Finally Rodgers realises that 4-5-1 isn't working, so he changes it for an extremely difficult away game against a team that are scoring for fun. And he drops Karacan, who has been consistently one of our better players in the process, making 5 (FIVE!) changes in the process.
He plays two defensive midfielders, one who is incapable of stringing passes together and the other who is good, but about as mobile as my gran (DEAD) and only has the legs for 60 minutes at best.
That means that our only creative play is going to come from two pretty inconsistent wingers, who are both lightweight and prone to go missing, on what is possibly the narrowest pitch in the division.
He possibly makes a couple of good (SHOCK, well one) substitutions at half time, although even that was too late, only for Ivar to lunge in for the 4th or 5th time in the match within seconds of the restart and get himself sent off, deservedly s. And that's the captain!
A note on the ref; he was atrocious. Thank Christ he made one of the most ridiculous sendings off I've ever seen early on, or we'd have been looking at double figures conceeded.
Federici: 4 - arguably had some level of fault in all of the goals IMO, even if he pulled off some great saves and had no chance because of the oxf*rd in front of him.
Tabb: 6 - didn't think he put a foot wrong.
O'Dea: 5 - poor, but not nearly the worst
Ingimarsson: 0 - oxf*rd idiot, did nothing all game but lunge at players, committing fouls and get himself stupidly sent off.
Mills: 5 - poor, but what hope did he have in a defence with Gunnarsson and O'Dea and no support.
Cisse: 3 - waste of space
Gunnarsson: 5 - tried hard but simply not fit enough to start anymore
McAnuff: 3 looked good for 10 minutes first half. I think he went and hid in the stand for the rest of the game
Kebe: 6 - dangerous, even if he did his usual oxf*rd up every opening he created. Someone I spoke to after the game said only two of his crosses actually reached a Reading player. Probably our best player on the pitch
Long: 3 - Fat, slow and shit.
Church: 5 - Didn't really notice him, which means he oxf*rd up less than most of them
Howard: 5 - gave us more purpose, but then Darren Caskey could have achieved that. Scored but woeful corners
Siggurdsson: 5 - nothing really came off for him, couple of decent shots and a couple of poor ones. Think he was wasted in the deeper role, but I may be being biased in his favour
HRK: 5 - looked up for it, but needed to calm down and play smarter, didn't have a lot of impact
Rodgers: -10
I said I'd make up my mind on him after today's match. Well I think he's oxf*rd useless and should oxf*rd off. BUT I want him in charge for Leicester for a few reasons.
a) So Madejski can come down and do the post match interview sacking him live on SKY
b)He at least TRIED to do the right thing today, even if he did get it completely wrong IMO.
c)I don't want him able to leave blaming a badly timed goal from a freekick and an idiotic lunge by Ingimarsson.
Formation wise today was a step in the right direction. I want to see if he can take that step properly against Leicester so it is actually effective. I can't see him getting it right. But what's one game at this stage?
