"I'm sure in the future, this sort of performance cannot and will not happen again" - Jose Gomes on the 1st January 2019
One month and fifteen days later, we get a repeat. Early goal conceded, two more before halftime and another early goal in the second half

You have to give Sheffield credit. To say we gave them the win would be naive, they're quicker, stronger and better in all departments. But we could have done a hell of a lot more. I said from the off the team selection was all wrong, and it was. Richards is not a LB, and that midfield three is a disaster

The tactics were all wrong, none of these players know when to stick or twist. The passing was lazy and sloppy, and the second goal was just an embarassment to concede at any level

Ratings

Martinez - Shocking error for the second goal killed any small hope we had 3

Yiadom - one of the better players, but let the crosses come in too easily, a performance for which Gunter would be crucified 5
Miazga - pulled apart too easily time and time again 3
Moore - same as Miazga 3
Richards - should have done better for their first, just isn't good enough as a LB. Missed Blackett there which is saying something 4

Baker - appalling 3
Ejaria - can't see it with him, hasn't played well once yet for us IMO 2
Kelly - N/A

Meite - surprisingly one of the better players today 5
Oliveira - few nice touches but got frustrated 4
Barrow - he's played worse this season but he just doesn't contribute anything anymore 4

Swift - I've never seen a midfielder miscontrol anything as much as him today, he was the worst one out there 1.5
Bodvarsson - looked OK 5
McCleary - actually looked pretty sharp out there 5

There needs to be changes out there for next week. Same back five as before, Richards on the wing and then Bod and Oliveira up front. Other three positions is up for grabs, they're all pretty poor. Fear the win over Blackburn just papered over the cracks, I'm yet to see a good performance under Gomes with the exception of QPR, and even then we didn't do that much in the attacking third

Well played to United though, their style of play is a pleasure to watch, they're quick, incisive and always pick the right option. Norwood and Madine were class for them, fortunately for us their LWB was pretty average or the scoreline could have been worse. They just need to cut out their pre-match comments

Well done for taking the trouble to attend the match.

Don't blame the players blame the way they are being asked to play.

Don't get the Yiadom love and I agree Gunter would be slated for the same.

Absolute nonsense. There is nothing wrong with the way they are being asked to play as none of our managers have asked them to play stupid passes at the back. Stam, Clement and Gomes have all said they need to use their brains and choose when to play it short (the majority of the time) but to hit it long when playing short is too dangerous.

Oh yes don’t blame the poor little darlings, what sort of mean man could dare to expect the players to be able to control simple balls and do the basics.

Is next week the defining game of our season? Is it a 9 pointer? If we lose, are we as good as down?

Entering March I think so.

Unsure if it was my shitty stream; but they were all turd today.

Absolute nonsense. There is nothing wrong with the way they are being asked to play as none of our managers have asked them to play stupid passes at the back. Stam, Clement and Gomes have all said they need to use their brains and choose when to play it short (the majority of the time) but to hit it long when playing short is too dangerous.

Our passing hasn't been good for a very long time. This current Reading squad would struggle in the lower leagues. You'll see better passing even in league 2 from far less technically gifted players. At least the players graft though.

Thanks for the ratings. I feel for you having to watch that excuse of a performance. Let’s hope lessons are learnt but I doubt it and fully expect to see the same brain dead passing out from the back causing all sorts of near misses.
If we scrape survival we must sort our our midfield next season. We are way too lightweight.

Next 3 games are. Rotherham (H), Ipswich (A) , Wigan (H).

With current injuries threadbare squad is a concern. Even Blakey on BBRB is suggesting O'Shea is played as a holding midfield player!

The game was over before I sat down . . . . . simple as that.

The team on the pitch had absolute no belief that they could pull it back, and it's hard to argue that they had any chance. Sheff Utd are a better team than us in most ways.

After recent results thought there was a good way of losing that game, and that certainly wasn't it.

On a positive - I like Bramall Lane as a ground. It's in a good location, away fans get a decent view and there's some atmosphere.

Not really much to say. They were better in every department. Meite’s performance kind of summed up today. He worked hard, covered a lot of ground but actually achieved nothing. We never looked dangerous going forward. We couldn’t cope with the high press at the back. A win on Saturday against Rotherham is simply vital now.

Read this:


Disagree with many of player ratings.
Back 4 had little chance today.
Martinez has played well overall, except for one dodgy pass in each of his games. Today, if that pass goes to anyone else, not sure its a goal.
Ergo, Kelly is liability in Champ, opposition having a laugh, needs League 1 loan to prove what he's got (if anything).
Squad needs lots of work, we know that. Needs to be adapted to Champ.
Like most everyone else, I expected a loss today anyway (although not like that).
Regroup quickly, tho I'd have taken 3 pts from Black/Sheff games overall, and other results mostly gone our way.

And they have been last couple seasons. Chris Wilder better manager than we've had?