The Realist

Alcaraz, despite having had a poor season, is a class act. When Stu leaves this summer, we will not have any midfielders who take the ball on the half turn and attack the opposition. That is what Charly does, playing between the lines. He still has a lot to learn but the potential is there so don't think we should sell him.

GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and there is the BIG IF! KWP. West Hame really need a new right back. He is the perferct fit sadly.

this is where our transfer policy is not right. We bought Lumley in to make up the numbers when in reality we have no back up GK trying to push Baz for his position. Sign up a GK from a team like Rotherham where they are playing at a decent standard but wages are unlikely to be too high and then let him compete with Baz. At the moment we have no viable alternative.

Fantastic win today against a team full of confidence and great home record. Yes, they should punish us more in the first half but this is why both teams are playing in the second tier - we don't have those great players. Baz played well, Arma and Charles too. The style still makes me worry on the transition which is not so good when we have a fragile back four. Manning has some work to do. Che will leave sadly but Piroe might be a fine replacement. Edozie needs more end product, Tella ok. I'm hoping that Downes will some many of the problems in midfield but perhaps we need 1 more in there. Great to have 7 points when we have so many players (Tella, ABK, Adams, Tall Paul, Sulemana) likely to still leave so good points tally during unsettling times. COYR!

as others have said, too slow in attack and then on transition, although Charles lloks decent, there are big gaps in centre midfield. If Argyle had a better final pass, we could have been in trouble in this game. Not sure what we do to change this as the way we play, I'd rather have 2 holding midfielders.

RM has said all along that there are players lined up but we needed to lose some players first. With JWP and Lavia leaving this week, I expect we have Grimes definitely lined up. He's the 'captain' type we are looking for. I would like us to get Downes too but maybe that is dependant on Smallbone leaving. If we lost JWP/Lav/Smallone and brought in Grimes and Downes, I'd be very happy. I believe Piroe will join as soon as one of our fowards leaves - either Adams or AA. Just need a commaning CB - Harwood-Bellis?

so who is going to come in for Tella when he leaves for Burnley? He said it all by dodging the question after the game. I know he couldn't say anything else but I think he'll be gone. We still lack goals and need to find a way to get those players in midfield to get themselves into the box when the ball is out wide, otherwise its pointless as Edozie has nothing to aim at - hence comments about no end product from him. It will get better I'm sure, Piroe would be a good addition but 1 forward is likely to have to leave for that to happen.

It is clear the following will leave:- JWP - Brighton? Lavia - Chelsea? KWP - Palace? Salisu - Newcastle? Perraud - European team Tella - Burnley Stu Armstrong - Scotland Adams - Forest/Everton? ABK - Germany, AMN - Luton? Ely, Orsic, Djneppo, Onuachu and Theo. Whilst we are it, get rid of all the players we loaned out last year as they are not good enough. With all this lot going, I suppose it is a firesale. All the above I expect to go but the players I would be gutted to see leave are Alcaraz and Tino. Baz suits the new manager's style of football and another year on will do him and us good. So my team with whats left would be:- ----------------Baz ------------ Tino----Lyanco----Bednarek (c) ---- ? --------------?-------------- Aribo---Alcaraz---Edozie -------Sulemana----?-----

One of our problems results from not shooting enough instead, overplaying trying to score in the same way that Arsenal do. De Ridder seems to be unable to run with the ball and look up for people to pass/cross to at the same time. I thought McAnuff was more SDR's problem as he protected Harte so well. Never gave SDR space behind him by keeping his shape. essentially Reading played well as a team, kept their shape and attacked in numbers on the few occasions they had. Talking of attacking in numbers, I always feel Saints leave it upto the strikers to score the goals. We don't have enough midifelders running from deep to help out like Dobbie does for Blackpool etc...Hammond use to in L1.

Amazing to read people criticising Kelvin's distribution. Aside from Morgan I think he is the best passer of the ball in the team! He was outstanding yesterday.