News and Views
Burton Gifted Three Points
23 December 2017
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading marked the occasion of their 500th first team fixture at the Madejski Stadium with a dismal defeat against struggling Burton Albion. Having enticed a huge crowd to attend with reduced ticket prices the Royals missed a golden opportunity to increase their following in future matches. It is however the manner of the defeat which will concern everyone associated with the club. Having conceded a soft goal in the first half Reading managed to mount some pressure on the Albion defence in the second half and scramble an equaliser fifteen minutes from time. In a game in which Albion had rarely ventured out of their own half it seemed reasonable to expect Reading to go on and win the game. The expected surge to kick on and win the game was scuppered by some dreadful defending culminating in a bizarre winning goal for Albion. That was the last straw for many, and the ground emptied.
Jaap Stam identified poor touch, passing and decision making throughout the side as the key factors contributing to the result, which is a pretty fair summary. In short Reading significantly underperformed individually and collectively against a mediocre team and managed to lose in spite of having seventy six per cent of the possession.
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Discussion On This Story:
Sutekh
People paid £5 for that and it wasn’t worth 5p. Still at least they’ve now all been reminded why they’d given up going to watch the team in the first place.
Hound
We were shocking, simple as. First half was prob the worst performance I’ve seen from is under Stam
Second half plenty of effort, huffed and puffed but created little. The passing was woeful hence why we couldn’t get any momentum going
The two goals conceded were horrendous. Just absolutely gifted them. The second one bizarrely I don’t think a Burton player touched it for about 10 passes before it went on
Stam screwed up his subs. Way too late. Bod is offering far more than Yann and getting 10 mins a game
Ratings:
Joey, Kelly, Aluko, Yann : 3
Gunter, Mannone: 4
Bacuna, Edwards, Moore, McShane: 5
Barrow, Swift, Bod: 6
AthleticoSpizz
Bodvarsson is not the panacea for all of our ailments right now, but Jaaps stubborness in not starting with him has surely cost us a few points by now. His cameo appearances have been (in the main) encouraging and he HAS actually scored occasionally....whatever your issue with him is, it’s time to give him the starting berth Mr Stam.
windermereROYAL
Well that was as bad as I have seen in any game at the mad stad since we have been there. I have always stood by Stam but today that was just so bad, cant think of a single player I would give more than 5. but special mention to Joey, Kelly and Kermit for a single point each.
Hound
He just can’t seem to recognise how to influence a match when it’s not going our way with the subs this year
Some of the favoured treatment of some (ie McShane, Yann, Kelly) at the expense of others (Popa, Bod, Richards) is just wrong. Another little dig at the fans doesn’t help his cause
In saying that I still wouldn’t advocate sacking him. But now there is big pressure on us back to win 2 of the next 3
Snowflake Royal
On the other hand, they were organised, well drilled and determined.
We, were abject, insipid, timid, directionless, disorganised and clueless.
I'm turning. The players were poor, but it was the set up that leads to that sort of pathetic serving. No movement, no plan, everything relying on centrebacks being Xavi and Iniesta, but with no bugger moving. Kelly was criminally misused, Swift was a terrible substitution.
Mannone 5
Gunter 5
Bacuna 4 (benefit of doubt that his early knock affected him)
Moore 6 MotM (Lol)
McShane 5
Edwards 5
Berg 4
Kelly 3
Barrow 4 (plus 2 for scoring)
Aluko 2
Kermorgant 3
Swift 5
Bodvarason 6
Stam 1
Somethjng has to change or he'll be gone within 6-8 weeks no problem. You can't put on a promotion like that and then serve up that bullshit against the smallest club in the division. They didn't even have to play even remotely well.
Our entire game plan is based around hoping that the opposition don't press our defenders, don't defend deep in numbers and don't make any effort to mark in midfield.
Not oxf*rd good enough.
blythspartan
Stam needs to go, I like him but I don't believe that the players are capable of doing what he wants on a consistant basis.
Even a Tony Pullis team would be better than this........
Dick Habbin's hairdo
No movement. No passion. No fight. No idea. Did I say no movement?
Swift and Bod sparked things up a tad but the rest of them, possibly with the exception of Moore, are simply criminals if they are picking up their wages after that.
Time for Stam to go.
P!ssed Off
A player that wants to play CM on the right wing.
Two wingers in the middle, supporting a striker who's only in the team due to his ability to defend corners.
A 5ft technical CM stood in his own half filling in for the marauding CB who's charging forward attempting to thread through balls.
A player stood in the middle of the pitch doing oxf*rd all, until he decides to get involved and do something oxf*rd awful yet again. Only reason he's on the pitch is because he shares an agent & nationality with his manager.
An absolute f-ing shambles....
McDermolenko
We’ve had 7/8 manager stints in the past 7 years and it’s got us absolutely bloody nowhere.
Stam is playing a style of football that is closest to emulating that of a team with genuine European pedigree. Hoof ball doesn’t belong in Europe, and alas sticking Pulis in the managers seat won’t gain us any long term success at all.
If you disagree, just p off.
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