FAO Brian

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Even if we stayed up, it would just be more of the same - lessons won't have been learned and TSI will think they don't need to spend much money cos McD always pulls it out of the bag at the end.

I would say I'd rather we were there or thereabouts in the championship than floundering in the Prem, but I really can't see us doing well in the championship next season either. We've gone stale, McD has lost the plot and a lot of players really don't seem to have any fight in them.

Do you not think this is a slightly irrational statement RL? We just got POTM & MOTM & showed an awful lot of heart, effort, desire whatever you want to call it to get ourselves in a position where we can make a decent go of staying up.

How does that mean McD has lost the plot or we have no fight? We took Utd right to the wire a mere 5 days ago. Maybe those exploits knackered them out?

Today was crap yes but we all knew it would be a battle & we wouldn't win all the 6 pointers. Villa & Wigan are at this moment in time just as likely as us to get relegated.

[RoyalBlue]

Even if we stayed up, it would just be more of the same - lessons won't have been learned and TSI will think they don't need to spend much money cos McD always pulls it out of the bag at the end.

I would say I'd rather we were there or thereabouts in the championship than floundering in the Prem, but I really can't see us doing well in the championship next season either. We've gone stale, McD has lost the plot and a lot of players really don't seem to have any fight in them.

Do you not think this is a slightly irrational statement RL? We just got POTM & MOTM & showed an awful lot of heart, effort, desire whatever you want to call it to get ourselves in a position where we can make a decent go of staying up.

How does that mean McD has lost the plot or we have no fight? We took Utd right to the wire a mere 5 days ago. Maybe those exploits knackered them out?

If they did then McDermott and his players had completely the wrong priority. What's more, McDermott is even more to blame for some of his team selection e.g. Pearce could have replaced Morrison.

[Divvy]

Hi Brian

You've said a number of times that you've learnt from your mistakes this season, and as a manager, learnt a lot. Can you please tell us exactly what you've learnt, and have you considered passing it on to the playing staff?

All joking aside, I do wonder what it is he's learnt, because it doesn't show on the pitch. He's learnt 4-5-1 stops us conceding 3-4 goals a week, but instead we concede 2-3 a week. He's learnt that we score less with 4-5-1, but seems happy with that.

I'm pro Brian, but his tactical decisions and style of play leave a lot to be desired.

[RockheadRumple]

Managed to have a nice chat with Pearce after the game. He seemed very upset and downhearted. I suppose it's just what every other fan was like (well, maybe not since all us fans are angry not just sad) but he seemed genuinely pretty upset. Really nice guy, though. Really modest, approached me rather than the other way round.

Oh and Morrison was shit today. Soz.

[royalsroyalsroyals92]

Any link to this interview? Would be good to hear

[bcubed]

Even if we stayed up, it would just be more of the same - lessons won't have been learned and TSI will think they don't need to spend much money cos McD always pulls it out of the bag at the end.

I would say I'd rather we were there or thereabouts in the championship than floundering in the Prem, but I really can't see us doing well in the championship next season either. We've gone stale, McD has lost the plot and a lot of players really don't seem to have any fight in them.

Do you not think this is a slightly irrational statement RL? We just got POTM & MOTM & showed an awful lot of heart, effort, desire whatever you want to call it to get ourselves in a position where we can make a decent go of staying up.

How does that mean McD has lost the plot or we have no fight? We took Utd right to the wire a mere 5 days ago. Maybe those exploits knackered them out?

Today was crap yes but we all knew it would be a battle & we wouldn't win all the 6 pointers. Villa & Wigan are at this moment in time just as likely as us to get relegated.

Far too reasonable and measured - would you mind leaving hobnob please?! We don't need your sort round here!

[MmmMonsterMunch]

RB - We've seen that good cup performances can also help the league form though. I agree about Morro that was a weird call & Brian will have to take the flack for that but if people take a deep breath for a second & calm down they will see the league table has not changed much.

If we go on to beat Everton & Villa then everyone will forget about today IMO. Like Schards said on the other thread, everyone has a sh1t day at the office sometimes.

[RoyalBlue]

RB - We've seen that good cup performances can also help the league form though. I agree about Morro that was a weird call & Brian will have to take the flack for that but if people take a deep breath for a second & calm down they will see the league table has not changed much.

.

Not changed much? It's changed by what could prove to be a critical amount - Wigan now have three more points and an awful lot more confidence.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

RB - We've seen that good cup performances can also help the league form though. I agree about Morro that was a weird call & Brian will have to take the flack for that but if people take a deep breath for a second & calm down they will see the league table has not changed much.

.

Not changed much? It's changed by what could prove to be a critical amount - Wigan now have three more points and an awful lot more confidence.

We're 1 point off safety & we were 1 point off safety yesterday so yes I'd wager that means its not changed much. Saints & Newcastle are only 4 points ahead of us FFS.

[Norfolk Royal]

Even if we stayed up, it would just be more of the same - lessons won't have been learned and TSI will think they don't need to spend much money cos McD always pulls it out of the bag at the end.

I would say I'd rather we were there or thereabouts in the championship than floundering in the Prem, but I really can't see us doing well in the championship next season either. We've gone stale, McD has lost the plot and a lot of players really don't seem to have any fight in them.

That's not entirely ture although I'll forgive you the hyperbole on the back of that pile of pooh today.

Before this game we had plenty of fight and fire, fans of other teams have been constantly saying this to me while we were on our good run.

Why it wasn't there today is an eternal mystery. When do those mid season holidays in Dubai etc, ever work?

We looked today as if we were just expecting something to happen, such a contrast to Wigan who looked up for it and went out there and won it. The players ought to hang their heads in shame tbf.

[floyd__streete]

Since you've dropped Pearce this season, we have 0.5 points per game, as opposed to 1.875 with him in - you do the maths. How you can brush off his dropping on the basis of one game at Stoke is an absolute disgrace and Morrison was toilet today. How can you bring off Akpan when he was our only effective player today and leave Leigertwood and Karacan on - 2 players who seem incapable of passing a football.

Oh, and referees don't cost you three goals - hth.

+1.

[Man Friday]

Even if we stayed up, it would just be more of the same - lessons won't have been learned and TSI will think they don't need to spend much money cos McD always pulls it out of the bag at the end.

I would say I'd rather we were there or thereabouts in the championship than floundering in the Prem, but I really can't see us doing well in the championship next season either. We've gone stale, McD has lost the plot and a lot of players really don't seem to have any fight in them.

That's not entirely ture although I'll forgive you the hyperbole on the back of that pile of pooh today.

Before this game we had plenty of fight and fire, fans of other teams have been constantly saying this to me while we were on our good run.

Why it wasn't there today is an eternal mystery.

It shouldn't be. It's typical Reading. We thought that after losing narrowly to the champions-elect on Monday away all we had to do against a side second from bottom was turn up ala Fulham in 2007/08. It's typical complacent Reading.

[paultheroyal]

Even if we stayed up, it would just be more of the same - lessons won't have been learned and TSI will think they don't need to spend much money cos McD always pulls it out of the bag at the end.

I would say I'd rather we were there or thereabouts in the championship than floundering in the Prem, but I really can't see us doing well in the championship next season either. We've gone stale, McD has lost the plot and a lot of players really don't seem to have any fight in them.

Few points of note:

To say you would rather be in championship is quite frankly ridiculous.
Lessons I am sure are being learnt all the time.
Gone stale after the run we have been on is poppycock!
Players no fight, do you really believe that? Nonsense.
Mcd lost plot after just winning manager of the month? Twaddle.

Congratulations on winning the over reaction post of the day!

PS we were crap today, I was livid, good excuse to leave early but seriously we were never going to win all these key games.

[Avon Royal]

Any link to this interview? Would be good to hear

It really wouldn't.

[phil in cornwall]

His remark that there is nothing to be learned from today's game is unblievable. If he thinks that we need a manager who can learn from defeats.

[phil in cornwall]

Any link to this interview? Would be good to hear

I think the interview you want to hear is on the BBC website.

Although you probably won't ......

[SPARTA]

His remark that there is nothing to be learned from today's game is unblievable.

Jesus, he said that?

At the very least he can study how Wigan passed and moved that ball about and created all that space time and time again. They were brilliant. We were clueless and static. If he genuinely can't see what there is to learn from today then he's clearly in the wrong job.

[royal_ross]

Jeez! We had a truly horrific game today, absolute howler from every player apart from Feds but as usual McAnuff was taking the abuse again on twitter.

How has McDermott lost the plot? A few weeks ago he was brilliant, comebacks against West Brom, Newcastle & Chelsea, decent performance at Stoke & Utd. Some of the comments sound like before Xmas then after everyone was loving him again.

We had a bad day at the office, totally deserved the boos at half time. These games happen to every team unfortunately it's happened in a game where we probably needed to win.

They need to go to Everton and give it everything, Villa played there and went 3-1 up so shows they can be got at.

Only a point still, not over yet.

[jellytot]

And we move on

[royal_ross]

Even if we stayed up, it would just be more of the same - lessons won't have been learned and TSI will think they don't need to spend much money cos McD always pulls it out of the bag at the end.

I would say I'd rather we were there or thereabouts in the championship than floundering in the Prem, but I really can't see us doing well in the championship next season either. We've gone stale, McD has lost the plot and a lot of players really don't seem to have any fight in them.

Few points of note:

To say you would rather be in championship is quite frankly ridiculous.
Lessons I am sure are being learnt all the time.
Gone stale after the run we have been on is poppycock!
Players no fight, do you really believe that? Nonsense.
Mcd lost plot after just winning manager of the month? Twaddle.

Congratulations on winning the over reaction post of the day!

PS we were crap today, I was livid, good excuse to leave early but seriously we were never going to win all these key games.

Spot on Paul. People quick to blame McDermott as soon we lose but he's the best when we're winning. Suppose you can't please everyone.