Some of the stuff from Evans' last interview, you would have to say, amounts to negligence either from him or his Managing Director. I am not going to direct my anger at Paul Lambert because having watched the Sunderland documentary, a club fighting relegation is an ugly place to be, let alone one stranded at the bottom. But still I think he's been at best short sighted about who does and doesn't have ability in the squad that he inherited. Fast forward to the summer and we now have the freedom to do what we choose financially. FFP is no longer an excuse. But it could be an absolute blood bath with Championship sides circling like vultures for players like Bart and Bish. As fieldmarshall has said all along this could get a lot worse yet.
Just got home from the game. Definitely relegated now & for what’s it worth my opinion on the players in today’s squad re: next season Bart - would like him to stay but fear he will leave Bree - n/a. Loan player who will not be here next season. Think Emmanuel will do fine in 3rd tier Pennington- as above although he’s 1 I wish we coul keep. Most consistent player this season Collins - I would offer him a contract but only as a pay as you play Chambers - he was awful today. I think his time has come - move to a coaching roll? Kenlock - not good enough. Tries hard but seems to be physically weak and to easy to get past. Nolan- will do well in league 1 - keep. Bishop - definitely need to keep him, will we be able to? Chalobah. Back to Chelsea and then on loan to another championship club next season. Judge - would like to sign him but I fear we are just getting him to full fitness at which time, another championship club will snap him up Quaner- unable to play the loan striker roll. He’s better in a 2 but don’t really see him scoring any amount of goals. Happy that he’s not ours Skuse- keep. I know that may not be popular but we have a few talented youngsters in midfield and think we need his experience Nsiala- keep. Decent enough cb and imo, better than Chambers at present. Edwards - not sure why he didn’t start today, made a difference when he came on and he is 1 that actually wants the ball and tries to beat his man Of the others, I think we are quite well off in midfield as we have Downes, dozzell, nydam. Jackson / Harrison should do ok in league 1 so I think our biggest problem is defensively
Donacien / Toto / Woolfy / Knudsen would be a strong League One backline, but it won’t happen that way. I’d say our priority should be to keep hold of what we have and sign a couple of defenders and forwards. What we will probably end up with is press conferences about finances and load of loans again.
We’re done. Was it the system mentioned before, 3 cbs... wing back.... and a diamond? If so, beyond me. Also, sure I’m not Jackson’s biggest fan but unused sub - Jesus we had to win today and now we are done for sure. Gutted... been coming all season, but that’s the day all hope has gone and we are down.
A scrappy first half with Reading leading with a well taken goal and Nolan hitting a pathetic " shot " from 9 yards with an open goal in front of him which I could have saved, Kenlock pitiful as time after time Reading wide players went past him as though he wasn't there, which to be fair sometimes he wasn't there, Christ knows where he was but he wasn't where he should have been. Quaner showed he's mastered the art of being caught offside and demonstrated it very often, he showed he has not however mastered the art of getting both feet off the ground at the same time as Reading defenders easily outjumped him for every high ball played up to him. The second half was a great Improvement as Town dominated with sub Edwards finally getting behind the Reading defence at will when we could be bothered to give him the ball and scored with a great volley at the far post, I felt sure if anyone was going to win it would be Town but Nsiala had a cunning plan to lose possession 25 yards from our goal and gift Reading a second goal. 100% commitment and endeavour from the players which I can't fault even though some are clearly not good enough, also The North Stand was brilliant with its noisy support, unfortunately the tipping point was reached this season where enthusiasm and commitment cannot make up for poor quality players and we have our useless owner to thank for that, the spiral we've seen coming for years has finally reached the bottom and God help us next season as this isn't over yet.
