Back from the match - Barnsley

[M-U-R-T-Y]

At least we're not Ipswich

Player Ratings

Federici - 6 Kept the score down
Harte - 4 Beaten for pace AGAIN and this time he was outmuscled by Davies, missed pen
Khumalo - 5 Some good headers, at fault for a goal
Pearce - 5 See Khumalo
Gunnarsson - 5 Didn't see much of him, Karacan looked better than him when shifted to right back
Kebe - 6 Lively, good on the ball but needs to know when to actually cross the ball. We are oxf*rd without him
Leigertwood - 4 Worst I've seen with him in a Reading shirt
Karacan - 6 Some good tackles, harried, one of the better players on the pitch.
McAnuff - 4 Anonymous for the 2nd half
Hunt - 5 Good touches in the first half, missed pen, rarely threatened
Robson-Kanu - 6 Was alright, cooly taken pen though, and took a lot of balls to do that when the other two had missed.

[Ian Royal]

Secondly I'd like John Madejski to either sell the club or spend some money.

Serious question: To who?
Ken Bates, Peter Ridsdale, Sam Hamman, a dodgy arab consortium? A fraudster, someone with poor human rights records?

There simply aren't many people out there interested in buying football clubs that it would be sane to sell to. And anyone we get in has to have at least £500m to their name. It's a very very short list and like selling players, you need someone who wants to buy before you can sell.

[who are ya?]

Everyone just calm down and take a deep breath, we'll sign a couple of defenders before the end of the month and make a decent challenge for the play-offs. Chill out.

But will Havant and Waterlooville be prepared to do business with us

[FiNeRaIn]

Federici is hopeless as is Ian Harte. Manset is unfit and Hunt is chasing shadows for the majority of the game. The only decent players today were Kebe and Karacan.

This whole piece of text is baffling. Federici has his strengths, his weakness is command of the area but neither goal was down to him. He can't tell a defender to mark someone, they should know their jobs and who to pick up. Second goal was a through ball 1v1 and you don't want your keeper coming charging out of the area as a sweeper like someone suggested on the radio. He wasn't the reason we lost today, the centre backs were. Hunt actually looks sharper outside the box this season, his passing and link up is a LOT better but he never looks likely to score, he wasn't chasing shadows as suggested. I can't understand the love in with karacan he is an extremely limited player. His shooting is utterly woeful and his decision making leaves a lot to be desired. He can occasionally pass well and make himself a nuisance with his energy but that's really it, but I can count the times he's influenced games on one hand. Today kebe was free charging into the area and karacans woeful effort went wide. Really poor decision. We need mikele and a creative midfielder next to him. Sell howard and tabb if needs be and get a creative player in there - we are absolutely garbage if our wingers aren't on the top of their game. Kebe put some extremely good balls in today which is also worth mentioning but mcanuff's end product leaves a lot to be desired im afraid.
I am an HRK fan, he doesn't always get it right but he's strong and has a good tough and he's learning, I think he needs a goalscorer next to him.

[handbags_harris]

I'm bemused by all of this. A couple of early season defeats and there they are, heads popping up above the parapet like a jack-in-the-box - the STG's. Today Barnsley were there for the taking and literally all game my feeling was that we were just one pass away from opening them up. So close so many times. Their defence was at sixes and sevens at times. First half lacked intensity, not helped by Barnsley taking the sting out of the game with some pretty pathetic tactics - timewasting at 0-0? What have you come here to get then boys? One day we're going to get a referee who actually deals with that and nips it in the bud rather than just letting it go like he did almost every time today. Then after a routine Federici save from Davies's long ranger, a free header six yards out. Combination of factors - Harte losing the ball so cheaply in the buildup to the Davies shot, Khumalo loses his man from the corner, Federici sticks to his line like he always does, free header, 1-0.

Second half, well what can I say? I've seen less of a battering in my local chip shop. Barnsely were camped on their 18 yard line for long, long periods, their defence stretched to breaking point. When it was broken they committed the fouls that led to the penalties. All stone-wallers, yet the usually reliable Harte had his penalty saved, then Hunt stepped up two minutes later, same place, same result. Kebe put in one sublime ball which evaded everybody, Harte then had Pearce to thank for blocking his header at point blank range, then bang - sucker punch. And the ease of it was shocking. Simple dinked ball over the top to a man who started making a run fully 15 yards - 15 YARDS!!!! - in front of the defence and no defender picked him up. Awful, head in hands, but with the luck we had not aided much by the missing of guilt-edged chances summed up the day. Third penalty coolly taken by Robson-Kanu, and then more of the same. Barnsley on their 18 yard line, packing the middle, a few chances here and there, blocked shots by defence and Church, but nothing to bother Steele too much.

Mentions to a couple of Barnsley players - Craig Davies didn't half look the part today. Was it really too much to ask that we go in for him in the full knowledge that Long was going? And also, Luke Steele. That, Federici, is how to command you area. Take a f*ckin lesson by watching that game again.

[Royal Lady]

Secondly I'd like John Madejski to either sell the club or spend some money.

Serious question: To who?
Ken Bates, Peter Ridsdale, Sam Hamman, a dodgy arab consortium? A fraudster, someone with poor human rights records?

There simply aren't many people out there interested in buying football clubs that it would be sane to sell to. And anyone we get in has to have at least £500m to their name. It's a very very short list and like selling players, you need someone who wants to buy before you can sell.

I agree with the "who should we sell to" - there are far too many dodgy characters about these days - witness QPR as an example - however, when we are getting millions in, it's not too much to ask to spend a quarter of it on a couple of new players, surely - it doesn't mean JM or anyone else has to put their own hands in their pockets - the money is within the club.

[Ian Royal]

No offence RL, but you've shown time and again you have no clue about the finances of the club.

[Here for the KEBE]

Mc D confirmed that we are in talks with two players.

1) An experienced player = past it
2) A player that is a work-in-progress = not played in the football league before

I do bloomin hope it's Kilgallon and not Nosworthy but I'm not holding out any hope.

Today was shocking, those players weren't up for it and some are lacking in confidence. It's still early in the season but we are looking nowhere near a team capable of putting in a promotion push.

Today's ratings in my opinion:

Federici 7 - Some decent saves and couldn't do a lot about the goal. Still gives away too much possession by hoofing it out, which we would retain if McCarthy played
Gunnarson 6 - Didn't do a lot wrong really but not a lot noticeable!
Harte 3 - An absolute stinker, beaten for pace on many occasions, missed the pen, some poor deliveries also. Needs replacing
Pearce 5 - Every time he gets into the team I get my hopes up but he doesn't seem to be gelling with Khumalo
Khumalo 5 - Good in the air and pacey but no understanding with Pearce which was evident esp for their 2nd goal
McAnuff 5 - Didn't do a lot and not vocal enough to be our captain, take the armband away from him so he can focus on his game
Kebe 6 - A lot of skillful play but no end product, I expect he's trying to get interest from elsewhere
Karacan 7 - One of the few players to come out with any credit- ran around and made vital interceptions but woeful miss
Leigertwood 6 - Average
Hunt 5 - Standard Hunt everytime I see him, lots of running, nothing to show for it
Robson-Kanu 7 - HE IS A WINGER- was so much more effective when on the wing- prob our best player though

Manset 6 - Not enough time to make an impact
Church 5 - Rubbish and ineffective

[winchester_royal]

Secondly I'd like John Madejski to either sell the club or spend some money.

Serious question: To who?
Ken Bates, Peter Ridsdale, Sam Hamman, a dodgy arab consortium? A fraudster, someone with poor human rights records?

There simply aren't many people out there interested in buying football clubs that it would be sane to sell to. And anyone we get in has to have at least £500m to their name. It's a very very short list and like selling players, you need someone who wants to buy before you can sell.

I agree with the "who should we sell to" - there are far too many dodgy characters about these days - witness QPR as an example - however, when we are getting millions in, it's not too much to ask to spend a quarter of it on a couple of new players, surely - it doesn't mean JM or anyone else has to put their own hands in their pockets - the money is within the club.

There is not a load of money in the club that can be made available for transfers. The money we've brought in this summer has to be put towards financing the club's running costs in the future.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

Federici is hopeless as is Ian Harte. Manset is unfit and Hunt is chasing shadows for the majority of the game. The only decent players today were Kebe and Karacan.

I can't understand the love in with karacan he is an extremely limited player. His shooting is utterly woeful and his decision making leaves a lot to be desired. He can occasionally pass well and make himself a nuisance with his energy but that's really it, but I can count the times he's influenced games on one hand.

Well at least he had a shot. How many times did we get to the edge of the box and didn't know what to do with it?

[FiNeRaIn]

No offence RL, but you've shown time and again you have no clue about the finances of the club.

With respect Ian, we have got over 12 million in this season alone from player sales, people want 2-3 of that spent on replacements. You don't have to be a mathematician to work out that's viable and sensible and will not break the bank.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

Federici is hopeless as is Ian Harte. Manset is unfit and Hunt is chasing shadows for the majority of the game. The only decent players today were Kebe and Karacan.

We need mikele and a creative midfielder next to him. Sell howard .

Howard could be our creative midfielder.

[FiNeRaIn]

Federici is hopeless as is Ian Harte. Manset is unfit and Hunt is chasing shadows for the majority of the game. The only decent players today were Kebe and Karacan.

We need mikele and a creative midfielder next to him. Sell howard .

Howard could be our creative midfielder.

jason koumas is coming in, so howard will be off.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

Can't we sell Federici instead?

[Royal Lady]

No offence RL, but you've shown time and again you have no clue about the finances of the club.

I know for a fact how much SHunt was paid during the premiership.

[winchester_royal]

No offence RL, but you've shown time and again you have no clue about the finances of the club.

I know for a fact how much SHunt was paid during the premiership.

Well done you.

[Royal Lady]

There is not a load of money in the club that can be made available for transfers. The money we've brought in this summer has to be put towards financing the club's running costs in the future.

Then I would have to say that having sold Gylfi, Mills and Long in the last 12 months and the millions we received for them, if we're having to use ALL of that money to put towards financing the club's running costs in the future, we are NOT a well run club!

[Here for the KEBE]

Nice sentiments rain but do you honestly think he will ??

Not from me, the crowd were chanting it today when their second went in...pretty LOUDLY too. Definitely heard by madejski.

At last our fans grow a pair and show how they feel- needs to be done.

[Ian Herring]

This game reminds me of early fixtures at Smallmead Fields in its early days.

[winchester_royal]

There is not a load of money in the club that can be made available for transfers. The money we've brought in this summer has to be put towards financing the club's running costs in the future.

Then I would have to say that having sold Gylfi, Mills and Long in the last 12 months and the millions we received for them, if we're having to use ALL of that money to put towards financing the club's running costs in the future, we are NOT a well run club!

We're not putting it all towards the future

McD said today he has some to money to spend. Just not enough to go spunk a load of money on an over-priced striker.

And yes you're right. The only way we could be self sufficient financially would be to drastically cut our wage bill. I'd LOVE to see your reaction if that started happening.