News and Views

Reading Still Looking For League Win

06 February 2016
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Reading were left still looking for that elusive league win after they shared a point in a disappointing 0-0 home draw with Wolves. The draw made it five games without a victory for Reading as they continue to drift in the middle of the Championship table.

The draw was probably a fair reflection of the play after both sides failed to make a real impression on the game. Ali Al Habsi was definitely the busier of the two goalkeepers, but chances for either side were few and far between. Reading had more of the ball but rarely seemed brave enough to work themselves into a position to shoot on target. The Royals finished the stronger side but couldn't make the most of some late chances. It was another dull day at the Madejski Stadium all round as the football failed to inspire on a cold, wet, and windy afternoon.

It was the same old story as Reading made a very slow start to the game and only really got going in the later stages of the game when Ola John made his appearance from the bench. Hal Robson Kanu looked lively later on and Deniss Rakels had chances when he made his expected late appearance from the bench. Reading appeared to have a clear penalty when Rakels went down in the area - but the referee was having nothing of it. However, a Reading win would have been more than they had deserved. McDermott has plenty of work to do to prevent Reading drifting into trouble.

 

Discussion On This Story:

 genome

» 06 Feb 2016 17:19

Fairly even... but Wolves had the better chances. I still can't believe how they didn't score early in the first half after a dodgy backwards header from McShane, who made up for it later with a superb late block.

We rarely looked threatening and were far too pedestrian in the final third. Rakels looked lively when he came on.

EmbarrassIng booing and seat rattling at the end.

 royalp-we

» 06 Feb 2016 17:23

Drab football from Reading. Ikeme had such an easy day.

We need to improve massively to get anything when playing opposition 'at our level'. We need to be a bit more 'orrible to the opposition. Brian playing down any passion is not going to help our toothless bunch.

A nice run of home games to look forward to. Unfortunately I think Rotherham at home might see our first PANTS DAY for over a decade.

Only positives - Rakels looked a battler. Ola John is a tryer - much like a Stephen Hunt of old.

Dellor just wrapped it up by saying look down the squad list. Who can you honestly say has had a really good season?

 Maneki Neko

» 06 Feb 2016 17:23

Take the point.
Bit shit.

Norwood and vydra poor.
Lacking General effort and umph

Liked rakels when he came on
Yann won a few headers up front
Didnt concede.

 tidus_mi2

» 06 Feb 2016 17:25

Pretty much agree with genome, especially the pathetic booing, we gonna boo every game we don't win now?

It seems there's almost something there but we make too many mistakes on the final ball

 Royalwaster

» 06 Feb 2016 17:29

I guess just can't wait for this season to end now .... boring.

 Ascotexgunner

» 06 Feb 2016 17:33

Our strikers are sh*t, our wingers can't cross for toffee and our midfielder couldn't pass wind. The transfer window has gone and we are stuck with this pile of dung till the end of the season.

 AthleticoSpizz

» 06 Feb 2016 17:34

Two toothless teams, Readind attack scared to try anything much.

HRK 8
Obita and Habsi 7's
6's the rest

Not sure what Rakels was (not) doing with Johns' cross into the box.

Ref not very good

 RG7Fan

» 06 Feb 2016 17:42

Boring, turgid, windy and cold.

Ref - worst this season. Seemed to go from giving everything under the sun to ignoring everything.

McCleary looked totally out of it - was he injured or just unfit still?
Cooper was a liability today.

MOTM? - no idea.

Expecting much from the Latvian Throatslitter.

 sandman

» 06 Feb 2016 17:46

Was it Gunter who decided to kick the ball across our own box after we'd only just got away with the mix up between Mcshane and Al Habsi?

 OLLIE KEARNS

» 06 Feb 2016 17:50



No, Gunter headed it past Al Habsi. McCleary then put in his one and only decent cross of the match when attempting to clear it :D

 paddy20

» 06 Feb 2016 17:51

Defence played pretty well.
No link between midfield and attack.
Williams good going forward but pretty awful on anything else.
Kanu usual disappointment
Kermogant looks to be a pretty average buy
Vydra back to his worst
Rassels looks promising

Both midfield and attack need refreshing

Hector defensive midfielder
Quinn ball winner
Norwood push forward behind Rassels

 John Madejski's Wallet

» 06 Feb 2016 17:51

Vydra's sole plan today seemed to be to dink the ball back to the person who passed to him. Regardless of what was around him and regardless of whether that player was still there. Very annoying

That was a struggle to watch and the weather was nasty, so happy to take that point.

Our new psycho looked decent enough

HRK is MILES better on the right. He needs to stay there

 ladida_gunner_graham

» 06 Feb 2016 18:08


Is this a joke post? HRK scores an 8? You know that it's out of 10, right? You think Vydra, Gunter and Norwood deserved a 6? I love Norwood but he was garbage today. Vydra was utterly hopeless, giving the ball away time and time again and you choose to single out something Rakels did? If every player scored 6 or above, I can't imagine what a poor performance looks like.

 Sutekh

» 06 Feb 2016 18:13

Utterly turgid rubbish made worse by a poor referee and dreadfully windy conditions.

We have managed 15 points out of a possible 57 after this game and today just underlined why. No creativity and what little that does come our way is ruined by poor finishing.

Where we are now is where we'll finish give or take a couple of places..

Habsi, Cooper, Williams, Kanu and Norwood good. The rest decidedly average. Rakels looked like he might be useful but we'll no doubt soon knock that out of him.

Roll on summer and another load of changes.

 Winston Smith

» 06 Feb 2016 18:14

Everyone gets a 0/10, apart from Rakels who gets 10/10 for fear of him tracking me down and cannibalising me to death.

 Maneki Neko

» 06 Feb 2016 18:14

Lol at getting annoyed that someone saw the game differently to you.
Its a problem with modern football ratings. Average should be a 5, but people score an average performance as a 7. But theres no telling em

 stealthpapes

» 06 Feb 2016 18:16



Agree.

Unleash the 1.

 RoyalBlue

» 06 Feb 2016 18:20

It just shows how low we and expectations have sunk over the past 18 months when people say that they are happy/prepared to accept a point from a game like that against an exceptionally ordinary, bordering on poor, set of opponents.

Our squad should be performing far, far better than that. Not only are we now suffering from endless poor results but we are also witnessing poor quality and utterly boring football. It is not acceptable and if our owners are content to let it stay that way, then they are clearly only interested in the property development potential of the club.

 windermere_royal

» 06 Feb 2016 18:22

Average mid table game between two average mid table teams. this season is a write off, enjoy the ride in the FA cup. because after we are out the season will just die a death.

 RoyalBlue

» 06 Feb 2016 18:23




Wasn't involved in it but - nowhere near as embarrassing as the performance on the pitch and in the backrooms & offices of the Mad Stad

 RG7Fan

» 06 Feb 2016 18:23

Thought HRK looked good (in my view I think he has looked quite good all season).
Ref - was crap.
Al-Habsi - made a couple of great saves.
Agree on Vydra - seemed to just want to pass it straight back.
Williams - uuggghhh. Just pass the oxf*rd ball before you lose it!!
Cooper - weak today.
Ref - pants.

And in wind like today if after kicking the ball in the air over and over and noticing that it gets blown everywhere why the oxf*rd would you continue to do the same? Get it on the ground and pass it around ffs!

Oh and have I mentioned that the ref was appalling?

 genome

» 06 Feb 2016 18:24

FWIW

Al-Habsi 7
Gunter 5
McShane 6
Cooper 5
Obita 6.5
Norwood 5
Williams 5
McCleary 4.5
Robson-Kanu 6
Vydra 4.5
Kermorgant 6

John 5
Rakels 6

 AthleticoSpizz

» 06 Feb 2016 18:25


Is this a joke post? HRK scores an 8? You know that it's out of 10, right? You think Vydra, Gunter and Norwood deserved a 6? I love Norwood but he was garbage today. Vydra was utterly hopeless, giving the ball away time and time again and you choose to single out something Rakels did? If every player scored 6 or above, I can't imagine what a poor performance looks like.Kanu was working his nuts off trying to hustle something out of nothing down the wing....put in a real shift
As for Rakels comment....it was a genuine question.....had the ref blown up for something?....(he didn't).........was he offside?.....(he wasn't)..........so why did he stand still with his hands down his side as if he had done something wrong?.....should probably have had a penalty
The non-description 6's pretty much summed up my pretty much non-descript assessment of them all......calm down Ladidah Gunner Graham ffs

 genome

» 06 Feb 2016 18:25




Wasn't involved in it but - nowhere near as embarrassing as the performance on the pitch and in the backrooms & offices of the Mad Stad

I wouldn't say it was embarrassing - we didn't lose badly. It wasn't horrific, and it was far from good. In fact, it was about as expected from two average mid-table sides.

 Winston Smith

» 06 Feb 2016 18:27

You know expectations are low when a player gets a small round of applause for moving a black plastic bag from the pitch

 blueroyals

» 06 Feb 2016 18:29

So all Hal Robsom Wagesu needs to do for an 8/10 is "put in a shift"... no wonder so many people are desperate to award his mediocrity with a new contract.

Zero league goals in 18 months? Why even bother

 AthleticoSpizz

» 06 Feb 2016 18:29

I was interested in the Orange bag, there was 5p going in that one

 genome

» 06 Feb 2016 18:30



I think that was in the highlight reel on the big screen at the end of the match.

 AthleticoSpizz

» 06 Feb 2016 18:31

since when was an 8/10 a new contract?

 RG7Fan

» 06 Feb 2016 18:32



A lot of mistakes on first ball today as well.


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