Bolton fall out

Sutekh
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 24647
Joined: 12 Feb 2014 14:05
Location: Over the hills and far away

Bolton fall out

by Sutekh » 18 Feb 2026 08:53

Really disappointed by that, particularly the aftermath we’ve now got.

Bolton are a thoroughly decent team and I think we’re the best seen so far this season, while there’s no shame in getting a point it’s yet again the poor manner in which it was achieved.

Reading were at home, and while I felt there was some little improvement in the first half compared to to what we endured v Wycombe, it really isn’t acceptable to be so lacking and offer so little in the way of creativity and the ability to at least have some dominance over visiting opposition game after game. It’s not the way the club is going to get fans back. Yes, great that the team does seem able to pick up points despite these shortcomings but what’s the point when there’s little excitement and the crowd becomes nervous as they know if the club do get ahead it’s more like a battle to cling on from thereon in?

Yet, despite the disappointment again, I’m finding it hard to criticise the players, this was their 4th game in a week and so you’d probably expect some signs of tiredness especially when, despite the recent window, the club does not really have the strength in depth to give players much of a rest.

However what is the style of play of the team? We’re not really a “get the ball out wide and run the opposition” team, neither are we a “get the ball and bore everyone to death with pointless go nowhere passing and possession” team and finally we’re not a long ball merchant either though the slightest sign of an opposition pressing and we’ll start some aimless hoofball.

It seems the style is just “kick the ball about and eventually Savage, Wing or Marriott will have a moment” - so a sort of a percentage ball variant. Terrific plan, surprised no-one’s thought of it before. Absolute credit to the quality of those players that they can give such confidence that that is a style at all, even more so when the club has managed to get away with it reasonably often so perhaps it is a valid style - trouble is you nearly always feel after such a game that Reading have got away with it and is that where you want to be every week?

There’s the basis of something promising at the club if things can be harnessed, perhaps the acquisition of some out and out wingers and a couple of Jimmy Quinn/Trevor Morley types up front might be what’s missing - certainly be top of my summer wants list (plus some pace at the back and another Charlie Savage type so the club are prepared for the inevitable).

The aftermath of last night though is going to be a real worry. Firstly, does JP need a rest? Three or four goals conceded recently have possibly been through keeper errors (also his distribution needs a bit of practice). Secondly there’s the injury problems, Roberts now has a hamstring issue, O’Connor a facial injury and Marriott has an as yet undefined back injury so that is more than likely 3 players out for certainly Saturday, if not longer.

Forty
Member
Posts: 161
Joined: 16 Apr 2004 09:35

Re: Bolton fall out

by Forty » 18 Feb 2026 09:01

Sutekh , Roberts now has a hamstring issue, O’Connor a facial injury and Marriott has an as yet undefined back injury so that is more than likely 3 players out for certainly Saturday, if not longer.


3 MORE players out, in addition to Williams, Williams, Daniel Kee[sp?] ..... all of who would probably start ....

Sutekh
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 24647
Joined: 12 Feb 2014 14:05
Location: Over the hills and far away

Re: Bolton fall out

by Sutekh » 18 Feb 2026 09:04

Forty
Sutekh , Roberts now has a hamstring issue, O’Connor a facial injury and Marriott has an as yet undefined back injury so that is more than likely 3 players out for certainly Saturday, if not longer.


3 MORE players out, in addition to Williams, Williams, Daniel Kee[sp?] ..... all of who would probably start ....


Believe that the club is hopeful that the Williams pair might be able to have some involvement in time for the next home game against Bradford in a couple of weeks. Do hope so as they will be needed.

User avatar
Wycombe Royal
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 6689
Joined: 14 Apr 2004 19:31
Location: Churchdown, Glos

Re: Bolton fall out

by Wycombe Royal » 18 Feb 2026 09:25

Forty
Sutekh , Roberts now has a hamstring issue, O’Connor a facial injury and Marriott has an as yet undefined back injury so that is more than likely 3 players out for certainly Saturday, if not longer.


3 MORE players out, in addition to Williams, Williams, Daniel Kee[sp?] ..... all of who would probably start ....

Marriott was just a back spasm and he says he will be OK for Saturday.

Sutekh
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 24647
Joined: 12 Feb 2014 14:05
Location: Over the hills and far away

Re: Bolton fall out

by Sutekh » 18 Feb 2026 09:27

Wycombe Royal
Forty
Sutekh , Roberts now has a hamstring issue, O’Connor a facial injury and Marriott has an as yet undefined back injury so that is more than likely 3 players out for certainly Saturday, if not longer.


3 MORE players out, in addition to Williams, Williams, Daniel Kee[sp?] ..... all of who would probably start ....

Marriott was just a back spasm and he says he will be OK for Saturday.


Well that’s excellent news if it’s true (where did you see/hear that info - are you Leam)?


Hound
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 27121
Joined: 27 Sep 2016 22:16
Location: Simpleton

Re: Bolton fall out

by Hound » 18 Feb 2026 09:29

Sutekh
Wycombe Royal
Forty
3 MORE players out, in addition to Williams, Williams, Daniel Kee[sp?] ..... all of who would probably start ....

Marriott was just a back spasm and he says he will be OK for Saturday.


Well that’s excellent news if it’s true (where did you see/hear that info - are you Leam)?


He told Dellor

I think he’s probably being a bit optimistic but you never know

User avatar
stealthpapes
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 9564
Joined: 05 Jun 2013 13:25
Location: proverbs 26:11

Re: Bolton fall out

by stealthpapes » 18 Feb 2026 09:30

After years of neglect and a long and drawn out process, we changed owners over the summer.
We changed our manager in October.
We have had one transfer window since then, with a generally positive set of deals.
We're currently on 50% win percentage/1.78 points per games with new manager.

You got your way with getting Hunt sacked, great, think of that as another reset and something we have to grow from. It might take time.

User avatar
morganb
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 3346
Joined: 31 Jul 2017 12:30

Re: Bolton fall out

by morganb » 18 Feb 2026 09:36

Perhaps as well as more skillful players we also need more intelligent players as some of the team performances this season have lacked tactical nous.

Thought that may have been why Ritchie was brought in but all he does is point and pick up yellow cards. Think Keane is quite a clever player though.

Also with the hoofball tactic surely Young should be used more as he himself claimed to have pace in his interview so could be an outlet

User avatar
Snowflake Royal
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 48867
Joined: 20 Jun 2017 17:51

Re: Bolton fall out

by Snowflake Royal » 18 Feb 2026 09:41

The constant shifting of goalposts winds me up.

We're going down, it's disastrous.
We're not in the Play Offs it's an outrage.
Anyone would be better than X, [next is better than X] - not good enough.
It's a results business - results are good - performances are rubbish.

OMG the sky is falling and my sheets are wet, our form is only DWLWWD... waaah.


windermereROYAL
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 9220
Joined: 19 Feb 2008 11:18

Re: Bolton fall out

by windermereROYAL » 18 Feb 2026 09:48

Snowflake Royal The constant shifting of goalposts winds me up.

We're going down, it's disastrous.
We're not in the Play Offs it's an outrage.
Anyone would be better than X, [next is better than X] - not good enough.
It's a results business - results are good - performances are rubbish.

OMG the sky is falling and my sheets are wet, our form is only DWLWWD... waaah.


Ain`t that the truth, I enjoyed football far more before the creation of social media. at least I`d only hear it in the pub then.

Hound
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 27121
Joined: 27 Sep 2016 22:16
Location: Simpleton

Re: Bolton fall out

by Hound » 18 Feb 2026 09:55

windermereROYAL
Snowflake Royal The constant shifting of goalposts winds me up.

We're going down, it's disastrous.
We're not in the Play Offs it's an outrage.
Anyone would be better than X, [next is better than X] - not good enough.
It's a results business - results are good - performances are rubbish.

OMG the sky is falling and my sheets are wet, our form is only DWLWWD... waaah.


Ain`t that the truth, I enjoyed football far more before the creation of social media. at least I`d only hear it in the pub then.


I do find it a bit weird there’s a bit of outrage over this game. Bolton as good as any in the division and we were one JP mistake from a very good win. It wasn’t pretty but it wasn’t hugely different to same games we won last year like Wycombe at home

And we did lose 3 impt players during the game to injury which messed up our sub strategy

We were crap first 10 of both halves when Bolton should have scored a few but weren’t awful otherwise

Tbf I think people often get frustrated, post their frustrations in the heat of the moment and then settle down a day or two after, me included

It was a good point and 7 in 3 games. Well prob end top half which after the start to the season is ok

User avatar
Brogue
Hob Nob Super-Addict
Posts: 16615
Joined: 02 Mar 2021 20:38
Location: Radio AE #3 Winner 2025

Re: Bolton fall out

by Brogue » 18 Feb 2026 10:08

windermereROYAL
Snowflake Royal The constant shifting of goalposts winds me up.

We're going down, it's disastrous.
We're not in the Play Offs it's an outrage.
Anyone would be better than X, [next is better than X] - not good enough.
It's a results business - results are good - performances are rubbish.

OMG the sky is falling and my sheets are wet, our form is only DWLWWD... waaah.


Ain`t that the truth, I enjoyed football far more before the creation of social media. at least I`d only hear it in the pub then.


if you hate social media so much, why are you on it. No one is forcing you to be on it

windermereROYAL
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 9220
Joined: 19 Feb 2008 11:18

Re: Bolton fall out

by windermereROYAL » 18 Feb 2026 10:11

Brogue
windermereROYAL
Snowflake Royal The constant shifting of goalposts winds me up.

We're going down, it's disastrous.
We're not in the Play Offs it's an outrage.
Anyone would be better than X, [next is better than X] - not good enough.
It's a results business - results are good - performances are rubbish.

OMG the sky is falling and my sheets are wet, our form is only DWLWWD... waaah.


Ain`t that the truth, I enjoyed football far more before the creation of social media. at least I`d only hear it in the pub then.


if you hate social media so much, why are you on it. No one is forcing you to be on it


Because it`s not all about football.


User avatar
Armadillo Roadkill
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 1226
Joined: 03 Nov 2007 19:47
Location: In a zone of great calm

Re: Bolton fall out

by Armadillo Roadkill » 18 Feb 2026 10:11

Although I have yet to really warm to him as a person, I did find Richardson's interview after the game addressed most of the points we're all making pretty well. Impressively realistic about where we are.

We all desperately want an instant turn around, promotion, liquid football etc. It is obviously going to be more difficult than we perhaps hoped. We are undoubtedly going in the right direction.

My view is usually if things are improving, you give the manager credit and time. If things are getting worse, they get a chance to change the trajectory. If they don't change, they go and you get someone else.

We are firmly in the first of those three positions right now I'd say.

User avatar
Brogue
Hob Nob Super-Addict
Posts: 16615
Joined: 02 Mar 2021 20:38
Location: Radio AE #3 Winner 2025

Re: Bolton fall out

by Brogue » 18 Feb 2026 10:15

windermereROYAL
Brogue
windermereROYAL
Ain`t that the truth, I enjoyed football far more before the creation of social media. at least I`d only hear it in the pub then.


if you hate social media so much, why are you on it. No one is forcing you to be on it


Because it`s not all about football.


he says whilst posting on the team board :roll: . you can avoid anything Reading FC on twitter and facebook by simply not visiting the hashtag or groups. It's really not difficult to avoid Reading FC social media if you want. But you don't want to avoid it, you just want to slag it off whilst actively participating in it. You post on the Reading fc twitter hashtag, you post on here. If you hated it so much you wouldn't.

Sutekh
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 24647
Joined: 12 Feb 2014 14:05
Location: Over the hills and far away

Re: Bolton fall out

by Sutekh » 18 Feb 2026 10:18

Not at all unhappy with the management or players they’re on the tight lines and will presumably crack the winning formula at some point, just frustrated with a style, game after game, where it’s very difficult to be anything other than edgy for 90 minutes esp. when the guys have worked so hard to get themselves that moment only to later see it undone by a small error or cr@p refereeing decision…

Hoping everyone can come back all the stronger on Saturday in what will be a different sort of tricky challenge.

windermereROYAL
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 9220
Joined: 19 Feb 2008 11:18

Re: Bolton fall out

by windermereROYAL » 18 Feb 2026 10:22

Brogue
windermereROYAL
Brogue
if you hate social media so much, why are you on it. No one is forcing you to be on it


Because it`s not all about football.


he says whilst posting on the team board :roll: . you can avoid anything Reading FC on twitter and facebook by simply not visiting the hashtag or groups. It's really not difficult to avoid Reading FC social media if you want. But you don't want to avoid it, you just want to slag it off whilst actively participating in it. You post on the Reading fc twitter hashtag, you post on here. If you hated it so much you wouldn't.


How would you know, I thought you blocked me?

User avatar
Brogue
Hob Nob Super-Addict
Posts: 16615
Joined: 02 Mar 2021 20:38
Location: Radio AE #3 Winner 2025

Re: Bolton fall out

by Brogue » 18 Feb 2026 10:29

windermereROYAL
Brogue
windermereROYAL
Because it`s not all about football.


he says whilst posting on the team board :roll: . you can avoid anything Reading FC on twitter and facebook by simply not visiting the hashtag or groups. It's really not difficult to avoid Reading FC social media if you want. But you don't want to avoid it, you just want to slag it off whilst actively participating in it. You post on the Reading fc twitter hashtag, you post on here. If you hated it so much you wouldn't.


How would you know, I thought you blocked me?


Whilst you were posting on the reading fc twitter hashtag? You can’t honestly be this thick. :lol:

MartinRdg
Member
Posts: 759
Joined: 14 Apr 2004 10:57
Location: Cornwall

Re: Bolton fall out

by MartinRdg » 18 Feb 2026 10:34

Snowflake Royal The constant shifting of goalposts winds me up.

We're going down, it's disastrous.
We're not in the Play Offs it's an outrage.
Anyone would be better than X, [next is better than X] - not good enough.
It's a results business - results are good - performances are rubbish.

OMG the sky is falling and my sheets are wet, our form is only DWLWWD... waaah.


:lol:

windermereROYAL
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 9220
Joined: 19 Feb 2008 11:18

Re: Bolton fall out

by windermereROYAL » 18 Feb 2026 10:37

Brogue
windermereROYAL
Brogue
he says whilst posting on the team board :roll: . you can avoid anything Reading FC on twitter and facebook by simply not visiting the hashtag or groups. It's really not difficult to avoid Reading FC social media if you want. But you don't want to avoid it, you just want to slag it off whilst actively participating in it. You post on the Reading fc twitter hashtag, you post on here. If you hated it so much you wouldn't.


How would you know, I thought you blocked me?


Whilst you were posting on the reading fc twitter hashtag? You can’t honestly be this thick. :lol:


I blocked Chris Scott, he posts on there all the time and I don`t see a thing, and thanks for the compliment. it goes right over my head so don`t waste your time

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 591 guests

It is currently 18 Feb 2026 18:04