Midfield_General

“The transition to defend from playing is not quite there” We flood the entire team forward like an under-9s team with literally all ten outfield players way into their half. We leave our entire half as a vast empty space and then get surprised when they hit a basic through ball to two quick players who have been told just to stand there and wait for it. We ask Championship level players to play suicide passes in our own six yard box when we’re being pressed by a team who know that’s exactly what we’re going to do. We concede directly from our own fucking kick-off, and regularly from our own corners over the course of several games. Not once does he change it in-game. That’s not “not quite there”, that’s rank incompetence. I liked him when he came in and am not an advocate for knee-jerk reactions, but from watching us so far, set up the way we are, I’ve rapidly come to the conclusion he’s actually a fucking idiot. It’s ages since I’ve been this angry about Saints, and that includes throughout all the shit we’ve all had served up over the last few years. I’ve reached the end of my tether with this procession of clowns. Why can’t we just get a manager who does the basics properly. The Championship is full of them. Any one of them would have a great chance of promotion with the resources we’ve got. But no. No, we get this stupid, preening twat, who has never delivered any real success anywhere, ever, playing his stupid, ten-up-front cubs football, getting smashed and telling us it was alright actually because that’s what he wanted them to do. Fuck off.

"They did what we asked them" God help us if that's what we asked them to do. "Proud of the players" Jesus Christ. Awful, clownish comments to go with an awful, clownish performance. Show that you've got the basic competence to set up a football team with a defensive shape and the concept of a midfield, and show that you understand the basics of how to get results using the relatively immense resources you have available in this league, or fuck off mate.

Oh my god. If that's 'what we're trying to do' then god help us. What I'm seeing is absolutely embarrassing, schoolboy levels of disorganised shit that any manager should be fucking ashamed of

Yeah but he missed out: 5. We'll get humped 5-0 by some probable mid-table also-rans and consider ourselves lucky it wasn't eight 6. We'll concede basically every shot that comes in on target 7. We'll defend like a cubs team with ten players in the opposition half for corners, and fail to respond in-game even when the problems are basic and glaringly obvious to everyone, including the opposition's manager

He hit a shot on target against one of our keepers, so it was always going to go in.

The thing I don’t get about Bazunu is that he’s become this mainstay despite basically never proving himself with us. He’s been at best questionable ever since he joined, yet has become this automatic pick who not only plays every game but also apparently doesn’t need any real competition within the squad. No other player gets that sort of leniency with so little to back it up by way of performances to fall back on - so why does he get a pass? It surely can’t just be because he can knock a competent pass to a full back standing ten yards away. It’s so weird.

Sunderland 29% possession 🤣🤣🤣

Holgate looks good 👍

To be fair, Osman had played alongside Pele, Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone. Not sure Steve Wood could say that, although I never saw that Reading team.

Ah yes, Brandon Williams. Surely up there for the title of player linked with us the most times whilst never actually signing. Who would the other competitors for that crown be?

Hove? He's a Bright'un.

True, but that year we had Koeman in charge who had considerably more pulling power, plus I'd argue a more extensive personal network to draw on to find quality replacements. Hence players coming in like Pelle, Tadic, Alderweireld and Mane to more than adequately replace the ones who went. Plus we were in the Prem and so a much more attractive proposition for good players to join. We have a lot of money for this league now, but whether SR/ Wilcox/ Martin can spend it wisely is a complete unknown at this point.

Re Lemina: yes there is, but unfortunately it comes wrapped in a wanker

After last week I think we'll look to close them down fast, keep it tight at the back and be really switched on defending set pieces and crosses, and as a result will grind out a turgid 12-12 draw.

Very pleasantly surprised by Smallbone. Composed, always looking for space, played with his head up and good range of passing. Like having a decent new signing.

He wasn't brought on to run at people and take risks, he was brought on to help keep the ball and close out the game. Which he did.

How are Reading going to afford his wages given they’re in the midst of total financial fuckdown? He’s been on something like sixty grand a week, and they haven’t got a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of.

Oh cool, a load of kids from Man City's youth team

More importantly, is this the biggest thread bump in history? Biding your time for 10 years to comment on an ultimately inconsequential event in a game against Malta. You have to admire that.

An exploration of the relationship between Joe Shields and Lavia’s agent would be interesting. Although I’m sure it’s all absolutely, definitely above board.

I'm not having a go at you mate, but jesus christ, if that's the reason for anyone to be in any team week in week out, let alone a Premier League one, then that team deserves everything it gets. Manager: "OK, I don't need you to receive the ball, keep the ball, pass effectively, go past people, win headers, tackle anyone or contribute anything going forward. I just need you to sort of stand in vaguely the right place while the game goes on around you. Here's sixty grand a week". Fucking hell

To be honest, can you blame him? Brought into a shite side for a decent fee expecting to play and then has to sit on the bench while dross like Ely and the rest of the proven failures still got game time ahead of him week after week. I hope he stays but I wouldn’t blame him if he got a better offer and bailed - If I was him I’d be pretty pissed off with that too. Sounds to me from those quotes like he wants to feel a bit of love and for someone to tell him he’s wanted here. Hopefully we can get a manager in quickly who can put an arm around his shoulders and make him feel part of something before he gives it up as a bad job.

Yes we would have done if Theo had ever played in the same side as either Bale or Chamberlain, which he didn't.

That’s our hand-selected guy, is it? Him? Christ. I feel like I’m at a sales seminar for the Carphone Warehouse.

Have SR actually interviewed/ considered anyone else, or have they just decided from the outset that he’s the right guy so it’s not really worth considering or meeting any other candidates?