Back from the game

[loyalroyal4life]

Has anyone else noticed how since signing his new contract, Hunt has been rather awful

[Schards#2]

Whatever the players feel, there is absolutely no belief in the fans, even with a succession of corners the chanting was very muted as, in their hearts, no one believes we are going to do anything.

Its down to the players to give them some belief, sadly, I don't see that happening this season. This will be all over long before Derby

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

What position was Kitson supposed to be playing? He seemed to be crossing the ball to no-one most of the time?
Cisse has played his last game at centre back.
Oster shouldn't be allowed out of the changing room.
Doyle should get his hair cut.
Hunt should ask Doyle about an appointment with his barber so he can enjoy some vision.
Sonko has a Kryptonite lined jock strap.
Shorey for much of the game thought it was a Sunday afternoon stroll.( Does he ever practice kicking with his right foot?)
Hahnemann should join Shorey in kicking practice.

Bikey, Rosenior, Kebe, and Long should start against Boro with Lita on the bench with De La Cruz.

Was it me or was the bench trying to get Kits to play more down the middle and he was telling them no. Certainly was something going on between him and the bench.

KIt's problem is he thinks he's Teddy Sherringham, when we need him playing as an out and out forward. He's the only goal threat we have.

[Sharpy]

first impression on missing bolton game is 'LOL'

- no idea in final third or the 1st or 2nd third for that matter
- oster should stay on his wing to provide width
- neither winger can cross so maybe my 2nd point isnt valid
- kebe looked good when he came on
- cisse was mad today
- hanneman looked dodgey but his save from young near post was excellent
- shorey...good free kick
- doyle and kitson arent on same wavelength
- ref...a oxf*rd joke
- coppell/madesjki/hammond- clueless when it came to tackling the jan transfer window

in summary.... WE ARE FUBAR'D!

[Victor Meldrew]

Has anyone else noticed how since signing his new contract, Hunt has been rather awful

Absolutely right.
I was shot down on here for suggesting that if we put our destiny in the hands of players like Hunt we would be relegated.
I was also shot down for suggesting that Cisse is not strong enough in the air to be a centre-back.
I would dearly love to have been proven wrong -it's not about what we say on a message board and scoring points,it's about us all wanting what is best for our club.
Today I feel let down by the club that said it would do everything to stay in The Premiership including developing the ground to increase revenue and give a statement of intent.
The club has done neither.
Worse still I felt watching today and in the Bolton game the players (despite what Coppell says) did not give everything-seeing Shorey go through the motions,seeing Sonko stand off players,seeing Oster on the pitch-these players didn't give everything.

I did suggest last week that a dose of Martin Allen for the rest of the season MIGHT just get players being totally committed as Dillon and Downes obviously can't motivate and drastic times call for drastic measures.
At the moment we look like leaving The Premiership in a whimper whereas we fans would like to see a roar-that is the hardest thing to take,even if the ability isn't there total commitment can get you points when you least expect them.

[Chuckle Brother]

Has anyone else noticed how since signing his new contract, Hunt has been rather awful

One Jamie Lambert, there's only one Jamie Lambert..............

[Alan Partridge]

Has anyone else noticed how since signing his new contract, Hunt has been rather awful

I noticed it about a year ago tbh.

[madreadingfan]

absolutley f**kin awful, if we play like that we are not staying up for sure
i admit now i think we are going down
but stil im reading TID
looking forward to boro!

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

Has anyone else noticed how since signing his new contract, Hunt has been rather awful

Hunt rather summed up how we've been playing of late - bags of effort but absolutely no end product. Did he manage a single decent cross all match?

I've also got absolutely no idea what Kitson & Doyle were doing today, as they spent as much time out wide as in the middle. I remember one move in the first half, a throw I think, where both Kitson and Doyle ran out of the box towards the thrower, leaving us with just one player in the penalty area had we been able to get a ball in.

Add to that Murty trying to be captain fantastic by getting into advanced positions too often, and usually giving the ball away and leaving us exposed at the back (as for the second goal), and our complete inability to mark anyone making a run into the box (why was Murty on the post for their first goal instead of trying to stop the guy getting the ball?) and you get the impression that the team have completely lost their professionalism and are just doing their own thing. You can't fault any of the players for effort, but without the organisation and teamwork to go with it, it's wasted.


There are 11 games to go so there's plenty of time to turns things round, but we need to make it happen rather than than just plodding along in the same rut just hoping something will happen. Sadly, it just appears we've been doing the same things week-in, week-out on the training ground without any apparent idea how to change things.

[Jackson Corner]

I just can't see us winning another game this season. There is no self belief and the team lack confidence. It's a shame but it could be worse at least we weren't beaton 3-0 at home by Walsall in the 1st division. Just remember there is always someone worse off than yourself.

[Alan Partridge]

Has anyone else noticed how since signing his new contract, Hunt has been rather awful

Hunt rather summed up how we've been playing of late - bags of effort but absolutely no end product. Did he manage a single decent cross all match?

I've also got absolutely no idea what Kitson & Doyle were doing today, as they spent as much time out wide as in the middle. I remember one move in the first half, a throw I think, where both Kitson and Doyle ran out of the box towards the thrower, leaving us with just one player in the penalty area had we been able to get a ball in.

Add to that Murty trying to be captain fantastic by getting into advanced positions too often, and usually giving the ball away and leaving us exposed at the back (as for the second goal), and our complete inability to mark anyone making a run into the box (why was Murty on the post for their first goal instead of trying to stop the guy getting the ball?) and you get the impression that the team have completely lost their professionalism and are just doing their own thing. You can't fault any of the players for effort, but without the organisation and teamwork to go with it, it's wasted.


There are 11 games to go so there's plenty of time to turns things round, but we need to make it happen rather than than just plodding along in the same rut just hoping something will happen. Sadly, it just appears we've been doing the same things week-in, week-out on the training ground without any apparent idea how to change things.

The 2nd goal happened because Murty gave the ball away on the halfway line and din't have the pace to get back, when Harweood was celebrating scoring, Murty was 30 odd yards out in the middle with his hand on his head. That's how far he'd got back, 10 yards, in that time they'd passed it scored and were celebrating.

He's too old, too slow and wouldn't touch the squad of any other team in this league, yet he's our bloody captain!

[Cpl Jones Dont panic]

Why no lita in the squad ?

Knowing how sulky he is, he must be totally pissed off now. Does he really care if we go down, it is a dead cert he is on his way [ Bristol City coming up], and this seems to be our only hope of a saviour. For what ever reason Kits and Doyle have lost their season.

It is so hard to be a optimist when we play at home but have 2 central defenders on the bench. With our postion we must have 2 strikers on the bench, would be nice to have 3 , but we sold the 3rd.

When we played well in the premiership [ such a long time ago] Oster could not get near the dressing room, now we are crap, he gets a place. I hope thelocal trading standards are not tiped off that he is being called a premiership plaper, then we are in trouble.

[loyalroyal4life]

I think one area where we have been very poor in comparison to last year is our delivery/crosses of the ball. How many corners did we have today, yet only a handful at that were decent balls into the box that would cause a problem. Lack of Glen Little seems to have had an effect on this.

[loyalroyal4life]

Quote from coppell :

"I feel I have been too loyal to some players in the squad and it might just be that there will be four or five changes for the next game. The ones on the outside of the team must be hellishly frustrated as the ones who are playing at the moment just aren't delivering."

If this is finally a GENUINE admission from the man that he is too loyal to have any bottle to drop players having woeful games week in week out then THANK GOD at last. I can't however see sir steve making 4 or 5 changes.

That'll mean no cisse, harper, oster, doyle at the very least. Can't see it tbh

[RoyalBlue]

I'm afraid that there are now signs that SC is really starting to lose the plot.

A few weeks ago, after far too many games thrown away because of negative tactics, he finally appeared to have seen the light when he acknowledged that we are at our best when we take the game to other teams and that from now on that would be the style of play that we would be adopting.

So today, with us needing to score goals and win the game, what does he do? Names a bench with just one striker, yet two central defenders!! When quizzed on this after the game by BBCRB he said that he felt we would sneak a goal at some stage during the game and therefore selected a bench that would be able to deal with Villa's phsyical presence. In other words he was hoping to get our noses in front and then cling on!

His negativity and fear of Villa's pace/physical presence clearly rubbed off on the team, as was very apparent 25 minutes into the game. Marek played a great ball to set Doyle galloping off down the right yet only Hunt made any effort to break forward in support. Realising this, Doyle did well to hold the ball up for a while before breaking around the outside of the last man. However, when he looked up to cross Hunt was still the only Reading man up in support but had been joined by 4 or 5 Villa players. All the rest of the Reading team had ventured forward no further than the halfway line! Why was this? Were they just being lazy or had they been instructed not to commit themselves forward too much for fear of being caught on the break?

BBCRB also quizzed Coppell about Lita's absence despite the latter having scored five goals in two games for the reserves. After blustering on about the fact that Long was his impact sub who had scored a number of goals, he admitted that the time had come when he might have to 'ignore personalities' and pick players who could do a job!! No shyte Sherlock!! You don't get any goals, let alone points in the PL for fielding players whose personalities appeal to you. I'm sure Doyle is a lovely guy who does exactly what he is asked but just what is he doing to justify his place in the starting 11 at present?!

So, no we have it. Selection isn't down to how players even do in training, let alone in reserve fixtures - it's down to personality.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

Quote from coppell :

"I feel I have been too loyal to some players in the squad and it might just be that there will be four or five changes for the next game. The ones on the outside of the team must be hellishly frustrated as the ones who are playing at the moment just aren't delivering."

If this is finally a GENUINE admission from the man that he is too loyal to have any bottle to drop players having woeful games week in week out then THANK GOD at last. I can't however see sir steve making 4 or 5 changes.

That'll mean no cisse, harper, oster, doyle at the very least. Can't see it tbh

Hindsights a wonderful thing Steve. But this is the guy who said we'd sign players to improve the team in January, so it will be the same side next week.

[PEARCEY]

What position was Kitson supposed to be playing? He seemed to be crossing the ball to no-one most of the time?
Cisse has played his last game at centre back.
Oster shouldn't be allowed out of the changing room.
Doyle should get his hair cut.
Hunt should ask Doyle about an appointment with his barber so he can enjoy some vision.
Sonko has a Kryptonite lined jock strap.
Shorey for much of the game thought it was a Sunday afternoon stroll.( Does he ever practice kicking with his right foot?)
Hahnemann should join Shorey in kicking practice.

Bikey, Rosenior, Kebe, and Long should start against Boro with Lita on the bench with De La Cruz.

I would agree with all of these changes. In a side where our strikers cannot buy a goal Lita is not even in the 16...he has got to come back into the match day squad.
We need more pace, more strength...I hope now the loyalty ends...sod the players that get dropped if they dont like it..they haven't won a point since Boxing day...what do they expect?

[Man Friday]

couple of quick comments - don't care about H's distribution, as long as he keeps them out. Oster: Why persist, Steve? Why? Kitson clearly thinks we're down by his body language. If this spreads through the squad we've had it. Let's face it, we ain't a skilful side, we rely on endeavour. Take that away and we're sink faster than a brick.

[Man Friday]

Agree with virtually every post so far, especially with Royal Blue and Victor Meldrew. When we did attack, where was the midfield in support? Even the Czech gave up when he realised how poor we are and what a lost cause it is. Kebe - a real tryer but (whisper it) some of his play gave me a chuckle ala Bas Savage/Ray Hiron. I know it's not a laughing matter but if I didn't laugh I'd cry. Keystone Cops out there!!!

[Ups and Downs]

Has anyone else noticed how since signing his new contract, Hunt has been rather awful

I think you could argue that all those who have negotiated new contracts after playing well last season have been fairly shite this year.

The horses have eaten the carrots and the man holding the whip is too scared to use it.