Reading at home match thread

[Merrick's Marvels]

12 minutes ago, spudski said:

I agree on paper with your observations... however a lot of what we think, in reality, often goes below our expectations.

I often look at expectations and view that we often air on the side of positivity, when in reality, the results prove differently. 

As we stand I see us as just above relegation. With improvement...mid table. 

Our constant displays ' flatter to deceive ' regardless of personnel, injuries or formations. 

You've only got to look through pretty much every games post comments to see the same elements occurring...a common theme. 

I am cheerful...just a realist. 

C'mon mate there's a lot of hope in your post. Saying ' will get better' doesn't make it fact. 

We hope they do. 

 

Guess I retain 100% faith in the manager. At least until he's been given the chance to build his own team - which will probably require the sale of Scott but that's life. 

Other than that, I'm not sure what you expected from this set of players this season. 

Edited April 1, 2023 by Merrick's Marvels

[Hamdon Mart]

Was going to type out a gert long post of my thoughts but most of them covered already.

But briefly...

1. JD is not half the player he used to be, whether he has checked out of the club already, I'm not sure. Lost count today of the number of times he looks forward but then passes back, stifling any momentum City try to build on the left, and that's happened countless matches this season. Genuinely think it affects Mehmeti too; not sure how but he looks a far better player with Pring behind him.

2. Cornick and Mehmeti just need a goal and then others will follow. Watch them both score in the final game of the campaign before we break up for 3 months. 

3. Conway looked good after several weeks out.

4. Max's distribution much better today - he had a purple patch of ten minutes where a couple of throws and kicks were nailed perfectly. 

5. Er, that's it.

[spudski]

13 minutes ago, Merrick's Marvels said:

Guess I retain 100% faith in the manager. At least until he's been given the chance to build his own team - which will probably require the sale of Scott but that's life. 

Other than that, I'm not sure what you expected from this set of players this season. 

I also have faith in NP... however imo, like me, he would have expected better results, not necessarily performances, from our squad this season. After all he has stated we are looking for top 6. 

We are far from that results wise. 

And that is my point. 

You've only got to speak to fans of other clubs...the majority say we should be better results wise from our performances. 

We as fans who watch every week can see that. We perform well, yet concede silly goals and don't put away very decent chances. 

You can only keep doing that for so long. 

I see progress... I also can't see us progressing further than what we are if we have to keep selling our best players, and keep replacing them with young hungry players to develop...and if they do...sell them again. 

It's a perpetual motion of one step forwards,two steps back. 

As an example...do you have faith that any money from Semenyo and Scott will be spent on players that equal their quality? 

[Mr Popodopolous]

Nice to see James and Conway back and not a moment too soon with our stretched squad.

We dominated but more and half IMO, first half felt like..oh we had a lot of the ball but something wasn't quite there. Albeit disallowed goal, in fact were both of these right or?

Should have won, the goal itself seemed a soft one for us to concede, we had strong spells of pressure and dominated..but we seem to be in one of our less clinical phases.

[glynriley]

1 minute ago, spudski said:

 

As an example...do you have faith that any money from Semenyo and Scott will be spent on players that equal their quality? 

What a stupid question. To replace them with players of equal quality, will require spending £30 million. 

We’ll replace them with players who cost very little but can be developed into multi million pound assets. Easier said than done of course, but such is the lot of perineal under achievers. 

[pillred]

5 hours ago, Spike said:

It's deserved because we've not taken our chances, they've created and taken one. Had we put away one of our numerous chances it wouldn't have been an equaliser, it would have been a consolation goal. 
We've obviously been the better team in our play but when it comes to scoring goals it's a fair scoreline atm because we've been so shit with our chances.

Hard to disagree painful as that is, but it's what we do ( well most of the time) one day apart from 2015 when almost everything went right for us we do seem to be a club where every 50-50 ball seems to fall to the opposition. Our time will come hopefully before I kick the bucket :laugh:.

[Daniro]

2 hours ago, maxjak said:

A very frustrating game.........but although i am in danger of being over pedantic.........when i Hear NP state that the goal we conceded from a set piece "was a lesson learnt", it does make me wonder how many lessons do we  need     until we learn?   While appreciating the injury problems evident at the back this season, it was still a really poor goal to concede?  But then again, I guess if the forwards had done THEIR job..........it would have been a mere consolation?

You'd think the lesson "Don't give their big striker a free header from free kicks" would have been learned a long time ago

[pillred]

3 hours ago, Marina's Rolls Royce said:

and why we are where we are. There's 3 points between us.

In reality, though whose shoes would you rather be in, I mean they were crap weren't they and got away with a result they and their fans know they did not deserve, overall our trajectory  will mean we will improve as a team, would you as a Reading fan be able to say the same? 

Edited April 1, 2023 by pillred

[Kingswood Robin]

2 hours ago, Davefevs said:

We aren’t that great either though (at the mo’).  We might be seen as cannon fodder by some too.  We are a shadow of the team that can contain Atkinson, Naismith, Scott that results in Pring having to play CB, plus Kalas too. 

Out of interest who were the 6 (ish) Reading players you thought looked / played as if they were making their debuts?

Unfortunately I don't have an intimate knowledge of the Reading team, but I saw basic mistakes all over the place from them. They looked nervous at times and made poor decisions, some of which was caused by us, which is good.

Large parts of our game are improving and I'm supportive of Pearson and think/hope we'll continue to improve. I know it's not all about one game, but we carelessly threw points away today and I don't think we should shy away from that, we're better than that now. I know that's how it goes sometimes, but we should have put them to the sword and the fact that we didn't was what made it not good enough for me today.

[Davefevs]

33 minutes ago, pillred said:

In reality, though whose shoes would you rather be in, I mean they were crap weren't they and got away with a result they and their fans know they did not deserve, overall our trajectory  will mean we will improve as a team, would you as a Reading fan be able to say the same? 

Exactly.

Option 1: retain your best players, lose points, fall under a business plan, fail business plan then getting prepared for another points deduction that threatens your Championship status, or…

Option 2: bite the bullet, cut the costs, at the expense of your first team numbers and depth, whilst developing the ones that remain (and the culture) and integrate youngsters, whilst preserving your championship status fairly comfortably AND setting the foundations for future progress.

I know it’s not as black and white as the two extreme options I present, but I’m glad we are running with something more like option 2 than option 1.

 

[Davefevs]

43 minutes ago, Kingswood Robin said:

Large parts of our game are improving and I'm supportive of Pearson and think/hope we'll continue to improve. I know it's not all about one game, but we carelessly threw points away today and I don't think we should shy away from that, we're better than that now. I know that's how it goes sometimes, but we should have put them to the sword and the fact that we didn't was what made it not good enough for me today.

Yep, that’s frustrating, but I think it highlights where we are. I get your view though, it’s probably not dissimilar to mine, we just express in slightly different ways.

[petehinton]

7 hours ago, marcofisher said:

It's quite clear the season is fizzling out. I'm excited to see what 3-4 signings next year can do.

 

We are much weaker without Pring at left back, there were so many gaps down the left that could have been exposed by him overlapping Mehmeti and driving into the box. Unfortunately, JD is not that player. I think Mehmeti was getting frustrated at JD' wastefulness and was just trying to do it himself.

 

Also, midfield considerably weaker without Scott. 

 

All in all, not really much to lose sleep over. It's just the point we are at in the season. Pearson happy just to keep the squad ticking over and trying to avoid more injuries.

 

 

I think we’ll be looking at closer to 6 signings personally. We’re looking at 4 on the basis of no outgoings, and let’s be honest it’ll take a minor financial miracle for Scott not to go for huge money 

[Davefevs]

2 minutes ago, petehinton said:

I think we’ll be looking at closer to 6 signings personally. We’re looking at 4 on the basis of no outgoings, and let’s be honest it’ll take a minor financial miracle for Scott not to go for huge money 

I still read it as - three or four ready to go, then reflect on what else is needed in the remainder of the summer, maybe influenced by Scott’s sale (if he goes).

[Southport Red]

16 hours ago, marcofisher said:

I don't think he fits the way Pearson wants to play and I don't think we will even see him offered a deal on reduced terms. Considering his rumoured salary there must be better players in L1/L2 who will better fit the bill, such as the Wimbledon lad we were bidding for in Jan. 

Well, for a good example, look at the Right back. IIRC when we signed Tanner, the then Carlisle manager slagged him off saying he was useless. I think he is getting better and better. 

[exAtyeoMax]

22 hours ago, redkev said:

M4 , M5 , portway  or through failand usually a better option depending on M5 traffic though

I was on a National Express coach, but thanks for the info. If I’m driving I avoid M32 if at all possible

[Jerseybean]

Player ratings: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-city-player-ratings-reading-8314241?utm_source=bristol_live_newsletter&utm_campaign=bcfc_newsletter2&utm_medium=email

[Red-Robbo]

1 minute ago, Jerseybean said:

Player ratings: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-city-player-ratings-reading-8314241?utm_source=bristol_live_newsletter&utm_campaign=bcfc_newsletter2&utm_medium=email

 

I've no idea how OTC can get a better mark than Pring or James.  It really is a funny old game. 

[firstdivision]

25 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

I've no idea how OTC can get a better mark than Pring or James.  It really is a funny old game. 

I’ve rarely seen a more ridiculous rating. Omar is a promising young lad, but he really struggled yesterday. 

[mozo]

2 minutes ago, firstdivision said:

I’ve rarely seen a more ridiculous rating. Omar is a promising young lad, but he really struggled yesterday. 

I think I see a lad with a lot of potential but not quite there yet at this level. Nor should he be necessarily. 

[Guest]

17 hours ago, petehinton said:

I think we’ll be looking at closer to 6 signings personally. We’re looking at 4 on the basis of no outgoings, and let’s be honest it’ll take a minor financial miracle for Scott not to go for huge money 

What worries me is the poor form of our most experienced players.

Wells, Weimann are really not showing the leadership I would have expected.

James has done well, but seems to have a chronic ankle injury, 

Williams, Kalas, Naismith poor recent injury records,

Atkinson, Benarous out long term.

Not convinced that O’Leary is a number one.

On the positive side, Vyner has been a revelation, Sykes (poor discipline apart), Tanner, Conway and Pring decent enough.

Not convinced about Bell, Cornick or indeed Mehmeti.

We probably need to sell Scott just to raise the funds to add players, and I believe NP has said he wants proven Championship players, I would wholeheartedly agree with him.

 

[Mr Popodopolous]

Watched the highlights back, poor goal to concede for sure.

Are we certain both goals being disallowed was the correct decision. I'm not 100 pct but maybe I should watch back again. Both offside or?

Some promising things but disjointed in some other ways from memory of yesterday. Still should have won of course.

[Numero Uno]

Agree with a lot of the critical comments on yesterday. We need to put games to bed but when we don’t we can’t be conceding goals like that. Top end teams can be wasteful like we were and still see it out 1-0 against modest opposition and let’s be fair Reading were no better than Blackpool the other week.

However, on the flip side, it’s taken us a long time to even be in a position to say “we threw that away” because for a large chunk of the last three seasons it has been us “doing a Reading” on other teams. We are improving but still a long way to go to where Nige needs us to be. All part of the journey.

[Mr Popodopolous]

10 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

Agree with a lot of the critical comments on yesterday. We need to put games to bed but when we don’t we can’t be conceding goals like that. Top end teams can be wasteful like we were and still see it out 1-0 against modest opposition and let’s be fair Reading were no better than Blackpool the other week.

However, on the flip side, it’s taken us a long time to even be in a position to say “we threw that away” because for a large chunk of the last three seasons it has been us “doing a Reading” on other teams. We are improving but still a long way to go to where Nige needs us to be. All part of the journey.

Vs Huddersfield, Blackpool and now Reading we've displayed clear dominance. Had the better of certain parts v Cardiff took...clear progress and all part of the journey as you say.

The "spread" fwiw on XG pts vs actual now v last season is much lower so that's another indicator, a positive one.

[Davefevs]

1 hour ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Watched the highlights back, poor goal to concede for sure.

Are we certain both goals being disallowed was the correct decision. I'm not 100 pct but maybe I should watch back again. Both offside or?

Some promising things but disjointed in some other ways from memory of yesterday. Still should have won of course.

Both offside.

[redkev]

As for the signings they have so called earmarked , I know things change and it can get complicated but I hope we get them all done and dusted nice & early ,under previous regimes we seem to be always playing catch up .

if I remember correctly wasn’t the season we done the double ( god that sounds good under cots ) all our business done very early 

[Mr Popodopolous]

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

Both offside.

Thanks yeah thought so. There didn't seen to be much moaning or shock so yeah sounds right..

The officiating we get against us though or have some, that nagging doubt is legit.

Edited April 2, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[Spike]

On 01/04/2023 at 22:28, pillred said:

In reality, though whose shoes would you rather be in, I mean they were crap weren't they and got away with a result they and their fans know they did not deserve, overall our trajectory  will mean we will improve as a team, would you as a Reading fan be able to say the same? 

I think the concern as a city fan is whilst you're correct in theory, in practice we're still making the same mistakes we've made for almost 2-3 years now. We've improved in areas but yesterday's goal was another league one level of defending, not picking up or pressuring the obvious big target, not marking up the secondary options when he win the header and generally just ball watching rather than defending as a team. Our defending has improved in areas but when it comes to teams who are set piece teams we fail to do the basics and that leads to goals like Readings equaliser, it's grass roots stuff and it's still happening consistently. 

[2015]

If Reading had played any side in the top 10 on Saturday they'd have lost 3 or 4-0. They were a poor side. We are nowhere near ruthless enough up front.

[Davefevs]

I didn’t realise the Meite “shot off the line / offside” was so close!

 

[redkev]

4 hours ago, Spike said:

I think the concern as a city fan is whilst you're correct in theory, in practice we're still making the same mistakes we've made for almost 2-3 years now. We've improved in areas but yesterday's goal was another league one level of defending, not picking up or pressuring the obvious big target, not marking up the secondary options when he win the header and generally just ball watching rather than defending as a team. Our defending has improved in areas but when it comes to teams who are set piece teams we fail to do the basics and that leads to goals like Readings equaliser, it's grass roots stuff and it's still happening consistently. 

But if we had our 2 first choice centre half’s fit would they score that goal same applies for the one at Swansea ,

just a thought all ifs and buts 

[Spike]

On 03/04/2023 at 19:37, redkev said:

But if we had our 2 first choice centre half’s fit would they score that goal same applies for the one at Swansea ,

just a thought all ifs and buts 

Oh yeah, I just can't help but lack a little confidence when we're still making very basic mistakes. We'll never be a majorly dominating team but we do need to tighten up with the basics.

I'd say we lack threat on set pieces, we get into good crossing positions but don't have a man in the box to make the most of it, we lack threats with long range shots but do make those opportunities and we're still making mistakes when defending like being drawn out and leaving spaces in dangerous positions. These all need to be addressed if we really want to kick on.