BFTG Wigan

[Albert Spangler]

We were always going to lose that game and both the players and Brian knew it. Any fans that didn't were high or something.

While the manner of the defeat was disappointing, I don't think that the tactics were wrong. 4-5-1 saw us through a good Christmas and January so there's no reason to change, especially against a midfield-heavy team like Wigan. Unfortunately, the players didn't turn up - still feeling the effects of Monday's shadow-chasing, perhaps - and any other XI would have stacked it today.

But that's it though. We were always going to struggle without wholesale squad changes and I don't think anyone's really to blame. Let's just get these 11 terrible games out the way and give the Championship a real go next year.

[Mr.T10]

Shit, Apart from Federici, Akpan, Mariappa and half of the time Kebe.

Once again too easy for the opposition, the four above at least made it hard work for the opposition. The rest just give the ball away to easy or won't get in a challenge which will actually win the ball.

Why can't McDermott rally the troops against the teams in the mini relegation league... A bit like Coppell era. As soon as we are little bit favourites we can't hack it. And how McDermott can even try to justify to take off Hope and keep on Karacan & Leigertwood is a piss take. Only one trying to put a foot in and push forward.

On to Everton away, can't see us getting anything even if we won today. Who knows with Reading, we could win against Everton and all will be Hunky-dory again.

Team for Everton: Federici, Kelly, PEARCE, Mariappa, Shorey, Kebe, Guthrie, Akpan, HRK, McCleary (CF, Played sometimes there for Nottm. Forest),Hunt.

[Allyh84]

Federici 8
Kelly 4
Marriappa 4
Morrison 4
Harte 4
Kebe 4
Leigertwood 1
Akpan 6
Karacan 5
McAnuff 1
Pogrebnyak 2

Shower of shite. I wish McAnuff/Leigertwood would just oxf*rd off. They're both absolutely hilarious at Premier League level. Brain must be oxf*rd blind to keep picking both of them. Who else do we have though? That amazing Carrico who has come in and done oxf*rd all?

[Allyh84]

Listen to his interview on BBC Berks. Pearce on bench cos he didn't get close enough to two Stoke players in that game or something. Utter drivel.

Guthrie just "wasn't selected" nothing wrong with his wife.

Boooooooooooooooooo!

So if that his thinking its safe to assume he will drop all the outfield players for next week then?

On this basis McAnuff and Legs should have been dropped yonks ago.

[RoyalBlue]

Federici 8
Kelly 4
Marriappa 4
Morrison 4
Harte 4
Kebe 4
Leigertwood 1
Akpan 6
Karacan 5
McAnuff 1
Pogrebnyak 2

Shower of shite. I wish McAnuff/Leigertwood would just oxf*rd off. They're both absolutely hilarious at Premier League level. Brain must be oxf*rd blind to keep picking both of them. Who else do we have though? That amazing Carrico who has come in and done oxf*rd all?

We signed Carrico when he wasn't fully fit and he still isn't. A couple of days ago McDermott said he might still be some way off but that it didn't matter because the rest were playing so well!

We should have been using the transfer window to sign quality players who could immediately displace some of those currently in the team and make a big difference. Once again we failed to do that.

[Albert Spangler]

Going forward, do people want all these changes for the away game Everton? Regardless of the oppo this season, Brian was always damned either way.

[ManchesterRoyals]

The signings have been a joke oxf*rd premier League my ARSE cant even get on the bench and don't get me started on the Pearce fiasco

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

Royalblue wrote: We should have been using the transfer window to sign quality players who could immediately displace some of those currently in the team and make a big difference. Once again we failed to do that.

Akpan could turn out to be a big player for Reading in the future. Why he was sacrificed at half time today is beyond me he was our best midfielder in the first half and then to rub salt into the wounds even more he subs Kebe.

[Norfolk Royal]

The Pog sending off could be a blessing in disguise though. This is where our strength in depth with attacking options could really come into play.

Hunt and Church have just been waiting in the wings for this chance to show their Premiership quality. So it's not all bad.

[Allyh84]

At least in Pardew's day, he'd tell it like it is. If a few players had a mare, you just knew there'd be changes. If McAnuff and Leigetwood stood dry humping eachother in the centre circle all match, Brian would still oxf*rd pick them. Although they were both a huge part of us being where we are today, they are both useless and entirely inept at this level - and have been turning in these performances for the most of the season, Leigertwood in particular.

[SPARTA]

Federici - 7

Kelly - 6
Marriappa - 5
Morrison - 4
Harte - 4

Kebe - 6
Leigertwood - 4
Akpan - 6
Karacan - 3
McAnuff - 3

Pogrebnyak - 2

[RoyalBlue]

Royalblue wrote: We should have been using the transfer window to sign quality players who could immediately displace some of those currently in the team and make a big difference. Once again we failed to do that.

Akpan could turn out to be a big player for Reading in the future. Why he was sacrificed at half time today is beyond me he was our best midfielder in the first half and then to rub salt into the wounds even more he subs Kebe.

Don't disagree with either of those comments. However, a big player for the future needed to be supplemented with some even bigger players for the present and, in true Reading style, we once again failed to do that. If we do go down, the main reason will be two p*ss poor transfer windows.

[Allyh84]

Federici - 7

Kelly - 6
Marriappa - 5
Morrison - 4
Harte - 4

Kebe - 6
Leigertwood - 4
Akpan - 6
Karacan - 3
McAnuff - 3

Pogrebnyak - 2

Brian, is that you?

[RoyalBlue]

The Pog sending off could be a blessing in disguise though. This is where our strength in depth with attacking options could really come into play.

Hunt and Church have just been waiting in the wings for this chance to show their Premiership quality. So it's not all bad.

Is Church in the 25? If not, surely he isn't that young still.

[ManchesterRoyals]

However, a big player for the future needed to be supplemented with some even bigger players for the present and, in true Reading style, we once again failed to do that. If we do go down, the main reason will be two p*ss poor transfer windows.

This

[Allyh84]

The Pog sending off could be a blessing in disguise though. This is where our strength in depth with attacking options could really come into play.

Hunt and Church have just been waiting in the wings for this chance to show their Premiership quality. So it's not all bad.

Is Church in the 25? If not, surely he isn't that young still.

I think we have come to the point where Simon Church should get a chance in the Premier League.

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

RoyalBkue wrote: If we do go down, the main reason will be two p*ss poor transfer windows

In total agreement RB...we had a chance to change things twice and bring in quality with premier league experience and did nothing!!

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

feds-8
kelly-7
morro-4
mariappa-5
harte-4
kebe-8
karacan-5
akpan-5
legs-5
mcanuff-4
pog-3

[RoyallyFcuked]

How do you sum that game up in one word? Embarrassing? Humiliating? Clueless? Half arsed? Sod it, all of the above!

- More of the same negative tactics
- No central midfielder on the bench when we have a fit Guthrie and fit Caricco out of the match day squad
- No creativity
- No passion
- No desire
- No hope
- How does Karacan get a game ahead of someone like Guthrie who can pick a pass?
- How does Karacan get a game?
- Taking Akpan off and leaving Karacan on?
- Dropping Pearce is nothing short of ridiculous
- Two of our January signings not in the squad. Jan signings MUST be fit and ready to come in and make an impact!
- January transfer window a massive and costly balls up
- Relegation almost certainly nailed on now. Now way will we get wins against better sides in Villa, Saints and QPR.

Positives

- Pogrebnyak being banned for 3 games

I watched the game on a stream and you have pretty much summed it up perfectly. Back to the same old story of clueless tactics from McD. Just simply no ideas and not enough quality. It was OKish in the first 20-30 minutes, then you could just see it getting worse. Those 2 goals before half time knocked the wind out of us. For the first one the corner should have been cleared, and the second came from giving the ball away in the middle with the defence dawdling and Harte being caught out of position. Kone in loads of space on the right, and had plenty of time to dink it over Feds.

Dont know what McD said half time, but it certainly didnt improve things (perhaps more of same drivel he tells the fans and media) it got worse, and the third goal meant no chance of even an RFC style comeback. Dont really rate Porgrebnyak but in a way I cant blame him for losing his temper, in frustration with a crap team that barely knows how to even give him half a fcuking chance to score.

We created virtually nothing again, and to have 1 shot on target at home to a team below us in the Premier League is quite frankly, disgraceful. I already knew Pearce would be dropped for Morrison, but as you said how the hell did Karacan start and then stay on for longer than Akpan, who looked our only half decent player. I wouldnt give any player a match rating of higher than 5, maybe 6 at a push. Wigan played fairly well, but were nothing special. We were just hopeless.

Also completely agree that the only positive is Pogrebnyak being banned, now we will surely have to start 4-4-2. I dont know where the faith in 4-5-1 has even come from. We look like creating even less than normal when we play it, and the games we have got results in from playing it have almost always come towards the end of the match when we have switched to 4-4-2 anyway! The defence is alot stronger now, (though you wouldnt think it after today) and the United game playing 4-4-2 proved that.

I had been hoping that after our poor performances against the lower sides earlier in the season, that starting today we could start playing properly like we occasionally decide to and win those games, especially as all the games vs the other relegation candidates are at home. But now, if were not careful, I can just see more of the same gutless performances coming up and losing all those must win games, just as we did before Christmas. I think/hope they can prove me wrong again, but todays result will be a big dent in the confidence. Down, but not out just yet.

[Twix]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is when it was about 30 seconds before half-time and instead of putting it into the box we were just arseing about with at the back which led to Wigan scoring. Even if the attack led to nothing the ref probably would have blown up before Wigan could counter.