The where the F*ck did it all go wrong thread

[Top Flight]

It all went wrong when we lost Quinn, Kanu and Tshibola. With them went the steel and muscle in the team. As well as that winning mentality.

We have severely underestimated Robson-Kanu in the past. But I can now see what Kanu brings to the table and what we have been missing since he got injured. My estimations of HRK have shot up massively since witnessing the alternatives.

Unfortunately injuries have scuppered our promotion push this season. But that shouldn't be an excuse. Coppell's 106 side suffered injuries throughout two successful seasons but were able to integrate the replacement players as needed and maintain the game plan, spirit, strategy and system no matter who had to slot in.

[Top Flight]

As has been mentioned numerous times before the goalkeeping department is another factor as to why we have struggled.

You do need a top keeper if you want to win leagues and promotions.

I have been watching back the 106 season on DVD with my little 6 year old boy who is a season ticket holder for the first time this season thanks to the free season tickets to under 7's offer. Thanks RFC, he wouldn't have come otherwise. He is a big Reading fan now. The free tickets definitely work to get the kids interested. I thought it would be a big ask to convert him from Barcelona to Reading. Especially after Barca's magnificent treble winning season. But glory hunting can't compete with live football and supporting your local team.

Anyway, we watched the 106 season on DVD so he could see that Reading have actually had a decent side once upon a time. What struck me was how important Marcus Hahnemann was that season. He made so many important saves. He commanded his area, was brave and had so much presence. He gave huge confidence to the back four. It's easy to forget what a key player he was that season. In a side so dominant and setting football league records, our goalkeeper was massively important to that success.

We never would have set that record with Al-Habsi or Bond in goal flapping at everything and keeping the back four and crowd constantly on edge that they will mess it all up at any moment. Bravery is the key thing. Al-Habsi has good reflexes and is technically a good keeper. But Hahnemann had Schmeichal like bravery in the way he would come off his line, make himself big and take a 60mph ball to the face if that was needed to keep us ahead or level in a game.

Clarke has alot of work to do in the coming months to get us back on track. If he can address some of the problems we currently have, we can make the play-offs and then who knows.

[bobby1413]

As has been mentioned numerous times before the goalkeeping department is another factor as to why we have struggled.

You do need a top keeper if you want to win leagues and promotions.

I have been watching back the 106 season on DVD with my little 6 year old boy who is a season ticket holder for the first time this season thanks to the free season tickets to under 7's offer. Thanks RFC, he wouldn't have come otherwise. He is a big Reading fan now. The free tickets definitely work to get the kids interested. I thought it would be a big ask to convert him from Barcelona to Reading. Especially after Barca's magnificent treble winning season. But glory hunting can't compete with live football and supporting your local team.

Anyway, we watched the 106 season on DVD so he could see that Reading have actually had a decent side once upon a time. What struck me was how important Marcus Hahnemann was that season. He made so many important saves. He commanded his area, was brave and had so much presence. He gave huge confidence to the back four. It's easy to forget what a key player he was that season. In a side so dominant and setting football league records, our goalkeeper was massively important to that success.

We never would have set that record with Al-Habsi or Bond in goal flapping at everything and keeping the back four and crowd constantly on edge that they will mess it all up at any moment. Bravery is the key thing. Al-Habsi has good reflexes and is technically a good keeper. But Hahnemann had Schmeichal like bravery in the way he would come off his line, make himself big and take a 60mph ball to the face if that was needed to keep us ahead or level in a game.

Clarke has alot of work to do in the coming months to get us back on track. If he can address some of the problems we currently have, we can make the play-offs and then who knows.

Good post

[loyalroyal4life]

Maybe it is our turn now to go looking for a manager, line someone up then just remove Clarke? Need someone to come in straight away

[John Smith]

The thing is we'd now have to pay Clarke off when two weeks ago we were about to get a million for him. That I don't like one bit.

Can we afford to pay him off?

[quickwingerswife]

Good point, but the surge in anti Clarke sentiment will finish him anyway. That surge seems unstoppable now since the Forest game, it won't be long I pray.

[Ian Royal]

McCleary = best right winger in this division.

Blackman = one of best strikers in this division.

So what does he do? Not play McCleary but put Blackman in that position.

I mean, if we had no right winger and were desperate then yeah put a strker (not Blackmen) there. But we do have one of the division's best right wingers. And we are taking Blackman from his proven position to fill it instead. I just don't get it.

But that's just nitpicking. To answer the question it went wrong when Fulham somehow came back to beat us. Confidence burst. Downhill from there.

Fully agree with this. I'm not the biggest Robson-Kanu fan but I'd have him back starting on the left ASAP - he was linking up well with Blackman before it went wrong (starting at Fulham). McCleary needs to start on the right with Blackman the main man in the middle - no other way.

Vydra and John as the impact subs, send back Piazon.

Orlando Sa can be left to be the waterboy or something for all the good he does.

We tried dropping Sa against Huddersfield and were shambolically awful. We miss hus physical presence upfront.

We need to revert to what worked. Blackman right forward and HRK / Vydra / Piazon left forward with Sa central. Norwood, Williams, Fernandez across midfield until Quinn and Tish return.


Does anyone else find it baffling that Clarke signed Hurtado and John in the summer, clearly traditional wingers, then chose to play without traditional wingers.

It makes me think that a) he doesn't have a clue what he's doing and b) the good formation and form was an accident he wasn't trying to achieve.

[Extended-Phenotype]

I think Clarke just likes spending money on players and then not playing them.

[Forbury Lion]

We signed a load of new players, they performed well..... now they have settled into the Clarke Reading way and integrated with the rest of the squad and the style of play dictated to them by the manager and coaches - this is driving the results.

I believe the squad is good enough but the formation, tactics and coaching needs to get the best out of them.

Clarke pulled off a tactical masterstroke against Arsenal at Wembley, yet we have never looked to repeat those tactics against our league rivals - why not? A Championship attack should be easier to shut down and a Championship defence easier to crack.... It might not be as entertaining as us Reading fans may like (deep down we all want a 4-4-2 attacking formation in the style of the 106 team, but we don't have that team so it probably won't work) but it's all about results.

[windermere_royal]

Now try and tell me we are not in freefall? not in the country right now and stayed up to the early hours to watch that pile of shit. no ideas, QPR were poor but you could always see it coming.
without a change in leadership we could well end up in a relegation scrap

[Angry Shed Sex]

While I agree it was poor I genuinely couldn't see QPR scoring.

[janesdaddy]

It all went wrong when we lost Quinn, Robson-Kanu and Tshibola. ...

... the surge in anti Clarke sentiment will finish him anyway. That surge seems unstoppable now since the Forest game, it won't be long I pray.

+1 for both of these points of view.

The sooner Clarke goes, the better - even if we have to pay for him to leave. We can kiss goodbye to any dreams of promotion this season.

[strap]

I think Clarke just likes spending money on players and then not playing them.

Just like another dodgy Scottish Charlatan - remember Tommy Burns? Sadly I do, and was even taken in by him for the first 3 months or so of his "reign" - to my eternal shame.

As far as Scottish "managers" and RFC are concerned, all we end up with is utter con artists or worse. McGhee, Burns and now Clarke. Even Andrew Wylie got us relegated from the 2nd tier in his last season.

[CountryRoyal]

I think Clarke just likes spending money on players and then not playing them.

Just like another dodgy Scottish Charlatan - remember Tommy Burns? Sadly I do, and was even taken in by him for the first 3 months or so of his "reign" - to my eternal shame.

As far as Scottish "managers" and RFC are concerned, all we end up with is utter con artists or worse. McGhee, Burns and now Clarke. Even Andrew Wylie got us relegated from the 2nd tier in his last season.

It's enough to make me not want Moyes as a manger, not that there is much chance of that anyway.

[Lower West]

We signed a load of new players, they performed well..... now they have settled into the Clarke Reading way and integrated with the rest of the squad and the style of play dictated to them by the manager and coaches - this is driving the results.

How many full appearances have John, Piazon, Hurtado, Fernandez, Vydra made this season between them.

Might as well raided the lower leagues for players that could fill in, cheaper too.

[Forbury Lion]

If you go and date some other women to see if there's something better out there, don't expect your wife to welcome you back with open arms when you find there isn't.

Which is why it's best to do these things in secret behind closed doors.

[Lenny The Tramp]

Strap, respect all your stats and contributions but you can't put McGhee in with Burns and Clarke. Yep, FSB fckd off but boy did he make a big contribution to where we are now.