Played well first half without creating any chances of note. Reading came out for the second half and took the game to us. I hope taking off our best attacking player on the day, AA, while keeping on the hapless Church and Harriott was with an eye on Tuesday but was disappointing as we really could have won today. Reading were much better than us in the second half and our reluctance to take shots is alarming. Still in an ok position overall but need at least a point on Tuesday.
Three points for a win changes things quickly. A couple of surprise results and any feelings of comfort after the win at Leeds have evaporated. Thank goodness, Hamer saved that penalty. It was also a pity that Birmingham sneaked away from the pack.
Very demoralising especially given other results. Church was never ever going to score, totally reactionary and just incapable of making a chance. Just deflated now, losing Tuesday doesn't bear thinking about.
So frustrated with our players reluctance to shoot. If you don't shoot you will never score. Not sure why the hell Church played today. Not been even on the bench in last 3 games and then suddenly in the team. He is definately not the answer up front!!!! We seem to take one step forward and then two back. We get some momentum and then lose it. Tuesday is a huge game. Just hope our shocking lack of goals does not end up before our downfall. Reading were not that much better but they took their chance with a good finish. Thought we looked tired during the second half as well.
Anyone still holding onto the fact that we have plenty of home games coming needs their bumps feeling. Soft touch at home as always. Not confident we will step up.
As people said pre match the first goal would be crucial, and when Reading scored we had neither the character nor the ability to force ourselves back into the match, which ought to come as no surprise because we were unable to force much throughout the match anyway. We were not abject at all, some nice skills, some nice possession, some eye catching moments from individuals, but we never really troubled Reading who only had to put in a solid pro performance to get the three points, and leave us with nothing. More or less our season under Riga or Powell, we simply lack anything up front, and once again it showed today with more same old same old. It is obvious that the number of games is taking it's toll. Quite right to give a fresher Church a whole game as players such as the three hooked ones, Astrit, Jacko and Cousins were the most dead on their feet of a lot of tired players. The subs didn't improve things much, Peducci was culpable in the Reading goal, Reza came on and thought he could run the game (he couldn't), and Obika was more or less desperation stakes when the game was up. None of our players were awful, and the back five, plus Poyet as usual, were pretty good. I would say Wiggy shaded it out of those players as our best man. Tuesday is a massive pressure game, and a lot will depend on character as much as skill. Hope we don't lose to Yeovil.
My major concern was not the tactics, players performance, chances created etc. For the first time I saw real signs of fatigue. We looked knackered from 65mins onwards and I worry that the games are going to start taking their toll.
Listened to CAFC Player for the third time (last two were Burnley and Derby) and we ended up with a disappointing result once again. I may start to seriously wonder if I'm jinxing us... At least I definitely won't be staying up and listening next Tuesday.
Anyway, totally different kind of disappointment though as this time we seemed to have played slightly better and had more possession. We were playing for all three points and were hit by misfortune late in the game. I think we absolutely need some luck on Tuesday. Don't know if I'll be able to get any sleep on that night... Haven't been this nervous about a game for a long time... Please please please one goal at least and three points...
Awful. Plain awful. I don't think ever in my life have I seen a side look so unlikely to score that us.
Said on the 'are you getting confident' thread that it is changing every game, and the lack of goals is a real worry. That feels ultra emphasised right now.
As an attacking force, we are a complete non_entity
As said plenty of possession but no cutting edge, nothing has changed this season. I thought Petrucci was a winger? Maybe I haven't been paying attention, I would have put him out wide and Cousins back in the middle. I just don't see enough goals in us especially at home when the onus is on us to attack, the lack of penetration is only going to make the fans more anxious. Renewed the season ticket today got a horrible feeling I will be watching division 3 football again.
Simon church is a joke of a footballer.if he starts Tuesday then I'm done
Exactly what I said, if he starts Tuesday I will not renew season ticket, simply can not stand watching him run around doing absolutely bugger all. He cant jump, head or kick a ball hard.
Professional footballer somebody's having a laugh, but no longer at my expense.
To start him was beyond belief to not substitute him was criminal.
Felt that we passed the ball really well first half but reflecting during the second and too often they're pretty passes that dont go anywhere Church did his usual job of being a nuisance but wasted a good chance in the first half before fouling the 'keeper Harriott did some good running but his crossing / passing was terrible surprised he wasnt taken off Taking Ajdarevic off each game we lose our creativity Why are creative players so slow... Both Ajdarevic and Petrucci are snails Referee was a little bit questionable... First-Half he gave a free-kick for a foul on their Goalkeeper... Second Half Hamer was fouled whilst punching the ball and he gave a corner
This feels like the game that's finished us off With Millwall, Yeovil and Birmingham winning away I thnk reality has set in and surely made us realise we just ain't good enough to compete with these teams
Comments
only a disaster because of the other results. Tuesday going to be a torture...
If only points were awarded for that.
Not sure why the hell Church played today. Not been even on the bench in last 3 games and then suddenly in the team. He is definately not the answer up front!!!!
We seem to take one step forward and then two back. We get some momentum and then lose it.
Tuesday is a huge game. Just hope our shocking lack of goals does not end up before our downfall.
Reading were not that much better but they took their chance with a good finish. Thought we looked tired during the second half as well.
Yann Kermorgant
ok my turn
Bob Stokoe
Billy Bonds
As people said pre match the first goal would be crucial, and when Reading scored we had neither the character nor the ability to force ourselves back into the match, which ought to come as no surprise because we were unable to force much throughout the match anyway.
We were not abject at all, some nice skills, some nice possession, some eye catching moments from individuals, but we never really troubled Reading who only had to put in a solid pro performance to get the three points, and leave us with nothing. More or less our season under Riga or Powell, we simply lack anything up front, and once again it showed today with more same old same old.
It is obvious that the number of games is taking it's toll. Quite right to give a fresher Church a whole game as players such as the three hooked ones, Astrit, Jacko and Cousins were the most dead on their feet of a lot of tired players. The subs didn't improve things much, Peducci was culpable in the Reading goal, Reza came on and thought he could run the game (he couldn't), and Obika was more or less desperation stakes when the game was up.
None of our players were awful, and the back five, plus Poyet as usual, were pretty good. I would say Wiggy shaded it out of those players as our best man.
Tuesday is a massive pressure game, and a lot will depend on character as much as skill. Hope we don't lose to Yeovil.
Reading was our most difficult game and we looked pretty equal for most of the game. We'll be fine.
Stuart Leary
Alan Curbishley
Clive Mendonca
Oh and
Chris Powell
Simon Church
Anyway, totally different kind of disappointment though as this time we seemed to have played slightly better and had more possession. We were playing for all three points and were hit by misfortune late in the game. I think we absolutely need some luck on Tuesday. Don't know if I'll be able to get any sleep on that night... Haven't been this nervous about a game for a long time... Please please please one goal at least and three points...
Said on the 'are you getting confident' thread that it is changing every game, and the lack of goals is a real worry. That feels ultra emphasised right now.
As an attacking force, we are a complete non_entity
Professional footballer somebody's having a laugh, but no longer at my expense.
To start him was beyond belief to not substitute him was criminal.
Church did his usual job of being a nuisance but wasted a good chance in the first half before fouling the 'keeper
Harriott did some good running but his crossing / passing was terrible surprised he wasnt taken off
Taking Ajdarevic off each game we lose our creativity
Why are creative players so slow... Both Ajdarevic and Petrucci are snails
Referee was a little bit questionable... First-Half he gave a free-kick for a foul on their Goalkeeper... Second Half Hamer was fouled whilst punching the ball and he gave a corner
With Millwall, Yeovil and Birmingham winning away I thnk reality has set in and surely made us realise we just ain't good enough to compete with these teams