Is Knilly on holiday or summat?

[vas borbokis]

None of the new players seem to have any understanding of how we like to play.
Looked a shambles last night to me. Where has that high press and slick passing game gone that served so well early season? It seems like a distant memory.
Come on Alan. Get 'em in and working some extra long hours on the training pitch. Not good enough lately.
Lots of praise when going well.
Time to apply yourself!
;-)
Hopefully.

 

[Sean Thornton]

He was sat next to me in the stand last night going on about how crap Leon was, the JTW signings were poor and three players reported as being injured should be playing. He got some support on here later.

He was pissed though......

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

Our playing style stopped surprising teams by December. Teams know how to beat us but we just carry on doing the same thing. Don't get me wrong, it's enjoyable to watch at times but it's quite ineffective now, hence the poor points haul for the last few months.

 

[sheffielder]

For me the mentality of the players has changed since Bristol City at home. They need to get that mentality back

 

[Harry's Game]

The style of play is not the issue.

The quality of the players playing it is.

Everyone at the club is aware we need more quality. It’s how best to get it that is the debate.

 

[Fraggle Blade]

Our playing style stopped surprising teams by December. Teams know how to beat us but we just carry on doing the same thing. Don't get me wrong, it's enjoyable to watch at times but it's quite ineffective now, hence the poor points haul for the last few months.

Well to me it looks like we've stopped doing the things we were doing.......we weren't launching long balls from defence at the start of the season.
We've turned into more of a hit and hope team recently from the side that was keeping possession in the oppositions half.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

Well to me it looks like we've stopped doing the things we were doing.......we weren't launching long balls from defence at the start of the season.
We've turned into more of a hit and hope team recently from the side that was keeping possession in the oppositions half.

Exactly right

 

[Fulwood Blade]

The quality of the players playing it is.

agreed - quality is what is lacking. Going to be damn expensive to solve that problem though

UTB

 

[Trafford]

The style of play is not the issue.

The quality of the players playing it is.

As Meatloaf might say, ‘you took the words right out of my mouth*’. I’ve been saying this for months, the surprising thing for me is that Wilder professed to getting all the players that he wanted in the JTW and yet the quality hasn’t improved. But Stearman has come good, let’s hope that the newbies do too.

* it wasn’t while you were kissing me.....

 

[derfblade.3]

As Meatloaf might say, ‘you took the words right out of my mouth*’. I’ve been saying this for months, the surprising thing for me is that Wilder professed to getting all the players that he wanted in the JTW and yet the quality hasn’t improved. But Stearman has come good, let’s hope that the newbies do too.

* it wasn’t while you were kissing me.....

Wilder got the players he wanted with the dosh he was allowed to spend. Maybe with more to spend he would have gone for more quality

 

[ghandi]

Our playing style stopped surprising teams by December. Teams know how to beat us but we just carry on doing the same thing. Don't get me wrong, it's enjoyable to watch at times but it's quite ineffective now, hence the poor points haul for the last few months.

And what was the reason for last night's bag o shite where we did absolutely fuck all compoared to earlierin the season.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

The whole fucking management and squad was on holiday yesterday, back to work now please.

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

And what was the reason for last night's bag o shite where we did absolutely fuck all compoared to earlierin the season.

The style of play doesn't work. It is nullified by shit teams like Hull.
The players don't believe in it anymore which is why at times they choose to belt it upfield or abandon the attack when we get near their box.
It's been a couple of months now and we've been limping along trying the same stuff but just doing it half hearted and without enough quality, rendering it ineffective.

*Ps. My opinion only. I've been told enough times I know fuck all about football (probably true)

 

[AWetFlannel]

The style of play doesn't work. It is nullified by shit teams like Hull.
The players don't believe in it anymore which is why at times they choose to belt it upfield or abandon the attack when we get near their box.
It's been a couple of months now and we've been limping along trying the same stuff but just doing it half hearted and without enough quality, rendering it ineffective.

*Ps. My opinion only. I've been told enough times I know fuck all about football (probably true)

Was about to angrily respond to your posts in this thread.

The PS checkmated me.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Well to me it looks like we've stopped doing the things we were doing.......we weren't launching long balls from defence at the start of the season.
We've turned into more of a hit and hope team recently from the side that was keeping possession in the oppositions half.

No Coutts, no speed of thought. Sad but true.

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

Was about to angrily respond to your posts in this thread.

The PS checkmated me.

Crack on Mr Flannel. Maybe you can tell me how well we've been doing over the last few months.

Maybe you can start with how we were outfought and out-thought by a Nigel Adkins team...

Without the good start, we're in the relegation mix.

 

[Bladezz]

I’m sure our coaching staff told the players on Friday. Don’t pass to our players. Evans you keep losing it.

 

[Bladezz]

The style of play doesn't work. It is nullified by shit teams like Hull.
The players don't believe in it anymore which is why at times they choose to belt it upfield or abandon the attack when we get near their box.
It's been a couple of months now and we've been limping along trying the same stuff but just doing it half hearted and without enough quality, rendering it ineffective.

*Ps. My opinion only. I've been told enough times I know fuck all about football (probably true)

We’re we lucky against Leeds / QPR / Norwich. Seen as though we are so poor?

 

[Bedrock Blade]

Too busy juggling tennis balls...

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

We’re we lucky against Leeds / QPR / Norwich. Seen as though we are so poor?

Don't hold back. Chuck Sunderland in your list and you've got all of our 4 (four) league wins since mid November.

Try again.

 

[spongebobblade]

Don't hold back. Chuck Sunderland in your list and you've got all of our 4 (four) league wins since mid November.

Try again.

Or W4 D2 L4 of our last 10 league games. More mid table. Depends how you want to bend it in your favour

 

[Pedro's Winger]

Knill is probably working as hard as ever but for some reason he seems to have stopped watching those J-League videos for clever set-piece routines.
The invention seems to have disappeared.

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

Or W4 D2 L4 of our last 10 league games. More mid table. Depends how you want to bend it in your favour

I don't want to bend it either way, both are correct.

If you put the season in two halves though... First 16 matches - 33 points, next 17 games - 19 points (I've given you the Burton game to help your argument).

We've just about halved our points return since we lost our momentum or when Coutts got injured or whatever you want to call the post Burton shambles.

The only thing that's keeping people quiet is the fact that Wednesday are much worse still.

 

[tincan]

The unlucky loss in November to Bristol has resulted in damaging the team spirit that got us to that point. Claims of bringing in more "quality" hasn't worked, nor has changing tactics hasn't either - the team was created via passing through a 3 at the back. For me as Reading are a possession team, it has to be Wright & Lafferty for Bash & Stevens. The new signings should have had at least a month in the reserves learning how we play - attacking centre backs need to get attuned to. Slater before Leonard or Evans. Despite his limitations, it was a mistake to release Carter Vickers as he had learnt our system.

 

[spongebobblade]

I don't want to bend it either way, both are correct.

If you put the season in two halves though... First 16 matches - 33 points, next 17 games - 19 points (I've given you the Burton game to help your argument).

We've just about halved our points return since we lost our momentum or when Coutts got injured or whatever you want to call the post Burton shambles.

The only thing that's keeping people quiet is the fact that Wednesday are much worse still.

My only point is that you thought we would be in a relegation battle without the good start. Personally I think we would be just below mid table. It’s not the table that does or would worry me most. It’s the fact we’ve stopped doing the things we are good at. It has to be said that some players have settled for where we are rather than push on but the Coutts factor for me has been pivotal. We aren’t a one man team but he was the difference between top 4 and top half of the table. Evans is decent but he isn’t Couttsy. To have a chance of the play offs though we have to get back to the basics. We now have 3 decent players capable of unlocking a defence if we go back to pressing and attacking like we did. Yes we will get caught out but will still win more than we lose.

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

My only point is that you thought we would be in a relegation battle without the good start. Personally I think we would be just below mid table. It’s not the table that does or would worry me most. It’s the fact we’ve stopped doing the things we are good at. It has to be said that some players have settled for where we are rather than push on but the Coutts factor for me has been pivotal. We aren’t a one man team but he was the difference between top 4 and top half of the table. Evans is decent but he isn’t Couttsy. To have a chance of the play offs though we have to get back to the basics. We now have 3 decent players capable of unlocking a defence if we go back to pressing and attacking like we did. Yes we will get caught out but will still win more than we lose.

Statistics are there to be interpreted how people want I suppose.
I think we'd be fucked and you think we'd be ok, and I agree with you on the other points about not doing what we were good at and some perhaps resting on their laurels. The opposing views are no problem, it's very healthy to have the discussion. Peace.

 

[Maidenhead]

No Coutts, no speed of thought. Sad but true.

Seems we're looking for runaround Sue then

 

[Sean Thornton]

Seems we're looking for runaround Sue then

Don't you mean "Doesn't runaround Leon" ?

 

[Maidenhead]

Don't you mean "Doesn't runaround Leon" ?

round, round I get around

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Our playing style stopped surprising teams by December. Teams know how to beat us but we just carry on doing the same thing. Don't get me wrong, it's enjoyable to watch at times but it's quite ineffective now, hence the poor points haul for the last few months.

Hull didn’t really contribute to our poor choices both on the ball or off the ball.
We had the ball plenty of times but did absolutely nothing with it, except give it straight back to the opposition.