How Long Will BM Last at this rate?????

[bracksroyal10]

Only way Anton will take note is if the fans make him aware of their displeasure at the current situation.

Unless we start seeing Mcdermott out banners at the Mad Stad I cannot see it happening but not saying for one second I would want to see it at the Mad Stad purely down to what effect it would have on the players.

However still want him and need him out if we are planning on staying in the PL because as it stands based on this form, we are going down.

[Stooper]

Team selections, tactics and substitutions have been wide of the mark a lot recently.

Anyone could see that Hunt for Roberts was the wrong call last night, and making two of the three subs was a mistake. At 1-0 with 10 minutes to go, you've got to throw every dice you have to try and resuce a point. Instead, he was happy to sit back

[Divvy]

Nabil Hassan ‏@NabilHassan79
#readingfc boss Brian McDermott on why he brought 5ft8in Noel Hunt on instead of 6ft2in Pogrebnyak: "I thought he'd get us a late header".

[Madstad to Nadderud]

Looking at Brian last night, I think he knows his time is up as RFC manager. As someone commented before, he had a different look about him and yes, in my opinion, he looked worried and out of touch with what was going on last night. It wouldn't surprise me if he has already heard something in the pipeline that his days are numbered, as even the players lacked any passion last night.
I think he's taken this team/squad as far as he can, and it is time for change because it has been totally unentertaining for most of the season so far. Villa were dreadful last night and RFC were no bette, but at least Villa had more cohesion and definitely more flair. We should be looking at 4 points from the last two games but we have come away with nothing. It's not about premiership football for me, I just want to watch RFC play football that gets you excited or at least the team has a 'go' at all the teams they meet in the premiership without any fear. It's going stale or has gone stale and I think even Brian knows this.

[Once were Biscuitmen]

I'm not sure there's much point in making signings in January. Too much of a gamble, with limited chance of success. Not the RFC way. And it's one of the things that makes us different to most clubs, which is good, yes?

We have a very good Championship squad - integrating 2 or 3 of the excellent youngsters into the team next year with the aim of really pushing for promotion the following season would be a sensible, pragmatic plan. The RFC way.

This^

Anton is not going to suddenly invest 20 million+ in the squad and provide a buff to the wage bill so there is very little point in sacking a very good manager.

As has been said, at the start of last season I thought a reasonable expectation given our squad was a play-off place. We massively over-achieved in winning the championship and set up a very difficult ask in avoiding relegation this year. We did not have the funds to rebuild the side completely over the summer and may have to accept strengthening the squad gradually, going down in good shape, and look to make best use of the parachute payments over the next few years.

Still it's not even sodding December so lets not try to perfect our, 'relegation crying for sky sports news' expressions quite yet!

[Divvy]

Looking at Brian last night, I think he knows his time is up as RFC manager. As someone commented before, he had a different look about him and yes, in my opinion, he looked worried and out of touch with what was going on last night. It wouldn't surprise me if he has already heard something in the pipeline that his days are numbered, as even the players lacked any passion last night.

Agree with this. Managers normally know some time in advance that they're on their way and hold the fort whilst discussing their pay-off at the same time.

[Vision]

Nabil Hassan ‏@NabilHassan79
#readingfc boss Brian McDermott on why he brought 5ft8in Noel Hunt on instead of 6ft2in Pogrebnyak: "I thought he'd get us a late header".

Don't quite get the here. Irrespective of height Noel Hunt is actually better in the air than our other strikers.

[Still Hate Futcher!]

Nabil Hassan ‏@NabilHassan79
#readingfc boss Brian McDermott on why he brought 5ft8in Noel Hunt on instead of 6ft2in Pogrebnyak: "I thought he'd get us a late header".

Don't quite get the here. Irrespective of height Noel Hunt is actually better in the air than our other strikers.

Quite right. Hunt offers an excellent aerial threat and is far more mobile than Pog too. For me Pog is our 4th choice striker.

[Get Carter]

TSI's vision was premiership football and a top ten finish in five years - I think I read that by Anton in an interview in the paper.
What is the point getting relegated & trying to regroup if the whole reason for taking the club over was premiership football & all the money that brings?
I think we seem to have a similar strategy to Blackburn from last season - they stuck with the manager and parted company from him after being relegated!

[Hoop Blah]

I really think a big chunk of the problem now is confidence.

Totally agree, it always plays a significant part in any individuals or teams performance. Unfortunately it also stems from the results achieved, the quality within that team and the environment the management build around the individuals to make them comfortable and confident.

At the moment it seems we're lacking in all of the above. On top of that, unfortunately, it seems the management are making odd decisions which further effects results and confidence.

Momentum and confidence play a big part, and that's why a lot of promoted teams do ok for the first few months of the season after going up. Somehow we totally lost that momentum as well.

[moonwalklikebas]

I agree. He didnt look himself last night. Maybe the task and the enormity of this league is starting to show.

I personally love him for what he has done for the club, but I think he has taken the team and this crop of players as far as he can.

[Hoop Blah]

....cant see any other manager who could keep this squad up.(perhaps curbs-who would fit the bill, though hes been out of the game a long time, and i doubt hed come to a team in such a crisis, and im not sure he could do more than is being done)
and if we do go down theres no other manager id want to take us through the next season in the championship than brian.

I'm no fan of sacking managers, but the idea that there isn't a manager out there that could do better is an odd one. I don't know who the club might be considering (if they are) or who they would but suffice to say I'd never heard of Wenger before he was appointed and I'd trust the club to make a considered appointment if McDermott did leave.

If we have money and a Premier League future to play for I'm sure we could still attract a good level of manager and sometimes change is just what a group needs to start afresh and rebuild that fragile confidence that Snowball alluded to earlier.

Perhaps Zingaravich might be able to get someone like Solskjaer in to use us as his stepping stone to the Man Utd job? Who knows, the list of potential managers is endless if you're open to going outside the normal tried and tested (and failed?) names.

[Hoop Blah]

I'm not sure there's much point in making signings in January. Too much of a gamble, with limited chance of success. Not the RFC way. And it's one of the things that makes us different to most clubs, which is good, yes?

We have a very good Championship squad - integrating 2 or 3 of the excellent youngsters into the team next year with the aim of really pushing for promotion the following season would be a sensible, pragmatic plan. The RFC way.

Do we really have a very good Championship squad? We have a team that most think over achieved last year, on the back of a play off defeat. Key players in that side will be significantly older and we'll have to deal with the effects of relegation so I'm not at all confident that this side now would become a 'very good' team next season.

I can see sense in not throwing good money after bad, and accepting our fate if relegation is the only outcome, but if that's the attitude the club shows then it won't be able to attract the right kind of player (I won't go into repeating my theory on our players reactions to the club not wanting European football and then consequencies of that on our second season in the Prem last time round and the players desires to go elsewhere etc etc).

[RoyalBlue]

Nabil Hassan ‏@NabilHassan79
#readingfc boss Brian McDermott on why he brought 5ft8in Noel Hunt on instead of 6ft2in Pogrebnyak: "I thought he'd get us a late header".

Don't quite get the here. Irrespective of height Noel Hunt is actually better in the air than our other strikers.

I think the laugh there could be because once we introduced Hunt we stopped crossing the ball in the air, partly because poor old Roberts was the player who, up until his substitution, was having to do a lot of the crossing!

[Snowball]

Stat on Sky today that showed ALF touches the ball (minutes per touch) the 5th least in the Prem.

We know he gets goals (well one in open play) but sounds like he doesn't do a lot otherwise

Still think it's better to start with Roberts and Pog or Roberts and Hunt

Roberts and Hunt would give us more possession

[Hoop Blah]

Stat on Sky today that showed ALF touches the ball (minutes per touch) the 5th least in the Prem.

We know he gets goals (well one in open play) but sounds like he doesn't do a lot otherwise

Still think it's better to start with Roberts and Pog or Roberts and Hunt

Roberts and Hunt would give us more possession

That can't be right as I was told his performances have been really good on the thread all about him proving the doubters wrong!

He's a good poacher, but I just don't think he consistently makes enough of good opportunities for this level (it's a massive jump from where he was 12 months ago so may do in the long term as he adjusts).

[KC Royal]

Alan Curbishley would probably the best bet, unless Anton is going to throw serious cash at the team.

Curbishley is a good shout, but Dick Advocaat for me.

Where on earth have all these numpties on this forum suddenly come from

Glad it's not just me thinking that, i'm starting to despair. Things can be bad on here when we're on a poor run, but this season the Team board has reached a new low.

[KC Royal]

That interview was, again, quite painful viewing.

I know he has to say something, and needs to keep it positive, but I'm a bit bemused as to why he thought we looked comfortable at the back and most likely to score the only goal during that second half.

It's all desperate stuff really.

I missed the interview, but whilst i'm not sure we were more likely to score 2nd half, it looked even to me, I do agree we were comfortable at the back. I'd just started thinking when they scored that we may come away with a 0-0 draw and maybe that's the problem. That we got too comfortable.

[RoyalBlue]

we are in big trouble, and i am unable to assess what kind of man AZ is in regards to firing managers.
if hes going to do it then it has to be after the next three games imo.


personally speaking i wouldnt. and id happily keep brian for the rest of the season, clinging to the slim hope of brians usual post xmas miracle and the transfer window.

When it comes to miracles, I reckon our best (only) bet is to ask Del Boy to arrange one!

[Snowball]

Hoop, I didn't write the figure down but I think it was one touch every 3 minutes 6 seconds or every 3-16

That is a touch


Darent Bent was the lowest in the Prem this season (minutes per) and has two goals
and this is allegedly why he's not being picked.

The guy who scored against us is also one of the very high number of touches per game guys

ie he does a lot of work besides scoring