v Reading (a) - 17/8/22 - Mark 1

[booth]

Too many passengers, we were pushing things by having players like Pickering as a first teamer and Wharton out, but to also have Vale and Dolan on. Smodics looks like he's never seen a football before. Buckley looks like he's been on the piss.

[BigBar]

2-3 changed needed. Let's see it JDT, I do have faith he has the balls to do it. TM was far too soft on protecting egos. 

[Bethnal]

If the Spurs DoF is watching, I don’t think he’ll be impressed by Phillips at all. Looks way off a starter level.

Paul Ince has correctly identified that Reading can bully us and they’ve done that so well, you have to give credit to unsettling us and getting their supporters onside and behind them.
 

We have to hope they’ve blown themselves out and come out second half with their foot off the gas, having to rely on their youth subs. Can’t be playing out from the back as we have, it’s not working. Pen them in and make them play long. Pepper their dodgy keeper.

Vale off and immediately out on loan. I’d wait five or ten for any more changes.

[G Somerset Rover]

ONLY silver lining from that half is it surely proves to JDT that we cannot get by with some of these younger lads. They are not good enough and that half proved it - and then some. Let's steal a point, and then sign some fecking players!!!

[BankEnd Rover]

7 minutes ago, Torgeir said:

Vale should never start a game for us at this level again. Dolan no presence either... changes needed.

I remember all the comments about Vale after the QPR game…He wouldn’t get in any championship team so why the hell is he starting for us???? 

A Draw would be an amazing result tonight. 

[jim mk2]

That was awful as bad as anything under Mowbray 

Reading could be 3-0 up

[roversfan99]

Dreadful first half, out played and out fought by a dismal Reading side full of proven poor players and managed by an idiot.

Tomasson has unfortunately got his selection wrong. Vale is nowhere near Championship standard and shouldnt be starting games for us. Dolan has been absent too and the other 2 attackers not much better, Szmodics needs to do more considering his price tag.

Both midfielders have been off the pace and Buckley still needs to prove himself as a deeper midfielder. Phillips isnt ready for this level and Broughton needs to pull his finger out and get a defender in before the weekend.

Dack and Hedges or Gallagher on at half time please.

[Sparks Rover]

1 minute ago, rigger said:

That was Burns wasn't it ?

Ok, but you get my drift....Great preseason v rubbish doesn't translate to this league necessarily 

[CrouchingNunhiddenCucumber]

Real test of JDT here, changes clearly needed. Sounds like we may have got away with it only being 1 though so let's bring on Dack and get an unlikely 1-2 win 🤪 

[simongarnerisgod]

not to concerned,reading will blow themselves out,swap a few things round,buckley needs a rocket up his ****,im`e afraid vale would be off,put gally in his place and bring dack on for szmodic,who looks shattered

[superniko]

1 minute ago, bluebruce said:

Nah, not having that, not at all. Probably wouldn't make a top (bottom) ten. Poor though. Very poor.

It’s up there for sure, remember these guys are the worst team in the league, managed by Paul Ince and just lost 4-0 to Rotherham

[booth]

2 minutes ago, duckson said:

Death spiral-esque performance. 

That was a reflection of the worst of Mowbray in 45 minutes.

Please don't take me back!

[Crozzy]

Some of you lot as so pessimistic it’s a joke. We had a crappy half, happens to every team. Let’s see how he responds and what changes he makes but jeez calm down. One bad 45 minutes and it’s the end of the world. It’s sport and it happens. Don’t throw in the towel just yet

[BigBar]

We had 60% possession???? 🧐😳

[Mercer]

We lost 10 players and signed 3 so far.

Therein lies the problem.

Our squad doesn't have sufficient quality or depth.

Tonight's first half might prove to be a blessing in the coming days underlining the urgency needed to get some feckin players in.

[Silas]

2 minutes ago, benhben said:

Sounds like the only positive is its only 1-0 at half time. 

I'm taking that as a big positive. 

They should be out of sight. 

With our packed bench, 5 subs allowed, and a potentially fragile opponent, no reason we can't turn this round.

Happened to us often enough,  let’s really turn the corner and start being the club that punishes teams for not capitalising on their dominance. 

[joey_big_nose]

Totally got the tactics wrong.... Dolan, Vale, Smodics all very similar, the ball not sticking to them at all...

Gallagher and Hedges on. Also feel like maybe we need to match them 343.

                         Kaminski

           Philips  Ayala  Pickering

Brittain.    Travis.      Buckley.    Edun  

       Dolan.    Gallagher.   Brereton

[Exiled in Toronto]

You could sub any five except Ayala. That was appalling.

[yankfan]

Ayala the only one who showed up. The passing to and through the middle has been unwatchable. Off target, no anticipation…most players on the back foot. Has to be 2 or 3 changes at half. 
 

the only “good” this at the half is we’re only down 1. A string second half could still see us take points. Has to be better, but we’re still in it. 

[Mike E]

It felt like a team that's feeling leggy. Not chasing that last yard, and a bit sloppy with passes where we've been sharp for the previous 4 games.

Hopeful that a change of personnel, including Dack to unlock the key pass, might encourage us to push on.

These guys are reacting to a 4-0 loss, but that's only a small factor. Reality is that they're not special so no reason we cannot aim for a win rather than just an equaliser.

[frosty]

Crikey, bad that. With five subs I’d even be tempted to put Dack, Gallagher and Hedges on for Szmodics, Vale and Dolan.

[den]

Well we took a right battering there. Very lucky it’s only one.

we worked hard but naïve as hell. Kept giving ball away in dangerous, central areas. Every cross, every corner we were lost. No one in control. Too many youngsters in that lineup.

[yankfan]

2 minutes ago, jim mk2 said:

That was awful as bad as anything under Mowbray 

Reading could be 3-0 up

Should be up 3-0

[Angry_Pirate]

I was one of the biggest "Mowbray Out" posters on here, but I 100% agree with those saying that 45 mins was as bad as anything we saw under the Dinosaur.

Terrible, what's plan B? Need some height up top, oh and maybe on a GK we should FUCKING KICK THE BALL LONG. We laugh at teams that play this tactic vs us.

[Mercer]

Vale, Smods and Dolan off.

Gallagher, Dack and Hedges on.

We can still retrieve this game.