MATCHWATCH : Lincoln City (a)

[Sutekh]

Reading have managed a total of 2 off target shots in this game

Overhead was on target wasn't it?

Yes, match finished with 1 Reading shot on target.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Appalling. Why do we have Dean below all these kids in the pecking order? He didn't do much wrong whereas Holzman killed the game. Kanu looks out of his depth too.

[katweslowski]

We'll get relegated. Abysmal stuff and I don't see it turning around. The core and DNA of this gutsy team has gone, as it all hinged on Selles and his staff.

They had a real bond, an us Vs them culture and attitude.

This squad is lost and weak.

[Clyde1998]

Two awful performances in a row. No tempo; no pressure; no intent. Could and probably should have been three or four down by the time they got their second.

Thought Holzman was unlucky with the red card (obviously was going to be given once the foul was), as it was no worse than the penalty appeal we had. Harlee Dean has to start on Boxing Day.

[Hound]

It’s certainly a huge worry. We can and are entitled to whinge about the penalty but we were rubbish from the start. Made it so easy for Lincoln

We need those injured players back and fit and we just can’t lose too many in Jan or we’re really going to struggle

A number of the players just either aren’t ready (Kanu, Holzman, Garcia, all that subs bench) to be thrown in all at once or just not good enough (Dean, Camara, Wareham)

Then when your best players aren’t on top form.

Hunt doesn’t provide any reassurance really - only 3 subs today? No clear tactical direction, seemed to have regressed quite quickly

[Armadillo Roadkill]

There was nothing to suggest that we would have got anything out of that game, even if we had been awarded a penalty and kept 11 players on the pitch.

Second week running of looking like the players had never met each other.

[Sutekh]

It’s certainly a huge worry. We can and are entitled to whinge about the penalty but we were rubbish from the start. Made it so easy for Lincoln

We need those injured players back and fit and we just can’t lose too many in Jan or we’re really going to struggle

A number of the players just either aren’t ready (Kanu, Holzman, Garcia, all that subs bench) to be thrown in all at once or just not good enough (Dean, Camara, Wareham)

Then when your best players aren’t on top form.

Hunt doesn’t provide any reassurance really - only 3 subs today? No clear tactical direction, seemed to have regressed quite quickly

But then doesn’t exactly have any options on the bench that’d make too much of a difference.

[Hiram K Hackenbacker]

It’s certainly a huge worry. We can and are entitled to whinge about the penalty but we were rubbish from the start. Made it so easy for Lincoln

We need those injured players back and fit and we just can’t lose too many in Jan or we’re really going to struggle

A number of the players just either aren’t ready (Kanu, Holzman, Garcia, all that subs bench) to be thrown in all at once or just not good enough (Dean, Camara, Wareham)

Then when your best players aren’t on top form.

Hunt doesn’t provide any reassurance really - only 3 subs today? No clear tactical direction, seemed to have regressed quite quickly

I agree

[Hound]

There was nothing to suggest that we would have got anything out of that game, even if we had been awarded a penalty and kept 11 players on the pitch.

Second week running of looking like the players had never met each other.

There wasn’t no, but if they’d gone down to ten (which I think could conceivably have happened) and we were back at 1-1 you’d hope we’d have not lost the game from there

[WestYorksRoyal]

Football is a psychological game, all professional sport is. We had been improving for 10 minutes or so. If the ref does his job and gives the most blatant penalty you've ever seen there's no knowing how the game goes.

One bit of luck and a win can change things very quickly. Last season showed that. This talk of relegation is far too premature.

[genome]

Hunt isn’t good enough

[tidus_mi2]

Hunt isn’t good enough

0% win rate at Reading, 10% win rate overall.

I'd understand giving him the job in an interim basis to see how it goes, giving him a 2.5 year contract was just moronic, even more in hindsight.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Two home wins in the next week or so and things might look very different.

But we were along way off it today. I think it's still the effect of Selles leaving. You've got young players getting their first chance with a leader who gives you belief. We're all in this together, backs against the wall. Then he's off. It's just inconceivable that that's not going to have an effect.

Then think of all the players who are unavailable. Hunt is being dealt an incredibly difficult hand. It's ludicrous to blame him at this stage. It won't be until January that we'll know if he's up to the job or not.

[Hound]

Certainly don’t blame Hunt but haven’t seen a lot to make me think he’ll do a decent job either

Admittedly very early days

[BRO_BOT]

Why did Selles go?

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Just back from game - this I'm afraid was like a Paul Ince away day, we didn't turn up from the kick off. At least most of the early defeats last year we were usually in the game.

Not seen any video of any of it obviously, but Smith went down too easily for the pen.

Hopefully Abrefa and Yids back will help the full back position and Craig can move into midfield.

Btw someone on the way out was saying Elliott has had surgery and is out for the season

[Stanmore Royal]

The complaint we had with Ruben early on (and often) so slow to start a game giving the other team the upper hand and then a goal, all impetus is with the other team then was here again in full force.
Thought we were poor but were beginning to get into the game before the sending off, don’t get me wrong we were not great by any measure, penalty was blatant just look at their player he can’t believe his luck as he comes away from incident. Sending off, can guarantee we will see virtually the same foul again this season and ref gives a yellow and would say no clear goal scoring opportunity. Anywhere else on the pitch the “foul” on Smith is given, so as with all refs it seems in this league no consistency or actually a a f***** clue.

With 11v11 think we would have sneaked a point, once down to 10 no chance.

The starting 11 picked itself which basically sums up the situation the bench is do a quick take your pick of the academy. Disagree with some about Holzman think he has looked ok and is ready for L1, as Tim but dim said today may have been day for Dean to start. As I said before Garcia is looking his age we have a player there and need to be careful not to smash his confidence.
I think Ruben going and the talk of players going has knocked the undisputed spirit of this group and they look like they are not sure. Just hope come Feb 1st we have enough left to secure safety, last week I didn’t go with the over hype of the defeat but with the fire sale coming I am worried that a malaise will set in Boxing Day is massive.

[The Cap]

Football is a psychological game, all professional sport is. We had been improving for 10 minutes or so. If the ref does his job and gives the most blatant penalty you've ever seen there's no knowing how the game goes.

One bit of luck and a win can change things very quickly. Last season showed that. This talk of relegation is far too premature.

Good post. Why do peeps suddenly start getting all dramatic like? It's early days for Hunty, so let's see the lay of the land in a few games time when other players have also returned. Chill man.

[Hound]

Football is a psychological game, all professional sport is. We had been improving for 10 minutes or so. If the ref does his job and gives the most blatant penalty you've ever seen there's no knowing how the game goes.

One bit of luck and a win can change things very quickly. Last season showed that. This talk of relegation is far too premature.

Good post. Why do peeps suddenly start getting all dramatic like? It's early days for Hunty, so let's see the lay of the land in a few games time when other players have also returned. Chill man.

Problem is our side isn’t strong. We could lose our best players in a few weeks time with no one coming in. Those injured players will help but aren’t as strong as the players potentially moving

We’ve lost the manager who saw us through this situation last year and had done brilliantly this season

So so badly need that takeover to happen. There’s no way we can stay top half in our current situation imo

[Orion1871]

Just back from game - this I'm afraid was like a Paul Ince away day, we didn't turn up from the kick off. At least most of the early defeats last year we were usually in the game.

Not seen any video of any of it obviously, but Smith went down too easily for the pen.

Hopefully Abrefa and Yids back will help the full back position and Craig can move into midfield.

Btw someone on the way out was saying Elliott has had surgery and is out for the season

Not a fan of that phrase personally. If you're fouled and try to stay on your feet then you aren't going to get a penalty anyway.