Back from the game - Southampton (H)

[West Stand Man]

Tina from Tilehurst on BBC Berks, that will cheer you up!

Missed this but heard people mention it. What went on?

She was embarrassing. If she is getting her oxygen for free we are being cheated.

[AirRaidSiren]

i thought the entire TEAM done well up until the 40th minute, then Flaperici decided to be a total bell end and act as if the ball was a ballistic missile ready to implode. Heads were down after they scored and the lack of confidence showed. Shame. Cause we do have potential.

Gutted.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

Federici 4
Gunter 5
Mariappa 4
Morrison 4
Kelly 3
HRK 6
Akpan 5
Karacan 4
Guthrie 5
McAnuff 6
Alf 6

Hunt 3
McCleary 5
Legs 4

I am absolutely delighted that Adkins has noticed that Liegertwood isn't a PL player and left him on the bench. Bloody Akpan would obviously get injured however.

I'd have far rather seen Legs start than Karacan. Although I'd have prefered Tabb to both.

Deary me.

[paultheroyal]

See it as a ploy by Adkins to show what dross he has to work with and if you want success the cheque book has to come out.

Said it before and will say it again, I am just so peeved off with the pigs ears we have made of this season. Absolutely embarrassing on and off pitch. Money in the right areas proves successful....signing players that dont play or from league 1 brings its desserts ie relegation. Who would of thought that 11 months on after experience 2 amazing away games and that great night versus Forest that we would be in this position ie relegation and a team overhaul.

Tonight I accept relegation and look forward to a new era under Adkins, new players, exciting brand of football, more games to watch and midweek too.

URZ

[Man Friday]

Dire.

[Elm Park Old Boy]

I fear some people have decided in advance what they think of some players, and don't actually notice what goes on. Jobi our best player for me today? Never stopped working, had to defend a lot but still more of an attacking threat late-on than disappointing Mcleary.

Ledge did OK as sub too.

but we faded badly after Half-time.

[RoyalinBracknell]

Disappointed with that. We were most probably going down anyway but you want to take it as far as you can. The season can't end quick enough really.

Surprised by Kelly playing left-back. Not only did it mean we lacked a left foot on the left wing, it also left out an option for set pieces. (After an impressive opening I think Kelly has dipped a bit recently.) I thougoht Gunter did ok though down the right - the link-up play between him and Robson-Kanu (?) with the one-two was our best move of the match for me.

I was also surprised to see Le Fondre starting up front in a 4-5-1 formation. I don't think it's really something he's suited to. Good chance early on albeit on his weaker foot - our goals seems to have dried up a bit recently. I was also surprised to see Pearce left out.

It seemed like a fresh start in the first half but we failed to sufficiently respond after conceding, and the whole thing rather petered out for us. It was encouraging to see Adkins regularly giving clear instructions to the team about what he wanted. I'm optimistic about what he'll be able to create when he gets the chance to build a squad. But in all, a rather subdued final nail in the coffin today.

[peterroyal76]

Personally I was shocked at the gulf in class today-apart from the first twenty minutes we made Soton look like Barcelona.There was absolutely no structure to our game and we looked if anything like a Division 1 team, let alone Championship. the lack of pride,professionalism and team spirit was very disappointing.

For what it's worth:

Federici 5 Should have done better for their first goal- caught like a rabbit in the headlights. Should have clattered the player-he wouldn't have been penalised as he was so close to the ball.Decision making has always been his problem.
Gunter 6 Got caught out a couple of times and those series of lobbed crosses rather driven ones in 2nd half really let him down.
Kelly 5 Never a left back in a million years-what was Adkins thinking of-didn't he look at the tapes of him there ?
Morrison 5 Not too bad, but was often caught out by the ball played behind him-showed his lack of experience.
Marriapa 5 Oh dear my player of the season had a mare in the first half-his confidence has been completely shot.
Akpan 4 Simply never in the game and once again his positioning was so often very poor,from Crawley to the Prem has just been too much for him.
Guthrie 7 Tried hard but I think he has given up.
Karacan 5 As usual worked hard , but he is just so weak in the tackle area and lacking in technique and power for this division.
Mc Anuff 6 Tried hard but he too has given up.
Alf 6 Missed a good chance in 1st half and then drifted out of the game big time.
Hal 4 Embarrassing.

Lwood 6 I have critisised him all season-but having seen Akpan start-Mc D had no alternative but to stick with him.
Mc Cleery 6 Not a Prem player.
Hunt 4 Out of his depth.

Federici would probably have been sent off, do you really think because the ball was near it wouldn't have been a foul?

[Ian Royal]

Federici 4
Gunter 5
Mariappa 4
Morrison 4
Kelly 3
HRK 6
Akpan 5
Karacan 4
Guthrie 5
McAnuff 6
Alf 6

Hunt 3
McCleary 5
Legs 4

I am absolutely delighted that Adkins has noticed that Liegertwood isn't a PL player and left him on the bench. Bloody Akpan would obviously get injured however.

I'd have far rather seen Legs start than Karacan. Although I'd have prefered Tabb to both.

Deary me.

Tabb - 79.5% pass success
Leigertwood - 75.4% pass success
Karacan - 72.5% pass success. Against Saints, a frankly pathetic 55%.

Yeah, hilarious that I prefer midfielders who can actually pass the ball to our own side.

[JR]

Federici - 0 - We didn't deserve anything to day but with a half decent keeper we may have got a point.
Inexcusable mincing for first goal - no keeper should lose a 50:50, you have the right to throw yourself at the ball. Second goal poorly beaten to his left. Fed should never play for us again.

Gunter - 6 - did ok, good overlaps, will be important next year
Mapps - 5 - not his best
Morro - 4 - lucky not to concede a third through lunacy. He is the future though
Kelly - 3 - I do not understand how professional players can only have one foot

Robson-Kanu - 5 - been impressed recently, but poor today
Akpan - 4 - got a bit to prove, no arguments with substitution
Karacan - 2 - when did he become such an ineffectual and uninvolved player?
Guthrie - 6 - some promising signs
McAnuff - 6 - effort throughout. Been better than thought would be after losing Brian

Alfie - 4 - tough role and did as best as could, but low score as I expect him to score the first half chance every day of the week

Legs - 5 - marmite but today we missed his breaking up
McLeary 4 - flatters to decieve
Hunt 5 - limited chance to impress

Overall we were thoroughly outplayed. Some of Southampton's football was delightful and it's amazing how much they have progressed compared to us.

Long term though I am still optimistic, we will be back within 2 years.

[CayeneMatt]

i thought the entire TEAM done well up until the 40th minute, then Flaperici decided to be a total bell end and act as if the ball was a ballistic missile ready to implode. Heads were down after they scored and the lack of confidence showed. Shame. Cause we do have potential.

Gutted.

A sensible post.

[West Stand Man]

Tabb - 79.5% pass success
Leigertwood - 75.4% pass success
Karacan - 72.5% pass success. Against Saints, a frankly pathetic 55%.

Yeah, hilarious that I prefer midfielders who can actually pass the ball to our own side.

Really? And does that stat help?

79.5% pass success over 10 passes is not as good (I put it to you) as 75.4% success over 100 passes.

Let us not fall too deep into the stat trap.

[Ian Royal]

Tabb - 79.5% pass success
Leigertwood - 75.4% pass success
Karacan - 72.5% pass success. Against Saints, a frankly pathetic 55%.

Yeah, hilarious that I prefer midfielders who can actually pass the ball to our own side.

Really? And does that stat help?

79.5% pass success over 10 passes is not as good (I put it to you) as 75.4% success over 100 passes.

Let us not fall too deep into the stat trap.

Average passes per game
Leigertwood - 42.3
Tabb - 29.6
Karacan - 24.7

Tackles per game
Leigertwood - 3
Karacan - 2.7
Tabb - 2.1

Interceptions per game
Leigertwood - 2.7
Tabb - 1.9
Karacan - 1.5

Clearances per game
Leigertwood - 2.6
Tabb - 1.4
Karacan - 1

Shots Blocked per game
Leigertwood - 0.5
Tabb - 0.3
Karacan - 0.1

Oh look. Karacan's worst of the three in all but one of those criteria, where he's still not best. I'm not basing it solely on stats. I'm basing it on having watched them all play and then backing it up with stats as evidence to support my opinion of how they've played. Yes, Tabb is second to Leigertwood in most things, but he's also shown far less inclination to hoof. Doesn't get sucked into playing in the back four as much and has offered a little threat going forward (could have had a couple of penalties given to him).

[Vic_Flange]

I'm enjoying the irony :

Alf - 5 or 4

With comments such as 'isolated'

Give the guy some support ( I mean on the putch, by his team mates)
Try two or three up front - we're bottom of the fcucking league for christ's sake!

Stop fuxcking about and go for it.


Oh, btw, I realise we haven't much to offer up front but we need to get moving..... Oh oxf*rd it, its too late. Let's all have a party instead.

Bring on Liverpool, we're going to f*ck you up again!

[Ian Herring]

That was grim and depressing. I might muster further comment later, but really, what's the point...

I second this.

Pluses:

Spring.

ESB.

[leon]

That was grim and depressing. I might muster further comment later, but really, what's the point...

I second this.

Pluses:

Spring.

ESB.

I'm not getting this we are progressing nonsense. other than first twenty minutes we were spineless.

[Para Handy]

Unlike some of the more vitriolic posters on here (Lolz), I have no desire to pile into players that are doing their best.

I've been a fan for over 40 years. I've been a season ticket holder at Madejski since we moved there.

Maybe I should put this in another thread, but to be honest, I can't be arsed.

I think I'll probably not bother renewing next year.

Partly because I'm not enjoying the games these days. 15 years on and I still don't like the "new" stadium. There's never been an atmosphere that could touch Elm Park on a night game. OK. The Wigan playoff game and West Brom, this season, were good but still nothing like the intensity and feral atmosphere Elm Park could generate.

Anyway, I digress. A large part of thinking about not renewing is that I don't feel the same about the "club" these days. For me, it's gone from football to big business. I'm aware that's not a shattering insight but it's one that saddens me.

I'm disgusted with the way "my" club treated Brian McDermott. I'm quite confused why they (you) think Nigel Adkins is such a better bet. Erm, sorry, those of you questioning Brian's tactics should take a look at playing ALF up front on his own for most of the game today. Big target, hold 'em up striker he ain't. 1-0 down in a game we HAD to win and we perservered with that strategy long way past it was obvious it wasn't working.

Finally, there's a fantastic amount of short memories on here. I can't believe the abuse Brian has taken on here. A few short months after winning the Championship and he's being called a bald cunt. Unbelievable.

Reading are punching above their weight massively in terms of fanbase and some of you should start to realise that. Look down a Division or two and see some truly bigger teams than us. Leeds United, Birmingham City, both Sheffields, yeah, even Brighton.

[sandman]

Unlike some of the more vitriolic posters on here (Lolz), I have no desire to pile into players that are doing their best.

I've been a fan for over 40 years. I've been a season ticket holder at Madejski since we moved there.

Maybe I should put this in another thread, but to be honest, I can't be arsed.

I think I'll probably not bother renewing next year.

Partly because I'm not enjoying the games these days. 15 years on and I still don't like the "new" stadium. There's never been an atmosphere that could touch Elm Park on a night game. OK. The Wigan playoff game and West Brom, this season, were good but still nothing like the intensity and feral atmosphere Elm Park could generate.

Anyway, I digress. A large part of thinking about not renewing is that I don't feel the same about the "club" these days. For me, it's gone from football to big business. I'm aware that's not a shattering insight but it's one that saddens me.

I'm disgusted with the way "my" club treated Brian McDermott. I'm quite confused why they (you) think Nigel Adkins is such a better bet. Erm, sorry, those of you questioning Brian's tactics should take a look at playing ALF up front on his own for most of the game today. Big target, hold 'em up striker he ain't. 1-0 down in a game we HAD to win and we perservered with that strategy long way past it was obvious it wasn't working.

Finally, there's a fantastic amount of short memories on here. I can't believe the abuse Brian has taken on here. A few short months after winning the Championship and he's being called a bald cunt. Unbelievable.

Reading are punching above their weight massively in terms of fanbase and some of you should start to realise that. Look down a Division or two and see some truly bigger teams than us. Leeds United, Birmingham City, both Sheffields, yeah, even Brighton.

Well said but expect the people you're criticising to be unable to take it.

[loyalroyal4life]

Anyone who is looking forward to next season just needed to watch that game today.

How can Adkins possibly get that squad passing the ball?

We had a left back who has no left foot, a central midfield that couldn't get near Saints players who simply passed with ease and looked comfortable.

I think it is time to just try new things and forget about this season all together. Lets just hope we dont finish bottom

[windermere_royal]

Unlike some of the more vitriolic posters on here (Lolz), I have no desire to pile into players that are doing their best.

I've been a fan for over 40 years. I've been a season ticket holder at Madejski since we moved there.

Maybe I should put this in another thread, but to be honest, I can't be arsed.

I think I'll probably not bother renewing next year.

Partly because I'm not enjoying the games these days. 15 years on and I still don't like the "new" stadium. There's never been an atmosphere that could touch Elm Park on a night game. OK. The Wigan playoff game and West Brom, this season, were good but still nothing like the intensity and feral atmosphere Elm Park could generate.

Anyway, I digress. A large part of thinking about not renewing is that I don't feel the same about the "club" these days. For me, it's gone from football to big business. I'm aware that's not a shattering insight but it's one that saddens me.

I'm disgusted with the way "my" club treated Brian McDermott. I'm quite confused why they (you) think Nigel Adkins is such a better bet. Erm, sorry, those of you questioning Brian's tactics should take a look at playing ALF up front on his own for most of the game today. Big target, hold 'em up striker he ain't. 1-0 down in a game we HAD to win and we perservered with that strategy long way past it was obvious it wasn't working.

Finally, there's a fantastic amount of short memories on here. I can't believe the abuse Brian has taken on here. A few short months after winning the Championship and he's being called a bald cunt. Unbelievable.

Reading are punching above their weight massively in terms of fanbase and some of you should start to realise that. Look down a Division or two and see some truly bigger teams than us. Leeds United, Birmingham City, both Sheffields, yeah, even Brighton.

Cheers Brian but can we move on now?