Morrison's defending (his attacking was sublime, dangerous, threatening) was neatly outlined on MOTD. He did not get across early enough to snuff out runs that allowed United to score two goals (a little like a rugby player has to know his angles to cut out an attack). Federici (who get's dog's abuse on here) was far from what is required, but having watched him since his early days at the club such deficiencies were not 'new news'. He has always been a shoe-in at the near post, his positioning is poor and his temperament gets the better of him. He's had a particularly bad season this year. Tabb - whose moment of 'non-thinking' gave United a soft penalty when the threat was facing away from goal, played a real blinder in other areas. Effort, strength, desire.

The differences at this level between the team that spent the first season in the Prem and this one seemed to me to be one of mental application and of 'pressing'. That Coppell team pressed, relentlessly, and did not stop. And when in possession their minds were switched on for the entire game. It is speed of thought and anticipation that is sometimes the difference at this level. If you looked cold-eyed at United when they went forward, they cut the spaces left by our more 'stood-back' style of opposition with comparative ease. You cannot be quick-footed unless you are quick-minded.

For me it highlighted the need for some applied and defined specific coaching. We have the basic nucleus of a quite talented and able squad. Where it seems we make life difficult for ourselves is in the application of the basics. Brian continually speaks of having almost what he requires here to do well, and instead of deriding him for the same (as some do) I would say, make more of what it is you have to hand. Coach the team defensively. Coach their thinking, match-day minds. Make them quicker of mind. Coach Federici, train the faults out of his game if you are going to keep him. It's possible. It's done in other sports. These are technical matters that if addressed, would bring a lot of our good players on to the next level.

There's a lot right with our club. But it always depresses me when fans simply take the pantomime route of 'you were great last year but now you're shite'.

Stand back and have a little neutral look for a while. I don't give a f*ck if we go down this year if we are not good enough. We'll bounce back and carry on. I'm more interested in the long-term progress of RFC and what we have become. If I were to be 'proud' of my club for anything, then it would certainly be that. It was good to be back last night. We did ourselves proud and played well. To paraphrase Brian we have 'moved on'. For those of you wishing for knee-jerk change and 'success at all cost', be careful of what you wish for. The best dishes are always best when slow-cooked. I'd rather be at slow-burn Smallmead than shit-storm Stamford Bridge, or worse, 'Lostus' Road, that much is sure.

And for any of you saying 'I'm not reading all that', kindly f*ck off, would you?

Cheers.

[Rex]

Excellent read Ian. That was a pleasure for once on this forum.

[Ian Herring]

Excellent read Ian. That was a pleasure for once on this forum.

I humbly thank you, sir.

[winchester_royal]

'Greed, top work.

[threebs]

My two-penneth worth:

Fortunate enough to attend (I don't get to so many games these days) I was able to enjoy the sense of time-lapsed perspective such infrequent viewing of my beloved club can sometimes bring.

From a football supporter's perspective there is much right about Reading Football Club in many of its various forms that is good. Not just good, but the antithesis of the modern game with all its vile excesses.

I thought against United we showed a great deal of what is 'good' about our club. Yes, there is no doubt that this team in particular is lacking in certain areas. But it also possesses exactly what McDermott has espoused time and time again. Team work, team ethic, not a little confidence and enthusiasm, skill, and a sense of togetherness that simply would negate a battling performance like last night's if those elements were not in place. The imperfections are there to see: a midfield that can be bypassed quite quickly and easily when its members switch off or lose position, a defence that at times does function, but when it does not, exposes itself for its technical frailties at a level of football where you won't get away with a lapse or three during a game against players who are used to knowing how to open up a back four with quite a few tricks and shimmies. Compared to the game against Aston Villa on Tuesday night (that to me looked like two parks teams who'd decided to have a game after a deep session on some Buckfast and a bong), Reading versus United was far more enjoyable fare.

I don't agree with some of the highly personal abuse that some players get on this forum from supporters who see their own vicarious desires thwarted simply because 'their' team isn't doing so well. Nor do I like the modern era's propensity for switching managers like there is no tomorrow or its introductory smell as the smoke burns on the embers of the 'so and so out!' camp fire. McDermott, a hero last year (and prior to that in our Wembley defeat season) and often hailed as a modern day 'modesto' genius, is now seen in some short-sighted eyes as having had his day and approaching his time to go. Be careful what you wish for, knee-jerkers, this man has this club in his own interests, he believes in it, himself, and the players he chooses and selects. He sees the club as a greater entity and buys into the 'Reading way', even though in some eyes that is interpreted as penny-pinching or not competing. But if you looked closely at last night's match, 'our' Reading FC competed for many periods of the game against the present incumbent of first position in our national league with no sense of inferiority or lack of brio. There were moments when the visitors knew they were in a game and in certain areas were on the back foot against this imperfect, but (thankfully) honest Reading side.

In particular last night I noticed the following: That when attacked, United were at sixes and sevens, particularly down the flanks (where we were lively and accurate) and from set plays. Under pressure, they panicked often enough for me to grin at their collective sphincters twitching a little against their millionaire jockey shorts as they flailed around. When the little Brazilian was taken off after half an hour or so after having been given a rag-running similar to the one Jerry Williams gave Kenny Sansom at Elm Park many moons ago there was a pivotal point in some of the things that have happened at this club across the past couple of decades. We were able to do this on a place on a stage the club had earned through its collective efforts - not just over last season or the past few games, but in the past, maybe fifteen years as the profile and ethos of RFC has grown and risen. Yes, we are still a small club (comparatively) but it is with pride that you look around the Mad and see that more often than not, this club has changed for ever from the form it took at the beautiful but shabby Elm Park, where expectations were perpetually low, and where any hope of football not just in the highest division, but in the top two, was a bit of a Tilehurst Road pipe dream that you could let drift away on a few pints in the Swiss Cottage on the way home as you returned to more realistic life.

We simply stuffed them at set plays and from the wings coming in to the box. We were less incisive in midfield, but even then it was an improvement on the shambolic, listless show at Villa Park. What it said to me at times was it often seemed that our players have the physical ability (as they have proven so in the past) but that it is in the mental side - that of concentration and thinking ahead, anticipation - where they are often caught cold. Morrison's defending (his attacking was sublime, dangerous, threatening) was neatly outlined on MOTD. He did not get across early enough to snuff out runs that allowed United to score two goals (a little like a rugby player has to know his angles to cut out an attack). Federici (who get's dog's abuse on here) was far from what is required, but having watched him since his early days at the club such deficiencies were not 'new news'. He has always been a shoe-in at the near post, his positioning is poor and his temperament gets the better of him. He's had a particularly bad season this year. Tabb - whose moment of 'non-thinking' gave United a soft penalty when the threat was facing away from goal, played a real blinder in other areas. Effort, strength, desire.

The differences at this level between the team that spent the first season in the Prem and this one seemed to me to be one of mental application and of 'pressing'. That Coppell team pressed, relentlessly, and did not stop. And when in possession their minds were switched on for the entire game. It is speed of thought and anticipation that is sometimes the difference at this level. If you looked cold-eyed at United when they went forward, they cut the spaces left by our more 'stood-back' style of opposition with comparative ease. You cannot be quick-footed unless you are quick-minded.

For me it highlighted the need for some applied and defined specific coaching. We have the basic nucleus of a quite talented and able squad. Where it seems we make life difficult for ourselves is in the application of the basics. Brian continually speaks of having almost what he requires here to do well, and instead of deriding him for the same (as some do) I would say, make more of what it is you have to hand. Coach the team defensively. Coach their thinking, match-day minds. Make them quicker of mind. Coach Federici, train the faults out of his game if you are going to keep him. It's possible. It's done in other sports. These are technical matters that if addressed, would bring a lot of our good players on to the next level.

There's a lot right with our club. But it always depresses me when fans simply take the pantomime route of 'you were great last year but now you're shite'.

Stand back and have a little neutral look for a while. I don't give a f*ck if we go down this year if we are not good enough. We'll bounce back and carry on. I'm more interested in the long-term progress of RFC and what we have become. If I were to be 'proud' of my club for anything, then it would certainly be that. It was good to be back last night. We did ourselves proud and played well. To paraphrase Brian we have 'moved on'. For those of you wishing for knee-jerk change and 'success at all cost', be careful of what you wish for. The best dishes are always best when slow-cooked. I'd rather be at slow-burn Smallmead than shit-storm Stamford Bridge, or worse, 'Lostus' Road, that much is sure.

And for any of you saying 'I'm not reading all that', kindly f*ck off, would you?

Cheers.

+ 1, Well said Ian.

[Stuka]

Even though we still lose we seem to play better against the big teams.

[REMTARDROYAL]

I think you're thinking what I'm thinking.

[leicsRoyal]

Excellent read Ian.

Some of the worlds top players came to town, playing for one of the worlds top clubs. No matter what rants are aired from fans it is somewhat satisfying that they will be nothing compared to the mood Sir Alex will have been in at half time yesterday.

[Platypuss]

Kudos to In HerRing for that post.

[Royal Rother]

I read Big Ern and all the other "Brian must go" merchants and think what a bunch of ungrateful fools and short sighted muppets follow this club. I then see Ian Herring's post and faith is restored.

[Gunny Fishcake]

My two-penneth worth:

Fortunate enough to attend (I don't get to so many games these days) I was able to enjoy the sense of time-lapsed perspective such infrequent viewing of my beloved club can sometimes bring.

From a football supporter's perspective there is much right about Reading Football Club in many of its various forms that is good. Not just good, but the antithesis of the modern game with all its vile excesses.

I thought against United we showed a great deal of what is 'good' about our club. Yes, there is no doubt that this team in particular is lacking in certain areas. But it also possesses exactly what McDermott has espoused time and time again. Team work, team ethic, not a little confidence and enthusiasm, skill, and a sense of togetherness that simply would negate a battling performance like last night's if those elements were not in place. The imperfections are there to see: a midfield that can be bypassed quite quickly and easily when its members switch off or lose position, a defence that at times does function, but when it does not, exposes itself for its technical frailties at a level of football where you won't get away with a lapse or three during a game against players who are used to knowing how to open up a back four with quite a few tricks and shimmies. Compared to the game against Aston Villa on Tuesday night (that to me looked like two parks teams who'd decided to have a game after a deep session on some Buckfast and a bong), Reading versus United was far more enjoyable fare.

I don't agree with some of the highly personal abuse that some players get on this forum from supporters who see their own vicarious desires thwarted simply because 'their' team isn't doing so well. Nor do I like the modern era's propensity for switching managers like there is no tomorrow or its introductory smell as the smoke burns on the embers of the 'so and so out!' camp fire. McDermott, a hero last year (and prior to that in our Wembley defeat season) and often hailed as a modern day 'modesto' genius, is now seen in some short-sighted eyes as having had his day and approaching his time to go. Be careful what you wish for, knee-jerkers, this man has this club in his own interests, he believes in it, himself, and the players he chooses and selects. He sees the club as a greater entity and buys into the 'Reading way', even though in some eyes that is interpreted as penny-pinching or not competing. But if you looked closely at last night's match, 'our' Reading FC competed for many periods of the game against the present incumbent of first position in our national league with no sense of inferiority or lack of brio. There were moments when the visitors knew they were in a game and in certain areas were on the back foot against this imperfect, but (thankfully) honest Reading side.

In particular last night I noticed the following: That when attacked, United were at sixes and sevens, particularly down the flanks (where we were lively and accurate) and from set plays. Under pressure, they panicked often enough for me to grin at their collective sphincters twitching a little against their millionaire jockey shorts as they flailed around. When the little Brazilian was taken off after half an hour or so after having been given a rag-running similar to the one Jerry Williams gave Kenny Sansom at Elm Park many moons ago there was a pivotal point in some of the things that have happened at this club across the past couple of decades. We were able to do this on a place on a stage the club had earned through its collective efforts - not just over last season or the past few games, but in the past, maybe fifteen years as the profile and ethos of RFC has grown and risen. Yes, we are still a small club (comparatively) but it is with pride that you look around the Mad and see that more often than not, this club has changed for ever from the form it took at the beautiful but shabby Elm Park, where expectations were perpetually low, and where any hope of football not just in the highest division, but in the top two, was a bit of a Tilehurst Road pipe dream that you could let drift away on a few pints in the Swiss Cottage on the way home as you returned to more realistic life.

We simply stuffed them at set plays and from the wings coming in to the box. We were less incisive in midfield, but even then it was an improvement on the shambolic, listless show at Villa Park. What it said to me at times was it often seemed that our players have the physical ability (as they have proven so in the past) but that it is in the mental side - that of concentration and thinking ahead, anticipation - where they are often caught cold. Morrison's defending (his attacking was sublime, dangerous, threatening) was neatly outlined on MOTD. He did not get across early enough to snuff out runs that allowed United to score two goals (a little like a rugby player has to know his angles to cut out an attack). Federici (who get's dog's abuse on here) was far from what is required, but having watched him since his early days at the club such deficiencies were not 'new news'. He has always been a shoe-in at the near post, his positioning is poor and his temperament gets the better of him. He's had a particularly bad season this year. Tabb - whose moment of 'non-thinking' gave United a soft penalty when the threat was facing away from goal, played a real blinder in other areas. Effort, strength, desire.

The differences at this level between the team that spent the first season in the Prem and this one seemed to me to be one of mental application and of 'pressing'. That Coppell team pressed, relentlessly, and did not stop. And when in possession their minds were switched on for the entire game. It is speed of thought and anticipation that is sometimes the difference at this level. If you looked cold-eyed at United when they went forward, they cut the spaces left by our more 'stood-back' style of opposition with comparative ease. You cannot be quick-footed unless you are quick-minded.

For me it highlighted the need for some applied and defined specific coaching. We have the basic nucleus of a quite talented and able squad. Where it seems we make life difficult for ourselves is in the application of the basics. Brian continually speaks of having almost what he requires here to do well, and instead of deriding him for the same (as some do) I would say, make more of what it is you have to hand. Coach the team defensively. Coach their thinking, match-day minds. Make them quicker of mind. Coach Federici, train the faults out of his game if you are going to keep him. It's possible. It's done in other sports. These are technical matters that if addressed, would bring a lot of our good players on to the next level.

There's a lot right with our club. But it always depresses me when fans simply take the pantomime route of 'you were great last year but now you're shite'.

Stand back and have a little neutral look for a while. I don't give a f*ck if we go down this year if we are not good enough. We'll bounce back and carry on. I'm more interested in the long-term progress of RFC and what we have become. If I were to be 'proud' of my club for anything, then it would certainly be that. It was good to be back last night. We did ourselves proud and played well. To paraphrase Brian we have 'moved on'. For those of you wishing for knee-jerk change and 'success at all cost', be careful of what you wish for. The best dishes are always best when slow-cooked. I'd rather be at slow-burn Smallmead than shit-storm Stamford Bridge, or worse, 'Lostus' Road, that much is sure.

And for any of you saying 'I'm not reading all that', kindly f*ck off, would you?

Cheers.

Less is more !

[Norfolk Royal]

Excellent post. Guess it sums up very well what the majority of our fans think, particularly the older ones.

[Mr.T10]

Plenty of positives and plenty of good performances; Morrison, Mariappa, Shorey, HRK, Tabb, McAnuff, Le Fondre.


We just have weak links in the team that are really letting us down. Roberts has a shocking touch especially in key areas, don't pass when he should, Championship quality at best; to be honest if he is our answer to survival than god help us. (Pog is not an impact sub, Roberts could be with a more positive attitude). Leigertwood, it is quite easy to see that every single team we have played against players just walk past him, a main culprit on why we are losing so much. Federici is very very lucky he is in the team, I feel so sorry for McCarthy. And if anyone says bring in Taylor he is just as bad, Andersen is our next option. Cummings was ok... could do better.

A massive game against Southampton, if we don't win that than...

Also carrying on what Ian if we go down, we go down, you support the CLUB if that is in the Premiership so be it if it is in the Championship so be it. We will build again and have another whack at it. Lets just enjoy it!

[RoyalBlue]

Plenty of positives and plenty of good performances; Morrison, Mariappa, Shorey, HRK, Tabb, McAnuff, Le Fondre.


We just have weak links in the team that are really letting us down. Roberts has a shocking touch especially in key areas, don't pass when he should, Championship quality at best; to be honest if he is our answer to survival than god help us. (Pog is not an impact sub, Roberts could be with a more positive attitude). Leigertwood, it is quite easy to see that every single team we have played against players just walk past him, a main culprit on why we are losing so much. Federici is very very lucky he is in the team, I feel so sorry for McCarthy. And if anyone says bring in Taylor he is just as bad, Andersen is our next option. Cummings was ok... could do better.

A massive game against Southampton, if we don't win that than...

Also carrying on what Ian if we go down, we go down, you support the CLUB if that is in the Premiership so be it if it is in the Championship so be it. We will build again and have another whack at it. Lets just enjoy it!

Noble sentiments at the end there but all pretty pointless if the next time we come up we immediately repeat the mistakes of the previous two short stays because those in charge still haven't realised that RFC aren't big enough or good enough to ignore the way that the PL tends to operate (both on and off the pitch).