MCDERMOTT SACKED

[Sanguine]

'Identity' didn't matter so much when Brendan Rodgers, a man with ties to club, was admirably trying to play football the right way with a group of inexperienced youngsters, many of whom had come through the youth setup.

[Agent Balti]

'Identity' didn't matter so much when Brendan Rodgers, a man with ties to club, was admirably trying to play football the right way with a group of inexperienced youngsters, many of whom had come through the youth setup.

Agree with that. Rodgers was never given enough time, but he was too brave with his philosophy. He needed to mix and match the division, but that's not for this topic of discussion.

[Sanguine]

'Identity' didn't matter so much when Brendan Rodgers, a man with ties to club, was admirably trying to play football the right way with a group of inexperienced youngsters, many of whom had come through the youth setup.

Agree with that. Rodgers was never given enough time, but he was too brave with his philosophy. He needed to mix and match the division, but that's not for this topic of discussion.

Absoluely, Rodgers isn't the point here - just pointing out that this club's identity, not being 'vulgar arseholes' and so on, didn't seem to matter so much when we sacked Rodgers when results weren't as expected. It's a results business, he was (rightly, imho) sacked because we weren't getting results.

[Agent Balti]

'Identity' didn't matter so much when Brendan Rodgers, a man with ties to club, was admirably trying to play football the right way with a group of inexperienced youngsters, many of whom had come through the youth setup.

Agree with that. Rodgers was never given enough time, but he was too brave with his philosophy. He needed to mix and match the division, but that's not for this topic of discussion.

Absoluely, Rodgers isn't the point here - just pointing out that this club's identity, not being 'vulgar arseholes' and so on, didn't seem to matter so much when we sacked Rodgers when results weren't as expected. It's a results business, he was (rightly, imho) sacked because we weren't getting results.

Good point. The vitriol that was out-poured at the time was very un-Reading, wasn't it...hmm.

[Norfolk Royal]

Sounds like your head has got a dent in it to be honest.

[BraisingsteakRoyal]

It'll be interesting to see whether or not Dolan (or the new bloke) plays a completely different looking starting 11 for the remaining games.

In a way he has to, as if he sticks with Brians side and we still get hammered, it's a bit like Brian saying "told you so" and we've learnt nothing.

We could see Guthrie and/or Carrico (rightly or wrongly) start on Saturday.

Once the new guy comes in there could be a few players that are currently first-teamers that never wear the shirt again. I can also see a change of captain.

[melonhead]

brendy, would you concede that he bought some players, had some money and generally stuck with ledge, mcanuff, jem etc a little too much..?

he bought 6 players in jan, for about 5 million quid.
they were all desperately needed to fill positions we were lacking in either first team or cover.

if hed have had 40 million he could have done a rebuild.he didnt have that, so was effectively fighting fires again.

i absolutely 100% categorically disagree in the strongest imaginable manner, that he stuck with mcanuff too long. the blokes been one of our most consistent achievers this season.easily.works harder than anyone.produces as much quality as anyone.

ledge has been up and down. but when hes the only all round midfielder we actually have its understandbale he hasnt been dropped.
imo hes better than all the other options in the middle. karacan can run around faster, but cant pass or tackle, and is very lightweight. guthrie can pass apparently, but does very little of it effectively that i can see, and also cant tackle, or run around as much.

which just goes to show the options brian had. he didnt have the money to buyt a whole new midfield, a whole new defence, and a whole new front line, which is what was probably required to make a fist of staying up. and even if he had that money, the liklihood of getting a whole new team together and making it function while playing in the premiere league was about 10%(see qpr)

[Norfolk Royal]

Carrico has been mummified and placed in Reading museum so I can't see him playing.

[melonhead]

you say something utterly daft, and ive got a dented head?

briLOLliant

[mr_number]

'Identity' didn't matter so much when Brendan Rodgers, a man with ties to club, was admirably trying to play football the right way with a group of inexperienced youngsters, many of whom had come through the youth setup.

Yep, because the ties that Brendan had to the club were exactly the same as those Brian has, and the position the club was in at the time was exactly the same, so yes, that seems an entirely valid comparison.

[Norfolk Royal]

Jonny Fordham‏@JonnyFordham

Brian McDermott has gone abroad for a few days with his friend to reflect on the last couple of days #readingfc


Who is the friend?

[HoneyRoastHoax]

Sun Sea Sex and Suspicious Managers

[Agent Balti]

It'll be interesting to see whether or not Dolan (or the new bloke) plays a completely different looking starting 11 for the remaining games.

In a way he has to, as if he sticks with Brians side and we still get hammered, it's a bit like Brian saying "told you so" and we've learnt nothing.

We could see Guthrie and/or Carrico (rightly or wrongly) start on Saturday.

Once the new guy comes in there could be a few players that are currently first-teamers that never wear the shirt again. I can also see a change of captain.

Trouble is, we can't re-invent the wheel. We don't have the quality of player to suddenly switch into 4-3-1-2, for example, AND pull it off. It'll take time for all of what you suggest to kick in. Only a psychological boost of change in itself could reap some rewards right now, I feel.

[Vision]

In order for the club to establish itself at the upper end of the Chump (or hopefully higher in the medium term), we need to change to a more modern, flexible passing style with more posession

We've been established at the upper end of "the Chump" for ages haven't we?

Champions 06/07, Prem, Prem, Play-offs, about 9th, Play-off Final, Champions, Prem

It's a total myth that the upper echelons of the Championship are populated by a load of mini Barcelonas tiki-takaing their way through rainy away days in Barnsley and Middlesbrough.

We don't gain much possession this season because our players aren't very good. This has been the club's greatest failing rather than Brian championing some form of anti-football.

Yep. I think we've only had one season since we got promoted to the Championship a decade ago where we didn't go into the last game of the season without the possibility of playing top flight football the next season. It's been a remarkably consistent run yet the way some people talk on here it's as if no-one at the club has had a oxf*rd clue and we've fluked every season.

[Norfolk Royal]

you say something utterly daft, and ive got a dented head?

briLOLliant

It wasn't daft Brendy, wind your neck back in.

[BR2]

brendy, would you concede that he bought some players, had some money and generally stuck with ledge, mcanuff, jem etc a little too much..?

he bought 6 players in jan, for about 5 million quid.
they were all desperately needed to fill positions we were lacking in either first team or cover.

if hed have had 40 million he could have done a rebuild.he didnt have that, so was effectively fighting fires again.

i absolutely 100% categorically disagree in the strongest imaginable manner, that he stuck with mcanuff too long. the blokes been one of our most consistent achievers this season.easily.works harder than anyone.produces as much quality as anyone.

ledge has been up and down. but when hes the only all round midfielder we actually have its understandbale he hasnt been dropped.
imo hes better than all the other options in the middle. karacan can run around faster, but cant pass or tackle, and is very lightweight. guthrie can pass apparently, but does very little of it effectively that i can see, and also cant tackle, or run around as much.

which just goes to show the options brian had. he didnt have the money to buyt a whole new midfield, a whole new defence, and a whole new front line, which is what was probably required to make a fist of staying up. and even if he had that money, the liklihood of getting a whole new team together and making it function while playing in the premiere league was about 10%(see qpr)

I do hope that you,and people like you,will give such loving backing to whoever gets the job and we don't have nonsense like we have seen at Chelsea.
The club is a changing beast ,it is not a cosy little set-up in rural England any more,it is a Russian-owned investment and we have the choice of carrying on supporting the club or not.
Managers,players,even chairmen move on but the club remains.

If you think Brian is hard done by (big pay-out followed by employment at a lower division club in no time) think of the poor late Maurice Evans-sacked by the club when we were 3rd in the league.
These things happen and this idea that a club has a soul is just nonsense-lovely to think so but it is just another club that we choose to follow by accident of birth or because of growing up in the area.

Incidentally are we the only club in the Premier League not to have had a foreign (apart from Charlie Hurley)manager?

[johnnym]

Jonny Fordham‏@JonnyFordham

Brian McDermott has gone abroad for a few days with his friend to reflect on the last couple of days #readingfc


Who is the friend?

football friend?

[BR2]

In order for the club to establish itself at the upper end of the Chump (or hopefully higher in the medium term), we need to change to a more modern, flexible passing style with more posession

We've been established at the upper end of "the Chump" for ages haven't we?

Champions 06/07, Prem, Prem, Play-offs, about 9th, Play-off Final, Champions, Prem

It's a total myth that the upper echelons of the Championship are populated by a load of mini Barcelonas tiki-takaing their way through rainy away days in Barnsley and Middlesbrough.

We don't gain much possession this season because our players aren't very good. This has been the club's greatest failing rather than Brian championing some form of anti-football.

Yep. I think we've only had one season since we got promoted to the Championship a decade ago where we didn't go into the last game of the season without the possibility of playing top flight football the next season. It's been a remarkably consistent run yet the way some people talk on here it's as if no-one at the club has had a oxf*rd clue and we've fluked every season.

Wrong-most people are talking just about last season and I'm sure nobody would regard the 106 season as a fluke.

[Big Ern]

:|

I'll tell you what has been 'overlooked' here.....there are 9 games left. If this decision was to be made in December I'd understand it. To do so now is clueless and shambolic. Which many worth their salt would want to come here with 9 games left with the worst squad in the division which can't be improved upon by way of incoming transfers.

I strongly believe there is a replacement lined up and the club acted now to not risk losing them in the summer. Even if there isn't another manager already lined up, then I don't think we have anything to lose as we were going down with Brian anyway, a new manager might just provide that bit extra to give us a chance.

Above all, if the Board came to the conclusion Brian wasn't the man to take us forward in the future, then better to make the decision late than never.

[Maguire]

No, read the guy's original email. He clearly doesn't think we're established at the upper end of the Championship which is bizarre when you consider, as Vision neatly puts it, there's only been one season in a decade where we haven't gone into the last game of the season with a chance of playing top tier football the year after.