Issue 8 - February 1999

Whatever we might want to say about events since the last issue, one horrendous fact stands out above all others. Like the sorest thumb in the entire history of painful opposable digits, "Reading 0, Bristol Rovers 6" simply cannot be ignored and, whatever happens now, will cast a shadow over the rest of the season.

Barely six months into life at our fabulous new stadium and Reading suffer their worst home league defeat in history. What price now, that early talk of making the Madejski an "impregnable fortress"? For Cureton, Roberts and the rest, it was more like an open invitation to rape and pillage at the most welcoming new ground in the League. Reading's stock as a potential promotion force has been reduced immeasurably - simply add "laughing" in front and you've discovered our new status.

This was an extraordinary result for all manner of reasons, not least because it came during a run which saw the Royals lose just two of fifteen games. And yet can the word "blip", banded about so freely in the post match analysis, really do justice to this game? Just to repeat, because it warrants repeating, this was our worst home league defeat ever.

This may have been a "bad day at the office" for the management and players but I sometimes wonder if they really understand the impact a result like this has on the fans. After all, how many of you know, if not a Rovers fan, then, at the very least, someone who comes from Bristol? Three or four- nil can be laughed off - luck, dodgy refereeing etc. but six? Quite simply, we'll never live it down.

Of course, it's not so long ago that we suffered a very similar result at the hands of Crystal Palace, when in the First Division. That game, however, just seemed totally different. We were struggling and Palace were undoubtedly one of the best teams in the division and had put six past Southend the week before. Despite the scoreline, that game was marvellous entertainment: for just £8, you got seven goals, two penalties, a sending off, two pitch invasions and a whole host of great chants. At five nil, we sang "We're gonna win 6-5"; as the Palace fans sang "we want six", we answered "we want one"; and, at 6-1, we taunted them with "what's it like to be out-classed?"

The Rovers game couldn't have been more different. Instead of the banter, people simply walked out in disgust. Why the difference? Put it down to different expectations. At the time of the Palace defeat, we were struggling to survive and losing in such a manner was not too much of a shock. Now, however, we're supposed to be a different outfit: more professional with more money and better organisation. And, instead of playing against a side destined to be promoted to the Premiership, we were playing against a side from the bottom half of the second division!

Certainly, Reading were without key players for this game. Casper and Brebner were both suspended and Primus was injured but if we simply collapse in the absence of three players, how can we possibly hope to mount a serious promotion challenge over a season? The most worrying aspect is that Rovers simply sussed our weakness against strong, direct running. Player-manager Ian Holloway knew that if they put our defence under pressure, we would simply crack.

Full marks to Holloway and zero marks to Burns. Roberts was the big danger and we had no strategy to combat him. Now, Roberts is a good player but he's no Dennis Bergkamp - he's big, strong, quick and awkward and he made mincemeat out of Kromheer down in Bristol in August. So, what do we do? I know, let Elroy mark him and see if he has better luck this time. You might as well make McPherson our midfield play-maker.

Yet again, for the umpteenth time this season, Reading have looked feeble in the face of aggressive opponents. However you want the team to play, it is simply basic that we must be able to defend against this sort of approach. After all, Rovers aren't flattening everyone in the same manner - it's just that Reading cannot defend against their particular brand of direct running.

At least now, Burns seems to have grasped these rather rudimentary facts. In his column in the Evening Post, he said that whilst he still believes in the passing game, the team have to be able to cope with the physical side as well. No shit, huh Tommy?

Having said all of that, if this result is taken in the context of our form since September, then it seems merely bizarre or even inexplicable, rather than indicative of some deep underlying problem. Whilst we have not yet found any consistent form, a pattern of more solid performances had begun to emerge. Rather than throw the baby out with the bath water, Burns should re-appraise his tactical approach to certain games and not simply make wholesale changes. For instance, whilst Kromheer had a nightmare against Rovers, he had been playing well in the preceding games in a slightly different role.

The most frustrating aspect of our recent form has been the inability to score goals. For all the various combinations used up front, we are still lacking a player who can cause the opposition real problems. Of the current squad, Sarr and Williams are the best candidates, the former with his willingness to take them on, the latter with his non-stop running. Once again, however, consistency is the key and Sarr seems to be consistent in only one thing - his ability to get injured.

Brayson and McIntyre are the alternatives and yet neither seems capable of scoring twenty goals in a career, let alone a season. Brayson is trying hard to re-capture his form but seems short on confidence, whilst McIntyre doesn't really look good enough. This lack of firepower has been partially covered up by the goal-scoring form of Brebner and it was good to see Hodges back against York as he always capable of chipping in with a few. A new striker, though, still seems a priority.

The signing of Andy Gurney gives Burns another option out wide but, whatever players he has at his disposal, he seems reluctant to switch from the 3-5-2 formation. This is rather odd given that we started the season with four at the back but may simply be a product of the surfeit of centre-halves kicking around at the moment, numbering seven at the last count. Now that the "Death Row Five" have been reduced to the "waster one", perhaps the wage bill can stand a couple of new additions.

On the other hand, if you were Madejski and you'd just sanctioned £100k out of your own pocket for a new player, only to find the team on the receiving end of the worst stuffing at home in history, then what would you say next time the question was asked?