How impressed are you with BMcD's return to the club?

[Longhorn1970]

Not sure if anyone saw it, but great interview with Brian in yesterday's Football League Paper.

What did he say ?

[Maneki Neko]

yeah!

what did he say?!

[genome]

McDermott, who can overtake Steve Clarke's PPG with a win against Fulham on Saturday, praised the Reading supporters who have got behind him recently. "Any remtard with a brain can see we've improved in recent weeks. What is it, 2 losses in 13 matches? I think that speaks for itself. No Fixed Abode? No Fucking Idea more like."

[Glory Boy]

I have got to say that I am extremely impressed with MCcD's return to the club

[Hoop Blah]

How realistic is signing John? I'd love him

I can't see us shelling out the likely fee to bring in a player that hasn't really held down a place in the side.

We do seem to be at a bit of a crossroads (again) with the amount of players we're going to be losing this summer. It'll be another big overhaul but hopefully it will mean we'll see some good honest pro's come in and McDermott will put some trust in the half decent kids coming through.

[tidus_mi2]

Are we losing that much in the Summer?

By my reckoning this is the squad we will have in the Summer after likely departures, including assuming all loan players go back to their clubs.

GK: Al-Habsi, Bond
DR: Gunter
DL: Obita
CD: McShane, Ferdinand, Cooper
MR: McCleary
ML:
CM: Norwood, Evans, Quinn, Williams, Tshibola
ST: Kermogant, Rakels

This is based on players who definitely are already part of the first team so looking at that we lack wing back cover and are really light on the wings as well as probably missing a striker.

That said when you look at the young players who could break into the squad we could have extra players with: Keown, Long, Stacey, Fosu, Tanner and Samuel.

So if I had to prioritise our strengthening in the Summer, it would be in the order: Wingers, Wing back cover, Defence cover, possibly striker.

Striker I'm unsure of as we don't know enough of what Rakels and Kermogant will be like and who knows what Samuel could come in and do.

[No Fixed Abode]

McDermott, who can overtake Steve Clarke's PPG with a win against Fulham on Saturday, praised the Reading supporters who have got behind him recently. "Any remtard with a brain can see we've improved in recent weeks. What is it, 2 losses in 13 matches? I think that speaks for itself. No Fixed Abode? No Fucking Idea more like."

Surely this should be aimed at EP?
As I'm sure he will tell you there's more to it than 3 points. A very poor performance against Charlton, albeit an entertaining game masks the inadequacies of this team and doesn't represent any improvement under Brian. But I'm sure EP will use PPG in his favour should Reading beat Fulham unconvincingly at the weekend......

[genome]

You're allowed to use PPG to prove a point but we aren't?

[Hoop Blah]

Are we losing that much in the Summer?

Well, probably most of the following

Taylor
Hector
Ferdinand
Robson-Kanu
Piazon
Fernández
Vydra
John
Williams/Norwood
Cox

[Extended-Phenotype]

McDermott, who can overtake Steve Clarke's PPG with a win against Fulham on Saturday, praised the Reading supporters who have got behind him recently. "Any remtard with a brain can see we've improved in recent weeks. What is it, 2 losses in 13 matches? I think that speaks for itself. No Fixed Abode? No Fucking Idea more like."

Surely this should be aimed at EP?
As I'm sure he will tell you there's more to it than 3 points. A very poor performance against Charlton, albeit an entertaining game masks the inadequacies of this team and doesn't represent any improvement under Brian. But I'm sure EP will use PPG in his favour should Reading beat Fulham unconvincingly at the weekend......

Not exclusively as lone evidence for proving a point contrary to other factors, no.

That's the behaviour of say, someone who thinks anyone who protests against cuts to services and support for the disadvantaged shouldn't wear shoes.

[Extended-Phenotype]

You're allowed to use PPG to prove a point but we aren't?

Not quite: we aren't allowed to use anything. Even if it's something he has used in the past.

Which includes PPG, unless PPG demonstrates Clarke is better. Then it's allowed.

And you better have football boots on when talking about football, otherwise it's hypocracy.

[tidus_mi2]

You're allowed to use PPG to prove a point but we aren't?

Not quite: we aren't allowed to use anything. Even if it's something he has used in the past.

Which includes PPG, unless PPG demonstrates Clarke is better. Then it's allowed.

And you better have football boots on when talking about football, otherwise it's hypocracy.

Not to mention he keeps using the fact we were 1 point outside the play-offs when we sacked Clarke but completely rejects the fact that if we'd waited until the other weekend games to sack him, the gap would have been 4pts.

If you took the form over the period it seemed to go wrong, which to me began after the International break when we struggled to beat Charlton to when Clarke was sacked, if we'd carried on with that form then we would be on 41pts right now, 2pts worse off than we are.

[No Fixed Abode]

Surely this should be aimed at EP?
As I'm sure he will tell you there's more to it than 3 points. A very poor performance against Charlton, albeit an entertaining game masks the inadequacies of this team and doesn't represent any improvement under Brian. But I'm sure EP will use PPG in his favour should Reading beat Fulham unconvincingly at the weekend......

Not exclusively as lone evidence for proving a point contrary to other factors, no.

That's the behaviour of say, someone who thinks anyone who protests against cuts to services and support for the disadvantaged shouldn't wear shoes.

There is it. But 'there's more to it than that' as you often say. I said Nike as an example as they're a brand who have been known to exploit cheap labour and provide poor working conditions in the past. But you knew that didn't you? Or maybe you didn't which is why you didn't get my point...

(Back on topic) As I said - by your logic you can only measure success in terms of good performances regardless of the result. It was 3 points against Charlton but we can't count that as it was unconvincing much like most of the performances have been recently....So where is the improvement under Brian in the league?

[Extended-Phenotype]

Nah m8, you were saying we haven’t improved since Brian took over, exclusively cos Clarke has a higher PPG.
I said i think we have improved citing other non-statistical factors, arguing you can't just look at one measure in isolation, and suggested your PPG argument is comparing a longer reign which was trending downwards with a shorter reign which is trending upwards, totally ignoring the most recent form of both the former and current manager.
 
This proving difficult to understand you resorted to calling anybody responding to your argument ‘gay for you’.
 
I'm just looking to see if my team is improving. If it isn't, then I will say it isn't - I've got no agenda. You have, obviously.

[No Fixed Abode]

Nah m8, you were saying we haven’t improved since Brian took over, exclusively cos Clarke has a higher PPG.
I said i think we have improved citing other non-statistical factors, arguing you can't just look at one measure in isolation, and suggested your PPG argument is comparing a longer reign which was trending downwards with a shorter reign which is trending upwards, totally ignoring the most recent form of both the former and current manager.
 
This proving difficult to understand you resorted to calling anybody responding to your argument ‘gay for you’.
 
I'm just looking to see if my team is improving. If it isn't, then I will say it isn't - I've got no agenda. You have, obviously.

So if they're not playing well (in the league) and non-statistical factors aside how can you measure improvement? I would accept your point if they were playing very well. Chelsea have improved under Hiddink since Mourinho left this season, not only in the way they're playing but picking up more points - you can't question that. There is no evidence or very little to go on to say Reading have improved under BM at present.

Not sure what the 'gay for you' thing is unless you're referring to Leon's post - which I have nothing to do with...

[Extended-Phenotype]

Nah m8, you were saying we haven’t improved since Brian took over, exclusively cos Clarke has a higher PPG.
I said i think we have improved citing other non-statistical factors, arguing you can't just look at one measure in isolation, and suggested your PPG argument is comparing a longer reign which was trending downwards with a shorter reign which is trending upwards, totally ignoring the most recent form of both the former and current manager.
 
This proving difficult to understand you resorted to calling anybody responding to your argument ‘gay for you’.
 
I'm just looking to see if my team is improving. If it isn't, then I will say it isn't - I've got no agenda. You have, obviously.

So if they're not playing well (in the league) and non-statistical factors aside how can you measure improvement? I would accept your point if they were playing very well. Chelsea have improved under Hiddink since Mourinho left this season, not only in the way they're playing but picking up more points - you can't question that. There is no evidence or very little to go on to say Reading have improved under BM at present.

Not sure what the 'gay for you' thing is unless you're referring to Leon's post - which I have nothing to do with...

Just a reference to your insistence replying to you is in some way the same as stalking you.

Look chap, all I'm saying is I've seen signs of improvement. Hopefully the green shoots will turn into better performances and points. I've mentioned a couple of times now what I think those improvements are, but ftr:

(1) individual Players: the likes of Vydra, Al Habsi, Cooper, HRK, John and Piazon have all lifted their games since Brian took over.

(2) Desire: the players are showing more bite and seem to care more. The general feeling is more positive and determined, the indifference is gone.

(3) Spirit/belief: we are finally capable of fighting back in a game, we don't just roll over when the opponent scores. We are playing until the end, not squabling after ten minutes with our heads down.

(4) We are creating more chances and our possesion seems to have more purpose than before

(5) we've finally started scoring from set pieces. This is a good indication of training sessions actually working.

(6) we've stopped conceding from set pieces.

(7) the general progress is trending upwards rather than downwards. However marginal, we are looking better and better each game rather than it being entirely random

All of these aren't measurable by points, but are vital foundations on which points are eventually built on. The last part of Clarke's reign was noticeably worse, including points, when you compare with the more recent form under Brian.

So it simply isn't a case of just looking at points, or table position, there are so many more factors to consider, that are indicative of a team likely to turn things around.

I wasn't anti Clarke. I wasn't even particularly pro Brian coming back. I'm just seeing what I see, and know if I just looked up the scores on SSN I'd be missing a lot of small but significant positives.

It seems to be translating into points, too. Which is great.

[No Fixed Abode]

Does he go to games? Nothing much has changed at all . The thing is we never look like scoring, we might have most of the possession but we don't do anything with it!

[genome]

Agreed, we never look like scoring under Brian, except 4 against Charlton, 4 against Walsall and 5 against Huddersfield

[Extended-Phenotype]

Does he go to games? Nothing much has changed at all . The thing is we never look like scoring, we might have most of the possession but we don't do anything with it!

Hmmm.

Well, I'm only sticking up for my opinion. Can't all agree. Fingers crossed, the improvements I've noticed that your mate has missed, are signs we will turn things around.

[Ian Royal]

Does he go to games? Nothing much has changed at all . The thing is we never look like scoring, we might have most of the possession but we don't do anything with it!

Firstly, he's friends with you, so his opinion is instantly suspect.
Secondly, we've no idea what line you've fed him to illicit this response.
Thirdly, it's tripe.