BFTG - Barnsley

[melonhead]

^^^^^


if anything is going to stop me renewing my season ticket

it wont be the football on show, itll be the dickhead fans

A rare agreed with brendy!

My biggest gripe is the singing for Le Fondre whenever a forward makes a hash of something. It wouldn't be half as bad if Le Fondre wasn't such a passenger for a lot of his appearances or one of the main culprits for missing chances.

agree with all o that too.

[sandman]

^^^^^


if anything is going to stop me renewing my season ticket

it wont be the football on show, itll be the dickhead fans

A rare agreed with brendy!

My biggest gripe is the singing for Le Fondre whenever a forward makes a hash of something. It wouldn't be half as bad if Le Fondre wasn't such a passenger for a lot of his appearances or one of the main culprits for missing chances.

I was saying he was a passenger in his first season and not up to starting at this level when people were calling for him to partner Roberts because Roberts played well with Cureton over a decade ago, that was long before the rest of you finally realised it.

However, Le Fondre does has a proven record of coming on and scoring late goals it's not exactly a surprise that people would chant his name when we lack so much up front in games like last night. Might be lazy of the fans to chant his name when someone messes up and annoying to people but his history as a sub late on in games backs it up.

[melonhead]

man next to me chanted his name within 3 minutes, the first time POG didnt win a header




doing it to basically take the piss out of the striker while he's on the pitch is daft
imo

[Jano]

One of two things has to happen for this club to move forward. Either Adkins leaves, or he completely guts the squad and starts from scratch. Unfortunately I can't see either happening.

Something that stuck in my mind last night is when Adkins first took over, I remember him saying that to get the team playing his way would take months and the fans need to give them time, understanding the misplaced and poor passes would happen more often than not as he got the team passing the way he wants them to. It's now been over a year and as far as I can see the passing is worse than before. There is no one touch pass and move football. There is slow, deliberate passing to feet to a player either behind or to the side in an attempt to keep possession. Nothing that allows a player to run on to the ball (unless its a flukey mis-hit pass as far as I can see). Gorkss and Pearce aren't capable of playing this way - thing one thing that really stuck out to me last night was Obita running down the wing and Gorkss trying to find him, but instead hitting the ball so hard it almost took Obita into the stands.

As far as the team goes, McCarthy needs a rest. He can't pass the ball, so why ask him to. Either punt it down the field as far as possible and wait for it to come back as our strikers are incapable of winning a header, or give it to the nearest player that isn't actually already under pressure. No point trying to hit the ball 60 yards to a wingers feet, it's not going to work. Why he listened to Pearce screaming at him to give it to Gunter for the first goal I'll never know. It was suicidal. Absolutely no idea why Hector isn't being given a chance.

McAnuff isn't a centre mid, he was so out of touch of the game it was silly. The Ole period was stupid. Bad enough for the ironic cheering which is really going to help the team, but even worse was that throughout the entire period of I dunno, 25 passes? We managed to pass it backwards pretty much every time. Singing for Alf seems to be the go to reaction when the game isn't going well, and I haven't seen him come on and make a difference for over a year now, was a completely pointless substitution. Blackman is out of his depth but it's not his fault he's being picked, why he was played on the right and McCleary on the left I have no idea especially considering the understanding McCleary and Gunter should have after several years as team mates. Same really goes for Akpan, asking him to boss the entire midfield on his own was ridiculous, he needs help. Can't really slate him as he was the only one trying to contain a very workmanlike Barnsley midfield. Drenthe frustrates me. OK, he's unfit and sometimes makes ridiculous decisions but he's the only player we have who is capable of actually creating anything and actually looks like he's trying, he may not be great at being a playmaker, but he's the best we've got, and all we do is pass the ball as far away from him as possible when we should be getting the ball to him at every opportunity.

Then there is the Pog. I am now of the opinion that the average IQ of the Reading squad is somewhere around 5, and I'm being generous. How is it humanly possible for people who apparently spend 5-6 days a week for the best part of two years playing football together not to understand that this guy is not able to win the ball in the air. He is not a target man. He's not much of a striker but again he's the best we have. If they are going to play him up front on his own then they need to play to his strengths if they want him to have a hope in hell of scoring. The reason we lose games when we concede first is completely down to this, as soon as the game starts going against us they start hoofing, and it never, ever works.

[floyd__streete]

LOL @ anyone considering the thoughts and feelings of the players. They're a bunch of demotivated chavs who are only playing for Reading because they aint good enough to go elsewhere (Akpan) or they've bombed out elsewhere (Drenthe). They absolutely don't give a t*ss about anything other than their own ego. F*ck 'em.

[Extended-Phenotype]

McDermott was sacked for losing to teams such as Aston Villa and Wigan. Adkins has a better squad at his disposal, and yet is losing to teams such as Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday, Bournemouth (and only scraping a draw against Yeovil).

Every side has to deal with injuries, a good manager is adaptable and works around them but as his record when coming from behind shows Adkins is the least adaptable manager I've ever seen. He seems too proud of his 'style of play' (which is shit) to try and change it. He's got to go.

Out of interest, how has he got a better squad at his disposal? It's the same as Brians minus two top players sold and 3-4 injured first teamers. Who are these better players Adkins can call on that Brian couldn't? Seems to me Brian could call on far more that Adkins can't.

That said, we should still be winning these games, his decision making has been confusing at times and now the season is nearing the end I must admit I've seen little (if any) improvement. Fact remains though, we are in a play-off position - if we stay there, few could deny we have had a successful season (especially as we've added f/ck all to the squad but walking wounded), even if the performances have been few and far between (no real change there then, for us).

[Mr.Swainey]

LOL @ anyone considering the thoughts and feelings of the players. They're a bunch of demotivated chavs who are only playing for Reading because they aint good enough to go elsewhere (Akpan) or they've bombed out elsewhere (Drenthe). They absolutely don't give a t*ss about anything other than their own ego. F*ck 'em.

These players wear the clubs badge with pride, how dare you insinuate anything else.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Well done Barnsley for 3.1 Win,last night. there was Better In Midfield All Eveing, than we was..... To Crack goal they scored in second, Half. Reading was Lucky to get a pen, player dive, not for me.....
we are lucky to stay 6th but I think we miss out on play offs, we just not good enough

misapplication of lower-case is the lazy man's error; upper-case is a different ballgame. Kudos.

[Reading4eva]

McDermott was sacked for losing to teams such as Aston Villa and Wigan. Adkins has a better squad at his disposal, and yet is losing to teams such as Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday, Bournemouth (and only scraping a draw against Yeovil).

Every side has to deal with injuries, a good manager is adaptable and works around them but as his record when coming from behind shows Adkins is the least adaptable manager I've ever seen. He seems too proud of his 'style of play' (which is shit) to try and change it. He's got to go.

Outstanding point.

Nigel didn't have the players available to play 'his style' last night. How did we play 5 wingers on the pitch and show no width? When teams put 10 men behind the ball the solution is to stretch them wide and overlap - which happens to be one of our biggest strengths!!

I can just imagine his team talk before the game, docile and politely asking them to be 'patient and control possession of the football'... As a result we came out and strolled around as if we were 3-0 up, showing no urgency to go forward.

There were times we could have taken a quick gamble up the line and tried to get behind their defense early, but instead we turned backwards into trouble. As a result we allowed a team which looked at rock bottom and absolute gash for the first 15 minutes to grow into the game and end with the confidence of promotion contenders!

Say what you like about circumstances, but Nigel Adkins has no tactical ability, no motivational skills, and bottles the big decisions!

Its not an outstanding point because brian got sacked for being 19th and losing to the tea s around him as well as the ones above. Adkins is sixth and losing to the shit but doing moderately well against the teams around him.

Your point is not valid really either is it Ian. After all Brian was managing in the Premier League. This is the Championship which after September 2011, Brian aced.

[Hoop Blah]

LOL @ anyone considering the thoughts and feelings of the players. They're a bunch of demotivated chavs who are only playing for Reading because they aint good enough to go elsewhere (Akpan) or they've bombed out elsewhere (Drenthe). They absolutely don't give a t*ss about anything other than their own ego. F*ck 'em.

Not really any different to any other group of players at any other club though so what does that leave?

You either have to take into account how they need to be cosseted and motivated or stop watching professional football.

Here we go again-it's the fans' fault blah, blah, go and support somebody else,we have the worst fans in the country, yawn, yawn.

Don't think it's a case of it being 'the fans fault', but we probably aren't helping the situation with the atmosphere in the ground when things are going against the team and they look nervous.

That's not excusing their poor play, but just a realisation that getting on their backs really can't help. The stronger players can handle it but, as you say, I don't think we have the strongest bunch at the club at the moment (mentally or physically).

[sandman]

One of two things has to happen for this club to move forward. Either Adkins leaves, or he completely guts the squad and starts from scratch. Unfortunately I can't see either happening.

Something that stuck in my mind last night is when Adkins first took over, I remember him saying that to get the team playing his way would take months and the fans need to give them time, understanding the misplaced and poor passes would happen more often than not as he got the team passing the way he wants them to. It's now been over a year and as far as I can see the passing is worse than before. There is no one touch pass and move football. There is slow, deliberate passing to feet to a player either behind or to the side in an attempt to keep possession. Nothing that allows a player to run on to the ball (unless its a flukey mis-hit pass as far as I can see). Gorkss and Pearce aren't capable of playing this way - thing one thing that really stuck out to me last night was Obita running down the wing and Gorkss trying to find him, but instead hitting the ball so hard it almost took Obita into the stands.

As far as the team goes, McCarthy needs a rest. He can't pass the ball, so why ask him to. Either punt it down the field as far as possible and wait for it to come back as our strikers are incapable of winning a header, or give it to the nearest player that isn't actually already under pressure. No point trying to hit the ball 60 yards to a wingers feet, it's not going to work. Why he listened to Pearce screaming at him to give it to Gunter for the first goal I'll never know. It was suicidal. Absolutely no idea why Hector isn't being given a chance.

McAnuff isn't a centre mid, he was so out of touch of the game it was silly. The Ole period was stupid. Bad enough for the ironic cheering which is really going to help the team, but even worse was that throughout the entire period of I dunno, 25 passes? We managed to pass it backwards pretty much every time. Singing for Alf seems to be the go to reaction when the game isn't going well, and I haven't seen him come on and make a difference for over a year now, was a completely pointless substitution. Blackman is out of his depth but it's not his fault he's being picked, why he was played on the right and McCleary on the left I have no idea especially considering the understanding McCleary and Gunter should have after several years as team mates. Same really goes for Akpan, asking him to boss the entire midfield on his own was ridiculous, he needs help. Can't really slate him as he was the only one trying to contain a very workmanlike Barnsley midfield. Drenthe frustrates me. OK, he's unfit and sometimes makes ridiculous decisions but he's the only player we have who is capable of actually creating anything and actually looks like he's trying, he may not be great at being a playmaker, but he's the best we've got, and all we do is pass the ball as far away from him as possible when we should be getting the ball to him at every opportunity.

Then there is the Pog. I am now of the opinion that the average IQ of the Reading squad is somewhere around 5, and I'm being generous. How is it humanly possible for people who apparently spend 5-6 days a week for the best part of two years playing football together not to understand that this guy is not able to win the ball in the air. He is not a target man. He's not much of a striker but again he's the best we have. If they are going to play him up front on his own then they need to play to his strengths if they want him to have a hope in hell of scoring. The reason we lose games when we concede first is completely down to this, as soon as the game starts going against us they start hoofing, and it never, ever works.

Pearce was shouting at him to throw the ball to Gunter because it was the right option. Unfortunately McCarthy took so long to release it that by the time he threw the ball Gunter only had one option, to pass it back.

[Caversham Royal]

BOOOOOing during the match, sarcastically olé'ing when we pass the ball, cheering a player leaving the pitch, chanting the name of a sub when he only ever performs in January when looking to leave.

Worst fans in the country.

The fans got the performance they deserved.

Yawn...

[Cureton's Volley]

The piss taking did go too far in cases last night, and that cannot be excused. Neither can the persistent personal abuse directed at individuals.

The point I have been making is that collectively the anger last night had some justification, and if the manager won't hold the team to account for making the same mistakes every week, the baying mob paying their wages will.


RE: The valid point that Steve and Brian had bad spells too - then this is true - it happens to any manager, especially at the start and end of their tenure. The end of BM is not even comparable however, because the players were going out 'defeated' because they didn't believe they could win against superior opposition in the Premier League.

What is different about this season is that we are in a poor Championship, have repeatedly failed to compete with League 1 fodder, and cheated & lucked our way to other results undeservedly. But the league doesn't lie - and I take on board that a top 6 finish would still see most judge this season 'a success'.

Results and performance aside, the more worrying problem for me is that the whole culture of our club has changed for the negative, starting with AZ coming in, and NA IMO has helped to continue this trend after his absence. Now the fans are picking up the mantle and contributing to the rot which clearly exists at the heart of our club.

[Jano]

Pearce was shouting at him to throw the ball to Gunter because it was the right option. Unfortunately McCarthy took so long to release it that by the time he threw the ball Gunter only had one option, to pass it back.

From where I was, throwing it to Gunter would always have put him under pressure which in recent weeks seems to be an extremely dangerous thing to do.

[Extended-Phenotype]

The argument should never be whether fans have a right to boo or not. It should be about whether it helps or not.

Can it help? I guess it could push a manager to make changes or stop players making stupid choices. But it could also make players play worse or not want to be at Reading.

Maybe it's misguided booing that's the bigger problem.

[Cureton's Volley]

Maybe it's misguided booing that's the bigger problem.

I have serious doubts that a bit of noise from the people who bankroll the club should be considered a problem at all. If it is considered as much then really the players and management should focus on what is within their sphere of influence (like how to pass from a to b) rather than on peripheral factors such as the crowd!

[peterroyal76]

One of the worst home games ever in the history of the mad stad and I have seen pretty much every single one. Boos and shit I disagree with as doesn't help but more than deserved tonight I'm afraid although I just about refrained. The ownership crap needs to be sorted out or we are going to fire sale, youngsters and the way of Portsmouth. Please can the uk government do something as surely boris must have something to do with Crimea .........at least we might have a chance next season as this one is gone.

Bristol Rovers.

[winchester_royal]

Maybe it's misguided booing that's the bigger problem.

I have serious doubts that a bit of noise from the people who bankroll the club should be considered a problem at all. If it is considered as much then really the players and management should focus on what is within their sphere of influence (like how to pass from a to b) rather than on peripheral factors such as the crowd!

Are you seriously trying to argue that being booed and jeered from all sides should have no effect on a player's confidence

Do you think they stand there and make a rational choice to be demotivated? Weighing up the various factors behind the booing and then come to a reasoned conclusion on whether to play well or not?

Footballers are sensitive, pampered souls. Hardly surprising given the way their ego is stroked from a young age by a plethora of manipulative cnuts. So if you seriously think they should/could be able to stand there and take the abuse of thousands of fans and continue to play on like nothing is happening, just because they get paid more than we do, then I suggest you go read up on human psychology.

Personally I don't really care how it affects them. I've given up on this season, and this group of players. But if you're going to boo and vent your frustration, do it in the knowledge that you will be negatively affecting performances.

[RoyalBlue]

McDermott was sacked for losing to teams such as Aston Villa and Wigan. Adkins has a better squad at his disposal, and yet is losing to teams such as Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday, Bournemouth (and only scraping a draw against Yeovil).

Every side has to deal with injuries, a good manager is adaptable and works around them but as his record when coming from behind shows Adkins is the least adaptable manager I've ever seen. He seems too proud of his 'style of play' (which is shit) to try and change it. He's got to go.

"Better squad at his disposal?" How the f*ck can anyone seriously make that claim? Look at the players that left us, add the players that are injured, long term injured or now retired and take that away from McDermott's squad add the few that we signed (who aren't injured). Seriously?

[Will95]

^^^^^


if anything is going to stop me renewing my season ticket

it wont be the football on show, itll be the dickhead fans

I'll certainly be moving my seat next season. There's a dick near me (Y24) that actively has a little clique that he likes to be the leader of. Blackman is his choice victim. He leads them in sarcastically cheering when his name is read out, let alone when the game is in progress. Can't stand his smug little face. OK, Blackman isn't pulling up any trees and was a bad buy, but that kind of attitude from this little group gets on my tits.

Not sure if it's who I know since there's only two of them (one chubby and one tall) and the chubby one who loves Blackman certainly isn't the 'leader' but if it is it's not sarcastic, he got sick of Blackman's abuse from other fans and adopted him as his favourite player, does seem sarcastic when he cheers for him though, but only 'cos everyone else abuses him!