Norwich - back from the game

[Schards#2]

You like a stat Snowball.

We currently has 6 points from 10 games, extrapolated to the end of the season, that produces a total of 22.8 points, lets round that up to 23.

I said last season that the first six games don't tell us much. 75% of our defeats were in the first 4 games (Guthrie playing)
and our only other defeat was also with Guthrie playing.

So if it's stats you want, without Guthrie we are undefeated in 90 minutes WDDDDDD and that equates to 9 points from 7, more than enough to stay up.We've drawn 5 (all without Guthrie) out of our last six and are clearly improving, IMO. One defeat in our last 8 games in normal time says we don't need much to reach safety

it takes some spin to suggest a team that hasn't won a league game all season is performing at 9 points from 7. Capital One cup games are totally irrelevent when it comes to league form, as evidenced by the fact we were 4-0 up against a club that we will not have 4 shots against in a league game.

[pea]

You like a stat Snowball.

We currently has 6 points from 10 games, extrapolated to the end of the season, that produces a total of 22.8 points, lets round that up to 23.

I said last season that the first six games don't tell us much. 75% of our defeats were in the first 4 games (Guthrie playing)
and our only other defeat was also with Guthrie playing.

So if it's stats you want, without Guthrie we are undefeated in 90 minutes WDDDDDD and that equates to 9 points from 7, more than enough to stay up.We've drawn 5 (all without Guthrie) out of our last six and are clearly improving, IMO. One defeat in our last 8 games in normal time says we don't need much to reach safety

it takes some spin to suggest a team that hasn't won a league game all season is performing at 9 points from 7. Capital One cup games are totally irrelevent when it comes to league form, as evidenced by the fact we were 4-0 up against a club that we will not have 4 shots against in a league game.

You'll probably end up voting for him at the next election on that basis eh Schards?

[Snowball]

it takes some spin to suggest a team that hasn't won a league game all season is performing at 9 points from 7. Capital One cup games are totally irrelevent when it comes to league form, as evidenced by the fact we were 4-0 up against a club that we will not have 4 shots against in a league game.

no problem, just use their last 6 Prem games, then, 5 draws and a 1-0 defeat at Anfield

That would equate to a 32 point season. Again, suggests we only need to pick it up slightly,
beat 3 of the sides around us to have a real chance of avoiding the drop


Personally, I can see us losing at Villa and Wigan, but a win at either
(esp Villa) and things would be massively different

[Alexander Litvinenko]

To summarise what I wrote elsewhere, for me the problem yesterday was that the central midfield weren't joining the attack enough, so when we were getting the ball into the box we didn't have enough players there.

But perhaps that's deliberate? By not having the central midfielder commit themselves forward as much as previously we kept a clean sheet and the defence was hardly troubled.

So perhaps we can't have it both ways. What would you prefer, a sound defence but fewer goals scored, or more goals scored and more conceded?

I know, I know - you want central midfielders who can do both! For that I fear we might have to lose the wingers, and they're what our whole game plan is all about....

[Victor Meldrew]

Not a regular poster these days but always interested to read the conflicting views after a game.
As I see it:-
We are a long-ball team,have been since Brian took over and whereas it can get you out of the Championship it doesn't get you far in the Premier League-only Stoke have been a relative succcess and they employ giants whereas we try to play long-ball with midgets (by comparison I would add before Roberts tries to sue me for suggesting that he is a midget).

Wigan and Norwich seem capable of coming up with the odd surprise win (Spurs and Arsenal this season)whereas we don''t look likely to do so and if we keep on drawing games and not getting the odd unexpected win we will be relegated.

Ian Royal said earlier that Gorkss did a poor job marking Holt-IIRC at least in the first hallf it was Morrison marking Holt.

Woodcote doesn''t seem to understand how Guthrie can get in the side-simple,you drop one of the f*****g wingers.

RR wants to criticise fans for their disloyalty when he only follows from afar-it's not disloyal to criticise or have a moan and it all comees back to the expectations raised by the big talk from our chairman and Russian.Without the big talk maybe fans would have more readily bought into a campaign for survival rather than heading towards European qualification,ground expansion etc.

Brian must take some criticism( even though like Adkins at Saints he has bought considerable cred with last season's mega achievement) for thinking that Ian Harte is still a Premier League player and that Simon Church was worth keeping amongst other things.
This season already feels like the last relegation season and those pinning their hopes on a January spend-up producing immediate solutions (take a look at QPR) may well be disappointed-IMHO it may well be too late.
Where are all those deluded posters who thought we would be comfortably mid--table?
My view all along has been that the 3 promoted clubs might well end up as the bottom 3 and despite their good start I still think West Ham could join us and Saints.
I'll now go back into hibernation and reflect on those peoople who were adamant that we would finish above Liverpool.

[RoyalBlue]

To summarise what I wrote elsewhere, for me the problem yesterday was that the central midfield weren't joining the attack enough, so when we were getting the ball into the box we didn't have enough players there.

But perhaps that's deliberate? By not having the central midfielder commit themselves forward as much as previously we kept a clean sheet and the defence was hardly troubled.

So perhaps we can't have it both ways. What would you prefer, a sound defence but fewer goals scored, or more goals scored and more conceded?

I know, I know - you want central midfielders who can do both! For that I fear we might have to lose the wingers, and they're what our whole game plan is all about....

I agree with your assessment and Kevin Watson has said very much the same thing in his assessment of where things are going wrong for us.

You are also right about the wingers but the trouble is that whole game plan is failing to give the results (they crossed the ball quite a few times yesterday but we weren't getting players, particularly midfielders, into the right place in the box to capitalise). Therefore, it's probably time to ditch Plan A, develop and implement Plan B. Will McDermott have the sense to see this and the courage to implement it?

[SydenhamRoyal]

I spent most of the match asleep. I woke up and shouted fcuk off then went back to sleep. did i miss much?

I'm wondering what can have happened to wake you at that point

[sandman]

You may LOL, but in the same way everyone keeps saying we will improve, with the squad of the likes of QPR surely they can improve too? We have no real depth and I just can't see us strengthening the team to any great in January. Who would want to join a team that may be firmly rooted in the bottom 3 by then?

I applaud people's faith that we will come good - at the moment, personally, I struggle to see it and hope I'm proved wrong.

I will LOL when your husband says we are "comfortably the worst team in the division". What happens in January has nothing to do with that statement because that is about the here and now and is quite simply rubbish. Even the league table that you are all currently slitting your wrists over shows this to be false.

Neither you or I know what the club will do to the squad in January to strengthen the squad but I'm sure there will be targets. Brian has strengthened the squad, where he has seen fit, during his previous seasons as manager and those players made a real difference to the team(Griffin in his first season and Leigertwood in the second). Believe it or not most players don't care where a team is in January they just negotiate a relegation release clause and back themselves to turn the clubs fortune around. If they don't back themselves then we don't want them here anyway.

It's easy to have faith that we will come good when we're nowhere near as bad as some people are making out and are three points away from the team above us.

[sputnik]

Therefore, it's probably time to ditch Plan A, develop and implement Plan B. Will McDermott have the sense to see this and the courage to implement it?

If we're going to ditch Plan A, then we're going to need a Plan C for when Plan B goes wrong.

[Alexander Litvinenko]

To summarise what I wrote elsewhere, for me the problem yesterday was that the central midfield weren't joining the attack enough, so when we were getting the ball into the box we didn't have enough players there.

But perhaps that's deliberate? By not having the central midfielder commit themselves forward as much as previously we kept a clean sheet and the defence was hardly troubled.

So perhaps we can't have it both ways. What would you prefer, a sound defence but fewer goals scored, or more goals scored and more conceded?

I know, I know - you want central midfielders who can do both! For that I fear we might have to lose the wingers, and they're what our whole game plan is all about....

I agree with your assessment and Kevin Watson has said very much the same thing in his assessment of where things are going wrong for us.

You are also right about the wingers but the trouble is that whole game plan is failing to give the results (they crossed the ball quite a few times yesterday but we weren't getting players, particularly midfielders, into the right place in the box to capitalise). Therefore, it's probably time to ditch Plan A, develop and implement Plan B. Will McDermott have the sense to see this and the courage to implement it?

The problem is that Plan B involves both Guthrie and completely changing our style. And teh way we play now via the wings is so ingrained in our dna that it'd be a big, big change to make.

Can we do that while the season's in progress???? When we tried against Tottenham we were utterly abject, even by the standards of this season.

So maybe it's choice of mediocre results with what we know, or maybe worse/maybe better results with something we don't.

[Avon Royal]

To summarise what I wrote elsewhere, for me the problem yesterday was that the central midfield weren't joining the attack enough, so when we were getting the ball into the box we didn't have enough players there.

But perhaps that's deliberate? By not having the central midfielder commit themselves forward as much as previously we kept a clean sheet and the defence was hardly troubled.

So perhaps we can't have it both ways. What would you prefer, a sound defence but fewer goals scored, or more goals scored and more conceded?

I know, I know - you want central midfielders who can do both! For that I fear we might have to lose the wingers, and they're what our whole game plan is all about....

I agree with your assessment and Kevin Watson has said very much the same thing in his assessment of where things are going wrong for us.

You are also right about the wingers but the trouble is that whole game plan is failing to give the results (they crossed the ball quite a few times yesterday but we weren't getting players, particularly midfielders, into the right place in the box to capitalise). Therefore, it's probably time to ditch Plan A, develop and implement Plan B. Will McDermott have the sense to see this and the courage to implement it?

The problem is that Plan B involves both Guthrie and completely changing our style. And teh way we play now via the wings is so ingrained in our dna that it'd be a big, big change to make.

Can we do that while the season's in progress???? When we tried against Tottenham we were utterly abject, even by the standards of this season.

So maybe it's choice of mediocre results with what we know, or maybe worse/maybe better results with something we don't.

The results we are currently getting will lead to relegation - not really much to lose is it?

[facaldaqui]

I don't know if there is something wrong with me, but I enjoyed yesterday. Although it was frustrating not to get the winner, it was also encouraging not to concede. It makes a change not to go home with that horrible feeling of having let things slip.

I am finding all the games compelling, because of the sheer nailbitingness of them. I am proud of Reading, not disillusioned like some people here. I'm impressed that with this low-value team we are competing as we are. I hope we don't start getting thrashed; but if we do, then the people on here will genuinely have something to complain about. They will learn what it really feels like to be rubbish (which we are not at the moment). But I back Brian to start getting wins out of the team.

[Royal Rother]

I'm going to repeat what I said yesterday, for those who have such RTG's that they can't read properly:

I support the team when I'm at the games, I clap, I cheer, I encourage, I sing. However, if I want to then come home and vent my spleen on here, rather than booing at the game or whatever, then I bloody well will - this is a discussion board. Everyone has opinions. Many may disagree with others opinions, but that is what a discussion board is all about. If you want to start up a forum where you can only say positive things about the club - please do - but in the meantime, some of us will point out where we think it is going wrong and debate the rights and wrongs of tactics and player choices.

I do not expect to be called a twat because of my beliefs. It is because I am so passionate about the team, that I can't bear to see us throwing it all away, that I make the comments that I do. So, may I respectfully suggest that we all listen to what others have to say and debate our differences in a rather more grown up fashion, without the constant need for name calling. At the end of the day, with one or two exceptions on this board, we are all RFC fans and we all want the club to do well.

Thanks.

What an utterly pathetic post.

Of course you are entitled to your opinion, and to express it on here, however childish and petulant it may be. We all are.

Ah well no, I'm not actually entitled to because I choose to watch from afar rather than attend games anymore. I know that's the case because you never fail to bring it up whenever I disagree with you on the Team Board.

So you don't expect to be called a twat (just once, not a thread full of abuse I think you'll find) just as I don't expect to have my loyalty and right to express my opinion called into question.

I guess we might both have to get used to it because, judging by the reactionary rubbish you post in the tough times, and your dislike at being challenged on it, BOTH are likely to happen again.

[Bandini]

I'm going to repeat what I said yesterday,

Dodd.

[Zaretsky]

Dear Anton,

Given Gylfi is no longer starting for Spurs, could you please chuck some change into the collection tin so we can take him on loan in January?

Thanks,
Dave Zaretsky

P.S. That was pretty bad eh? Although it's a familiar problem of playing two defensively minded centre-mids and lamenting the creative quality. This was the kind of game we were turning into 1 goal victories in the second half of last season. Positives to take (and I do like being positive) - Norwich were even worse than us and so they might go down instead (or we go down together). Oh and their fans still like to sing songs about killing prostitutes which is all a bit passe, don't you think?

[sandman]

Gylfi? Why would we need that useless piece of crap when we've got the footballing genius that is Danny Guthrie?

[winchester_royal]

Gylfi? Why would we need that useless piece of crap when we've got the footballing genius that is Danny Guthrie?

[Man Friday]

I am finding all the games compelling, because of the sheer nailbitingness of them. I am proud of Reading, not disillusioned like some people here. I'm impressed that with this low-value team we are competing as we are. I hope we don't start getting thrashed; but if we do, then the people on here will genuinely have something to complain about. They will learn what it really feels like to be rubbish (which we are not at the moment). But I back Brian to start getting wins out of the team.

+1 for each statement made.

[Ian Royal]

To summarise what I wrote elsewhere, for me the problem yesterday was that the central midfield weren't joining the attack enough, so when we were getting the ball into the box we didn't have enough players there.

But perhaps that's deliberate? By not having the central midfielder commit themselves forward as much as previously we kept a clean sheet and the defence was hardly troubled.

So perhaps we can't have it both ways. What would you prefer, a sound defence but fewer goals scored, or more goals scored and more conceded?

I know, I know - you want central midfielders who can do both! For that I fear we might have to lose the wingers, and they're what our whole game plan is all about....

Sound defence because you can't lose a game if you don't conceed. We're quite capable of scoring goals one game drawing a blank doesn't change that, but that doesn't help if we're shipping them by the bucket load. Once the team (if they can) settle into a more defensively effective stance, the attack will start to reassert itself.

Norwich were organised and pretty good at the back. They didn't take the game to us as much as other teams will, and that may mean a few better chances without 6 defenders back. I think we can also possibly punish a few teams at set pieces if we can keep things tight. Norwich looked very well organised at corners and freekicks which scuppered that a bit. Although if Pearce or maybe Morrison had got Gorkss chance early in the first half I think they'd have troubled Ruddy.

[Royal Lady]

I'm going to repeat what I said yesterday, for those who have such RTG's that they can't read properly:

I support the team when I'm at the games, I clap, I cheer, I encourage, I sing. However, if I want to then come home and vent my spleen on here, rather than booing at the game or whatever, then I bloody well will - this is a discussion board. Everyone has opinions. Many may disagree with others opinions, but that is what a discussion board is all about. If you want to start up a forum where you can only say positive things about the club - please do - but in the meantime, some of us will point out where we think it is going wrong and debate the rights and wrongs of tactics and player choices.

I do not expect to be called a twat because of my beliefs. It is because I am so passionate about the team, that I can't bear to see us throwing it all away, that I make the comments that I do. So, may I respectfully suggest that we all listen to what others have to say and debate our differences in a rather more grown up fashion, without the constant need for name calling. At the end of the day, with one or two exceptions on this board, we are all RFC fans and we all want the club to do well.

Thanks.

What an utterly pathetic post.

Of course you are entitled to your opinion, and to express it on here, however childish and petulant it may be. We all are.

Ah well no, I'm not actually entitled to because I choose to watch from afar rather than attend games anymore. I know that's the case because you never fail to bring it up whenever I disagree with you on the Team Board.

So you don't expect to be called a twat (just once, not a thread full of abuse I think you'll find) just as I don't expect to have my loyalty and right to express my opinion called into question.

I guess we might both have to get used to it because, judging by the reactionary rubbish you post in the tough times, and your dislike at being challenged on it, BOTH are likely to happen again.

I questioned your input after you had called me a twat for expressing my opinions. So get over yourself.