Relegation the Reading Way

[Arnie_Pie]

I firmly believe that there are at least three teams worse than us in the league so I am hoping it all pans out. Don't ever forget that we have started slowly for the last few seasons as well and then picked up.

[Haag Royal]

Looking at the current situation and where we are likely to end up it would seem that Anton probably paid a fair price after all.

[windermere_royal]

I firmly believe that there are at least three teams worse than us in the league so I am hoping it all pans out. Don't ever forget that we have started slowly for the last few seasons as well and then picked up.

This post is simular to the last one after we lost 2-0 at home to Watford in September last year

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=109073&hilit=watford+home&start=60

[Winnershroyal]

I firmly believe that there are at least three teams worse than us in the league so I am hoping it all pans out. Don't ever forget that we have started slowly for the last few seasons as well and then picked up.

I genuinely cant think of one, even QPR who are propping us up will pull away. We started slowly in the championship last season that's for sure but that league is mor forgiving, put it this way, I'm feeling sick about Fulham turning up next week, Fulham FFS!!

It's us Southampton and 1 other, my hope is that we beat the Derby pts total, that's about it.

[windermere_royal]

I firmly believe that there are at least three teams worse than us in the league so I am hoping it all pans out. Don't ever forget that we have started slowly for the last few seasons as well and then picked up.

I genuinely cant think of one, even QPR who are propping us up will pull away. We started slowly in the championship last season that's for sure but that league is mor forgiving, put it this way, I'm feeling sick about Fulham turning up next week, Fulham FFS!!

It's us Southampton and 1 other, my hope is that we beat the Derby pts total, that's about it.

Get a grip man Derby totalled 11 points, lost 29 games and conceded 89 goals, their only win against .....Fulham

[RoyalBlue]

I firmly believe that there are at least three teams worse than us in the league so I am hoping it all pans out. Don't ever forget that we have started slowly for the last few seasons as well and then picked up.

This post is simular to the last one after we lost 2-0 at home to Watford in September last year

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=109073&hilit=watford+home&start=60

But the PL is a very, very different league from The Championship and, unfortunately our team/squad of this season is not very different (in terms of class, quality and ability) from that of last.

[Stranded]

I firmly believe that there are at least three teams worse than us in the league so I am hoping it all pans out. Don't ever forget that we have started slowly for the last few seasons as well and then picked up.

I genuinely cant think of one, even QPR who are propping us up will pull away. We started slowly in the championship last season that's for sure but that league is mor forgiving, put it this way, I'm feeling sick about Fulham turning up next week, Fulham FFS!!

It's us Southampton and 1 other, my hope is that we beat the Derby pts total, that's about it.

Get a grip man Derby totalled 11 points, lost 29 games and conceded 89 goals, their only win against .....Fulham

It was against Newcastle actually.

[windermere_royal]

yes just looked it up 1-0

[akranes]

Southampton look worse than us imo.

[No Fixed Abode]

Reading need a creative midfielder in the centre of the park imo. Definitely lacking creativity.

[DaveBanana]

We'll be fiiiiiine, unless we self destruct from a battered confidence now we'll pick up at least 10 points in the next handful of games, talk of top half dreams for a month, then freak out again in mid December.

[Mr Angry]

Reading need a creative midfielder in the centre of the park imo. Definitely lacking creativity.

Agreed.

Problem is, even if we had one of the quality we need, could Brian play such a creative midfielder in a 442 with any degree of confidence?

The short term option might be to put Jobi into the centre, with Kebe and McCleary wide.

[ZacNaloen]

It is my belief we need to go back to the formation we played when Gylfi was in the team.

4 defenders with full backs pushing on

1 primarily passing midfielder, one tackler (i.e howard and Tabb) but this time make and guthrie and Leighterwood

Three mobile attackers higher up the field, 1 striker

Very attacking, but plenty of bodies in the middle of the park.

We need to change to that formation, persist with it, and then in January bring someone in to play the role Gylfi did in that formation with such aplomb.

I believe playing like this we would be able to have more control over the game. We'd resort to less hitting and hoping, with guthrie creating our plays and with the likes Mcanuff, Mcleary and Kebe hell even Robson Kanu given free reign to interchange up front we'd be a dynamic and entertaining team again, capable of taking on any premier league team.

4-4-2 is over rated.

[RoyalBlue]

Can I take it that all of those who so confidently keep assuring us 'we will be fine' have been down the bookies laying their money where their mouths are?

Should be able to get some pretty good odds at present!

[RedRum]

It is my belief we need to go back to the formation we played when Gylfi was in the team.

4 defenders with full backs pushing on

1 primarily passing midfielder, one tackler (i.e howard and Tabb) but this time make and guthrie and Leighterwood

Three mobile attackers higher up the field, 1 striker

Very attacking, but plenty of bodies in the middle of the park.

We need to change to that formation, persist with it, and then in January bring someone in to play the role Gylfi did in that formation with such aplomb.

I believe playing like this we would be able to have more control over the game. We'd resort to less hitting and hoping, with guthrie creating our plays and with the likes Mcanuff, Mcleary and Kebe hell even Robson Kanu given free reign to interchange up front we'd be a dynamic and entertaining team again, capable of taking on any premier league team.

4-4-2 is over rated.

I would really really love to go back to playing that formation, and I'm sure McD does too, but I just don't think he thinks we have the players to fit it. Who would play the 'Gylfi' role? Clearly Guthrie can't, and I don't think McD rates McAnuff too highly to play him centrally all the time.
Also, our players are too used to playing the 442 and the style of play we play with that, that we have played last season and the one before that. Such a dramatic change is something I don't think is worth risking in the Premiership. If we got relegated I would like to see McD try to bring this back with the funds that TSI supposedly brings. But right now I think switching the tactics from what brought us here would make things worse.

[Ups and Downs]

Southampton look worse than us imo.

Well that's one team. Haven't seen another two.

[E. Andrew]

Does anyone have a 'slowly drifting to sleep' .gif?

[winchester_royal]

It is my belief we need to go back to the formation we played when Gylfi was in the team.

4 defenders with full backs pushing on

1 primarily passing midfielder, one tackler (i.e howard and Tabb) but this time make and guthrie and Leighterwood

Three mobile attackers higher up the field, 1 striker

Very attacking, but plenty of bodies in the middle of the park.

We need to change to that formation, persist with it, and then in January bring someone in to play the role Gylfi did in that formation with such aplomb.

I believe playing like this we would be able to have more control over the game. We'd resort to less hitting and hoping, with guthrie creating our plays and with the likes Mcanuff, Mcleary and Kebe hell even Robson Kanu given free reign to interchange up front we'd be a dynamic and entertaining team again, capable of taking on any premier league team.

4-4-2 is over rated.

Anyone got McD's email address for us to send this to?

[Libertine]

Well since I was the one screaming after the Swansea game that we should play a 4-5-1 against Liverpool, which we did, I am going to defend Brian for using it.

I don't think we will, or should, be wedded one type of set up. Liverpool is being molded as a passing/ball control team, just like Rogers had at Swansea. On the road, against a team like that (especially at Anfield), a 4-5-1 was called for. And even though we got a draw at Swansea we actually looked better in defeat against Liverpool. After the team got over that dreadful first 45 minutes we looked much better in the second half...actually the better of the 2 teams. Why? Because the 4-5-1 effectively neutralized Liverpool's passing game. Possession was roughly 57%-43% against us as opposed to the 71%-29% at Swansea. We still struggled going forward (something which needs to still be addressed) but did create a number of half chances in the 2nd half, where we looked the better bet to score than Liverpool. 4-5-1 was exactly the proper set up for this game.

Against Fulham? At the Madejski? I would not be surprised to see us return to a 4-4-2 and be far more direct, like we had against a similar team in Newcastle and looked very good in the process, seeing Fulham is not looking to play a possession game like Swansea or Liverpool were.

To me the way we are set up shouldn't be an "either/or" proposition. I think we will be seeing a good amount of both depending on whom we are playing, where we are playing them and whom we have available to play.

[blueroyals]

Bottom of the league as things stand.