What has caused this bad run of results.......

[Platypuss]

Every time he's played in the centre of the defence he's looked pretty handy.

However he made little challenge when Davies headed the ball on for Nolan to score. I doubt Sonko or even Ingimarsson would have lost out so easily.

It wasn't so much that the initial header was lost - that can happen at the best of times. It was more the fact that
three Reading players were together in that part of the goal area leaving Nolan unmarked. Murty for one, was drawn in there (as he often is) and was nowhere near where I would expect to see a right back

No blame can be attached to Murty - Nolan was being "marked" by Harper who decided he couldnt be arsed to properly track his run into the box. Jesus, it's not as if Nolan is a greyhound.

[Forbury Lion]

Perhaps it's the coaching assignments that need freshening up.

IIRC Wally Downes was defensive coach..... perhaps his influence has worn thin in much the same way that the novelty of Martin Allens unauthordox methods wore off when he was Pardews assistant.

Rotate the coaches.

[bcubed]

Not how I remember it - but I haven't seen it again on TV. Will have to wait for highlights to check

[Platypuss]

Not how I remember it - but I haven't seen it again on TV. Will have to wait for highlights to check

Be my guest:

http://www.goalcentre.com/reading-vs-bolton-highlights/

[weybridgewanderer]

for me the problem has been the same all season.

Centre back are fine
Centre midfield is fine
Centre forwards are fine

Right and left back are dreadful
Wingers are dreadful

I exclude Hunt from being 'dreadful', the reason nothing comes from the left is because he finds himself constantly looking after Shorey, who has been nothing short of woeful this season. Im sure we have delivered the least amount of crosses than any team last season by some way.

The defensive problems stem from the full backs, and our attacking problems stem from the wingers. For some reason i felt more confident this season with the cup reserve team.

Rosenior right back, De La Cruz left back, and as for right midfield god knows.

Still optimistic, but changes need to be made pretty quickly.

which totally ignores the factthat both goals this weekend came straight through the middle

harper lost his man on the build up to the first

the second we didn't close down in the middle and let him get a pass off for their forward to run straight through

[Wycombe Royal]

Every time he's played in the centre of the defence he's looked pretty handy.

However he made little challenge when Davies headed the ball on for Nolan to score. I doubt Sonko or even Ingimarsson would have lost out so easily.

It wasn't so much that the initial header was lost - that can happen at the best of times. It was more the fact that
three Reading players were together in that part of the goal area leaving Nolan unmarked. Murty for one, was drawn in there (as he often is) and was nowhere near where I would expect to see a right back

I disagree. It is a known fact the Bolton thrive on picking up the second ball, therefore it is imperitive that they do not get that chance. It was a long ball pumped towards Davies and he rose practically unchallenged to head the ball across into Nolan's path. If Cisse has of beaten Davies to the ball or at least challenged him then it would have made it harder for Davies to head the ball across the box.

It is known that Davies is a threat in those situations so I'm surprised that we did not put two men on him at any dead ball situation.

[howser]

The cause of this bad run should be tracked right back to last summer, when after a fantastic first Premiership season, even though it was well and often said that we "punched above our weight", that was the time that we should have pushed forward , we were a much more attractive proposition for new players with our performances and finishing position that season, but sadly and predictably, apart from a couple of new signings that are suspect to say the least, we got the " we will stick with what we have got" and "we will do our business in January", those now oh familiar and rather boring club statements.

Any chances of a return to last seasons exploits were well and truly scuppered then, indeed it would be interesting to know out of the three main men, Madejski, Hammond and Coppell who is the "stopper" in transfer dealings, as during the recent window we were aligned with several players but nothing came of any of them, we obviously have a salary issue, but is there purchase "cap" once a value goes beyond £3m ? and we dont play the money game !, just as sure as we wont be playing the Premiership games next season unless there is a massive improvement. We are, and have looked for a while directionless, and our play is dire, dismal, very few chances are made for our forwards from clinical midfield play, and the defence, what defence could be asked ? We have a defensive coach but nothing has improved in that department since the early part of the season, so what does he do ??.

This has to be the responsibility of the Club management, administration and football for not being ready and prerpared for this season, we are in the English Premiership, like it or lump its very expensive, but the rewards are huge, for everyone that is who are prepared and willing to be competative and want to stay there.

[rfc58]

The cause of this bad run should be tracked right back to last summer, when after a fantastic first Premiership season, even though it was well and often said that we "punched above our weight", that was the time that we should have pushed forward , we were a much more attractive proposition for new players with our performances and finishing position that season, but sadly and predictably, apart from a couple of new signings that are suspect to say the least, we got the " we will stick with what we have got" and "we will do our business in January", those now oh familiar and rather boring club statements.

Any chances of a return to last seasons exploits were well and truly scuppered then, indeed it would be interesting to know out of the three main men, Madejski, Hammond and Coppell who is the "stopper" in transfer dealings, as during the recent window we were aligned with several players but nothing came of any of them, we obviously have a salary issue, but is there purchase "cap" once a value goes beyond £3m ? and we dont play the money game !, just as sure as we wont be playing the Premiership games next season unless there is a massive improvement. We are, and have looked for a while directionless, and our play is dire, dismal, very few chances are made for our forwards from clinical midfield play, and the defence, what defence could be asked ? We have a defensive coach but nothing has improved in that department since the early part of the season, so what does he do ??.

This has to be the responsibility of the Club management, administration and football for not being ready and prerpared for this season, we are in the English Premiership, like it or lump its very expensive, but the rewards are huge, for everyone that is who are prepared and willing to be competative and want to stay there.

Can't find fault in that at all.

[Eddie Hitler]

I know the last 6 games have been particularly disappointing, but I don't think you can find an issue about these 6 games in isolation. To be honest we have been poor for over 3 months. I've posted the below on another thread, but I think it highlights that we have been in a bit of a rut for longer than just the last 6 games. This is how many points us and the teams around us have picked up in the 14 games since beginning of November:

Bolton: 19 points
Wigan: 15 points
Sunderland: 14 points
Brum: 10 points
Fulham: 10 points
Reading: 9 points

Last year many teams stood off us and let us play, which worked in our favour as we play a very high tempo, get the ball to the wings ASAP style. Now we are getting closed down all over the pitch, stopping us from playing our natural game, so we resort to hoofball.

I think we need to change our style - be more patient. How often do we knock the ball around at the back and wait for an opening further up the pitch? Hardly ever! Even Fulham yesterday produced some very good patient, possession football, and now they have Bullard back, a player who can spot a pass. With Matejovsky we have someone very similar, and we need to play to his strengths.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

Harper has been one of our more consistent players - but he did have a shocker on Saturday. I'm not convinced about Marek's tackling abilities - gave away the pen & a couple of other free kicks too. So, I'm not sure that a Harper - Marek centre mid is going to work, given that Harps is no tackler either. Maybe combining Boris with Marek is worth a try

Marek and Harps is as lightweight a partnership as you can find, Harps doesn't have the defensive skills Sid had and Marek just doesn't seem that type of player. Both individaulay are decent players (Marek looks like he could be great) but there not a partnership and you have to ask why they signed Marek, he's a good player, but is he the guy to give our midfield spine? No and neither is Harper and Bryn is just not good enough for this level.

They've had a year and a half to replace Sidwell and we've still only got Bryn as a real defensive option in midfield. Bikey and Cisse are centre half's and never midfeilders in a million years.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

The cause of this bad run should be tracked right back to last summer, when after a fantastic first Premiership season, even though it was well and often said that we "punched above our weight", that was the time that we should have pushed forward , we were a much more attractive proposition for new players with our performances and finishing position that season, but sadly and predictably, apart from a couple of new signings that are suspect to say the least, we got the " we will stick with what we have got" and "we will do our business in January", those now oh familiar and rather boring club statements.

Any chances of a return to last seasons exploits were well and truly scuppered then, indeed it would be interesting to know out of the three main men, Madejski, Hammond and Coppell who is the "stopper" in transfer dealings, as during the recent window we were aligned with several players but nothing came of any of them, we obviously have a salary issue, but is there purchase "cap" once a value goes beyond £3m ? and we dont play the money game !, just as sure as we wont be playing the Premiership games next season unless there is a massive improvement. We are, and have looked for a while directionless, and our play is dire, dismal, very few chances are made for our forwards from clinical midfield play, and the defence, what defence could be asked ? We have a defensive coach but nothing has improved in that department since the early part of the season, so what does he do ??.

This has to be the responsibility of the Club management, administration and football for not being ready and prerpared for this season, we are in the English Premiership, like it or lump its very expensive, but the rewards are huge, for everyone that is who are prepared and willing to be competative and want to stay there.

It would certainly appear Coppell was the stopper. He said so in the summer, he would never cover for Hammond or JM.

[papereyes]

for me the problem has been the same all season.

Centre back are fine
Centre midfield is fine
Centre forwards are fine

Right and left back are dreadful
Wingers are dreadful

Now this is where my reckoning is different. Centre midfield is not fine. It was passable last season simply because we used the wingers so well and central midfield is simply there to stop other teams attacking and join attacks in the final third. Most of our play came from wide, so the quality of the midfield, as opposed to the workrate, was not a major factor.

Now, with the wings being less effective (or even 'found out'), we rely on a central midfield that wasn't quite good enough last season and this season is missing the one player than had any quality of play in him. Losing Gunnarson as well simply knocked it when we were playing some big sides. So last season, we got the ball wide, and got it there quickly and with pace. The midfield existed as a screen for the (actually not that great either) central midfield. We lose wingers and play a different way, so rely on a significantly weakened midfield. As a result, more goals are shipped and less are scored.

You know, we could have replaced Sidwell in the summer ...

[Get Carter]

We have been on a wing (or lack of it) and a prayer since the day Blakey got injured. Coppell must accept full responsibility for not replacing Blakey with a quality winger, just like he would not replace Sidwell, even though he kept telling everybody how influential Sidwell was to us. Also, Downes has to accept some responsibility for the shambolic defending and the complete lack of any discernible tactics in games like 7-4 and 6-4. Coppell brings in players like Rosenior & Fae and does not play them and gets rid of quality young players like Cox, without giving them a chance and James Henry is shipped out to Norwich with Alex Pearce. I certainly think that Cox would have scored more goals than Lita and Henry would be better on the wing than Doyle? I also think we should have got Ashdown back from Pompey, where he is third choice keeper.
I think the six defeats on the bounce will become 11 defeats on the bounce, before a home draw with Brum. It does remind me of freefall with Bully/Burns. I have been a supporter since 1963, so most of the time I've seen us in old Div 3 & 4, so to achieve what we have has been superb. I think we will revert back to our real level of championship or Div 1 when we will not have to punch above our weight anymore. I am genuinely surprised that the club did not appear to want to invest more to keep our premiership status after waiting 135 years to get to the promised land. I think Coppell has said many times to get the right quality, you have to invest. Actions speak louder than words.

[Richi Royal]

The cause of this bad run should be tracked right back to last summer, when after a fantastic first Premiership season, even though it was well and often said that we "punched above our weight", that was the time that we should have pushed forward , we were a much more attractive proposition for new players with our performances and finishing position that season, but sadly and predictably, apart from a couple of new signings that are suspect to say the least, we got the " we will stick with what we have got" and "we will do our business in January", those now oh familiar and rather boring club statements.

Any chances of a return to last seasons exploits were well and truly scuppered then, indeed it would be interesting to know out of the three main men, Madejski, Hammond and Coppell who is the "stopper" in transfer dealings, as during the recent window we were aligned with several players but nothing came of any of them, we obviously have a salary issue, but is there purchase "cap" once a value goes beyond £3m ? and we dont play the money game !, just as sure as we wont be playing the Premiership games next season unless there is a massive improvement. We are, and have looked for a while directionless, and our play is dire, dismal, very few chances are made for our forwards from clinical midfield play, and the defence, what defence could be asked ? We have a defensive coach but nothing has improved in that department since the early part of the season, so what does he do ??.

This has to be the responsibility of the Club management, administration and football for not being ready and prerpared for this season, we are in the English Premiership, like it or lump its very expensive, but the rewards are huge, for everyone that is who are prepared and willing to be competative and want to stay there.

Hit the nail on the head there.

I wonder how much, if any coppell has in the transfers execpt for giving the final go ahead... all of the transfers for the last few years from what we have heard have nothing to do with him
...doyle - recommended by Dolan...sonko, hunt, ivar have all played under him before...murty, shorey harper, usa all here before he came...kebe, fae found by french scout etc etc..

I no the whole idea of scouts is so the manager doesnt need to scout abroad etc but since the last players who played under him joined, whenever they signed we have heard....(x spotted this player, playing for y 6 months ago and we have kept an eye on him) etc..
I just cant see Coppell watching Fulham for example and saying that Jimmy Bullard looks good lets go spend 4 million on him (i no he has been injured and would need a few more months of scouting) Or Gary O'Neil is available for 5 million, lets go buy him

It is almost as if there is so much pressure been applied by above about wasteing money, Coppell does not want the responsibility of a big transfer.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

It is almost as if there is so much pressure been applied by above about wasteing money, Coppell does not want the responsibility of a big transfer.

given that Coppell, if the above scenario is correct, doesn't pick the signings nor decide their fee or wages, how could he be scared of wasting money when all he's doing is saying yay or nay to players he's offered?

[Richi Royal]

It is almost as if there is so much pressure been applied by above about wasteing money, Coppell does not want the responsibility of a big transfer.

given that Coppell, if the above scenario is correct, doesn't pick the signings nor decide their fee or wages, how could he be scared of wasting money when all he's doing is saying yay or nay to players he's offered?

Well the decision is always going to involve Coppell in some way or another, he either decided on players then hands it over to hammond....or a scout finds a player, builds a file up and then gets thumbs up or down from coppell where it is passed to hammond.

To the outside world all the signings made are made by Coppell.

From what i understand there are two roles for a scout. 1) to identify players which the club are unaware of which could be good additions, given conditions given by club e.g. a right midfielder under the age of 26.
2)To watch a player many times and build up a file given by the club...e.g. the club are told about a nantes midfielder...the scout is then told to watch him a few times over months and write a detailed report on him...if they are good and are recommended then the coaching staff then have a look.
There is no point the scout saying...i watched bolton and there best player is Anelka. Nolan and jaskelinham (sp?) are handy players aswell because the club already know that.

I cannot see Coppell spending big on a player from abroad...by that i mean over 4-5 million, judging on the comment he has made about players from abroad been a risk as you never know if they will adapt. The signing from abroad are going to mainly be (i would have thought) spotted and picked by scouts and then hammond, mcdermott etc then coppell... so they have very little to do with coppell and will be mid range price range. If they dont go well....coppell says to madejski, he was foreign, didnt adapt, wasnt of great expence etc.

However the players from this country i would think would have much more to do with coppell, he must surely have a knowledge of most premiership players and alot of championship players. I know scouts etc are still involved but coppell in involved in a much earlier stage, maybe even set the ball rolling. As is well documented it will cost alot more to get british players therefore the risk is that much greater and as he is more involved therefore has less excuses aswell as wasting money.
Hence when it come to buying players, Coppell decided to go with the cheaper, lesser risk player to aviod wasting money...

As i say this is all theoretical, i have no inside information or anything, just speculation.

[Millsy]

Oddly the only common factor thorugh this bad run of results is that Gunnarsson has not been in the midfield. His last midfield appareance for us was against West Ham on Boxing Day, and since then he has only made one appearance in central defence against Villa.

Now the general consensus is that he was playing crap, including me, but are we now missing his defensive qualities in there?

Should Harper be given a rest when Gunnarsson is back and then we can see if Matejovsky and Gunnarsson work well together, or maybe move Cisse back to the midfield?

Very good question and I was beginning to wonder this myself. Although I didn't quite realise the Gunman wasn't around during the bad patch.

[bcubed]

We have been on a wing (or lack of it) and a prayer since the day Blakey got injured. Coppell must accept full responsibility for not replacing Blakey with a quality winger, just like he would not replace Sidwell, even though he kept telling everybody how influential Sidwell was to us. Also, Downes has to accept some responsibility for the shambolic defending and the complete lack of any discernible tactics in games like 7-4 and 6-4. Coppell brings in players like Rosenior & Fae and does not play them and gets rid of quality young players like Cox, without giving them a chance and James Henry is shipped out to Norwich with Alex Pearce. I certainly think that Cox would have scored more goals than Lita and Henry would be better on the wing than Doyle? I also think we should have got Ashdown back from Pompey, where he is third choice keeper.
I think the six defeats on the bounce will become 11 defeats on the bounce, before a home draw with Brum. It does remind me of freefall with Bully/Burns. I have been a supporter since 1963, so most of the time I've seen us in old Div 3 & 4, so to achieve what we have has been superb. I think we will revert back to our real level of championship or Div 1 when we will not have to punch above our weight anymore. I am genuinely surprised that the club did not appear to want to invest more to keep our premiership status after waiting 135 years to get to the promised land. I think Coppell has said many times to get the right quality, you have to invest. Actions speak louder than words.

what he said

[papereyes]

Every team can read your style of play now and you have no plan B.

Pretty much spot on except that I'd say we're trying a plan B and we're not good enough to do it rather than having a complete absence of one.

[strap]

I exclude Hunt from being 'dreadful', the reason nothing comes from the left is because he finds himself constantly looking after Shorey, who has been nothing short of woeful this season. Im sure we have delivered the least amount of crosses than any team last season by some way.

Shorey has 9 assists this season which is more than double that of ANY of defender in the Premiership. I don't think Shorey is the problem, but I do think Murty needs a break. We have two other potentially very good right backs and one of them needs to be given a run of games in that position.

ok Shorey has been ok going forward, but defensively this season he has been absolute rubbish.

On a seroius note, i wonder if Coppell has considered Hunt on the right, Shorey left midfield, and De La Cruz left back?

Didn't he try Shorey in midfield for a spell after ht in the Spurs replay? Whilst he was only there for 20 mins beforee being subbed, he wasn't particulaly impressive.