MATCHWATCH : Northampton Town (a)

[blythspartan]

I know behind the scenes is awful, but I do wonder if part of the problem is that we haven’t been at this level for 20+ years and there is very little lower league experience at the club.

I like how we’ve have recruited, but we really needed a few older players with experience at this level. Wing is a good example of the type of players we should have signed. However, I appreciate we probably missed out on some decent targets because of the embargo.

We are effectively playing an U23 team in League One and it’s a tough ask. If you take the EFL Trophy as an example often the U21 sides from top Premiership clubs struggle to do well against hardened League One/Two teams.

One of my problems with Selles is he thinks he can rock up with an attacking formation and play these teams off the park, but it’s not working and he’s not learning.

If we do get taken over he won’t be here for long. It’s a shame as he’s likeable and has been plunged into a desperate situation.

[leon]

I know behind the scenes is awful, but I do wonder if part of the problem is that we haven’t been at this level for 20+ years and there is very little lower league experience at the club.

I like how we’ve have recruited, but we really needed a few older players with experience at this level. Wing is a good example of the type of players we should have signed. However, I appreciate we probably missed out on some decent targets because of the embargo.

We are effectively playing an U23 team in League One and it’s a tough ask. If you take the EFL Trophy as an example often the U21 sides from top Premiership clubs struggle to do well against hardened League One/Two teams.

One of my problems with Selles is he thinks he can rock up with an attacking formation and play these teams off the park, but it’s not working and he’s not learning.

If we do get taken over he won’t be here for long. It’s a shame as he’s likeable and has been plunged into a desperate situation.

All too often our managers don’t seem to learn a single thing. Selles is in a difficult position but he needs advice. And he needs to change his tactics to suit the players he has and yes the opposition - whether we’re home or away.

We can’t play this 4222 bollocks in League One with these kids. So change. If we started picking up battling draws away from home it would build confidence and we’d end up winning some. Getting fcuked by every fcuker week in week out is having the opposite effect.

Selles can stick his footballing principles up his arse and he can get them back out for a look when we’re not heading for League 2.

[yuomi]

I know behind the scenes is awful, but I do wonder if part of the problem is that we haven’t been at this level for 20+ years and there is very little lower league experience at the club.

I like how we’ve have recruited, but we really needed a few older players with experience at this level. Wing is a good example of the type of players we should have signed. However, I appreciate we probably missed out on some decent targets because of the embargo.

We are effectively playing an U23 team in League One and it’s a tough ask. If you take the EFL Trophy as an example often the U21 sides from top Premiership clubs struggle to do well against hardened League One/Two teams.

One of my problems with Selles is he thinks he can rock up with an attacking formation and play these teams off the park, but it’s not working and he’s not learning.

If we do get taken over he won’t be here for long. It’s a shame as he’s likeable and has been plunged into a desperate situation.

All too often our managers don’t seem to learn a single thing. Selles is in a difficult position but he needs advice. And he needs to change his tactics to suit the players he has and yes the opposition - whether we’re home or away.

We can’t play this 4222 bollocks in League One with these kids. So change. If we started picking up battling draws away from home it would build confidence and we’d end up winning some. Getting fcuked by every fcuker week in week out is having the opposite effect.

Selles can stick his footballing principles up his arse and he can get them back out for a look when we’re not heading for League 2.

Absolutely this. It's mystifying that Selles (is just the latest coach here who) seems so far to be totally resistant to adapting his tactics to what is happening in front of him. There is no discernible plan b other than to double down on plan a. Someone said that the players who played under Ince were going to have a hangover of bad man management and bad coaching, but what's scary is that the new, young guys are now slipping into exactly the same bad habits that were prevalent under Ince, Paunovic and Gomes.

[Delboy]

Bowen needs to help Selles out he has enough knowledge

[Snowflake Royal]

If he don’t bring NGW back in on Saturday now then he is a total joke. Mola is not even a footballer.
God knows what he does at right back tho, Mbengue injured, Yids suspended and Binden clearly not a right back.

Kelvin Abrefa or Tivonge Rushesha or Tom Holmes.

[Sutekh]

I know behind the scenes is awful, but I do wonder if part of the problem is that we haven’t been at this level for 20+ years and there is very little lower league experience at the club.

I like how we’ve have recruited, but we really needed a few older players with experience at this level. Wing is a good example of the type of players we should have signed. However, I appreciate we probably missed out on some decent targets because of the embargo.

We are effectively playing an U23 team in League One and it’s a tough ask. If you take the EFL Trophy as an example often the U21 sides from top Premiership clubs struggle to do well against hardened League One/Two teams.

One of my problems with Selles is he thinks he can rock up with an attacking formation and play these teams off the park, but it’s not working and he’s not learning.

If we do get taken over he won’t be here for long. It’s a shame as he’s likeable and has been plunged into a desperate situation.

He's a prime example of the failures this club has been "discovering" and employing as managers though. Nice bloke, lots of good ideas but struggles to get them across and is totally inflexible so when things don't work out there's little sign of adaptibility, lessons being learned or a plan B. Looking forward to the failure of more 4-2-2-2 shenanigans on Saturday.

[Sutekh]

If he don’t bring NGW back in on Saturday now then he is a total joke. Mola is not even a footballer.
God knows what he does at right back tho, Mbengue injured, Yids suspended and Binden clearly not a right back.

Kelvin Abrefa or Tivonge Rushesha or Tom Holmes.

Fingers crossed that Mola's sending off is found to have been the correct decision.

[Snowflake Royal]

If he don’t bring NGW back in on Saturday now then he is a total joke. Mola is not even a footballer.
God knows what he does at right back tho, Mbengue injured, Yids suspended and Binden clearly not a right back.

Kelvin Abrefa or Tivonge Rushesha or Tom Holmes.

Fingers crossed that Mola's sending off is found to have been the correct decision.

God knows what Selles does if he is.

Carson can't cope in front of noisy League One fans in men’s football and NGW is either injured or Selles has him out in the cold for no reason. McIntyre injured.

[Hound]

Frustrating night. Northampton and Burton were utter tosh and we managed 1 point from those games

It’s another game we really should have got something from, Azeez looks utterly unable to score atm, desperately hope Smith can improve things up top

Very poor night from Button and hope he can forget about it and move on and not go to pieces like he did at wba. He’s been good up to now

I’m not actually one for making big changes to the formation. However he needs to get NGW back in (thought again Carson looked very good going forwards despite his woes at the back)

Rushesha RB

Positive note, Wing looked very good and Abbey had a good game. That’s about it

[Snowflake Royal]

Outrage has simmered down a bit, so ratings.

Button - 1 I called out Rotherham as a worse keeping performance, but Ive changed my mind, apologies whoever that was to. Lumley may have conceded more, but he recovered a bit second half whilst Button punched another in his net.
Bindon - 6 NOT A FULL BACK
Carson - 4 great potential, excellent crosser, plays like he's a terrified little boy. Needs a break, then a run of cup games and sub appearances, or Selles will destroy his career.
Dean - 5 passing poor, hoofing poor, defending poor.
Abbey - 6 his pace got us out of jail a few times but needs to take fewer risks. Lucky not to have given away a pen.
Savage - 5 bless him, he was trying and he cares, but he lost his head
Wing - 7 the only one who looked like they knew what they were doing
Mukairu - 6 no help from the idiot tactics.
Azeez - 5 our biggest threat and regularly involved, but my god he makes bad decisions. Should have scored.
Vickers - 6 the only one who looks like he knows how to beat his man, create something or shoot
Ehibhatiomhan - 6 stop trying to play like Ejaria and drag the ball along with you under or behind your centre of mass. You're big and strong but if you try to run through 3 defenders, the ball's going to bobble away.

Knibbs - 6 some nice stuff, but like most of the attackers just keeps running into trouble and over elaborating because you could throw a blanket over the whole attack.
Ballard - 6 scored
Hutchinson - 7 settled the side for a bit.
Elliott - not really involved
Mola - 3 got himself (not) sent off in less than 20 minutes and was shit in the process

Selles - 2 learnt nothing from Burton or Blackpool. His tactics are moronic, his man management is cretinous. At least he uses his sub bench (badly again)

The only Reading players with any composure were Wing and Vickers pre subs. It was just panick stations. For a while after the first goal I thought everyone except Savage were actually trying to lose to send a message. That's how bad it was.

Selles gets time to prove he can learn. But he won't. Gone by Xmas.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Really poor display collectively and would only really say Abbey and Wing were any way decent and Carson did ok, the rest were poor and we didn't even play against that good a side either. We do seem to flip flop between good performances, bad one which is what you'd expect but we don't get the results to justify this, I'm beginning to wonder if quality is the issue at times.

I'd want Abrefa in at RB personally and if we have to play NGW then we need to do, although I thought Carson was ok so if he's still ok to play then no reason why we shouldn't at the moment. I was hoping Mola would come good but he's showing anything but at the minute.

[WestYorksRoyal]

I went to the Spurs game this weekend; my wife's uncle normally takes us once a year. I actually got quite emotional about the state of everything. The fans felt a connection with the manager and the team, there was no existential anxiety and people were just there so see friends & family and look forward to a good match.

We'll never be Spurs, but it reminded me that I haven't been able to enjoy anything about Reading in that way for over 5 years. The whole experience is utter misery - embargoes, points deductions, this year an existential threat to the club. And while it's difficult for the players, once again a manager and team apparently not capable of competing and providing any enjoyment.

I used to say I'd never trade places with fans of big clubs; I don't think you can understand how good it felt for us from 2005 - 2007 if all you know is being a big team. But I simply don't see a way back to those times, or even times of being a reasonable Championship side. The spiral never ends. Perhaps replacing Selles this season would keep us up, but it wouldn't bring enjoyment or green shoots of recovery. It would be disappointing that we've sacked a manager in their first full season again.

None of this will change while Dai is here. He simply has to sell. Perhaps we'll get good owners, and in 5 years' time, I'll once again enjoy supporting this club in ways that a Spurs fan couldn't understand. But it's an oil tanker to turn around, and any new owners may not be good owners. It really makes you question what's the point.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Selles gets time to prove he can learn. But he won't. Gone by Xmas.

Seen a lot of this sort of thing about managers not changing what they do, but I think it's just part of the trade. I was listening to a piece from The Coaches Voice (excellent YouTube channel by the way and I think it was Russell Martin I was listening to) where it was mentioned that on the A/Pro Licenses, coaches are basically "taught" to not step away from what they believe works, as it is said that this had a more detrimental effect on the confidence that the players and staff have in themselves as a manager.

At the end of the day, Selles will get another job after us. It might not be as a manager, but he will get another job and I think that's how managers/coaches themselves see it.

[Snowflake Royal]

Selles gets time to prove he can learn. But he won't. Gone by Xmas.

Seen a lot of this sort of thing about managers not changing what they do, but I think it's just part of the trade. I was listening to a piece from The Coaches Voice (excellent YouTube channel by the way and I think it was Russell Martin I was listening to) where it was mentioned that on the A/Pro Licenses, coaches are basically "taught" to not step away from what they believe works, as it is said that this had a more detrimental effect on the confidence that the players and staff have in themselves as a manager.

At the end of the day, Selles will get another job after us. It might not be as a manager, but he will get another job and I think that's how managers/coaches themselves see it.

No wonder the average mannagerial duration is under 12 months.

Stupidest advice possible

[Hound]

Selles gets time to prove he can learn. But he won't. Gone by Xmas.

Seen a lot of this sort of thing about managers not changing what they do, but I think it's just part of the trade. I was listening to a piece from The Coaches Voice (excellent YouTube channel by the way and I think it was Russell Martin I was listening to) where it was mentioned that on the A/Pro Licenses, coaches are basically "taught" to not step away from what they believe works, as it is said that this had a more detrimental effect on the confidence that the players and staff have in themselves as a manager.

At the end of the day, Selles will get another job after us. It might not be as a manager, but he will get another job and I think that's how managers/coaches themselves see it.

Selles has spent half his life studying football, he totally buys into his system. He has coached at a high level

If he starts to drastically change what he believes in, it will get even worse. The ‘Selles’ doesn’t learn comments are a bit silly - of course he learns otherwise he wouldn’t be where he is - but it’d be far worse if he starting to try to coach a system he doesn’t believe in or knows what he wants to do with

I’m not a huge fan of 4-2-2-2 either but he has to get some time with it to try to get it right with these players.

Atm it’s not just about the system. It’s about confidence and errors both end of the pitch. 4-2-2-2 has nothing to do with Button throwing 3 in or Femi seemingly lacking any kind of football brain

[Norfolk Royal]

Musing a bit so bear with, but struck me last night how what goes round often comes back round in football. By that I mean there is a good chance we're going back to the old fourth division, from whence we came.

First started supporting RFC in the early 70s in the old fourth division days at Elm Park, which in the year we won it or got promoted, I remember well.

It struck me last night after the latest debacle, whether the current team we have is even as good as the team from those days.

Try this, Say a defence comprising Steve Death in goal, Gary Peters right back, Mark White left back, Hetzke and Martin Hicks centre halfs.

Just a thought but my feeling is that the current team might play a whole match just against those five and still fail to score. Am I right?

[paultheroyal]

Take away those 3 dreadful goals let in by Button. Was it a bad performance? First half yes, second half alot better but could not be any worse.

There is a player in Femi but just looks shot to pieces. Other thing that got me, and Knibbs was certainly one of them, is that chance with ball in the box, get yourself in there, throw your body on the line, it just looked half arsed. Midfield and down the wings we are just cut open with ease.

Someone made the valid point that we do have to understand its U21s versus grown men. The Premier League U21's are getting turned over in the PJT. I just cant see any of this changing whilst we have the current owner. That is the first thing that needs to happen and no point targeting Selles otherwise whole club is then toxic and we have a total split camp.

Dai gone (we hope) new owners in, and then we look to pick up the best out of contract players we can find. There are still quite a few out there. Enough to pick up the 14 wins we are going to need to survive in this division.

But yes, last night and this morning incredibly grim.

[paultheroyal]

I know behind the scenes is awful, but I do wonder if part of the problem is that we haven’t been at this level for 20+ years and there is very little lower league experience at the club.

I like how we’ve have recruited, but we really needed a few older players with experience at this level. Wing is a good example of the type of players we should have signed. However, I appreciate we probably missed out on some decent targets because of the embargo.

We are effectively playing an U23 team in League One and it’s a tough ask. If you take the EFL Trophy as an example often the U21 sides from top Premiership clubs struggle to do well against hardened League One/Two teams.

One of my problems with Selles is he thinks he can rock up with an attacking formation and play these teams off the park, but it’s not working and he’s not learning.

If we do get taken over he won’t be here for long. It’s a shame as he’s likeable and has been plunged into a desperate situation.

All too often our managers don’t seem to learn a single thing. Selles is in a difficult position but he needs advice. And he needs to change his tactics to suit the players he has and yes the opposition - whether we’re home or away.

We can’t play this 4222 bollocks in League One with these kids. So change. If we started picking up battling draws away from home it would build confidence and we’d end up winning some. Getting fcuked by every fcuker week in week out is having the opposite effect.

Selles can stick his footballing principles up his arse and he can get them back out for a look when we’re not heading for League 2.

Yeah, in the main i do agree with this. Needs a significant reset because his plan will take time and wont be enough time when league 2 is staring at us. I think Mark Bowen needs to put his tracksuit on and get out there with him.

[paultheroyal]

Musing a bit so bear with, but struck me last night how what goes round often comes back round in football. By that I mean there is a good chance we're going back to the old fourth division, from whence we came.

First started supporting RFC in the early 70s in the old fourth division days at Elm Park, which in the year we won it or got promoted, I remember well.

It struck me last night after the latest debacle, whether the current team we have is even as good as the team from those days.

Try this, Say a defence comprising Steve Death in goal, Gary Peters right back, Mark White left back, Hetzke and Martin Hicks centre halfs.

Just a thought but my feeling is that the current team might play a whole match just against those five and still fail to score. Am I right?

You are right - they wont score. But there lies the problem. We have not got those players and in current predicament we wont be getting those players. That is not Selles fault. But he needs to find a way to win matches and stop concediing.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Selles gets time to prove he can learn. But he won't. Gone by Xmas.

Seen a lot of this sort of thing about managers not changing what they do, but I think it's just part of the trade. I was listening to a piece from The Coaches Voice (excellent YouTube channel by the way and I think it was Russell Martin I was listening to) where it was mentioned that on the A/Pro Licenses, coaches are basically "taught" to not step away from what they believe works, as it is said that this had a more detrimental effect on the confidence that the players and staff have in themselves as a manager.

At the end of the day, Selles will get another job after us. It might not be as a manager, but he will get another job and I think that's how managers/coaches themselves see it.

Selles has spent half his life studying football, he totally buys into his system. He has coached at a high level

If he starts to drastically change what he believes in, it will get even worse. The ‘Selles’ doesn’t learn comments are a bit silly - of course he learns otherwise he wouldn’t be where he is - but it’d be far worse if he starting to try to coach a system he doesn’t believe in or knows what he wants to do with

I’m not a huge fan of 4-2-2-2 either but he has to get some time with it to try to get it right with these players.

Atm it’s not just about the system. It’s about confidence and errors both end of the pitch. 4-2-2-2 has nothing to do with Button throwing 3 in or Femi seemingly lacking any kind of football brain

The first part is exactly it. Seen a lot of comments about "Plan B". I don't think there is so much a Plan B anymore, but it's more about how can they make Plan A better.