They were quite entertaining. “Blue Army” (white kit) and “1-0 on your big day out” (celebrated the win like they’d just fingered a bird for the first time) were the songs of the day. The match itself was pure Holloway so you’d have loved that too. He’s finally found a winning team so chose to rest three of our star players- genius!
I can imagine what their fans were like today. All plastic that didn't turn up 2 weeks ago but come out of the woodwork because they are playing QPR. A bet it was like a cup final win for them. A few seasons back I read a tweet from a Reading fan that said "I don't care if we get relegated as long as we beat QPR" sad f22ks. Last time I was at Reading was 1-0 (Ned). these 3 Reading fans spent the whole game shouting over at me so it was funny when Ned scored. Bad result today because I wanted to put a nail in their relegation coffin.
Think they’d stay up either way as the standard is so poor this year but they’re surely not going down now. Three from four.
Yeah the 3 points today will probably just keep them up (shame). I blame Hollow for changing the team and the International break. We are always rubbish after.
It sort of sums up our season really. I thought eze should have been a definite starter. Things seem to work well and then ian changes them. I understand there is a game on Monday but if these athletes can't perform again within a few days then something is wrong.
They can. Holloway has a habit of trying to do something clever when he gets a couple of good results. If you know what the formation was then you’re a better man than me.
Sorry, not good enough. Loved the results of teamwork and approach against Villains and Ruperts, but today just isn’t good enough after such a positive step forward. 5 changes? Smacks of last seasons run-in. I think we would all have wanted/expected Eze and Luongo in the team today - where were they? Starting with Washington, and bringing Smith on - really; that’s not been our way recently. I said early we could be making substitutions to Chase the game late on, but it was with tongue in cheek to be honest. Very disappointed with the team selection after two such great results by the team.
Okay...just defrosted...and got myself sort out after the fight between the guy to my right and the guy behind me after TEN minutes. That got everyone around me thrown out. How we didn't win that defeats me. We started like Barcelona. Passing the ball ( ole) but doing absolutely nothing... and then Aluho put Bidwell on his backside and scored a good goal. So then we started to play, and if we had a striker on the pitch we would have been 2 up by half time. Disallowed goal..lynch offside??? Couldn't tell. Then we score on the stroke of halftime but apparently the ref had blown. !!!!!!!!! Second half...we go for them with good preparation work. BUT NO STRIKER. They have Kermogrant sent of for a horrible tackle on Freeman (second yellow)...and we tear at them... Wszoleck taken down in penalty area...Bidwell steps up...there was a prolonged wait including booking a Reading player for punching the ball out off Bidwells hands. He has a good hard shot too near keeper who makes a good save in 92nd minute. In fact we have two more chances.....oh for Sylla being on the pitch for last 20 minutes. Cannot believe we did not win that match. Ollie did make a couple of mistakes. No 1 BIG mistake...sorry Conor was awful. no2 was cousins...he was not THAT bad...but Mass stepped up the tempo when on No3.... Sylla would have scored the penalty and possibly scored one of the later chances. Bidwell had a nightmare...he was responsible for their goal and the penalty miss ( but no one else STEPPED UP that I saw)...but in between he played well. Be kind to him ... because he is next year's captain.. Be nice to me ...I am cold and wet and only just escaped being thrown out in a fight that I have no idea about. See you all Monday...I expect a positive reaction from my team. Sent from my STF-L09 using Tapatalk
Didn't follow the game today so all I can see is stats. 67% possession and 27 shots on goal can we really blame Ollie for the loss? I know he's everyone's favourite scapegoat but Surely we were unlucky? Can hardly blame him for not putting our chances away.
We were and we weren’t. Unlucky in a way to catch their defence on a good day but not unlucky to mess about with the side and play Washington who sadly just isn’t up to it when a decent striker would have had a field day. Seems like a good guy but that’s how it is. Definitely not unlucky to select Cousins who is constantly ****. Not unlucky either to fanny about with the formation.
With Sunderland winning, Barnsley losing, I can’t believe we didn’t dump the fake hoops closer to a relegation spot!! Such a lose/lose day
Just like last year, we had a good spell that saw us relatively safe and then starts tinkering with the starting line-up and formation. This then resulted in a run of six defeats. Reading had only won one in their last eighteen! Four changes is too drastic. Ollie hasn't learnt anything from the calamity of last year. When you've had a run of successful games stick as close to your starting Xl as possible. It's footballing basics and what we should be doing. You just watch him try and over think it again against Norwich. Don't have Cousins or Washington anywhere near the squad and do this ... please log in to view this image Have Manning ready to come off the bench to anchor the midfield if we're winning and Smyth to come on and run at their tiring defence. If we lose to Norwich we're in another downward spiral. Don't lose to Norwich.
We lost so cue the usual suspects. They've been remarkably quiet all month so any excuse would do. Having read reports from those who were there and the match stats it does sound as though it was one of those days when we would never have scored even if they'd gone down to 8. Does seem odd though that a successful formation should have been tinkered with. I can only assume that the mistakes were because of the 4 games in 10 days and of course, Conor Washington. Does anybody still see anything in him which would justify not getting rid in the summer?
Sorry if it's already been covered but I have been reading posts to try and find opinions... When was the half time whistle blown? Was it after the shot was taken? before? Clearly it was before the ball rolled into the net but if it was after the kick, surely that would be very bad practice from the ref. Even if the kick was after the whistle, you can't blow up just as a player is taking a shot?
Pretty much as it was taken. I’m 99% sure it wouldn’t have been a goal anyway but yeah, pretty dumb from the ref. I think it should just happen when the ball goes out like rugby.
I fear he knows that we’ll need Cousins and Washington next season. Imagine Lynch leading the defence too. Fairly terrifying.
We were at the far other end....and we thought he had blown for the goal, so we were celebrating...It was the fact the players didn't celebrate that brought us back to earth.. The players only made minimal objections. It was amateurish from the referee to be honest. I am going to say the heavy criticism of team selection...I think only one change was really unexpected.Scowen back in was expected. Cousins for Mass after he had played on Tuesday for Australia ( admittedly in Fulham) was probably understandable.... although I would have played Manning. It does show that we really don't play as well when Mass does not play. The use of Washington was not rational or sensible and cost us the match.. Please just beat Naarwich and it will all be ok Sent from my STF-L09 using Tapatalk
As I saw it we did not take any of the chances we are however a far better footballing team than many think Things didn’t go down by subs or formations Holloway doing OK imo
