How impressed are you with BMcD's return to the club?

[Longhorn1970]

But you said PPG didn't matter -so you can't use it.

Fooking 'ell Ian!

I've never said that. I may have said it isn't the only thing that matters. But then I haven't included just ppg, or even said that stats are the only measure that matters.

I've argued with your one-eyed, overly simplistic stance of taking Clarke's overall performance as manager this season and comparing it to McDermott's shorter spell, when there are clearly two distinct periods of performance under Clarke this season.

I'll reserve judgement until we're 2nd again ..

[RoyalBlue]

I suspect that, once the distraction of the FA Cup and the possibility of paying over the odds for a day out at Wembley is gone for another season, people will begin to reevaluate McDermott's 'success' in his second spell at the club. A bit like waking up, after a night drinking to cheer yourself up, only to realise that things really are quite shyte with little prospect of improvement.

Outside of the cup what have our results been like? How entertaining/exciting has the football been? We may be on an even keel now but the keel is a lot lower in the water than it should be.

[Maneki Neko]

I suspect that, once the distraction of the FA Cup and the possibility of paying over the odds for a day out at Wembley is gone for another season, people will begin to reevaluate McDermott's 'success' in his second spell at the club. A bit like waking up, after a night drinking to cheer yourself up, only to realise that things really are quite shyte with little prospect of improvement.

Outside of the cup what have our results been like? How entertaining/exciting has the football been? We may be on an even keel now but the keel is a lot lower in the water than it should be.

cringeworthy analogies

[leon]

I've never said that. I may have said it isn't the only thing that matters. But then I haven't included just ppg, or even said that stats are the only measure that matters.

I've argued with your one-eyed, overly simplistic stance of taking Clarke's overall performance as manager this season and comparing it to McDermott's shorter spell, when there are clearly two distinct periods of performance under Clarke this season.

I'll reserve judgement until we're 2nd again ..

Genuine question Longhorn1970- how long have you been a Reading fan? Have you always been a Reading fan?

[paultheroyal]

I suspect that, once the distraction of the FA Cup and the possibility of paying over the odds for a day out at Wembley is gone for another season, people will begin to reevaluate McDermott's 'success' in his second spell at the club. A bit like waking up, after a night drinking to cheer yourself up, only to realise that things really are quite shyte with little prospect of improvement.

Outside of the cup what have our results been like? How entertaining/exciting has the football been? We may be on an even keel now but the keel is a lot lower in the water than it should be.

cringeworthy analogies

Just needed a backbone and a yes man in there and all would be good.

[Nameless]

I'll reserve judgement until we're 2nd again ..

Genuine question Longhorn1970- how long have you been a Reading fan? Have you always been a Reading fan?

Depends which username he's logged on under I would imagine....

[stealthpapes]

I suspect that, once the distraction of the FA Cup and the possibility of paying over the odds for a day out at Wembley is gone for another season, people will begin to reevaluate McDermott's 'success' in his second spell at the club. A bit like waking up, after a night drinking to cheer yourself up, only to realise that things really are quite shyte with little prospect of improvement.

Outside of the cup what have our results been like? How entertaining/exciting has the football been? We may be on an even keel now but the keel is a lot lower in the water than it should be.

don't care lol see you in the bree

[leon]

I suspect that, once the distraction of the FA Cup and the possibility of paying over the odds for a day out at Wembley is gone for another season, people will begin to reevaluate McDermott's 'success' in his second spell at the club. A bit like waking up, after a night drinking to cheer yourself up, only to realise that things really are quite shyte with little prospect of improvement.

Outside of the cup what have our results been like? How entertaining/exciting has the football been? We may be on an even keel now but the keel is a lot lower in the water than it should be.

don't care lol see you in the bree

I'll be steadfastly avoiding the miserable bastard

[Hoop Blah]

He didn't sound the most convincing in his post-match interview with Dellor last night. As much as I want him to succeed, and it's still far too early to judge him this time around, I just don't get the feeling he's really in control and enjoying it.

He sounds much more like the Brian of his last 3 months in charge rather than those first 18 months of success and little pressure.

[leon]

He didn't sound the most convincing in his post-match interview with Dellor last night. As much as I want him to succeed, and it's still far too early to judge him this time around, I just don't get the feeling he's really in control and enjoying it.

He sounds much more like the Brian of his last 3 months in charge rather than those first 18 months of success and little pressure.

I get the feeling that he thought the squad was better than it actually has turned out to be. Yes it's got some talent, but no real heart or much leadership in the team.

Piazon is a great example - he's probably the most talented player in the squad but does he have the stomach for a battle? No, he's on loan and just doesn't understand the need to do the nasty stuff as well.

Brian's got a problem because he needs to get this into the team somehow.

[No Fixed Abode]

Is there a bit of a trend going on this season where the likes of Fulham, Huddersfield, Mk Dons, Wolves etc can come to the Mad Stad and get a draw but if Reading play them away it's a defeat?

That defeat must have slightly dipped BMs PPG this season. With Rotherham winning last night you're only 9 points off relegation now. Not that I think you'll go down as you've got too much quality.

[Extended-Phenotype]

The optimist in me looks at last night with slight indifference. While it’s a bit much to suggest it was a ‘weakened’ side, it wasn’t our A-team and the formation, tactics, experience, form and on-pitch relationships are all significant enough factors to wave off this defeat and not worry too much about it in terms of progression, or Friday’s game.
 
The concern it does highlight is that we are not as strong in depth as we like to think. It’s not massively important right now – usual practice is one or two of our supporting cast will be called upon rather than 6 at once. But it is perhaps a worry that if we are thinking some of these chaps en masse are going to step into the absent shoes of players buggerin off in the summer, challenging for promotion next season might be a massive ask.
 
Hopefully an excusable blip in a slow but still upward trend in improvement.
 

[genome]

Last night was a tricky one. A long midweek trip of which I think half the team will be playing on Friday and probably didn't want to over-exert themselves and the other half probably knew that no matter how they play they wouldn't be playing on Friday.

I'm not saying they purposefully didn't care, I am sure they are professional, but subconsciously it was probably a factor.

[CountryRoyal]

Is there a bit of a trend going on this season where the likes of Fulham, Huddersfield, Mk Dons, Wolves etc can come to the Mad Stad and get a draw but if Reading play them away it's a defeat?

That defeat must have slightly dipped BMs PPG this season. With Rotherham winning last night you're only 9 points off relegation now. Not that I think you'll go down as you've got too much quality.

One of the fairest things you've ever said. Yes, there is a trend. The trend is that we're just not very and we deserve to be where we are.

You have to give 100% if you have any chance of doing well consistently, and we just don't do that as a team.

[bcubed]

Last night was a tricky one. A long midweek trip of which I think half the team will be playing on Friday and probably didn't want to over-exert themselves and the other half probably knew that no matter how they play they wouldn't be playing on Friday.

I'm not saying they purposefully didn't care, I am sure they are professional, but subconsciously it was probably a factor.

yep

[Hoop Blah]

The optimist in me looks at last night with slight indifference. While it’s a bit much to suggest it was a ‘weakened’ side, it wasn’t our A-team and the formation, tactics, experience, form and on-pitch relationships are all significant enough factors to wave off this defeat and not worry too much about it in terms of progression, or Friday’s game. 

It's not our first choice 11, there were 6 changes from McDermott's preferred line up at the weekend and I imagine we'll see pretty much the same changes on Friday, so that's absolutely a weakened side in my book.
 

The concern it does highlight is that we are not as strong in depth as we like to think. It’s not massively important right now – usual practice is one or two of our supporting cast will be called upon rather than 6 at once. But it is perhaps a worry that if we are thinking some of these chaps en masse are going to step into the absent shoes of players buggerin off in the summer, challenging for promotion next season might be a massive ask.
 
Hopefully an excusable blip in a slow but still upward trend in improvement.
 

I don't think it shows up a lack of depth or quality, just attitude and application.

[Snowball136]

The thing is with this league it's almost always tight and there is not a vast difference between the top
teams and those at the bottom. Maybe the bottom three are noticeably weaker, but other than that
anyone can beat anyone.

With our first 11 we have W1 D2 and with a weakened side we lost

IMO you only need to be 1-2% of your game in this league and you lose, and it only needs a bit of luck and a decent run for a "mid-table" side to suddenly be challenging. I've always maintained that when we won this league last time round, there were 2-3-4 sides better than us, but it came together just right and the winning beast fed on itself.

IMO this was a nailed on defeat last night.
Six changes is weaker.
Players trying to save themselves for Friday is weaker.
Mont having Hector as DM is weaker
Players coming in who have lost heart is weaker

Which is why I said before the game I would leave this one out of any
judgement of Brian, just like last year's defeat at Watford was "meaningless"

[Extended-Phenotype]

The optimist in me looks at last night with slight indifference. While it’s a bit much to suggest it was a ‘weakened’ side, it wasn’t our A-team and the formation, tactics, experience, form and on-pitch relationships are all significant enough factors to wave off this defeat and not worry too much about it in terms of progression, or Friday’s game. 

It's not our first choice 11, there were 6 changes from McDermott's preferred line up at the weekend and I imagine we'll see pretty much the same changes on Friday, so that's absolutely a weakened side in my book.

Why are you arguing about a point we agree on? My whole point was that because of the line-up and number of changes it would be unfair to cast any meaningful judgement.

It's like you just want to argue against me about anything, however semantic.

[Snowball136]

The thing is with this league it's almost always tight and there is not a vast difference between the top
teams and those at the bottom. Maybe the bottom three are noticeably weaker, but other than that
anyone can beat anyone.

Rotherham (3rd bottom) have just beaten Middlesboro and Wednesday, previously drawn with Birmingham and Cardiff ((7th).
They have also beaten Brighton and Hull and Cardiff

That is they have beaten the current 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th and drawn with 7th and 9th


It's a ridiculously tight league

[Top Flight]

Rotherham are a decent side with a good manager.

There are no easy games in the Championship.