MATCHWATCH : Blackpool (h)

[skipper]

I feel like we should have fielded a strong team for the cup game, got the win, started Hunt's era on a positive win and continued the momentum.

I feel like we didn't need to lose today, but the Cup game probably affected us.

Good news is, some of these players will play themselves out of being poached. Which isn't a good thing.

[katweslowski]

Derby had 27,000 home fans for their Friday night game. Just a side note.

That was one of the worst performances I can remember for a long long time. It was dire and shockingly poor. Blackpool were better than I expected tbf.

0-3 loss is kind for Reading, on another day it could have been double that.

Savage was particularly poor

No idea what Pereira was doing in the second half dribbling the ball all the way out to about 30 yards

Terrible atmosphere

I'm sick to oxf*rd death now of DJ Mega Party. I know it's been said and it's minor in comparison but shut the oxf*rd up. His stupid speeches about "standing up, being united" is just so intolerable now.

I left at 88 minutes and usually always stay till the players do their lap - even on a loss. But today I was just losing the will to live. From 80 onwards it was appalling and slow.

In the second half, Reading spent way more time passing side Ways across the back four than going forward. That's concerning as they just seemed so lost.

Team performance: 2/10

Atmosphere: 4/10

BBC Radio Berkshire: 5/10 - Rita drives me insane after. I want to hear genuine fans observations but all she does is talk wooly sh1te. Like "who else is in the car with you... Do you want to give a shout out to them?".

East stand also out of hot chocolate today.

[katweslowski]

I feel like we should have fielded a strong team for the cup game, got the win, started Hunt's era on a positive win and continued the momentum.

I feel like we didn't need to lose today, but the Cup game probably affected us.

Good news is, some of these players will play themselves out of being poached. Which isn't a good thing.

No way...

The first team battled in the middle of a rainy stormy and miserable day to draw against top of the league. Away from home and a point down. You can't get more positive than that (other than the win)

I doubt a cup game where barely 1000 people attended had that big an impact. How many of the squad even played, let alone went?

League has to take priority. No more cup games is better overall for this team and club at present

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Going to be a patched up side next week at Lincoln....

Smith suspended after today's booking
Dorsett out until Jan
Mbengue & Elliott being assessed

[windermereROYAL]

Well that was shit wasn`t it, feels like some of the players are counting down the days until January, we probably need 19 more points to be safe from the drop with 27 to play, on that showing I don`t know where they`re coming from.
Could easily have been 6 or more.

[Orion1871]

Derby had 27,000 home fans for their Friday night game. Just a side note.

That was one of the worst performances I can remember for a long long time. It was dire and shockingly poor. Blackpool were better than I expected tbf.

0-3 loss is kind for Reading, on another day it could have been double that.

Savage was particularly poor

No idea what Pereira was doing in the second half dribbling the ball all the way out to about 30 yards

Terrible atmosphere

I'm sick to oxf*rd death now of DJ Mega Party. I know it's been said and it's minor in comparison but shut the oxf*rd up. His stupid speeches about "standing up, being united" is just so intolerable now.

I left at 88 minutes and usually always stay till the players do their lap - even on a loss. But today I was just losing the will to live. From 80 onwards it was appalling and slow.

In the second half, Reading spent way more time passing side Ways across the back four than going forward. That's concerning as they just seemed so lost.

Team performance: 2/10

Atmosphere: 4/10

BBC Radio Berkshire: 5/10 - Rita drives me insane after. I want to hear genuine fans observations but all she does is talk wooly sh1te. Like "who else is in the car with you... Do you want to give a shout out to them?".

East stand also out of hot chocolate today.

She went on a 30 second + long rant about how Slough had had a "bad day at the office" and that their result was a "really disappointing result at home" to then say "sorry didn't look at my notes, they actually got a 1-1 draw".

She's a producer not a presenter. They really should do her a favour at get someone else in if Ady is away.

[WestYorksRoyal]

As ever under the Dai era, disaster only feels a couple of steps away. You can easily see this being a miserable remainder of the season.

Thankfully, we do have some decent players at this level who have proven their resilience. I look back to Carlisle away last season as a game that seemed pivotal and they put in a big performance.

Without Smith, I can see next week being challenged, but hopefully we can do well against Northampton and Mansfield to get us back on decent footing.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

It's quite some performance when you're not even second best.

That was all about Steve Bruce for me. He worked out how to neutralise our better players. They were stronger in every way, better organised. They won almost every duel - and that was no accident, it was down to a better awareness of how to shield the ball, when to make the challenge, and just how much you can grapple with a player without giving a way a free kick.

Thorough out -one by a better side. This must not happen again.

Also, the queue to get into the SJM was made - I saw season ticket holders still coming in on the 15 minute mark who never miss kick off. Needs to be addressed.

[leon]

Well done lads you earned your money this afternoon with a complacent performance lacking focus, application and intelligence.

Absolute shit. I honestly think the rest of the season will be horrendous and Hunt will either be sacked before next season or moved down to U21s again,

[AthleticoSpizz]

We’ll see

[tidus_mi2]

That was utter shite, guess we just have to draw a line under it and hope we're much better against Lincoln.

[Snowflake Royal]

I know it was a bad performance and result, and the timing of it is poor. But to be honest, it's exactly the same sort of poor performance and result we've seen under Selles when we come up against a big, strong, quick, physical side that's organised in defence.

These are the sides we struggle against. These are the results teams between 5th and 12th get every now and then.

Let's not start getting antsy any earlier than we need to and putting a win monkey on the back of Hunt and the players.

[RoyalBlue]

'Only The Poets' played really well!

[RoyalBlue]

Smith on a yellow so misses next match

What did he get booked for? - I seem to have missed it during the whole officiating shitshow!

[Snowflake Royal]

Positives:

Holzman got more minutes and didn’t look out of place. We conceded one goal with him on the pitch and that was whilst we were pushing forward to find a way back. He could be first choice soon.

Garcia has had a couple of off days which might give suitors pause, but it's all valuable experience and minutes though.

[morganb]

Smith on a yellow so misses next match

What did he get booked for? - I seem to have missed it during the whole officiating shitshow!

Happened in the 2nd half, near the Blackpool box, possibly for dissent? - ref wave card in the general direction of Smith and Blackpool captain (who deserved a card all match) then later noticed yellow showing against Smith on scoreboard.

[ILoveMoonPig]

Does make me wonder how much Selles was holding that side together. We looked poor today. We were slow and lethargic, our passing was sloppy and inaccurate and we barely got the ball into the opposition penalty area.

That was worryingly poor given how recent Selles' departure was. Desperately hoping that was just a coincidentally bad day for everyone.

[JR]

I know it was a bad performance and result, and the timing of it is poor. But to be honest, it's exactly the same sort of poor performance and result we've seen under Selles when we come up against a big, strong, quick, physical side that's organised in defence.

These are the sides we struggle against. These are the results teams between 5th and 12th get every now and then.

Let's not start getting antsy any earlier than we need to and putting a win monkey on the back of Hunt and the players.

I agree with this - being bullied against a team like this is not new. Bruce is savvy and experienced enough that he set up is team to that very effectively.

We are 6th still, so let’s stay positive and remember we were on the back of a decent unbeaten run.

[Fezza]

Felt we were let down by some poor performances by individuals.

Lino missed that their target man was always offside from a goal kick (happened every time).

Savage was off from the first minute, kept misplacing passes and missing tackles (first goal). Elliott & Mbengue (prior to hurting himself by launching himself over the striker's head) weren't much better.

Craig and Garcia were soft, both making poor decisions and losing the ball under pressure (Craig for the 2nd goal).

Ref was dire, missed several blatant fouls prior to the non pen (which was stonewall), as well as blocking Wing.

Was Campbell even on the pitch?

Felt we went back too often and failed to run at their players when we had the chance. All in all it was as turgid a display as I can recall this season.

[katweslowski]

I share others concerns about the rest of the season based on that. I know it's peak knee jerk reaction but after the big changes recently and our continual turbulence it's hard to remain rational sometimes.

My fear is we'll plummet down the league and get relegated. For those who poo poo this, I believe we were top 3 in the championship the season before relegation and went down.

Granted that was made possible by deductions but that could happen again.

January will see Bindon and 1-2 other first teamers go and more youngsters filling the gaps.