Back from the match - Barnsley

[floyd__streete]

Tbh, having watched Reading games for the past 25 years I am well aware that - apart from a few freak seasons - we are always going to be also-rans at best and dogsh*t at worst. What really makes me angry is when I feel embarassed watching us.

Two penalties hit tamely at the keeper - to his same f*cking side - by two different players in two minutes. The whole country was laughing at us when we defended like the Blind School XI in the first half of Wembley, and this evening everyone can have a good snigger at our profligacy from 12 yards. Tbh, I think that Luke Steele was embarassed himself at the prospect of saving 3 penalties in one match and kindly shuffled to one side to allow HRK's tame effort enter the net.

This was just awful throughout. P*ss-poor goals conceded, same old laboured and torturously slow effort from the full backs - we aren't going to progress as a club with Harte, Griffin and dear old Uncle Bryn playing regularly for us - and it's probably only fair to give the centre-halves a bit more time, but I have seen Khumalo twice and it seems to me that he is barely able to do the basics which are required in his position. The second goal we could see a mile off, Barnsley could have driven a bus through the middle of our defence and it isn't good enough tbh.

We were just as shocking up front. Noel Hunt's penalty summed up the rest of his brain-dead performance, once again he is all brawn and zero brain. He was out-performed by HRK who was the only Reading player who can claim his (no doubt sizeable) wages with pride. Manset came on and added little, 'raw' is the kindest description one can give to him.

Barnsley must be one of the favourites to go down, and yet they've walked away with 3 gited points. What does that say about our own prospects?

[Big Foot]

Great post floyd

However, I'm slightly more calm now than I was earlier and in true British optimism (aka blind faith) I'm going to say this was our Scunthorpe @ home from last season

[Big Foot]

A shout from the lower west today summed up the first goal perfectly. "Why don't you f***ing come for the ball for once". This was obviously aimed at Federici as he came over to get the ball to take a goal kick.

He heard it and turned and stared at the crowd to see where it came from - he didn't look impressed.

That was the fourth goal we had conceded from inside the 6 yard box. He doesn't command it at all.

McCarthy in please.

Agree 100%

[handbags_harris]

...HRK who was the only Reading player who can claim his (no doubt sizeable) wages with pride...

Is that a hint of positivity there?

[AthleticoSpizz]

FWIW both missed penalties should have been retaken

Steele (surely the Championships player of the day) was at least one foot forward of his line when the ball was actually kicked....blame the bald lino for missing both of those (unless of course the rules have changed close season).

Probably already mentioned...but....at least it has exposed our weakness in central defence pre-transfer window closure

No particular villians today....just nothing eyecatchingly special.....a bit like last seasons start really

[Gordons Cumming]

I don't know why I'm arguing really - there's nothing anyone can do about the situation. Sorry, I have a bit of passion for the club I've supported for over 30 years - I just don't remember us ever moaning that we didn't replace the likes of Webb, Dixon, Senior with comparable players - I've seen some dire games in my time and relegations. I think we're just spoiled now and seem to think it's our God given right to be in the Championship - time will tell.

Good post.

I beat you by 10 years!! We've NEVER had it so good.
It's all very tiring................

.................and I'd have stuck all 3 penalties away. No problem.

[AthleticoSpizz]

^

Yep, we've had only good seasons ...and very good seasons within the past 10 years

[Here for the KEBE]

Tbh, having watched Reading games for the past 25 years I am well aware that - apart from a few freak seasons - we are always going to be also-rans at best and dogsh*t at worst. What really makes me angry is when I feel embarassed watching us.

Two penalties hit tamely at the keeper - to his same f*cking side - by two different players in two minutes. The whole country was laughing at us when we defended like the Blind School XI in the first half of Wembley, and this evening everyone can have a good snigger at our profligacy from 12 yards. Tbh, I think that Luke Steele was embarassed himself at the prospect of saving 3 penalties in one match and kindly shuffled to one side to allow HRK's tame effort enter the net.

This was just awful throughout. P*ss-poor goals conceded, same old laboured and torturously slow effort from the full backs - we aren't going to progress as a club with Harte, Griffin and dear old Uncle Bryn playing regularly for us - and it's probably only fair to give the centre-halves a bit more time, but I have seen Khumalo twice and it seems to me that he is barely able to do the basics which are required in his position. The second goal we could see a mile off, Barnsley could have driven a bus through the middle of our defence and it isn't good enough tbh.

We were just as shocking up front. Noel Hunt's penalty summed up the rest of his brain-dead performance, once again he is all brawn and zero brain. He was out-performed by HRK who was the only Reading player who can claim his (no doubt sizeable) wages with pride. Manset came on and added little, 'raw' is the kindest description one can give to him.

Barnsley must be one of the favourites to go down, and yet they've walked away with 3 gited points. What does that say about our own prospects?

Bang on- excellent description for Noel Hunt- if he couldn't head the ball like he can, he wouldn't be a pro footballer. I came away thinking exactly the same thing with HRK the only one to come away with any credit. However he is much more effective as a winger

[Here for the KEBE]

FWIW both missed penalties should have been retaken

Steele (surely the Championships player of the day) was at least one foot forward of his line when the ball was actually kicked....blame the bald lino for missing both of those (unless of course the rules have changed close season).

Probably already mentioned...but....at least it has exposed our weakness in central defence pre-transfer window closure

No particular villians today....just nothing eyecatchingly special.....a bit like last seasons start really

But that should have been sorted out BEFORE the seasons began because once again we are playing catch-up. We are too reactive rather than proactive and every season is turning into a "rebuilding" season- we'll never get anywhere

[AthleticoSpizz]

just like last season

as already said

we've only had good seasons and very good seasons recently


and a Wembley return for the team that lost at home to Scunthorpe first game of last season weren't so bad

[Ian Royal]

I'm sure they know the kind of money that players from other clubs are on.

Whatever, obviously there's no arguing with you. I'm sure you're right; we have millions sitting there just waiting to be spent if it weren't for mean Mr Chairman.

A sure sign you've lost an argument when you completely make up an alternative scenario. We aren't talking about chairman or millions sitting there, you made a statement claiming that we are amongst the highest spenders on wages in the division...we aren't and you have nothing to back it up with other than " the club said so once".

Awful.

Can you prove we aren't?

Just asking....

Well the accounts up to summer 2010 show us with a wage bill of around £20m iirc, and last time I noticed the average championship wage bill was around £12m I think.

[Avon Royal]

we've only had good seasons and very good seasons recently

A good season is getting promoted, a very good season is winning the league - neither of which we've done recently.

[Royal Lady]

If the average wage bill is £12m why are we spending £20m on wages, despite having apparently learned our lessons from high wages in the Prem? If we're such a well-run model for other clubs to aspire to, how come we're so far over the average wage bill?

EDIT: our wage bill in 2006/07 was £24.5m for our first year in the Prem btw.

[AthleticoSpizz]

get real (ding dong)

[Ian Royal]

we've only had good seasons and very good seasons recently

A good season is getting promoted, a very good season is winning the league - neither of which we've done recently.

You should probably go support Man Utd then, because the vast majority of teams will have a good season once in a blue moon by your definition.

[clauski]

Well that was pitiful. £26 I should have spent on the kids instead. It's a real shame that we seem to be limiting our own progress through a refusal to invest in the team, and it shows. And it's all very well running the club as a business not a passion, but we're not doing that effectively either. Sport should be entertaining, today wasn't. If we were an effective business investment would be made to ensure the entertainment level was appropriate to the charge to customers so as to retain their custom. Invest or watch attendences dwindle. Invest or watch our short term survival through selling players become a long term problem.

Or if the posts re wages above are correct, are we just being mismanaged because today didn't warrant a £20m wage bill

[Boyle the Royal]

Tbh, having watched Reading games for the past 25 years I am well aware that - apart from a few freak seasons - we are always going to be also-rans at best and dogsh*t at worst. What really makes me angry is when I feel embarassed watching us.

Two penalties hit tamely at the keeper - to his same f*cking side - by two different players in two minutes. The whole country was laughing at us when we defended like the Blind School XI in the first half of Wembley, and this evening everyone can have a good snigger at our profligacy from 12 yards. Tbh, I think that Luke Steele was embarassed himself at the prospect of saving 3 penalties in one match and kindly shuffled to one side to allow HRK's tame effort enter the net.

This was just awful throughout. P*ss-poor goals conceded, same old laboured and torturously slow effort from the full backs - we aren't going to progress as a club with Harte, Griffin and dear old Uncle Bryn playing regularly for us - and it's probably only fair to give the centre-halves a bit more time, but I have seen Khumalo twice and it seems to me that he is barely able to do the basics which are required in his position. The second goal we could see a mile off, Barnsley could have driven a bus through the middle of our defence and it isn't good enough tbh.

We were just as shocking up front. Noel Hunt's penalty summed up the rest of his brain-dead performance, once again he is all brawn and zero brain. He was out-performed by HRK who was the only Reading player who can claim his (no doubt sizeable) wages with pride. Manset came on and added little, 'raw' is the kindest description one can give to him.

Barnsley must be one of the favourites to go down, and yet they've walked away with 3 gited points. What does that say about our own prospects?

Neither of the penalties were tame and neither were at the keeper. 2 very good saves from Steele IMO. Still embarrassing nonetheless to miss 2 penalties in 90 seconds.

[AthleticoSpizz]

and as already mentioned....both should've been retaken

Steele was at least a foot or two in front of his line when the ball was actually struck

No small feat to save two penalties tho' ....a class keeper


The bald Lino should've seen what I saw

[Avon Royal]

we've only had good seasons and very good seasons recently

A good season is getting promoted, a very good season is winning the league - neither of which we've done recently.

You should probably go support Man Utd then, because the vast majority of teams will have a good season once in a blue moon by your definition.

I was wondering when the "piss off and support another club then" retort would get an outing.

I'm fine with "ok" seasons, "alright" seasons, even "so-so" seasons - so long as the club can genuinely be said to be moving forward.

Do you honestly think that RFC are moving forward?

[Muskrat]

From the evidence so far this season, Leigertwood is the new John Salako!

PMSL. He was truely awful today, but no doubt Snowball will produce some stats to show he was our best player...