Give it to Ron

That was a bit poor to be honest, although Reading were a very good side we were very sloppy and careless giving the ball away too many times when in decent positions. I left when it got to 3-0 to Reading as I had to get my lad home, the evening didn't start too well when I was told I couldnt park at the ground due to there being loads of scouts coming. Ok can understand that but when I saw these scouts were from the might Bournemouth ( Bond), Aldershot, Luton(Mick Harford as well), Brighton(Adams) and Swansea it makes you wonder how much we will make from them! Coppell was watching his side and must of been impressed with what he saw. Bart - was poor for me and I was worried whenever a cross came into the box, 2 of the goals were down to him staying on his line rather than coming and collecting it. Some decent shot stopping but very shakey and gave me no confidence if KD goes. Hatch - Ok going forward but was beaten too easily on several occasions out wide. Fish - One of the only bright lights on a poor night - will be very good in a year or two Lancashire - Did Ok but not ready for the first team Racine - Big lad and some good headers but looks shakey against any pace. Oscar Gobern - Good start and looks comfortable on the ball but gives away too many fouls with hands on players. Jake - Some good play from Jake but was guilty of several sloppy passing and crossing. Rudi - Shocking ..tried and put himself about but bloody awful IMO. BWP - Cost us the first goal with a shocking touch that put several players out of position - way off form and wouldnt put him anywhere near the first team on this display. Euell - kept battling and trying to encourage the young players not his best and went close on a few occasions probably one of three to get near the first team on tonites squad. Jamie White - Got in some good p[ositions and some good runs but again some sloppy passing wasted positions. I was glad when Paterson came on for Rudi as this lad looks good, he battles has a decent touch and gets stuck in - nowhere near ready yet but a good prospect. We had several good chances and our approach play was good but poor last pass or cross or decent goalkeeping saw us have a heavy defeat. Wayne Thomas and Paul Wotton were there watching and I spoke with Thomas who has been told along with several players they are surplus to requirements. I fully understand the position we are in but if we get any injuries we are truly buggered.

I am hopefully going tonite so will let you know! The thing also about pre-season doesn't also matter too much for us a Ladysaint said..we always waste it, however, looking at the side Saturday McGoldrick, Llalana, Gillette, James, Thomson plus the other subs have played together for years so do know each others games far better than many of the sides we have had at the start of the season in recent years.

I don't understand why though ...some of the criticism on here from Saturday is that JP only has one plan....these 2 players will allow an alternative? I think JP will be pleased to have 2 more players at his disposal.

Agreed but not great for team or player morale especially if you expect them to play again for you.

Well what else are we meant to do with 2 players that we can't shift on? They are decent players and if people cut out all this bullcrap about total football and see what actually is happening on the pitch just maybe we will get somewhere. Euell had a pretty decent pre-season and could be a good addition to the squad up front as a sub - has height and can score goals - Wolves away last minute? Why do people expect anything else but hype from the OS do they expect them to say....we can't sell them because they are crap and no-one else will be mug enough to pay them?

But we are paying that sort of money spread over several seasons not at once. There is also the fact that Morgans sell on will be substantially higher than what we could hope for from AD.

Well as I actually asked for advice on things like trains, tube, car parking rather than going on a tirade about Fat Frank it wasn't much help especially as I had the tickets and can't return them. I probably agree with most of what you say anyway but its just keeping a promise to my lad about taking him to Wembley for an England game if his exam results were good and am unlikely to get tickets for a qualifying game.

My opinion only based on what I saw yesterday was that if we can pull together a few wins we will be flying. I base that on the excellent passing I saw in the first half - in fact far more than I saw the whole of last year. There were quite a few times we only had one or two in the box and others were holding back...once we have a few points they will get in there more. We now have a bit of pace and creativity - I thought McGoldrick created 3 chances by actually looking up and picking out players - Gillett could of scored but for a fine save from Taylor, another shot blocked and a John free header all from McGoldricks intelligent play which was far better than Dyers headless chicken blasting crosses. I was impressed by Morgan, Gillett and of course Killer who has lost none of that will to win and was good to see him get pushed forward in the last 5 trying to add a bit up front - just a shame we didn't have another forward on the bench a big mistake I think. I lost it with a right plum on the way out of the ground who asked why everyone was clapping when we lost.....we certainly do have our fair share of them. I think we all should of boo'ed them off fancy losing against Birmingham with their tuppenny bit side I mean Phillips, Owusu, Jerome, Larrson, Carsley, Bent, Ridgewell, Taylor are all pants and wouldn't get in any other CC side would they!

Thank you all for your helpful comments.....not!

I managed to get a couple of tickets for England v Czechs on Wednesday at Wembley and need some advice for best places to park,food, beer etc. I know there are quite a few regulars on here that follow England so any advice is welcome. Coming up from Southampton on the M3 is it best to park and tube in?