by Cape Town Royal »
06 Dec 2018 15:06
This whole thing just feels strange under Clement.. It's as if this team just has spells in game when they just do not turn up.. Look at the Ipswich game, first half they just sat off and watched - second half totally different should have won the game. Yet as shown in the recent games against at Leeds, Wigan and Stoke, they were clearly playing for him.
Clements interview post Ipswich summed it up for me. He just does not trust this squad to deliver what he wanted. Performances said they were playing for him so are they just not good enough or is it a concentration thing?
Personally, I don't think this squad is that good, especially in midfield and certain key things have needed addressing pretty much since the play off final (a left back [once Obita was injured], a driving midfielder leader type a commanding goalkeeper) etc..
I really am 50/50 on Clement, because in the last few games I began to see a future for this team, the young players seemed to have talent and shown they can cut it (albeit early days) the Ezatolahi signing shows promise in an area we need to strengthen and the team were playing for the shirt... Lets be honest had we got the equaliser at Leeds, I think that would have wiped out all our coupons for the last three games because I am willing to be there is not a Reading fan on here that thought we would go through those games unbeaten.
Yet, the points return is shocking over the last year or so and some of the signings have been absolutely dismal..
OMA made a comment (not picking you out) about Howe speaking to the senior Pro's and that got me thinking, who are they and are they they key players for us? McShane - No / O'Shea - Not really and not after this season / The midfield - Edwards - No / Meyler - No - if he comes back firing now the you would have to ask yourself where has he been for the first 3 months of the season. The only senior pro's who have been here a while who you would think have a future here and who's opinion would count are Moore and Gunter, but even Gunter is no longer first choice in his position, so if you spoke to that list of seniors what are you going to get back.
I think maybe sums up the problem under Clement. Maybe he is not a natural leader managing a team without many leaders...
Difficult one but I really feel we need a strong manager. We need to get in someone, who is dynamic and get us playing with pace and a clear direction... I think the style under Stam, maybe less so under Clement has allowed some (particularly Swift) to drift through games and that has to stop.. At the weekend we will be up against a team that plays with pace and a clear identity and if we do not turn up we could get slaughtered.. Maybe if that happens it could be a timely lesson for both the new CEO and any prospective manager (obviously i hope we suddenly turn into world beaters and win 3-0).
Good times!
