Richardson out

[Sutekh]

Obviously any average will have a couple of exceptions.

Trouble is, everyone is in the penalty box nowadays, leading to more congestion. Can never understand why teams don't leave a player up the pitch when defending corners, meaning the opposition need to bring 2 players back with him.

Didn't Tranmere used to do a thing at corners where they'd push two players upfield, right on either touchline, meaning the attacking team would have to leave at least two players back, but usually three because they couldn't leave a huge gap in the middle.

Common sense I’d have thought, esp. if you have a couple of pacey wingers (or strikers) that are disinclined towards defending

[South Coast Royal]

Just got round to reading Clyde's Fans' Forum report-thanks Clyde.

I think we all may be less critical now about our style of play-the manager clearly thinks that we haven't yet got the right players to play a more expansive game.
Also I noted that he didn't think (contrary to a lot of people previously posting on here about how good the players are) that the players are up to Championship level.

I very much agree with that and look forward to seeing new players in time who he feels are capable of playing at that level so that we can make a serious push for promotion.

[Hound]

Just got round to reading Clyde's Fans' Forum report-thanks Clyde.

I think we all may be less critical now about our style of play-the manager clearly thinks that we haven't yet got the right players to play a more expansive game.
Also I noted that he didn't think (contrary to a lot of people previously posting on here about how good the players are) that the players are up to Championship level.

I very much agree with that and look forward to seeing new players in time who he feels are capable of playing at that level so that we can make a serious push for promotion.

It sounds quite harsh when you put it like that but does seem to be what he said

Tbh could see JP (if he recovers form), Ward, Savage, Roberts, Wing (just about) making the step up with DK and Kelvin E having the potential but needing to up their games a fair bit

No one else would come close I don’t think atm from what I’ve seen

[Sutekh]

Just got round to reading Clyde's Fans' Forum report-thanks Clyde.

I think we all may be less critical now about our style of play-the manager clearly thinks that we haven't yet got the right players to play a more expansive game.
Also I noted that he didn't think (contrary to a lot of people previously posting on here about how good the players are) that the players are up to Championship level.

I very much agree with that and look forward to seeing new players in time who he feels are capable of playing at that level so that we can make a serious push for promotion.

It sounds quite harsh when you put it like that but does seem to be what he said

Tbh could see JP (if he recovers form), Ward, Savage, Roberts, Wing (just about) making the step up with DK and Kelvin E having the potential but needing to up their games a fair bit

No one else would come close I don’t think atm from what I’ve seen

I think Ward looks to have the potential too.

Let’s hope we can uncover some “missed” gems in the lower leagues in the summer.

[tidus_mi2]

Good thing we managed to get Ward, otherwise our defence was going to look very suspect if we get promoted.

[Snowflake Royal]

Just got round to reading Clyde's Fans' Forum report-thanks Clyde.

I think we all may be less critical now about our style of play-the manager clearly thinks that we haven't yet got the right players to play a more expansive game.
Also I noted that he didn't think (contrary to a lot of people previously posting on here about how good the players are) that the players are up to Championship level.

I very much agree with that and look forward to seeing new players in time who he feels are capable of playing at that level so that we can make a serious push for promotion.

It sounds quite harsh when you put it like that but does seem to be what he said

Tbh could see JP (if he recovers form), Ward, Savage, Roberts, Wing (just about) making the step up with DK and Kelvin E having the potential but needing to up their games a fair bit

No one else would come close I don’t think atm from what I’ve seen

I think there's more that could contribute... the Williamses, Abrefa could develop, Marriott could play a part, Fraser. More squad players than starters obviously. Rino certainly could play in the Championship should we ever see him.

But certainly not many confident first XI players.

[Brogue]

LEAM - Loses East Away Matches

[morganb]

LEAM - Loses East Away Matches

Is Mansfield really that far east?

Loves Excuses After Massacre

[stealthpapes]

Its an odd old part of the world. It took 90 minutes + for the rail replacement bus to get there. The town felt like a light industrial unit had been sponsored by Taco Bell and Greggs. Literally nothing going on later that evening.

Yet it had one of the biggest bus stations I've seen in a provincial town.

It was no Wrexham or Carlisle where I felt like Gordon Jackson at the train station. But something Just. Not. Right.

[Clyde1998]

Just got round to reading Clyde's Fans' Forum report-thanks Clyde.

Thank you.

I think we all may be less critical now about our style of play-the manager clearly thinks that we haven't yet got the right players to play a more expansive game.
Also I noted that he didn't think (contrary to a lot of people previously posting on here about how good the players are) that the players are up to Championship level.

I very much agree with that and look forward to seeing new players in time who he feels are capable of playing at that level so that we can make a serious push for promotion.

I agree with the point about Championship level players too. How many players in our current squad would a Championship side want? I don't think we've got any who are currently much beyond squad players for a Championship side, although players like Kyerewaa; Ward; and Savage could develop into that level of player given enough game time.

[Clyde1998]

Its an odd old part of the world. It took 90 minutes + for the rail replacement bus to get there. The town felt like a light industrial unit had been sponsored by Taco Bell and Greggs. Literally nothing going on later that evening.

Yet it had one of the biggest bus stations I've seen in a provincial town.

It was no Wrexham or Carlisle where I felt like Gordon Jackson at the train station. But something Just. Not. Right.

It did seem overly grand for a town like Mansfield, then again Reading doesn't have a bus station as the train station has all the amenities.

Is hard to tell, as it's done by local authority, but I think Mansfield probably has one of the highest bus ridership figures in the country (outside London) based on the Nottingham figure:

[Hound]

It’s only relatively recently that the spur from Nottingham to Mansfield by rail was reopened, so the big bus station is a legacy of that really. You used to have to get the bus from Nottingham

[stealthpapes]

It’s only relatively recently that the spur from Nottingham to Mansfield by rail was reopened, so the big bus station is a legacy of that really. You used to have to get the bus from Nottingham

Having spent a night with that bus station as my view from the hotel, I feel I've got to really know the place.
But that station was built in 2005 and the spur line reopened in 1998.

Reading doesn't have a bus station

games gone

[Hound]

Yes it replaced an old also big previous bus station

Guess being such a large place and no rail for so long meant a substantial bus network was established

[Clyde1998]

Yes it replaced an old also big previous bus station

Guess being such a large place and no rail for so long meant a substantial bus network was established

Hadn't realised how poor their rail connections have been. In the latest figures, there were 323,412 people departing the train station. Mansfield has a population just below 100,000

For context, the figure for Hungerford was 311,612, with a population of nearly 6,000!

Obviously makes sense for their bus network taking up the slack.

[MR. CYNICAL]

It would appear some of you have digressed from the subject of this thread a tad.

[morganb]

On Richardson, he seems to come out with the same snippets to the press regarding players who are fit but not being played.

Firstly Rinomhota was "contending with competition for places" and now he has used the same phrase with Kadan Young (who is back fit as he's travelled with the squad to the last two away games).

I imagine the majority would think Rinomhota is better than Fraser and Young is worth a try over Lane off the bench.

It seems strange to bring them both in but not start them unless they are really poor in training.

[fred sharpes nose]

Credit to Leam today vs Plymouth - much more expansive playing, with width from the "wingers", better to watch, exciting and nail biting. Plymouth good and maybe he reacted to their style. Whatever - I looked like I was watching a different team today.

Disappointing (two games in a week) we've been 5th but failed to hold onto that.

Coming to the conclusion that we are just not good enough - need just a 5-10% improvement and we are sorted.

But are the players playing to the max or have they got more in them ? If so can Leam get that out of them ? Doubtful this season but we live in hope

[AthleticoSpizz]

Reckon a lot of our current squad already have the notion that they will not feature here at Reading next season (especially if we are promoted).
Which obviously brings in the question of their full-on motivation.
Yes, they have opportunity to put themselves on show to future and potential clubs but,…well…..you …know

[stealthpapes]

Coming to the conclusion that we are just not good enough - need just a 5-10% improvement and we are sorted.

We improved a lot, with very little credit, over the midpart of the season but this (and last) season should be hammering home some lessons.

There are going to be shit games. Somewhere between every 5 and every ten games. That’s quite regular, so get used to them.

Look at longer term patterns. Be patient (with everyone - Leam made the point about big Kelv in that he’s now got almost four seasons under his belt but he’s 22 and necessarily missed out on some key learning points and experiences had we got him out on loan)

We’re running at about 1.8 ppg under Leam, 9 points every 5 games (5 wins, 3 draws, 2 defeats in 10, basically). It’s play-off form. And it’s still one loss every five games.

Anyway, the big thing to get sorted over the next summer is strength and conditioning. We’re into the “carefully manage fitness” stage of the season, so there’s going to be the odd player ‘inexplicably’ rested from time to time.

That proper close season might be enough to bridge that ten per cent gap…