Relegation the Reading Way

[Mid Sussex Royal]

We are short on quality and needed a kinder starting set of fixtures to keep confidence levels high.

I wonder where we would be if we had games like west ham have had so far?

[Snowball]

As yet there is so very little in it.

Reading are improving IMO.

Not great home to Stoke, poor against Spurs, edged out at West Brom
but 2-2 at Swansea and v Newcastle, and losing by a single goal at Anfield

The fact that our GD isn't terrible, may end up important

As for no wins, is it that big a deal when, one other side is P7 for 0 wins
and six more have a single win? Wigan's only win was at a poor Southampton.

And we've played 1-5-6-10-11-12-13

Lost 4-2 to TOP Side (Away) Chelsea are 7-1-0 19-6
Lost 1-3 to 5th
Lost 1-0 to 6th (Away)
Drew 2-2 with 10th (Home)
Lost 1-0 to 11th (Away)
Drew 2-2 with 12th (Away)
Drew 1-1 with 13th (Home)

Based on results (and I expect us to improve) we should be able to finish 15th and have
a decent chance of 13/14th. What REALLY matters is we take 3 points of all these teams
and 4 off most of them.

I take heart in seeing these side shipping 5's when we aren't



13 8 DDDDLWDL 1-5-2 8 Points -01 GD Stoke
14 7 DPDDDWLD 1-5-2 8 Points -02 GD Sunderland

15 8 LDDDLLLW 1-3-4 6 Points -11 GD Norwich
16 8 LWDLLLDL 1-2-4 5 Points -07 GD Wigan
17 8 LLDWLDLL 1-1-5 5 Points -07 GD Villa

18 8 LLLLWLDL 1-1-6 4 Points -11 GD Southampton
19 7 DPLLLDDL 0-3-4 3 Points -06 GD Reading
20 7 LDLDLLL? 0-2-5 2 Points -10 GD QPR

0 WINS RFC and QPR
1 WINS Saints, Sunderland, Villa, Norwich, Wigan

[RoyalBlue]

The optimists on here keep on about how we can/will take three points off Fulham next week. However, Fulham are not a poor team and are currently 8th in the table with 13 points from 8 games.

No doubt if we fail to win next week, the same optimists will then point out Fulham's lofty position in the table and say we shouldn't have expected to win anyway!

I just hope their optimism proves well-founded, starting next week.

[Man Friday]

What concerns me is that we've been outplayed in every game, even the ones we've drawn. The one match where we (more than) matched the other team, certainly for long periods, was against the European Champions! In some cases (Swansea and Spurs) we've been completely outplayed. We don't seem to be good enough - it's as simple as that. I don't believe, however, a change of manager will achieve anything. For me, Brian's our best bet for keeping us up. I think we need to see some 'green shoots' soon, though, starting ideally with a win aginast Fulham on Saturday.

[paultheroyal]

7 points from next 3 games is a must

[AthleticoSpizz]

What concerns me is that we've been outplayed in every game, even the ones we've drawn. The one match where we (more than) matched the other team, certainly for long periods, was against the European Champions! In some cases (Swansea and Spurs) we've been completely outplayed. We don't seem to be good enough - it's as simple as that. I don't believe, however, a change of manager will achieve anything. For me, Brian's our best bet for keeping us up. I think we need to see some 'green shoots' soon, though, starting ideally with a win aginast Fulham on Saturday.

Newcastle never happened then?

[Haag Royal]

I don't know why anyone on here who regularly saw Reading last season is even in the slightest bit surprised where we are in the Premiership.

With broadly the same team (but agreed, stranger tactics) mean that it is three out of the following 6 - us, QPR, Southamption, Wigan, Aston Villa and Norwich who will probably be relegated. But this should not be a shock to anyone.

The players are trying their hardest, the manager is probably getting the best out the team that he has and no other manager could do better than BMD. Does anyone really think Arsen Wenger/Sor Alex etc would do any better with the current squad?

So get behind them, enjoy being where we are and look forward to maybe scraping through. And if not at least in the Championship we get a game every Saturday and every true supporter will still be there. It is not the end of the world - but don't blame the players nor the manager. I think it goes deeper than that.

[AthleticoSpizz]

^ 100%

[Born 'n Bred Royal]

At least we're not shipping goals like Soton are, however our lack of quality up front is a real cause for concern. Pog has only been able to feed off scraps and there just doesn't seem to be any creativity whatsoever - our passing has been embarrassing at times.

When you look at who we've signed, sometimes I really wonder whether there was any point in signing anyone at all this summer. I think with the team spirit of last year we wouldn't be doing any worse than we are atm!

[winchester_royal]

I don't know why anyone on here who regularly saw Reading last season is even in the slightest bit surprised where we are in the Premiership.

With broadly the same team (but agreed, stranger tactics) mean that it is three out of the following 6 - us, QPR, Southamption, Wigan, Aston Villa and Norwich who will probably be relegated. But this should not be a shock to anyone.

The players are trying their hardest, the manager is probably getting the best out the team that he has and no other manager could do better than BMD. Does anyone really think Arsen Wenger/Sor Alex etc would do any better with the current squad?

So get behind them, enjoy being where we are and look forward to maybe scraping through. And if not at least in the Championship we get a game every Saturday and every true supporter will still be there. It is not the end of the world - but don't blame the players nor the manager. I think it goes deeper than that.

So, on the one hand you're saying that the tactics being employed are strange, and on the other you're saying that McDermott is the best manager in the world for us?

It was his job to improve the squad to make it competitive. Instead he spent a lot of money on players he isn't even starting.

Every match 99% of this portal will get fully behind the team so their loyalty is not in question, but I think that - quite fairly - there are some serious reservations to be had over a number of decisions that have been made by the management over the past 7 games.

I'm sure every one of us is desperate to see us succeed this season, and for that to be under McDermott who is a fantastic guy, but just bending over because 'our squad is one of the worst' is a really shit mentality and one that I hope isn't running within the corridors inside the club.

And I don't know whether you were at Anfield yesterday, but going to away games in this league costs a lot of money, and those that make the effort want to see more than just us play at a prestigious ground. The only way to enjoy partisan football is when your team is competitive, and for an awful lot of this season we haven't been. Just because we're playing against some big clubs at some nice grounds it doesn't mean we should sit down and shut up (that applies to the players too).

Still believe it will come good, but sadly I think my beliefs might be a little irrational as the signs point the other way.

[Man Friday]

^ 100%

+1.

[Man Friday]

What concerns me is that we've been outplayed in every game, even the ones we've drawn. The one match where we (more than) matched the other team, certainly for long periods, was against the European Champions! In some cases (Swansea and Spurs) we've been completely outplayed. We don't seem to be good enough - it's as simple as that. I don't believe, however, a change of manager will achieve anything. For me, Brian's our best bet for keeping us up. I think we need to see some 'green shoots' soon, though, starting ideally with a win aginast Fulham on Saturday.

Newcastle never happened then?

Newcastle was certainly our best performanace but I think you'll find that even in this match we weren't 'the dominant side'. Look at possession, shots on target, etc. It feels like we were because for once we almost matched the other side but I don't think the facts bear this out. (I could be wrong.)

[Winnershroyal]

^ 100%

+1.

Without trying to sound all Catherine Tate, I wasnt the last time we were there and am still not that bothered about the EPL, I just want us not to be humiliated. I like the 23 home games mostly Saturdays and will be renewing anyway.

That said, I still think we've got potential to not finish stone last this season.

[Dunker]

The solution is so simple I don't know why no ones thought of this before .... But we seem to be doing so much better after the break (though you wouldn't have seen that from the - frankly - insulting highlights on MOTD). So all BMD needs to do is replace his pre-match message to the boys with the one he gave at half time for Liverpool, Newcastle, Spurs and Chelsea - job done!

Also, last we felt we we never out of MadStad, this season feels we're never in it!

[robinsfriday]

The solution is so simple I don't know why no ones thought of this before .... But we seem to be doing so much better after the break (though you wouldn't have seen that from the - frankly - insulting highlights on MOTD). So all BMD needs to do is replace his pre-match message to the boys with the one he gave at half time for Liverpool, Newcastle, Spurs and Chelsea - job done!

Also, last we felt we we never out of MadStad, this season feels we're never in it!

oxf*rd off newbie and also oxf*rd off.

[royalsteve]

What concerns me is that we've been outplayed in every game, even the ones we've drawn. The one match where we (more than) matched the other team, certainly for long periods, was against the European Champions! In some cases (Swansea and Spurs) we've been completely outplayed. We don't seem to be good enough - it's as simple as that. I don't believe, however, a change of manager will achieve anything. For me, Brian's our best bet for keeping us up. I think we need to see some 'green shoots' soon, though, starting ideally with a win aginast Fulham on Saturday.

wtf!! we werent outplayed by chelsea, newcastle, stoke or west brom!!

though we were at swansea and spurs and sounds like liverpool too

[royalsteve]

I don't know why anyone on here who regularly saw Reading last season is even in the slightest bit surprised where we are in the Premiership.

With broadly the same team (but agreed, stranger tactics) mean that it is three out of the following 6 - us, QPR, Southamption, Wigan, Aston Villa and Norwich who will probably be relegated. But this should not be a shock to anyone.

The players are trying their hardest, the manager is probably getting the best out the team that he has and no other manager could do better than BMD. Does anyone really think Arsen Wenger/Sor Alex etc would do any better with the current squad?

So get behind them, enjoy being where we are and look forward to maybe scraping through. And if not at least in the Championship we get a game every Saturday and every true supporter will still be there. It is not the end of the world - but don't blame the players nor the manager. I think it goes deeper than that.

agreed, also the fact that in some games we were outplayed yet still won - brighton sticks in the mind and also for long periods away to soton and west sham but we still won - problem is that in the prem you cant give a side so much possesion and expect to get a draw/win as they have better players

[royalsteve]

i thought we would struggle but if we finish 17th ill be happy

[royalsteve]

3 games in and trips to Ipswich, Crystal Palace and maybe even Yeovil are being predicted. FFS... It's Spurs and of the first 3 games only Stoke has been outside of the top 5 teams. If we were playing Norwich today I would be very concerned. I'd rather we put in shite performances against the top teams and go for the juggler of teams around us as its points against them that'll keep us up.

Remember when we went down. Beating Liverpool 3-1 even if it was a classic performance didnt save us. I would rather lost that match 9-0 and beat Bolton and Newcastle towards the end of that season

and crucially fulham

[royalsteve]

fulham are a good side and getting berbatov was a masterstroke. will be a hard game but they all are in this division. i feel we need to win this game too