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

[Focher]

id quit at the top of your game, this won't come around again whilst HNA is accessible

[Once were Biscuitmen]

We are all blaming the wrong person. I have been very critical of BMD after the past few games but TBH the support he has had from key RFC executives has been disgraceful and I think we should all get behind him in the knowledge that we will be relegated but also in the knowledge that we should, as fans, never allow this to happen again. So in no particular order:

SJM- has never liked footballers, agents or football in general. Once he had sold 51% of RFC, he left his debt with business and gave BMD bugger all support in the summer for investment and new players. SJM you should be ashamed of yourself.

AZ - as above. Fans dont not want promises of top 10 Europe finishes we need to see real investment when the team needs it. You failed to do that in the Summer so do not blame BMD for where we are now. Stand up and be counted. You are not a fan, never have been and never will be.

NH - very quiet and not surprised. How you let key players i.e. Pearce run their contract down to the last year beggers belief. If you watched the game last night well done on securing Cummings....perhaps you might also now offer Gorkss an extension.

Samuel-bloke-whos'-name -I forget - thanks for being in front of the TV when things were going well and now weaseling your way to the back of the stage. Isn't it about time you came up with some answers?

So overall, looking at the above what could/can/BMD do? Maybe play Pearce instead of Kasper? Guthrie instead of anyone else, but anyone who saw our bench at Sunderland must ask - WTF.

BMD is not the problem and now gets my 100% support. make it difficult to sack as him as we will never get another manager as committed as he is with the woeful support upstairs that he enjoys.

Yes, yes the people who have presided over the most successful period in the clubs history since it's inception in 1871 are to blame. All of them.

SJM who saw a dilapidated, perennial 3rd tier team playing in a charming but decidedly also dilapidated, 3rd tier stadium and thought, 'I will make more millions by suggesting each season that we will push for promotion and the office monkeys will all buy season tickets before they realise it is not absolutely guaranteed".

Or AZ who will not give us of his enough money with little hope of any meaningful return so we can stay can finally achieve the dream of mid table obscurity in, 'the prem'.

Or NH who signed Nicky Shorey for 25k, Doyle & Long for 80k.

In no way is it down to the inflated expectations of fans who refuse to acknowledge economic reality and that life is really not the same as Championship manager. No.

[Royal Rother]

We are all blaming the wrong person. I have been very critical of BMD after the past few games but TBH the support he has had from key RFC executives has been disgraceful and I think we should all get behind him in the knowledge that we will be relegated but also in the knowledge that we should, as fans, never allow this to happen again. So in no particular order:

SJM- has never liked footballers, agents or football in general. Once he had sold 51% of RFC, he left his debt with business and gave BMD bugger all support in the summer for investment and new players. SJM you should be ashamed of yourself.

AZ - as above. Fans dont not want promises of top 10 Europe finishes we need to see real investment when the team needs it. You failed to do that in the Summer so do not blame BMD for where we are now. Stand up and be counted. You are not a fan, never have been and never will be.

NH - very quiet and not surprised. How you let key players i.e. Pearce run their contract down to the last year beggers belief. If you watched the game last night well done on securing Cummings....perhaps you might also now offer Gorkss an extension.

Samuel-bloke-whos'-name -I forget - thanks for being in front of the TV when things were going well and now weaseling your way to the back of the stage. Isn't it about time you came up with some answers?

So overall, looking at the above what could/can/BMD do? Maybe play Pearce instead of Kasper? Guthrie instead of anyone else, but anyone who saw our bench at Sunderland must ask - WTF.

BMD is not the problem and now gets my 100% support. make it difficult to sack as him as we will never get another manager as committed as he is with the woeful support upstairs that he enjoys.

Yes, yes the people who have presided over the most successful period in the clubs history since it's inception in 1871 are to blame. All of them.

SJM who saw a dilapidated, perennial 3rd tier team playing in a charming but decidedly also dilapidated, 3rd tier stadium and thought, 'I will make more millions by suggesting each season that we will push for promotion and the office monkeys will all buy season tickets before they realise it is not absolutely guaranteed".

Or AZ who will not give us of his enough money with little hope of any meaningful return so we can stay can finally achieve the dream of mid table obscurity in, 'the prem'.

Or NH who signed Nicky Shorey for 25k, Doyle & Long for 80k.

In no way is it down to the inflated expectations of fans who refuse to acknowledge economic reality and that life is really not the same as Championship manager. No.

Yep, that and Ian's reply put Haag's post right where it belongs. Back in his rear pipe.

[Millsy]

Blaming Brian is ridiculous and I'm not surprised at the sorts of folk who think this is big and clever.

I'd classically be on the blame the board side, but even that is not big or clever.

we've not invested, which is fine given the bigger picture ( i am choosing to blieve this to stay sane at the moment) Brian has done a good job with what he has, which is fine.

Th reality is theres no real person to blame most probably, it's just the way it is: We can't throw out the brick by brick approach for the sake of another season of being humiliated. I might've believed ( and been proven 100% right btw) that Madejski didn't have the balls to take things further and wanted out... Bt Anton is a new chairman. Theres no reason to believe he doesn't have he best intentions with regard to our future. So let's trust the young lad. Things are the way they are because it's the financial reality we find ourselves in. I put my trust in Anton. And I think Brian has done and is still trying to do a grand job.

Blaming Brian is beyond stupidity.

[Terminal Boardom]

Blaming Brian is ridiculous and I'm not surprised at the sorts of folk who think this is big and clever.

I'd classically be on the blame the board side, but even that is not big or clever.

we've not invested, which is fine given the bigger picture ( i am choosing to blieve this to stay sane at the moment) Brian has done a good job with what he has, which is fine.

Th reality is theres no real person to blame most probably, it's just the way it is: We can't throw out the brick by brick approach for the sake of another season of being humiliated. I might've believed ( and been proven 100% right btw) that Madejski didn't have the balls to take things further and wanted out... Bt Anton is a new chairman. Theres no reason to believe he doesn't have he best intentions with regard to our future. So let's trust the young lad. Things are the way they are because it's the financial reality we find ourselves in. I put my trust in Anton. And I think Brian has done and is still trying to do a grand job.

Blaming Brian is beyond stupidity.

So who should carry the brunt of the frustrations for the appalling quality of hoofball? Who determines the tactics and formation? Who dictates the style of play?

[Platypuss]

Who dictates the style of play?

The opposition at the moment.

[Avon Royal]

Blaming Brian is ridiculous and I'm not surprised at the sorts of folk who think this is big and clever.

I'd classically be on the blame the board side, but even that is not big or clever.

we've not invested, which is fine given the bigger picture ( i am choosing to blieve this to stay sane at the moment) Brian has done a good job with what he has, which is fine.

Th reality is theres no real person to blame most probably, it's just the way it is: We can't throw out the brick by brick approach for the sake of another season of being humiliated. I might've believed ( and been proven 100% right btw) that Madejski didn't have the balls to take things further and wanted out... Bt Anton is a new chairman. Theres no reason to believe he doesn't have he best intentions with regard to our future. So let's trust the young lad. Things are the way they are because it's the financial reality we find ourselves in. I put my trust in Anton. And I think Brian has done and is still trying to do a grand job.

Blaming Brian is beyond stupidity.

Genuine question - if Brian is doing a good job, what would a bad job look like?

[Snowball]

A few seasons back Brian's team was defensively tight but couldn't score

Then Brian changed things and we scored at will but kept conceding
3-3- 4-3 etc

The current team is set up to and scores very well for what is basically a championship side
but is hopelessly giving away far too much possession and being regularly punished by
far more clinical premiership forwards.

Surely we have to shore up the defensive side? I don't mean with signings, but with TACTICS.

And that means (and I hate it) 3 in the middle, so 4-5-1 or 433


And IMO Tabb has fully deserved to play, has done a very good job.

I also think Legs is being unfairly criticised.

Both players would have a fight on their hands playing v a Premiership side playing 442
but playing against world class midfields an defenders and attackers they have having to run
their nuts off and when they DO win the ball they are getting no time.

One thing that people seem to ignore is how well the Arsenal midfield worked, challenged, hassled,
got a toe in. I thought Arsenal were absolutely brilliant, and that their performance was easily the
best I had seen against RFC this season.

I'm not talking about the goals alone, or whether we got sloppy in defence. Arteta, Cazorla, Willshere
were awesome, fluid, quick, imaginative.

[melonhead]

So who should carry the brunt of the frustrations for the appalling quality of hoofball? Who determines the tactics and formation? Who dictates the style of play?

i know its frustrating, and often annoying to watch., especially the last 6 games, but why do you feel the need for someone to take your frustrations from you and bear them?

but i saw little hoofball against newcastle, everton, manchester united etc
teams who are low on confidence, experince and form, who are under immense pressure just tend to hoof it a bit



imo the tactics, formation and style of play are dictated by who we have available to play

[creative_username_1]

see ^^^ just for the record

I wish we'd all start editing posts like this in AE. If cmonurz or paultheroyal post another shit youtube link someone who's seen it and
has a post above their's could go back and edit it to tell us not to bother watching. it'd be really helpful

[Hoop Blah]

imo the tactics, formation and style of play are dictated by who we have available to play

We've always had players available to play something different to a far too wide and open 4-4-2 with two proper wingers though. Both starting line ups and chnages during the game have taken very little notice of the opposition, their strengths, our weaknesses and the flow of the game.

Even when the squad has been stretched by injuries (isn't it funny how players pick up more niggles when a side is struggling and the dressing room is unsettled) we could've played with Tabb, Legeirtwood and McAnuff in the middle with McLeary and Robson-Kanu out wide. Furthermore we could've sat Marriappa infront of the back four if needed, or played Hunt out wide (which I think we did previously).

We didn't we stuck with 4-4-2 even when trying to hold onto leads or draws away from home.

[Woodcote Royal]

It's pretty fecking desperate that McDermott's supporters only arguments for him keeping his job is that he got us promoted last season from an easier league where we have consistently had one of the better squads for about a decade and some horseshit about no one being able to do any better just because they have a limited imagination.

Talk about stick your head up your arse and pray.

Last season was the toughest Chasmpionship for at least a decade and far tougher than the one that let us amass 106 points. More horse sh*t from a very over worked keyboard.

[Royal91]

I know everyone is sick of the Guthrie thing.

But how can McDermott sit there and say we need guys that have played in the Prem, yet he refuses to play a guy that has played in the Prem.

[Maguire]

I know everyone is sick of the Guthrie thing.

But how can McDermott sit there and say we need guys that have played in the Prem, yet he refuses to play a guy that has played in the Prem.

Prediction: Guthrie will come back into the side, have a bad game, and everyone on here will be on his case again.

It's so tedious hearing people bleating about 4-5-1 and Danny Guthrie.

We played 4-5-1 at Chelsea. We lost. We played 4-5-1 at home to Spurs. We were dreadful. We played 4-5-1 at Liverpool. We lost.

IIRC Guthrie played in all these games as well. And one of our other losses - WBA was it? Why is he suddenly the messiah?

[LoyalRoyal22]

I know everyone is sick of the Guthrie thing.

But how can McDermott sit there and say we need guys that have played in the Prem, yet he refuses to play a guy that has played in the Prem.

Prediction: Guthrie will come back into the side, have a bad game, and everyone on here will be on his case again.

It's so tedious hearing people bleating about 4-5-1 and Danny Guthrie.

We played 4-5-1 at Chelsea. We lost. We played 4-5-1 at home to Spurs. We were dreadful. We played 4-5-1 at Liverpool. We lost.

IIRC Guthrie played in all these games as well. And one of our other losses - WBA was it? Why is he suddenly the messiah?

His best game was in a 442 at home to Stoke.. Put him in for Ledge. Easy

[Royal91]

I know everyone is sick of the Guthrie thing.

But how can McDermott sit there and say we need guys that have played in the Prem, yet he refuses to play a guy that has played in the Prem.

Prediction: Guthrie will come back into the side, have a bad game, and everyone on here will be on his case again.

It's so tedious hearing people bleating about 4-5-1 and Danny Guthrie.

We played 4-5-1 at Chelsea. We lost. We played 4-5-1 at home to Spurs. We were dreadful. We played 4-5-1 at Liverpool. We lost.

IIRC Guthrie played in all these games as well. And one of our other losses - WBA was it? Why is he suddenly the messiah?

My counter to that point is, McDermott was playing him in the attacking mid role where he's never played before. Guthrie's best position is playing deeper in front of the back four. He doesn't have the mobility or pace to play attacking mid. In a 4-4-2 L,wood and Guthrie did not have enough mobility to be playing along side one another.


My midfield would be

-------------Karacan--------Guthrie------------


Kebe------------------HRK---------------------McAnuff

[Woodcote Royal]

imo the tactics, formation and style of play are dictated by who we have available to play

We've always had players available to play something different to a far too wide and open 4-4-2 with two proper wingers though. Both starting line ups and chnages during the game have taken very little notice of the opposition, their strengths, our weaknesses and the flow of the game.

Even when the squad has been stretched by injuries (isn't it funny how players pick up more niggles when a side is struggling and the dressing room is unsettled) we could've played with Tabb, Legeirtwood and McAnuff in the middle with McLeary and Robson-Kanu out wide. Furthermore we could've sat Marriappa infront of the back four if needed, or played Hunt out wide (which I think we did previously).

We didn't we stuck with 4-4-2 even when trying to hold onto leads or draws away from home.

We have always won most of our games in the top flight playing 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 has had only had limited success against the very top sides........................in Arsenal's case, we've lost all our matches against them regardless of formation.

Should we dig ourselves out of this mess, it will involve solving the more important issues of getting major players back fit and having a good transfer window.

However, to win enough matches to avoid the drop, my guess is it would be achieved using the same 4-4-2 that beat Everton. Yes it's quite crude but our championship players understand it and we can't afford a striker good enough to do the lone job at this level. Come back, Shane, there are lot's of folks here who would love to eat some humble pie!

[SPARTA]

I know everyone is sick of the Guthrie thing.

But how can McDermott sit there and say we need guys that have played in the Prem, yet he refuses to play a guy that has played in the Prem.

Especially after he says we've drawn a line under the whole thing... If he's still here come Feb I'll eat my own scrotum.

[Royal91]

I know everyone is sick of the Guthrie thing.

But how can McDermott sit there and say we need guys that have played in the Prem, yet he refuses to play a guy that has played in the Prem.

Especially after he says we've drawn a line under the whole thing... If he's still here come Feb I'll eat my own scrotum.

Haa that did give me a chuckle.

[Hoop Blah]

We have always won most of our games in the top flight playing 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 has had only had limited success against the very top sides........................in Arsenal's case, we've lost all our matches against them regardless of formation.

I wasn't talking specifically of the Arsenal game, although I do think it's an obvious error going into the game so open and so under manned in the middle of the pitch.

As for winning most of our games playing 4-4-2 in the Premier League. We've won ONE game with this squad of players at this level. It isn't working.

Having some flexibility to change and shore things up at times might've won us some of those 17 points we've lost from winning positions. Just half of those points would put us in a much stronger position yet we've stuck pretty rigidly to our 4-4-2 even when in the lead and looking to close out games.

Should we dig ourselves out of this mess, it will involve solving the more important issues of getting major players back fit and having a good transfer window.

Which major players? Roberts is out at the moment but hasn't been a major player at all. Karacan is a miss yes, but even he wasn't an autmatic in the side so not really a major player. We just don't have major players.

However, to win enough matches to avoid the drop, my guess is it would be achieved using the same 4-4-2 that beat Everton. Yes it's quite crude but our championship players understand it and we can't afford a striker good enough to do the lone job at this level. Come back, Shane, there are lot's of folks here who would love to eat some humble pie!

I don't see why, when we've 1 game playing a certain way you think it's going to be the most successful style moving forward. There are very few teams who still play 4-4-2 in this league so thinking we can defend comfortably against them with the way we play is just naive really.