MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

[NathStPaul]

I can park the Harriers result. Questionable selection, awful bench, subs, tactics, yes, but all I care about is the league and I can only assume he feels the same.

Fulham are good but in pretty poor form.
We have to bounce back from the worst (?) defeat in our history
We're at home.
Pauno has had the chance to sort out fitness issues (no more excuses, he could have given people match fitness or rested them v Harriers)

A horrid performance here and it will further suggest he's lost the confidence of his players and his last few remaining fans like me will reluctantly follow suit.

So you can forgive the worst result in our entire history, but losing against promotion favourites is where you draw the line?

Millsy being Millsy. I like trolling as much as the next person but at least make it funny.

[Millsy]

I can park the Harriers result. Questionable selection, awful bench, subs, tactics, yes, but all I care about is the league and I can only assume he feels the same.

Fulham are good but in pretty poor form.
We have to bounce back from the worst (?) defeat in our history
We're at home.
Pauno has had the chance to sort out fitness issues (no more excuses, he could have given people match fitness or rested them v Harriers)

A horrid performance here and it will further suggest he's lost the confidence of his players and his last few remaining fans like me will reluctantly follow suit.

So you can forgive the worst result in our entire history, but losing against promotion favourites is where you draw the line?

Yes and no.

Yep, don't care about the cup, and what our reserves team did on Saturday.

But no I don't say anything about the result I said "performance". Play very well against a good side and get closely beaten and it won't bother me enough - you can only try your best against a superior team. But a ridiculous performance suggesting the players have lost confidence and I won't be using Fulham's league position as a defence for Pauno. I normally would - but Saturday has sucked out a lot of good will from me. And besides, we normally do well against the big teams so I'm expecting no different.

Too cerebrally complex for the one-liner Mensa club I know (I don't mean you btw).

[Hound]

think thats reasonably fair. I didn't care a great deal about going out the cup, though it is a shame and a cup run would have been nice.

But to have put in such a seemingly gutless, clueless and weak performance against a tier 6 side is unforgivable. 7(2) shots on Goal - pathetic.

[Brogue]

PSA

driver shortage on reading buses mean the following football bus will not be running

"Reading Buses have announced that the following services will not operate, and supporters should use the below suggested alternative routes:

F10 – Sonning Common - Please use pink 25 instead
F11 – Emmer Green - Please use pink 25 instead
F12 – Emmer Green & Caversham - please use pink 22 instead
F13 – Caversham Park - please use berry 23/24 instead
F21 – Norcot - please use bronze 11, sky blue 15/16, purple 17 or yellow 26 instead
F22 – Tilehurst - please use sky blue 15/16 or purple 17 instead
F24 – Purley - please use sky blue 16 instead
F31 – Woodley Airfield - please use lion 4/X4, orange 13/14 or purple 17 instead
F32 – Woodley - please use lion 4/X4, orange 13/14 or purple 17 instead
F33 – Lower Earley - please use claret 21 instead.
Spectators who would normally use these dedicated services can still attend the game using normal Reading Buses services that serve the same areas."

[Coppells Lost Coat]

I dont mind losing - its the manner we lose which i have problems with. We were outplayed by Kidderminster and fair play to them!! regardless who is on the pitch against Fulham they have to show that that was a one off show and let the apology be on the field.

[windermereROYAL]

PSA

driver shortage on reading buses mean the following football bus will not be running

"Reading Buses have announced that the following services will not operate, and supporters should use the below suggested alternative routes:

F10 – Sonning Common - Please use pink 25 instead
F11 – Emmer Green - Please use pink 25 instead
F12 – Emmer Green & Caversham - please use pink 22 instead
F13 – Caversham Park - please use berry 23/24 instead
F21 – Norcot - please use bronze 11, sky blue 15/16, purple 17 or yellow 26 instead
F22 – Tilehurst - please use sky blue 15/16 or purple 17 instead
F24 – Purley - please use sky blue 16 instead
F31 – Woodley Airfield - please use lion 4/X4, orange 13/14 or purple 17 instead
F32 – Woodley - please use lion 4/X4, orange 13/14 or purple 17 instead
F33 – Lower Earley - please use claret 21 instead.
Spectators who would normally use these dedicated services can still attend the game using normal Reading Buses services that serve the same areas."

Well loads of people won`t bother then, the game won`t finish until 10.00pm, to get home to the outskirts won`t get you home till gone 11.00pm
What was always likely to be a small crowd just got smaller.

[URZZZZ]

I'm a fan of playing it out from the back - it's the way football is generally played nowadays successfully. Southwood is a good keeper for it as well. Its the slow cumbersome playing through the middle of the pitch which is the issue for me. And think that is partly due as urrzz mentioned to cramming in 3 CMs

The trouble is, is that it’s so often more just 3 CM’s. The starting XI on Saturday had Tetek, Drinkwater, Camara, Osario, TDB and Halilovic (isn’t he supposed to be an attacking midfielder?). That’s 60% of the outfield players who try and clog up the pitch centrally

Is the supposed width meant to come from the fullbacks? How many goal contributions have Yiadom and Rahman made this season? Yiadom and Richards last season?

[Zip]

Think Tetek and (especially) Bristow would really struggle in a back four against Fulham so would push Laurent back as a third CB and use them as wingbacks just to reduce their defensive responsibility

Also getting a bit bored with cramming in so many CM's in the team - think it's a contributing factor as to why our style is so uninspiring so would start Azeez in place of TDB with him and Hoilett as the inside forwards up close to Carroll or Puscas/Clarke up top with Carroll with Hoilett playing off, with Swift and Drinkwater in behind

Interesting take. Best defence is offence. The flanks cant be harmed if they are worried about being exposed at the back.
That would be a fine line to tread. As Fulham will probably not bother with that tactic and force Azeez / Hoilett to track back and isolate Carroll up top, which as we have seen for most of the season, we cant play a lone CF isolated by himself - we dont win 2nd balls.

I not too fussed about who starts + tactics, its a free hit, would kind of expect to struggle in this game even if we had won the last 2.
As long as we show some energy and fight.

I quite like Urrzzz idea there, but suspect Zip's team is the way we'll go. And if we are sticking the formation thats probably the best selection.

I'd rather we had some sort of 4-4-2 and use Azeez or Puscas up alongside Carroll but can't see it happening. Pushing Laurent back into the back 3 is quite a nice option otherwise. Would really rather us stop trying to force everything through our defensive midfield area. Get it out wide.

Anyway, suspect we'll get smashed. Might be the end of Pauno.

I think Urrzzz option makes sense but Pauno is too entrenched in his formations to change things.

[Snowflake Royal]

First thing I'd do is set a target of at least 10 crosses aimed at Carroll every single game.

Get wide, and cross early or straight to the byline and first time ball in. Again and again and again.

The defence might know what to expect, but Carroll's going to win 2 or 3 anyway.

Get a midfielder and the opposite wide man joining him, and the odds for us only go up.

Develop a pattern of play so everyone knows when and where to run and do it until you excel at it. Use Carroll's strengths whilst we have him.

[Ascotexgunner]

For those going tomorrow, and I'm not due to man flu, Reading busses are operating only minimal service according to the note they have sent me.
I did think of a joke about Paunovic learning to drive one, so then he would f*cking know how to park it.....but it's probably too soon.

As a side note, it's gone very quiet at the club. No interviews and bugger all social media. Don't think he is negotiating an exit package do you?

[Hound]

Official site unsurprisingly and probably correctly focusing on the womens team after this weekend

[Needle]

Official site unsurprisingly and probably correctly focusing on the womens team after this weekend

I bet the website folk are glad they're not working for Arsenal

[PieEater]

PSA

driver shortage on reading buses mean the following football bus will not be running

"Reading Buses have announced that the following services will not operate, and supporters should use the below suggested alternative routes:

F10 – Sonning Common - Please use pink 25 instead
F11 – Emmer Green - Please use pink 25 instead
F12 – Emmer Green & Caversham - please use pink 22 instead
F13 – Caversham Park - please use berry 23/24 instead
F21 – Norcot - please use bronze 11, sky blue 15/16, purple 17 or yellow 26 instead
F22 – Tilehurst - please use sky blue 15/16 or purple 17 instead
F24 – Purley - please use sky blue 16 instead
F31 – Woodley Airfield - please use lion 4/X4, orange 13/14 or purple 17 instead
F32 – Woodley - please use lion 4/X4, orange 13/14 or purple 17 instead
F33 – Lower Earley - please use claret 21 instead.
Spectators who would normally use these dedicated services can still attend the game using normal Reading Buses services that serve the same areas."

The most important point

The good news is that we will still be operating the F1 shuttle from Reading Station, the park & ride services and the longer distance routes where customers have no alternative to get to the match.

sorted.

[Hound]

Official site unsurprisingly and probably correctly focusing on the womens team after this weekend

I bet the website folk are glad they're not working for Arsenal

[Elm Park Kid]

I can park the Harriers result. Questionable selection, awful bench, subs, tactics, yes, but all I care about is the league and I can only assume he feels the same.

Fulham are good but in pretty poor form.
We have to bounce back from the worst (?) defeat in our history
We're at home.
Pauno has had the chance to sort out fitness issues (no more excuses, he could have given people match fitness or rested them v Harriers)

A horrid performance here and it will further suggest he's lost the confidence of his players and his last few remaining fans like me will reluctantly follow suit.

So you can forgive the worst result in our entire history, but losing against promotion favourites is where you draw the line?

Yes and no.

Yep, don't care about the cup, and what our reserves team did on Saturday.

But no I don't say anything about the result I said "performance". Play very well against a good side and get closely beaten and it won't bother me enough - you can only try your best against a superior team. But a ridiculous performance suggesting the players have lost confidence and I won't be using Fulham's league position as a defence for Pauno. I normally would - but Saturday has sucked out a lot of good will from me. And besides, we normally do well against the big teams so I'm expecting no different.

Too cerebrally complex for the one-liner Mensa club I know (I don't mean you btw).

I do care about the cup - but i'm the same as you. It should be obvious tomorrow whether the players believe in Pauno or not. They should come out the dressing room more fired up than ever before if they feel the pain from Saturday and want the manger to stay. Any negativity or lack of commitment and the manager has to go - regardless of the result.

[Royal_jimmy]

To me we have a 10% chance of drawing tomorrow and a 2% chance of winning. Barring a lot of luck or Fulham playing as shit as we did on Saturday and us being less shit

[Royal_jimmy]

think thats reasonably fair. I didn't care a great deal about going out the cup, though it is a shame and a cup run would have been nice.

But to have put in such a seemingly gutless, clueless and weak performance against a tier 6 side is unforgivable. 7(2) shots on Goal - pathetic.

So you don't care that a 6th tier side embarrassed us?

[Royal_jimmy]

PSA

driver shortage on reading buses mean the following football bus will not be running

"Reading Buses have announced that the following services will not operate, and supporters should use the below suggested alternative routes:

F10 – Sonning Common - Please use pink 25 instead
F11 – Emmer Green - Please use pink 25 instead
F12 – Emmer Green & Caversham - please use pink 22 instead
F13 – Caversham Park - please use berry 23/24 instead
F21 – Norcot - please use bronze 11, sky blue 15/16, purple 17 or yellow 26 instead
F22 – Tilehurst - please use sky blue 15/16 or purple 17 instead
F24 – Purley - please use sky blue 16 instead
F31 – Woodley Airfield - please use lion 4/X4, orange 13/14 or purple 17 instead
F32 – Woodley - please use lion 4/X4, orange 13/14 or purple 17 instead
F33 – Lower Earley - please use claret 21 instead.
Spectators who would normally use these dedicated services can still attend the game using normal Reading Buses services that serve the same areas."

Well loads of people won`t bother then, the game won`t finish until 10.00pm, to get home to the outskirts won`t get you home till gone 11.00pm
What was always likely to be a small crowd just got smaller.

Theres lots of parking in Whitley, theres other routes than just buses. I used to get the train and 1 bus but now I drive because of the extortionate pricing of public transport and park somewhere 15 minutes walk away for free

[SCIAG]

I'm a fan of playing it out from the back - it's the way football is generally played nowadays successfully. Southwood is a good keeper for it as well. Its the slow cumbersome playing through the middle of the pitch which is the issue for me. And think that is partly due as urrzz mentioned to cramming in 3 CMs

The trouble is, is that it’s so often more just 3 CM’s. The starting XI on Saturday had Tetek, Drinkwater, Camara, Osario, TDB and Halilovic (isn’t he supposed to be an attacking midfielder?). That’s 60% of the outfield players who try and clog up the pitch centrally

Is the supposed width meant to come from the fullbacks? How many goal contributions have Yiadom and Rahman made this season? Yiadom and Richards last season?

Camara is a winger, Tetek was playing right back, and Halilovic has spent the vast majority of his time in English football playing on the wing.

Richards did make a lot of goal contributions last season.

The thing you have to keep in mind is that Meite has been injured all season, Hoilett has been injured most of the season, and Azeez has been injured for most of the season. There isn’t a mythical Championship level pacey wide player being overlooked, the options for most of the season have been TDB, Ejaria and Halilovic.

[Zip]

I'm a fan of playing it out from the back - it's the way football is generally played nowadays successfully. Southwood is a good keeper for it as well. Its the slow cumbersome playing through the middle of the pitch which is the issue for me. And think that is partly due as urrzz mentioned to cramming in 3 CMs

The trouble is, is that it’s so often more just 3 CM’s. The starting XI on Saturday had Tetek, Drinkwater, Camara, Osario, TDB and Halilovic (isn’t he supposed to be an attacking midfielder?). That’s 60% of the outfield players who try and clog up the pitch centrally

Is the supposed width meant to come from the fullbacks? How many goal contributions have Yiadom and Rahman made this season? Yiadom and Richards last season?

Camara is a winger, Tetek was playing right back, and Halilovic has spent the vast majority of his time in English football playing on the wing.

Richards did make a lot of goal contributions last season.

The thing you have to keep in mind is that Meite has been injured all season, Hoilett has been injured most of the season, and Azeez has been injured for most of the season. There isn’t a mythical Championship level pacey wide player being overlooked, the options for most of the season have been TDB, Ejaria and Halilovic.

I’m struggling to think of all Richards goal contributions last season. I note you don’t describe them as assists.
We don’t have a single out and out winger at the club and have no pace. We play so narrow with players often too close together and at times getting in each other’s way. Our build ups are usually very slow and predictable.